Paul - I have the same van and have never had the video problem. You obviously have the vcp/aux switch set correctly otherwise you would not get audio. I would guess either a video signal (wiring) problem, or a screen problem. Sorry I'm not more help. If you get it figured out, let us know.
I have a 2000 Silo Premiere. May radio has a cassette and CD player. There is a flashing red light next to the tuning knob. What is it suppose to tell you? What's its purpose??? TIA...
To montanafan-- My other remote works, the service advisor did put the bad remote on a tester and it gave him a signal which I believe was that the remote would only open and not lock. The service advisor and I have become friends and he offered to give a substantial break when I do order one from the dealer. He looked around the dealership to see if any were laying around to swap with me. I am out of warranty by 7 months. The service advisor also did not charge anything for testing and re-calibrating the remote.
I have a 2001 Olds Silhouette, 32K which I just had at the dealer for routine maintenance. I asked them to check the coolant because the resivor seemed low when the engine was cold. To my suprise they told me that the gasket for the manifold had to be replaced and it was approximately a $800 repair, covered under warranty. I am not a car guy, should I be concerned about the longevity of the van? It's the Premier, loaded up and my wife really likes it. The dealer who completed the repair is a long standing reputable Cadillac/Olds dealer in Syracuse New York......
I'm new here, so if I say anything inflamatory, you'll learn it's normal.
OK, on with the point at hand: my 96 silo is making a whining noise. To be exact as possible, it sounds kinda like an ululating whine that increases in frequency, pitch, and volume with increasing RPM, and originates around the bottom front of the vehicle. I've tried to isolate the obvious: I brought it to my mechanic, who said transmission. Duh. So I brought it to a tranny place today, who said engine. Ug. I feel my head spinning.
I'm no mechanic (ergo "my mechanic" mentioned earlier), but I grew up under the wing of a back yard mechanic, so the whine to me sounds like a bearing thinking about suicide. The question is, assuming I'm correct (which is generally a poor assumption, my loving wife will tell you), which bearing is it?
So, I send this out into the cyber world, hoping someone will say, "Crikey, that happened to me. I've gotta help this poor sap."
One suggestion I have is to disconnect the serpentine belt and start the car (only run for a minute or two with a cold engine) and see if you still hear the noise. If you cannot, then you know that one of your auxiliary pumps or pulleys is making the noise. A common thing to make the noise that you describe is the power steering pump, or idler pulley. Hope this helps a little :-) Beyond that, I am not sure.
I'd try going to a mechanic who doesn't have his head up his *** and actually tries to diagnose the problem. Most likely it could be any of the item connected to the serp belt (AC, water pump, alternator, power steering). Hopefully it is not an internal engine problem.
Intake manifold leaks are common on the 3.4 engine, and others too. GM really should provide an extended warranty for this defect, but don't hold your breath. I wouldn't worry to much about the long term reliability of the drive train. I think if you compare the GM vans to other vans, the drive train is solid.
Just returned from vacation in Florida (nice and warm). Rented a Dodge Grand Caravan while there. One of the nice things about coming home was driving my Silhouette!
we just purchased a 2000 Premiere, fully loaded except the video system. in perfect condition with only 28K, got it for $10995. what a bargain! it's a shame that these cars depreciate so quickly, but it sure is a used buyer's dream! i wonder if it has heated mirrors. Anyone know?
2001 Olds Silhouette the door lock go on and off on their own sometimes while the van is just parked, other while going down the road? will not do this in the shop / the dealer can not fix only does this every few months, but when it does it happens a lot and is very fast many times?
I vaguely remember a TSB regarding this type of issue. Try cleaning the contacts for the rear sliers. They may get dirty and cause odd issues like this to occur.
my contract states that the 2000 olds is a premier, yet no video system included. wierd. anyway, the car is in the shop now (yes, 2 days after i bought it i had to bring it in for service). apparently the rear fan for heat/ac is busted, along with a 'tire rack' (?) which accounted for some noise in the stearing. estimated 4-day down-time & $700 cost (dealer pays). are these problems common? Also, i'm planning on changing the fuel pump (30K mi). is this needed?
If it does not have the video system, then it is a GLS and not a Premiere. Regarding the fuel pump, most people wait until they fail, but if you are concerned about being stranded, then you can have it changed sometime in the near future. A local mechanic told me they charge about $800 for this van. Anyone had it done?
I have a 2001 premier silhouette, 35K. Love the van great ride. Only issue to date was the notorious head gasket leak which was replaced under warranty.
I have the van going into the dealer this week for service. Specifically the rear wiper works intermittently and the driver side heated seat does not work at all. I am wondering if anyone thinks the two issues are related and what they think the problem is?
