Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
Last night I conquered the dreaded air filter change. Not to bad but did they really have to make it such a monumental task. A few moments of consideration in the design phase could have made that a much simpler task.
It seems every car I've had has one or two things that, when you go to work on, remove/replace, you just stop and think "what the *%#$ was (whatever car manufacturer) thinking when they put THIS together!?!?! And, its usually not a question of redesigning/reconfiguring anything, but routing a wire "here" instead of where it is, and moving something an inch or two over...pretty frustrating when the air filter change should be a brainless, 2 minute job, and instead its a half hour of frustration and swearing
I bought premium rotors and pads at local NAPA store. The original rotors were ok but why not just replace. New Rotors were made in China! We can't go to war with them..they probably make our bullets. I also posted this problem on Edmunds under the Venture Board and my reply back on that board is #1560..there are some other good comments as to things pertaining to and around my problem and comments. Oh..the van stops fine now....also checked our 2000 Impala LS...it has 34 k miles on it.... passenger side inner pad same thing ..fell onto garage floor. Did same job on it too.
Update:
Dealer fixed the problem. They replaced the "intermediate shaft". It covered under the Major Guard warranty, the van was 3 months past the bumper to bumper warranty.
I feel for the technicians who have to work on these vehicles every day. Manufacturers just pile the parts in with no consideration of ever having to replace things. Was at a car show this past weekend and saw a 1964 Chevy Chevelle with an in line Chevy 6. I think you could change the starter with out going under the car. And I used to think it was hard to work on a Chevy 283!
Why buy something that you have concerns with?
I have a GM van and think that it is much better for me than the Toy/ Honda/Mazda vans.
Now the whining will begin.
you might do a search on some of the gm minivan message boards, for "crash" or something, as this has been gone over in detail in the past.
If everybody "buckles up" religiously (key to avoiding injury in any vehicle), your chance of getting killed/injured (especially with air bags present) are statistically very, very small
Anyone tell me how many lubrication points there are on the suspension and chassis?
Intake manifold gasket. It's leaked maybe a tablespoon or less a day for a year, I'd add coolant monthly or so.....I finally got tired of cleaning the garage floor. $700.
Power steering pump. Works fine, but it's making a whiny sound that bugs me. $100.
Corroded coil, also working fine so far. $35.
Only other fix since I bought the car new was a new alternator....old one worked fine, but made a whining sound. $160.
I was joking with my wife that cars are so reliable nowadays, I fix things that annoy me even when they still work.
Saw the post #587 on the Bridgestone Turanza LS-T and will check out.
Thanks
It has a bigger spring for the aircompressor which puts more air when needed into the shocks, increasing load capacity before the truck sags.
Total cost is under $200. The front struts are real buggers to install and the compressor change is a little involved.
The change is amazing for the ride and handling.
search on dirk daddy and you'll find my posts.
We average 23 mpg in heavy traffic adn some highway - outstanding for as large as it is (we have the ext version)
My wife hated the idea of a van but now its her choice vehicle. I love camping in it, last weekend went kayaking and drove through a sort of muddy road. Funny I almost thought I should be driving a SUV because of all of the commercials! If you know how to drive these vans can go through a lot.
Update:
We have a problem I'm diagnosing - the battery ran down over the course of like 2 days but the "check engine" light for lack of charging never came on. Im thinking alternator.
Also, the steering has some wierd clunks in it when going from left to right in a parking garage. I jacked it up and tested for slop, I think it might be a CV joint going bad.
My old michelin tires are getting so hard I'm going to replace them with new michelins.
DD
which just goes to show , most people driving caddys couldn't give a ..... about tires!
the only real problem I have with the OEM Firestones (one of which disintegrated in our 00 Venture) and the symmetrys (or most OEM minivan tires) is that the max psi is 35 and the recommeded psi for the vehicle according to Chevy is 35! You have zero reserve! I'm getting T rated Turanzas which have a 40psi max after winter! Dunno what I am going to do about the Blizzak snowtires which are also 35psi max, have to get H rated ones and pay $$ I guess!
