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GM blamed

Wright fears another gas tank explosion

Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Jan 19/01) - Richard Wright definitely got some bang for his buck, but not in the way he had hoped.

The gas tank in Wright's 2000 Chevy Astro van blew up last December while he was driving it. With the parts replaced under warranty, it hasn't cost him anything, but his confidence in the vehicle has been shaken.

"Thank God no one was injured," he said. "My main worry is that this could happen again."

Faye Roberts, manager of public relations for General Motors of Canada in Oshawa, Ont., referred to the incident as a "phenomenon."

"His is the only vehicle of that type where that has occurred," she said. "We believe that the likelihood that that would happen again is very low."

She would not confirm that the gas tank had exploded.

Lars Eif, Transport Canada's chief of defects investigations and recalls, said Transport Canada began an investigation into the matter after being contacted by Wright. He said GM is also conducting their own investigation.

"We'll be asking them for all of their information," he said, adding that the investigator will also attempt to determine if there have been any similar complaints.

The Motor Vehicle Safety Act compels GM to divulge any pertinent information that Transport Canada requests, Eif said.

The incident had occurred on Dec. 9, a particularly cold morning, with temperatures hovering around - 40 C. Wright let his van warm up for about 10 minutes before getting behind the wheel.

He only made it about 200 feet from his driveway when the van's gas tank, made of a high-density plastic compound, blew into pieces.

"It was such a big bang it really rocked the ship," he said. "It felt like the rear wheels came off the ground."

Wright got out of the vehicle and saw scraps of his engine littering the road and the half-tank of gasoline spilt on the ground. Had the weather not been so cold the hot exhaust from the tailpipe could have ignited the fuel, he said.

He had a local mechanic take a look at the vehicle. It was then trucked to the GM dealership in High Level, Alberta, where it had been purchased. The van was repaired and returned to the Wright's last weekend. They have been driving it since then.

Wright said he has talked to two GM representatives and neither of them would promise that the replacement gas tank wouldn't blow up like the original.

Richard's wife, Sandra said they will end up trading in their van.