story: 1st week of ownership, 02 Aurora 3.5

Last Sunday my wife decided she had to have an 02 Aurora. Bought a 3.5 with 9000 (nine thousand) miles in spotless condition. Has almost 2 years, 41k mi left in factory warranty.

Sunday: Bought car, wife drove 100 miles. Went home, rolled up the windows, left rear window regulator broke.

Monday (Memorial Day): Took it to the dealer, also told them about 2 areas of peeling leather and a loose interior trim piece. Got Cadillac CTS loaner.

Tuesday: Wife drove CTS

Wednesday: Wife drove CTS all day, picked up Aurora that night. Aurora has new A-pillar and C-pillar trim and new rear window regulator on drivers' side. Re-glued leather on console. No charge.

Thursday: Wife drove Aurora

Friday: Aurora stalled a few times, once tach stuck at 8000 RPM (engine was at normal idle).

Saturday: Took Aurora back to dealer, got CTS.

Sunday: Wife drove CTS.

Monday: Wife out of town, I drove CTS in morning, got Aurora back in afternoon. Aurora has new crank sensors, new outer tie rod ends. No charge.

Tuesday: I drove Aurora to work. Went to lunch with co-workers, one of whom put up the passenger side rear window. Regulator broke. Went to dealer after lunch. Got CTS, went back to work. After work, took CTS back, got Aurora. Has new right rear window regulator. No charge. Drove around Cadillac dealer's used car lot, contemplated trying to give Aurora back and take non-GM car from lot. Will discuss with wife later.

Tropical Cadillac of Bradenton FL has been EXCELLENT. Of course, I don't make an ass of myself, ranting about the car like some people might, which probably helps. And it's not their fault that GM did a lousy job on this car. It's also not their fault that I traded in a 97 Lumina cop car that required only $200 in repairs (besides normal wear/service items) between 38k mi and 100k mi. The real test will be if my wife wants to give the car back, will they take it?

Tune in tomorrow to see what color CTS I drive next.

I would say keep the car since all of this has been done and since there is still some warranty left. I bought my Alero with 24K miles on and it was in the shop a few times until the warranty was up at 36K miles, sometimes more than once for the same issue. I now have nearly 50K miles on it and it has been an amazing car. I haven't had to do ANYTHING out of pocket to it, besides oil changes. Right now its in the shop because I wrecked it, but I can't wait to get her back.

Who knows...maybe this time will be the last time you have to take it in...and if not, then feel good knowing GM is paying for it.

Jeremy

P.S. By the way, was this a "Certified Used" from GM? If so, why didn't the dealership catch the fact the car needed tie rods when they did the inspection to certify the car?

P.S. By the way, was this a "Certified Used" from GM? If so, why didn't the dealership catch the fact the car needed tie rods when they did the inspection to certify the car?


Oh yeah. That's one area where the dealer slipped up. One would assume they actually did the Certified Used inspection before we bought it. Then when the first window regulator broke they said they'd do another full inspection to catch any other problems. Somehow that failed to catch the tie rod ends.

Logically, since we've fixed the crank sensors and tie rod ends, two of the most popular failures on these cars, we should be in pretty good shape. And I'm a pretty logical guy. I also know random chance can explain how two window regulators failed in one week. But we're aleady past the official time we can give the car back, and the chance of talking them into taking it back anyway diminishes with every passing day. I don't have time to fix the car once a week for the next 5 years, nor the money to pay someone else to do it. They actually offered to give us the car to drive for a week before we bought it. Shoulda done it.....

Seems odd to me a 9000 mile Aurora and so many problems. I own an '02
with 59000 miles and have none of these problems and I live in a harsh climate. Also have not noticed trough any Oldsmobile forum that tie rods or windows are a main problem. Should have bought a Honda or Camry but that would have been a boring drive. :screwy:

Should have bought a Honda or Camry but that would have been a boring drive.

Honestly the Aurora drives a lot like my 75 year old mother's 2000 LeSabre, except the LeSabre feels like it has more torque. To each his own, I guess.

Complete warranty history since new:

3/02 - door lock remote
3/03 - rear armrest and/or support
7/03 - RF window regulator, fuel sender and/or pump
12/03 - intermediate steering shaft
5/05 - repairs I listed in first post

Speaking of warranty, they told me the original in-service date on the car, then told me I had 2 months left on the 3/36. Those two facts did not match. In fact, the 3/36 ran out 2 MONTHS AGO, but they're still fixing trim items and windows and providing a loaner car! I'm not pleased with the car, but I sure do like the folks we bought it from.

Well than sell the Aurora and drive the LeSabre and quit the constant whining.
I believe this forum is to help people with problems not to hear constant complaints, this is very boring.
According to you all you problems are fixed and will be fixed under warranty.
Another thing I have never seen tie-rods wear out in 9000 miles and it seems to me your car might have been in an accident.
Good luck anyway. :nono: :nono: :nono:

Well the things that went wrong could have with any other car. I guess it it the luck of the draw. In your case your lucky to have a warranty, to be given a Cadillac as a loaner and to have a great car. Cars will break down no exceptions.

