Chevrolet Avalanche Problems & Solutions

chrisntam

Thanks for the reply. I tried pushing it up and pulling it down, but no real difference. I'll try again tomorrow to see if I can make it go away. May need to get a wind deflector to mount in front of the sunroof.

invested

That sunroof fluttering noise is normal if you have none of the windows open. It happens on all suv's just crack one of the windows a little, but you don't need anything replaced.

ygmn

Mine does not flutter at any speed... Make sure you open it all the way or you will get fluttering. The fluttering is the high air pressure in front and the low in the back and it makes the roof resonate. Cracking the window helps relief this pressure difference.

Get some side window deflectors and then crack the right rear and it does not introduce much more noise.

whitevette01

Doing what ygmn say does help on the noise level.

This fluttering is real bad in the vette if don't
crack a window.

Still have not been able to take the truck in
and have the morning smoking checked into.

wfbarto

I have an indigo blue Z66 and have noticed that when the sun hits the paint on my vehicle and I am standing with the sun at my back I can detect a distinctive cloudiness or swirling in the paint. These are spotted areas about the size of a couple of grapefruit. I think it is only in the clearcoat - in fact, I stopped at a local dealer and he saw it and said that they could easily rub it out. Haven't gotten it back in yet due to the colder than usual temps lately and the inability to get it washed down real good to find all the spots. My question is - has anyone else noticed similar problems on the indigo blue or the other darker colors in the clearcoat? I am really hoping that the dealer can rub this out without having to re-paint.

ahhnuld

I have a black Z71 with the same swirls. If they are the same as you are experiencing, it is indeed the clearcoat. This happens when they clean the truck for delivery. Generally they do not take care in cleaning with clean towels and/or rubbing the paint with a dry towel. Use of circular drills to wax will have the same effect. I suggest Meguires paint cleaner followed by their carnauba wax. I would also suggest using a Orbitral, which has an occilating motion along with the circular. I have had good results in correcting my swirls with it so far.

wfbarto

I'll give the dealer a shot at fixing it and if that doesn't work I'll take action myself.

ygmn

The dealer put them in when they cleaned it. I do not trust the dealer since I am peticular about my paint. Try it your self and make them give you some money for the damage they inflicted say $100 or so.

As for removing there are many ways.

For a good site on detailing search autopia carport. They have great tips and a forum there which may help you out a bit.

txyank1

get any money from the Dealer. They'll just offer to "fix" it. Maybe you could get them to take it to a professional detailer though. I had a deep scratch on my '90 when I bought it. Didn't notice it when I picked it up (after dark), but saw it when I was showing it to someone the next day. Anyway after the Dealer painted the door I had it back to them three times to get rid of the swirls. Ended up taking it to a detail shop myself. Looked better but never did look the same as the rest of the truck. BTW....it was black.

whitevette01

So far have noticed no major problems on the AV.

Did have a Riviera that had a cloudiness on
the rear deck and part of the trunk. They
tried buffing which made worst. When repainted
tint was off at certain angles. They finally
said was best could do. Guess could have
threatened suits etc, but decided to quit,
might be in a bigger mess.

If one does decide the repaint. Might find out
just how far they would go to correct the
situation.

My AV did have a small nick in the hood.
Looked like they drop something on it during
detailing. Told them to leave it alone
and just get me some touch up paint so
can fix myself. It a very small spot.

timfarn

I just noticed last night a cloudy area the size Wayne is talking about on my driver's door below the mirror. It was not there previously, so it is not a detail/swirl problem. I have the Indigo also. Wayne - is yours more of a cloudy area than swirls everywhere?

ygmn

Ca you post a pic? I would love to see it... I wonder if the clear coat is to blame...please post a very close up shot so I can see please.

chazmo3

Does anyone know how to turn on those lights next to the fog lights.
I looked in my Av manual, and saw no indication for them.
Also at certain speeds has anyone noticed a flapping sound from coming from their hood.
I think it's the rubber gasket by the left corner near the windshield and hood where water is suppose to run off. Can I just trim it off. Except for those two things I have no problems with my Av. It's an awesome truck!

