Chevy Uplander/Pontiac Montana SV6/Saturn Relay/Buick Terraza

vanman1

No, we had to get a van last year so I could not wait for these vans. We have a 2004 Montana Sport. We love it though the 2005 interior would have been much preferred. I do prefer the 2 tone look of the 2004 Montanas though.

genmtrfan

I'm sure the 2004 Montana is a big step above our '98 Venture. Through the years I believe GM fixed the intake manifold problem in the 3.4 and improved quality. In addition, ours only had a manual sliding door on one side, so the improvement in the Uplander is really noticeable for us. We never had to change the gasket on the Venture, stop-leak worked sufficiently. We did have the transmission rebuilt at 72K because of a problem with some kind of valve that eventually stopped allowing the torque converter to engage. In the end, one tranmission was not bad for 142k.

Yesterday I had to remove the seats in the Uplander to haul some carpeting. I will say that the Venture seats were much lighter (as well as the van in general) but with the rear seats that almost fold to the floor there should be fewer occasions to take them out.

dan165

Uplander was my choice. Looks like a Tahoe minivan in my opinion. Best looking and most SUV like of the bunch. Saturn model is nice but I could deal at the Chevy dealer so it was cheaper. I don't care for the Pontiac version but it's ok.

vanman1

I actually see more Montana SV6s than Uplanders for some reason. I guess Pontiacs are more popular in this area.

madd

Boy, now I get a RECALL letter advising me to call and make an appointment to have the have the harmonic balancer bolt retorqued in my uplander..... :mad:

vanman1

Recalls are common in all makes, especially in new models. No reason to be mad?

billh5

anyone having trouble with the electronics? specifically the radio lighting up but not playing? also the trip computer is weak compared with the old style montana- I had a 2000 for 5 1/2 years -loved it- I am becoming more and more unhappy with my new sv6- nice smooth ride- but they really cheaped out on a lot of extras- I paid 31, 700 versus 27,600 for the 2000. The carpet is cheap, no roof rails to go with the luggage rack, the side windows dont open, no "oh god" handles in the front passenger seat, no side air bags standard- I blew this one- I want my old montana back-

madd

That’s easy for you to say.
1) The brakes had to be turned down (all four) at 6,500 miles.
2) The alternator was replaced because the lights were flickering.
3) Now a recall for the harmonic balancer.
All this with in 8,000 miles.

My Olds Silhouette that I traded in went 32,000 miles before I had to replace the pads.But I did have a problem with the alternator and lights flickering.
Then at 81,000 miles I had the intake manifold gasket replaced because the coolant destroyed it, but I had a 100,000 mile warranty and it was covered.
Other than that it was a great van and I traded it in on the Uplander at 108,000 miles.
We use our other car (a PT Cruiser) as our daily driver and the Uplander sits in the garage and only goes out when my wife needs her handicap scooter that is in the back with a hoist to lower it to the ground or we go on a trip.
My wives choose the Uplander after looking at the Buick.
I am retired from GM so I get the employee discount plus the rebate of 1,500. Also I got the $1,000 retirees discount on top of the Olds discount of $1,000. So after all that I had to come up with $12,000 to close the deal. We want to try to keep the mileage down to 15,000 miles per year on the van so we can keep it for 6 or 7 years.
BTW we have On*Star free for 3 years because of the installation of the handicap hoist, (GM paid $1,000 dollars to have it installed) and I paid the difference of $400.
We have XM radio for one year for $60.00 but after the contract runs out we won’t renew because of the price increase, $12.95 per month is too rich for my blood, I can find better uses for $156.00 a year

uplander_ls

Get this done immediately... another co-worker was on vacation last week, and hadn't had this done. It bent all the pushrods in the engine and it was replaced. He only had 6,000 miles on it. I took mine in as soon as I heard, kinda scary. There is also a recall on the rear bucket seats. :mad:

genmtrfan

In general, there is no comparision between the previous generation GM vans and the new one. I'm not sure why GM eliminated the luggage rails, but the silver, higher rails on the new design (LT) really looks better. Also, GM closed the mid windows to eliminate a big source of rattles. In seven years of Venture ownership, we rarely opened them anyway. As for the side airbags, my LT has this feature. It wasn't an option so I assumed all trim levels had it.

I think GM did a great job on the overal package given that they didn't build it new from the ground up. The interior is very attractive and more functional and most people like the re-designed exterior. Several times I've noticed people at stop lights looking at the 17 inch Uplander wheels. I had the harmonic balancer tightened at the same time I had it in the shop for the alternator change. It only took .3 hours so it is really not a major job (unless you don't have it done). The carpet seems to be about the same grade as in my Venture.

