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The transmission may be having a problem with the lockup control valve in its bore. I thought that was a 95-99 problem, though.
It would be worth changing the fluid if it hasn't been. (Should have been!) Mine started at 65 K in a 98. There is a replacement valve if that's the problem with a new liner for the bore in the control valve body. Getting it replaced by dealer was moderately expensive. I haven't checked at local trans quality repair shop. Will do that in a week or two when I have time.
The trans occasionally feels like a miss in engine. It shows up sometimes or not when shifting between 3rd and 4th where the torque converter clutch is locked up. That valve modulates the slip in the torque converter giving a smooth release and reengagement when shifting.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Good luck!
but the service manager at the dealer said the Buick trans can have the valve body removed by partly taking things apart. Not cheap, not easy, but not a full removal.
I'm anxious to see what the local individual reputable trans repairman says when I stop in a couple weeks from now.\
And this is something they can diagnose driving the car with a Tech II attached or whatever it is...
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Miles 65K. Flush, with new filter and gasket, at 60K. Roadtest with trans service shown as "OK" on invoice at 60K service, but suspect test didn't get up to 45-50 mph where prob occurs (dealer is in district of city with speed limits at 30 or 35). No probs at all below 45 mph. Bought car at 30K, so I don't know if the flush at 60K was first one in car's history. Worth flushing again?
A bit more detail.
(1) Prob with uncertain shifts at 45-50 mph on slight upgrade without accel was minor but real at 30K. At 35K, as warranty was about to expire, had prob checked by GM dealer who sold me the car. No codes, and without codes, dealer didn't roadtest car. Realize I probably should have insisted. But at least my questioning the trans is on their records.
(2) Prob has worsened slowly across the 35K I've owned car, and wasn't improved at all by flush/filter/gasket at 60K. But I'd be happy to try f/f/g again again if it makes sense.
Again, many thanks for your comments.
giants515
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giants515
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Have you gotten the belt changed yet?
My dealer did it for me ($17) by jacking up the front of the car slight and turning the right front wheel and worked from the wheel well to remove the bolt which lets the spacer drop free and you can change the belt through there. Apparently the bolt can go back through the mount and the spacer without the engine dropping enough or twisting to prevent a linear fit.
I'd have a long piece of wood and an extra jack to lift slightly on a strong part of the engine to help the bolt fit it IF that occured.
I'm about ready to change mine again at 105K. I'll let you know if it worked.
The manual says you have to lift the engine with the upper mounts to take weight off the mount. A local car radio mechanic said to put a jack and piece of wood UNDER the oil pan -- NOT FOR ME. the manual warns about not lifting under the oil pan. Can damage oil intake.
ryanfiala81
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Did you fix that? Was it a weak fuel pump from running empty or low fuel too many times with the previous owners? Was it pressure valve not retaining pressure when turned off?
Try turning the key to on and then back off then to on three times to build up pressure to see if it's weak fuel pressure after sitting.
Code for lean fuel probably isn't oxygen sensor. There's something else making the engine Need lots of fuel and the system isn't supplying it therefore a signal that there's not enough fuel. Look for bad temp sensor telling computer that engine is colder than it really is, e.g.
Maybe ALcan on here has an idea of what goes wrong with that particular year.
Cincy radio mechanic just discussed yesterday that there's no code that says oxygen sensor is bad. He defied any (name of store that does free readouts and saleclerks tell people it's the oxygen sensor) people to show him one. He'd bring his books to their store if they thought they could.
He says it's usually another sensor/engine problem. This guy is good. I trust him.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
IF it's steady, it's emissions related. Possibly a bad seal on the gas cap if it goes on and off. Try putting some petroleum jelly on the gas cap rubber seal. Then when you drive the car and it's only luke warm and it's restarted, it goes through a pressure checking cycle. If it finds the system holds vacuum well enough then the light goes off.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I had an older LeSabre and loved the way it handled.
The tire pressure DOES make a difference, too.
Go to 30 and see how you like it.
