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Buick Rainier, Chevy TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy

18329 messages,  Last post on Apr 30, 2012 at 8:10 PM

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What is this discussion about? Chevrolet TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, GMC Envoy XL, Isuzu Ascender, Oldsmobile Bravada, SUV

Messages Page 258 of 1833

#2571 of 18329 bravada--general comments by imototo

Oct 10, 2001 (1:51 am)

I, too, like the shifter on the floor. Maybe because my first cars, years ago, were sports cars. Having said that though, I think the console is way overdone. And CDs don't fit. If there is a passenger with me, I have no place to put my purse except at their feet. Taking away their foot space. And, in cars before, push came to shove, someone could sit in the middle, feet in the passenger footwell, but derriere (I was going to say but butt, then thought better of it) sort of hunched on the much smaller console or whatever was there. Person would have to lean toward the passenger to enable the driver to shift. Pleez, no lectures on safety.
 
More troubling to me is that my "service engine soon" light came on at 500 miles. Manual says put in 87 octane gas, salesman at dealer said "nah, go right ahead and use 85". I always used 91 octane for the Olds I had before this....and it lasted 16 years and still would be around if not for an accident that totalled it. Point being, I was experimenting with different octanes. Obviously, with the price of gas, cheaper would be nicer! Costco gas only offers 85 or 91. So, first fill up was with 91, then I filled up with 85. The light came on soon after that. OK, I figured that was the problem. So next, I blended them.....(Insert 2 cards, wait for all the little messages, fill to what I thought was about half a tank, then did it all over again with the other octane). Light didn't go off. So, time to take it in.
 
I bought the car 50 miles away (drive time--1 1/2 hours) with the full assurance from the dealership and the Olds website that any GM dealer would service my car. Took the car in to a Pontiac dealership that I can walk home from and they told me they wouldn't touch it unless I bought it from them. (Duh, they don't sell Oldsmobiles!)
 
Called the 1 of only 2 Olds dealerships in my metro area of over 2 million and the service guy said that was correct. I have to take it to a "branded" dealership. Unfortunately, I can't walk from there to anywhere....not a nice part of town to spend 8 hrs while your car is being checked out.
 
The Olds service guy said that because the Bravada is not going to be phased out until at least 2004, I have to take it to an Olds dealership. That was certainly not what I heard when I bought the car. Feel like I've been cheated somehow....I still think the car is great except for that pesky light which probably means nothing, anyway. And I'd totally ignore it except it might put the warrenty in jeopardy.

#2572 of 18329 floor shifter by smith53

Oct 10, 2001 (3:07 am)

maybe the reason for floor shift is the same reason gm does most of the things they do. MONEY. cheaper steering column, less linkage and shorter cables.

#2573 of 18329 by midlifecrisis

Oct 10, 2001 (5:20 am)

Why do minivans and trucks still have the shifter on the column? Except for the new Kia Sedona, which places the shifter at the base of the dashboard in the middle (rather odd).

#2574 of 18329 MT Truck of the Year by dindak

Oct 10, 2001 (5:35 am)

Could not agree with the choice more. Truly the best SUV on the road today.

#2575 of 18329 Floor shifter logic by gmdrone

Oct 10, 2001 (7:06 am)

