Coolant system is using a lot of coolant. Manifold intake has a leak that is leaking out the coolant.

- Stockton, CA, USA

The vehicle developed an antifreeze odor during 2000. On several trips to the dealer, no problem was found. The last trip to the dealer, just before the warranty expired, is when the problem was documented (12/26/2000, 15,930 miles) the dealer indicates no leak found. We had the car serviced at a local non-dealer facility, and they indicated that they believed the intake manifold gasket was the cause of the minor leak and antifreeze smell. The dealership now indicates that the "expansion plug" on the engine is faulty, and refuses to address this as a warranty issue (they will pay for parts but the total labor bill is in excess of $600, with parts unlikely to amount to a fraction the labor costs). The Pontiac customer relations department refuses to intervene. Your site indicates a service bulletin -- service bulletin number: 010601007, bulletin sequence number: 191, date of bulletin: 0102, NHTSA item number: SB619176, some owners may comment on engine coolant consumption, or an engine coolant leak near or under the throttle body area ofthe upper intake manifold.. can you intervene as this is an identified product issue?

- Chester, NJ, USA