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Buick Rainier, Chevy TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy

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Comments

  • raleighraleigh Member Posts: 98
    I second DShepherd. However, don't just look at the battery terminals to see if they look OK. GM has had a history of problems of this type, mainly due to side-mounted terminals. Take the battery cables off, clean everything with a wire brush and baking soda paste, put some battery terminal grease or plain ole vasoline on the terminals, and reconnect.
  • fandbpestfandbpest Member Posts: 5
    :confuse: i was unscrewing the taillight, the part where the bulbs go in, (the three screws on each side ) and the screws were so rusted that i stripped four of them and i broke the head off another one. i was wondering what i can do about this because i want to replace the reverse lights. do i need to buy new tail light covers? i have the extended warranty but i do not think it covers this. any suggestions would be great. thanks.
  • walk4walk4 Member Posts: 9
    Tblazed - I admire you knowledge and good and helpful suggestions. Thanks to you and others like you in this forum a lot of problems have been solved.

    I changed my spark plugs few weeks ago and if you follow Tblazed instructions you will be fine. Also I would suggest using 10"of length 3/8" rubber hose to get the spark plugs in or out. Check the gap .05" of each new spark plug and the old spark plugs for any unusual discoloration.
    Apply the anti-seized compound on the upper thread of the spark plug – be careful do not get any on the ignition tip.

    Walk4
  • dmathews3dmathews3 Member Posts: 1,739
    I would think this would be covered. Not the bulb but if the screws all rusted out and they broke off/stripped that part should be covered depending if you bought the full coverage policy from GM or just the drive train.
  • stephen9stephen9 Member Posts: 6
    David - Thank you for the reply.

    My understanding is the average fuel economy meter is simply a value of total miles driven divided by fuel used since the last reset. It does not make sense that it needs to be reset after each fill up to work correctly.

    I just returned from a 1000 mile round trip where my meter read 18 before I started, 22 after driving 450 highway miles, dropped to 17.5 after 50 city miles, and went back up to 22.3 after a 500 mile highway return trip. This fluctuation is way to much for a vehicle with 82,000 miles on the odometer.

    Do you or anyone else have any insight for me?

    Stephen
  • balichbalich Member Posts: 62
    Folks,

    Does anybody know if there are ANY changes to the '06 Trailblazer
    from the '05's ?

    What realistically are you getting for gas mileage ?

    Would you buy another Trailblazer knowing what you know now ?

    Thanks for any info you can share .. We are thinking about getting
    one for my wife ...
  • dmathews3dmathews3 Member Posts: 1,739
    I guess the only way to be sure if this is correct which seems like it is as mine also does that depending on how much I gun it during city driving. If I snall start at each light than it isn't as bad. So just do it the old way divide the mileage by how much gas is put back in on fillup and see how close it comes.
  • morey000morey000 Member Posts: 384
    The 4.2L 6 cylinder engine has been upgraded from 275hp and 275ft-lbs of torque to 291hp and 277ftlbs of torque. That's pretty cool. The 5.3L V8 now has 'displacement on demand- so it gets the same fuel economy as the 6. That's pretty cool as well.
    The Envoy's get stabilitrack- electronic stability control - not sure about the TB's. Possibly not.
  • jamisonsjamisons Member Posts: 5
    Several things: I've had my '04 TB LS for about a year now (purchased used with 20k, now has 34k) and have had it in for service three times for a (perceived?) problem with uneven acceleration. Acceleration seems to lag behind pedal input at all speed ranges, and the engine always seems to over-rev just a bit before shifting when coming up to surface street speeds. I don't drive very aggressively (but am in Houston!) so I don't think it's because of trying to accelerate too quickly.
    This is all hard to explain but perhaps someone else out there has experienced something similar? So far two oxygen sensors have been replaced and the PCM was updated, all about 4 months ago. I think my gas mileage has suffered through all of this but am still watching that. Oh - yesterday my low fuel light came on at only 15 gals used; normally it comes on at abou 18 gallons used. MPG with that fillup was 14.8 with a mix of city and highway driving. Thanks for any help!
  • stephen9stephen9 Member Posts: 6
    What I guess is happening with the Average Fuel Economy meter is that it averages over the last specific amount of miles driven; possibly around 100. It does not average over the entire spectrum until reset as it is supposed to do. :(

    I do know that the Range (miles left before running out of gas) is figured based on the fuel economy over "recent" driving conditions.

