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Comments
This car will be the death of me...
This may help too:
How To Find Your Car Owner's Manual Online
My guess at this point is a thermostat that either isn't opening all the way, or has been clogged with Barrs and isn't letting flow through.
If the flush was thorough and the coolant looks very clean, you can try one of two things. One - replace the thermostat. If it's easy to get to I would do this first.
Two - try running with Prestone Super Radiator cleaner in there. I had a similar engine design in an Olds and it was neglected by prior owner. I ran the Prestone cleaner at almost 2x the concentration recommended, and for almost twice as long as recommended. Otherwise, follow the directions, it is added to WATER (which in some parts of the country you can't do right now). Then you'll have to drain and fill a few times to get it all out.
Same "non-resolution" fixes
It functions as designed!
in July of 2006 stating that there is a problem with the fuel guages on the 05' and 06' Rendezvous and there was no fix. I filed a complaint with Texas DOT and had a court hearing in which GM was ordered to fix the problem. I am awaiting the Texas DOT to enforce the decision. They say that GM will have so many days to fix the problem or come up with an alternative solution to avoid $10,000 a day penalties. When I get this resolved I will post it here.
Thanks
James
The RDV does seem more sensitive to being parked at an incline than most vehicles. Like you guys, if I park nose-down on a slope, the gauge will show empty, and if I park nose-up it will show full.
I'm not sure this qualifies as inaccurate though? First off, most every car will show a different level if on slopes. In some cars, you can get the gas gauge to move a bit just by taking a sharp turn fast, as the gas sloshes around.
As soon as I begin driving my RDV after being parked on a slope, the gas gauge begins adjusting itself and is fully accurate in a minute or two. (It takes a min or two because of the "anti-sloshing" setup. If it corrected immediately, it would fluctuate every time you stopped at a red light, every time you turned, every time you accelerated. So there is a built in "slow response".)
Are there other problems you guys have, or just the "inaccuracy" when parked on a slope???
Dave
Replacing its battery could be a "one of" situation as well. For my other vehicle, I had to replace a battery within 9 month period. Seems my replacement battery had a defective cell and come winter time, the colder temps drove it way below normal operating cranks. My new battery has been working great for the last 2 years. Again, hopefully your defective battery is only a "one of" situation as well.
Many say that Ethonal gas (even Ethonal mixed gas) gives less MPGs in a vehicle. In both my vehicles (3.4L and 4.3L AWD), ethonal gas gives them less MPGs. I also discovered that weather temp changes gives both my vehicles inconsistance mpgs as well. As a suggestion, go back to regular "unlead" gas, compare on approx same weather temp days and do some more long term trip comparisons. Thus, ensuring one is comparing "equal influences" on your vehicle as well. For my one vehicle, its MPG (on its DIC panel) will change from 21s to 25s - depending on weather days and ground speed (due to its "wind wall" design).
For your inaccurate fuel guage, may I suggest you keep MORE then 1/3 level of gas in its tank. Any vehicle (especially some GM vehicles that have weaker in-take fuel pumps) need to have their gas levels above 1/3 tank. Thus, reducing the risk of "over stressing" and blowing its fuel pump. Astro/Safari vans are well known for blowing fuel pumps when driven too long below 1/3 gas tank levels. Also, below 1/3 tank levels tends to allow the pump to "suck up" more dirt / crud from bottom of its gas tank. Thus, adding even more "upward suction" stress on its pump. Not too sure this is true but makes sense to me. To me, keep above 1/3 levels is a good short term solution.
For the long term solution, it sounds like your vehicle's gas guage needs to be removed, possibly cleaned and if necessary, replaced. Could be the tank's level sensor, defective float or perhaps a bad connection within its gas level wiring harness? Especially if its guage drops 1/4 level by simply idling a few short minutes within your driveway. Perhaps its a simple "bad ground" or loose connection within its wiring as well. Its rare but sometimes, its float sensor becomes "too logged". My dad's old Ford was like that. Its gas guage was empty when its needle feel below 1/4 tank. No red warning light either. When its gas guage needle feel below 1/4, it was out of gas. For your inconsistant gas guage needle situation, I'd get a specialized shop to fix it. Especially if you don't like running more then 1/3 gas tank levels.
Hope this helps...
.
Pictures with a little story will be welcomed!!!!!
Thanks in advance
Mike
A Dad
As you correctly ascertain, a mid size crossover is safer than any compact or midsize car in an accident. Size and weight make a huge difference, despite all of the crumple zones and airbags small cars have these days.
Brian
A Dad
For the stalling while driving there was an issue with a ignition relay on some of the vous dealing with high resistance contacts. Replacing resovlves the problem.
Having the dreaded BCM problem I think on a 2002. I have the shop manual and it looks like a relatively easy re&re. I'm in Canada and can't find it for anywhere less than list (@$400 Canadian). Any leads on where to source the part for the best price? Is the part number the same as the Aztec BCM # 15235418?
Thanks in advance
I love the car... but having to take it in exactly one week after buying it is kind of annoying. Good thing I am still under warranty... let's just hope it is covered.
The amount that the gauge fluctuates due to a slope should just be a slight move in the needle... not from almost full to almost empty. Plus, I doubt we have that many hills here in MI to account for the erratic movement of the needle while driving.
Sorry you have been given the run around.
My opinion is:
1. I doubt this only affects 04 to 06. I don't think there were any significant changes from 03 to 04... and I know there weren't from 06 to 07. So excluding the years before and after 04-06 doesn't make sense. If GM found a "fix" that they rolled out for 2007, then it would have been in a TSB and the dealer should have ordered you revised parts.
2. I doubt GM doesn't know what's wrong or have a fix. I think that your dealership, and possibly the GM field engineer sent to look at your RDV (I assume you went through that process?) weren't doing everything they could. A faulty gas gauge isn't rocket science! As long as it happens at least once in a while (gotta be able to reproduce the problem to fix it), a good tech with tools can troubleshoot the sending unit, wiring, and cluster with not too much trouble.
Sounds like you have some lazy people, not doing a good job of helping you.
Hope it gets resolved easily from this point on.
They should have apologized profusely, offered you a loaner and a free oil change, and made you happy. Instead they frustrated you by threatening with "this is the last time".
I assure you there is nothing unique about these springs. A spring is a spring. They are not all bad. It is unfortunate you had two go bad.
Also for those of you with fuel gauge problems, I think you're stuck with bad dealers. GM obviously DOES know how to make the gas gauge in the RDV work correctly. There are plenty of us with accurate gas gauges.
The dealership network is what really makes or breaks a car sometimes. :-(
That's sad to hear.
Welcome to CarSpace!
2nd guess is that the switch on the dash is bad.
3rd I know that dirt on or around any of the the backup sensors will keep the sensors from working. There might be something blocking one of the sensors and causing them not function.
However, I would have one person start the car, make sure that the backup function sensor is turned on and not in the off position, then place the car in reverse (while pressing and holding the break) have a second person walk around the vehicle to see if any of the sensors will set off the backup system/alarm. There are several areas around the vehicle such as left & right front bumbers along with the back left, right and behind the bumbers that should set off the backup sensor.
My best guess is that you have a fuse out and they most likely replaced the back up sensors and did not need to. I hope you find out the issue. Please let me know. Best of Luck!