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If "more cooling" is desired, recommend putting the factory rubber back. Just like I'd recommend putting door rubbers back as well. Rubbers are there for a reason. For increased air flow, its much safer to install a hood scoop on the hood. Turn it backwards - so its vent is facing the windshield. Using this mod, air flows into the front of the rad and out the hood scoop. Hood scoops allow NO water / snow / ice flows into the hood area as well. Thus, much safter on the engine. And, the many wires on the engine are NOT exposed to water either.
Good for you for removing the factory hood rubbers. If you want SAFE cooling without risking damage to engine or engine wires, re-install the hood's rubbers and install an hood scoop (made for air flow) instead.
For others thinking of removing the factory rubbers, do NOT do it. Simply lift the front hood, notice where this hood rubber is located and understand what it protects. Its there for a reason. Just like a hood rubber exists on many other vehicles as well... Adn, why door rubbers exist around doors as well.
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A disgruntled Buick Rendezvous Owner!!!!!
I apologize for your frustration. Each case is handled on a case by case basis.
Here is a link that shows we can assist:
http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/WebX/.f23cfdb/4
Who did you speak with? Did you set up a case with GM Customer Assistance? If so, what is your case number? I look forward to your response.
Christina
GM Customer Service
Could I please get an update from you on how things are progressing? I would like to see how I can be of assistance.
Best,
Sarah
GM Customer Service
This is the 3rd major repair in the 4.5 years of owning my 2002 RDV. I do love driving the car, but the repairs are killing me! 6 months into ownership, the BCM had to be replaced, $600.
The day after Labor Day 2010 (15 months ago), it was making a funny sound on the freeway and i made it to the dealer for a $6000! repair. Yes, you read it right, $6-freakin' thousand dollars! They told me it was the transmission, $4,000. Then they had my car for 4 days.
On that Friday, i went after work to pick up the car, and they walked me back to the service area when it was up on the lifts and nearly gutted, parts strewn everywhere. They then told me, bad news, it's the transfer case too, which is an additional $2000, but they are giving me a break on the price, since they only just found out and they felt bad for me because of the $4,000 i will already be spending with them. $6000 total now. They had my car for another week.
They forgot to put fluid in the radiator before test driving and blew up the radiator. They had to replace that too. They didn't charge me for that, said it was their fault. 2 days later, my car was leaking fluid (water from radiator?) and i was scared to drive it, so it was towed back to the dealer. They said it was the water pump. I paid for that. I later heard from the men at my office that you should always replace the water pump when replacing the radiator. I guess when they replaced the radiator for free, they didn't want to be too generous.
Now I'm facing the $2500 - $3500 bill on the overheating/gasket/valve incident. I am frustrated as there was no warning whatsoever. I had literally been driving the car for 5 mins before the lights and whistles came on.
Even the dealer knows something is up, he is offering to split the cost of the rental car with me.
GM Customer Service, any help?
I apologize that there have been so many frustrations lately, and appreciate your continued willingness to work with us towards resolving these concerns.
All the best,
Sarah
GM Customer Service
I bought a 2002 Rendezvous knowing full well that I could fix the overheating problem! I got a good deal on the SUV and bought it knowing it was an easy repair! The previous owner spent a bundle on new head-gaskets and still the overheating problem did not leave! I purchased it knowing full well what the problem "was" !
I did an inspection on the cavity (engine compartment) The engine sits quite high in there and the heat of the engine has no escape from the compartment. It’s closed off and the engine sits in it’s own heat getting hotter and hotter destroying gaskets and all other heat related injuries !
The inspection showed trails where the heat did escape around the upper rubber seal at two ends over the engine compartment.. Those very small openings were the only means of heat escape, but not nearly enough! The heat there was so intense it started bubbling and blistering the paint on the hood! That was all the information I needed to be confident in the purchase of this 2002 Buick Rendezvous!
After the purchase I cut the rubber seal down away from the hood at least one inch by two feet from center I was also careful to not remove all of it as it is a guard for rain water. The lower section of the rubber guard takes care of that. For a test to be sure I sprayed water over the windshield and not a drop spilled onto the engine ..
Well it’s been two years and not one heating problem since I have photos on the work done if you like
This is all getting to be pretty bad when no one listens!?
All Buick Rendezvous overheat! It’s a badly designed system with no upper engine compartment ventilation! It’s one thing to save on mileage with a hot engine but another when it’s so hot it burns out all gaskets and seals everywhere! Counter productive to say to least! People are spending tons of money on repairs that are not necessary!
I bought a 2002 Rendezvous knowing full well that I could fix the overheating problem! I got a good deal on the SUV and bought it knowing it was an easy repair! The previous owner spent a bundle on new head-gaskets and still the overheating problem did not leave! I purchased it knowing full well what the problem "was" !
I did an inspection on the (engine compartment) The engine sits quite high in there and the heat of the engine has no escape from the compartment. It’s closed off and the engine sits in it’s own heat getting hotter and hotter destroying gaskets and all other heat related injuries ! The cooling fans direct the incoming air to the bottom and out below the problem!
My inspection shows trails where the heat did escape around the upper rubber seal at two ends over the engine compartment.. Those very small openings were the only means of heat escape, but not nearly enough! The heat there was so intense it started bubbling and blistering the paint on the hood! That was all the information I needed to be confident in the purchase of this 2002 Buick Rendezvous!