    The owner's manual is not specific on either of the above. :P
  • twinrottstwinrotts Member Posts: 161
    When my 02 was new, the fuel economy display was dead nuts accurate with this mystical tool called division that I would do with each refill. Somewhere along the line, I had one of the modules reflashed to improve the 1st to second shift when engine is cold. When they did that, the fuel economy as displayed by the truck magically increased approx 1.5 mpg and for some reason, arithmetic did not work anymore because it would no longer agree with the trucks estimate.
    Fact of the matter for me is "Who Cares" I reset trip "A" to 0 with each refill and always refill before accummulating 400 miles. I figure my EXT avgs around 18 mpg in mixed 60/40 HW to City. I rarely push it.
    Talk about practical torque. I just returned from a couple of days in the Allegany National Forest in NW Penn. I had a trailer with 2 ATV's (approx 2000#'s) pulling up grades up to 8%. Never ran out of power. Was able to achieve any desired speed with engine never exceeding 3500 rpm and temp never exceeding 210.
    Now I probably only got 14 mpg but even that was not bad. :D
  • raleighraleigh Member Posts: 98
    Jamisons - I think what you are experiencing is a common feature of the triplets. I went from a 1998 Jimmy with only 190 hp to a 2004 Envoy with 270 ... and couldn't believe that the Jimmy felt a lot more energetic. Granted, the Envoy is faster overall, but it doesn't have the immediate kick that the Jimmy did. The solution lies in the aftermarket. I am waiting for a Superchips or Hypertech programmer to reset the engine and transmission interface. Then, I think you will see these things run like they should. :)
  • ross1962ross1962 Member Posts: 229
    What realistically are you getting for gas mileage ?
    About 20 MPG on the highway, which is what i normally drive.
  • raleighraleigh Member Posts: 98
    Anyone ever hear of them? I saw an interesting piece on Speed Channel's "Two Guys Garage" where they installed an Aero Turbine muffler and resonator on a truck ... and visited the factory. Most impressive. Beautiful, polished stainless steel and lifetime warranty. I've been looking for a good aftermarket exhaust, but they are few and far between for the triplets, so I am ordering an Aero muffler and resonator. Will let you know how I like it. Meantime, check out their web site:

    http://www.aero-turbine.com/seehear/seehear.html
  • 01_hoe01_hoe Member Posts: 273
    Do you think the Aero is as good as the Borla system for the triplets?
  • raleighraleigh Member Posts: 98
    The Borla is a complete system ... and much more expensive. The Aero muffler with resonator and beautiful stainless tip run a little over $300 ... and they sound GREAT! :D
  • gmfangmfan Member Posts: 188
    Just got back from driving 1500 round trip miles (mostly highway), and my 02 TB did great. It is the first long trip I have ever taken it on. I averaged 22.4 miles to gallon, which is better than my father-in-laws Grand Caravan, and better than what my wife's Lexus RX 300 gets. Around town, them two have me beat by 2 miles per gallon. At 74,000 miles and vehicle still drives like brand new. I still cannot believe I am on original brake pads, original spark plugs, and original drive belt...not bad!!! My drive-belt still looks brand new. Go Chevy go!!!! :)
  • ross1962ross1962 Member Posts: 229
    ..I averaged 22.4 miles to gallon...

    That's great! Although I suspect your right foot is a lot lighter than mine! ;)
  • gmfangmfan Member Posts: 188
    I set cruise control at 73 mph with a/c on the entire time. Highway speed limit posted is 70 mph- easy terrain, no big hills.. When I run 77 mph +, I can notice a drop in mpg, but I think I would get around 19-20 mpg if I was running 80 mph. I have never made the 400 mi range the TB claims however- It might be possible if you want to run on fumes. I do wish the vehicle had a 20 gallon tank, but I think mine has 17 or 18 gallon tank.
  • kman609kman609 Member Posts: 4
    We just got back from a trip to the Sierras. The last night, we stayed at 10,200’ and when I started the car in the morning, the SES light came on—and remained on. All the other gauges were fine, and I figured the computer had a cow interpreting some data here or there due to the unusual altitude. The light extinguished about 200 miles later on the way home. The friendly AutoZone folks back home lent me a reader and sure nuff, a P0105 (Baro circuit malfunction) code was stored. Seemed reasonable, so I erased it.

    Here’s the weird part: For the first hundred miles or so after the SES light came on, the Cruise Control was inoperative. I cycled its on/off switch, held the button down, made sure the brake pedal was all the way up—nothing worked. The cruise had never even hiccupped before. After a hundred miles or so, the cruise control came back to life, with the SES light extinguishing an hour or so later.

    Subsequent checks of the cruise had it operating every time.

    Soooooooooo, are the SES/Cruise dropout related?

