NHTSA Complaint #10149494 — 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU

THE VEHICLES HEAT GAUGE STOPPED WORKING AND LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON. CHECKED COOLANT LEVEL AND DISCOVERED SLUDGE IN EXPANSION CHAMBER ( COOLANT RECOVERY TANK). FLUSHED SYSTEM OF SLUDGE AND TROUBLE SHOT REASON FOR COOLANT LOSS. FOUND INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING. VEHICLE WILL REQUIRE NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET SET, THERMOSTAT, HOSES, WATER PUMP AND POSSIBLY RADIATOR. TRIED TO FLUSH SYSTEM COMPLETELY BUT FOUND SECONDARY PLUMBING SUCH AS HEATER CORE, RADIATOR,COOLANT CROSSOVER AND COOLANT BLEED HOSING GUMMED UP WITH OILY WAXY TYPE SUBSTANCE RESEMBLING GUMBALLS (DEX-COOL?). I THINK GM SHOULD STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SO CALLED "WONDER COOLANT". AFTER ALL THE STICKER ON THE EXPANSION CHAMBER DOES SAY ANYTHING ABOUT CHANGING EVERY 5 YEARS OR 150000 MILES. *JB