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Symptoms: Once a speed threshold is achieved, the display DOES NOT change.. for minutes at a time.
For example : If I am doing 60 MPH..... display will show that, however, will not refresh to my new speed. If I slow down, speed up..... nothing.
Still shows 60 MPH.
Resetting will correct the problem.... but once again, once a reading is displayed, it just stays there.
All other functions appear to be working as they should.
There have been NO electrical problem with this vehicle. Nothing out of the ordinary.
Any ideas??
R.
My '00 "Premier" was not a good van though. So I got rid of it with 9K on it.
As far as the +1 wheel upgrade, the '02 Silhouette's have 16" wheels on them, so I'm sure you can put aftermarket rims on it with the same size tire/rim combo as the '02 and not effect the speedo too much.
Regarding the wheel upgrade, a +1 or +2 (2 not recommended on a van) generally the diameter of the tires does not change, just the rim gets a inch larger and the tires are lower-aspect ratio (or series), so you can go from a 75 aspect ratio to say a 50, 55 or 60 series and keep the same gearing, etc. The advantage of this is the rim is stiffer than the sidewall and you get better steering response and cornering can be better, as more of the tread stays flat on the road.
Figuring out financing today. May pick it up tonight.
dd
The GM system is unlike my 87 Audi 5000S where the computer only maintains the most current set of data points... not sure I remember how many.
Guy selling only had a key, not the alarm/door lock fob. '98's had the fob, right? I guess I'll call the dealer and see how much to reprogram it and buy one.
The inside of the door handles on the drivers side had a very significant amount of paint chipped off of them, like it was roughly treated but the rest of the van was decent condition. Is this a normal wear point? I guess I will have to look it over closer before we get it.
DD
Mikey
Need to read the manual there are so many gadgets.
Keep in mind I got the car and am owner #4 and I got a sweet deal on this baby but I have a few questions:
* Is there a hose on the aircompressor? I see the port.
* do the fog lights have covers?
* Is there supposed to be a cover for the luggage area? I see holders on the walls of the rear. is it worth getting one from the dealer?
anyway, its doing great so far. Will try to post a pic tomorrow or soon.
I'm investigating 16" wheel upgrade.
DD
We just purchased a new 2002 Silhouette minivan GL. The sales person and the sales manager and the assistant sales manager looked at the books together and answered my direct question "Does this minivan have traction control" with a definately yes it is part of the security package. It was a rainy night and I thought I would stop on a slippery road and give it the gas and see if the traction control works. Tires spun as long as I held the gas pedal down. So, it has no traction control. I took it in to the dealer for some adjustments (the shift level was not mounted securely, and there was a tire vibration on 16" rims.) and asked them to also verify the traction control for me. They told me it does not have traction control installed.
So I went back to the sales manager, he says he will support installing traction control on my minivan.
The shop forman says there is no kit to instal traction control. He says even if he bolts on whatever parts are needed for traction control, he was not sure that he could make the minivan computer recognize the hardware and apply the traction control. He just says simply that it cannot be done. I have been told if I figure out how to do it the dealer would do it for me. A set of shop manuals will be in my hands in less than a week with updates in March.
Since Traction Control is an option on these minivans, It is possible to get it. Has anyone been down this path of installing traction control?
Swapping the van would be difficult since the deal included the employee discount it would have to be approved all the way up into GM itself.
On the possitive side I still have not mailed in the Customer Satisfaction survey and I am a repeat customer at this dealer. So at least I have their attention.
Has anyone added traction control to their minivan?
Thank You
BoxTrooper
ABS has most of the components for TC, wheel sensors, etc. TC adds little cost from what I have read about it once one has ABS. That said, who knows what is involved. Sounds like they owe you $$ to make it right or a new van. I have Tc on my new van but its way too crowded to see much.
DD
If so what brand and costs?
I have contacted local aftermarket retailers/installers and I am getting quotes of $900 to $2000 installed. Are these systems that hard to install or just time consuming?
As far as load=level suspension, you will hear the compressor kick on after about 30 seconds when you start the van. Sometimes you can even feel it raise the rear of the van as it fills the rear shocks.
Good Luck
I had a Pontiac dealer try to snow me on that one too. I asked what the missing middle button on the lower set of controls was for (it was a blank). He tried to give me some BS about how vans in Canada had to have a separate control for side marker lights when they are parked. As my wife is Canadian - she knew instantly that this was totally false. I found out later that the button was to turn off the traction control. Instead of being honest and saying he didn't know, the salesman had to lie. We would have been fine if he had to say he had to find out - but, instead, he had to make up some BS. And to top it off, he kept assuring us the van did indeed have traction control (it did not). This is not a complaint about Pontiacs generally (like GM vehicles - got an Olds Silo), but just an example of how the buyer must still know more about the car they want to buy because reliance on dealer information is folly.