Here where I live you have 30 days to make a decision if you want to keep the car, used or new.

this is very boring.


Feel free to not read my thread then.

I think it's an entertaining but sad story that could be enlightening to anyone who is considering buying an Aurora. If we couldn't laugh about it, we'd probably cry.

If it wasn't under warranty, and if I had to pay for the repairs thus far, I'd have spent $1500 on repairs in the first week. That's something people might want to hear when they're shopping for a car. Only one data point in the however-many thousands sold.

And I did loudly proclaim how great my dealer is.

Finally, I will say the Aurora is a nice car. It's big, comfortable, luxurious, good-looking, quiet. Hopefully we've passed the car's growing pains and it will now be as reliable as your Aurora is. I'll never think it's exciting, but we didn't buy it for excitement. I've got a motorcycle for that.

Have a nice day....

It does sound like the car sat or a while or was in an accident.

It does sound like the car sat or a while or was in an accident.

I have the whole service history (warranty repairs and oil changes) with dates and odometer readings. It was driven 3000 miles per year with no particular interruptions use.

And there is absolutely not a single indication of any damage whatsoever to body or chassis and no evidence that the car has been repaired in any way. I was an autobody tech and painter and I'd know.

I know I've seen other people on the net with defective tie rod ends on Auroras and other GM cars; maybe they're not as prevalent as I thought if y'all haven't seen them, but it did seem like a known issue.

I have noticed window regulators on the 2nd gen Auroras are a frequent topic in other forums.

The tie-rod issue sumpped me a little until i realized that your car is 3 yrs old and has probably only had 2 or 3 oil changes in the 9000 miles (verify that with your service records). If the oil had been changed at a place like Jiffy-lube or speedy oil change, they usually lube the chassis as part of the service. However, to lube the chassis only 2 or 3 times in 3 years may have allowed the lubrication to dry up and thus cause premature failure of the components.

Additionally, if the oil changes were performed by the owner... most people don't have a grease gun.

Good thought, but it's had the oil changed/lubed 3x per year by the dealer. Actually I'm surprised that chassis parts still have grease fittings (if they do).....

Previous owner is a retired employee of the dealer.

the 3/36 ran out 2 MONTHS AGO, but they're still fixing trim items and windows and providing a loaner car!

Oh, OK, the Certified Used cars get a 3 month/3000 mi warranty.

http://www.gmbuypower.com/cuvHome.cv

That's probably what they were telling me about, when I thought they were referring to the original warranty.

Problems aside...

What you have is what i think i will be looking for when my classic has lived it's life. a 2nd gen with ultra-low miles and over 200,000 mile to go!

over 200,000 miles to go!

I sure hope so, 'cuz that's what it's gonna have in 5 years when it's paid off....

i have a '97 classic with 188k on it now and (with loving attention) it runs fantastic and still looks great. I'm looking forward to the next 100k miles.

Although I would be looking for the 4.0.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/tjmAurora/AuroraModcomp.jpg

It's been a week and a half with no problems. Well, the ac blower motor did squeak for a day but it went away. Even if it was replaced under warranty, I don't think I want the dash taken apart unless absolutely necessary.

Wife is much happier.

I got the windows tinted today as a 3rd wedding anniversary present for the wife! (recommended 3rd ann. gift is glass or crystal, so....) Tint is 30% front, 20% rear. Do I have that right? Darkest legal tint for FL.

Will post pics after we wash it....

kevin


.

At 32 days and 2600 miles of ownership, experienced a moan in the steering. We were leaving for a weekend vacation and would have been unacceptably delayed by waiting for repairs, but the car would have run out of the GM Certified warranty during the trip. Fortunately the dealer was willing to open a ticket and let us take the car, and repair it on our return.

Also a little uneven-ness in the power delivery under load (I wouldn't have called it "bucking") that was not a major issue here in the flatlands was definitely noticeable in the mountains with a full load. I will definitely call it bucking now. Maybe its a cam position sensor wobbling or an EGR solenoid fluttering.

So, back to the dealer tonight for a steering rack and a driveability issue....

I have an '01 and I've had to replace a tie rod end as well.

Update:

Occasionally the car has not responded to the throttle from idle -- push the gas and the engine slows down. Took it to the dealer with that and the surging complaint.

Dealer said the problem is caused by the floormat bunching under the gas pedal.

I inquired as to what sort of f-ing idiot they thought I was, and suggested that I keep their loaner car until they came up with a better story.

So they replaced the MAF and gave us the car back. Problem not fixed.

Good news is nothing else has broken since the steering rack on 7/1 and we've put almost 7k on it in the 10 weeks we've had it.

Any thoughts? I wouldn't mind changing a couple of cheap, easy things myself, like TPS and cam sensor, if y'all think it might help.

thanks
kevin
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if you havent done the fuel pressure regulator yet then check the vac line on it to see if its damp with fuel. if it is then thats probably the issue.:
http://www.howardm.net/dred98/fpr.php

Cool, I'll check that, thanks!

Except for this one problem, the car runs perfectly. The only experience I have with a blown FPR diaphraghm had the car (a Volvo) belching black smoke and barely running, but it's an easy thing to check.

