1996 GMC Jimmy Engine Problems

I WAS DRIVING DOWN I-65 GOING TO WORK, 70 MPH. I LOOKED IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR AND NOTICE A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM MY 1995, GMC JIMMY, 104000 MILES. I LOOKED AT MY GAUGES AND SAW THAT I HAD NO OIL PRESSURE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. FORTUNATELY I WAS RIGHT AT AN EXIT. I GOT OFF THE INTERSTATE AND STOP AT A GAS STATION. ALL OF THESE EVENTS HAPPEN IN LESS THAN 5 MINUTES. WHEN I GO OUT I NOTICED ENGINE OIL ON THE OUTSIDE OF MY VEHICLE, DRIVER'S SIDE. I OPEN THE HOOD AND CHECKED THE OIL. NO OIL ON THE DIP STICK. LOOK UNDER THE VEHICLE AND NOTICE A LARGE PUDDLE OF OIL ON THE PARKING LOT. I CALL A WRECKER AND HAD MY TRUCK TOWED TO MY MECHANIC'S SHOP $85. MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT ONE OF THE OIL LINES RUNNING TO THE FILTER AND COOLER HAD FAILED WHERE THE FITTING IS CRIMPED TO THE LINE AND THAT MY ENGINE WAS ALMOST DEPLETED OF OIL. MY MECHANIC REPLACED THE LINE AND FILL THE VEHICLE BACK UP WITH OIL. HE SAID IT TOOK OVER FIVE MINUTES FOR THE VALVES TO QUIT RATTLING. THE REPAIR COST $212. WE DEBATED ON WHETHER TO CHANGE THE OTHER SET OF LINES. WE DECIDED TO WAIT A FEW WEEKS TO SEE IF ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE SHOWS UP. I AM OUT ALMOST $300 TO DATE, WITH ANOTHER $250 REPAIR WAITING OR A ENGINE TRASHED FROM THE FIRST EVENT. MY AFTER THE FACT WEB QUERIES INDICATE THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE MODE OCCURRING IN ALMOST ALL JIMMIES AND BLAZERS. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM? COATED THE HIGHWAY AND A PARKING LOT WITH ENGINE OIL. HAD I NOT SEEN THE SMOKE I WAS HEADED FOR A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AT 70 MPH. I CONSIDER MYSELF EXTREMELY LUCKY TO HAVE SURVIVED THIS INCIDENT. I' WAS VERY UPSET KNOWING THAT THERE MANY VEHICLES ON THE ROAD EVERY DAY THAT WILL HAVE THIS PROBLEM SOMETIME IN THE VEHICLE'S LIFE CYCLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10190780

Incident

May 5, 2007

Mileage

104,805 mi

RADIATOR SLUDGE/CORROSION. FLUSHED RADIATOR AND REPLACED THERMOSTAT. SLUDGE REAPPEARED AND CORRODED THERMOSTAT AGAIN. REPLACED RADIATOR AND OVER FLOW TANK PLUS ALL HOSES. SLUDGE AND CORROSION REAPPEARING AGAIN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10173812

Incident

Oct 8, 2006

Mileage

99,500 mi

OVERHEATING AT 100,00 MILES. OPEN RADIATOR CAP TO FIND THICK, RUSTY ORANGE-COLORED SLUDGE. REPLACE LOWER HEATER HOSE WHICH HAD NO VISIBLE, OR DETECTABLE HOLE. FLUSH RADIATOR, REFILL W/ DEX-COOL. OVERHEATS AGAIN, MECHANIC SAID RUSTY SLUDGE IS CLOGGING RADIATOR. FLUSH AGAIN AND REFILL W/ DEX-COOL. STILL SMELL ANTIFREEZE UPON EXIT OF WARM CAR.*AK

