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Again, BIG thanks, Tony
If OnStar had even a little bit of value, for me, I'd take it in a heartbeat. Sure they can unlock my doors if I lock my keys in, but I haven't done that since I was in High School (Many many years ago). They can notify the police if my airbag goes off. I'll take the gamble on that. Give me real features. Start my car when I call. Let me ask for help with directions, but not make me pay an extra $200 per year for that service.
I used the phone feature once, what a trip to the past. You get all the static of yesteryear, and the prices per minute to match.
I'm sorry for my rant, but I feel better now.
As for the phone, I have found it to be pretty good overall and far superior to my Startac mobil in terms of quality. Perhaps because it is higher power than the handhelds, the connections seem much clearer to me. I particularly like the handsfree operation. I will admit on a minute per minute basis its a bit pricey. However, I only use it for short calls and there's no monthly bill to worry about.
I think its also nice to have Onstar notify police in the event of an airbag deployment. No one ever thinks they're going to be left unconscious, in a single car accident in an isolated area late at night but those things happen. So for all the reasons above, I think $200/yr is pretty reasonable for the basic services offered.
The basic Onstar is $200/year. For that, you basically get an insurance policy. There is nothing I can think of that I can use on a daily basis without paying them even more money. The phone, directions, etc. are all extra. So, what I get is:
Airbag notification IF there is an accident.
Vehicle tracking IF my truck is stolen.
Door unlock IF I lock my keys in the truck.
Vehicle diagnotsics IF my truck is not working right.
So, basically, if none of these RARE occuraces happen, they get my $200 and I get NOTHING.
That means this insurance policy costs me 25% of what my main auto insurance costs and offers me very little.
I would be willing to pay maybe $60 a year for this insurance, but certainly not $200. The risk/benefit is just not in my favor at all.
If there was ANYTHING the system was good for on a normal basis, I would consider it. But there is not.
So, get a cell phone, drive carefully, don't park in bad neighborhoods, take the truck to the dealer if it acts up and have your spouse carry the extra set of keys. Then take her/him out for a nice dinner twice a year on the money you saved!
[Why is it a penny for your thoughts but you have to put your two cents in? Someone is making a penny!]
Along the same lines, does everyone know that all of your power outlets also are "always on". That means anything left plugged in and on continues to draw power even if the key is off. Could be the reason some have had problems with their battery going dead.
Just my half cent (I'm cheap)
I agree 100 percent. And 60 dollars may be still too high. A clear case of pricing out of whack with the benefit. I argued with the goodwill rep when they called to welcome me to my complimentary first year. I told him frankly, for free, its still a little over priced. He didn't want to hear it.
You're right Lurker, Onstar is a kind of insurance. The nature of insurance is to asses the risk something bad will happen and try to assign monetary values to it. To me its worth it, to you not. Good luck.
Frank
It's not just $200, you are spending about $500 on it when you buy the vehicle. It's built into the price, and can't be avoided on certain trim lines. That's my beef with it!
Chris
kmh - I don't have the manual climate control, but there is probably an A/C button that needs to be pushed in for the compressor to run. It is probably marked with a picture of a snowflake.
1) The wind noise is more than I'm used to. My dealer has done what he can with the door seals but it hasn't improved. The Consumers Report auto issue mentions wind noise also. I'm now wondering if it is actually caused by the roof rack and not door seals. Any comments?
2) The Bose 6 CD changer makes frequent rubbing/grinding sounds while playing CDs. If I turn the volume down I can really hear it. I checked out other vehicles in the dealer's lot with the same system and they all do it. The single CD players did not. Does anyone else out there experience this?
3) When I put the A/C system on defrost, the temperature of the supplied air to the windshield increases and becomes much warmer than what I have it set at. For example, if I change back to the front vents, the air temp returns to what it should be. This never was the case with my past Bonnevilles.
4)I think if On star included a hand held phone that you could take with you when you leave the vehicle, it would be more attractive to me. Then I could cancel my current cellular deal. I love the On star phone system, but can not justify having two plans. If they did this and made the cost per minute around .10$, I think more people would renew for $199.00 and buy the phone service.