Kirstie_H

A reporter is interested in speaking with people who have had their vehicle recalled in the first part of this year. If your vehicle has been the subject of a recall and you would like to speak with this reporter, please send your name and daytime phone number to Pam Krebs, Edmunds.com PR, at pkrebs@edmunds.com by Tuesday, July 5. Thank you.

dan165

Recalls are quite common on new model vehicles. Better a recall now than a problem later I always say. I am more than happy to have my dealer take care of these things during my oil changes.

vanman1

Recalls are more of an annoyance than anything. They are very rarely urgent so just have them done with the next oil change.

p626808

Was looking at purchasing a relay 3 AWD.. When I was driving it the air comressor for the automatic load leveling kept kicking on.. it was quite loud!

Does anyone have one with the auto load leveling..
Can it be turned off?

Scott

tiger10

hey i just looked at an Uplander at my dealership and it was awesome, but since this is my first time even thinking about a big vehicle like an SUV or Van or something that size i had some questions. do you think sport vans can do towing if so how much( i am talking about Uplander). i would really love to have this van with a reasonable amount of towing capacity. any suggestions would be appreciated.
thanks- Tiger10

kcorey

I have a 2005 Terraza. It has the same load-leveling "Pump" (I guess). It must be the difference in cars, maybe. Mine is very quiet, at least from the drivers' seat. Maybe if I was in the rear seat it would be noisier. Why not ask the Service Manager at the dealership if it can be turned off...other than maybe pulling a fuse.

ppadpat

I researched and drove all the GM crossovers....Pretty much the same. I bought the Terraza because of 1 major difference. Quiet!!!!
The sound proofing almost eliminates all noise ( except it makes the "load leveler more apparent).
I was mainly interested in the Sit and lift option. What a nightmare in getting it. the GM franchises either didn't know about it or didn't want to deal with GM.. They (3) kept referring me to aftermarket van converters.. Took 3 months to find one!!!!
Had to drive 45 miles to buy it.

vansforme

I brought my 2005 Uplander in for 2 recalls from Chevy and I also wanted them to change the programming module that allows the door locks to open automatically when it is put in park. They said they could do it. Two visits and 8 hours later, they told me that Chevy says this is a safety feature and they would be recalling any Uplander that was released without this option.

Chevy has still yet to tell me how in this day and age with carjackings and kidnappings, this is a safety feature. I want my doors locked and my children secure, until we are ready to depart the vehicle. I still don't understand how Chevy can claim this is a safety feature and I have yet to see them issue a recall concerning this matter. I am very upset, which after spending $27,000, I don't think I should be. It's a beautiful vehicle, just not safe to park.

vanman1

The 3.9L in the 06's should provide additional towing capacity for those who need it.

mchinn

I just bought a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix with the same characteristic. I believe this is a standard "convenience" not a safety feature. If one or two dealers can't change this feature... Just do what I do...... Hit the door lock button after shifting into park. Cheers!

vansforme

No offense, but you are either not a woman who has a purse to gather up or a woman with children. Women need a second to gather their things in relative safety and I don't see why this is not a major issue. It is not a "convenience" if it has the potential of putting you in danger. I don't think this was thought through at all and the person responsible for it should be terminated. It is just plain wrong. Additionally, at least a dozen people at Chevy did try to convince me that this is indeed a "safety feature." This is their wording not mine. "Unsafe" is mine.

tamu2002

I'm just curious. Why would you want the van locked when in Park? If you need to do that a lot, I guess you could either leave it in Neutral and apply the parking brakes which achieved the same purpose, or manually re-lock it. I'd rather do that than go through the trouble and $$ to get a permanent change.

cla1

We've just finished a long trip with our terraza and note the following. First, our radio which was having the intermittent "no sound" problem has been playing perfectly since we had it to the dealer, who apparently did nothing as they recommended a radio replacement based on a GM tech bulletin. They called last week saying the radio was now in, but the radio has been fine now for 6 weeks or so, and we're wondering whether to bother with it. Some observations: I wish they had the grab handles that our Venture and Silo had, and I don't like the small hard to read information panel compared to the previous larger easier to read compass and temp display up on top. Also the instant mileage readout jumps all over the place which is immaterial to anything but curious. The average MPG seems right on however. Our load leveling pump is very quiet, and we also inflated a few items with the compressor, works nice. We had this thing loaded with seven people and absolutely packed with luggage, and it drives wonderfully, quiet and smooth, and over 25 mpg, going about 70, mostly interstate but not totally. To me the seats are too high compared to the Silo, which felt "roomier" in front. The DVD player is extremely nice to have with grandkids. We took the storage divider in back out to get more luggage room. The 110 volt outlet is nice to charge cameras,etc. All in all we're very pleased.

vanman1

Glad you like the Terazza. I would get the radio replaced even if there were no more issues. It could be that when when the weather cools it may start again. If it had the problem before it's bound to come back.

p626808

Thanks for the info.. I test drove a terraza and it was very quite.. I am picking up my new Cashmeir terraza tonight!!!

