1992 Pontiac Bonneville

I HEARD A POPPING SOUND TWICE WITH IN ONE MILE OF EACH OTHER AS I WAS APPROACHING STOP LIGHTS. THEN HEARD A GRINDING SOUND AS I DROVE ON . TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE SPRINGS IN THE REAR DRUMS HAD BROKEN AND CAUSED OTHER DAMAGE TO THE DRUMS AND BRAKING SYSTEM. I QUESTIONED THEM ABOUT A MANFACTURE DEFECT AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY WOULD DO . I PAID $501.66 TO GET IT FIXED. TODAY 05/16/2000 I READ IN THE PAPER THAT GM HAS SETTLED A LAWSUIT IN NEW JERSY AGREEING TO PAY FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS IN OTHER GM CARS OF THIS VINTAGE BUT IT DOES NOT METION THE BONNEVILLE. EVEN THOUGH I HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH MY CAR AS THE ONES THAT WERE LISTED IN THE LAWSUIT. *AK

MY CAR STARTED MAKING A HORRIBLE NOISE UNDER THE HOOD ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK BACK IN DECEMBER. I LIVE ABOUT 4 MILES FROM WORK. I THOUGHT IT WAS A FAN BELT OR ANOTHER KIND OF BELT. I WAS GOING ABOUT 25-30MPH. SMOKE STARTED POURING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I WAS SCARED THAT IT WAS GOING TO BLAZE UP. I KEPT GOING ABOUT A HALF A MILE SO I COULD PULL INTO A STORE PARKING LOT. BY THIS TIME, THE SMOKE WAS REALLY COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE MEN INSIDE THE STORE CAME TO MY RESCUE. I JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR AND THEY RAISED THE HOOD AND SAE THAT THE AC COMPRESSOR HAD STOPPED WORKING. THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE COMPRESSOR AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE VALVES, GEARS,ETC HAD BURNED UP JUST IN THAT SHORT TIME. ONE MAN UNHOOKED IT SO I COULD USE MY HEATER SINCE IT WAS DECEMBER. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, OUR WEATHER HAD BEEN VERY WARM FOR WINTER. I COINTUED TO DRIVE IT OVER CHRISTMAS BREAK. I TOOK IT TOOK A CERTIFIED MECHANIC THIS WEEK AND WAS TOLD THAT IT HAD THE WRONG TYPE OF FREON IN IT. MY CAR HAS ONLY 78,000 MILES AND I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY TROUBLE WITH THE AC UNTIL THAT DAY WHEN IT STARTED SMOKING. IT APPEARS THAT AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL SERVICE BULLETINS ABOUT AC PROBLEMS AND FREON. A CAR WITH SUCH LOW MILES SHOULDN'T HAVE AC PROBLEMS AND IF SO, THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE SO BAD. MY CAR WOULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE IF I HAD NOT STOPPED AND GOT HELP. LITTLE DID I KNOW IT WAS THE AC. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE HAVE BEEN SIMILAR PROBLEMS TO MINE. OF COURSE, THIS KIND OF PROBLEM PROBADLY HASN'T OCCURED IN MANY OF THE CAR,ESP. WITH LOW MILES. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR HELP IN THIS MATTER, MY CAR HAS BEEN GARAGED KEPT, SERVICED,, WELL KEPT,ETC. ANY HELP OR DIRECTION YOU CAN GIVE ME WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. LYNN K. OUZTS. *AK