Heating problems

[Criss282]

I have a 1996 Pontiac Sunfire 2.2L coupe. About a year ago I was having overheating problems and replaced the waterpump and thermostat. After that, everything ran fine. The last couple of weeks I've noticed that when I am driving and come to a stop, the heater air is cool. Around 30-35 mph, the heater is blowing fairly warm air. Around 55-60 mph, I'm getting very sufficient warm air. To make a long story short, the faster the car goes....the warmer the air is blowing out the heater ducts. I'm at a loss on figuring this one out.

[Shortbus]

Have you checked the coolant level? THis could be the problem.
Be sure to check it with the engine cold, so you do not get sprayed with hot coolant.

[Criss282]

From what I'm being told, it's a bad head gasket.

[Scott 02]

Aww, i got to replace mine soon. Oil seems to want to leak out around it and drowl on the headers.

[bowtiebandit]

May want to look into this first...

00010 -- Special Policy Adjustment -- Coolant Loss, Visible Coolant Leakage, or Coolant Odor, Caused By Head Gasket Failure
1996 Chevrolet Cavalier, S10 Model Vehicles

1996 GMC Sonoma Model Vehicles

1996 Pontiac Sunfire Model Vehicles

Equipped with 2.2L Engine (RPO LN2 -- VIN Code 4)

Condition
Some customers of 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier, S10; Pontiac Sunfire; and GMC Sonoma model vehicles, equipped with 2.2L engine (RPO LN2-VIN Code 4) may experience a failure of the cylinder head gasket leading to external coolant leaks from the cylinder head gasket to engine block joint. Early evidence of this would be a loss of coolant in the coolant reservoir and an odor of coolant from the engine compartment. There may also be visible coolant deposits at the cylinder head to engine block joint.

Special Policy Adjustment
This special policy covers the condition described above for a period of seven (7) years or 100,000 miles (160,000 km), whichever occurs first, from the date the vehicle was originally placed in service, regardless of ownership.

The repairs will be made at no charge to the owner. This special policy applies ONLY to repairs requiring cylinder head gasket replacement as a result of cylinder head gasket failure that results in an engine coolant leak. It does not cover engine damage from continuing to operate the engine in an overheated condition after loss of coolant.

For vehicles covered by Vehicle Service Contracts, all eligible claims with repair orders on or after May 23, 2000 are covered by this special policy and must be submitted using the labor operation codes provided with this bulletin. Claims with repair orders prior to May 23, 2000 must be submitted to the Service Contract provider.

Vehicles Involved
Involved are all 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier, S10; Pontiac Sunfire; and GMC Sonoma model vehicles equipped with 2.2L engine (RPO LN2-VIN Code 4) and built from Start of Production to End of Production, which begins and ends with the following VIN breakpoints:

Year
Division
Model
Plant
From
Through

1996
Chevrolet
Cavalier
Ramos
TS100083
TS902867

1996
Chevrolet
Cavalier
Lordstown
T7100083
T7296297

1996
Chevrolet
Cavalier
Lansing
TM100009
TM140134

1996
Chevrolet
Cavalier
Genasys
TB100010
TB107187

1996
Chevrolet
S10
Linden
TK100122
TK231878

1996
Chevrolet
S10
Shreveport
T8100110
T8710889

1996
Pontiac
Sunfire
Ramos
TS800005
TS902860

1996
Pontiac
Sunfire
Lordstown
T7500051
T7585403

1996
Pontiac
Sunfire
Genasys
TB200035
TB205503

1996
GMC
Sonoma
Linden
TK500042
TK530057

1996
GMC
Sonoma
Shreveport
T8500033
T8533381


Parts Information
Parts required to complete this Special Policy are to be obtained from General Motors Service Parts Operations (GMSPO).

Part Number
Description
Qty/ Vehicle

24577218
Gasket, Cylinder Head, J-car
1

10156094
Gasket, Water Outlet, J-car
1

24570693
Gasket, Exhaust Manifold to Exhaust Pipe, J-car
1

21006754
Gasket, EGR Vavle Adapter, J-car
1

10083148
Gasket, Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head, J-car/S-truck
1

24574409
Gasket, Intake Manifold to Cylinder Head, J-car/S-truck
1

24575855
Gasket, Rocker Arm Cover, J-car/S-truck
1

24576547
Gasket, Cylinder Head, S-truck
1

10141925
Gasket, Water Outlet, S-truck
1

15740141
Gasket, Exhaust Manifold to Exhaust Pipe
1

24575346
Gasket, EGR Valve Adapter, S-truck
1

12378254-U.S. &IPC

03634621-Canada
Sealer, Cooling System (Package of 5 Pellets)
1 Package

12345615-U.S. & IPC

00993194-Canada
Oil, Bulk Engine (5W30)

Oil, Engine (5W30) (4 Litres)
4.25 qts (4.02L)

4.02L (4.25 qts)

25010792-U.S. & IPC

00729856-Canada
Filter, Engine Oil (PF47)

Filter, Engine Oil (PF47C)
1

1052754-U.S. & IPC

00993089-Canada
Coolant, Engine (55 gal)

Coolant, Engine (4 litres)
5 qts (4.73L)

4.73L (5 qts)


Customer Notification

[jeno]

My 96 sunfire is needs it's head gasket replaced. I have talked with the dealer and GM customer service -- and the result is that they will not cover my problem because the gasket is not leaking "externally". It definitly is causing problems by leaking internally.

Any suggestions about my next steps....

[Scott 02]

That sounded kind of stupd what the GM customer sevice told you. Let me think out a solution and i'll get back with you.

[artificialsalsa]

here is my lovely gasket leaking story...psst it also happens on 97s too. Ever since I got this replaced I will never trust Speedy ever again. I went in for an oil change and he showed me where it was leaking and told me to keep an eye on it... in my head I was thinking keep an eye on what its leaking what do I do? type deal. So me being the teenage girl that I am they tell me if he gets worse it'll worpe the head blah blah blah and that it is fine and I shouldn't have to worry about it for a few months...and here I'm looking at it and thinking wow thats a lot of leakige. So I tell my dad and he takes it to a trusty radiator place that he had his radiater replaced at and so has other friends of ours. He took one look at it and before even taking the gasket out he said this is pretty bad it has to come out, after that I had to go in for 4 oil changes because there was so much coolant in my oil and I still have to go again 2 weeks from now...and the bad part is he showed me where the gasket was rotted and he said that it should have been replaced months ago...but I didn't have the car then it was owned by a mechanic which is a lameass as well...thats my long story sorry if I bore you, but if there is any leakige no matter what go get it replaced!

[shawel]

I read the posting on the "special policy adjustment". I have a 1999 sunfire, dealership where I bought it (1.5 years ago) say none of the car is under warranty now. No call back from gmc re: head gasket. Today my car over heated , was drinking tons of coolant. Changed the thermostat...still overheats...guy tells me it's the head gasket...$700 to $1000 to replace....ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!! Any policies you've heard of that might make gm step up to the plate????
Scared Skinny

[hopeless4life]

As far as i know that policy covers all the non ecotec 2.2L. They were going to fix my 95 but it was like 1 month out of warranty, so yeah they'll find any loophole, just put pressure on them.

[shawel]

Talked to a dealership and then phoned GMC to discuss. They're adamant that a 1999 Sunfire is not covered, but I could take it to a dealership and diagnosed (at my expense) and then reviewed for financial assistance. And it HAS to be a GM dealer...I've had bad experiences with the dealership here. What bull!!!! I am not happy!!

[shawel]

It cost $970 to replace the head gasket...no help from GM. It's not over heating anymore but engine is still on.