I have read many posts about gas mileage - some getting better and some getting worse. My question is, has anyone had anything done that resulted in better gas mileage? If so, what was done and what were the results. I am thinking about changing to synthetic oil. What results have others actually achieved? How about a K&N air filter? Did anyone receive better mileage?
I have always kept up with the latest DIC, but nothing has made any difference. I don't need a lecture about this being an SUV and it is good compared to others. The fact is - it is significantly below EPA figures. I believe this is a good purpose for this board, to exchange ideas and improve our vehicles. Thanks for any assistance you can give.
I am not complaining about the mileage, I love my Envoy and its been good to me.
Some one asked about "break in period". The manual has explicit instructions about the 500 mile break in period. I followed them closely.
Chris
GAM
Its like the guy who buys a SCARAB boat with twin 502's, He never takes it out because gas is $2 a gallon, dude your boat is 115K NEW!, A tank of gas is $200 bucks! I'll never understand!
I drive my vehicle and boat like I stole it!
LATER
Thanks for the feedback. I was really hoping that I may have discovered the root cause of the wind noise. I did fold the mirrors in to see if that made a difference. It did not. I read your post #10473 and would really appreciate the pictures you offered.
Stephen
I've been having computer problems (at home, not the truck!) and just got back online. I will borrow the camera from work and try to post some pictures later in the week on my wind noise fixes. I own several film cameras and just haven't been able to convince myself I need a digital (but that's a different story).
GAM
Not sure what you mean by "compartment" but maybe this is what your lookin for.
TSB 02-09-40-005A
Subject:Availability of Rear Seat Shoulder Belt Comfort Guides
Models:
2003 Buick Century, Regal
2003 Pontiac Grand Prix
2003 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade EXT
2003 Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado Extended Cab, Suburban,
Tahoe, TrailBlazer EXT
2003 GMC Envoy XL, Sierra Extended Cab, Yukon, Yukon XL
Some early 2003 production vehicles were manufactured without rear seat shoulder belt comfort guides. This comfort guide is a plastic guide attached to a short elastic tether that positions the shoulder belt away from the neck of short occupants, whether children or adults. A rear seat shoulder belt comfort guide may help improve the comfort of the shoulder portion of the safety belt for occupants sitting in the rear outboard seating positions.
While these vehicles comply with all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, some customers may request to have these comfort guides installed on their vehicle. Comfort guides are currently available from GMSPO
Upon customer request, dealers are authorized to install these rear seat shoulder belt comfort guides at no cost to the customers.
Stephen
But, at $200 and that $200 doesn't even come close to replicating what AAA gives me for about $60 a year... It's unlikely that I will consider renewing onstar.
My guess is that if onstar is making money, and it won't be from me, then it's pretty obvious that myself (and a lot of others in this forum) are outside the target market for onstar. either that or onstar is missing out on a lot of revenue due to overpricing.
My second question is when I am driving at steady state conditions and lightly give it gas I hear a whishing sound. Is this normal?
Any help would be appreciated.
Their commercial is also a joke. They do not come on the line right away. You have to go through several menus and then still have to wait.
Onstar can't explain what happened. Just that it's not their problem. They admitted to making a mistake, but it's my problem not theirs. So even if you have a canceled check, call to verify that you have the service.
As far as the product is concerned, it worked even after the cable to the antenna was cut and the wiring harness for onstar was cut, they just forgot to cut the GPS wire.
There is one good thing from all of this, the police did get the driver and I picked him out in a lineup. We are going to court this thursday, preliminary hearing. He's facing Robbery, Assault, Armed Criminal Action and Stealing and that is just in the county. There are additional charges in the city where they caught him.
So the question is, do I keep Onstar? They did, after delays, help in the recovery. But their accounting procedures and people covering the phones leave little to be desired!! Decision still to be determined!! Right now I don't need Onstar, I still do not have my Envoy back. It was 30 days on Sunday.