    Thanks,

    Kurt
  • morey000morey000 Member Posts: 384
    There are many ghosts that live at high altitude in the sierras. We think from all of the mountain climbers that have died up there. Many of these mountain climbers were young men, who invariably are interested in the latest SUV technology. Clearly, one came to your vehicle to visit and in the process, temporarily disrupted your electronics.

    Although, if you think about it- it wouldn't be a bad idea to disable the cruise when the engine sensed something was wrong. So, perhaps my ghost theory is wrong... but I'm sticking to it. ;)
  • kman609kman609 Member Posts: 4
    …Although, if you think about it- it wouldn't be a bad idea to disable the cruise when the engine sensed something was wrong.

    That’s what I was thinking at the time—and still do. Doesn’t make sense, letting the cruise control push you around in ignorant bliss while the motor may be going south. Anybody have the poop on this? Would the PCM take out the CC for a while after seeing a P0105 and turning on the SES light?

    On another note, how’s this for mileage? This is after ~200 freeway miles at night, AC compressor off, cruise set at 65. It includes going over the Grapevine @ 4,200’ too. Check out the gas gauge. Shows over 2/3 tank. I live in the hills, and am usually looking to fill up @ 200 miles when driving around locally with my crummy in-town mileage and (early 2002) 18 gallon tank :cry: .

    BTW: Averave mileage for that 1,100 mile road trip was a little over 20 MPG. That included TONS of driving in 2nd gear (sometimes even first gear) on some high altitude, nasty, steep Sierra back roads.

    Edit: The recently-installed new style fan clutch worked PERFECTLY, and solved all the problems I was having--including the dreaded slow AC cooldown on a HOT day problem.

    Kurt

    <img src="HTTP://users.adelphia.net/~kstutzman/images/MPG.jpg"
  • aesoenvoyaesoenvoy Member Posts: 4
    Greetings group.....from Calgary!

    I picked up a White 2002 Envoy SLT yesterday! I had been doing a lot of research and yes, I got thru all 17,000+ posts in this thread! It still didn't deter me on my purchase ;) but made me a better buyer! I found one with low mileage and an April 2002 build. The only options this one doesn't have is the air ride and sunroof. I sit pretty tall in the saddle and the headliner is just too low with the Sroof( and seat as low as it goes....).
    I got the service records for this truck as the dealership( Stampede Pontiac) had sold it new to the original owner and he traded it in a couple of weeks ago.....guess he has nothing but money, as this truck only has 29,000kms( 18, 000 miles)! In service date is 31 Oct 02 so still have a couple of months of warrenty left too! I traded a 1996 Yukon LT.......

    The records show the usual come-backs such as the transfer case select switch, problematic rear wiper( finally replaced), tailamp TSB, front links done on control arm, and a couple of PCM/ECM reprograms. No sign of the early teething/infant mortality problems you guys talk about in the 01 built versions but even these late 02's have little gotya's........

    Pleased so far.....

    A question, if I may...? Did these trucks come with any literature from the factory for the DVD entertainment system? There is nothing in the owner's manual and just a supplemental onstar package and warrenty guide was all that was in the pouch besides the OM....I did get the 2 headphones and remote........
    I can't help but think there must be a guide as we ARE dealing with the general public here :blush: Does anyone have one? I sure would like to see a copy......

    Off to play with my DIC........ :P

    Greg
  • ross1962ross1962 Member Posts: 229
    Show this to any environut who thinks your midsize SUV is a gas hog that should be banned from the road! I really don't think you can beat this mileage with any other comparable SUV without a hybrid drivetrain.
  • raleighraleigh Member Posts: 98
    I once got 26 MPG in my 1998 Jimmy on a 200 mile trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway, but I haven't come close to that with the Envoy. If I get 20 I feel I'm doing pretty good.
  • wpkelleysrwpkelleysr Member Posts: 51
    Live high in the Sierras, work in the SF Bay area. I have to travel across Central Valley California about once or twice a week - therefore I have about 125K on my O2 TB (4.2l I6). No major problems. Still runs like a dream. If I keep it to about 60MPH in the valley, it EXCEEDS 25MPG - by a couple tenths or so.

    No better 4WD solution on the planet for someone forced to make a living in the City that I'm aware of.... (If I'm heavy footed, it'll drop to 20... technique is everything..).

    - WPK
  • wpkelleysrwpkelleysr Member Posts: 51
    I replaced mine last spring also. It took more than 10 miles to get off of 50d. Then, it started working. I think the system just needed some time to "handshake".
  • kman609kman609 Member Posts: 4
    …Still runs like a dream. If I keep it to about 60MPH in the valley, it EXCEEDS 25MPG - by a couple tenths or so.
    - WPK


    Wanna hear something funny? After taking the picture showing 24.6 MPG, I drove another ~100 miles up the valley, and the MPG rose to 25.0, so I took another picture. I didn&#146;t post it because I thought nobody would believe me LOL!

    image

    I love the freeway mileage this thing gets, but the stop-and-go, around town mileage here in the hills east of LA is ~12-14--which stinks! Still, this is a good all around SUV.

