Automatic Transmission problems of the 2000 Chevrolet Astro

My ac failed to blow cold after I noted some oil (not motor oil) under the front passenger side of the vehicle. The dealership recharged the system which was apparently empty including dye for which I bore the cost ($200+). Less than 12 hrs later the system no longer blew cold and no fluid was noted under the vehicle. The vehicle was taken back to the dealership for inspection of the dye. The mechanic removed then interior engine hood and found that the ac line had rubbed against the transmission filler tube (now metal on metal). A hole the size of a dime to nickel was in the filler tube and the ac line also had a hole in it. I also have another 2k chevy Astro that was diag'd several years ago for the same hole in the ac line but it had not worn a hole in the transmission filler tube. The mechanic had indicated that the ac line was "run that way from the factory". At this point foreign matter has fallen into the transmission including the metal from the filler tube, the black foam cover on the ac line and apparently the freon from the dye recharge. I have to presume other foreign matter has made its way in to filler tube as well. I am now attempting the have gm cover the $1k repair to the ac line and transmission filler tube.

On Tuesday , Dec. 30, 2003, while attempting to engage the drive on the automatic transmission of my year 2000 chevy Astro van, 2wd, the entire shift assembly crumbled in my hands as is it was a piece of candy. I took delivery of this vehicle on 7/20/2000 from bk chevy here in brooklyn, new york. The van doesn't even have 10,000 miles on it!!! it looks brand new on the outside. This is a manufacturer's defect that could have been fatal had the vehicle been in motion. Fortunately I was in park. . . And the shift assembly broke apart while the vehicle was in park. The vehicle was towed to bk chevy service center for repair. This is going to be an out-of-warranty repair and cost me a lot of money. I have asked for all the broken parts to be placed in the box the new parts came in and I am willing to ship the broken parts for testing to washington, DC. I await instructions.

Hard transmission shift on 2nd gear as if being rear ended. Symptoms appears only when vehicle is hot or on long trips.

2000 Astro van with 50,000 miles. Reverse and second gears went out. Now costing $1500 to have the transmission rebuilt. We bought this van new in 2000.

Code 1870 is well documented on multiple web sites. The aluminum valve housing is too small and wears out quickly. The sympton is a very hard shift from 1-2 and 2-3 as if being rear-ended only after the vehicle is hot. Chevy has reengineered to a bigger valve but still wants it's customers to pay half of $2000 for a $350-$950 problem that should be covered by it's warrenty. Sonnex makes a steel replacement and can verify how frequent the problem is. Chevy's aluminum replacement is questionable, let alone the deal they offer.

The consumer stated that while driving the vehicles automatic transmission did not shift properly in second gear. The dealer inspected it several times when the vehicle was under warranty but could not duplicate or correct the problem.

I am requesting that the vehicle is bought back. No safety defec tmentioned.