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Comments
Go Bowtie!!!
Thanks for the posts and reference! -- I've scheduled service on Monday to have this taken care of. My service advisor said that sounded like the problem too and I gave him the part numbers from sos's earlier post (2624) -- hopefully parts will be readily available when I take it in.
Sylvain
I also mentioned the leaky rear window so they are replacing the seal. The tech said that there was a new redesigned seal that is thicker at the top to help fix this.
One weird problem I have had is the rear wiper will kinda go insane and cycle between the 'off' resting position and the starting wipe position. It just flips back and forth like that untill I shut it off and turn it back on again. This only happens once in awhile. They are reprogramming the control unit to address this. I hope this fixes it.
The last issue I had was the sagging headliner. They promised to look at it and maybe add some more velcro. We'll see...
I must say, this dealership's service has improved quite a bit and they are treating me pretty well. Once these issues are fixed, my truck will be perfect. I can't wait!
BTW: I drive 50/50 city/hwy and have been getting 15-17mpg. Fair, but my Jimmy got 18mpg on the same route.
Very nice truck.800 miles on it.
BUT tonight check oil level message came on.
Checked dipstick and it was 1/2 qt. low.
Anybody have this problem?
Thanks C
I thought the Envoy lights were pretty good, but maybe you found something better.
Thanks in advance.
--Mike
My bravada SOMETIMES chimes when I put the break on, but most of the time it remains silent and unlike my wife's Intrigue, it remains totally silent if I shift into any gear with it on (hers chimes like crazy). I'm heading to the dealer today, so I'm going to ask there (they probably wont know).
I also need to ask them about the "paint problem" which I just noticed I suffer from. I sure hope GM has that gasket ready soon.
I installed PIAA Superwhites -- they put off a very WHITE light, with increased beam distance. I found that I could not just screw them into the stock 9005/9006 sockets -- I had to remove the retaining rings, insert the bulbs and screw them back down. Avg cost is about $69/pair.
Another source for aftermarket bulbs is:
http://shop.sportruck.com/lights/bulbs/
But be weary of certain brands... they're cheaply made and could overload your wiring... I installed a set of Wizard Ultra Whites in my Alero and they put off a bluish-white light -- very different effect when it's dark, for sure.
On another matter, when using the auto climate control of the HVAC system to heat the vehicle, does anyone else notice an air rushing sound coming from behind the control panel instead of from the floor vents? I have manually turned the fan motor all the way down to low with no difference in the sound level coming from behind the control panel. When I increase the fan speed to high, you can hear the air rushing through the floor airvents which I would expect.
Thanks in advance for any info on this.
I can only leave mine on for a few minutes, even on low. No way can I drive more than a half hour or so, even at 10 degrees outside, with the seat heater on.
Sure is nice for keeping the KryspyKreeme donuts warm, but is it supposed to get that hot?
WichitaGreg
02 Bravada, everything but the DVD.
Now the full on setting is a bit nutz on the heated seats. It reminds me of the SNL skit where the guy is on trial for making a home thermostat with the max setting of 'bake a person like a potato'. I cannot see anyone using that high setting.
Overall, I do love my butt warmers!
As I have mentioned before, I too have the vibration around 58-62 mph. You described it exactly as I have. It's like running over mini rumble strips along side the road. It's very subtle. My vibration is not constant but comes and goes while at that speed. I also hear a droning noise along with it. I have a 4WD TB LT with 6600 miles.
Posts 3519 and 3694 are the only explanations I have seen so far. And they sound like it just may be the dealer trying to come up with some plausible reason. I have seen a lot of people mention this problem on this board. However, I have a feeling we will have to live with it.
You mentioned that the Envoy uses 9005's & 9006 bulbs. Are the 9005 for the highbeams and 9006 for the lowbeams? Do the Fog lights use 880 or 881 bulbs? Please specify.
Also, check out Carlights.net for authentic Xenon HID bulbs that are supposed to be better than PIAA, Solarix, Hella, or Carmate bulbs! I was informed by them that the Envoy already has HID for the lowbeams. Supposedly these Xenon HID bulbs won't burn up your wiring since its made of high quality fiberglass.
I have a 2wd Envoy, 5500 miles, 3.70 axel. My vibration has occurred since day one, around 53-56 mph, rpm does not make any difference. I have been reading this board off and on since before I bought this wonderful truck, and this vibration issue keeps appearing. One idea I have on the cause is the loose front bumper cover/air dam, possibly buzzing in the wind. Any thoughts?
9006 are low beams and 9005 are high beams on the Envoy. The light is extremely white, perfect for me since my night vision is bad. They don't quite fit in the headlight assembly, so you do have to loosen up the retaining collars. Then your aiming is all out of whack afterwards so you have to spend some time re-adjusting the aim so you don't blind other drivers!