What do you think that OnStar should do because of their mistake? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Debbie
"Owners of some 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazers, GMC Envoys and Oldsmobile Bravadas with the 4.2L LL8 engine may experience noise and vibration between 800 - 900 rpm. They may comment about engine buzz noise, and vibration felt at the accelerator pedal, steering wheel, and center console."
Verify that the intake pre-plenum is securely mounted. Press down on the plastic intake pre-plenum. If the vibration is eliminated, replace the intake pre-plenum with part number 15176239.
- Thanks to GM Technical Assistance
As a Houston area resident I can confirm I've never had the auto a/c re circulate on it's own either, and yes you have to hit the re circulate button every time you start your truck. Despite the a/c re circulate not turning on, I can't say I've needed it to turn on. I certainly toyed with it when I first got the truck, but now that I've had it awhile I feel it works fine despite this. I believe there is some TSB's that might change how the auto climate control works but I haven't pursued them. This particular subject has been beat to death so if you want to read up on what's been said in the past I would recommend using the advanced search on the left hand column, use "auto climate control" for the search and check the button for Find messages in discussion Chevy Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Oldsmobile Bravada. You'll get a full page of post links and somewhere in those someone posted the technical details on how the auto climate control works.
"My second question is when I am driving at steady state conditions and lightly give it gas I hear a whishing sound. Is this normal?"
I don't believe I've encountered this sound but without hearing it myself I wouldn't say I don't have it. It might be a sound I've just ignored.
2004 Envoy (reg length and XL)
Deletions
Oak interior
Exterior color: (11U) Pewter and (58U) Sandalwood
New Features
New Packaging
New exterior color: (15U) Sand Beige Metallic and (67U) Liquid Silver Metallic
(UM8) Navigation radio system
(U2K) XM Satellite radio
(UB0) Sound System (New RPO)
(UB1) Sound System (New RPO)
(JF4) Electric adjustable pedals
(N75) Sport aluminum wheel
Light Tan interior
Modified steering wheel for SLT
2004 Trailblazer (regular length only)
Deletions
LTZ model
Custom Cloth
Light Oak and Medium Oak interiors
Exterior color: (11U) Pewter and (58U) Sandalwood
(QC4) Wheels, 4 - 16" x 7" (40 cm x 17.8 cm) aluminum
New Features
New Packaging
(JF4) Pedals, power adjustable
New exterior colors (44U) Medium Red Metallic
New exterior colors (15U) Sandstone Metallic
New exterior colors (67U) Silverstone Metallic
(UM8) Sound system, ETR AM/FM stereo with CD player, Integrated Navigation Radio (INR), includes seek-and-scan, auto-tone control, Radio Data System (RDS) and full-feature Autonomous Navigation
(U2K) Sound system feature, XM Satellite Radio is 100 channels of digital quality sound that goes wherever you go - coast to coast. Displays song title, artist, and entertainment genre. Subscription fees apply. Available only in the 48 contiguous states.
Light Cashmere Cloth reclining bucket seats
Light Cashmere Premium Two-tone leather seating surfaces
(N74) 17" Wheels (The North Face Edition)
(N75) 17" Wheels (Optional on LT)
Last door locking feature: system operates when last door is closed
2004 Trailblazer (EXT)
Deletions
Light Oak and Medium Oak interiors
Exterior color: (11U) Pewter and (58U) Sandalwood
New Features
New Packaging
New exterior colors (15U) Sandstone Metallic
New exterior colors (44U) Medium Red Metallic
New exterior colors (67U) Silverstone Metallic
(JF4) Pedals, power adjustable
(UM8) Sound system, ETR AM/FM stereo with CD player, Integrated Navigation Radio (INR), includes seek-and-scan, auto-tone control, Radio Data System (RDS) and full-feature Autonomous Navigation
(U2K) Sound system feature, XM Satellite Radio is 100 channels of digital quality sound that goes wherever you go - coast to coast. Displays song title, artist and entertainment genre. Subscription fees apply. Available only in the 48 contiguous U.S.