Thanks again

dan165

I wish I had waited for this "employee pricing" deal. The deals on these vans are phenomenal from what I have seen on the web. I think I need to wait for deals rather than jumping on new models like I do!

Still chugging along fine with my Uplander though.. no issues, rattles or complaints. Great van for those looking.

danno

I have about 14,000 kms on my Uplander LT. I have noticed a rattle from the air vents when the fan is at 2 or 3 postion. It's fan or vent related because it goes away when I switch the fan off.
Another thing I have noticed is randomly - maybe once every 3 weeks - the tranny takes a second to engage when I back out of my garage and then put it in drive. The engine seems to freewheel as if in neutral and then you feel the thump as it finally figures out it should be in Drive and away I go. Annoying to say the least. I hate random problems that are not reproducible on demand - for the benefit of the dealer.

vansforme

I may be the only person left who worries about safety but I will probably keep shouting this same message until I'm blue-in-the-face -- locking your vehicle IS a safety feature! Maybe that's why there are so many carjackings -- you people just don't get it. As long as you're willing to take whatever the car manufacturers give out, you can worry about your own safety. I realize America is being dubbed down, but this is incredible. Open doors are NOT a safety feature. Believe it or not.

ilvan05

I dont know if you have the DIC Vehicle Personalization on your van. But if you do you should be able to change your unlocking preference. On my SV6 I could have the doors unlock when I put it park or when i take the key out. You should try a different dealer then and see if they could help you.

tamu2002

Our beloved Malibu would auto lock the doors if the gear was switched from P to D or at speeds above 5 mph; and it would auto unlock the doors when we reached our destination and switch the gear from D to P. The auto locking from P to D is definitely designed to prevent car jacking; and the auto unlocking from D to P also makes sense, because the assumption is that you're ready to get out of the car and need to unlock the door anyway.

I do understand why you'd want the door to remain locked from D to P. I'd think that's programable. What does the manual say about the lock/unclock configurations?

vanman1

Are your locks not working?

hwg

I have read reviews (including Edmunds) that say tht Montana SV6 "comes in one size and trim level".

I was at the dealer today, and there are definitely two sizes of SV6, RWB and XWB (just as there were with the old Montana). The RWB barely has any room behind the thid row seats, while the XWB has quite a bit more.
:confuse:
Is this unique to Canada? I was looking at Saturn Relays the other day, and they are the longer (i.e. XWB) size.

Just wondering,
hwg

vansforme

My husband has that option on his Trailblazer, but my Uplander doesn't have the ability to set your own preference. My Uplander's module had to be programmed when it was installed. This was not mentioned when I purchased it and it wasn't addressed by Chevy at all. In fact Chevy told the dealer the module could be reprogrammed or replaced and I brought my Uplander in twice. All of a sudden Chevy announces that this is a "safety feature" and all Uplanders that have the module that doesn't auto unlock when in park, are being recalled. This recall has never been issued. Chevy just won't do anything about it and are not making the situaltion any better, by lying about it. I would be thrilled to have my locks wait until I take my key out or turn the engine off. That's not an option on my Uplander according to Chevy.

tamu2002

No offense but I still don't see that as a problem. Auto unlock from D to P definitely makes more sense to most people, since one needs to otherwise manually unlock the door to get out anyway. I don't think Chevy would or should change their vehicle to suit the need of a handful of customers, rather that of the vast majority of them.

Most of the times when you're just coming home from work, this is not an issue. If for whatever reason you need to wait an extended period of time between after switching to P and turning off the engine, just leave the gear in N; or better yet to save fuel, just park it in P, turn off engine and manually relock the doors. Easy solution eh?

danno

Nope. Too logical. I am sure someone will find an issue with using the tools at hand vs. blaming the world.

shredder

Is it possible to turn this off on the SV6?

I am considering purchasing one, but find this "feature" real annoying.

Thanks.

shredder

Can anyone tell me if the 3.9L engine will have the Displacement on Demand feature on it? It sounds like it is a real cool idea.

Also, does anyone know what the Fuel Mileage will be like on the 3.9L? Just wondering if it is worth the extra cost.

