1991 Geo Storm Complaint Log

7 MONTHS AND 5 REPLACEMENT ECUS ON MY 1991 GEO STORM GSI, AND STILL HAS DANGEROUS ISSUES OF STALLING ON HIGHWAY AND WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. THE PROBLEM IS THAT BETWEEN 1985 AND 1995, AC DELCO USED A INSULATIVE SPRAY ON THE CIRCUIT BOARDS IN THESE ECUS/COMPUTERS WHICH SHRINKS OVER TIME WHEN EXPOSED TO WARM AND COOL TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS, SUCH AS THE NORMAL CONDITIONS THAT AN AUTOMOBILE IS SUBJECTED TO. THE SHRINKING INSULATIVE SPRAY CONTRACTS AND PULLS THE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS FROM THE CIRCUIT BOARD, BREAKING SOLDER CONNECTIONS AND CAUSING SHORTS. THE SYMPTOMS OF THIS FAULT ARE MOST NOTABLY ERRATIC IDLE, IDLE REVVING AND DROPPING, IDLE DIPPING OFTEN WITH ENGINE DYING, IDLE HANGING HIGH ABOVE 2,000 RPM, AND ENGINE DYING OR STALLING FOR NO REASON WITH NO TROUBLE CODES. GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS FAULT IN THEIR AC DELCO ECUS/COMPUTERS AND HAS EVEN GONE SO FAR AS TO INCLUDE SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO TEST FOR SHORTS AND BROKEN CIRCUITS IN THE ECU/COMPUTER TO THEIR TECHNICAL LITERATURE, THOUGH THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE PROBLEM AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE. GM WENT FURTHER AND BEGAN USING A DIFFERENT INSULATIVE SPRAY ON ALL OF THEIR ECUS/COMPUTERS IN 1996, THOUGH THEY DO NOT USE THIS NEW SPRAY ON THEIR FACTORY RECONDITIONED ECUS/COMPUTERS FOR THE GEO STORM MODELS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 GEO STORM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

THE E.C.U. IS BAD IN MY 1991 GEO STORM 2+2. IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AND GM WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *LA

THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP, SPARK PLUG WIRES AND ROTOR, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *JB

THIS IS THE 2ND ECM CONTROL MODULE IN 2 YEARS. . .BOTH WERE NEW WITH ONLY A YEAR WARRANTY. . .PROBLEM ONLY SHOWS UP IN THE SUMMER. *AK

VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY LURCH FORWARD WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING / CUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING AT MULTIPLE SPEED. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER, BUT PROBLEM REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

FOR THE LAST 4YRS. I HAVE HAD TROUBLE AT START-UP,IDLE,DRIVABILITY OF THE ENGINE. ALL SENSORS RELATED TO THE IGNITION HAD BEEN CHECKED OR REPLACED. NOW ON 12/1/01 THE ALTERNATOR OVER CHARGED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUSING A COMPLETE BURN-UP OF THE ECM,MAIN CIRCUIT PANEL AND SOME OF THE WIRING HARNESS. NEITHER THE 50AMP MAIN FUSE OR THE 30AMP ECM FUSE BLEW (LIKE THEY SHOULD HAVE) STOPPING THE 160 AMPS FROM THE ALTERNATOR. *AK

