[Saturnmom1]

Hello! I am new to the forum. We purchased our 2009 Outlook XE in August 2010 from a GM dealership in CA. It had 8,000 miles. It has been a wonderful car, until about 4 months ago, when it started bucking at 60 mph+, primarily up hills. After researching this forum and some discussions with my local Chevy dealership, they replaced some ignition coils and "camshaft timing chains." Since then, its been driving beautifully, although it did seem to be a lot louder. Well while driving home from Thanksgiving with my 3 kids, the Outlook unexpectedly lost all transmission power. No warning, nothing. I was driving at 70 mph and it felt like a downshift, and I suddenly realized that I was losing power. The RPM needle was bouncing all over the place. It happened in an instant. I got to the shoulder, called AAA and the police, and got towed 65 miles to a Chevy dealership, which was closed. The car couldn't move at all on its own. Its been so stressful, and I was terrified being stranded on the side of a major interstate with my kids. I hope the service center calls tomorrow, and I will post updates. But I was wondering if anyone else has experienced anything similar? The tow truck guy said I had transmission fluid pouring out of the bottom of the car when he was lifting it on to the flatbed. I'm so terrified to drive it, even when it gets repaired. Any thoughts? Thank you, you are all so helpful! By the way, the car was manufactured *exactly* five years ago yesterday! I wonder if GM will cover any repairs?!

 

[rbarrios]

hmmm
Leak from the radiator.
One of the lines from th Trans to the radiator.....

Let us know what happens.

 

[Saturnmom1]

I spoke to the very nice service manager who is working on my car (we had to leave it in Virginia). He told me that my transmission hoses blew, and whoever worked on it last had "mistakenly re-routed my lines, which is why they blew." The only service I've had done on the car (other than routine maintenance) was the ignition coils (unrelated) and timing chains which were replaced last month. The mechanic told me this morning that they would have likely removed the transmission hoses to get the timing chains off. So one dealerships mistake has cost me about $1,000 in repairs/rental car costs, not to mention the stress of nearly getting into a major wreck when my car died unexpectedly!

Hopefully there isn't any transmission damage, but I won't know until they hook up the new hoses, get transmission fluid flowing again and can check the transmission out.

I'm going to contact GM when this is all done to see if there's any recourse against the original Chevy dealership that did the repairs last month. Those were still covered under my 5-year warranty.

I'll keep you updated!

 

[rbarrios]

Yes- must have been when they did the timing chains.

Many shops will drop the engine/trans front suspension- out the bottom of the car-- to get to the timing chains.


this is an enclave- the timing chains are being replaced. (outlook,Acadia, Traverse, Enclave all the same).
most likely how they did your Outlook.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3USSOvAxGgE


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyAmV-X4Goc

 

[Saturnmom1]

Thanks for your helpful response Rbarrios. The mechanic in VA is so upset at the shoddy work that he wrote up an entire report. He said the hoses were improperly "routed", that my radiator line was kinked, and there were several other issues that he documented that I can't recall right now. We will get the report when we drive nearly 5 hours back to pick it up this weekend. But if anyone is in the MD/VA/DC area, stay FAR AWAY from Ourisman Chevrolet in Bowie MD!! :angryfire:

 

[rbarrios]

hopefully the report he writes will get you some monetary assistance from GM/dealer as to the bad work.

Good luck.