GM engineering at its best...

[brianl703]

Originally Posted By: Stu_Rock
Secondly, the neat thing about GM electrical connectors is that you can actually buy the housing, terminals, and rubber seals separately, and usually a whole connector assembly is just a few dollars! The catch is that it's not at auto parts stores, but at electronics distributors. You have to find a "Delphi Connection Systems" distributor.


Mouser Electronics has a very good selection of Delphi connectors at cheap prices. I bought an OBD-II socket and terminals for around $4 shipped.

 

[jeepman3071]

I have to agree about GM "engineering". My friend has an '05 Silverado and it had the same problem. His newer truck has had more recalls and problems than his previous 1998 vehicle did with over 200k miles.

Here are just a few of the electrical issues hes had after owning the truck not even a year.
-HVAC connector
-Speedometer readings are off, sometimes it won't work at all
-sometimes all gauges will drop to zero while the truck is still driving
-interior lights work randomly
-radio volume increases by itself or not at all
-when using turn signals the reverse lights will occasionally blink also
-Transmission will sometimes take awhile to shift out of first gear

We thought his truck was just a lemon but his dad has one also and it has similar issues.

 

[Jakegday]

Originally Posted By: Sunnyinhollister
I don't know if I would rank it up there with the intake manifold gaskets destroyed by death cool, the transfercase that wears a hole in it, or the sunshell that explodes in the transmission, but it certainly is disappointing. When I got rid of my truck the heater core was leaking. I guess death cool did not agree with it.


really? death cool? sure its not just poor design??
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=958284

 

[PandaBear]

Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
This thread is right on track

 

[Y_K]

Originally Posted By: nepadriver
Ford had to deal with the same union, pay, contracts etc...no bailout needed and not nearly as many defects. Only difference? Management. I grew up in a GM family, dad had Buibks, few Caddies, its a shame how greedy they got.

Agreed. Yet GM is special. Every time some brave new contrarian soul tries to utilize a GM vehicle in drive for hire scenario, other drivers stock up on popcorn. Anything you can imagine, and most of it is electrical, btw. In a funny way sometimes.

 

[ls1mike]

Originally Posted By: nepadriver
Originally Posted By: Y_K
The only thing the accountants are not able to replace is that doped organized community better known as union workers.


Ford had to deal with the same union, pay, contracts etc...no bailout needed and not nearly as many defects. Only difference? Management. I grew up in a GM family, dad had Buibks, few Caddies, its a shame how greedy they got.

Yeah, Ford had no cruise control fires or recalls.
They all have problems.

 

[sciphi]

LOL. GM engineering at its finest is world-class, and at its worst is doggone awful. Coming from a family that owned GM's and having ripped apart a good bit of my Buick for repair (most of those issues due to previous owner lack of maintenance), it's funny looking at the brilliant things the engineers designed, and then looking at the bean-counting that ruined it. Brilliance: the 3800 Series II V6, one of the best V6's in its heyday. Bean-counting: spec'ing nylon lower intake gaskets that degrade with the coolant used instead of slightly more expensive aluminum gaskets.

GM at its best had enough confidence to do some absolutely crazy good engineering. They also seem to get the big picture right, and mess up the details.

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: expat
"


Could you not just get something from Radio Shack or whatever?
No. The plastic plug that plugs into the blower resister is shaped a special way. Usually has 7 or more wires and when the thing melts it ruins the plug. Often you cant pull it out of the resister after it has melted.

GM uses a connection thas good for abouit 5 Amps in a 30 Amp Circut.

 

[oldmaninsc]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
Originally Posted By: expat
"


Could you not just get something from Radio Shack or whatever?
No. The plastic plug that plugs into the blower resister is shaped a special way. Usually has 7 or more wires and when the thing melts it ruins the plug. Often you cant pull it out of the resister after it has melted.

GM uses a connection thas good for abouit 5 Amps in a 30 Amp Circut.


I agree. I had the same problem on my Trailblazer. Plus it's under the dash on the passenger side and you have to practically stand on your head to get to the resistor.

 

[SteveSRT8]

It seems interesting that a family business with the HARDEST duty cycle imaginable (even worse than Courier's) has a long history of GM ownership across decades and simply has very few problems.

Admittedly most of our trucks are 3500 Savanas, but we also have a few Silverados that operate in the extreme Florida heat and have very high mileage with near perfect repair records. Especially regarding the AC, which is nearly always on high speed!

One van is all original AC even after over 400k miles!

So as far as anecdotal evidence I will disagree, as my profits depend on the performance of my fleet. YMMV!

 

[RogerBacon]

I stopped buying GM products when the 3rd break light on my Cadillac CTS burned out. This turns out to be a very common problem because there are not any in the junk yards. It is a single L.E.D. unit that must be replaced as a complete piece at a cost of $960. I will not do business with a company that designs a $900 tail light bulb. Roger

 

[dwcopple]

GM just struggles to figure it out...I'll never own again either, and I'll talk anyone I know I out buying one if I can help it too.