The car has the large, slab sides compared to my 98 LeSabre, therefore it has more wind pressure affecting the driving.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Is anyone reading in this discussion????
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Then maybe call and get their opinion on your choices.
If not, I can tell you, as in a previous post, I really don't think mine is abnormal. You have to correct some, and you have to correct more than my more aerodynamic Monte Carlo. But I think it is about par for a car of this type. We used to have a 95 Olds 98 which you had to correct a little less. I just think the newer Buick is a little more slab sided.
The people writing on that online store tend toward performance cars and the customer reviews..., who knows what they look for.
You're looking for a quality tire for travel and around town, not for hard driving or hot rodding.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I would consider the Harmony, even though the name sounds dorky.
I also have X-Ones on my 98 LeSabre. They have worn nicely. They are quiet except on concrete, textures overpasses. I find my Symmetry tires also tend to talk when they hit the same interstate overpasses in the city.
If I were replacing my tires, I'd get the Microedge or the Harmony by Michelin. I'd probably go for the Microedge because the tires area long time purchase. A little more paid for top of the line tires (the X-Ones were top of the line when I bought them) costs little per year extra. It's worth not having the aggravation of fast wear or noisy treads. I've had General, Goodyear, Firestone, etc. I'll stick with Michelin when my tires wear out. Sears also has some Michelin tires with different treads and so do some of the big box cost-cutter stores. By matching up with infor on Michelins website about their tires, you can equate theirs to curren t or past Michelin tires. If I could just put X-Ones from Costco or Sams, I would do that.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
The driver of the Town Car owns a tire store and was disappointed in the mileage. He also reported a noticeable degradation in wet weather braking.
I do think that most any new tire will make a huge difference in the feel of the car. Since the feel deteriorates slowly, the cheapest tire replacing a worn out expensive tire will feel better.
Perhaps you should check the wind lekage from doors.
It has 86k, in nice shape
Fuel gauge doesn't work
Runs fine on test run
The owner wants $4200 for it
Anything I should be inspecting more closely
on this model ?
Is the 3.8 a good engine ?
Any response appreciated and helpful
Thanks
The transmissions have a problem with the control valve for the lockup torque converter wearing the channel where it moves back and forth in the valve body. The lockup begins to fluctuate. The Torque Convert Clutch has a slip capability in it to cushion the roughness from the engine that would be felt if it locked up completely like the early 93? versions of the trans did.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
to purchase ?
I drove an 87 Century till the arm holding the back axle tore off the body. Maybe the slightly
over sized tire I put on that side had something to do with that.
I'd like some info on a good model mid to late 90s
I'd like to stay with Buick
Any info appreciated and helpful
Thanks
Thanks!
idntnvu
The wheels and tires on certain cars have had a tendency to set up vibrations at certain speeds in the car. If he's buying used car, he can drive each and see if it has a tendency to vibrate at 65 or so -- it's just like an unbalanced tire. Certain tires and brands from the factory had the stiffness that would interact with the frame. 16inch tires did it more. Requires troubleshooting the tires using a Hunter 9700 Road Force wheel balancer to test the uneveness in the rolling of the tire which causes the up and down spring just like wheel balance would. Mine is fixed after the wheel balancer by the dealer.
Other than that the difference is in 1.5 inches more legroom in the back (our son uses the back) and a few hundred pounds more weight and 5 inches total length (part of which is the bumpers protruding more. The seat backs on the front are slightly thicker on Park Avenues I compared. The rear seats have a cigarette lights in each door and a cubbyhole int he center armrest that's the pass through to the trunk. The strut valving is softer in the Park Avenue, changing the ride slightly. I think the LeSabre 03 with Michelins drove more nimbly. I ended up buying the LeSabre instead of the Park Avenue in Dec. 03. Saved $8000 and have a slightly less prestigious car that drives great at 80 and gets 35 mpg on interstate at 65 with air on trips -- like this week. Great car whichever he likes.
