GM recalling 1.5M vehicles over potential fires

[DoreSlamR]

More bad news for GM:

WASHINGTON - General Motors Corp. is recalling 1.5 million vehicles because of potential engine fires.
GM says there have been no reports of any fires or injuries.
Some of the recalled vehicles are no longer in production. The recall includes the 1998-1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue, the 1997-2003 Pontiac Grand Prix, 1997-2003 Buick Regal, and the 1998-2003 Chevrolet Lumina, Monte Carlo and Impala.

It involves vehicles with a 3.8-liter V6 engine. The government says drops of oil could fall into the exhaust system and cause a fire in the engine.

GM spokesman Kerry Christopher says it was a precautionary measure for consumers.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30198296/?GT1=43001

Commodores had the Buick 3.8 didn't they?

Or is it the same motor?

[The Yeti]

same but different, but drops of oil Ha thats funny I havent seen a dunnydoor V6 that doesnt leak

[DoreSlamR]

Originally Posted by The Yeti

same but different, but drops of oil Ha thats funny I havent seen a dunnydoor V6 that doesnt leak

It does seem pretty trivial doesn't it?

But I guess they wouldn't recall them for the hell of it.

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by The Yeti

same but different, but drops of oil Ha thats funny I havent seen a dunnydoor V6 that doesnt leak

[Fev]

holy hell GM are in trouble.

[Ohio XB]

I have to wonder a lot about this. I would like to hear more specifics. Drops of oil in the exhaust? GM has the exclusivity on this?

What was that blue smoke I saw coming out of a Chrysler, Honda, Ford, Toyota, VW........insert car make here......



Steve

[Stefan]

How the hell do drops of oil in the exhaust cause a fire??? If this is not the most trivial recall I don't know what is.

Something like this could be the final nail in the coffin for a struggeling car maker? Or is this a just a simple way to offset a debt GM has with one of its major suppliers?

Supplier: GMH you owe us 20 million dollars, please pay.
GM: Sorry we have to recall 1.5million cars because of your product, we'll see how much this is costing us then pay you the difference.

It then "costs" GM 100 million to rectify

GMH to supplier "This has cos us 100 million, you now owe us 80 million dollars, please pay"


Am I being to cynical? I think there is more to this than meets the eye.

[Scott]

This is odd. A company on the very edge of disappearing nailing it's own coffin shut?? There have been no incidents of fires, no incidents of injury and at a guess, they will blow >$200m on fixing an issue that by their own admission doesn't really exist?

I don't think they shouldn't do a recall if they perceive they need to but the timing is bloody odd to say the least.

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by GTP006

This is odd. A company on the very edge of disappearing nailing it's own coffin shut?? There have been no incidents of fires, no incidents of injury and at a guess, they will blow >$200m on fixing an issue that by their own admission doesn't really exist?

I don't think they shouldn't do a recall if they perceive they need to but the timing is bloody odd to say the least.

Well as I said, I very much doubt GMH would be footing the bill for the recall, It would be a supplier that supplied the faulty part that will get the bill. The contract between GMH and it's supply will definately allow GMH to offset any monies it owes the supplier with the rectification cost of the recall.

This recall would then actually make GMH money as the rectification bill will be based in the repair of the total 1.5m cars recalled but only half will probably get repaired, add margin on the the repair cost and you have generated an income that did not previously exist. Projected profitablility has been increased, which in turn increases the value of the company.

Some might call it creative accounting.

[Scott]

^^ Sarcasm is easy to type but tough to convey. By the way, it's GM.

[ebxr8240]

May be ??? "FIRE SALE" !! Sarcasm....

[Bluehoon]

Ah, I recall Series 1 VN having some issues with this, as did VR/S. From memory it was due to machining and gaskets.

Still doesn't top the all time recall on VSII and VT1, the lock nut on the cruise control, which caused it to lock on.

Cheers

[greenfoam]

Don't think any of the local versions leak. I have a VN that's done 300,000 ks and still looks and goes like new as far as the engine is concerned. But the alloytecs can catch fire if the oil filter seal breaks and it happens pretty easy when changing them (the filters right above the header) not the same problem but something to be careful of if you ever have to change the filter on one. This one caught fire and burnt after it was parked right after the local workshop did an oil change. The fire went out by itself when the air conditioning exploded

[Windsor220]

Originally Posted by greenfoam

Don't think any of the local versions leak. I have a VN that's done 300,000 ks and still looks and goes like new as far as the engine is concerned. But the alloytecs can catch fire if the oil filter seal breaks and it happens pretty easy when changing them (the filters right above the header) not the same problem but something to be careful of if you ever have to change the filter on one. This one caught fire and burnt after it was parked right after the local workshop did an oil change. The fire went out by itself when the air conditioning exploded

How can you stuff the seal on an alloytech? Its got a cartridge type setup and possibly the easiest filter to do ever. People must just put them in dry or something.

As for the 3.8, there should just be a recall on all of them and Holden
give people their money back.

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by Torxteer

As for the 3.8, there should just be a recall on all of them and Holden
give people their money back.

Then trade them in to boat manufactures.