NHTSA ID

10107960

Incident

Jun 4, 2004

WHILE DRIVING, FIRE STARTED IN ENGINE AREA - TOTAL LOSS. *LA

NHTSA ID

10042939

Incident

Sep 20, 2003

Mileage

120,000 mi

WE OWN A 1996 GMC JIMMY 4X4.THE CONNECTING ROD IN THE ENGINE BROKE CAUSING EXTREME DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE MAKING IT INOPERABLETTHIS VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED ON TIME OR BEFORE NEEDED WHICH IS EVERY 3000 TO 3500 MILE.THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS A GM BUY BACK OR AS A LEMON VEHICLE IN 1998 WITH ALMOST 15000 MILES ON IT WHEN WE PURCHASED IT.THE SALESMAN RECOMMENDED THAT I PURCHASE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH I DID FOR AN ADDITIONAL 72 MONTHS OR 75000 MILES FOR $905.00.I WAS TOLD,ALONG WITH MY WIFE,THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE COVERED TILL 90000 MILES OR UNTIL 2004. WHEN THE PROBLEMS STARTED TO ARISE THAT WERE GOING TO BE COSTLY WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AS THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WENT BACK TO THE FIRST IN SERVICE DATE-1996.WE HAVE HAD CONSTANT PROBLEMS THAT SEEM TO NICKEL DIME US HOWEVER WE HAVE HAD IT IN FOR LEAKY OIL LINES,LEAKY TRANSMISSON,NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET,HEATER PROBLEMS,AIR CONDITIONER PROBLEMS WHICH HAVE BEEN VERY COSTLY.THIS ENGINE,THE 4.3 V-6 WHICH ACCORDING TO MANY MECHANICS UNDER NOMAL CARE AND DRIVING,SHOULD LAST 150000 MILES.THIS VEHICLE NOW HAS 87000 MILES.WE,MY WIFE AND I DON'T FEEL THAT WE SHOULD HAVE TO ALSO PAY THIS REPAIR OF NEARLY $1880.00.WE ARE IN OUR 50S AND ARE VERY SAFE,CAUTIOUS DRIVERS.MY WIFE IS THE THE DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE AND CERTAINLY DOES NOT OVER WORK THIS SUV.IT WAS A COLD SHOULDER I RECIEVED WHEN I ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE WITH THIS COST.IT SEEMS THAT GM WOULD TAKE CARE OF THERE LONG TIME LOYAL CUSTOMERS BUT THIS IS NOT THE CASE HERE HOWEVER.*AK

NHTSA ID

10029315

Incident

Jul 11, 2003

Mileage

87,000 mi

MY 1996 GMC JIMMY BEGAN BLOWING COLD AIR LAST WINTER. WE HAD THE RADIATOR FLUSHED AND REFILLED WITH DEXCOOL. THE COMPANY TOLD US THE DEXCOOL HAD TURNED TO A SLUDGE AND DAMAGED THE THERMOSTAT. THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED AS WELL. SIX MONTHS LATER WE HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE RADIATOR FLUSHED AGAIN BECAUSE OF OVERHEATING IN THE SUMMER. AGAIN THE FLUID HAD TURNED TO SLUDGE AND WE HAVE TO GET THE THERMOSTAT REPLACED AGAIN. IT APPEARS FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN READING THAT THE ENTIRE SYSTEM WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED SOON BECAUSE OF THESE DEXCOOL ISSUES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10028623

Incident

Jul 18, 2003

COOLANT PROBLEMS WITH 96 GMC JIMMY. SLUDGE IN SYSTEM. PLUGGED HEATER CORE. COOLANT EVAPORATION.

NHTSA ID

10005248

Incident

Jan 28, 2003

Mileage

78,000 mi

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM. ENGINE COOLANT HAS BROKEN DOWN AT 60,000 MILES 10/1/2001, 70,000 MILES 6/1/2002, 79,000 1/30/2003 AND HAS BECAME SLUDGE. OWNER'S MANUAL STATES 100,000 MILE MAINTENANCE. DEALER (GMC)WANTS TO REPLACE THERMOSTAT, RADIATOR, HEATER CORE AT MY EXPENSE. SYSTEM HAS BEEN SUPER FLUSHED, CLEANED AND NEW DEX-COOL COOLANT PER DEALER RECOMMENDATIONS. DEALER EVEN STATES COOLANT IS BAD. GMC STATES IIT IS MY FAULT.

