Another new guy

Just joining the board. Earlier this evening I got my 1995 Riv from the shop with a newly rebuilt transmission. I had planned on parking my truck (1993 F-250 Diesel) for the winter & not have to drive it at all, but the Riv's transmission went south on me. Drove my truck for about a month (which needs a clutch). When it rains, it pours. Parted with $1640 for the rebuild. 3 year 50k mile written warranty. Seems like a shop I'll be doing business with again ($400 labor to do my clutch). Anyway, my Riv has 150k miles on it (I've had it for about 15k), teal green exterior and interior. I'm dreaming about a '98 or '99-maybe someday. mine is definetly not without it's problems (have to lock the doors from the inside manually or the alarm will go off later-pointers?). Heated seat no worky. Dimmer/wiper switch getting sloppy. Bottom line is that I don't think the car was very well taken care of, but it's a start, and long drives in it are great!!

Hi Woodsman Welcome.
the doors and the heated seats can be fixed.
These are great cars.

Heated seat - usually not too tough and parts canbe had, but requires disassembling seat. Search on this site for a 'write-up' that shows how.

Lock doors manually or alarm goes off - if you don't have a factory remote, then no kidding you have to get one, and if an aftermarket alarm is installed you probably have to remove it. If those measures don't work you are *not* sunk, just means you might have a bum door latch (the latches have switches in them) or an issue with the computer that communicates with the remotes (it is a black box slung under the rear package shelf, accessible easily from the trunk).

Dimmer/wiper switch is not too tough to replace but also is not cheap -- troll eBay for one, also check out moradpartscompany.com -- probably best bet is to call them (Ed Morad), he probably has a few on his racks and his pricing is fair enough given the quality (High).

hope this helps

Albertj

Welcome Woods!
Sounds like some minor probs to me. Agreed on the alarm, if it's aftermarket it needs to be REMOVED and BURNED! Aftermarket alarms and GM Passkey don't play nicely together. They work well for a while but eventually start fighting like siblings (cheap ones anyway).
The dimmer/wiper switch isn't that hard. Some column trim removal, couple of screws and plugs is about all.

Good luck! These guys here can help!

albertj wrote:

Lock doors manually or alarm goes off - if you don't have a factory remote, then no kidding you have to get one...

... just means you might have a bum door latch (the latches have switches in them) or an issue with the computer that communicates with the remotes (it is a black box slung under the rear package shelf, accessible easily from the trunk).

Albertj

Dammit, I can't find the link that someone shared here last year for free online owner's manuals... I realize that the '95s have many differences, and I think the keyfob is one of them. However, even if '95 used the rectangular instead of "teardrop" remotes, I'm sure that the cars would still have a key-switch in the door to deactivate the alarm. After all, that's how they did the Security Systems since 1980, before they even had remote controls.

So while I don't agree that the alarm will go off unless you use a keyfob to unlock the door, I do agree that a bad tamper-switch or key-switch is the likely culprit. Try arming the car with the power lock and then unlocking it with the passenger-door keyhole... If that works, you know that the driver's door key-switch is the problem.

Welcome Woodsman!

http://gmprotectionplanwarranty.com/owners-manual/buick/1995-Buick-Riviera.pdf

This is owners manual for 95 Riv.
Welcome Woodsman

Eldo wrote:

albertj wrote:

Lock doors manually or alarm goes off - if you don't have a factory remote, then no kidding you have to get one...

... just means you might have a bum door latch (the latches have switches in them) or an issue with the computer that communicates with the remotes (it is a black box slung under the rear package shelf, accessible easily from the trunk).

Albertj

Dammit, I can't find the link that someone shared here last year for free online owner's manuals... I realize that the '95s have many differences, and I think the keyfob is one of them. However, even if '95 used the rectangular instead of "teardrop" remotes, I'm sure that the cars would still have a key-switch in the door to deactivate the alarm. After all, that's how they did the Security Systems since 1980, before they even had remote controls.

So while I don't agree that the alarm will go off unless you use a keyfob to unlock the door, I do agree that a bad tamper-switch or key-switch is the likely culprit. Try arming the car with the power lock and then unlocking it with the passenger-door keyhole... If that works, you know that the driver's door key-switch is the problem.

Eldo (Mark) is correct in saying that the alarm is not necessarily supposed to go off unless you use a keyfob to unlock the door. However, it *is* supposed to go off if you have parked the car, turned it off, locked it somehow (manual, key or fob), then unlock it without using a key or a remote. The scenario is that even if you leave the door open and window down, if the person opening the car does not, in essence, "identify" themselves by using a key or the key fob then the factory-installed theft deterrent alarm is supposed to sound off. The idea is that if window is up, and someone uses a slimjim to unlock the car, or if the windows are down, or one is broken, and then someone reaches in to unlock the car, the alarm is supposed to sound.

Mark's suggestion to lock with power locks then unlock with passenger door keyhole will test things. I'd try both sides to see if there is a difference in what happens.

By the way, your idea to get an owners manual is excellent. There you will learn for instance that if you hold the key in either keyhole in the 'unlock' position, the doors are both suppsed to unlock, and as well you will learn how to program other behaviors of the car depending on how it is equipped.

Hope this helps.

Albertj

Welcome!

Welcome!

Welcome to the Forum

Welcome to the board.

Welcome

Thanks for all the pointers. It's sure been nice to be driving the Riviera again!! It shifts really good & the familiar ride, music, etc is back!! I'll watch the board for more pointers. Thanks again!!

Welcome aboard!

waz happin

Woodsman wrote:

Thanks for all the pointers. It's sure been nice to be driving the Riviera again!! It shifts really good & the familiar ride, music, etc is back!! I'll watch the board for more pointers. Thanks again!!

You are welcome, now how about those locks?

Albertj

http://gmprotectionplanwarranty.com/owners-manual/buick/1995-Buick-Riviera.pdf
Hope this helps.
This is owners manual for 95 Riv.