ignition cylinder & parking brake

[denny9]

just had to have my 3 week old 2005 Uplander towed back to the dealer. Neither key would go all the way into the ignition. The dealer had to replace the passlock (ignition lock) cylinder which of course required a new code kit and reprogramming of the PK3 keys. Thank goodness it was covered under the warranty. The total charge would have been close to $500 I'm told.
Then 2 days later, the parking brake refused to release and it took a knowledgeable tow truck operator to release it using a screw driver.
Now wondering what's going to go wrong next. Have I bought a lemon?

[AJT1961]

Probably not, but you (like myself) did buy a vehicle in it's first model year, before the natural debugging process that occurs when the cars get millions of real world miles which smoke out all of the little design and manufacturing flaws. I don't usually buy any cars in their first model year, but I really needed a new van and fell in love with the Uplander. My "new" problem now is that when I drive at night on the highway, I'm experiencing intermittent but fairly severe rapid power pulses that are visible in the headlights and dashlights. It's so bad sometimes that I worry other drivers think I'm flashing my high beams. Seems clearly to be caused by a defective voltage regulator, but because the problem is intermittent, I'm sure the dealer won't be able to duplicate it.

[denny9]

thanks for taking the time to reply. I've only been out once after dark but was in the city so I haven't experienced the light problem - and hopefully won't. Like you, I had promised myself that I would not ever buy a first year edition but....the best laid plans as they say. The Uplander definitely caught my fancy.

Originally Posted by AJT1961

Probably not, but you (like myself) did buy a vehicle in it's first model year, before the natural debugging process that occurs when the cars get millions of real world miles which smoke out all of the little design and manufacturing flaws. I don't usually buy any cars in their first model year, but I really needed a new van and fell in love with the Uplander. My "new" problem now is that when I drive at night on the highway, I'm experiencing intermittent but fairly severe rapid power pulses that are visible in the headlights and dashlights. It's so bad sometimes that I worry other drivers think I'm flashing my high beams. Seems clearly to be caused by a defective voltage regulator, but because the problem is intermittent, I'm sure the dealer won't be able to duplicate it.

[Chris1222]

Originally Posted by AJT1961

Probably not, but you (like myself) did buy a vehicle in it's first model year, before the natural debugging process that occurs when the cars get millions of real world miles which smoke out all of the little design and manufacturing flaws. I don't usually buy any cars in their first model year, but I really needed a new van and fell in love with the Uplander. My "new" problem now is that when I drive at night on the highway, I'm experiencing intermittent but fairly severe rapid power pulses that are visible in the headlights and dashlights. It's so bad sometimes that I worry other drivers think I'm flashing my high beams. Seems clearly to be caused by a defective voltage regulator, but because the problem is intermittent, I'm sure the dealer won't be able to duplicate it.

I noticed the same power pulses while driving at night, and I have read on other forums that we're not the only ones. Have you spoke to the dealer about this problem?

[denny9]

Originally Posted by Chris1222

I noticed the same power pulses while driving at night, and I have read on other forums that we're not the only ones. Have you spoke to the dealer about this problem?

No as I haven't seen this problem as yet (and hopefully won't)

[AJT1961]

Originally Posted by Chris1222

I noticed the same power pulses while driving at night, and I have read on other forums that we're not the only ones. Have you spoke to the dealer about this problem?

I took it to the dealer last week and at first they said they could not duplicate the problem and there were no codes. When I expressed my severe disatisfaction and told them (as I had when I dropped it off) to check the TSB on the problem, they called back and said they were special ordering me a new alternator. I don't know exactly what the TSB says, as I only heard that there was a TSB for this problem. I just received a call yesterday that the part arrived, so I won't know until next Friday when they install it if it fixes the problem (which I have no doubt that it will). I doubt I'll ever get to actually speak to anyone but the service writer about exactly what caused the problem (who in this case was a 20 year girl with little mechanical knowledge) as I buy my cars from a huge mega-dealer. That said, I had read on some board the opinion that the alternator is too small. I doubt that is actually the case, however. It seems to me that the problem is simply a bad batch of voltage regulators that intermittently flicker the charging power on-and-off, but rarely allow the battery voltage to drop or rise beyond the parameters which would trigger a low or high battery voltage code.