UPDATED - Sob Story - my new car experience
06-19-2004, 07:25 PM
#1
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UPDATED - Sob Story - my new car experience
1999 Oldsmobile Eighty Eight Anniversary
The Sunday after the Saturday I brought the car home it would not start. I discovered this at about 7:30 at night and needed to get to work in the morning so after jumper cables and determining that the batery was not the problem I knew exactly where to look. The positive battery terminal. Well sure enough they were green enough under the "detailed" red plastic insulation to get their own zip code. Upon removeing stud to clean the two cables I found the large donut or spacer was not there but instead a lock washers and some cobbled up square washer. Then sliding the red insulation back I found the cable at the crimp was so green it was also stiff down 2 inchs below the crimp under the black cable insulation. I cleaned them up and put the donut from my 86 LeSabre in there and all was fine for now. The flat connection ends were pitted, even one hole, and the burrs that are on them for good bite into the lead battery were gone.
Now this is why the car was scheduled to go in for work - the shifter and the battery cables. I told them exactly all of the above and that I wanted new cables and be glad they didnt have to come and tow it like would have been with nearly anyone else. I also told them "I wanted my donut back it was mine and belonged in my 1986 150,000 mile LeSabre that still did not have green ends" Well dont you know the "tech" took it off and couldnt see a problem It was so stiff and pitted I couldnt believe my ears. I also said thats because I cleaned it and it would come back and bite me in the butt within a year.
Then between the call to get the appointment and the time I dropped it off it began to act funny after slowing down and then trying to resume speed, like no matter how much gas you gave it until nearly floored. This is what was determined to be a tranny problem. Well they had to fix that and while I feel bad for them I did pay a premium for a 72,000 mile 5 year old car - 8000 plus my now believed to be the best car ever - Regal.
So this morning the car was to be picked up but I called to see if they changed the cable and NO. They are now changing the cable
but are still sticking to the "typical ware" excuse for the shifter that I feel is damaged inside the column somewhere.
There has been a very bad air over this car and transaction. I drove it a total of one week so far and that was with all these problems. To top it all off I expect the infomous L36 issues within 20,000 miles.
Cant believe Im having these feelings over a H body, it hurts.
I MISS MY REGAL
The Sunday after the Saturday I brought the car home it would not start. I discovered this at about 7:30 at night and needed to get to work in the morning so after jumper cables and determining that the batery was not the problem I knew exactly where to look. The positive battery terminal. Well sure enough they were green enough under the "detailed" red plastic insulation to get their own zip code. Upon removeing stud to clean the two cables I found the large donut or spacer was not there but instead a lock washers and some cobbled up square washer. Then sliding the red insulation back I found the cable at the crimp was so green it was also stiff down 2 inchs below the crimp under the black cable insulation. I cleaned them up and put the donut from my 86 LeSabre in there and all was fine for now. The flat connection ends were pitted, even one hole, and the burrs that are on them for good bite into the lead battery were gone.
Now this is why the car was scheduled to go in for work - the shifter and the battery cables. I told them exactly all of the above and that I wanted new cables and be glad they didnt have to come and tow it like would have been with nearly anyone else. I also told them "I wanted my donut back it was mine and belonged in my 1986 150,000 mile LeSabre that still did not have green ends" Well dont you know the "tech" took it off and couldnt see a problem It was so stiff and pitted I couldnt believe my ears. I also said thats because I cleaned it and it would come back and bite me in the butt within a year.
Then between the call to get the appointment and the time I dropped it off it began to act funny after slowing down and then trying to resume speed, like no matter how much gas you gave it until nearly floored. This is what was determined to be a tranny problem. Well they had to fix that and while I feel bad for them I did pay a premium for a 72,000 mile 5 year old car - 8000 plus my now believed to be the best car ever - Regal.
So this morning the car was to be picked up but I called to see if they changed the cable and NO. They are now changing the cable
but are still sticking to the "typical ware" excuse for the shifter that I feel is damaged inside the column somewhere.There has been a very bad air over this car and transaction. I drove it a total of one week so far and that was with all these problems. To top it all off I expect the infomous L36 issues within 20,000 miles.
Cant believe Im having these feelings over a H body, it hurts.
I MISS MY REGAL
06-19-2004, 08:25 PM
#2
Senior Member
Expert Gearhead
Damn Steve, not only did they not address the issue, they didnt address your concerns...2 strikes 
That 99 88 is a nice one, limited edition, to bad its giving you so many headaches....give er back for a nice G body? Maybe like the one in yer sig?