I have a 2000 Silhouette Premiere that recently had problems with the automatic power door. The door got to a point where is would manually move very little. I removed the rear quarter panel trim and examined the cables and the actuator assembly. In the actuator assembly the cables were bound and the plastic sheathing was ripped off the cables. One cable was almost to a point where it was going to break. I was able to remove the cables from the actuator with some wiggling. Looks like I need two new push/pull cables for the door. Has anyone replaced the cables? Any tips for disassembling the actuator motor to install the cables?
sorry, i meant fuel filter (why did i write 'pump'?) anyway, i did get the fuel filter replaced ($16 part, $45 labor). i also had a constant clicking sound coming from rear tires. after 2 visits, mechanic did a ride-along with me & he heard it too. turns out the emergency brake wire lines needed adjustment. i guess they must have been brushing up against the rotor or something. also-strongly recommend silo owners to replace in-cabin air filter often. bought a pair from autozone for $16/each. old ones were absolutely filthy with lots of leaves, fir pine needles, etc. finally, i'm considering adding a remote auto-start for van. best buy says i would sacrifice my remote power sliding door feature. circuit city has worked out a way to preserve remote power sliding door & add remote start & alarm. total cost = $500.
In my 01 Venture, I just removed mine and didn't replace them. In my experience they just grow mold, and cause a stink. I have not noticed any kind of problem with dust, etc from the heater, ac blower since then.
You don't want leaves and dirt clogging up your heater core and a/c evaporator. I'm dirt cheap so I cleaned my old filters with a vac then sprayed them with some air freshener and put them back. Just my opinion.....
I am looking at purchasing a 2000 Silho. Have noticed mostly positive feedback. With the phaseout of this van is anyone concerned about repairs and availability of parts, etc?
Also, have read several reviews that this van seems to depreciate perhaps more rapidly than other models. Am I looking to pay entirely too much for a 2000 Premiere model at 43,000 miles with asking price of about 14,500??
I have the same van and I'm not worried about parts. Mechanically it's the same as the Venture and Montana. I suppose in a few years it might be a problem getting interior trim parts, but how often to you need those? The small size video screen might be a problem down the road. If you like the van I wouldn't sweat it.
I don't know all the details on the van, but the Edmunds TMV looks like it's worth about $13k on a dealer's lot. I have used Edmunds the last 2 times I purchased used cars and I really think I got a better deal because I kept talking about market value, much to the salesman's dislike.
If it has never had the intake gasket replaced, you might also look into an extended warranty. Even with the warranty, you will save a bundle compared to Honda/Toyota, plus get features they didn't offer in 2000.
I just brought my 2000 Silhouette to the Olds dealer because of a similar problem. The cables became tangled and the door quit moving. I disconnected the cables from the door. closed it manually, and brought it to the dealer. According to him, once tangled, the unit is sealed, and no repairs are possible. The entire drive assembly must be replaced to the tune of $1100 plus labor. Gads!!! He said he would try to untangle it, but it looks grim.
You got a steal of a deal with subj van at 11k$. That's amazing. Is it full leather and everything? if so great job. I had to look for a while for mine at the time a few years ago and paid the same for a 98.
DD
Our elect door gets 99.9% closed and then reverses sometimes, have cleaned everything but it still does it. Hope its not that problem!
Door Lock have been quiet for a while till my wife got lock in the back seat because the child proof locks in the back seat were flip on, I let her out and flip them off, that started the problem back up again. Door locks work on their own 2001 Olds Silhouette the door lock go on and off (up & down) on their own sometimes while the van is just parked/off, other times while going down the road? They will not do this in the shop / the dealer can not fix, only does this every few months, but when it does, it happens a lot and is very fast many times for a min. or two?
I was wondering if anyone had a recommendation for an all season tire for 2001 Silo. Live in Upstate NY, so good snow traction is important. OEM tire was Goodyear Eagle LS, tread lasted about 35K. Lots of choices out there, just wondering if someone had some good luck....thanks.
I put Yokohama Avid Touring on my 2000 Silo, and am happy with them so far (about 15K miles). They seemed to offer the best value/performance option. Check "Tire Rack" ad on this page for comparisons. I liked Michelins, but they were way more money.
I'm probably not the first one to complain about the OEM tires on the 2001 Silo, but here goes.
We have the Generals, 15" and since 22K miles they have been producing a rhythmic whir type sound that is audible between 35 and 45 mph. The tires have been rotated properly, inflated properly, and the tire shop who does the work says there is no belt seperation or obvious flaw. Their explanation- "the tires have developed a chop." I assume this means that one or more tires is slightly out of perfect round. The shop already replaced one of the steel rims that they said was dented. This did not solve the problem. So are these just poor quality tires or is this possibly a wheel bearing starting to go bad. Unfortunately, the tire warranty does not cover ride or vibration issues after the first 12 months. Any advice would be appreciated.
The tires are an easy fix...Go get new tires! It's just amazing how much nicer and quieter the van is without those awful General tires. I switched to Goodyear, I should've gone with Michellin but the Goodyears are an incredible improvment.