I'm gonna put a new fuel filter in it too.

BTW, did you ever send that letter to GM Certified Used Cars? I noticed you still have the car so...

You are lucky to have an Aurora with such low mileage. If you are handy, as you seem to be, you will enjoy it. These forums, where we comunicate our issues and have the luxury of many who have experienced similar issues, are a great asset.

In now 193,000 miles my Aurora has left me stranded only one time and it was my own doing. At about 186,000 I finally replaced the serpentine belt and neglected to change the water pump belt even after being questioned by the parts guy. 4 days later you can guess what happened; it was like the car gave me a "dope slap" for being so stupid. Just like a Lady, if you listen carefully, she will tell you what's wrong.

As you continue to maintain your Aurora you will find that there is a certain logic to it's design and that it is, in my opinion, a pleasure to work on.

I showed the letter to the GM of the dealership and he committed to making the car right. If we remained unsatisfied, he would replace it. However, as bad as Auroras depreciate, any other car we get for the same price with equally low miles won't be nearly as nice a car. So we're trying to work with this one.

I can do any repair the car could ever need myself, as long as a $5000 computer isn't required for the diagnosis. (and obviously that computer isn't helping the dealer mechanics at all) But the reason we bought a nearly-new car with a warranty is so I don't have to fix it!

I do understand that our run of bad luck could end at any time. Just because a few parts failed, it doesn't mean other unrelated parts will fail. I'm hoping that works out soon....

I figure when the 60K warranty runs out, we'll sell this one and try again, unless maybe it's behaved perfectly for a long time....

The GM Certified Used Car program offers very few benefits for the premium you pay. You get the 3 mo/3k mi bumper-to-bumper warranty and basically nothing else. Check out other manufacturers' plans for long extended warranties and other benefits.

later
kevin

Yeah, I'm also quite surprised at GM. Bought a fully loaded 02 3.5 2 months ago for 19500. It was in perfect condition...I thought. OK, don't they do an oil change during the inspection before they sell the car? I took it to get it's oil change a week later and I was told the dealer had given it to me a quart low. Doesn't even look like they changed the basics (Dirty PCV valve, passenger cabin air filter filthy, problems getting key out of ignition, headlights blew out five times in one week.) Now the damn thing sounds like a blender with ten pounds of sand in it...horrible...and really irritating because of the cost of the car. OH yeah, they gave me the car with less than a gallon of gas in it. I hope you guy have better luck that I did...

BTW, sorry for the dupicate posting of this message on the board.

I do understand that our run of bad luck could end at any time. Just because a few parts failed, it doesn't mean other unrelated parts will fail. I'm hoping that works out soon....


We've had the car 15 weeks. We've put 10300 mi on the car since we bought it. Total is 19600.

Haven't been back to the dealer for the driveability problem, and haven't tried replacing any parts myself. It's not bad, but I'll get to it one day....

I was driving a LeSabre the other day and confirmed that our transmission doesn't shift nearly as well as other GM fwd cars I've driven. I wouldn't exactly call it a flare, but it's not smooth and quick like it should be. This isn't a "new" problem, but now I've driven another car and know for sure it's not right.

Nothing has broken since my last report.

Not quite 6 months of ownership, ~18k mi driven. Got hit by a person making a left turn across traffic without yielding, after that person was hit by another car.

My wife has a fractured sternum, some neck injures and a pinched nerve; the car is about as bad. Hood, fender, bumper, headlight, maybe a little core support, maybe just a little frame horn damage...

:(

I'm so sorry to hear that! Aren't you thankful you were in a big car though? I try to tell my young friends that it's the law of physics: a big car is safer in a crash. But they still insist that it's worth their lives to get a couple miles per gallon better gas mileage with a Honda. Think about what could have happened to your wife if you were in a smaller rig. :shakehead I hope you don't have any more trouble with your '02. I know that gremlins can get into cars even after a minor rear-end tap.

The car definitely absorbed some energy. The estimate is $7500. Good news is there ARE NO Taiwanese/etc cheap replacement body parts for these cars, so I don't have to fight the insurance company to get genuine GM parts. There are hardly any used parts either in the junkyards....

I think the dealer will fix it right. I hope.... I want it done right or I don't want it back..... We're not making 3.5 years of payments on a bent, patched up junker!

My wife says massage therapy is great. And drugs are good, mmmkay?

I'm glad everyone is ok! Will your wife have any long-term problems?

Be sure to include any previous problems you may have had with the car as the fault of the accident.

I'm glad everyone is ok! Will your wife have any long-term problems?

Be sure to include any previous problems you may have had with the car as the fault of the accident.

We're keeping our fingers crossed as to long-term problems, but her fractured sternum and the possible ruptured disc are considered "permanent injuries". The accident also aggravated a previous jaw problem and may require surgery. Too soon to tell.

As for the car, I'm not going to try to blame old problems on the accident, but I'm sure we'll have plenty of new ones. They will have to replace more unibody structure than I expected, and the proper repair procedure requires removing the engine and trans. Just imagine.....

I downloaded the I-car manual for the job, just so I can be sure they're doing it right...