The main headlights are also problematic. I have read from others the problems with moisture getting inside them and what not. I removed my light reflector and it was dirty inside, so I put soapy water in to slosh around and wash it out and the water was coming out of the glue joints for the lense like crazy. Seems the contractor making these for GM really provided inferior product. The glue dries out and does not seal well. I pried the thing open and reglued with GOOP and after a rain it still got messed up inside and yes, the bulb was sealed inside.
Has anyone found aftermarket lights for these vans that are one peice or made better (don't leak)? I have not found the stockers to have good illumination as the plastic lens seems to get abraided by road debris and that is probably a big part of it.
Other than that, I am impressed. I changed the oil on my new '98 to mobil 1, put new air filter in, new drive belt (took like 5 minutes!), cleaned the motor (didn't really need it), etc. The features on the van are impressive (GLS) and the pushrod motor moves the bulk very well even with a full load of visiting family inside. The suspension levels itself with my mother-in-law in the backseat (!), and the rear folks have heat/cool. I didn't think I'd use the power slider but we use it a lot.
I can't wait until we do a road trip with it. What a road trip vehicle!
One question - people have yanked the power slider door and was wondering if it was possible to hurt the mechanism this way - manual didn't say much about it.
Happy Holidays,
You should also have a couple sets of headphones for the rear audio jacks. You have a dual tuner radio, so headphones can listen to something other than what is on the front speakers.
I took my '98 GLS on a road trip. I drove at night with everyone asleep, and made it 625 miles on my first tank of fuel. Over the road the van delivers impressive milage. I let the trip computer run for 10 days on that trip, and avg mpg's was 26.5!!! And it was July in Coastal GA, so the A/C was run quite a bit...
All my friends really laid it on me heavy for buying a van, they all thought I was nuts but after sitting in it they understand! Its nice. Merry xmas, mine came early and is in the driveway!
DD
Have 55K on my 98 GLS. My only complaints are still original. Louder than hell on the freeway (as you can see by my mileage) and the damn thing doesn't heat up unless you put in on the 3d setting for the fan. Mechanic sez that it is a computer controlled thermostat from those guys in Detroit (if that's the case, they deserve the Lions!) Oh well, we just have to keep in on high to get the heat blowing around. And the headlights keep getting moisture on the inside. Oh well.
Otherwise, I am amazed that GM can build such a good vehicle. Unlike my friends who "had" to have a Sienna and paid close to sticker 3+ years ago, I felt like we got a good "value" on the van. We are probably going to replace this summer as I won't want to own something that will be getting close to 70K miles. The next question is what to get since Olds is going bye-bye.
I sure like the bells and whistles and can't find that on their other models. I'll be looking at the Sienna and Odessy although a friend just bought the new Mazda (MPV?) and is raving about it.
Enjoyed catching up on the commentary. Seems like most people (aside from the few lemons out there) are having good experiences with the Silo. Best wishes this holiday season!
I have just got new Michelin Symmetry tires and it runs very quitely. Yes the engine can be noisy under acceleration, but as long legged cruiser it is the best van going. We love its size for hauling and college etc.
I loved that Olds, and didn't care for the Venture or Montana too much... Neither of those 2 vans were "classy" enough!!!
For the most part, I think the Olds vans are very good, and their customer assistance program is phenominal!!! (ie. The 800 number on the window).
Given reasonable maintenance these should last to 150K miles easily! Granted you might have a thing or two to repair once in a while, but I'd guess the engine/transmission would be good for quite some time if its like other GM cars we've owned. My pops has 3 bonnevilles (88,88 & 94), and we've owned Novas, 3 Pontiac sedans (wish I still had that '65) and none of them ever had much trouble with them besides one timing chain on the '70. Ok, the Bonneville's eat alternators, but I think they finally got that addressed.
Even if you do need like tie rod ends and a new radiator, its not like you're out more than $800 and that's two car payments. These new vehicles are MUCH improved over even the late 1980's cars. Heck, there's not even much scheduled maintenance before 100K miles for gosh sakes!
Drive 'em as long as you can. I had my Shadow 13 years and at $11k purchase price, that was a pretty low annual cost of owning a car! Obviously I'm cheaper than most folks, but having having done some research on these vans I think the GM / Olds vans will run well for years w/o needing repairs. I feel confident enough to BUY one at 62k miles! Heck, it feels new to me!
ps. on the highway noise - I thought it was pretty reasonable coming from a Maxima -- try a Honda van if you want to hear road noise. Also, a autosound shop can install some dynomat to reduce the noise if you really want to deal with it. Would be better than a new one.