[greenfoam]

Originally Posted by Torxteer

How can you stuff the seal on an alloytech? Its got a cartridge type setup and possibly the easiest filter to do ever. People must just put them in dry or something.

As for the 3.8, there should just be a recall on all of them and Holden
give people their money back.

Got me beat how they break, but you can see what happens when they do, not good.

I like your Sig, I was trying for the same thing in a VP 5 litre 13's unopened stock stall converter. Got down to 9.031@77.8 on the local 1/8th mile before the latest exhaust (finally put a twin system on it) and have gained 15 rwhp since then so should be on for it now I wanted over 78 mph and sub 9 on the half track before I made the big trip to a 1/4 track. Only problem is now the seasons over and I'm probably putting a cam in it next week. But I'm still happy with what I got out of it. I'll try to get in the 12's on the stock bottom end/stock stall now. Good luck with yours, it'll be trickier in a AU with the same HP I had but alot more weight

[Ohio XB]

Ok, here's some more detail....


http://www.usrecallnews.com/2009/04/nhtsa-5068.html


SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH DROPS OF ENGINE OIL MAY BE DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THROUGH HARD BRAKING.

Consequence: IF THE MANIFOLD IS HOT ENOUGH AND THE OIL RUNS BELOW THE HEAT SHIELD, IT MAY IGNITE INTO A SMALL FLAME AND MAY SPREAD TO THE PLASTIC SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL AND BEYOND INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE SPARK PLUG WIRE RETENTION CHANNEL AT THE FRONT OF ENGINE AND INSTALL TWO NEW SPARK PLUG WIRE RETAINERS FREE OF CHARGE.




Sounds like bull**** to me.

"Some vehicles COULD have a condition where oil MAY be deposited on the exhaust manifold THROUGH HARD BRAKING." Lots of non-definitives there. Then they go on to specify exacting possibilities that also have to happen. Anyone ever see oil on fire on an exhaust manifold, even after spilling a copious amount on it? Just lots of smoke, the flaming part has been refined out of it and is in the petrol tank!

Notice the fix is not to repair the source of this oil.


This is really burning my britches!!!

"IF THE MANIFOLD IS HOT ENOUGH AND THE OIL RUNS BELOW THE HEAT SHIELD....."

If the manifold is hot enough the oil won't run below the heat shield because the "drop of concern" will burn and smoke away quicky!


Steve

[Scott]

So they are happy with the fire so long as it is a little fire? Odd.

[XplosiveR6]

Originally Posted by Stefan

Some might call it creative accounting.

Everyone else will call it Fraud...

[GT 4eva]

actually seen a VS burning from the engine bay the other day!!!

[Scott]

Originally Posted by GT 4eva

actually seen a VS burning from the engine bay the other day!!!

So it was "within spec" then?

[TUF_302]

Having to recall cars that aint even in production still is just terrible!! this wont help GM's casue at all!

[greenfoam]

Originally Posted by GT 4eva

actually seen a VS burning from the engine bay the other day!!!

But was it a V6 and was it a oil fire? the rubber section of fuel line at the back of the 5 litres are very old now and get perished and break same as any other old injected car they can and do catch on fire if you don't look after them. Even the orings on injectors can leak pretty bad when old

[Bossxr8]

My EB 5.0 had a rocker cover leak and the oil ran down onto the exhaust manifold. Maybe I should bill Ford for the cost of having to fix it as its obviously a design fault and a safety issue. Instead of just smelling a bit of burnt oil when I stopped the car I could have burnt to death. Time to see a lawyer. :

[cant]

FIRE, got a friend i had to give a lift to the other day, she (used to) drive (and ownes) a VS SS dunnydoor ute, was nice in its day, anyway,

The HIGH pressure fuel supply line goes from steel to rubber and the O-ring or rubber fuel line lets go, just in front of the FIRE wall, and Sprays all over the Exhaust ! WHOOF !

Lucky she noticed something amiss when she was pulling out of the shed, and to top it off, that part is no longer made by Holden, WTF ! :

[Ohio XB]

So the recall involves 6 to 12 year old cars.


No other manufacturer of cars that are 6 to 12 years old have valve cover (rocker cover) gaskets that harden and leak after this amount of time? Aren't the exhaust manifolds below these covers on all those other make cars too?


Why is the fix to replace the sparkplug wire shield with one of a different design instead of replacing the rocker cover gaskets to stop the oil leak that the car may or may not have in the first place?


This whole thing stinks to high heaven. I honestly believe GM is being railroaded.



Steve

[GT 4eva]

it was a v6

[Ohio XB]

There's millions of V6's of every make out there in the exact same condition. Funny that they only have an issue with the GM's.

Steve

[BIGJB]

Publicity stunt maybe????

See we at GM care about our consumers so much that we will
even rectify problems that are manufacture faults that could
result in harm to human life even if the vehicle is 12 years old......

Would be a risky game but hey desperate times call for desperate measures I guess.

[Ohio XB]

I feel that the Gov, or some in the federal gov, want to do away with GM and got this issue raised, and GM is going along with it because they would look worse if the recall was demanded by the Gov and GM fought it.


Steve