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Buick Rendezvous Transmission and AWD Problems

84 messages,  Last post on May 13, 2013 at 1:56 PM

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What is this discussion about? Buick Rendezvous, SUV

Messages Page 4 of 9

#31 of 84 2006 Buick Rendezvous Transmission by phoenix82

Aug 08, 2011 (7:13 pm)

I first started having problems with my Buick last summer and at that time it was a high-pitched whining sound at around 25-35 mph followed by a hard shift. It was not a constant problem, more like an intermittent issue. I took the car into the local GM dealership and they looked it all over, took it for a test drive, let it idle for 30 mins (with 3 bux a gallon gas!) and they told me that they couldn't find the issue but that I needed a brake job, new rotors, etc. I asked them at the time if it could be a transmission issue but they assured me that it was not. I paid to get the brakes done (it was over 300 dollars) and they told me it would take care of the issue. Well, it did not. I no sooner had the car back for 5 mins and it was already making the same noise and hard shifts. So, I took the car back to the dealership and told them that the problem had not been fixed. They checked it out (again) and told me that they couldn't locate the problem or make it happen for them. Well, at this point, I decided that the mechanics know more about cars than I do and that I would just not pay any attention to the noise. It continued to get louder and after a few more months of it I had my husband take it back in to the dealership. At this time, the whining noise was much louder and it continued to have hard shifts. They again looked it over and told me that they could not find the issue or hear the noise. So, at this point I just decided to live with it. I was tired of taking in my car and having them tell me there was nothing wrong with it, I had given up on getting it fixed. I thought the mechanics knew more than me. Shortly after that, the noise seemed to go away, and there was an occasional period were it shifted hard but no whining noise.
 
Today was my daughters birthday. We were headed in to the restaurant for her birthday lunch and my car was acting bizarre. When coming to a stop, it shuddered and shifted hard; when going to take off, it did the same thing. Once I got up to speed, it seemed to stop, but coming to a stop or taking off it was shuddering. We made it to the place and had lunch and then went to go back home. If it was acting up before, it was much worse after. We chose to pull into Autozone and my hubby ran in to get some fuel additives because he thought the problem was caused by a fuel filter being clogged. After, when we went to leave, the car would not shift into R, and we did get it to shift into D but it was popping and acting crazy. Then it made a loud BANG and would not shift into any gear. The tranny fluid was black, something I had never seen before in my life. We ended up having to get the car towed less than half a mile to the dealership, and the employee there said it sounded like the transmission had gone. Really? I don't have a couple of grand just laying around to fix this!!
 
My biggest problem is now I am looking around online and seeing there are some similar issues with solenoids or something similar which could have caused this issue; AND i could have had it fixed for FAR less money. The car is not covered by the powertrain and it has 79k miles on it. I am flabbergasted by the fact that I could be having transmission problems at this low of mileage. (We always do the recommended maintenance on our cars) I really just feel like this is an issue that could have been fixed a long time ago and for much less money. I really don't see how, if the original whine was the beginning of the problem and it was missed somehow; that now I have to pay for that error. Shouldn't i just be able to pay what the smaller repair bill would have been for? I am really annoyed and angry right now.
 
Has anyone else had a similar problem or have a suggestion? I have half a mind to never own a GM again in my life and up until these problems started I was so in love with my car that I was NEVER going to buy anything but a Buick every again. Not so much right now.

#32 of 84 Re: 2005 Buick Rendezvous transmission prob? [schultzie] by rupe74

Aug 22, 2011 (1:03 pm)

Replying to: schultzie (Aug 08, 2011 9:14 am)
I am having the exact same symptoms with my 05 Rendezvous. Did you ever get it resolved?

#33 of 84 Re: 2005 Buick Rendezvous transmission prob? [rupe74] by gmcustsvc

Aug 23, 2011 (10:42 am)

Replying to: rupe74 (Aug 22, 2011 1:03 pm)
rupe74,
 
Were you planning on having the vehicle diagnosed? Please keep me posted when the issue has been taken care of.
 
Thank you,
Caron, GM Customer Service

#34 of 84 Re: 2005 Buick Rendezvous transmission prob? [rupe74] by schultzie

Aug 23, 2011 (1:49 pm)

Replying to: rupe74 (Aug 22, 2011 1:03 pm)
When I took it in to the mechanic, they could not duplicate it. It will go for months without doing this, then start up again for a day or two. It seems to happen when accellerating from a dead stop. It feels like it is clunking, then engages.

#35 of 84 Re: 2005 Buick Rendezvous transmission prob? [schultzie] by rdecat

Sep 26, 2011 (4:58 am)

Replying to: schultzie (Aug 08, 2011 9:14 am)
Same problem with my 05! including the speedometer issue. No one has an answer to the transmission problem but I'd love one - it really feels like the tranny is going to drop. mine now has a 156k on it and I'm getting ready to hand it off to my daughter

#36 of 84 Re: 2005 Buick Rendezvous transmission prob? by schultzie

Sep 26, 2011 (7:01 am)

I did hand the car off to our daughter! It hasn't done this for awhile now. Strange thing, the speedometer issue seems to happen when my husband is driving. He uses the cruise control. I'm wondering if that is what is going on. When we turn off the engine and let the car sit for a bit, the speedometer then works. I am driving the other kiddie car, the Saturn Ion. (No control panel issues there!) Let me know if you get this worked out. ☺

#37 of 84 Re: 2005 Buick Rendezvous transmission prob? [rdecat] by gmcustsvc

Sep 26, 2011 (8:52 am)

Replying to: rdecat (Sep 26, 2011 4:58 am)
rdecat,
 
I apologize for the problems you are experiencing with your vehicle. Have you been in contact with your local GM dealership? Please keep me posted when the issue has been taken care of.
 
Thank you,
Caron, GM Customer Service

#38 of 84 Re: 2005 Buick Rendezvous transmission prob? [rdecat] by schultzie

Oct 22, 2011 (10:48 am)

Replying to: rdecat (Sep 26, 2011 4:58 am)
I did get the speedometer issue resolved. My mechanic replaced a part in the control panel. The "transmission" issue is still unresolved. Has clunked 2x this week, and will probably not be happening when the mechanic looks at it again! ☺

#39 of 84 Grinding when using low throttle by vouz1234

Nov 10, 2011 (5:24 pm)

Hey guys,
 
I've been getting a grinding/moaning when driving ~20-25 mph in instances where I am taking off from a stop light and the noise occurs I believe right after shifting into 2nd(?).
 
This grinding only happens when I am barely applying gas. The noise stops when I release the gas pedal or push it down more.
 
This grinding does not occur when I corner, only when going straight.
 
I feel like the noise is originating just to the right of my feet, perhaps directly below the radio/console.
 
Any tips to begin solving this problem would be appreciated.

#40 of 84 Re: Grinding when using low throttle [vouz1234] by rupe74

Nov 10, 2011 (6:39 pm)

Replying to: vouz1234 (Nov 10, 2011 5:24 pm)
Is your Rendezvous AWD? I had a similar problem with mine, it was at low and higher speeds, but the other symptoms were the same. The bearings in the rear half of the two piece drive shaft were siezing up making the noize.
Parts are around $1200 from the dealer. Though I found the drive shaft at a salvage yard for $100. You'll also need to change the rear differential Versa-Trac fluid when the drive shaft is replaced. That stuff was around $30 a pint.
Not bad except the fluid cost.

Messages Page 4 of 9

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