SACRAMENTO -- California regulators said Tuesday they are requiring General Motors Corp. to extend its fuel injector warranty coverage on about 700,000 light- and medium-duty sport utility vehicles, trucks and vans dating from the 1996 model year.
The regulators said the warranty extensions will protect air quality by helping vehicle owners repair fuel injection systems that can spew more pollution if they are not working properly. The extensions on vehicles sold through the 2001 model year could cost the company $100 million, the California Air Resources Board estimated.
General Motors disputed that the cost will be anywhere near that high.
GM will soon begin notifying vehicle owners that the original 10-year, 100,000 mile warranty is being extended to 10 years, 200,000 miles, with repairs at no cost.
The Air Resources Board described GM's Sequential Central Port Injector (SCPI) fuel system as "trouble-prone," and said malfunctions may prompt "Service Engine Soon" dashboard warning lights, misfires, rough idles, and starting problems. The problems stem from deposit accumulations that may cause poppet valves to stick and fail, the board said.
The system was installed on GM sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks and vans with 4.3L, 5.0L, and 5.7 liter engines.
The air board put GM's cleaning cost at $115 per vehicle and replacement cost at $350.<
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