story: 1st week of ownership, 02 Aurora 3.5

[tjm]

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.

[CharlieFoxtrot]

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


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[CharlieFoxtrot]

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....

[taylal23]

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

[CharlieFoxtrot]

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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[tjm]

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

[CharlieFoxtrot]

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.

[tjm]

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.

[CharlieFoxtrot]

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

[zephram22]

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.

[CharlieFoxtrot]

Originally Posted by CharlieFoxtrot

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.

[CharlieFoxtrot]

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...

[jagchick]

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. 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.

[CharlieFoxtrot]

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?

[tjm]

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.