Buick Rainier, Chevy TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy

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

You are in the Buick Rainier Forum.

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

#3231 of 18329 A4WD?? by iexplore2000

Dec 26, 2001 (12:46 pm)

So.. I guess it would be fair to say that the Smart Trak isn't that smart anymore?

I had a 1997 Oldsmobile Bravada and the Smart Trak system worked fairly well. I can remember putting the vehicle on a solid ice patch in an apartment complex and testing the Smart Trak system, friends said that you could see the power being diverted to each wheel with the most grip, but after reviewing the brochure for the 2002, I seems like it is just a regular A4wd system used in the TB and Envoy? Hmm..

Oh well! Just to think, I almost bought the Bravada based on the Smart Trak principle alone? I actually hate anything that involves having to shift into 4wd, but the Envoy does suffice with the A4wd.

Thanks!

Dennis D.

#3232 of 18329 Vibration aroun 60 MPH by jeffwoerth

Dec 26, 2001 (1:15 pm)

The Envoy is also vibrating at 60mph when the gas pedal is slightly depressed. I'm taking my truck in for the transfer case recall on Friday and have told them to check on the vibration.
I'm also having problems with the mirror position recall, and that's gonna get checked out too.
I'll let you all know what I find out about the 60mph issue by this weekend if they can determine what it is. I believe this has been an on-going problem so I hope GMC has addressed this and told their service stations what to do about it.

#3233 of 18329 Speeding Ticket, Vibration, Mirrors, etc... by tpellow

Dec 26, 2001 (2:49 pm)

Just got back from a long weekend of traveling, put about 1000 mi on the TB LTZ and I'm even more convinced of my sheer delight in owning this SUV. Although, I have to get used to the additional power at my disposal again, nearly hit 90mph passing car on a 2 lane highway (too cool!!). I got a speeding ticket doing 81.265 mph in a 65. I was apparently clocked by a sky patrol despite the fact that my cruise was locked at 77 mph for the previous 1.5 hours. The officer that pulled me over was not in a holiday spirit either and pleaded ignorance to knowing the specifics of where and when exactly I was clocked and "was following orders from the sky patrol on who to pull over". Funny thing is, another similar color vehicle of similar size was pulled over 1 minute after me by another officer behind us. I'm gonna try and fight it and see what happens.

The kids loved the DVD player, watching 9 different movies through the course of the weekend. Has anyone ever figured out a way to play the DVD movie through the Bose system?? Would be nice if the wireless headphone batteries die in the middle of a trip.

Vibration - In the course of the weekend, the mysterious pedal vibration happened frequently due to the many miles of 2 lane 45 mph roads that were driven. I seem to believe the latest theory that this relates to torque lock-up in the transmission as I noticed at about the same speed, although not as pronounced, the same phenemonon in my mother in-laws 2001 Olds Aurora. I also drove another relative's 2001 Toyota Avalon over the same road, at the same speed but did not have a similar response hence its not the road. By the way comparing the 3 vehicles, I still like my TB LTZ much better, overall I think it just drove better. Obviously, the sedans had me whipped on cornering but after having SUV's for over 7 years I just don't take corners at 50+ mph anymore. I'll wait until I hear about a tried and true fix for the vibration before I make any changes.

Mirrors - about a month ago I complained to the dealer about my "double-vision" outside driver's mirror. They replaced the assembly, had to wait a week for the replacement to come in. When the new one was put on, don't know if it happened during installation or shipment but part of the plastic molding along the window edge was broken and missing. 1 week later another mirror assembly was installed with no problems. Have not had any issues with wandering mirrors either so I would assume those problems have been corrected on the latest production assemblies.

Electrical - the TB sat outside at my parents the other night, coldest night to date 11 degrees. When I started the TB in the morning, had something unusual happen. She cranked slower than normal (you'd expect that in the cold), she started fine but for about 5 seconds the volt meter read only about 10 amps along with the lights and everything else remaining dimly lit. Then the meter jumped up to 14+ amps and everything else brightened accordingly. Has anyone else experienced this? Was this a fluke or are the electronics designed to do this at the lower temps?

Tim
2002 TB LTZ

#3234 of 18329 Are recall problems fixed in yet-to-be-built models? by icojones

Dec 26, 2001 (7:53 pm)

I am planning on ordering and Envoy or a TB in the next month. Can I assume that any of the officially recognized recalls/problems will not be an issue for an as yet to be built car? Have the newer cars had fewer problems?

Thanks.

#3235 of 18329 Accesories by osu98

Dec 27, 2001 (10:57 am)

Hello everyone. I am a new Trailblazer owner and have a question. I just got back from a 1400 mile road trip to the in-laws for Christmas and my TB drove like a dream. She now has 1700 miles on her and I have not experienced too many problems yet. My question relates to accessories for the TrailBlazer. I would like to purchase mud guards and rain guards for the windows. Does anyone know where I could order these?

#3236 of 18329 Intense heat from CD player by osu98

Dec 27, 2001 (11:00 am)

After driving foo three hours, I noticed an intense heat coming from the CD player area on my TB. It continued to get hotter as the hours went on. Has anyone else experienced this? Is this something I should bring to the dealers attention?

#3237 of 18329 re: cd player heat by agenteleven

Dec 27, 2001 (11:49 am)

My cd player gets hot, too, as does those of others that have posted here.

I think it may be normal. I've noticed it in other cars, also.

If the dash melts because of it, then I would alert the dealer.

#3238 of 18329 Battery by sostrouble

Dec 27, 2001 (12:31 pm)

Tim - get your battery checked. The other day mine would not start at 24 degrees. GM Road side service told me my battery was weak and wouldn't hold a charge, and that I should demand that they replace it.

I jump started the Envoy and took it in to the dealer, and they told me the battery going dead was my fault. I drive the Envoy every day, but they said it was because I didn't use it enough.
Where in the owner's manual does it say that you have to use the vehicle everyday to keep the battery charged. I asked him that if I went out of town for a week and didn't use it, should I expect it not to start when I get back, and he wouldn't answer that question.

I have a 91 GMC Safari van that has sat in the driveway for over a month (not starting it) with a 3 year old battery, and it started right up.
They also told me that if I would have went somewhere to have the battery changed, by someone other than GM, even though they were closed for the holidays, I would have voided the warranty on my electrical system.

#3239 of 18329 3088 of 3091 Accesories by osu98 Dec 27, 2001 (09:57 am) by hmaximo

Dec 27, 2001 (12:50 pm)

I think the best place is at the dealership parts dept.Not as cheap but warranty is nice.

#3240 of 18329 Accessories / OSU98 by bryancos

Dec 27, 2001 (1:23 pm)

OSU: lots of folks ordered them from gmpartsdirect.com the part numbers are listed here in the forum or check out the Accessories board, as I think I copied some of the info there too for easier reference. Keep in mind that the part numbers are DIFFERENT for TB and Envoy for both the mudguards and the ventvisors.
Dealer price on the mudguards is about $30/pair. gmpartsdirect.com is about $20/pair +/- the pennies...
Autoventshade makes visors comparable to the GM ones (stick ons w/ 3M tape) $55 from jcwhitney special order. They also make tail light covers for all three triplets. (www.jcwhitney.com)
Weathertech makes very nice weatherflector visors. (they fit inside the window channel) approx $80 They also make a very nice bugshield for all three triplets... (www.macnielauto.com)

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