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2. I got another random Service 4WD Lamp illumination this a.m. while in 2HI. It went away after a key-off/key-on. I had the switch replaced a couple of months ago. Strange...
It's very humind in MI now. I hope that is not the cause of these electrical problems that are starting to appear as I get ever-closer to the magical 36k mile number.
As to the tips on WAX and dusting, thanks for the idea. Unfortunatly, living in the NW and on a dirt road gives plenty of opportunity for rain and dirt/mud. :-(
My wife wants leather and the higher models
Thanks in advance
-Tom
The "chatter" I and others have experienced occur with the Locking Differential:
Most often it occurs when I exit the highway, come to a complete stop and make a LEFT HAND turn -- the rear end "chatters/vibrates slightly" for a second or less. Did not happen all the time -- I never had it happen making a right hand turn or going straight ahead from a stop.
Since the rear differential gear oil was changed last Friday, I have not had it happen to me in the "usual" places it chattered before. I hope the "chatter" is gone for good!
We love our TrailBlazer as we spent three days testdriving Toyotas, Suzukis, Jeeps, Dodges, Fords, Hondas, Mazdas, Subarus, Volvos, Kias, etc., but found none of them to offer the comfort, conveniences, and value for the money we paid for the TrailBlazer. Granted, we've only got 700 miles on the vehicle but if the future ownership experience of this vehicle is any indication from the past two weeks, this is going to be one fine vehicle for our family. We expecially like the straight 6 engine and the ride of the vehicle.
We picked up a 2002 TrailBlazer LTZ 4x4, Auto, Leather, heated seats, 6 CD/AM/FM, DVD player, loaded with everything except the sunroof for just over $29,000. Probably could have done better on the price but we were happy and weren't in the mood to haggle any further. Total price was $30,965 less the $1,750 rebate for a balance due of $29,215.
Would we purchase one all over again if we had the opportunity? You bet.
The Rainier looks like it will be a worthy replacement for the Bravada when it gets phased out along with Oldsmobile in a couple of years. It's aggressive grill and headlights are remniscent of the BMW X5, and the wheels look pretty good. But the best news for Buick is that it will have the V8 in addition to the I-L 6, making it the only GMT 360 sibling with that engine option. Smart move for Buick to give it an edge.
The GMC Envoy XUV (no longer called the Equinox) has all the characteristics of the Avalanche/Escalade EXT, but also has a "roll-top"-type rear cover that closes over the bed, accompanied by a combination swing and drop tailgate (like station wagons of days gone by).
For more on both, check out Motor Trend. Just passing along the latest...
The service performed involved a new body control module and software. The service invoice did not get into specifics on what was actually installed, but I'll look again and give you the part numbers. Maybe that may help you find what you need. The driver storable settings did not work until I had this work done. In fact, the remote fobs always reported as Driver 1 before the work.
John
Regarding the Mirrors and rear tailgate seal: The dealer still cannot get part numbers for them. They keep telling him they are in "redesign". Does anyone know anything about this? He called GM Parts yesterday while I was there even.
Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
deals on the 02's to clear them out.
Now how do i get to know the money factor?
Thanks again
-Tom
We drove from Columbia, SC, to Jackson, WY, and back. We put 5,200 miles on the car between the trip out and back and local driving. Here are some details:
TB LS 3.72 differential
5,200 miles
13 days
changed the oil before leaving
changed it when I got back
Averaged 21.7 mpg
$354 in fuel
High fuel mileage for one tank: 25.3
(another tank hit 24.8)
Low fuel mileage for one tank: 16.8
Low fuel price: $1.18 in Columbia, SC (regular)
High fuel price: $1.69 in Custer, SD (premium)
Highest elevation reached: about 9,000 feet above sea level (I used a portable GPS)
The car performed well. The high mileage was heading east and descending the slope running about 70 mph mostly, with a tailwind. The low mileage was doing 80mph into a 30mph headwind and climbing 3,000 feet in elevation over 250 miles in
Montana.
Crosswinds were tough and I wish I had taken the roof rack cross bars off. I did diagnose the wind roar through the door panels in the crosswind. The cowling in front of the windshield is hard plastic to the edge of the hood, and then it transitions into a rubber material out to the fender. The crosswind will push that rubber portion down and allow wind to rush through the door panel.
I never noticed any performance issues at anytime time related to distances or altitude. I did have to buy premium fuel much of the time in the mountain states because the regular grade was usually 85 octane and the mid-grade fuel usually contained 10% ethanol. Only once was I forced to buy ethanol: Topeka, KS (the only option on the turnpike). The performance drop was noticeable.
Our longest one-day drive was about 850 miles. The car performed flawlessly from climbing to descending steep grades (I used lower gears a lot) to traction on wet gravel roads (the locking rear differential engaged successfully several times).
I changed the oil when I got home and it was slightly darker than it is when I change it at 3,000 miles, but it still looked fine (I use Castrol 10w30 and an AC filter). The car burned a small amount of oil on the trip, but it still filled the two holes on the dipstick (maybe 6 oz.).
It now has 16,000 miles on it. Build date is 11/01. I have no negatives to report. It performed as expected.
Hmm with an attitude like that I guess we should go back to horse drawn carriages!