Thanks

dtownfb

I don't have a SV6 (had this feature in my Malibu and currently have it in my Quest minivan) but I believe there are 4 settings: off, low, mid and High. It should show you how to disable this feature inthe manual.

ilvan05

You cant turn off the unlock feature on the SV6 all you can do is set it for unlock when put in park or when key is out.

ericzoom

I have an 05 Buick Terraza. Has anyone had any problems with weak A/C? I live in FL and even with the rear aux. a/c, i find it doesn't seem to get very cold.I 've had it at the dealer and they say it's within GM specs. :mad:

vanman1

The 3.9 will not have DOD initially, but is suppose to get the feature in a year or two.

It's still going to have lots of power though, a must have an option for those who want lots of power.

madd

I have to take mine in for the air conditioner, I takes forever to get cold, it should only take 1 to 2 minuts to push out cold air and yet it seams like it takes 10 minutes, could be low on refrigerant.
I'll let you know.

ericzoom

Thanks, i'm curious if they say the same thing as mine. I'm in FL so i know it can take a little longer but this is rediculous. The thing has 2 a/c and still can't seem to handle it.

genmtrfan

My family is currently in Florida on vacation. I haven't noticed any issues with the a/c, but have noticed that turning it to maximum cool is required on the hottest days.

As an aside, on a 550 mile trip to Florida I averaged 24.2 mpg with lots of luggage and five people. I was really happy with that but you really have to put your foot into it climbing hills at 75 mph, the 3.9 will most definitely help with that.

ericzoom

As far as power goes,i find it not that bad for a heavy van. Getting up to speed on the parkway i have to punch it,but once i get there it seems to be pretty good. It's definitely better then my old 02 Rendezvous.

hwg

Just picked up the new Uplander at the dealer on Wednesday evening.

2005 Uplander LS RWB.

So far, so good. There are a couple of minor things that I will have them look at (compass always indicates "N", Rear split folding seats don't line up), but overall, I'm happy with it.

I was just installing the rear-facing car seat for our 8-month-old this morning. I wanted to put it on the passenger side middle row bucket seat. But the LATCH anchors on that seat have plastic covers on them which prevent them from being used. The ones on the driver's side middle row bucket are okay. The passenger-side middle-row seat also has an integrated child seat, so I'm wondering if that has something to do with it. But I don't see why that should preclude use of the LATCH anchors. Anyone know?

I ended up just using the seat belt (with a locking clip) in the passenger side middle row seat instead of the LATCH anchors. We want it on the passenger side so mommy can see the baby when she's driving. I even tried swapping the two buckets, but the rear anchors are different, so they aren't swappable.

hwg

tisco

Anyone else out experiencing alignment problems on the 05 Terraza??? Dealer has aligned mine 5 times and it still pulls to the right

dan165

Something must be wrong with the electric steering control then unless they are not doing the alignment right. Did they test it before returning it to you. Go for a drive in it with the service manager so he can see first hand. You want to get that corrected as it will prematurely wear tires.

I just washed up my Uplander today as my wife and I are heading downtown for dinner and a show in Toronto. Hopefully we can get a nice spot on the street to show it off.

;-)

tisco

You're not kidding about the premature tire wear, dealer replaced both front tires last week because the outer shoulders worn bald (with only 8,000 miles on van, and 17' tires do not come cheap), this was after the third alignment, and they replaced defective stab links because they were kluncking after the second alignment. I drove the van after the new tires were installed with the service writer and he witnessed the pulling to the right, needless to say I left the van with them, they tried a "out of spec' alignment and now the dealer says it drives strait as an arrow until you make a turn, after a left turn it pulls to the left and after a right turn it pulls to the right and the only way to make it go strait is to jiggle the wheel back and forth. Mayby you are on to something on the electronic streering control, but one would hope GM could troubleshoot there own systems, starting to think I have a :lemon: I have not driven our family van in about 10 days now and have talked with GM corporate on this van, they can not tell me what is wrong with it.
I think I got lucky and got the prototype, so far I had besides the major problem I just described:
alternator replaced (flickering lights)
radio replaced ( no output) could reset by turning off van, open door, wait about a minute and then restart. You have to open the door to reset delayed power in the van.
door hinge replaced ( detent hinge came apart when opening door)
headliner had to be removed and replaced because the inserts for the roof rack were defective and leaked water into car and inserts needed to be replaced). Still unsure if water leak is fixed since we have a drought right now.
My wife and myself think the features of this van are quite impressive with what we paid, we compared to the Imports, and this van saves you about 8k out the door for the features it has and from what I have researched I just got lucky with a problematic van, seems like similar vans wheather Chevy, Buick, Pontic or Saturn only have some minor "quirks" which is normal on a facelifted vehical. My van has the dealer as well as myself iritated since the problem with the alignment should be a strait foreward fix, but it is not. :confuse:
Any suggestions would be great.

vanman1

:lemon: is right. Good luck and keep on them. GM may end up replacing the van if it can't be fixed. They should for sure.