THE DATE & MILEAGE ARE ONLY FOR THE MOST RECENT OCCURENCE. IT STARTED LATE APRIL 2001 AT ABOUT 70,000 MILES; I'D BOUGHT THE CAR USED THE PREVIOUS SEPTEMBER & IT HAD DRIVEN OK THROUGHOUT THE WINTER. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING OFF & ON EVER SINCE. THE CAR WILL BE GOING 55 MPH OR MORE; ABOUT 5 OR MORE MINUTES AFTER STARTUP (IT VARIES), THE RPM GAUGE/IDLE SUDDENLY DROPS TO 0, THE CAR MIGHT BUCK SLIGHTLY,THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, & THE CAR STALLS. PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL HAS NO EFFECT; ALL I CAN DO IS COAST TO A STOP. SO FAR, I'VE BEEN LUCKY; I'VE BEEN ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER W/NO INCIDENT. USUALLY AFTER A COUPLE MINUTES, I CAN START THE CAR AGAIN,BUT THIS PAST SATURDAY, I WAS STRANDED FOR OVER AN HOUR BEFORE THE CAR WOULD START. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS IRREGULARLY, USUALLY WHEN IT'S WARM OUTSIDE. THE IDLE ALSO REVS ON ITS OWN; WHENEVER I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS & THE SPEED DROPS BELOW 30 MPH, IT REVS & JUMPS FORWARD UNLESS I IMMEDIATELY HIT THE BRAKES -- VERY DANGEROUS WHEN I'M HEADING TOWARDS A STOPLIGHT! THE CAR HAS HAD BOTH ITS IGNITION COIL & FUEL INJECTORS REPLACED, AND ALL BELTS ARE NEW; ALL MAINTENANCE IS KEPT UP, & THERE ARE NO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR THAT WOULD CAUSE EITHER OF THESE ISSUES. AFTER DRIVING OUR MECHANIC & US NUTS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, WE FINALLY FOUND OUT THAT THE PROBLEMS WERE DUE TO SHORTS CAUSED BY BAD INSULATIVE SPRAY ON THE ECU/COMPUTER CIRCUIT BOARD (THE ORIGINAL FACTORY INSTALLED UNIT), & WE ALSO FOUND OUT THAT WE WEREN'T ALONE IN HAVING THESE PROBLEMS -- THAT OTHER STORM & ISUZU OWNERS WERE HAVING THE SAME TROUBLE. THE FAULTY ECU IS WHAT GM/ISUZU REFUSE TO RECOGNIZE. ISUZU CLAIMS THE PROBLEMS ARE "NORMAL" -- I'VE YET TO DRIVE ANY CAR WHERE STALLING & DYING AT HIGH SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY IS CONSIDERED "NORMAL". *AK

1992 GEO STORM MANUAL TRANSMISSION. WHEN ENGINE GETS HOT ( SUMMER MONTHS ) ENGINE IDLE INCREASES TO 2,500 - 3,500 RPM. MUST USE FOOT TO PULL UP ON ACCELARATOR. CAR BEGINS TO OVERHEAT LURCHES FORWARD. CAR ALSO STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. HEARD IT HAS TO DO WITH FAULTY ECM. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *JB

WHEN I START THE CAR WITH THE ENGINE COLD, AS SOON AS THE CHOKE TURNS OFF, THE ENGINES DIES, I HAVE TO TAP THE ACCELERATOR TO KEEP THE ENGINE RUNNING. ONCE THE ENGINE IS OPERATING TEMPERATURE, I SHIFT THE TRANSAXLE INTO PARK, AND THE IDLE SHOOTS UP TO 2000 RPMS, THE ENGINE IDLES UP AND DOWN WHILE THE CAR IS IN PARK. THE IDLE ALSO DROP TEMPORARILY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED THIS STARTED HAPPENING DURING THE LAST WEEK WHEN THE WEATHER TURNED HOT FOR THE SUMMER.*AK

THE SYMPTOMS OF THIS FAULT ARE MOST NOTABLY ERRATIC IDLE, IDLE REVVING AND DROPPING. *AK

ENGINE CONTROL COMPUTER IMPROPERLY BUILT CAUSING ERRACTIC IDLE FROM 2000RPM TO 500RPM, CAR STALLS AND WILL NOT START. ISUZU HAS BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THIS AND HAS STATED"WE DO NOT MAKE CARS" AND THEY FAIL TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. THERE ARE VERY MANY OF US WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS ISSUE RESOLVED AS OUR CARS STALLING IN TRAFFIC AND IDLING ERRACTICALLY IS CAUSING A LOT OF PROBLEMS AS IN POOR EFFICIENCY AND UNNEEDED DOWNTIME. THE PROBLEM IS IN THE INSULATIVE SPRAY ON THE MAIN CIRCUIT BOPAR DOF THE UNITS THAT BREAKS DOWN OVER TIME DUE TO HEAT AND EXTREME(HOT OR COLD) TEMPS. GMC HAS RECOGNIZED THIS PROBLEM AND FAILS TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WE WOULD LIKE THIS ISSUE ADDRESSED AND I SPEAK FOR THE OVER 500 MEMBERS OF THE GEO STORM OWNERS CLUB, WWW.STORMOWNERS.COM. *AK

