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DD
Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
We are in the process (or so we thought) of buying a 2001 Silhouette with 41,000 miles. We got a great price and are supposed to pick it up today. We have been doing a little reading here, though, and found many discussions about a problem with coolant levels in 2001-s. It just so happens that our test drive last night included a "low coolant" warning on the message center. Should we be worried? Obviously, there is no longer a warranty... THanks!
Karen
Are other vans better? Not really IMHO. Hondas are very expensive to buy used, and they have more transmission problems than GM has coolant leak problems IMHO and have marginally comfortable seats, tinny radios and are loud on the road. Ford and Chrysler also have transmission troubles. Mazda is small and terribly underpowered (the new one might be changing that) and Nissan's, well that one I'm not familiar with but the Host Steve has one I think and I see them on the road. They are probably about average.
Since that maybe an issue on your particular van, I'd get a mechanic to do a "pressure test" on teh cooling system (very easy to do with a PT tool) and check the oil for coolant. I'd also look into a warrenty and price the gasket repair so you don't over pay. I think I've heard of $600-1000 bucks US for the fix.
The good thing about buying a used domestic is the steeper depreciation curve which gets you more for your money.
Good luck
DD
BTW for anyone interested, I just got back from a short vacation in my 2000 Silo. I had seven people in the van (3 kids) plus all the luggage we could cram in. The van was fantastic. Smooth, quiet, enough power. I got 23 MPG minimum which included a significant amount of stop and go and driving through some small mountains. The TV/VCR was great. My kids usually fight all the time but pop in a tape and they're fine. And they don't even mind wearing the headphones if we want to listen to the radio.
Ron
Remember that people tend to complain when their van has a problem and don't speak up when it's running fine (thanks Indrgb & Kkollwitz for being recent exceptions to the "rule").
It's probably better to compare the problems posts here with the ones other vans have rather than just reading this thread and thinking the vans fall apart once they leave the lot!
Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
There must be about 60+ pages just on the operation of the electric sliding door for instance. One thing I took away quickly from skimming them is that the body control computer logic is quite involved. I recommend the books however, but be aware they are far from a "dummies guide to GM vans".
Just the sections on programming the body computer and stuff like that is valuable.
Funny, they don't have much on rebuilding the motor like they used to in the old manuals with setting the specs for crankshaft clearances and whatnot. I guess they figure the motor will be replaced as a core in today's shop. There is probably a different GM manual for engine rebuilding LOL.
If anything the books look impressive on your shop wall.
We had to replace the original General tires. They rode well in the beginning but, by 25000 miles they were noisy and we experienced hiway vibration. CHUNKS of tead were peeling from the tires. I kid you not! Very dissappointed in GM with those lousy tires.
Now, question. Since we've replaced them the gas mileage has dropped to around 19 MPG. We had the usual 21-25 MPG until recently. Anyone have any suggestions? Could the tires drop the MPG so much?
Mike
I'm gonna be watching for intake manifold problems like a hawk! In past vehicles I've had, that would be something easily repaired myself, and although I probably could handle it in the silo, the way they have that motor jammed in that little engine compartment, with no room to spare, has me a little scared! lol I'll let the dealer's mechanics fix it under warranty if at all possible, if it comes to that...
as far as tires, I've heard more than a few people say those generals were not a very good tire, I'll stay away from 'em...what type did you get as replacements? I've always had great luck with dunlops...michelins, for the most part, are good, esp. if you get into their high $ models. I've just purchased my first goodrich LT for my '95 pathfinder, although only at < 5000 miles, they seem real good.
gas mileage is definitely a concern to try & nip in the bud. first thing I would do is make sure tires are not REALLY low, although with that mileage drop, they would have to be about half flat, quite noticable visually, I would think. I would jack up front, & then back & make sure a wheel is not hung up with a brake problem or the like (just spin 'em, make sure they seem ok)(or go to brake shop with free inspection, but BEWARE some will create problems/repairs out of thin air)
otherwise....oil changed regularly? air filter?(although again, this probably wouldn't account for 6 mpg)
lastly, you might have your injectors cleaned...with professional system, not just the pour-in-the-tank stuff
is trans shifting as always? not stuck in 2nd or 3rd or anything like that?
other than that, call in the pros, I guess, do a computer diagnostic check, possibly an emission system problem making it run rich or something, which would be good as (I believe) emissions equipment is under factory warranty for 75000 miles...
let us know results, good luck
Have really enjoyed the van, but fortunate that I have an extended warranty. This is getting costly.