Being that I work for the company in question, I might be somewhat biased, but I totally disagree with the statement made that a manual transmission is better for towing and offroading. Now I know you purists are going to say that "foul"!!, but with the durability of the modern day automatic transmission,(I'm talking about the Hydra Matic transmission, not the versions found in the imports), you actually are much better off with the fluid drive in terms of reliability, smoothness of operation, and fuel mileage. I used to be a firm believer in manual transmissions (when I was much younger and more agile), and I plowed many acres of snow using a Jeep with a manual tranny, until I aquired several jobs that needed a wider blade( 8' vs 6' on the Jeep), and I was forced to look at a bigger truck. I was headed to purchase a 3/4 ton Chevy PU with a manual gearbox, until an older guy at the dealership heard me talking to the salesman and told me that the auto was actually less stressful on the truck. I took his advice, and put over 400,000 miles on that truck,many plowing snow, both wet and dry. I still have that truck today, it's a 1979 Custom Deluxe, with a vinyl bench seat, Turbo Hydra Matic 400, and full time 4x4. It only gets 9 mpg, but it also can push a 4 foot snowfall down the 3 mile long drive into and out of the cottage. Not only that, I have never opened the transmission casing, not once. (My contacts at Hydra Matic told me not to, they figured it would only cause problems!!)
As this relates to the Trailblazer, the reason the shifter is on the floor is because that's where the customer clinics told the designers to put it. I have heard the opposite comment from people who don't like where the shifter is on the Rendevous, (it is on the column!!). I guess it once again proves out the theory that you can't please all of the people all of the time. "Nuf Said!

#2576 of 18329 re: gmdrone by hambone7

Oct 10, 2001 (8:36 am)

Now that we know you work for GM....
 
If you could answer two questions, my life would be complete: Why do you have to purchase the OnStar option (about $900+ dollars) if you want a sunroof on a TB LS? Why does GM paint the bodyside moulding on an TB LS, not paint it on a TB LT, and then paint it on the TB LTZ? On every other GM product, painted body side mouldings are limited to the upper scale model (look at the Tahoe, LS does not paint the body side mouldings, but the LT does....as you would expect since painting is more labor and materials for the more expensive LT model). I think someone was smoking something illegal when they decided on the LS vs. LT paint options on the TB.

#2577 of 18329 Hambone by gmdrone

Oct 10, 2001 (9:15 am)

I must confess that I don't know why the requirement for the Onstar. I work in the manufacturing side of the house, and I often doubt the sanity of design/product/marketing. If I didn't get a vehicle as part of my job, I would order a TB without the sunroof, and have the dealer install an aftermarket one. As for the moldings, I totally agree, I'm currently working on a new p/u with only ONE trim level, if you can believe that! The General never ceases to amaze me, and I've been here for 17 years. I am glad that Lutz has come back here, it can only do us well to have a guy with car in his blood. I do know that what you are talking about is exactly the reason he has come back. I just hope he can convince the beaners that "sometimes you just gotta do something 'cause it FEELS right"

#2578 of 18329 Floor shifter logic by iws

Oct 10, 2001 (10:05 am)

I must agree with gmdrone. Anyone who reads the manufacturers towing recommendations for trucks knows that tow ratings are significantly higher for vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions than those with manual shifters. In most cases it is also stressed that when the automatic is hunting gears due to hilly terrain you should shift from OD to drive (3rd gear). When traveling in hills and mountains I try to minimize the gear hunting by shifting to 3rd (keeps the heat down). To maximize fuel efficiency on the long downhills and flat stretches I shift back to OD. It is much easier to do this shifting with a floor shifter than it was in my previous trucks with column shifters.
 
Also, it appears GM was listening to it's customers through the customer clinics....listening to what customers want is a far cry from deferring to the auto magazine "experts". While I don't always agree with the auto experts critiques I certainly do believe the primary focus of a business is to listen to it's customers. In this case GM did and I think this is the significant point not to be missed.

#2579 of 18329 Catching up with the Triplets by lurker01

Oct 10, 2001 (10:09 am)

I am picking up my new Envoy today, so I spent some time reviewing all the posts on this board and creating a summary of issues people have had, with fixes where mentioned and also info on some recalls and tips.
 
This is not meant as critizism of the truck, as only a few have had some of these issues.
 
