1994 CHEVROLET CAPRICE Complaints

MY WIFE'S 1994 CAPRICE HAS HAD INTERMITTENT NON WORKING POWER STEERING SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR NEW. IT IS A TOTAL LOST OF STEERING AS IF THE BELT HAD BROKEN OR THE MOTOR WAS TURNED OFF. AFTER SEVERAL LENGTHY SERVICE TRIPS TO THE DEALER, WHO ACTED LIKE WE WERE CRAZY, NOTHING WAS EVER DONE TO THE CAR. RECENTLY (2 MONTHS AGO) MY WIFE STARTED SAYING THAT NOW THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN LEFT AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND SHE HAS ACTUALLY HAD TO GO STRAIGHT THROUGH AN INTERSECTION BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T TURN LEFT. IT ALSO WAS FAILING QUITE OFTEN WHILE TURNING AT VERY LOW OR NO SPEED. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. (REMAN FROM AC DELCO). I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE FLUID WAS BROWN AND THICK. ALSO REPLACED PRESSURE HOSE, RETURN HOSE, STEERING BOX (REMAN FROM AUTOZONE) AND THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE IDLE CONTROL SWITCH AT THE SAME TIME. THE RESERVOIR WAS FLUSHED OF ALL THE BROWN FLUID. THE REMAN STEERING BOX WAS ALREADY PRIMED WITH NEW FLUID. AFTER MY WIFE DROVE THE CAR ABOUT A WEEK, SHE CALLED TO INFORM ME THAT THE CAR WAS STILL DOING THE SAME THING!! . HERE IS MY OPINION HAS TO WHAT IS HAPPENING. THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT THE 4.3L V-8 MOTOR WAS USED. THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS NOT TURNING FAST ENOUGH AT IDLE SPEED. WHEN MY WIFE TAKES HER FOOT OFF THE GAS TO MAKE THE LEFT TURN (ITS SORT OF A HALF U TURN THE WAY THE ROAD IS LAID OUT) WHILE AT THE SAME TIME TURNING THE WHEEL, THE ENGINE IS AT IDLE SPEED AT THAT POINT. THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME AS WHEN MANEUVERING IN A PARKING LOT OR DRIVEWAY WHERE THE PROBLEM SHOWS UP MORE OFTEN AND THE ENGINE IS AT IDLE SPEED ALSO. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS AND I CANNOT GET GM INTERESTED IN SOLVING THE PROBLEM. PLEASE ANSWER THIS. MY WIFE ALMOST HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT THIS MORNING AND THE PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS OR IDEAS ON WHAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE? PLEASE HELP. RONNIE BELITZ. *JB

WHEN STEERING IS TILTED IN A CERTAIN DIRECTION A FUSE WOULD BLOW OUT. *AK THE FUSE THAT BLOWS IS FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. CONSUMER THINKS IT A PINCHED WIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN THE WHEEL IS TITLED AND THE WIPERS ARE TURNED ON. A LIGHT MOVEMENT OF THE TILTED WHEEL WILL BLOW THE FUSE. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS UNSAFE. *PH *NLM

DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER WAS 35 MPH OFF WHICH RESULTED IN A REAR END COLLISION BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS GOING FASTER THAN THE SPEEDOMETER INDICATED. DIGITAL GAS GAUGE ALSO FAILED TO FUNCTION WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE RUNNING OUT OF GAS WHILE DRIVING ALTHOUGH THE GAUGE READ HALF OF TANK. THE CAUSE OF BOTH FAILURES WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK

FUEL PUMP FAILURE. WIRE CONNECTED TO FUEL PUMP MELTED BARE. WIRE CONNECTOR MELTED ONTO FUEL PUMP. WIRE HARNESS MELTED. *JB

THERE'S A DESIGN FLAW IN VEHICLES' CAP ROTOR DISTRIBUTOR. IT IS LOCATED IN THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE CLOSE TO THE GROUND, SO WHEN VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN IN THE RAIN, WATER GOES INTO THE ROTOR AND MOISTURE IS ACCUMULATED. THIS RESULTS IN THE VEHICLE STALLING WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING. MANUFACTURE WAS OF NO ASSISTANCE.*AK

A DESCRIPTIVE LETTER REGARDING THE STEERING COLUMN CORROSION FAILURE WAS SENT TO THE MANUFACTURERE WITH NO REPLY. DT

WHILE DRIVING, BATTERY GAUGE GOES DOWN. CONNECTOR TO FUSE PANEL UP AGAINST FIREWALL HAS MELTED. *AK

IN THE FIRST INCIDENT THE TREAD SEPARATED AND THEN THE TIRE BLEW OUT. HAD THE TIRES VISUALLY INSPECTED; THEY SAW NO PROBLEMS. IN THE SECOND INCIDENT THE TREAD SEPARATED ALMOST COMPLETELY AND DAMAGED THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WELL AND QUARTER PANEL. WHILE RETURNING FROM THIS INCIDENT ANOTHER TREAD SEPARATED ON THE RIGHT REAR POSITION. NO DAMAGE BECAUSE WAS AT LOW SPEED (ABOUT 30). TRIED TO REPORT THE FAILURES TO GENERAL; THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. REFUSED TO TAKE ANY INFORMATION AND HER SUPERVISOR NEVER RETURNED MY CALL. *AK

METAL AROUND LATCH THAT HOLDS DOOR IS CRACKED, AND IS NOT CATCHING PROPERLY, DOOR DOES NOT SHUT TIGHTLY. *AK

GENERAL RADIAL RIGHT REAR TIRE P215/75R15 DOT A3HFBBH054 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER HEARD A FLAPPING NOISE AND WHEN INSPECTED TIRE ALSO FOUND IT WAS STILL INFLATED. *SLC