gandolphxx

I think that you are referring to the daylight running lights which are automatically controlled - should be on when you are driving in the light. Many folks are changing those out to 4157NALL amber lights - looks a lot better.

ygmn

It may be the rubber cover over the hinge...Check to make sure it is tucked under the hood and seats properly.

chazmo3

Thanks for the info. I guess that you can't see the lights on when the vehicle is in park.
The lights activate once you put it in gear and start moving.

chazmo3

Thanks, I tried that the other day but the flapping sounds keeps coming back... Should I open the hood . I think about a 1/4 or 1/2 inch might need to be trimmed off the end.

ygmn

Yeah open the hood and look at it real good....also when driving have your passenger look at it to see if it is it or not.

DO you have a bug deflector mounted??? IF so the windshield side moldings need double sided tape to hold them down against the windshield to prevent them from flapping.

naylor99

Hey folks, I too have the flapping (popping?) sounds coming from my windshield. I did install the deflector, but did not install the extra 'tape' along the windshield moldings. The instructions were a bit vague, and I was concerned about fooling with the moldings. Well, I had no noise while I was keeping the speed at 50-55. At 65-80, though, I am hearing it a lot.

Has anyone done this? Is it OK? Any help or hints would be appreciated. (Just seems a little kludgy to me, but if it works...) Thanks!

gandolphxx

You have the answer - tacky, but works.

ygmn

I answered how to in the other section mods and asseccories I think...go look.

chazmo3

I opened the hood today and the rubber gasket was longer on the driver's side.
So I trimmed 1/2 inch off.
Went on the highway cruising 70-80
Presto!! no more flapping sound.

wfbarto

Mark, I wish could post a pic of what I am talking about but I don't have a digital camera or scanner yet.

Tim, regarding the swirls, I can't really say they are swirls like you would see from waxing, heavy washing from a car wash or swirls from dealer detailing. Within the circular "cloudy" area they appear almost like vertical streaks. The streaks appear to move within the cloudy area as you move your head back and forth with the sun shining on the spot. This is what leaves me to believe that they are within the clear coat that was put on.

Still haven't gotten around to cleaning the car up and taking it back to the dealer yet. I was away over the past several days. I'll keep everyone posted with what I find out when I get it resolved. Likewise, if anyone else can shed some light on this (pardon the pun) I would appreciate it!

ygmn

This cloudiness could be micro marring...There are glazes and other types of waxes that fill these to hide them but they will always show up again after a few washes.

If you go to auto car washes expect more of them and more swirls..

They could also be a defect in the clear coat where it had a chemical under it preventing proper curing...

Man if I could see a pic I could help ya out here. Take some pics and go to a store and have them digitized...

wfbarto

Mark, regarding you message above - I think it is definitely a defect in the clear coat as I have not used any automatic car washes and the defect is not visible at all on a cloudy day - only when the sun hits the cloudy spot directly. There also does not appear to be any marring whatsoever in the paint surface. If I get some pictures digitized - I will contact you, get your e-mail address and send them to you.

naylor99

If you need the directions, I still have mine. I could scan and send it to you. I have not yet done the tape yet. I am currently out of town, but will be back mid-week and could do it then. Email me at wknaylor@yahoo.com

ahhnuld

I have a Z71, am very happy with it, and it everything works as it should, but when I engage the 4x4, at different speeds, i can hear a whine coming from the front end as the vehicle is driven from around 15-55 mph. It does not sound like grinding or binding gears, but it is pronounced until i set it back into 2 wheel drive. Also when I accelerate in 4x4, the truck pulls slightly to the right. Is this all normal? I have never owned a Chevy, so I don't know if this is the nature of the beast. My Toyota Sequoia does not do any of this, so I have no real point of reference. Any feedback? Thanks!

brucecr_ms

Guy, the noise is probably normal. You're hearing the front driveshaft, half shafts, differential, etc. Add it the noise to your list of things for the dealer to check out next time you stop in for warranty work. That way, if it turns out to be something worse later on, you'll have record of it.