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I do believe they use the same input wattage as the original bulbs. PIAA also gives the equivalent "output" wattage, as if the bulbs were being fed that much power. So on the 9006, 51w is being used but it has the output of a 105w bulb. I don't think it draws extra current so it won't melt the wires. The original bulbs are not HID, just plain old "yellow" in comparison.
Now I only have about 570 KM in total on my Envoy. I'm thinking this is still a very poor mileage rating even for a break-in period.
Any thoughts or experiences by newbies and experienced owners would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Any feedback from longer term owners on MPG (City & Fwy)?
I've usually stayed away from American carmakers due to past problems with both Fords and Dodges and have enjoyed many years of vehicle ownership with Hondas and Toyotas.
I really like the look - quite the eye candy - what kind of feedback can folks here provide to persuade one sitting on the fence to make that big step to a GM product ? All input is greatly appreciated !!
Envoy SLT w/4.10 axle. 17.1 mpg for combo city/highway. (figured with calculator)
Odometer is 760 miles
The tank took 15.5 gallons. Low Fuel indicator did not come on, but the gauge read about 1/8. Wanted to test LOW FUEL, but not sure where next gas pump was going to be.
-- Mike
I also did a lot of fence sitting before deciding on my new vehicle. I finally decided on the SLE Envoy.
I too have a Honda and had a Ford Clubwagon. Between the two the Honda gave me no grief at all. The Ford was in the shop frequently. So when I searched for a new vehicle, specifically a SUV I looked at all the imports I could find and then the domestics.
The import SUVs like the Honda CRV just didn't give me what I wanted. The combination of power, 4WD mode selections, towing capacity and some nice extras just couldn't be found in the imports.
The Envoy gives me everything I need and then some. Sure I'm concerned about reliability and about some of the stories of new motors etc, but realistically a lot of those "horror stories" are isolated.
Before I made any purchases I read as much as I could: recalls, service bulletins, reviews and so on. The Envoy did show some real teething pains in the early stages but it seems since October 2001 build dates there have not be any major recalls.
Bottom line Rich is that if the Envoy (or something like it) fits your needs and you think you will have fun driving it, then go for it. I don't think it will be as reliable as some imports but feature for feature it has most SUVs beat (IMHO)
Pete
The oil filter is a slight pain to get to, but it's doable. Can you remove it without spilling oil all over the place? That's the question.
Also, any idea if the third seat will be of the removable or fold flat into floorboard type?
I have also heard that the XL will actual by slightly longer that the Tahoe and company. If that's case does it become a pickum between the XL and the Tahoe?
Enjoy watching the NBA All-Star and the Washington Wizards's one and only, M.J.
I have spent 4 months checking out SUVs (all GM's because I have to use my 3,500 GM card dollars before they take it away by the end of this year).My first test drive was a Tracker, nice but too small. Second one was Blazer, very rough, like a truck. The third one was a TrailBlazer LT but my wife said don't buy it yet, it is a little too big, wait for the Saturn Vue coming out in October 2001. Then we waited and waited and finally, the VUE arrived by the end of January. A nice mini-suv but the engine noise is too loud and the inside looks cheap. Then we did the following comparision:
Saturn is definitely overrpice, look at these numbers
all in Canadian dollars and we still have 0 % financing in Canada)
Car------------------Saturn VUE ------- Trail blazer(LS)-----Envoy(SLE)
MSRP----------------- 32715 ----------- 40150 ------------ 42450
Price----------------- 32715------------ 36000----------------38000
GST(Tax)(7%) ----- 2290.05---------- 2520----------------- 2660
Gmcard -------------- 3400-------------- 3400-------------- 3400
---------------------- 31598.05-----------35120------------- 37260
1000 down ----- 30598.05-------------- 34120---------- 36260
36 months financing------5.90%-------- 0%-------------------0%
monthly payment---------- 929.46------- 947.78-----------1007.22
differences per month-----------------------18.32----------77.76
total diff over 36 months-------------------659.52---------2799.36
TrailBlazer has everything Saturn VUE (AWD V6) has and more
1. 4 wheel ABS disc brakes
2. inline 6 engine (270 HP)-rated one of the top 10 engine last year
3. much quieter interior
4. bigger inside and cargo room
5. Automatic 4WD/2HI/4HI/4LO
6.Rear liftgate w/liftglass & full gate
7.dual zone A/C
8.brand new model coming out April 2001, hopefully GM solve all the bugs)
9.floor mats
10. block heater
11.a true SUV
The only disadvantage is gas mileage. Then I convinced my wife to test drive it first and see if she can handle this big SUV. Well, as usal, the dealer did not have LS for testdrive and we tried the LTZ model. And you know what happened, she fell in love with the LTZ model especially the heated seat (don't forget, we live in the great white north and the temperature falls below -30 C once a while. So we bought it and enjoying it so far. Almost forgot to mentioned the nice BOSE sound system. But we do have a problem, my wife still has tons of cassette tapes and I wondered if we can play the tape on a walkman and listen it on those nice speakers, any idea???
