1993 Chevrolet Lumina Apv

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE THROUGH PHH MANAGEMENT AS A USED FLEET VEHICLE FROM THE COMPANY I WORK FOR, MARCONI COMMUNICATIONS(PREVIOUSLY RELTEC). I KNEW THE PERSON TOWHOM THE VEHICLE WAS ASSIGNED, AND PURCHASED IT AT THE END OF THE LEASE. THE VEHICLE COULD BE DESCRIBED AS "PRISTINE" CONDITION EXCEPT FOR THE RECURRING UNEXPECTED SHUTDOWN PROBLEMS. THESE SHUTDOWNS HAVE HAPPENED IN SINGLE LANE CONSTRUCTION ZONES ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE AND ON THE BRIDGE TO CANADA, AND IT IS A MIRACLE WE HAVE NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT YET. THE FAILURES SEEM TO OCCUR MOSTLY IN TEMPERATURES ABOVE 70 F AND AT SPEEDS ABOVE 55 MPH. AND ESPECIALLY WITH 4 OR MORE ADULTS ABOARD OR SOME REASONABLE LOAD. I HAVE SPENT IN EXCESS OF $500 DOLLARS ON EXPERIMENTAL PARTS CHANGEOUTS TRYING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM BUT TO NO AVAIL. *AK

I HAVE RECENTLY EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH MY 1993 CHEVROLET LUMINA APV VAN. SHORTLY AFTER BUYING THE VAN NEW IN FALL 1992 I FOUND THAT THE GAS GAUGE WOULD NOT ACCURATELY REFLECT THE FUEL WHEN NEAR THE BOTTOM 1/4. I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER TWICE WITH NO CHANGES MADE. IN JANUARY OF 1999, THE REAR TRUNK LID LOCK FELL OF AND AFTER HAVING IT REPLACED, I HAD TO RETURN IT AS THE MECH WAS LOOSE AT WHICH TIME I WAS TOLD THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE POWER LOCKING SYSTEM AS THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. ON APRIL 3, 1999, WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WITH THE FACTORY INSTALLED CRUISE CONTROL SET, I NOTICED THE SPEED STARTED TO INCREASE. I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL AND IT WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. I HAD TO USE THE BRAKES TO CONTROL THE SPEED AS I COULD NOT TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL. WHEN I SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE SO I TURNED IT OFF AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED IN. THE DEALER SAID THE CRUISE HAD GONE BAD SO I HAD THEM DISCONNECT RATHER THAN PAY $600. TO REPLACE IT. IN THE LAST WEEK I HAVE HAD TWO OF THE SEATBELT RETRACTORS STOP WORKING (FRT PASSENGER AND 2ND ROW LEFT). WHEN I TOLD THE DEALER, THEY SAID THEY COULD REPLACE THEM FOR $400. I FELT COMPELLED TO REPORT THE PROBLEMS SPECIFICALLY THE CRUISE AND SEATBELTS AS THEY ARE SAFETY ISSUES AND THE CRUISE IS POTENTIALLY A HAZARD. THE SEATBELTS MAKE THE CAR LEGALLY UNABLE TO TRANSPORT PASSENGERS UNLESS I PAY $400. TO HAVE THEM FIXED. AND THERE ARE 5 MORE RETRACTORS THAT I SUSPECT MAY FOLLOW THE FIRST TWO. THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST. *AK

AS MENTIONED, OCCASIONALLY, WINDSHIELD WIPER SIMPLY WON'T COME ON - AT NO PARTICULAR TIME, BUT CERTAINLY DANGEROUS ! OTHER TIMES, WORKS FINE. DEALER SAID IT HAD REPORTS OF IT...NOT SURE OF DATE WHEN FIRST OCCURRED, BUT APPROXIMATELY WHERE INDICATED. STILL OCCURS, OCCASSIONALLY...NOT A WARRANTY PROBLEM, I KNOW. DEALER SAID OTHER CHEVS OCCASIONALLY HAVE THE PROBLEM AS WELL...

THE WIRING TO THE RADIATOR COOLING FANS IS NOT CIRCUIT PROTECTED. NO FUSABLE LINK OR FUSE. WHEN THE WIRING OR FAN SHORTS IT CAUSES THE WIRING TO BURN. THIS IN TURN AFFECTS THE WIRING BUNDLE IT RUNS THROUGH AND WILL CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. I HAVE SINCE PUT A FUSE IN THE SYSTEM PER THE RATING OF THE FAN AND GAUGE OF WIRING. IT SHOULD BE REQUIRED ON SUCH A HIGH AMPERAGE MOTOR TO HAVE SOME SORT OF ELECTRICAL PROTECTION.

WE HAVE HAD FOUR DIFFERENT SHOULDER BELTS GO OUT ON THIS 93 APV. THE FIRST TWO WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. SINCE THEN TWO OTHER BELTS HAVE GONE OUT. THE ONLY REASON THE BACK TWO PROBABLY HAVEN'T GONE OUT IS THEY HAVEN'T BEEN USED THAT MUCH. TWO BELTS STILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT FOR 4 BELTS TO BREAK IN A FIVE YEAR OLD CAR. BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALLS ON THIS VAN.