FAQ: High Mile Club - Wear/Repair Reports

AA wrote:

The rocker moldings are screwed in from the bottom. They come off pretty easy, I think it takes a small Torx bit (had to replace mine once because I lifted the car with jack in the wrong place).

Thanks Aaron!

I have only tried to remove the pieces that are attached to the doors, and they are attached with plastic fasteners - clips- that broke on me.
Same thing when Timo was doing his paint job, I had to get him a bunch for his doors as almost all his broke while taking off the panels on the doors.

Eldo,

My Firestone guys are pretty good. The only thing I tire of is the endless recommendations, which is their job. I had the brake fluid flushed and replaced, at their recommendation, last fall - this spring, I took it in for all my free services, and my brake fluid failed their little acid paper test.

HOWEVER. They are EXCELLENT at spotting things that actually need to be done. They noticed that my old airshocks weren't holding air anymore, my valve cover gaskets were leaking, my oil pan gasket was seeping, and the lower intake manifold gasket was starting to go. They charge a LOT for this type of work, so I usually do it myself, take it to my mechanic, or in the case of the LIM, take it to Morad's team. The guys over at Morad's are the coolest gang you'll ever meet, and they do nothing but top-notch work... I feel priveleged to live just 30 minutes from their shop.

As for the oil filter, the PF52 is the oil filte recommended to me. They installed the Super Tech version for now, because the store was out of the PF52. He said the Super Tech is still better than the Fram, which I've ALSO been using for a long time. I always sprung for the "Tough Guard" version, but I'm glad that I now "see the light." He also poured the entire 5 quart container in there as well.

As a callback to my p-log/ported rear manifold installation, I finally got to give them a true test last night... but now in the way that I planned. I gave the car several days of average stop 'n' go and highway traffic, to hopefully allow the computer to "learn" a little bit.

Then, last night while coming home from work at 11pm, I had to merge onto a freeway near my house. There's quite a bit of construction, so everything is messed up. The three lanes were dropped down to only two, and the on-ramp merges with the right lane. There was a gentleman in the right lane, and he had no intention of slowing down to let me in - in fact, I'm not even sure he knew I was there. There were TWO cars following closely behind him, so I couldn't just slow down, plus my merging gap was closing VERY FAST. So, I hit it.... and made the gap. I was going 80 mph by the time I was in the clear.

So what would have happened if I was driving a slow car? I'd probably have to furiously honk the horn, and yeah... there could have been an accident. This isn't the first time I've been in this situation, but let's just say I'm glad to have the extra power. I could definately feel the lack of backpressure, I had to give it more throttle to get a similar response... but that is to be expected. And when I looked down and saw 80 mph, it scared me a little. This is a 50 mph zone - can you say double-fine work zone ticket? Heh.

My 99 hit 250,000 miles this week! It has been a very good car. I do not race it. I will admit to embarrasing a Mustang that is trying to get ahead of me from time to time. Most of the miles are highway miles. I used to drive on the interstate at the speed limit plus 10 (or 15 if I was in a convoy). After a few tickets, I installed an excellent stereo and just cruise at the limit plus a couple and listen. It was worth an extra 2 mpg. The only performance mod is a K&N. The stereo is the only other upgrade from stock. It was a multi-year, multi-stage project. To duplicate what I have now from stock would cost about $2500.

I have put 3 sets of tires and brakes on it, a set of shocks, engine pulleys/belts, coupler, fuel pump as well as changing the oil every 6,000 miles. I have done the 100,000 mile tune up twice.

I am amused at those who worry about mileage and not condition. Any manufacturer can produce a lemon but our cars are clearly well engineered. However, if they are maintained, they will hold up. I do not plan on selling it anytime soon. I was thinking that the cost of rebuilding the engine, tranny and body/paint would be $12,000 or so. Where could I get a new car with the looks and performance for twice or three times that amount?

Also, only about 1800 were made after this one and only a couple have more miles which means it has probably averaged more miles per year than any other.

Awesome.

just rolled past 261k today!!!
smooth as ever!!!! (well, almost)

Today 150K

^^^ Miles or km?

263,000 Miles

230k now, however the front is screaming (also popping and clicking) for attention.

To AA 150K miles

Impressive!