Thanks to all of you for posting this information over the last several months.
-----------------------------------------
 
ISSUES TO LOOK AT WHEN PICKING UP OR ‘DOWN THE ROAD’.
1. Loose headliner. Held on by Velcro. Tends to vibrate when sunroof is open.
2. Missing screws on front license plate holder.
3. Loose center console. Missing screws that hold it in place.
4. Weather seal around doors loose. Not glued. Comment: The dealer's service director told me "we had to trim about 1mm off the rear weather-stripping (on the door jamb, not the door) because it seems that they are too big".
5. Missing paint on door handles.
6. Front air dam not properly attached.
7. Front wheel wells not anchored to the fender. There are holes all along the lip of the fender, but no fasteners in the holes.
8. Missing air filter indicator. See page 6-16 in manual to locate.
9. Check oil level.
10. Windshield seal molding is loose. Can detach while driving.
11. Third brake light lower seal to glass (taped) may be loose or could come loose. Cover over third brake light is lifting up off glass.
12. Rear doors out of alignment.
13. Power seat stopped working.
14. Bad seal on rear window.
15. Driver door panel was loose and had to be fastened.
16. Paint at bottom of the gate had a number of chips right at the seam.
17. Loose front fascia/bumper.
18. The drivers seat does not go back to the original position after the 'easy exit' feature is on.
19. The driver’s door would not open. It worked from inside but you can't open it from the outside.
20. The boot covering the parking brake lever came loose from the floor with a slight tug.
21. Missing plastic covers over the front seat mountings on the floor.
22. Gritty substance under the paint in the doorjambs.
23. Check tires pressure for proper amount. Has been too high from dealer.
24. Chipped paint around the large plastic license plate surround.
25. Hatch strap on rear door broke. Seems flimsy.
26. On Star rearview mirror making a high-pitched squeal. Made it go away by squeezing the right side of the mirror (pushing the back housing into the front trim like you're trying to snap the mirror back together). You'll know you're squeezing the right place because the squeal gets much louder when it's squeezed. Let go and it goes away (or lessens in volume). If yours isn't squealing, DON'T GO MESSING AROUND ON YOUR MIRROR. It could start the squealing, and trust me; you don't want to hear the squealing.
27. Leather upholstery is bubbled out where it goes under the outside of the seat in the rear passenger seats.
 
ISSUES TO LOOK FOR WHEN DRIVING
1. Buzzing from speakers when instrument panel lights are on. Possible Fix: replace wires with shielded ones.
2. Needed to have the driver's side outside mirror assembly replaced because at night time, the auto-dimming feature would produce a very distorted image.
3. Gauges all pegging to the right. Fix#1: computer issue (supposedly GM knows about it and will be working on a software fix) Fix#2: relay was not fully installed in its socket. Pushed it in and it seems to be OK for now. Fix#3: The mechanic checked the codes and says it is the "Body Module".
4. Oil a quart low after driving 2000 miles.
5. Loose wire in headliner makes noise while driving. TSB issued. DIY Fix: The rattle in the headliner also could not be fixed so I did it myself by removing the compartments and stuffing foam up in the roof and around the wires.
6. Needs front-end alignment.
7. Tires need balancing.
8. Mushy brakes. Air in lines. Need to be bled.
9. Low fuel light comes on at 1/4 full.
10. Transmission seems to drag when it shifts into high gear. It starts its shift into high gear at 35 mph and completes the shift at 40 mph. It just seems that it takes forever to complete the shifting.
11. When driving on the highway and the vehicle is usually over 55mph, under certain conditions after accelerating and easing off on the gas petal, a vibration is felt under the floorboard through the petal. Also felt it from the passenger seat. It's happened under different road conditions, and there seems to be no loss of vehicle power.
12. Engine races at a very high rpm. The dealer replaced a module he said would correct this, but after only 2 days the car stalled and the engine raced.
13. Striker plates on both rear doors needed adjustment, causing rattles.
14. Driver’s door making a loud banging noise when going over a bump. Seems like a door guide is bad or something wrong with a hinge.
15. The center console was loose and squeaking. Fixed by disassembling the console, putting felt where things rubbed together, and putting loctite on the screws. Squeaking is gone.
16. Black trim on exterior of doors fading.
17. On a left-hand U-turn, with the wheel turned all the way left and brakes lightly applied, heard an intermittent grinding noise coming from the right front tire area. Service dept said parts needed to be greased. Once they greased the joints, the noise went away and everything's been fine since.
18. Luggage rack latch-wouldn't stay latched, they replaced the whole bar and that fixed it.
19. Tinny, audible sound coming from the dash where it meets the windshield, this sound can be heard on every little bump in the road.
20. About 5 times in the last week the transmission seems to be stuck in 1st, the engine just revs up and there is little power until I put the gear shift into 3rd to correct it.
21. The visible filler gasket that is supposed to catch spilled gas is badly cracked (4 months old), it looks like 5 years old.
22. After a "long" hill climb, it seems that the engine lost some of its pick-up and go.
23. The check engine light has come on at 500 and 1100 miles, and then goes off by the next day.
24. Cruising down the interstate at 70-75 with cruise control on, come up on some slow moving traffic and you pull out to pass, stepping on the gas (with the cruise control still on) increasing your speed to get around, take your foot off the gas pedal and it turns the cruise control off.
25. Scratches in the driver's window from going up and down. There are two scratches now from the bottom to the top of the window as if the window were scraping against something inside the door.
26. Coolant sensor failures have happened to several trucks.