madkaw

The locked tailgate can be opened with a toothpick! I can't believe GM missed this obvious design flaw. I've got to find a fix as I keep a lot of stuff back there, anybody have any ideas?

brucecr_ms

Derek, go ahead and check messages 58-70 under Avalanche Owners: Accessories & Modifications. Jason describes how he installed a power lock actuator.

chrisntam

I just checked my tailgate lock and was able to open it with my house key. Tried it again with another key and was able to open it again. Tried it a third and fourth time, but was unable to open it. It seems to stick while locking it with the proper key, so maybe its not getting locked properly and that is the reason it unlocks easily. It makes me a little nervous though.

Regarding the power lock retrofit for the tailgate.......I think GM should have installed one at the factory.

metalgear

I too had a problem with the lock not turning smoothly and it turned out to be the tailgate had to be slammed shut. Only one side was properly catching,this is important to prevent leaks through the seals of the hard panels. Once slammed it turned smoothly,BUT I am very upset to hear about the lock being so poor and will check this out tonight. I am starting to wonder about this situation on the side cargo holds.

madkaw

Just to set the record straight. Whether the tailgate is locked with the key or not, by slipping a thin object between the gate release handle and the cladding just above the lock cylinder you can unlock (or lock) the tailgate. I used a toothpick but anything will do. The electric gate lock is a great idea and a feature I'm sure to add (should have been standard) but it will not have any effect on the security of the gate. A guard needs to be installed between the cladding and the lock mechanism.

ygmn

Tailgate lock, have you brought this up with your dealer?

belljo

Replacing the PCV will stop the smoking and actually improved the gas mileage to 19..go figure. NOTE: owners manual states, oil and filter is 6 qts. BUT, if you check you the oil using the dip stick it will show at the add level, if you add enough oil to move it to the full mark it's about 8 qts!!!

slayer69

Chevrolet says that there is a 6 speaker system with your stereo. Where are all 6 speakers? I know that each dor has one, so that makes 4. Is there any other location or more in the front door?

cuss1

Have you noticed now that we have salty spray on winter roads that the engine compartment gets really dirty? Other vehicles I own(ed) have a gasket at the front lip of the hood to seal the salt spray from entering the engine compartment. I suppose I could fabricate a similar gasket. Why did Chevy cut yet another corner?

Would the GM Bug Shield cover the hood / grill gap and block all of that spray from entering the engine compartment?

ygmn

The front doors have two speakers a mid range and a tweeter.

jfmentzer

I'm experiencing a noise problem with the small rubber flaps covering the two hood hinges in the area below the windshield. It starts at speeds above 50-55 mph. The flaps oscillate up and down causing an annoying tapping noise at highway speeds.
Has anyone else experienced this problem? Any suggestions for a fix?

ygmn

I read where someone glued them to the hinges and the flapping is gone.

fhannes

Anyone here have any accidents lately that required replacement parts? For your own sake, I hope it never happens. An idiot ran a red light and tagged my driver side rear quarter panel. It took over 3 weeks for the replacement panel to arrive. Once there, you would figure about 3, maybe 4, days for the welding, prep, and paint. I still can't get my baby out of the shop because the cladding can't be located. I suggested stripping them off of one on the lot, but said once removed, the clips break off. They're supposedly manufactured in the US, but all parts are shipped to Mexico for plant assembly. My Avalanche was dropped off December 26, and it's still not available. You would think Chevy would retain a few parts in the states. I finally was advised by the manager to call Chevys hotline, which I did today. Has anyone had similar experiences? Any insight would be appreciated.

outdoorplaces

I can speak for the Avalanche but I can speak on owning first model year unique production vehicles. I was one of the first kids on the block with a Ford Probe back in 1988. Beautiful loaded red on red one. I didn't get whacked, but another person did. The dealer told me when I was in for regular service to be very careful. This poor guy had to wait almost three months for parts! (not the answer you probably wanted to here)

Demand for the Avalanche is really growing. In the three months of available sales data (October, November, December) sales almost double month over month - so Avalanche parts, especially body parts are going to be very tight.