 

[nepadriver]

Originally Posted By: ls1mike
Originally Posted By: nepadriver
Originally Posted By: Y_K
The only thing the accountants are not able to replace is that doped organized community better known as union workers.


Ford had to deal with the same union, pay, contracts etc...no bailout needed and not nearly as many defects. Only difference? Management. I grew up in a GM family, dad had Buibks, few Caddies, its a shame how greedy they got.

Yeah, Ford had no cruise control fires or recalls.
They all have problems.


I agree, they all do. Not talking about recalls though.

I owned a few 90's Fords 93 Stang, 00 Explorer, at around 60k everything power related (windows, seats etc) went. However 2003 on have had 2 Fords (Escape and loaded Taurus) that went much much better. I think Ford turned a corner under new management, and didn't need a bailout. On top of that in Europe Fords (European made ones) are highly regarded, generally.

GM? Never turned that corner and in the past 5-9 years every GM car I've seen has small weird things go bad, like this thread and the Chevy power thread repeating the same power issues, and like all 4 backup sensors on Caddies going bad within 5 years each costing $450 per unit (have seen this personally a few times). I think, I hope, the direction of the new Regal (Opel Insignia imported from Germany) is the direction GM moves permanently , I can only hope though. It takes years to turn a company that big around.

 

[demarpaint]

How about the 4.3L V8 POS they used in the Caprice Classics with the distributor cap behind the water pump. Brilliant Engineering at its finest.

 

[George7941]

My Mexican made Sierra has been pretty reliable so far, at 49k miles. One ignition module and two thermostats have failed, but nothing else.

I haven't had any problems with the blower motor, and I have the manual controls.

 

[HM12460]

LOL, you GM guys make me laugh. My 2007 Ranger has 96,000 miles and to this day NOTHING, not one thing has failed.

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
How about the 4.3L V8 POS they used in the Caprice Classics with the distributor cap behind the water pump. Brilliant Engineering at its finest.

They did that to the 5.7L LT1 and LT4 engine as well. It made such a mess for Camaro and Corvette owners.

What really blows me away is that GM 2 tower ignition coils are pretty reliable, why couldn't they have put 4 of them together to operate that V8 engine? Putting 2 of them together on the 2.2L OHV engine worked well, and putting 3 of them together on the 3.8L OHV engine worked well.

 

[Rand]

my 2002 ranger was bulletproof for 88000mmiles too.. except for some suspension geometry issue and me blowing up shocks somehow.

oh and a timing chain recall for rattling.. first year the 4.0SOHC was in the ranger..

then I had a 2007 focus for 38000 miles with no problems...
just a wierd shock noise fixed under warrenty at 36000miles.. was like "clank thud" on potholes.

2009 hyundai elantra touring for 19000 miles with no issues except my tires picking up road garbage.. and an idiot texting who rearended me at 50.. totalling it.

worst car I ever had was a 1994 tbird..
half the engine parts seemed to need replacing.
I got it at 6years and 70k miles..
and it needed 2 coil packs. wires plugs, belt.. and a ton of other [censored].. was endless.
wierd electrical issues.. with grounds and gauges .. etc.
tach worked 1/2 the time. too

 

[nepadriver]

Originally Posted By: Rand
my 2002 ranger was bulletproof for 88000mmiles too.. except for some suspension geometry issue and me blowing up shocks somehow.

oh and a timing chain recall for rattling.. first year the 4.0SOHC was in the ranger..

then I had a 2007 focus for 38000 miles with no problems...
just a wierd shock noise fixed under warrenty at 36000miles.. was like "clank thud" on potholes.

2009 hyundai elantra touring for 19000 miles with no issues except my tires picking up road garbage.. and an idiot texting who rearended me at 50.. totalling it.

worst car I ever had was a 1994 tbird..
half the engine parts seemed to need replacing.
I got it at 6years and 70k miles..
and it needed 2 coil packs. wires plugs, belt.. and a ton of other [censored].. was endless.
wierd electrical issues.. with grounds and gauges .. etc.
tach worked 1/2 the time. too


I think the early mid 90's Fords had lots of issues, my 93 stang was the same way. 00 Explorer a bit better, not much, 2003 onward lots of luck so far, just a PS leak on 8 year old escape with 75k miles, and a rusted control arm (northeast salt), otherwise its bulletproof.

Seems GM past 5 years or so is where Ford was in those 90's. Hopefully they can fix these minor issues, coupled with good products in target markets (where is their "good" small car??) and dig themselves out of this funk. The Engines seem great, the rest, meh.

 

[FXjohn]

Originally Posted By: HM12460
LOL, you GM guys make me laugh. My 2007 Ranger has 96,000 miles and to this day NOTHING, not one thing has failed.


you make me laugh. I drive a GM 4.3 S10 with 312k.