DD
ps. the headlight thing is going to drive me nuts but I think I can caulk them shut.
Dd
My old car came with plastic lens lights but the walmart replacement GE's were glass, a big improvement in light but heavier. I'll take the light output over weight if I can find glass ones, its not a race car.
DD
I wasn't going to drill the front lens, that would be silly :~) but the whole front of the van must be a high air pressure at speed, not just the front lens. I can try drilling a low spot of the back reflector and put a tube on it, see if that works.
The front is a bit scratched from road miles and I'd like to just replace with glass if I could and get more light.
Also - My '98's driver's seat bottom cushion (leather captain's chair) is a bit flattened, I think I'll see about switching with a seat in the back - they look the same. Hope it just bolts in and I can swap. Let y'all know if this works.
DD
I found outer tie rods worn out on my van, and replaced them myself yesterday. Very simple if you have the tools (19mm), large adjustable. Got it aligned this AM, what a difference. The sloppyness I had figured was just part of the van is gone and its precise now. Checked rear brakes and they were fine, reworked a loose mud flap thing on the pass side and ready to go. Looking good!
Getting 22-23 MPG on my trip computer invcluding getting hosed in xmas traffic jams and some highway. Not bad! Our Maxima gets about the same and only holds 4 really. But the van makes you appreciate the maxima!
Scott
The manual says if the transmission acts up to check the fluid, but I assume you did that. I don't know what to tell you but it seems you had bad luck so far. It may or may now continue depending on in part the quality of work done at the dealer.
If you had $500/month payments for five years on a new van, you'd pay for those repairs quickly...does that make you feel better?
What would normally be a 5 min exercise looks like it will be a hassle. I got the special tool for removing the side terminal wires, but in two attempts at messing with it did not succeed. My shop manual is not here yet, but thought someone might know.
My battery is ok but there is a lot corrosion on the POS terminal I need to clean off before I consider the van to be all ready to go.
DD
Would you still reccomend purchasing one of these?
If so, what is a good price? I am being quoted $31,000 out the door with a 100,000 mi warranty.
This does not seem that great since a Honda EX-L with the same warranty is costing me $32,000 out the door and that is $1,000 over MSRP. I know the low interest is plus.
Too bad I have 24 hours to make this purchase before that extra $500 goes away.
As for liking the van/reliability - we love it!! Reliability with over 6K has been quite good. We did have some minor problems and the power door latch recall, but those were all quickly and efficiently addressed. Van runs great. Seeing what else is out there and the prices, we'd do it all over again with the Oldsmobile Silhouette in a heartbeat - but the price has to be right!
Good luck.
You are right about buying a new one though. We had a car show here in Indy last weekend and they are all expensive. I pulled out my CR and you are right about the reliability also. Although it seems like it was worse in 97 and keeps getting better.
Does anyone know if this is true? Is it true for all/most minivans as well(Chrysler, Ford, Honda, etc)?
I'm not talking about doing 60-70, but today here in Ohio we got hit with a good amount of snow and traffic was doing about 40 mph. It would be nice to know that if you hit a slippery section TCS might be able to help you regain your traction.
two quick questions - I don't see a light saying "TCS disabled" or something like that when I push the button to disable it. On most cars when you disable that a light comes on to warn/remind you.
So, is the TCS the 25mph variety or the unlimited speed variety?
Around here in Houston, about the only time I've seen the "LOW TRACTION" light come on when I was leaving a gas station and goosed it on some sand. I do plan on going snowboarding in New Mexico eventually and was just wondering about TCS and dreaming of snow.
I used to have a turbo shadow 5speed and I could downshift at 65mph into 4th in the rain and the motor would spin the front wheel easily, that sort of thing could be a benefit at speed if you had ice. Certainly the v6 isn't going to break the tires loose over 5mph in most non-winter situtations on the road. I was wondering how it will it cope with our Texas mud.... I realize it doesn't increase traction, just limit wheelspin, but it sounds interesting for a squirrel like me to try messing with it the next time I'm at a festival and the van is already muddy....
DD
I did rotate the tires on the '00 Maxima myself and rolled one over to the van and then got down to where it looked like it was mounted to the van and took a picture - looked really sweeeet and totally changed the van's personality. If you didn't know the The max has 17" stock aluminum wheels. If I can figure out a way to post the pic I will. Anyway, another wierd thing was that the overall tire diameter was EXACTLY the same size as the van's. If I look at that pic enough I'll think about upgrading to 16" rims and lower profile tires...
DD