That 99 88 is a nice one, limited edition, to bad its giving you so many headaches....give er back for a nice G body? Maybe like the one in yer sig?
06-19-2004, 10:20 PM
#3
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Well JIm I did have the used sales manager call me and I told him I wanted out of the deal, that there was a bad air over the deal and I was having a hard time enjoying the feel someone should have with getting a "new" car. Its a real beauty and very very clean but -DAMN
Then if all this was not bad enough the week after I bought it I drive the other way home from work and two miles from work is a 97 Pearl white R I V I E R A L67
same milage and 3 thousand less starting price. A few dents and a couple paint peeling issues but had I know it was there :( . I stopped and checked it out and asked how long it was there. It was and if I had only gone that way that would be the car in my driveway. I love my G2 H 88'* alot but sorry there is no contest in the preference department. Both the engine and the styling the Riv wins, special edition 88 or not the Riv wins. This also added to the bad air over the whole deal.
Then if all this was not bad enough the week after I bought it I drive the other way home from work and two miles from work is a 97 Pearl white R I V I E R A L67
same milage and 3 thousand less starting price. A few dents and a couple paint peeling issues but had I know it was there :( . I stopped and checked it out and asked how long it was there. It was and if I had only gone that way that would be the car in my driveway. I love my G2 H 88'* alot but sorry there is no contest in the preference department. Both the engine and the styling the Riv wins, special edition 88 or not the Riv wins. This also added to the bad air over the whole deal.
07-05-2004, 07:12 PM
#5
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Well they did finally change the positive cables and I got the spacer back that I had to steal from my 86 LeSabre. I also got the cables back which are the proof, I had a heavy corrosion problem.
They did get the play out of the shifter mechanism by adjustment.
Both of the above minor fixes I had to fight like the diggins for and was insisted that it was normal for a used car. I never had a shifter with 2-3 inches of free travel and it amazes me that these people thought I would just let it go.
Now the bad part is. I have a rebuilt tranny. Good I guess but it still has an extremely dead and I mean dead mid throttle responce. It went back to them again last Monday - Thrusday and they decided that it was the manifold. Now this is new and it still runs like a guttless wonder unless floored and when floored it still seems to calibrate the fuel injectors in clicks or notches, much like your basic three speed electric fan as you click throught the speeds.
Then there is the issue of the pulling to the right. They did a 4 wheel alignment and I have the computorized read out sheet on the specs. which show it is aligned where it should be but yet you must hold the wheel down firmly to the left side when going straight and as soon as you release grip it imeadiatly turns 5-10* to the right and heads for the shoulder imeadiatly. I was told over the phone before picking it up on Fri that the specs were on and the only pulling noticed by "whomever" was just from the crown of the road.
Unfortunantly I have been driving for 30 years and I know what the crown of the road does to make a car "drift" not shoot across toward the shoulder. The LSS does not drive like this and it has 105,000 miles now. The Regal did not drive like this and it had 24?,000 miles. I also know the force I use to stay straight is not necessary to fight the crown of the road. This also affects the handling of the car because turning to the left you need to increase force to the left and to turn to the right you simply need to realease force and maybe turn the wheel alittle. How screwed up !
What else besides alignment could cause this steering condition ?
What else that doesnt throw a code could cause this poor fuel delivery or whatever it is that makes this car run so oddly.
I mean the wife even notices it when she runs down town. She hasnt driven it more than 20 miles and she knows there is something funny. I have to go 32 miles one way to work.
Great car otherwise
They did get the play out of the shifter mechanism by adjustment.
Both of the above minor fixes I had to fight like the diggins for and was insisted that it was normal for a used car. I never had a shifter with 2-3 inches of free travel and it amazes me that these people thought I would just let it go.
Now the bad part is. I have a rebuilt tranny. Good I guess but it still has an extremely dead and I mean dead mid throttle responce. It went back to them again last Monday - Thrusday and they decided that it was the manifold. Now this is new and it still runs like a guttless wonder unless floored and when floored it still seems to calibrate the fuel injectors in clicks or notches, much like your basic three speed electric fan as you click throught the speeds.