He also might want to check a used Aurora. There are great bargains there for the same, more or less, chassis as Lesabre, Bonneville, Park Ave, Deville, STS, and Aurora. Our friends (GM employees) had one of the last model year Auroras and loved it. He got a Grand Prix Anniversary model to replace it just cause he used to have Grand Prix when he was younger.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I can tell you that when you have a problem with any GM (and probably other makes) car, the dealer will only replace a part if the scanner shows a code. If no code appears, they will usually note on the work order “unable to duplicate the problem”. Either the repairperson is unable to think for themselves or they depend on the scanner for a code and if none appears, they refuse to look further. I was told that the dealer would not replace a part even if they believe it is a fault because GM will not reimburse the dealer for any work done without a computer code.
If I were you, the first thing that I would do is go to the service manager and demand that this new vehicle be repaired. If this fails to take care of the problem, I would take the car in for service several times for the same problem and make sure that a work order is prepared and a copy given to you. Check your state on the lemon law, which you should be able to find on the Internet.
I had a 2000 Chev. Impala with a safety problem. I had it to the dealer seven times for the same problem. Each time the work order stated “unable to duplicate the problem. They refused to replace anything without a computer code.
I advised the service manager (as required) of my intent to file under the lemon law. I filed, and did all of the necessary steps required. GM, after a few weeks, returned all of my money plus the sales tax. I had no argument from them at all. Seems to me that they would have been better off by replacing a suspected part than return my money. As I recall California, required three attempts at repair before you could file under the lemon law.
Good luck. The LaSabre is a great car. You should be happy once the problem is corrected.
One road trip of 300 miles has show a comfortable and much quieter ride but a rather peculiar low level electrical like hum at speed. Hoping that will improve as the newness wears off. Will update as the miles accumulate.
I am considering the LeSabre for a new car. How do you like yours? Any troubles? If you had to do it over, would you get the LeSabre again? Have you had any coolant or manifold problems? Do you have the Grand Touring suspension? This is stiffer than the regular one.
The Lincoln has 34k miles, power leather seats (not heated), has the 4.6 V8, homelink, adjustable suspension, adjustable steering, driver information center, Alpine stereo with cassette and 6 disk changer, automatic climate control (no passenger ajustment), auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass, heated outside mirrors with reverse tilt down, and rear air. The two are quite similar, and after driving both, it's a very difficult decision. What problems, if any, have you LeSabre owners experienced? I know older models had problems with front end alignment. Do the new generation have any problems with that? Dad is leaning more towards the Buick. Any info is helpful.
Has anyone encountered these problems? Any suggestions will be appreciated.
It rides like a tire is out of balance at highway speeds, but after having tires balanced, still rides the same.
Also, the driver door window quit working tonight. Our experience with GM vehicles is that the electronics go out all the time, expecially door locks and windows. However we didn't expect this one to happen so soon. The switch is working, because I hear it clicking, so my guess is that it's the motor. Any guesses? There was a '01 Lincoln Continental that is still sitting on the lot, and now that dad is singing the Buick Blues, I think he wishes he'd got the Lincoln instead.
You'd be better off replacing the tires with a quality tire that rolls with the same crush diameter.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
So, keep us informed about Dad's Avalon - er, I mean LeSabre.
The front cupholders on the 03 at least are great. The way they're built in makes them more sturdy than other hangon types earlier cars had.
Is that what yours are like? Is there a flip cover over the end of the front armrest that turns over to expose the cupholders?
The horn doesn't blow as easily as it should because of the stiffness of the plastic. I practice hitting the right spot sometimes, just to know where it is when I need it.
Freeze plugs: Haven't had trouble in 150K on my 1993 LeSabre, nvbanker. No trouble on the 98 LeSabre either, yet. I would guess you were unlucky enough to hit a sequence of bad plugs from a supplier (or poor specs from GM's engineering department).
Did have leaky intake manifold on 98 and uneven lockup on torque converter due to wear in valve body where the control valve moves to limit slip.
If it makes it to 150K b efore tranny needs a rebuild, I'll be perfectly happy. May buy a smaller pickup truck as next purchase.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,