Does this sound right to everyone?
the piston noise is normal, its due to short piston skirts, loose rings and loose fitting pistons when cold. metal expands when heated and then it tightens up. if it was tight when you started it woudl seize the motor more than likely. Most mfg's find a way to engineer around a noise like that, but not GM, they don't care. I'm not ripping GM, I like my van, but the attitude of what the customer will and won't accept seems different at GM than say Honda or Toyota.
The loose fitting pistons make for a low friction engine and great gas miliage.
DD
Thanks
My 98 looses a little bit of coolant every few weeks, but its not enough right now to warrent fixing. Other brands have their own problems, which are usually worse like transmissions.
DD
DD
I had a beater Mazda pickup and I'd get free tires from the tire recycling pile and put them on. Yea, it wasn't optimal but it worked. Always put 2 at a time on, but the thing was just used as a work truck for my house.
The worst part about it was the size (205 15" if memory serves) was mostly a passenger car rated tire and I ruined a few what seemed to be good tires by overloading them on the pickup taking debris to the dump. Would have the thing loaded till the axle was resting hard on the stops. Had a lot of broken belts and stuff like that.
Should have just bitten the bullet and got new tires, live and learn.
can you post the procedure for programming the remote. one of the original remotes broke and i was able to purchase 1 in e-bay for $6. The dealer will charge me $50 if i let them do it. The remotes are for 2001 Olds Silhouette.
Thanks
No I can't say the van is falling apart at all, it's still solid and nice. But your's however at 31,000 miles cupped wear is not normal. That is a sign of suspension damage, worn struts or out of round tires. You may want to have your suspension looked at. Whatever is shaking bad enough to cause cupped wear would shake most cars to death. Mine had a mild shake, not enough to cause irregularities in the wear pattern on the tires. Even if it's just the tires causing the cupped wear, not repairing it for a length of time will lead to other more expensive problems. I can understand why screws would be coming out of the vehicle if it is shaking hard enough to cause cupped wear. Somewhere out there exists a video of how the tire hops at speed to cause that type of wear, it's kind of unsafe to drive like that.
Regarding the coolant leak, my mechanic made the blanket statement "All of the 3.4's do this, but it's still a more reliable car than the Ford or Chrysler" but that's just his opinion. Mine has not started to leak yet.
please do post those instructions. I was going to take the guts out of a new one and replace with guts from mine. But would be better to program new one. Seems funny how easily my 2001 silo key remote broke, I only use it on weekends since van if wifes vehicle. Been using the key remote on my 96 everyday during the week since I bought it new in 96...no problems with it. But of course it is thicker and better made. Thanks for making things cheper GM
On the front suspension, if you are having pulling or wierd tire wear have the suspension checked out. My van when I got it @62k miles needed outer tie rod ends, but I did it myself for less than $50 if my memory serves me right.
I'll dig up the programming and post it.
The dealer has it for a day, and says that the catalytic converter has gone bad, and a new one will have to be ordered (7-10 days). I ask the service manager what specifically happened. He says that the diagnostic code off the OBD II pointed to a cat failure. I ask him what was the diagnostic code. He says that he doesn't know, but the tech might, and he's gone home for the day. I call the second day after and am told that they usually don't like to have the techs talk to the customers as they are busy working on the vehicles. Fine, all I want to know is why did the cat fail, and if they are sure that there are no upstream problems (oxygen sensor, unburned fuel, etc.) that will cause a second cat to fail. He says that usually it's a mechanical failure (breakage of internal parts) or the cat gets clogged. They can't be sure exactly without opening it up, and that's usually more trouble than its worth (better from a labor cost point of view to just replace the part). He says it's not likely that a second cat will fail. I ask him if he's seen this before. He says that he hasn't seen it on a Silhouette, but has seen it on a Regal.
Have any Silo owners had a cat failure? If so, did a replacement cat fix the problem long-term or did the replacement cat fail?
I suppose that I shouldn't worry too much, as this is a relatively new vehicle still well under existing warranties. If they want to swap parts to their heart's content, go for it. All I'm out is a quick drive up and back, and I get a newspaper, a cup of coffee, and a pleasant chat with the shuttle driver for my troubles.
Anyone else experience this problem?? What have been the fixes?
LOL
Ryles
(Troubleshooting is clearly a dead art. Labor costs and OBD-II killed it.)
As with the original poster, there are no obvious problems like a blown fuse or loose wires under the seat.
Not available on the Olds, only the Chevy and Pontiac.
Dan