Then there is the issue of the pulling to the right. They did a 4 wheel alignment and I have the computorized read out sheet on the specs. which show it is aligned where it should be but yet you must hold the wheel down firmly to the left side when going straight and as soon as you release grip it imeadiatly turns 5-10* to the right and heads for the shoulder imeadiatly. I was told over the phone before picking it up on Fri that the specs were on and the only pulling noticed by "whomever" was just from the crown of the road.
Unfortunantly I have been driving for 30 years and I know what the crown of the road does to make a car "drift" not shoot across toward the shoulder. The LSS does not drive like this and it has 105,000 miles now. The Regal did not drive like this and it had 24?,000 miles. I also know the force I use to stay straight is not necessary to fight the crown of the road. This also affects the handling of the car because turning to the left you need to increase force to the left and to turn to the right you simply need to realease force and maybe turn the wheel alittle. How screwed up !
What else besides alignment could cause this steering condition ?
What else that doesnt throw a code could cause this poor fuel delivery or whatever it is that makes this car run so oddly.
I mean the wife even notices it when she runs down town. She hasnt driven it more than 20 miles and she knows there is something funny. I have to go 32 miles one way to work.
Great car otherwise
07-11-2004, 01:02 PM
#6
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Well, Ive been driving it for a week straight - finally and have determined that I dont even want it anymore.
It does pull to the right - it has been to the shop 3 times for this and they cant fix it.
It does have an acceleration issue and it occurs 70-80 percent of the time, whether from a complete stop or rolling stop and its not just the tranny kicking down or not. It is a fuel delivery problem. - - - The car has been there 3 times for this and its still not fixed and they have rebuilt the tranny and put new upper intake. I should be happy but it just proves the incompetence of who Im dealing with and I cant take it any more. I have to argue with them just to get them to believe the car does what it does.
The rebuit tranny shifts funny into 2nd at mid throttle and worse at full.
The experiance is destroyed and Im going lemon law with it and getting my money back.
The car is not a POS but I cant fight with them on these annoying problems. I paid a premium price for this 72,000 mile car. I was willing to do this because at this type of dealership is where you find nice original owner, clean trade in cars with what is supposed to be a competent service department behind the car just incase these problems arise shortly after purchase. This has been one of the most miserable experiances of my life. Just like twilight zone when I leave my car for a week to get it fixed and pick it up and within 1/4 of a mile I see it still has all the same problems.
HOW PATHATIC
It does pull to the right - it has been to the shop 3 times for this and they cant fix it.
It does have an acceleration issue and it occurs 70-80 percent of the time, whether from a complete stop or rolling stop and its not just the tranny kicking down or not. It is a fuel delivery problem. - - - The car has been there 3 times for this and its still not fixed and they have rebuilt the tranny and put new upper intake. I should be happy but it just proves the incompetence of who Im dealing with and I cant take it any more. I have to argue with them just to get them to believe the car does what it does.
The rebuit tranny shifts funny into 2nd at mid throttle and worse at full.
The experiance is destroyed and Im going lemon law with it and getting my money back.
The car is not a POS but I cant fight with them on these annoying problems. I paid a premium price for this 72,000 mile car. I was willing to do this because at this type of dealership is where you find nice original owner, clean trade in cars with what is supposed to be a competent service department behind the car just incase these problems arise shortly after purchase. This has been one of the most miserable experiances of my life. Just like twilight zone when I leave my car for a week to get it fixed and pick it up and within 1/4 of a mile I see it still has all the same problems.
HOW PATHATIC
07-13-2004, 08:28 PM
#7
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Acceleration problems, eh? Few questions.
1. Does it run fine cold and get worse warming up?
2. Does the A/C feel as though its taking away 40 hp?
3. Does it feel like it lags until 3000 Rpm.
If you answer yes to those questions then you have the problem I had. The answer: new PCM and fuel injectors, plain and simple. I did everything. I've had 3 yes 3 new PCM'* put in my car and it accelerates differently with everyone. You have to admit the 2.84 axle ratio ruins acceleration in the first place. You're LSS has either the 2.97 or 3.06, so you can't really compare the two.
Good luck.
1. Does it run fine cold and get worse warming up?
2. Does the A/C feel as though its taking away 40 hp?
3. Does it feel like it lags until 3000 Rpm.
If you answer yes to those questions then you have the problem I had. The answer: new PCM and fuel injectors, plain and simple. I did everything. I've had 3 yes 3 new PCM'* put in my car and it accelerates differently with everyone. You have to admit the 2.84 axle ratio ruins acceleration in the first place. You're LSS has either the 2.97 or 3.06, so you can't really compare the two.