I suspect anywhere from 30 on up is probably fine,I know the dealer never pumps it up above 32, maybe Silos are supposed to provide a softer ride as its an Olds!! Us Chevy types like it hard on our rear ends! :-)
If you want a stiffer more controlled ride, replace the shocks/struts.
FYI, I am having to replace some sears "michelin" tires at 98,000miles with good tread left, they are just getting hard in Texas heat and had a lot of nails lately, one blew out and had to be replaced. Heck, they were 1/2 used when I bought the van at 62k! They wear like iron, and grip well. I'm so satisfied I'm getting more michelins, they make the van handle pretty decently - I scare the wife. Drove a Pontiac van with el-cheapo tires and it was about the worst handling thing I ever drove. Yea, they make that much difference.
DD
Good Luck
for those of you who don't know what one is, here's a neat diagram.
http://www.hillmanimages.com/912/front_suspension.html
I'm just curious if there is anything I should look out for in the months and years to come...
Any advice/pointers/words of wisdom??
Thanks
Secondly, regarding the rear air shocks you replaced on your Silo. Autozone says that they have Gabriel Hi-Jackers for my 2000 Silo that includes the air tubing that connects to the compressor. I remember that you had to buy a separate tubing connection kit that include changing a pressure regulating part in the compressor. I'm lead to believe that the change to the compressor is optional. Is this true?
I recently bought my 2000 Silo with 73000 miles and am not happy with the bouncey rear end compared to my old 1998 Town & Country. Your posts about installing Hi-Jackers is making me think of doing the same.
I assume you are still happy with the performance of your Hi-Jackers????
Otherwise, I am very happy with my Silo!!!!
TIA..... Paulie9
Good Luck
I get a rear noise that sounds like loose lumber rattling. Nothing apparent that's loose but there have been some cases where shock valving can cause this noise. Somewhat annoying but not ready to blame the Gabriels yet.
Next summer plan on replacing the front struts. Anyone with experience with Monroe's sena-trak units? or other recommendations?
Overall I've been satisfied with the Montana. Repairs have been minimal @ 93K miles. Still have original water pump and alternator. Did change the plugs and wires @ 87K but believe the original plugs would have been ok at 100K.... or more. Still use 5W-30. Oil consumption is minimal.
How is the ride with the Hijackers versus the old factory installed air shocks????
The ride on my 2000 Silo with 74k miles is a bite too soft and bouncy. I would like to get a firmer ride like I hade in my 97 Town & Country that I traded in for this Silo. Otherwise I love my Silo....
As mentioned in original post I have an annoying loose lumber sound in the back at lower speeds that may be shock related. Just haven't taken the time to determine if it's shocks or not.
Ride? Couldn't tell any difference. The Montana has a trailering option which included FE2 handling option. Ride was firm. I changed the shocks because the rr was leaking. It's near the resonator muffler and I'm thinking added heat from pulling the trailer may have overheated the shock. FWIW I cut out the resonator and replaced with a short section of pipe. No difference in sound.
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/home.cfm
you can find TSB's and recalls for your vehicle. I noticed, when looking at 01 silo, there is a tsb (maybe two) for rattling...don't remember specifics, but maybe worth a look. Good luck.
Had my 2001 Olds Premier (32K) in for routine service at the dealer and ended up w/having having the intake manifold gasket replaced, under warranty. When I dropped the van off I asked them to check the coolant level because the resivor seemed low. The charge under warranty was about $850.
My family like the van and we plan to keep it, but I am curious know is their any type of GM extended component warranty out there for this issue? and should I be concerned about the longevity of the van due to the coolant leak?
Thanks!!
Each vehicle is having it's own set of problems. People mostly come here to complain about their problems not to praise their vans.
A person can get real concerned about the reliability of their vehicle when they come here and read of all the problems people are having with their van. This board is not representative of anything as far as reliability goes. Can't even be certain that the person really has the vehicle they are complaining about, might just be slamming to cause trouble here.
Relax and enjoy.
This is actually my 2nd Olds Silhouette, fist one totaled out by a falling tree in a windstorm. I have always been impressed by the comfort of the ride and handling.
What is the percentage of GM motors that have this problem? A few people who come here and tell their horror story is not enough to say this is a general problem.