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After much research, here and on other forums, I took my Rendezvous back to the dealership and told them to check all the wiring harnesses going from the front wheel hubs to the engine computers. TOLD THEM DONT BOTHER RUNNING A SCAN - just check the harnesses carefully. Got a call a short time later... the casing on one of the harnesses had dried up and cracked, and at least one wire had corroded enough to split. We then argued about whether or not they advised me to replace a wheel hub and sensor for no reason. End result - they covered the labour cost for replacing the harness. It's been 3 days, and so far the problem has not recurred. Fingers crossed. LESSON HERE - DON'T TAKE THEIR WORD FOR IT THAT HUBS ARE FAULTY... HAVE THEM CHECK THE WIRING HARNESSES, AND TEST THE BCM. IF THEY REFUSE, OR TELL YOU YOU'RE NUTS, GO TO ANOTHER SHOP. Good luck!
took my '02 in to dealer & it seems the wiper transmission seized. Had to replace again. $596 cad. looks like this has been a prob with aztek as well. Now at 250K & just about everything was replaced under warranty (except tranny)... touch wood. Although Im told the coolant is leaking slowly thru the manifold again. (gasket replaced @ 96k) going to try some "stop leak" product & see what happens. :lemon:
Good Luck
My car was deemed a lemon by the Better Business Bureau in a hearing against GM in June of 2007. They were ordered to buy back my vehicle as they never notified me of the fix and "supposedly" there has been a fix for this problem since Nov 2006. The arbitrator of the case sighted that this issue could cause "Serious Injury or Death" and even ordered GM to pay my attorney fees. I could not afford to park my vehicle and buy something else to drive while I waited for GM to make things right.
I notified my dealer of the fuel gauge problem when I bought my vehicle (within 2 weeks). After fighting for a year to get something done with it they now tell me there was a fix for the past 10 months (Nov 2006)!!!! Bull crap! My service rep checked for a new bulletin on this issue at least every 2 weeks and there was not a fix for my car during that time. I seriously believe that they backdated that bulletin to make it appear the fix was available long before it ever was. It wasn't until I hired an attorney that GM decided to respond to my complaints. Other than that they kept losing my records and saying that they had not talked to me previously.
GM had my Onstar number, my cell number, my home number and my address they could have sent me certified mail to tell me there was a fix to my car.. but they didn't. They continued to put my life, my husbands life and my 3 children's lives in danger every time we used our vehicle. Now, almost 3 months after they were ordered to buy back my car, I still had not received my buy back offer. Then today as I am at the dealership looking for a replacement vehicle, I get a settlement offer thousands off from what I was expecting..to be honest it is a slap in the face and not even half of my payments in the past year.
When talking with the buy back rep she informed me that she was going to try to talk to her superior because it wasn't right and they deducted parts of my loan that they are not allowed to in my state and she would call me back. She then called me back and stated that(off the record of course) that they were sorry to have to even present me with the settlement offer and that she was in disagreement with her superior and that she felt I should seek further legal action as others were getting far more fair decisions by choosing not to go through the buyback and suing GM.
My families lives have been endangered every time I take the road unless my tank is full. What if I pulled out to pass a car on the highway and I stall out in oncoming traffic with no where to go? GM has left me drive this car 3 months after it was ruled a lemon and more than a year after I reported the problem, never notifying me there was a fix NOR posting a bulletin to the correct place the service manager at my dealership could have located it to see if there was a fix available. I personally watched her check the computer for updates of a fix on numerous occasions all with the same result, "no fix available, engineers are working on the issue." I wasn't even asking for damages or inconvenience at this point, all I ever wanted was a fix and when that wasn't available I wanted them to buy it back and refund what I have paid.
GM was supposed to buy it back in 30 days. I think I am going to take her advice and tell the buy back division to close the case and just plain outright sue GM. I am tired of big business walking on the little guy (or girl in this case).
This car soured me on the Rendezvous.. but GM's blatant neglect or concern for my family in this issue has soured me on the company itself and my brother is GM employed. I had 7 years brand loyalty and a lot of car buying years ahead of me. They just blew that out the window.