THE ECM DIED, AND ACCORDING TO A SURVEY, A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLES HAVE ALSO, RECALL IT! *AK

EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE STARTING ITSELF AND ENGAGING OUT OF OUT OF GEAR ( W/O KEY AND VEHICLE WOULD BE COMPLETELY OFF). CONDITION HAVE OCCUR ON FOUR OCCASION WITHIN A WEEK. VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSEPECTION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

GM & ISUZU ARE AWARE OF THIS. APPARENTLY THEY HAVE REFUSED TO FIX IT. MY CAR HAS JUST BEGUN THESE SYMPTOMS BUT I DON'T WANT TO WAIT UNTIL THE CAR DIES ON ME. THIS YEAR WE HAVE HAD RECORD HIGHS IN CA. IT'S MAKING THE PROBLEM WORSE. IT CUTS OFF WHEN IT FEELS LIKE IT FOR NO GOOD REASON. IT IDLES HIGH AND LOW. IT HAS EVE REFUSED TO START AT TIMES.*AK

THE PROBLEM IS THAT BETWEEN 1985 AND 1995, AC DELCO USED A INSULATIVE SPRAY ON THE CIRCUIT BOARDS IN THESE ECUS/COMPUTERS WHICH SHRINKS OVER TIME WHEN EXPOSED TO WARM AND COOL TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS, SUCH AS THE NORMAL CONDITIONS THAT AN AUTOMOBILE IS SUBJECTED TO. THE SHRINKING INSULATIVE SPRAY CONTRACTS AND PULLS THE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS FROM THE CIRCUIT BOARD, BREAKING SOLDER CONNECTIONS AND CAUSING SHORTS. *AK

FROM THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THE CAR HAS IDLED ERRATICALLY WHILE SITTING STILL, AND SOMETIMES WHEN IT WAS COLD. *AK

THE FIRST ECU WENT WHEN I WAS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY THE RPMS WERE ERRATIC I GOT IT FIXED, ORDERED A NEW ECU COST ME $950. IT LASTED NO MORE THAN 3 MONTHS AND THE SAME PROBLEM DEVELOPED ON THE NEW ONE. I DO NOT WANT TO KEEP SPENDING ALMOST $1000 EVERY THREE MONTHS. I ALSO DON'T WANT TO SELL THE CAR AND HAVE THE NEW OWNER HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. I HAVE CONTACTED ISUZU, AND GM. ISUZU SAID "THEY DO NOT MAKE CARS CAN'T HELP YOU" GM SAID ALMOST THE SAME THING "THATS COMMON" BUT YET THEY HAVE SWITCHED TO A NEW METHOD OF MAKING ECU'S/ECM'S.. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE SWERVED TO KEEP IT FROM HITTING A DEER, THE FRONT END WENT INTO A IRRIGATION DITCH, AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WILL BE TOTALLED *AK