Light Cashmere Cloth reclining bucket seats
Light Cashmere Premium Two-tone leather seating surfaces
(N74) 17" wheels (The North Face Edition)
(N75) 17" wheels (TrailBlazer EXT)
Last door locking feature: system operates when last door is closed
Accelerator Pedal Buzz and Vibration
This condition affects some 2003 Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe, Avalanche, Sierra, Yukon, Denali, Escalade, and EXT vehicles.
Owners may experience a buzz noise which can be heard and felt, from the accelerator pedal area on the first acceleration after starting the vehicle. It will occur only the first time the vehicle reaches approximately 10 mph (16 kph) after start-up. It will not occur again until the key is cycled off then on. Based on the driving habits of the owner, the condition may occur at approximately the same time as the 1-2 shift of the automatic transmission.
This noise is caused by the Supplemental Brake Assist (SBA) performing a self-test. The SBA, which is mounted to the brake vacuum booster canister, is new for 2003 and provides vacuum for the brake booster in case of low vacuum or vacuum loss.
This is a normal condition and no repair attempts should be made.
The SBA is used only on vehicles equipped with vacuum brake boosters and is not used on vehicles equipped with Hydra-Boost brake systems.
- Thanks to GM Technical Assistance
return to Table of Contents
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Engine Noise and Vibration Owners of some 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazers, GMC Envoys and Oldsmobile Bravadas with the 4.2L LL8 engine may experience noise and vibration between 800 - 900 rpm. They may comment about engine buzz noise, and vibration felt at the accelerator pedal, steering wheel, and center console.
Verify that the intake pre-plenum is securely mounted. Press down on the plastic intake pre-plenum. If the vibration is eliminated, replace the intake pre-plenum with part number 15176239.
- Thanks to GM Technical Assistance
As to water on the WeatherTech carpeted mats, you may not be aware that those mats are designed to hold a quart and a half of water each:
<http://www.weathertech.com/store/prodsearch.asp?item_group_id=26>
and clean-up hasn't been a problem with the ones we put in our 300M. Did well enough this winter that the wife wants them in our Bravada.
We got involved with WeatherTech products about 5 years ago with their all-rubber mats and a cargo liner in our S-10 Blazer. The cargo liner held up well against 3 dogs, their food and water, and still looked good. So, that's the way I went with the Bravada cargo liner.
Their rubber mats have also done well and are quite attractive. We went to their carpeted mats for the 300M for style and have been quite pleased. However, if you get all the stuff on your Bravada floor that you claim (my wife would hold executions if gum, grease, and (fill in the blank) were common deposits in our vehicles, even the old ones) the WeatherTech rubber mats would be an attractive alternative:
<http://www.weathertech.com/store/prodsearch.asp?item_group_id=3>
Admittedly that doesn't solve the "dead pedal" cover problem, but that was the point of my original post. Vendors should read these boards. There are plenty of needs expressed here, that a good marketeer could fill for a profit. A simple, substitute, "dead pedal" cover is one of those needs.
Appears that this new program is an improvement. TB ran much improved. Torque is back, on light throttle and low RPM.
TBLT 4WD, 43000 miles, 15 days short of 2-year anniversary
Is there anyway to post photos without a website?
GAM
http://www.trailblazer.homestead.com/
luckyjdr@netzero.net
http://www.newcartestdrive.com/review-intro.cfm?ReviewID=1372
I believe this article is very realistic. It does compare apples with apples. Edmunds keeps on talkimng about the fact that the TB is rolling in corners. Sorry, but I don't intent to buy a truck for racing! I find the ride of the TB just fantastic! The power is amazing at a fuel consumption that is absolutely great for a SUV (just compare it to the Pathfinder and the V6 Explorer, even the Xterra! and the Excape!). Don't compare it to a Civic! Compare it to similartrucks.
Just my $.02 (CA)
BTW, nobody ever answered my last question. Is the vibration something you can feel immediatly or does it come with time? I test drove 4 Envoys and TB, and I never felt any vibration in the gaz pedal.
Rich
Can you give me a reference to the new calibration you are referring to?
Would greatly appreciate it.