    BTW: The Trailblazer is used mostly for trips and towing the boat. A Honda Accord does most of the city driving.

    Kurt
  • morey000morey000 Member Posts: 384
    have your verified you computer's calculation of the mileage by dividing the miles by the gallons you put in? Or are you just assuming that your computer is telling you the truth? Average of 25mpg is pretty darn high for a TB. Perhaps if you've got a very soft foot and cruise at 50mph a lot.

    Tell us you've checked it yourself, and I'll believe you.
  • gmfangmfan Member Posts: 188
    I believe 25 mpg. I posted a few days ago I got 22.4 mpg running 73 mph in heavy air (75% humidity) with the a/c on the entire time. I had a passenger and 500 lbs worth of luggage/gear in the rear. If the air was thinner and I slowed it down to 65 mph, I bet I would have come close to 25 mpg. I calculated mine taking total mines driven after resetting odometer and then dividing by the number of gallons I put back in the vehicle at fillup. NOW, if the pump is wrong, then it could mess with results, but I doubt this is the case. I was coming back from the coast, so technically, I was gradually climbing in elevation as well. I avg around 17.8 mpg with 70% city driving and 30% highway.
  • ross1962ross1962 Member Posts: 229
    I think the fact that it's an inline 6 helps. I remember people getting similar milage in late 60's/early 70's Mopars with the slant 6 and a manual 3 speed.
  • fxcardenfxcarden Member Posts: 8
    Hello, new to the group. I have an '02 Envoy with 39K miles on it, and would like to know if it is possible to reset the average fuel economy display. Due to a lot of city driving, I seem to be stuck on 14.9. I have now changed driving requirements to mostly highway, and would like to see how much of a difference there is. This display has never been reset since the car was brand new.

    Thanks.
  • 01_hoe01_hoe Member Posts: 273
    Yes, it can be reset. If you have the manual it should guide you. If not, to reset you need to have the average fuel economy showing in the DIC, and hold down the steering wheel tab on the lower right side of the steering wheel. I believe it is the top key on the lower pair. Hold it down for about 5 seconds or until the average fuel economy resets.
  • morey000morey000 Member Posts: 384
    That's incredible mileage. A credit to arguably the best engine in the SUV game. Oddly enough, the new '06 displacement on Demand 5.3L 8cyl engine has identical EPA estimates as the now venerable 4.2L 6.

    FWIW- humid air is actually lighter (less dense) than dry air. I know it doesn't feel that way to humans, but it's true. :shades:
  • fxcardenfxcarden Member Posts: 8
    Thanks !
  • macatowamacatowa Member Posts: 69
    I have an 03 TB that the window sticker say's it has the 18 gallon tank, I had a suspected it was bigger when I put 19 gallons in it. So I let it go a little more and got to twenty, I suspected it was larger. I checked the code on the glove box door and it was half correct, anyway I think they were low on 18 gallon tanks that day so they put a 21 in it. I drive about 50/50 highway and I average about 18 -19 mpg, also I can go about 350 mile on a tank. I have 70k miles on it so less time refueling is appreciated.
  • 01_hoe01_hoe Member Posts: 273
    GMC told me that any TB or Envoy built 8-8-02 or later had the 22 gal. tank. My first Envoy ('03) was built 8-6-02 and had the 18 gallon tank.
  • aesoenvoyaesoenvoy Member Posts: 4
    Is anybody out THERE......THEre......there.........

    After wading thru 17,000+ posts and from what I have seen on other forums, I am quite sure, now, the theory is true that only the people with problems, issues and axes to grind post in large numbers :blush: .........I would guess it approaches 80+% of posts in most threads........
    Seems like the conversation on this envoy/trailblazer thread has all but dried up because there are no or very few problems left.........and the few questions that do pop up are not enough to spark any posting.........

    I am a happy 2002 envoy SLT owner( so far....) and I found the answer to my question from my inaugral(sp!) post(#17249).......The DVD rear entertainment system info apparently never made it to the 2002 envoy manual......I did find the info in a PDF of the 2003 manual on the myGM website.