That really stinks that someone tagged you like that - my wife had that happen to her on a '93 Subaru. Had a whopping 800 miles on and a FedEx truck took off the front end. Sadly you're probably going to have to wait it out. If the accident was the other driver's fault and your going through their insurance, put the pressure on their insurance company.

timfarn

A deer ran into the RR quarter of the Av in October, and I'm still waiting on the cladding for the rear quarter behind the wheel. The piece was located in CA, then vaporized. Another was found a month later in Vegas and came in damaged. It's supposed to be in early next week; I haven't been too worried as the damage is only abrasion with discoloration of the panel.

The clips are another deal. Cost is up to $3 each and they don't come with the part. If the repair isn't figured with replacement of the clips, it will mean a delay and higher $.

GM did call the dealer looking for the part, he had to tell them it is for a customer, but they can have the damaged piece.

chazmo3

Instead of using glue on those rubber flaps,
try velcro . Just apply a 1/2 inch piece at the tips. It worked for me.
Also some flapping noise could be the little hose for your windshield washer under the hood. Sometimes it will get loose. There's are clip that it snaps into above the wheelwell.
I think the wind at traveling at 65 mph knocks it off. I tighten it with plastic cable ties.

dssnuffy

As mentioned previously, adding the bug deflector creates a change in the aerodynamics onto the windshield. This change causes the plastic piece on either side of your windshield to rattle against the glass ever so slightly. To prevent this "popping" noise, there are two double sided adhesive pieces of foam included in the bug deflector kit. This foam needs to be put under the plastic piece on either side of the windshield.

If your dealer installed it, they probably disregarded the instructions to add this foam, because it is not inherantly obvious that you need to do work around the front doors and windshield just because you add a bug deflector.

If you installed it, get the pieces of foam that you discarded as unnecessary and add them to the edge of the windshield glass under the plastic pieces. To do this, you will need to open your front doors, remove the weather stripping at the top and down the front. Get a star shape or hex screwdriver and remove about four fasteners under the weather strip holding the plastic "reveal molding" down to the windshield. Clean the windshield area with alcohol, let dry and apply the adhesive foam. Reinstall the reveal molding and weather stripping.

Voila problem fixed. Works every time. If your the first person that this does not work for let me know. If your dealer installed the bug deflector, print this off and take it to them. If they have any questions, let me know.

Snuffy '92

fhannes

Still waiting on parts. I just received a follow up call from Chevrolet Customer Service. What an insult! They offered a free oil change for my inconvenience. They fail to realize that if they would just retain some of the supplies here in the states, they wouldn't have disgruntled people calling. The CSR said it was the best he could do, and that nothing else could be done about this, other than wait on the parts to come in. Still no ETA. The worst part about it, there are now 3 Av's at the shop that look alot worse than mine. I thought I had it bad. Little do they know...

timfarn

Part is in - and the new one now has the clips installed already. I'll see if the price changes. Parts guy about dropped the phone when I told him the body shop with parts from another dealer charged $3 a clip.

shanea

Has anyone had any problems with the folding rear seat in the back not folding down - ie. the latch will not release when the little loop is tugged? The drivers side in my Avalanche will not release - does not even give a little when the pull loop is tugged. Looked at the other side that is working and can not figure out a way to make it unlatch. Heading to the dealer on Wed. Also, having a vacume hose replaced as it is leaking....

ygmn

Sounds like the cable broke as the or something like it.

Good luck and post the cause when you find out.

dssnuffy

Any luck with that rear seat? Maybe you have something stuck in your seat latch. Sometimes I think my seatbelt might get caught in the latch, so I put it in my center console of the 60 seat. Also, I figure if the seat didn't fully latch in the first place it might not let go either. If you can get it to latch by sitting in the seat hard it may let up. Or maybe your seat is busted.

Just thoughts. Please, let us know what the dealer said.