#2580 of 18329 Catching up Continued... by lurker01

Oct 10, 2001 (10:10 am)

Here is the rest that got cut off. Please feel free to add more.
---------------------------------------------
RECALLS
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 01V158000
Component: INTERIOR SYSTEMS:CONSOLE (8/82)
Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Year: 2002 Make: GMC Model: ENVOY Recall Date: 05/22/2001
Type of Report: Vehicle
Potential Number of Units Affected: 8197
Defect Summary:
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACTS." THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONSOLE COVER/ARMREST LID LATCH THAT COULD RELEASE AT LESS THAN THE 10G VERTICAL LOAD REQUIREMENT OF THE STANDARD.
Consequence Summary:
IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE CONSOLE COVER COULD OPEN AND THE COVER OR ITEMS STORED UNDER IT COULD INJURE AN OCCUPANT.
Corrective Summary:
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CONSOLE LATCH MECHANISM AND INSTALL A STRIKER PLATE.
 
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 01V283000
Component: POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)1
Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Year: 2002 Make: GMC Model: ENVOY Recall Date: 09/18/2001
Type of Report: Vehicle
Potential Number of Units Affected: 895
Defect Summary:
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES (4 WHEEL-DRIVE). SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH A RANGE SHIFT COLLAR IN THE TRANSMISSION TRANSFER CASE THAT CONTAINS CRACKS.
Consequence Summary:
THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN A COMPLETE FRACTURE OF THE RANGE SHIFT COLLAR AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF VEHICLE FORWARD AND REVERSE GEARS, AND THE INABILITY TO MAINTAIN "PARK" POSITION. THIS INCREASES THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH RESULTING FROM UNINTENDED MOVEMENT OF A PARKED VEHICLE.
Corrective Summary:
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSFER CASES AND UPDATE THE CONTROL MODULE CALIBRATION.
 
TIPS
1. Move the front crossbar of the luggage rack toward the back until it is even with the back of the rear doors. This is supposed to reduce the wind noise
2. You can reset the Oil Change Light by turning the key to ON and fully depressing the gas pedal three times within five seconds.
3. The daytime running lights come on as soon as the shifter is moved out of park ... they can be defeated by pressing the courtesy light override 4 times.
4. There is a little bar with holes that pops up when the sunroof is retracted. Found that it seems quieter when bar is held down so it doesn't catch the wind.
5. If you have the DIC system you have two trip odometers. To see them press the "odo" button on the steering wheel (not the one on the instrument panel), it's the one that is on the left top (above the one for fuel data).
6. There is a way to store the CDs so you can read the labels on the ends. Turn the CD so the label end faces up. Put the CD in the slot at the back, and let the front of the CD drop down, the CD will rest against the front of the console at a slight angle, and you can read it. It is almost easier to get the CD into the one slot in back, than it is to get it in both.

Messages Page 258 of 1833

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