Hey guys, here'* my dilemma. My Bonneville has 38,000 miles and when I bought it I got an extended warranty and with it I can go to any mechanic. It'* through GE. I am now leaking coolant and am debating if I should just take it to my mechanic or go to the dealer. Does it really matter?

Talk about deja vu! Just last week I had the same problem. I bought mine with 48k and also bought the extended warranty. Mine has a $25 deductible if I go to the dealer and a $125 deductible if I go anywhere else. It also covers a rental car for up to 5 days plus another 5 if the parts are on backorder. I ended up going to the dealer (I bought it from an Acura dealership). They replaced the lower and upper intake gaskets and fixed the problem. Total bill would have been over 300 bucks. Added bonus by going to the dealer: they gave me a loaner right off the lot rather than me having to go to a rental agency. MAJOR added bonus: my loaner was a 2006 Acura TL (not a bad lil ride if I do say so).

My advice, go to the dealer. Since you bought your extended warranty from them (I'm assuming) they will be able to grease the wheels on filing your claim. If you go elsewhere you may have to pay out of pocket and then go to war with the warranty company to get reimbursed.

Thanks for the reply. I actually purchased my car at a used car dealer and it'* where I got the extended warranty. The warranty is thrue GE. It was expalined to me that whoever I bring the car too, they get reimbursed. I didn't know about a deductable. I should look into that.

It will be far less hastle to take it to the dealer. You can have someone else do it but you will have to pay for it and then submit the expense to the dealer for reimbersement. Some can be sticky.

I agree with Silverbullet, bring it to dealer if you have a warranty. Much less trouble, and you know the job will be well made.

I'm encouraged that the intake manifolds were covered. I have a chrysler-backed extended warranty, and rumours fly around here that they won't cover the manifolds because it'* a "design flaw". Don't have anything to back this up, but it'* got me nervous!

It all depend what his extended guarantee cover. I remember when my lower intake gasket was leaking i had to pay a part of that like gaskets.

After I did my intake gaskets, I took it to the dealer to have all the DexCool removed and green coolant put in so I wouldn't have the gasket problem in the future. Something you might want to consider.

I would call a Dealer first and make sure they will do the paperwork because most garages want their money now and you have to get money back from GE. And that Dex Cool is on my top of things to get done at Dealer if the new replacement fog lamp wiring harness ever gets here from GM.