-mike
Because of the thinner air at altitude, less cylinder pressure is generated so you can get away with lower octane gas. I use it all the time and never experience knocking or pinging.
85 octance here is basically equivalent to 87 octane at sea level.
As for gas containing ethanol, you'll get worse gas mileage, but I don't buy that there's a performance penalty. You actually get more power out of an alcohol burning engine because alcohol requires less air to burn and getting enough air into the engine is the hard part about performance.Anyway, I don't think 10% enthanol is enough to really change anything either way. Maybe Tim can make a few dragstrip runs with gasahol and see what happens.
btw, I'm at 2800 feet and haven't noticed 85 octane off-hand; seems like it's always 87. This farm state (Idaho - I'm about 8 hours from Jackson/Yellowstone ) is keen on methanol, but I'm not convinced of any of its touted benefits.
Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
-mike
you should jump over to the yahoo lease town hall area and ask. the host there can get you the residual and money factor. Also, check out my site section on leasing too. consider the factors and what your needs are. high residuals aren't the best. it will lower your payments, but lesson your options and ability to move out early.
http://www.timlauro.com/leasing/lease-index.html
let me know if you have any questions. happy to help. Not sure what the residuals on the 02's are now, but the 03 XL's aren't changing much if at all but will probably cost more and it's too early in the year for residuals to drop overall due to model year events. programs changed, but the model year decreases don't occur until September.
tim
former dealer
"So you think I should wait? I jsut assumed they'd have betterdeals on the 02's to clear them out. Now how do i get to know the money factor?"
Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
"I'm hoping by "yahoo lease town hall" you mean our own car_man and KCram, who host the Finance/Warranty/Insurance Board."
I have the 3.42:1 in mine and feel the performance in city traffic suffers. On the highway it gets about 21 MPG but most of my driving is on city streets. The 3.73 seems a good compromise. Get the 4.10 if you plan to tow anything especially with a full load of passengers. From what others have posted the city mileage between the 3 choices seems similar, but the highway mileage is what seems most effected. The engine RPM will increase about 10% with each change up to a higher numerical ratio.
-mike
Allen
-mike
Regards,
Mark
As for ethanol, I have never been impressed with it and there was a discernable difference in performance from that tank to the next tank, which was 100% gasoline at 87 octane. Not only did I notice a performance difference, but my wife did as well.
Oh well. It was a fun trip, the truck did great, and the tools stayed stored for the whole trip. And 21.7 mpg is nothing to sneeze at.
I will add one other observation. The truck has outstanding power, but there is a limit to its performance. While I was able to run 80 mph fairly often west of the Missouri River, I found that the suspension was really at its limits with a load at that speed. The Bilstein shocks are impressive, but I found that the truck wallowed at those speeds on a mildly challenging road, and the dampening pistons in the shocks would kick in on more challenging roads creating a very harsh ride effect. It may have the horsepower for high speeds, but it is an SUV and it does have its limits. 80 mph seemed to be its limit. Thus ends my report.
Still happy with our 02 Bravada. No issues to report other than a rip off oil change at the dealer. I'll never do that again though I know not all dealers do this.
This is good because then dealers can reap in huge profits from people buying navigation systems and perhaps allow better deals to more sensible folk.
Be thankful you still have the choice of NOT running 10% ethanol. Here in the midwest (St. Louis), I can't remember the last time I saw a pump that didn't have the dreaded "Contains at least 10% ethanol" label.
That being said, I gues I am used to it. If it makes a 2 MPG difference, I would be ecstatic with my fuel economy because I am getting about 17 - 18 in 60/40 highway/city split with the 3.73 rear end and ethanol currently.
JAW
You guys have many problems (corrosion, alcohol's affinity for water etc.) with the gasohol in cars that sit stored most of the time? That's my big concern with that stuff.
I am impressed that your TB gets such mileage on the gasohol since that's where we are eventually going here in D-FW too. That darn federally mandated oxygenated fuel deal...
GM even recommends the use of oxygenated fuels in their engines.
It does need to get cheaper, though.
Lets see... a 10% ethanol/gasoline blend reduces MPG by 10% so you use 10% MORE of the gasohol. Seems like that uses up any savings in imported oil that might be gained. That extra fuel to make up the loss would be 90% gasoline/10%ethanol too, so the net is maybe a 1% reduction in imported oil to be refined into gasoline. Not including the energy it takes to produce the ethanol. Got to figure that in too. And depending on the weather to be able to grow the stuff is not real assuring either. Oh well...
link
I'd hate to think what the state of the US economy would be without the subsidies we give to industies and infrastructure that otherwise would be economically unfeasible.
Someone feel free to drag us back on topic.
Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
No way does it burn dirtier than gasoline. That's simply not possible.
Actually, the government pays a lot of folks not to grow corn. Otherwise there'd be too much supply and farmers wouldn't be able to make any money because prices would get too low.
Seems like if we needed more ethanol we could tap into that land we're paying people not to farm.
That said, it still can't be as efficient as digging up old dinosaurs, but most of the price of gasoline is tax, isn't it?
I have a 2002 envoy and i have the same noise i was told it was caused by the ac and the fan. I don't know if you noticed it as well but there is a severe loss in power.
Steven