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Pontiac Grand Prix Visibility Defroster/defogger System Safety Report | June 18, 2011
Reported on June 18, 2011
| OUR 2004 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX HAS HAD TWO FAILURES OF THE HEATER MOTOR IN THREE YEARS. IN BOTH CASES NOXIOUS FUMES AND SMOKE CAME FROM THE DASHBOARD. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE SIGHT OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD WHILE ON A BUSY INTERSTATE (WE WERE) CAN RESULT IN GREAT ANXIETY. I'M AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER AND MY MECHANIC LET ME SEE THE PARTS. THE SMOKE CAME FROM A RESISTOR THAT IS PART OF THE SPEED CONTROL FOR THE MOTOR. IT'S A VERY POOR DESIGN, WITH HEAT FINS TO DISSIPATE THE HEAT INTO THE HEATER/AC AIR FLOW. IF THE MOTOR STARTS TO DRAG, CURRENT GOES UP AND AIRFLOW GOES DOWN, WITH THE RESULT THAT THE RESISTOR HEATS UP TO THE POINT WHERE IT PUTS SMOKE INTO THE AIR STREAM. I CONSIDER THIS EXTREMELY POOR DESIGN, AND A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. I'VE WRITTEN TO THE MANUFACTURER AND SUGGESTED A NEW DESIGN (I HATE HAVING TO RE-DESIGN THINGS DONE BY AMATEURS!). *TR | |
| Make: | Pontiac |
| Model: | Grand Prix |
| Manufactured by: | GENERAL MOTORS LLC |
| Year: | 2004 |
| Was a crash reported? | N |
| Was an injury reported? | |
| Was a death reported? | |
| Was a fire reported? | N |
| Location: | LOWELL MA |
| Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): | 2G2WP522841 |
| Mileage: | 113000 miles. |
| Speed: | 65 MPH |
| Number of cylinders: | 6 |
| Vehicle type: | FWD |
| Vehicle fuel: | |
| Was a police report filed? | N |
| Tire size: | |
| Dealer name and location: | |
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