NHTSA Complaint #10222297 — 2000 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX

2000 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 3.8L V6 DECEMBER 10, 2007 OBSERVED LOW COOLANT DURING ROUTINE OIL/FILTER CHANGE. FILLED COOLANT RESERVOIR AND PERFORMED OIL/FILTER CHANGE. DECEMBER 12 CALLAREMI, 385 RT. 46 EAST HACKETTSTOWN NJ 0784 PONTIAC: TOOK CAR FOR REPAIR OF COOLANT LEAK. DEALER FAILED TO DIAGNOSE ISSUE AND WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS FINE. MARCH 15TH 2008, LOW COOLANT LIGHT INDICATOR CAME ON. PROCEEDED TO PERFORMED ROUTINE OIL/FILTER CHANGE AND ADDED COOLANT. MARCH 21ST 2008, EXPERIENCED ROUGH START AND TICKING NOISE. THE NOISE WAS CONSTANT DURING COLD START AND REMAINED AFTER ENGINE REACHED OPERATING TEMPERATURE. MARCH 24TH 2008, TOOK CAR BACK TO CALLAREMI FOR SERVICE OF ENGINE TICKING NOISE. WAS TOLD NOISE WAS DUE TO A # 3 CYLINDER INTAKE LIFER COLLAPSED AND BENT PUSH ROD. I PROCEEDED TO ARGUE THAT FAILURE TO SERVICE CAR ACCORDING TO TSB 03-06-01-016 'LOSS OF COOLANT, MILKY COLORED OIL CAUSED EITHER EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE LIFTER OR CREATED HYDROLOC CONDITION'. TSB CLEARLY INDICATES PROBLEMS WITH INTAKE GASKETS AND RECOMMENDS REPLACEMENT IF COOLANT LOSS IS NOT FOUND TO BE CAUSED BY AN EXTERNAL LINK (I.E. PROBABLE CAUSE INTERNAL COOLANT LEAK). REPAIRS FOR SINGLE LIFTER/ROD/ROCKER ARM WAS $1010.00. *TR