NHTSA Complaint #10069827 — 1999 CHEVROLET VENTURE

THE PROBLEM WITH MY VENTURE TURNED OUT TO BE A LEAKING WATER PUMP BASED ON THE MECHANIC'S DIAGNOSIS. SO FAR, SO GOOD. ALTHOUGH, REPLACING A $300.00 WATER PUMP AT 82,000 IS SOMEWHAT RIDICULOUS! THE MECHANIC SAYS IT WAS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE EXTENDED LIFE COOLANT (DEX-COOL) DOESN'T PERFORM LIKE CHEVROLET SAYS IT SHOULD, AND IT IS THE CAUSE OF MANY WATER COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEMS. HE RECOMMENDS CHANGING THE EXT. LIFE COOLANT EVERY OTHER YEAR JUST LIKE REGULAR COOLANT, AND JUDGING FROM THE LOOK OF THE OLD COOLANT, I BELIEVE HIM! AUGUST UPDATE: I AM NOW FACING A TRANSMISSION REBUILD THAT THE TRANSMISSION MAN SAYS IS "TYPICAL" OF THESE VENTURES DUE TO A MFG. DEFECT CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION OIL PRESSURE TO DROP AND KICK THE OIL PUMP INTO HIGH PRESSURE MODE FORCING FLUID THROUGH THE SYSTEM AT SUCH HIGH PRESSURE THAT EVERY TIME IT SHIFTS, IT FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WILL JERK ITSELF LOOSE FROM THE VEHICLE.