Anyone else feel the same on this or have the same issue with GM not following what's right or ordered? I am not happy about going back to court but with already winning the other issues and it being declared a lemon I feel I am being forced to stand up for my family on this one. Sad thing is... had they come across with the right settlement amount and just refunded what I paid in full, I would have signed for a new Buick Onclave today. I was actually at the dealership when the settlement letter came to their sales manager. Darn it, I liked that Onclave too.. but certainly my dollars won't go there now. I am so disappointed in GM. Looks like I'll be a Ford or foreign car girl from now on. ick BOOOOOO HISSSSSS!! :lemon:
onebritelady,
Many thanks for posting your long history with GM and the details with your Rendezvous. I can't comment on what GM didn't or should have done for you, and your "lemon" RDV. I do know that your story isn't alone. I hear "sloppy service" reports from GM many times over. Much more compared to 70s, 80s and 90 models (and GM's attitude of servicing what they sell). It's sad that over seas auto makers (like Honda, Toyota, Kia, Hyundai, etc. etc.) are taking MORE the North American market share - every year. Not because they have a better product (that has more gadgets, has better MPGs, is more comfortable, etc. etc.) but because "they" (the over seas folks) focus on customer service. Customer service that is better then their competition. When our 2003 RDV goes and when our 2001 Safari van goes, I too am looking at a non-GM replacement. Currently, I have my eyes set on Kia & Hyundai. One of these companies will build our next vehicle replacement. No more GM for me either....
Hope this helps - some how....
.
My experience was basically: "SOL!".
Good luck!
My wife has a 2003 RDV FWD model and this morning, I took her in for its usual QTRLY engine oil change, max 3 year Rad flush / DexCool anti-freeze replacement and also asked them to investigate a "louder then usual" howling in her front end. Some vibration on the steering wheel at high speeds but the louder then usual howling was becoming a concern. They discoved front left wheel bearing on our 2003 RDV (with only 80K kms / 50K miles) is too worn out. They plan to replace its front left wheel bearing. However, they said the front right wheel bearing is still ok.
Should I ask them to replace the front right wheel bearing as well (while she's still on the hoist) or see how long its right side wheel bearing lasts? When replacing a front wheel bearing, "should" both be replaced at the same time (for tension balance across entire front end) or does it really matter if one replace now and the other side replace 1+ years later?
thanks.
.
Thanks for your reply.
My mechanic replaced one front wheel bearing last night and took for a test drive this morning. He didn't like what he still felt and heard. He did some more checking and discovered the other wheel bearing was within spec but starting to go as well. He recommned it would need to be replaced before this Christmas. With this in mind, we told him to replace the other wheel bearing as well. Thus, done and over with...
If wondering, this same mechanic worked on our previous vehicle. He inspected its muffler system and stated the muffler system will make it to Christmas and that's it. We told him to leave until then. On Dec 26th afternoon, its muffler let go. Thus, proving he was right. The within spec part would only last until Christmas and that's it.
When he told us about the other front wheel bearing on our 2003 RDV only lasting until this Christmas, I knew he wasn't BSing me. It was starting to go as well... Thus, both got replaced.
Thanks for your reply.
.
JP
If anyone has any suggestions or ideas please let me know.
For those arriving late, here's Onebrightlady's summary post about her problems:
onebritelady, "Buick Rendezvous Maintenance and Repair" #1854, 12 Sep 2007 5:43 pm
Thanks
James
Another dis-satified Buick owner.
I am very surprised that GM was still having this problem in the later model years
JP
Thanks
JP
Could Buick have made it any more difficult to get to them??
Thanks
Joe
Good Luck!
Jack the vehicle up, crawl underneath and access the rear plugs by sticking your hand up next to exhaust pipe. Since your hand will be in the vicinity of the oxygen sensor, be careful not to damage the oxygen sensor wires. Next, twist the spark plug boot to loosen it before removal. I used spark plug boot pliers (OEM #25542) I picked up at AutoZone to remove the boots. Try to clean the spark plug recess area as best you can with compressed air before removing the plug. Then, use a flex-head ratchet with a long handle to remove the old plug. I used a Craftsman #42794 fine-tooth ratchet with a 5/8" spark plug socket on a 3-inch extension. When installing the new plug, hand tighten the plug with the socket and extension first before tightening 1/16" turn with the ratchet. Be careful when tightening the plug since the cylinder heads are aluminum. The service manual says to tighten the plugs 15 N-m (11 ft-lb), but good luck getting a torque wrench in there.
Note that the service manual has you take the top engine struts off and rotate the engine forward to access the rear plugs. I tried this, but still could not access the rear plugs from the top.
Oh, and for the overheating trouble the fact that it did stall would make me think it was really hot (not false indicaters), perhaps the thermostat got stuck closed for a bit.
I'm not too familiar with AWD vehicles, so my question is... is this the sound an AWD makes as it locks the hubs (does it lock the hubs)? Or, is this something worse?
Thanks!