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bporter1...Brian...Did I say LSD???
I visited the Hunter site and found a couple of other shops in my area that have the Hunter balancer. They cover the problem from the technical side of matters, which you'd expect them to do. Are you aware of any sites where car owners have gotten together and posted problems/solutions in their dealings with this issue?
Thanks...
The W Regal is on a different chassis, but probably is susceptible to the same problems as
suspension parts get lighter and lighter.
But tire problems are tire problems.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I am not sure if I am just noticing this for the first time in my 2002 Buick Regal GS, or if it is a brand new 'problem'.
A muted whine is coming from my engine compartment when the rpms go up even slightly, e.g. when I softly rev the engine or even just creep forward.
Maybe it is the normal supercharger noise and I haven't noticed it before, do you fellow owners hear the same?
Separately, how will I know when (if?) my supercharger 'goes bad'?
Still love car, though. New Michelin X-Ones are vast improvement over Eagles.
It seems strange for it to be dark while the traction control does have a light.
2)Also, is there a way to get reasonably priced passkey duplicates--ie without going through the dealer?
3)I was thinking of having a remote starter installed by an electronics store. what would be the impact on my warranty? good/bad experiences with that?
thanks.
Traded in my nice 2000 GL Alero, but kept the 2000 Intrigue.
I know it's lonely here on the Buick site vs. the Oldsmobile sites. Don't understand this, as sitting in my garage, I can hardly tell the difference between the Buick Regal and the Olds. Intrigue.
Either have the best automobile engines in production recently. The GM 4.3 truck engine being the ultimate engine today. The 3.8 is not far behind the 4.3 per numerous reports and reviews.
Regal has reportedly won over camcords and mashima in reliability. This is in Nov. consumers and wall street journal. I think, I could be wrong, just dial 3330000 if you disagree.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I bought a new 2003 LS model in May and so far it has been perfect. According to my user's manual, the supercharged Regal GS requires premium fuel of 91 octane or higher. That was one of the reasons I went with the LS instead. (Also the GS was $3,000 more and the insurance was higher.)
Good luck with your decision.
They have always been Toyoto, Honda, or Maxima just as all reviews and ratings including Edmunds.
I have considered a Camry but when I follow one and see the tail pipe hanging down close to the ground with about a 15 degree bend I change my mind. If the design engineers did not know that it needed an exhaust until the last minute and hung one on as after thought. How could we trust the rest of the design with this visual monstrosity of engineering?
I just bought a 2002 LS, 8000 miles, Gran touring package, loaded except for onstar and heated seats. Was a local one owner lady. The dealer spoke of $15,995. In our area 03 program LS units are selling from $11,000 to $14,000 or so. The 03 models were de-contented of several items over previous years.
I traded in a 2000 Alero and paid $500 more than Edmunds TMV price would have been. I gave the Buick to my wife and took here 2000 Intrigue as my driver.
Suggest that you use Edmunds TMV pricing and then make your decision. And yes premium fuel is recommended or required for the performance GS.
Check that the intake manifold campaign has been performed.
Have the Co. provide you with Carfax.
Obviously the GS goes for more than the LS normally asperated units. But I have the Gran Touring package Y56 that has the suspension, wheels, tires, brakes, etc. as the GS. But not the super charged screamer engine.
Engine: V6 3.8L Supercharged
Trans: Automatic
Drive: Front Wheel Drive
Mileage: 45,000
Equipment
Gran Touring Pkg
GSE
Air Conditioning
Power Steering
Power Windows
Power Door Locks
Tilt Wheel
Cruise Control
AM/FM Stereo
Cassette
Dual Front Air Bags
LH Front Side AirBag
ABS (4-Wheel)
Traction Control
Leather
Power Seat
Sliding Sun Roof
Premium Wheels
Retail Value $14,510
www.nada.com Trade in around $11,500.
Is this a dealership that may have serviced the car in the past? Ask them for a print out of all the service history on it.
Good luck. And get an extended warranty, but not from the dealership. Do NOT use www.warrantygold.com Try www.warrantydirect.com for a quote.
After 4 months (4000 miles) I started getting a rough idle. Injector cleaner didn't help and the plug wires were only 6 months old. Dealer said it was due to the Bosch plugs; he said "don't know why, but Regals don't do well with them". Ended up costing me $200 for the new plugs and diagnostics, imagine that, $33 per plug! Guess I learned a valuable lesson.
I always buy the originals.
I change plugs that can go 100K at 40K. That way the wires don't get deteriorated by the widened gap in the plugs and I don't have problems with them sticking in the threads.
I buy original equipment PVC valves too.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
After 4 months (4000 miles) I started getting a rough idle. Injector cleaner didn't help and the plug wires were only 6 months old. Dealer said it was due to the Bosch plugs; he said "don't know why, but Regals don't do well with them". Ended up costing me $200 for the new plugs and diagnostics, imagine that, $33 per plug! Guess I learned a valuable lesson.
http://www.trishield.com/Concepts/lacrosse.shtml
Overall, my Regal has been a fine car since I purchased new. I have always taken good care of it..no car washes and a wax job couple times a yr. You know when you begin to tire owning a certain vehicle, but not with this Regal...four years old and it still runs and looks like new. I have had to deal with some of the same problems discussed on this site: climate display, temp sensor, window motor, chronic oil drip, but nothing so major to cause me to loose interest.