    I may have a few more questions or observations about this truck in the future...hope they are worthy or............. flammable....... or something.......;)

    reguarding the fuel economy thread:

    I did trade a 1996 Yukon for this truck. I guess a few more MPG and 200,000 less Kilometers on the clock was my over-riding reason and also all the toys!!!!!!
    Gas prices here in Calgary are C$1.15 per litre.--about US$3.70/us gallon( I'll show my work if you need to see the conversion :P
    And we in Alberta produce most of the oil in Canada!

    Greg
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    Is anybody out THERE......THEre......there.......

    It's a holiday weekend (Labor Day) in the states so expect it to be a little quieter on the boards than usual!

    tidester, host
  • 01_hoe01_hoe Member Posts: 273
    Read somewhere that Canada has the second most oil reserves in the world.

    Anyhow, there is a place in Alberta, Tilley I think, where Wester's Garage is located. Wester produces a PCM tune for the 4.2L I-6 now, and says that an increase of 4 to 5 mpg is possible.
    http://westers_garage.eidnet.org/Index2.htm
  • aesoenvoyaesoenvoy Member Posts: 4
    Tidester

    It was a long weekend here too. labour day.......still doesn't make up all the reasons there are so few post in the last few months...... :blush:

    Most of our stat holidays are the same day as yours....some for different reasons and some, really different, like Thanksgiving, at the end of harvest....mid Oct.

    We didn't go anywhere so ENVOY! stayed in Garage.
  • aesoenvoyaesoenvoy Member Posts: 4
    01_hoe

    Yes, all the oil in the world is just north of you! Just bring your checkbook! No shots required........

    Seriously, yes, the official reserves have now been pegged at more than anywhere else except for Saudi Arabia. Unoffically, they think there is more oil here than all the rest of the world combined! Most is locked up in the Tar Sands north of Edmonton. Present extraction capacity is at over 1 million barrels a day and growing everyday.......Most of the natural gas you use also comes from Alberta!

    Most people in the US are surprised when they find out about the oil and gas and the fact that 300 miles north of barren Montana lays a city of over 1 million people( Calgary) and 200 miles north of there is another city of a million people( Edmonton). Population of Alberta is over 3 million.

    Still paying high gas prices to fill the ENVOY but that is an international problem with the free market for oil. Just because we have lots of oil, we pay the same as everyone else. WE do benefit in other ways by low taxes, no provincial sales tax, booming economy, etc.....

    Greg
  • hardhawkhardhawk Member Posts: 702
    Don't talk too much about your oil reserves. Dubya may decide that Canada has WMD's and decide to invade!!!!

    Sorry for the unrelated political comment, but I just could not resist!
  • 01_hoe01_hoe Member Posts: 273
    No need to invade, just sink a drill close to the Montana border and angle it North :P
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    we're getting a little too far afield! :)

    tidester, host
  • tmac8tmac8 Member Posts: 32
    Installed it today. It has a small learning curve of about 200 miles, but so far I am really impressed. I bought the 89 / 93 dual octane option. I'll update on performance and mpg if anyone is interested.
  • 01_hoe01_hoe Member Posts: 273
    Yes, would like to hear your results on the Wester's tune. Keep us posted.
  • raleighraleigh Member Posts: 98
    It looks like Westers requires an exchange of the computer instead of a hand-held reprogrammer like Hypertech. I guess that's fine if your vehicle is out of warrant, but what if it isn't? You can't just pull up the stock settings. What year is your Trailblazer, and is it still under warranty? How do you like the Westers solution by now?
  • dillondawgdillondawg Member Posts: 18
    This is my first posting. Quite a bit of good info in here. We own an 03 TB LT EXT since new and now have 49K on the clock. The children grew up,we outgrew the mini-van stage and bought this one for us and thus far no problems other than A/C problem that was finally resolved after a new fan (5th trip in to the dealership :confuse: , thank goodness for extended warranty).

    Anyway, my parking brake seems to need adjustment. The dealer tells us that there is no adjustment on the TB and when the brake no longer holds it's time for new shoes which they will install for a mere $370. Seems a little excessive to me and furthermore, I don't think parking brake shoes "wear out" but cables do stretch.

    Anyone out there know if there is an adjustment on the TB? Don't see one on the underside cables and there are no inspection holes on the rear drum part of the rear discs. Thanks in advance for input. :)
  • elevatorguyelevatorguy Member Posts: 87
    Here are the instructions from the factory service manual.

    "This process enables the auto adjuster.":

    1. Lower the park brake lever.

    2. Raise the park brake lever.

    3. Lift the park brake lever boot to gain access to the multiplier lever at the front of the park brake lever assembly.

    4. Pivot the multiplier lever up and down 3 times.

    5. Cycle the park brake lever up and down 3 time for the auto adjustment.

    6. Lower the park brake lever boot.

    Good luck and let us know if it works.
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