NHTSA ID

10005053

Incident

Jan 30, 2003

Mileage

60,000 mi

FAULTY HEATER CORE THAT IS PLUGGED BY DEXACOOL ANTIFREEZE

NHTSA ID

10004958

Incident

Jan 17, 2003

Mileage

98,902 mi

CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE RADIATOR FLUID. THE RADIATOR FLUID IS RUSTING THE RADIATOR. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE IS SOME TYPE OF FLUID THAT IS CONTAMINATING THE RADIATOR. PH

NHTSA ID

10003687

Incident

Sep 1, 1999

PROBLEM STARTED UNDER 100,000 MILES. DT

NHTSA ID

770611

Incident

Dec 2, 2002

THE ANTIFREEZE GUMMED UP AND THE COOLING SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED. GM IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. MR

NHTSA ID

767767

Incident

Sep 12, 2002

I HAVE REPLACED THE SERPENTINE BELT ON 7/25/97,10/23/98, 8/2/99, 10/25,99, 10/19/00, AND 9/14/01 HAVE REPLACED THE BELT TENSIONER ON 10/23/98, 8/2/99, 9/14/01. WHY DO THESE TWO ITEMS HAVE TO BE REPLACED SO OFTEN? IS THERE SOME OTHER PROBLEM CAUSING THIS?*AK

NHTSA ID

767074

FAN CLUTCH SEPARATED AT HUB. TWO BOLTS WERE SHEARED OFF AND TWO OTHERS HAD ALMOST COMPLETELY BACKED OUT. THE CLUTCH PULLEY HAD LOOSENED AND THE SERPENTINE BELT HAD COME OFF. COMPLETE LOSE OF POWER STEERING, COOLING, ALTERNATOR ETC. WITHOUT POWER STEER. *AK

NHTSA ID

765499

Incident

Jul 31, 2002

THE GMC ANTIFREEZE KEEPS BREAKING DOWN FORMING SLUDGE SO BAD I HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR . 6MONTHS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN THE DEALER SAYS THAT SOME ONE PUT THE WRONG ANTIFREEZE IN THE SYSTEM MY MECHANIC SAYS THAT HE HAS SEEN ANTIFREEZE MIXED IT IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE WHAT KEEPS HAPPENING IN MY COOLING SYSTEM IS ANY ONE ELSE REPORTING THIS PROBLEM? MY RADIATOR HAS BEEN REPAIRED BY THE DEALER ONCE REPLACED BY MY MECHANIC ONCE AND SYSTEM FLUSHED. I WITH IN THE MONTH HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP THE DEALER DID THAT REPAIR AND POWER FLUSHED THE SYSTEM. IT MAKES ME WONDER IF THIS ISN'T A GMC PROBLEM LIKE THE TIME THEY FILLED THE FAULTY CADILAC ENGINE BLOCKS WITH STOP LEAK TO BE ABLE TO SELL THEM.GMC CLAIMS THAT THIS ANTI FREEZE IS SUPPOSED TO BE GOD FOR 100000 MILES WHAT GIVES. *AK

NHTSA ID

762429

THERE WAS A RECALL OF 96 GMC JIMMY'S FOR INDEPENDENT FRONT CONTROL ARM UPPER: BALL JOINTS. WE WERE ADVISED THAT OURS WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. WE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AT 53918 MILES ON JAN. 8 2002. THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED ALONG WITH 2 FRONT TIRES THAT WERE WORN AND VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF THE BALL JOINT PROBLEM. ALSO REPLACED WERE: THE BELT TENSIONER, OIL COOLER LINES, WATER AND BELT - AT 54,000 MILES. WE RECEIVED A 168.98 REIMBURSEMENT FROM PONTIAC GMC AS A "GOODWILL ADJUSTMENT"(HALF OF THE BALL JOINT REPLACEMENT CHARGE). THEY NEVER ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. PLEASE INCLUDE THIS COMPLAINT ON THIS VEHICLE FOR PROBLEMS WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN A RECALL. DOCUMENTATION OF REPAIRS AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. THANK YOU. *TS *NLM *DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS**761991