NO SUMMARY

THE PROBLEM I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING WITH MY 1991 GEO STORM GSI, IS EVERYTIME I'M AT A RED-LIGHT OR STOP SIGN WITH THE CAR AT A COMPLETE STOP, MY IDLE WILL SHOOT UP FROM THE NORMAL 800-900 RPMS, TO 2,000-3,000 RPMS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS ON A AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION EQUIPPED STORM, SINCE YOU HAVE TO FIRMLY PRESS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL VERY HARD TO PREVENT THE CAR FROM LURKING FORWARD AND HITTING A CAR IN FRONT OF YOU, OR INJURING OR EVEN KILLING A WALKING PEDESTRIAN THAT HAPPENS TO BE CROSSING THE STREET. IT IS ALSO A HAZARD FOR MANUAL TRANSMISSION CARS BECAUSE ENGAGING THE ENGINE AT 2,000-3,000 RPM WILL RESULT IN VIOLENT FORWARD MOTION. EXAMPLE: YOU ARE PULLED UP TO A STOPLIGHT AND YOUR FOOT ACCIDENTALLY SLIPS OFF THE CLUTCH PEDAL. IF YOUR CAR IS IDLING CORRECTLY AT 800 RPM, THE CAR MOVES A FOOT FORWARD AND THE ENGINE DIES, BUT IF THE VEHICLE IS IDILING AT 2,000-3,000 RPMS, THE VEHICLE WILL LAUCH FORWARD LIKE A ROCKET. SCENARIO TWO, THE ENGINE IS HOVERING AT 2,000 RPM, UNCONTROLLABLY, AND YOUR FOOT SLIPS OFF THE CLUTCH PEDAL. YOUR CAR BOLTS FORWARD RUNNING OVER THE PEDESTRIAN WHO HAPPENED TO BE CROSSING IN THE CROSSWALK. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT MANY GEO STORM OWNERS HAVE, BUT HAVE HAD NO LUCK IN TRYING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH GENERAL MOTORS. THE PROBLEM, FROM WHAT A SPECIALIZED MECHANIC TOLD ME, COULD BE THE ECM OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "ENGINE CONTROL MODULE" WHICH IS THE ENGINE COMPUTER. ANY HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED, AS WE VERY MUCH NEED IT AT THIS TIME FOR OUR SAFETY, AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS. THANKS, EDUARDO ZABALLA. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205/50/15 )

DUE TO A DEFECTIVE COMPUTER PROBLEM, VEHICLE WHEN COMING TO A STOP, WILL IDLE HIGH IN RPMS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD WHICH MAY RESULT A CRASH. *AK

FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD END IS TORN, CAUSING FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL NOT TO TURN WHILE TRYING TO STEER INTO A LEFT TURN. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

APPARENTLY A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM, I LEARNED OF MANY MORE FAILURES OF THE SAME PART FROM BILL'S ISUZU PERFORMANCE PAGE, (WWW.ISUZUPERFORMANCE.COM/ISUPAGE/), AND WAS LINKED FROM THERE TO REQUEST A RECALL. IF THIS IS A LEMON PART, I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR IT TO BE REPLACED, SINCE ITS FAILURE ENDANGERS THE PASSENGERS.

THIS IS KNOWN TO BE AN ENDEMIC PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND RELATED ISUZU VEHICLES. THE ITEM WAS INHERENTLY DEFECTIVE AND CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN IT FLARES UP, CAUSING THE CAR TO MALFUNCTION AND OVERHEAT WITHOUT WARNING.NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

AT AN IDLE, IN PARK OR IN GEAR, THE ENGINE SPEED OFTEN RISES FROM NORMAL (1000RPM) UP TO AS HIGH AS 4000 RPMS. THIS HAPPENS AT A STAND STILL AND ALSO WHEN APPROACHING, SITTING AT OR LEAVING STOPP LIGHTS ALSO. THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED UNWANTED AND UNSAFE "LURCHEING" FORWARD WHEN LETTING OUT THE CLUTCH. AT TIMES, WHEN THE ENGINE SPEED COMES BACK DOWN, IT WILL DROP TOO FAR AND CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL. THIS HAPPENED TO ME IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTER SECTION AND I WAS NEARLY REARENDED. TO MY KNOWLEDGE GM IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO TAKE CARE OF IT OUTSIDE NORMAL WARRANTY PERIOD.*AK

CAR LOSES POWER WITH NO INDICATION OF A PROBLEM. ALL SPEEDS. BEEN CHASING PROBLEM FOR ALMOST 3 YEARS NOW. *AK

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE IN SEPT. WENT TO MAKE APPOINTMENT. DEALER SAID WILL CALL IN TEN DAYS. CONSUMER DID NOT RECEIVE RESPONSE. HAS CALLED EVERY TWO DAYS SINCE THEN. DEALER STILL DOES NOT HAVE PARTS. AFTER RECEIVING THE PARTS, SANDS MOTOR CO CLAIMS CONSUMER DOESN'T NEED NEW PARTS. *AK

VEHICLE COLLISION, NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG, SEAT BACKS COLLAPSED.

