1996 GMC Jimmy engine and engine cooling 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…”

“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”

“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”

“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…”

“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”

“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.”