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Buick Rendezvous Maintenance and Repair

2506 messages,  Last post on May 20, 2013 at 2:21 PM

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What is this discussion about? Buick Rendezvous, SUV

Messages Page 246 of 251

#2451 of 2506 Re: 2003 Buick Rendezvous sluggish acceleration ECM/BCM codes [jnawrocki] by 1wildpete

May 20, 2012 (6:35 am)

Replying to: jnawrocki (May 19, 2012 10:24 am)
First place to start and cheapest is to get a fuel system cleaner, like LUcas and add to your gas or you may want to try so more expensive ones - any parts guy will help you. Some times its just a bad tank of gas.

#2452 of 2506 Update to my dealing with Buick by tflanster

May 20, 2012 (11:28 am)

You can read all my stuff regarding problems with my '03 RDV above. Buick's "regional expert" told me, in essence, too bad. We won't help you with the crank seal, oil pan, exhaust manifold leaks or the wiring problems in the mirror, but thanks for being a Buick customer.
 
So, I complained to just about every agency I could find. Two days ago I got a message on my cell phone (I told Buick to never call the cell, call the home phone.) It was from the "expert." I'm passing on your complaint to higher-ups for further review." Great! Now what? I very much doubt that Buick will respond. All I got was that short worded message - no follow-up call, nothing. And nothing from the dealer, either. So tell me about how great GM's customer relations are. I understand the car's 67K miles and 9 years along but in the days of 100 - 150K expectations, the problems with my car and others sure shouldn't be as rampant as they are.

#2453 of 2506 Re: Update to my dealing with Buick [tflanster] by tflanster

May 29, 2012 (5:19 pm)

Replying to: tflanster (May 20, 2012 11:28 am)
Well, some may find this interesting. I wrote of all the leaks - crank seal, oil pan gasket, etc., and the problems I had dealing with Buick about them. So rather than going ahead and spending a couple thousand bucks, I bought a bottle of "oil seal leak stop" by STP. I figured what the heck, for a couple bucks its worth a try. I dumped it in a couple weeks ago and checked under the car every couple days. Parked it over a metal pan too. Zero leaks - nothing yet.
 
Now, this makes me wonder about a few things. Was the oil filter and oil drain plug tightly closed? Did the Buick mechanic actually see oil leaks? Did the independent mechanic actually see leaks, or did he just see leaks from the filter and plug? Does that gasket seal stuff really work? I'm really confused now. Who to trust? Buick? The independent guy? STP? Fate?
 
It is a puzzlement . . .

#2454 of 2506 Re: Update to my dealing with Buick [tflanster] by bxd

May 30, 2012 (4:37 am)

Replying to: tflanster (May 29, 2012 5:19 pm)
It's probably the STP product. I have used Lucas Stop Leak before with similar results. It can rejuvenate old seals pretty well. What it does is, it gets absorbed by the gasket materials and makes them swell up. So anywhere they have cracked or shrunk from pressure/age, they swell again. I would run it according to the bottle for this oil change, then I would not add any at your next oil change and see what happens. If the leak slowly comes back, reintroduce the stop leak very gradually, about 2 oz at a time waiting a couple days of driving between additions till the leak stops. You want to find that sweet spot where the leak is stopped with the minimum additive because the stop leak additive isn't the greatest thing for your engine. I'm not saying that using it will destroy your engine in short order, but it can increase wear.
 
While using the stop leak, I would also make absolutely sure that you are getting 5W-30 motor oil when you get your change (and DOUBLY sure in winter months). The stop leak will raise the viscosity of the oil on startup. In fact if you find that you require a full bottle of stop leak with each oil change, then I would switch to 0W-30 motor oil to compensate. (But from the sound of it, your leaks aren't THAT bad, and I highly doubt it will take anywhere near a full bottle each change.)
 
As far as who was being honest with you.... we'll never know. Ideally you would have gotten underneath the car while it was leaking, liberally sprayed it down with simple green, hosed it off, and noted the leak points. If you are uncomfortable getting under the car or don't have the safety equipment to do so, then you'll have no choice but to find a mechanic you trust.
 
But, in closing, in my experience working on cars, my guess without being there to look at it: you did have a leak and the STP stopped it.

#2455 of 2506 Re: Update to my dealing with Buick [tflanster] by 1wildpete

May 30, 2012 (4:46 am)

Replying to: tflanster (May 29, 2012 5:19 pm)
That stuff really works with the new technology we have today. The mechanic do not make any money by pouring a bottle of this stuff in your engine, they make the big bucks replacing parts. So if i had to add that stuff each week it would be cheaper than repairs. Also they make stuff for tranamissions, head gaskets, Radiators & etc. I like LUcus injector clener that helps keep the throttle valve and sensors in good shape. Buy a quart bottle and add every once in a while, will improve your power. Its a lot cheaper by the quart. Seafoam is another good product for adding to the gas.

#2456 of 2506 Re: Update to my dealing with Buick [bxd] by tflanster

May 30, 2012 (10:11 am)

Replying to: bxd (May 30, 2012 4:37 am)
I did crawl under the car a few times, mostly after oil changes, when I noticed some oil drips. Over time the bottom of the oil pan and trans pan became dirty with oil and other gunk. There were wet areas around the filter and drain plug. At the last oil change I told the guy to be sure to tighten the filters and plug. That's when all this "crank seal leak" stuff started. The guy told me the crank seal and oil pan seal leaked. The price to repair both was in the $1000 - $1500 range. So I called Buick. That story is outlined earlier.
 
The entire bottom of the engine was power washed to squeaky clean about 3 - 4 weeks ago. So far its still clean. Fingers crossed. What really bugs me is that not one mechanic even suggested the possibility of a loose filter or plug. I understand there's no money in adding a solvent, but there's also no money in losing a customer.

#2457 of 2506 Re: Update to my dealing with Buick [tflanster] by MrShift@Edmunds HOST

May 30, 2012 (11:03 am)

Replying to: tflanster (May 30, 2012 10:11 am)
stop leak won't work on a crank seal, or any seal around a rotating shaft.

#2458 of 2506 Re: Update to my dealing with Buick [Mr_Shiftright] by tflanster

May 30, 2012 (3:46 pm)

Replying to: MrShift@Edmunds (May 30, 2012 11:03 am)
No doubt, but my concern is/was - it the crank seal really leaking? Or is/was the problem simply the loose filter and drain plug? Have to wait and see.

#2459 of 2506 Re: Update to my dealing with Buick [tflanster] by MrShift@Edmunds HOST

May 30, 2012 (7:07 pm)

Replying to: tflanster (May 30, 2012 3:46 pm)
Well that's why I posted about the crank seal--if the stop leak stops the leaks, then it wasn't the crank seal in the first place.

#2460 of 2506 Re: 2006 Rendezvous AWD, Battery & Gas light problems [rendezvousnot] by cdyoung1

Jul 19, 2012 (6:02 am)

Replying to: rendezvousnot (Aug 11, 2011 7:12 pm)
Dear rendezvousnot,
 
My 2005 with 80K just burned up all the wiring in the dash. Di buick help you our with the costs. I am in contact with Buick customer service right now. The dealer in Illinois is charging me $2500 and that is a lot of repair for a 7 year old car. Please let me know
 
David

Messages Page 246 of 251

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