Thanks,
Dave
Go for it. I have one of the isolated few TBs which had a major engine problem. That was 5 months ago. The engine has been replaced, and the car has been trouble free since. I do have the mirror problem, but I'll wait until something else needs attention before bringing it in. If you do go for it, consider the GM extended warranty. For about $1400.00 U.S. dollars you will get the major protection package which covers just about anything mechanical or electrical that can go wrong for 5 years or 70k miles. This will take all or most of the worry from owning such a hi tech vehicle. At times it seems like Bill Gates wrote the software for this car, pushing the "reset" button solves many of the problems. But it is still a worthy car.
ficuss
Also any Part numbers/ sources for mud flaps and cargo mat. Thanks folks
Steve
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SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
I love reading about everyone’s comments and suggestions here - keep up the info. I read ALL the posts before getting this car - and think I made the right decisions. I have a few questions: the Onstar antennae is about 3 inches too high for my garage (the SUV clears it by 2" -older home 1 car detached garage). I have the tall thin ant. with a black bulge in the middle. Does anyone know how/where I can get a shorter one? I have seen Envoys with curly spring like shorter ones, thin ones with the wire wrap and bulge but shorter than mine. And the cool SAAB ones are just a 2" rubber short antennae. I was also thinking I could have the dealer reset the antennae a few inches lower on the window - it seems like it is a suction sticker on each side of the window... does anyone know if there is a hole drilled in the window (I have never had a cell phone ant. like that installed so I don't know) The dealer wasn't too sure - I thought I would ask. Since these could be stolen - surely there is an OEM/aftermarket replacement product available to buy (online?) Any help would be great. And I need part numbers for the aerodynamic bug shield for the Envoy and the rubber winter mats (front and back) for the Envoy. The dealer only had part #'s for the Bravada ones. I went to gmpartsdirect.com but that site is way outdated - only up to MY 2000 and no listing of any of the triplets. I have heard a few of you here use that site - how? Do you have to research part #'s on your own (where?)?
Sorry for the long request - just thanks for everyone’s input.
Mark
- Random 4WD switching
- No 5 cylinder sleeve splitting
- Listing to 1 side
- Chipped paint around tailgate license plate
- Wind noise
- Door seals and alignment
- Sharp door handles
- Loose and flimsy front bumper
- Tailgate pull-down handle
- Power rearview mirror problems
- Onstar connection issue
- Hot Bose stereo
- Bose speakers vibrating doors
- Climate control issues
Does anyone know where we can find the major enhancements planned for the 2003?
Also, will the following upgrades be made:
- Softer armrests for driver and passenger
- DVD player with Moonroof
Sorry for the long post. Any help appreciated. Just wondering if I should hold out until "version II" of the Envoy!
Thanks!
People like post #3767 should buy something else if they are dumb enough to think these vehicles have all of the mentioned problems. If he is not that dumb and just doesn't want to contribute beneficial info, then he shouldn't post.
Has anyone seen the GM accessory catalog for the 2002 Bravada? I would like to see pictures of the winter mats, running boards, etc. before I make any purchases.
Thanks
I fully understand that not every Envoy is infected with the above problems. I do, however, know that these problems exist, and on more than 1 vehicle, therefore causing my concern.
In fact, for a 1st year model like the 02 Envoy, this is an impressively short list!
My underlying point is, I will be purchasing an Envoy nevertheless. This list of issues is not enough to sway my decision. So my question was, are these issues being addressed? If not, I'll buy one today!
You can use the www.nhtsa.dot.gov website as a reference. Look under Technical bulletins for a list of the constant changes. You will find that not all of these are relevant to a particular vehicle. I just glance at them and if I think I have one of those problems I will make an inquiry.
I think it is always going to be a compromise between buying a vehicle that is outdated, but has been perfected, and one that is new and has the latest technology, but may have a few more initial issues.
I think it is probably best to compromise somewhat. When I just recently bought my Bravada the dealer had a decent selection. Half had a build date of 4/01 and a few had a build date of 8/01. I simply chose my favorite one from the latest manufactured vehicles.
However, I didn't care so much as to compare build dates with other dealers, or to order one directly from the factory. In fact, I may have got a slightly better deal simply because it had sat on the lot for at least a little while.
Hopefully this helps.