NHTSA ID

10009209

Incident

Jan 8, 2002

Mileage

53,918 mi

GMC/GM FILLED MY JIMMY AT THE FACTORY WITH DEXCOOL. DEXCOOL IS INVASIVE AND DESTRUCTIVE TO THE VECHICLE I PAID OVER 35 K FOR GMC/GM HAS SENT SERVICE SHEETS TO THEIR DEALERSHIPS WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO BE FOLLOWED EXACTLY TO PURGE THE CONTAMINATION FROM THE COOLING SYSTEM. GMC/GM HAS HIDDEN THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF VECHICLES INVOLVED. GMC/GM HAS USED THE CONSUMER AS THEIR SCAPEGOAT. BLAMMED THE CONSUMER FOR THE 100,000 MILE PLUS COOLANT THEY HAVE USED. GO TO THE INTERNET EXPLORER TYPE IN DEXCOOL IN SEARCH. COOLING SYSTEM IS THE SUBJECT.WWW.SCUDERIACIRIANI. COM IS THE LOCATION. GO TO ANTIFREEZE THEN SCROLL TO DATE:SUN 2 APR 2000 23:42:41-0500 THE APPLICATIONS ENGINEER IS VERY SPECFIC ABOUT THE AFFECT. FORD HAD TRANSMISSIONS,FIRESTONE HAD TIRES. WILL IT TAKE SOMEONE OR SOMEONE'S WIFE AND CHILDREN TO BECOME AT A DISADVANTAGE DUE TO THE COOLING SYSTEM AND BE INJURED ATTACKED OR KILLED FOR THIS FACTORY ISSUE TO BE ADDRESSED? THE FIRST TIME I REACHED MY WIFE THE PROBLEM WAS A COVERED UP $700.00 REPAIR. THERE IS A DAMM GOOD POSIBILITY THAT THEIR HAVE BEEN INJURIES BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM HASN'T BEEN ADDRESSED AND THE PEOPLE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SAVING HAVE NO CLUE THE PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF THEY ONLY KNEW!*AK

NHTSA ID

757592

Incident

Sep 25, 1995

VEHICLE OVERHEATS, THEN STALLS AT ANY SPEED/ ANY TIME. DEALER HAS FLUSHED COOLING SYSTEM, DID NOT REMEDY PROBLEM. PLEASE ADD FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID

8003179

Incident

Jun 1, 2000

CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE IS ON ITS 3RD TRANMISSION, THE TRANSMISSION DIPSTICK AND HOUSING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO RUST FORMING ON THE TRANMISSION FLUID STICK, ALSO THE REAR AXLE SEALS WER REPLACED.*JB

NHTSA ID

564181

VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING BECAUSE COOLING SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. DEALER INDICATED RUST WAS IN RADIATOR. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

NHTSA ID

8002733

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER (A/C) IS NOT COOLING, LEAKAGE AT THE COMPRESSOR AND EVAPORATOR, LEAKING WATER INTO THE FLOOR, AND THE A/C FAN INTERMITTENTLY HAS POWER SURGE FROM HIGH TO LOW BY ITSELF, HEATER BLEWS COLD AIR FROM HEATER CORE. *TT

NHTSA ID

785760

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD, AND VEHICLE OVERHEATED. CONSUMER OPENED RADIATOR CAP AND NOTICED THICK MUDDY RUSTY LIQUID INSIDE. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT A DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID

892301

Incident

Jul 8, 2001

DURING A REPAIR OF A MAIN SEAL LEAK, MECHANIC REMOVED THE TRANSFER CASE AND DID NOT PUT ALL THE PARTS BACK TOGETHER, A SHORT WHILE LATER, CONSUMER NOTICED A STRONG FUEL SMELL AND AFTER EXAMINATION FOUND THAT AN UNSECURED FUEL LINE HAD VIBRATED AGAINST THE PROTRUDING EDGE OF A BODY SUPPORT BRACE CAUSING IT TO SEVER AND LEAK, DEALER FOUND 2 SUPPORT BRACKETS MISSING AND 2 LARGE STEEL RODS MISSING THAT ARE DESIGNED TO ASSIST IN PREVENTING THE TRANSFER FROM CRACKING DURING EXTREME 4-WHEEL CONDITIONS, IF MECHANIC WOULD HAVE PUT ALL PARTS TOGETHER THIS INCIDENT WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR RENTAL CAR COSTS AND COSTS OF REPAIRS. VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED A POWER STEERING LEAK. *SLC

NHTSA ID

561887

Incident

Feb 20, 1998

RADIATOR WENT BAD AND FLUID WAS TURNING INTO SLUSH. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER PUT TEXA COOLING INTO RADIATOR, BUT IT MADE SITUATION WORSE.*AK

NHTSA ID

887586

Incident

Jul 1, 2000

WHEN TOWING MY 3000LB TRAVEL TRAILER THE ENGINE WILL MAKE PRE-IGNITION NOISES AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. LIGHT WILL STAY ON FOR DAYS AFTERWARD, THEN GO OFF. COOLANT WAS CHANGED WHEN I PURCHASED IT USED BECAUSE IT WAS BLACK. WITHIN 25,000 MILES IT'S BLACK AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

731777

Incident

Aug 26, 2000