HEADREST & SEATBACK FAILED ON REAR IMPACT.CAUSED ADDITIONAL INJURIES WHEN DRIVER HIT POLE&TREE

ENGINE MANIFOLD EXHAUST PIPE FAILED AND REPLACED.

CONSUMER REPLACED EXHAUST PIPE ONCE, AND CURRENTLY VEHICLE NEEDS EXHAUST PIPE REPLACED AGAIN, VEHICLE HAS HAD AN EHAUST LEAK.*AK CONSUMER HAS SINCE REPLACED EXHAUST PIPE.*JB

MANUAL DOOR LOCKS STICK UPON OPENING ( DRIVER AND PASSENGER). MECHANICS COMMENT: MANUFACTURER'S DESIGN, PART MADE OF PLASTIC NOT METAL. *AK

GENERAL MOTORS USED A SHRINKING SEALANT ON THE COMPUTER BOARDS IN THESE CARS WHICH THEY HAVE SINCE QUITE USING AND ADMIT IT WAS A PROBLEM, BUT STILL USE IT ON THE REPLACEMENT PARTS WHEN THIS SHRINKS IT PULLS THE COMPONENTS ON BOARD LOOSE, CAUSING POOR IDLE/ HESITATION AND STALLING EVEN DURING ACCELERATION (IE WHEN PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC). *AK

HEATER CONTROL SWITCH FIRE. (INSURANCE AGENT FOR CLIENT)

OWNER SAID THAT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS DESIGNED POORLY, IT IS CRACKING AND SPLITTING. *AK

I WAS COMING DOWN A 2 LANE AND IT JUST STOPPED AND GOT REAR ENDED WHEN IT SHUT OFF IT WAS THE ECM SHORTED BECAUSE OF SEALANT FROM FACTORY. *AK

THE HOOD LATCH BROKE, CAUSING THE HOOD TO FLY UP.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, TURNED THE CORNER, DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER. *AK

CRIUSE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED, WHEN TRIED TO DISENGAGE WILL NOT, WENT INTO OPEN THROTTLE POSITION, TO STOP VEHICLE APPLIED THE BRAKES REAL HARD AND RELEASED. *AK

DRIVING DOWN HWY, HOOD FLEW UP, OBSTRUCTED VISION COMPLETELY, PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF RD, HOOD STILL ATTACHED TO FRAME, HOOD CLOSED PARTIALLY. *AK

DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING FRONTAL IMPACT; VEHICLE BROADSIDED ANOTHER MOVING VEHICLE. *AK

THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONT END ACCIDENT.PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

DURING WARM WEATHER THE VEHICLE'S THROTTLE WILL STICK AT 2000. THROUGH MY RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE THE FAULT OF THE ECU. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS THING TO HAVE YOUR THROTTLE STICK. DT

STEERING COLUMN LOCKS UP IN COLD WEATHER WHEN MAKING SHARP TURNS. *AK

EXHAUST MANIFOLD LEAKS FUMES INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. TT EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS BROKEN IN HALF, LEAKS EXHAUST FUMES INTO ENGINE AND PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *YH

STEERING COLUMN LOOSE. *TT

WHILE DRIVING STEERING HUB FRACTURED, AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BURNED DRIVERS FACE. TT CONSUMER ALSO STATES EYES AND BODY AS WELL AS DEVELOPING AN INFECTION, FROM ACCIDENT.*JB

CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOYED . TT