I enjoy the hell out of driving my Regal with its superb balance of luxury and sport! You LS owners don't know what you are missing...The 3800 SC coupled with the touring suspension makes this car a joy to drive.
I, too, had a Sierra Red '99 LS, standard suspension, which I traded for my current '02 LS Abboud. There were some tranny and gas mileage issues with the red car as the warranty ran out. The Touring springs in the new car make a lot of difference. Although the design is getting old, [the new Chevy Malibu is almost a ringer for my car - with a matching MSRP to boot!] it's still a ball to drive - which leads me to my only problem - the miles pile up too fast! I'm thinking '06, the second year of the new model [LaCrosse?]
GM PART # 12456148
GM LIST: $201.89
OUR PRICE: $119.80
DESCRIPTION: Grand Prix, Impala and Monte Carlo Handling Upgrade Kit
This suspension kit is intended to reduce body roll and chassis flex while enhancing cornering capabilities.
Kit is for use on 1997-2003 Pontiac Grand Prix and 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo. Handling Kit inlcudes all hardware and bushings to replace exsisting sway bars and to add the strut tower brace, and consist of: P/N 12498642 Heavy Duty Rear Sway Bar, P/N 12498643 Heavy Duty Front Sway Bar, P/N 12498649 Rear Tubular Trailing Arm Kit which contains two trailing arms P/N 10409660(ARMS NOT PICTURED), and P/N 12456148 Strut Tower Brace.
An additional strut brace P/N 12456148 can be ordered for rear strut tower, but is a labor intensive installation. LIMITED SUPPLY, POSSIBLE BACKORDER.
If you are adding this to a vehicle that does not have a rear sway bar from the factory you will have to modify the install brackets in order to install this rear sway bar. Installation instructions are provided with these strut tower bars.
Prices shown are from GMPartsDirect...
Any of you guys ever change your Dex antifreeze? I have searched for the radiator valve, but find nothing that looks like a valve. There is a kind of white flat plastic plug on the drivers side that might be the valve, but it does not want to move...I'm afraid to put to much pressure on it for fear of breaking it. Any thoughts?
Good advice: Change your cabin filter! Makes a huge difference. I did it this summer according to the instructions someone posted on this site months ago. Maybe took 10 or 15 minutes. You'd never guess it was installed on the engine side of the firewall. Another thing, the GM replacement filter was about $12 vs $20 for an Auto Zone filter.
Today I am having the valve cover and oil pan gaskets replaced to the tune of $805 after tax.
Thanks Buick!
And thank you warrantygold.com for voiding my warranty and thousands of others you have ripped off. I am out of pocket in full... this one is going to small claims.
I'm not bitter, I knew of the oil leak issues before I bought the car... (ext warranty would normally pay for this)
By the way, it's a 1998 GS with 70,000 miles on it. Hopefully this is the last oil leak issue I will have until the car is sold in the next couple years.
Dealer also mentioned something about the water pump dripping on some belts??? has anybody ever heard of this? They are fishing for another $330 to fix this.
The last couple of weeks there has been a clunking similar to the noise all cars make when you first turn the heat or a/c on. It sounds like the panels behind the dash are moving to recirculate the air output, from floor to windshield etc. I checked the air output and it does not change when I hear the clunk. It is now to the point that it does this fairly regular and multiple times every couple of minutes. Anyone heard of this or had this happen to their Regal? I do have the climate control system and it has been replaced once already. Thanks in advance.
I presume this kit fits the Regal GS... I have a '98.
You also note an "our price"?? What's the deal, how does one buy at this price?
Ed
"Our price" is the price you pay...But they do add a Shipping charge...
Regarding Dexcool: like Mrrogers, I also had the system flushed and filled with ethylene glycol (green stuff) after the warranty expired. Have heard numerous stories about "Death Cool" to convince me to switch. Best friend had head gaskets replaced in his 2000 Malibu. Hopefully, GM has developed stronger gaskets and other components that can stomach the stuff in their 2001 and newer cars.
By the way, I had the system power flushed twice. Need to get ALL of the Dexcool out. Make sure the heater core and coolant recovery tank are flushed, too.
If you decide to continue using Dexcool, word on the street is don't wait the recommended five years or 100k miles to flush it. And make sure the system is full (to the top of the radiator cap). Never let air get into the system, and never top off with ethylene glycol (green) or the Dexcool could turn to gel and ruin almost everything it touches (radiator, cylinder heads, radiator hoses, head gaskets, the whole nine yards).
For those who have had to pay for expensive head gasket repairs, check for "Dexcool" in Google.com. You might find a link or two to class action lawsuits filed against GM.
Re Dexcool...now you're scaring me with your stories. I flushed and replaced with Dex for the 1st time at 40,000 (3.5yrs). Maybe I'll flush every other yr from now on just like with the green stuff.
Got any ideas about the wind noise I talk about in a previous post?
Re: Dexcool, if you had it changed at 40k and 3 1/2 years, that's well before the 100k and 5 years GM recommends, so it should be just fine. Actually, I'd say you done good!