I'll stop complaining about the Gereral Tires and the ride issue as I am too cheap to replace tires that still have 25K miles left on them. Who knows, maybe wear will make the ride better.
It's twice as bad because we still have 2.5 years left to pay the van off. One thing for sure, I will not be buying any tires down the road made by General or its affiliated companies.
You could also look at some smaller tire shops. There are many that are willing to buy your used rubber if its still got life left, especially as credit towards new tires.
The pull on the rear hatch broke yesterday, the mounting bracket broke I probably smacked it into our luggage. A minor problem but my wife is vertically challenged and can't close the hatch without it so I need to fix it right away.
Comments
Mikey
Aren't you living a few hundred kilometers away from home?
Steve, Host
I have a 2001 Olds Silhouette, 32K which I just had at the dealer for routine maintenance. I asked them to check the coolant because the resivor seemed low when the engine was cold. To my suprise they told me that the gasket for the manifold had to be replaced and it was approximately a $800 repair, covered under warranty. I am not a car guy, should I be concerned about the longevity of the van? It's the Premier, loaded up and my wife really likes it. The dealer who completed the repair is a long standing reputable Cadillac/Olds dealer in Syracuse New York......
I'm new here, so if I say anything inflamatory, you'll learn it's normal.
OK, on with the point at hand: my 96 silo is making a whining noise. To be exact as possible, it sounds kinda like an ululating whine that increases in frequency, pitch, and volume with increasing RPM, and originates around the bottom front of the vehicle. I've tried to isolate the obvious: I brought it to my mechanic, who said transmission. Duh. So I brought it to a tranny place today, who said engine. Ug. I feel my head spinning.
I'm no mechanic (ergo "my mechanic" mentioned earlier), but I grew up under the wing of a back yard mechanic, so the whine to me sounds like a bearing thinking about suicide. The question is, assuming I'm correct (which is generally a poor assumption, my loving wife will tell you), which bearing is it?
So, I send this out into the cyber world, hoping someone will say, "Crikey, that happened to me. I've gotta help this poor sap."
Thanks, in advance.
I reviewed the board after I posted the note and found a lot of similiar issues...I'm hoping the repair is the end of it!!!
Steve, Host
Tom
Leather-trimmed seating areas and steering wheel
Foldaway heated power outside mirrors
The heated mirrors are listed as standard equipment for all 2000 Silhouettes and the GLS has leather as standard. Maybe the book is wrong.
I have the van going into the dealer this week for service. Specifically the rear wiper works intermittently and the driver side heated seat does not work at all. I am wondering if anyone thinks the two issues are related and what they think the problem is?
Thumbs up on the van overall!!
Thanks...
Thanks
Ash
also-strongly recommend silo owners to replace in-cabin air filter often. bought a pair from autozone for $16/each. old ones were absolutely filthy with lots of leaves, fir pine needles, etc.
finally, i'm considering adding a remote auto-start for van. best buy says i would sacrifice my remote power sliding door feature. circuit city has worked out a way to preserve remote power sliding door & add remote start & alarm. total cost = $500.
Steve, Host
Also, have read several reviews that this van seems to depreciate perhaps more rapidly than other models. Am I looking to pay entirely too much for a 2000 Premiere model at 43,000 miles with asking price of about 14,500??
I don't know all the details on the van, but the Edmunds TMV looks like it's worth about $13k on a dealer's lot. I have used Edmunds the last 2 times I purchased used cars and I really think I got a better deal because I kept talking about market value, much to the salesman's dislike.
If it has never had the intake gasket replaced, you might also look into an extended warranty. Even with the warranty, you will save a bundle compared to Honda/Toyota, plus get features they didn't offer in 2000.
DD
Our elect door gets 99.9% closed and then reverses sometimes, have cleaned everything but it still does it. Hope its not that problem!
Door locks work on their own 2001 Olds Silhouette the door lock go on and off (up & down) on their own sometimes while the van is just parked/off, other times while going down the road? They will not do this in the shop / the dealer can not fix, only does this every few months, but when it does, it happens a lot and is very fast many times for a min. or two?
We have the Generals, 15" and since 22K miles they have been producing a rhythmic whir type sound that is audible between 35 and 45 mph. The tires have been rotated properly, inflated properly, and the tire shop who does the work says there is no belt seperation or obvious flaw. Their explanation- "the tires have developed a chop." I assume this means that one or more tires is slightly out of perfect round. The shop already replaced one of the steel rims that they said was dented. This did not solve the problem. So are these just poor quality tires or is this possibly a wheel bearing starting to go bad. Unfortunately, the tire warranty does not cover ride or vibration issues after the first 12 months. Any advice would be appreciated.
It's twice as bad because we still have 2.5 years left to pay the van off. One thing for sure, I will not be buying any tires down the road made by General or its affiliated companies.
99 Silo.
Bob