Good luck.
07-16-2004, 10:07 AM
#9
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Well its going back AGAIN Monday. I was in Weds and went out with the guy that runs the sales car service department. He did agree that it pulled to the right - thank goodness !!!!!!!!!!!!!
I did get a check engine light finally, but its gone now but shouod still be stored I HOPE .
The LSS is not the only 3.8 powered car I have to compare to . the problem is intermittin as in sometimes it does and sometimes it doesnt and I dont know how to trigger it. It did not do it while me and the "tech" were out but it did do the knotchy acceleration thing and one bad 1-2nd shift, a problem I havent mentioned since the tranny rebuild.
I know what you mean about the 2:84'* and can feel that when its not acting up but when it acts up it does simply not respond to gas pedal unless put clear to the floor and then it still seem to not be sure 100% what to do. Seriously it is very similar to how they feel under full acceleration when the torque managment backs off the injectors until the shift is complete, only its not happening at a shift stage, its happening anywhere between stop and 35 MPH and only sometimes
Jr - I never got the chance to thank you for the phone call - Thanks !!!!! Thats dedication and it was great to talk 3.8/3.0 with another GM nut
Its gonna be an expensinve call too, we were on for along time. Want me to bill OTTO Olds/Caddy ?
Except for these problems I do love driving this car, its so nice after pounding and jarring around in a Mack all day
I did get a check engine light finally, but its gone now but shouod still be stored I HOPE .
The LSS is not the only 3.8 powered car I have to compare to
. the problem is intermittin as in sometimes it does and sometimes it doesnt and I dont know how to trigger it. It did not do it while me and the "tech" were out but it did do the knotchy acceleration thing and one bad 1-2nd shift, a problem I havent mentioned since the tranny rebuild.I know what you mean about the 2:84'* and can feel that when its not acting up but when it acts up it does simply not respond to gas pedal unless put clear to the floor and then it still seem to not be sure 100% what to do. Seriously it is very similar to how they feel under full acceleration when the torque managment backs off the injectors until the shift is complete, only its not happening at a shift stage, its happening anywhere between stop and 35 MPH and only sometimes
Jr - I never got the chance to thank you for the phone call - Thanks !!!!! Thats dedication and it was great to talk 3.8/3.0 with another GM nut
Its gonna be an expensinve call too, we were on for along time. Want me to bill OTTO Olds/Caddy ? Except for these problems I do love driving this car, its so nice after pounding and jarring around in a Mack all day
07-24-2004, 03:50 PM
#10
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Its back
They change the front camber setting a little and that removed the pull. Im not sure about how I like the way it drives now but I was tired coming home last night after 12 hours at 1:00 AM.
They found some bullitin about a similar problem and it called for a "injector service"
they just dont get it !!! If it was injectors it would be a problem all the time not just when it feels like it. We took it out and drove it and the problem did not appear. Its flat , square urban city driving and I just cant get it to act up down there in the city. However when leaving their parking lot by myself it did it. Fell right on its face and acted like I never touched the pedal but was just idling my way down the road. Did it two times on the way home last night as well.
This car is white and Im thinking of painting it black, maybe then it will be happy because it truelly is a dark cloud with an evil heart.
Its got a problem that I cant prove it has. Twilight Zone anyone ?
Ya know ? I just had a thought, what if its a fuel pressure regulator that stcks open on occasion ?
They change the front camber setting a little and that removed the pull. Im not sure about how I like the way it drives now but I was tired coming home last night after 12 hours at 1:00 AM.
They found some bullitin about a similar problem and it called for a "injector service"
they just dont get it !!! If it was injectors it would be a problem all the time not just when it feels like it. We took it out and drove it and the problem did not appear. Its flat , square urban city driving and I just cant get it to act up down there in the city. However when leaving their parking lot by myself it did it. Fell right on its face and acted like I never touched the pedal but was just idling my way down the road. Did it two times on the way home last night as well. This car is white and Im thinking of painting it black, maybe then it will be happy because it truelly is a dark cloud with an evil heart.
Its got a problem that I cant prove it has. Twilight Zone anyone ?
Ya know ? I just had a thought, what if its a fuel pressure regulator that stcks open on occasion ?