After the purchase I cut the rubber seal down away from the hood at least one inch by two feet from center NOTE! I was also careful not to remove the guard area for rain water. The lower section of the rubber guard takes care of that. For a test to be sure I sprayed water over the windshield and not a drop spilled onto the engine ..
Well it’s been two years and not one over-heating problem since I have photos on the work done if you like
All Buick Rendezvous overheat! It’s a badly designed system with no upper engine compartment ventilation! It’s one thing to save on mileage with a hot engine but another when it’s so hot it burns out all gaskets and seals everywhere! Counter productive to say to least! People are spending tons of money on repairs that are not necessary!
I bought a 2002 Rendezvous knowing full well that I could fix the overheating problem! I got a good deal on the SUV and bought it knowing it was an easy repair! The previous owner spent a bundle on new head-gaskets and still the overheating problem did not leave! I purchased it knowing full well what the problem "was" !
I did an inspection on the (engine compartment) The engine sits quite high in there and the heat of the engine has no escape from the compartment. It’s closed off and the engine sits in it’s own heat getting hotter and hotter destroying gaskets and all other heat related injuries ! The cooling fans direct the incoming air to the bottom and out below the problem!
My inspection shows trails where the heat did escape around the upper rubber seal at two ends over the engine compartment.. Those very small openings were the only means of heat escape, but not nearly enough! The heat there was so intense it started bubbling and blistering the paint on the hood! That was all the information I needed to be confident in the purchase of this 2002 Buick Rendezvous!
After the purchase I cut the rubber seal down away from the hood at least one inch by two feet from center NOTE! I was also careful not to remove the guard area for rain water. The lower section of the rubber guard takes care of that. For a test to be sure I sprayed water over the windshield and not a drop spilled onto the engine ..
Well it’s been two years and not one over-heating problem since I have photos on the work done if you like
Best,
Sarah
GM Customer Service
If it just started overheating I would be more inclined to fix whatever the problem is rather then applying a bandaid/cover up fix.
Sarah
GM Customer Service
Instead of removing water seal rubbers, drilling holes (when certified mechanics tell you not to do it), etc. etc, have you ever asked yourself why there's air bubbles in the system? If wondering, I have a 2003 RDV with "pure factory" hood rubber and pure factory themostat and my vehicle's TEMP is consistant. And, I know other RDV's that have consistant temps as well.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE stop telling others to "butcher" their vehicle. Especially when other certified auto mechanics are also saying its a bad idea as well. It's always best to find the root cause of the problem and fix it properly. For example, if its a small leak within its intake gasket, get its intake gasket replaced - with an ew / proper gasket material. Butchering a vehicle's original design isn't the answer. Especially in the long run...
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OMG people.... I hope you don't tell others to stick their fingers in electrical outlets and try to explain its safe as well? Will that stick up in a court of law??? You know.... There's all sorts of garbage on the internet. Both of your posts is perfect examples.... Example of people butchering a factory design without looking at the root cause of the problem.
Talk about your skating style, you still haven't explained why other 2002 intake gaskets on 3.4L engines in other GM vehicles from mini-vans to sedans blow their head gaskets as well. Are those other vehicle hood compartment designed improperly as well?
BTW: My 2003 RDV has original factory specs with original rubber hood seal and its temp needle is steady as solid pole. Why is my vehicle different than yours - yet both have same engine compartment? Sounds like something is seriously wrong with your 2002 engine. Perhaps leaky intake gasket????
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Thanks!
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My egine is now cool and stays cool ! It's just a matter of poor air circulation ,, GM has my statments... I do have photos.. Bud!
The stuff you talked about was done previous to my purchase of the Buick R..
Thay guy did not know anything about poor air circulation so I bought it knoing I could cure the problem ...... NOW! Do you really have a problem or are you from GM sniffing around..
I already sent them my diagnosis which is correct!
My Buick R,, has run cool now for two years,,,,,,,,,,,,
Good luck. I've been driving Rendezvous for 9 years. They haven't had any more problems than any other car I've ever driven.
So I am now wondering if I really have a cooling system problem at all or if the gauge is just messing up on me.
Anyone got any advice before I start to sink big money into the cooling system.
Thanks!
My wife took the rdv out today and its near 80 here and she said she never had one lick of issues with it acting like it wanted to overheat. It seems extremely random and mostly when I have my boat hooked to it. Funny thing is I don't even have to actually drive it anywhere. I can hook the boat up, fire it up in the driveway and just let it sit and run and the gauge will just keep getting higher and higher. I am almost wondering if its not an electrical issue and when I hook the wiring harness to the boat up if that is somehow playing a roll in it. Whatever it is I am sure clueless as where to start.
I am sorry to read about the multiple trips you have had to make to get this overheating concern looked into. Have these all been made to a local mechanic, or to one of our dealerships?
If we can look into this further with you, please email us at socialmedia@gm.com (include your name/Edmunds username, phone and address, the last 8 digits of your VIN and current mileage and the name of your involved dealership) and we'd be happy to do so. My coworker Christina, who answers inbound emails from the forum, will advise you further.
All the best,
Sarah
GM Customer Service
Thank you for taking the time to post your experience and concerns. I would recommend speaking with a GM dealer, even if its only to get the concern diagnosed. Please feel free to email me directly. Any updates on your concerns are appreciated.
Christina
GM Customer Service