1992-1999 Series I L27 (1992-1994 SE,SLE, SSE) & Series II L36 (1995-1999 SE, SSE, SLE) and common problems for the Series I and II L67 (all supercharged models 92-99) Including Olds 88's, Olds LSS's and Buick Lesabres Please use General Chat for non-mechanical issues, and Performance and Brainstorming for improvements.

What was Pontiac thinking?

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Old 02-22-2004, 03:40 PM
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Default What was Pontiac thinking?

Wow, I've seen some pretty poor examples of engineering before but Pontiac has just topped it.

I was going to attempt to change the SC idler pulley that'* tucked in behind the Torque Axis front engine on my Series II L67 - OMG is all I can say. Look at the picture below and then read the service proceedure below the photo;



    This is unbelievable. It would take many hours of work to perform what should be a simple procedure. What'* more, this pulley is plastic so it'* not like it'* never going to fail. This has to be one of the dumbest things I've seen on a recent model car.

    Cheers,
    Old 02-22-2004, 04:01 PM
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    That'* nothing... Look inside the steering column....
    Old 02-22-2004, 04:08 PM
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    Both are common examples of how to "stuff" things under the hood! Look at the Transports, etc that have the WSW Fluid Rez sitting right above the battery! Last thing I remember in electronics was H2O & Electricity didn't mix too well together, or did I fall asleep through that lesson?
    Old 02-22-2004, 07:55 PM
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    heh... during one of my stints at a dealership, i watched the service men argue over who had to work on a vette... you wanna see how to stuff things under a hood, look no further - on the 4th gen, you had to either remove a body panel or an engine compartment brace (didn't track down what it was actually bracing) to change the battery...

    matt
    Old 02-22-2004, 08:18 PM
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    What are you attempting to do?
    Old 02-22-2004, 10:05 PM
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    Originally Posted by 1992 trofeo
    What are you attempting to do?
    I'm trying to change what'* labled Idler Pulley #2 in the photo.

    Cheers,
    Old 02-23-2004, 01:25 AM
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    If you really want to see the "what were they thinking" effect take a look at a 3.4 DOHC motor. That thing was the ultimate example of stuffing an engine into its compartment. To change an alternator in my GTP I had to pull the front passenger wheel.
    Old 02-23-2004, 03:51 AM
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    I'm a big fan of GM cars, but sometimes I have to wonder if the engineers ever use their own products. Center console cup holder, anyone? My roommate and I were discussing this once (my cupholder is broken, and the one on his dad'* Olds 88 had broken also).

    If any other car manufacturer discovered in the R&D process that the cupholders were prone to breaking, they would say, "oh, let'* beef up the cupholders."

    GM would say: "Looks like we need to manufacture another 50,000 cupholders."
    Old 02-23-2004, 04:49 AM
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    My cupholer hasn't broken (yet, knock on wood), but if you put anything in it, it'* right in the way of the shifter. And the ones in the door are worthles in my opinion. Any cup I have, that will fit, just tips over as soon as you move the car...
    Old 02-23-2004, 08:42 AM
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    Originally Posted by StoopidSavant
    I'm a big fan of GM cars, but sometimes I have to wonder if the engineers ever use their own products. Center console cup holder, anyone? My roommate and I were discussing this once (my cupholder is broken, and the one on his dad'* Olds 88 had broken also).

    If any other car manufacturer discovered in the R&D process that the cupholders were prone to breaking, they would say, "oh, let'* beef up the cupholders."

    GM would say: "Looks like we need to manufacture another 50,000 cupholders."
    Actually...on the 3.4L cars...You have to pull the whole strut assembly out! Ever tried selling an Alternator job & tell the customer an alignment is needed as part of the repair? The Alternator on the 3.4 is located where most water pumps are. :?


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