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Chevrolet Uplander Electrical Problems

218 messages,  Last post on Sep 06, 2012 at 8:32 AM

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What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Uplander, Van

Messages Page 2 of 22

#11 of 218 Re: 2006 Chevy Uplander Electrical Problems [tmcgee06] by genmtrfan

Aug 08, 2006 (5:07 pm)

Replying to: tmcgee06 (Aug 08, 2006 1:29 pm)
I feel your pain, remember to keep us updated. I'd love to find just one case of a successful repair. I'm thinking of asking for the 125 amp alternator to see if it helps. someone on this site said that their van had the bigger alternator and had no problems. The funny thing is that the TSB on this said to replace both of the alternators, depending on which size came with the van.

#12 of 218 Re: 2006 Chevy Uplander Electrical Problems [stobar] by genmtrfan

Aug 08, 2006 (5:19 pm)

Replying to: stobar (Aug 07, 2006 7:59 pm)
Here's a website address to recent GM TSB's. The one you're asking about is 06-01-39-004C. It's a the end of the list. Print it off and take it to your dealer. It's good ammunition.
 
http://www.alldata.com/tsb/General-Motors/index-post.html

#13 of 218 Re: 2006 Chevy Uplander Electrical Problems [genmtrfan] by dtownfb

Aug 09, 2006 (1:08 pm)

Replying to: genmtrfan (Aug 05, 2006 7:20 pm)
<<Actually, it's just these vans with the 3.5 liter. GM used a new charging system that was supposed to reduce the amount of the time that the alternator charged the battery. A good concept, but it wasn't quite perfected. I'm thinking of calling my dealer and requesting that they put in a heavy duty alternator (the one that comes with the towing pacakge). Someone on this site said it fixed their problem.>>
 
Tmcgee06 is correct. This has been a problem for a number GM vehicles since 1999. Take a look on the Intrigue forum and the Saturn L forum. A number of people (including myself)have complained about this issue.

#14 of 218 Re: 2006 Chevy Uplander Electrical Problems [genmtrfan] by tmcgee06

Aug 10, 2006 (4:19 pm)

Replying to: genmtrfan (Aug 08, 2006 5:07 pm)
I was told by my dealer that they are not going to replace the alternator, GM is working on some software update. So in the mean time I have to deal with lights flickering in the night. Hope I don't get into any accidents in the mean time. Do lots of highway driving.....
 
NOT HAPPY.

#15 of 218 Re: 2006 Chevy Uplander Electrical Problems [tmcgee06] by genmtrfan

Aug 10, 2006 (10:56 pm)

Replying to: tmcgee06 (Aug 10, 2006 4:19 pm)
Thanks for the reply. That is really good information. The replacement of the alternator doesn't seem to help according to most of the posts here. Our light flicker isn't bad enough to be too concerned. In fact, I asked my wife, who's the primary driver, if she'd noticed it. She had not. I'll be looking for the software update, but won't be getting my hopes up.

#16 of 218 Re: 2006 Chevy Uplander Electrical Problems [genmtrfan] by jerrywimer

Aug 11, 2006 (4:46 am)

Replying to: genmtrfan (Aug 10, 2006 10:56 pm)
Exact same situation here (had our alternator replaced, no real effect).
 
But I can honestly say that my flickering lights hasn't caused anyone to cut me off or been a danger in any way. It's not as if it looks like I had high beams on to blind anyone or anything, and they don't flicker enough to cause me to miss something I would see otherwise and cause an accident. Mainly just an annoyance..

#17 of 218 Re: 2006 Chevy Uplander Electrical Problems [tmcgee06] by tmcgee06

Aug 23, 2006 (6:26 am)

Replying to: tmcgee06 (Aug 10, 2006 4:19 pm)
Update to the Electrical problem.
 
I have been in contact with my dealship's distric manager, they so much as told me that GM has no fix for the flickering light problem. Since I have posted this, they won't even bring my van back in to attempt anything, a stall tatic on there part. (Lemon Law) Other dealerships have tried to replacing the alternator and in most cases this has Not fixed the lighting issue. So NOW I am trying to get them to buy this nightmare back; and put my wife into an 07 with the 3.9 engine, since I heard that this fixes the problem... Anyone have any other input on the new 07 models...
 
Joe - PA

#18 of 218 Lights flickering, mileage, and tire rotation by cla1

Aug 15, 2006 (8:54 pm)

A response with our experience on the lights--after fairly servere flickering on a night trip last fall, went to the dealer with the TSB # on this. They replaced the alternator (at least that's what the service ticket said) and the problem has been solved. I still don't understand the voltage variation reported on the information screen, seems to go from low 12's up to mid 14's with no rhyme or reason. Also does anyone else have a wildly fluctuating instant mileage number. Ours goes from 15 to 42 to 22 to 38 to 16, all within split seconds. The overall mileage readout seems to be accurate but the instant is unusable. On both our Olds and Venture, the readout was steady and useful, and btw, much easier to read than this one. On a recent 500 mile plus trip, not heavily loaded, we got 26.5 which I thought was good. Mostly expressway driving about 70.
 
Our tires were rotated by the dealer at last oil change (I never trust them to do it by the manual and not use their air wrenches to tighten them incorrectly) and of course they now have warped rotors so I have a shudder at high speeds when braking. We have about 25k miles.

#19 of 218 Re: Lights flickering, mileage, and tire rotation [cla1] by jerrywimer

Aug 16, 2006 (11:48 am)

Replying to: cla1 (Aug 15, 2006 8:54 pm)
Your observations on the voltage variation and the instant mileage readouts exactly mirror our own with the Terraza. I pretty much have taken to not even bothering with the instant readout, but the voltage variation was explained as part of the new electrical setup GM now uses to save fuel. Basically the engine drag by the alternator is somehow reduced when less current is needed, and a computer evaluates (constantly) the need. So the varying range is supposedly an accurate reading of what is going on. Unfortunately it may also have something to do with the flickering headlight issue (not the readout, the actual system)..
 
Your mileage observations on the trip are pretty much in line with ours also, though we actually achieved nearly 29 on one leg of the trip home to visit my parents, and 26.3 on the way back. These vans are especially efficient highway cruisers for sure.
 
Last of all- the last time I let the dealership rotate the tires we ended up with shuddering brakes. That led to a nightmare of visits back to them. The first time to turn the rotors- no good. Second time to fix again, worked, but left van sitting outside in a hailstorm.. third time attempted to address hail damage (no body shop at our dealership so they contract a local shop). Fourth time to correct the overspray all over the front from the previous visit..
 
If the dealership hadn't been going out of their way to address all these issues without a penny from my pocket (including loaner vehicles, and a step up to a larger loaner when my wife complained about the dealership's Cobalt), I may've given up on them. As it stands they finally managed to rectify everything. But they won't be seeing our van for rotations ever again. And I watched the Wal-mart guy do the job like a hawk, as I mentioned earlier (used a torque wrench to make sure the lugs weren't overly or unevenly snugged down).

#20 of 218 Light Flickering and Front A/C problems by stobar

Sep 08, 2006 (10:28 pm)

I have been reading past posts, and was wondering if a firm remedy has yet to be made on how to fix the flickering light issue? I just noticed it in my 2005 Terraza this week. Not that bad, but enough cause for concern. Also, any fixes for the front a/c coolness? When it got hot this summer, the front a/c just didn't seem to be cooling enough. I have the 2005 with the 3.5 engine. Many thanks.

Messages Page 2 of 22

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