My dad and I both own 1995 white Riviera's (both supercharged). And these cars do have their issues. Mine has a constant SES light, and his is intermittant. Mine has the random "traction control" light, but the ABS always works. I had to unplug the sensor on my brake master cylinder to keep it from throwing the "brake" light constantly and dinging at me. But overall they get us around, and man do they look good. I had thought "these cars are picky as could be, what a hassle" but that all changed.

My g/f drove a 1996 Nissan Altima into oblivion! I'm serious the car had a broken speedometer (used a GPS) and the gauge read 128k when we bought it... the title read 128k when the previous owner had purchased it, and she drove it for 6 YEARS. The car had to have had 350,000 miles on it (her work makes her travel and we used to live 50 miles from her school). Finally the 5 speed gave out in it, it went out somewhat gracefully, with a very loud bang, in the driveway one morning I will NEVER forget how well that car served us.

We went car auctioning at the same place we got her Altima and ran across a 2001 Chevy malibu. It had the dreaded 3.1 engine in it, but I thought "hey an intake gasket isn't all that big of a deal if it goes out" well it did, within 200 miles. We also got new tiers for it, and guess what, the control arm bushing was blown out, as was one of the tie rod boots. Despite all this, we got the intake gasket done, and guess what, the car overheats again the next day. I check the cooling fans, everything seems ok, but for some reason they only come on when they want, and only on low. The blower motor only worked on setting 5 as well which was very strange to me. The transmission drops out of lockup whenever you hit a bump in the road. The cruise kicks on and off at will, and the problem with the fans turns out not to be a relay like I was thinking, but a freaking issue with the ECM OR BCM being retarded in these cars!!!!!!! This is the worst car ever put on the road!!!!!!! I can't believe how big of a piece of crap this thing is. I finally have it all straightened out and running right, but she doesn't trust it now and neither do I. I can't WAIT to sell this thing, she's driving my 95 Riv right now and I'm driving my wrecked Blazer which is also a 95... and white I really can't wait to sell this car. If you want to know more about their problems just look them up on Google, you'll be shocked, at least I know I was!

brian10962001 wrote:

My dad and I both own 1995 white Riviera's (both supercharged). And these cars do have their issues. Mine has a constant SES light, and his is intermittant. Mine has the random "traction control" light, but the ABS always works. I had to unplug the sensor on my brake master cylinder to keep it from throwing the "brake" light constantly and dinging at me. But overall they get us around, and man do they look good. I had thought "these cars are picky as could be, what a hassle" but that all changed.

My g/f drove a 1996 Nissan Altima into oblivion! I'm serious the car had a broken speedometer (used a GPS) and the gauge read 128k when we bought it... the title read 128k when the previous owner had purchased it, and she drove it for 6 YEARS. The car had to have had 350,000 miles on it (her work makes her travel and we used to live 50 miles from her school). Finally the 5 speed gave out in it, it went out somewhat gracefully, with a very loud bang, in the driveway one morning I will NEVER forget how well that car served us.

We went car auctioning at the same place we got her Altima and ran across a 2001 Chevy malibu. It had the dreaded 3.1 engine in it, but I thought "hey an intake gasket isn't all that big of a deal if it goes out" well it did, within 200 miles. We also got new tiers for it, and guess what, the control arm bushing was blown out, as was one of the tie rod boots. Despite all this, we got the intake gasket done, and guess what, the car overheats again the next day. I check the cooling fans, everything seems ok, but for some reason they only come on when they want, and only on low. The blower motor only worked on setting 5 as well which was very strange to me. The transmission drops out of lockup whenever you hit a bump in the road. The cruise kicks on and off at will, and the problem with the fans turns out not to be a relay like I was thinking, but a freaking issue with the ECM OR BCM being retarded in these cars!!!!!!! This is the worst car ever put on the road!!!!!!! I can't believe how big of a piece of crap this thing is. I finally have it all straightened out and running right, but she doesn't trust it now and neither do I. I can't WAIT to sell this thing, she's driving my 95 Riv right now and I'm driving my wrecked Blazer which is also a 95... and white I really can't wait to sell this car. If you want to know more about their problems just look them up on Google, you'll be shocked, at least I know I was!

interesting story....

what code is behind the SES light on yoru Riv? Maybe it's minor...

The Malibu's problem is most likely the blower motor resistor. Thought I had a problem with the same component in my car, but a bad resistor would allow the fan to only run on the highest(full voltage, bypasses resistor anyway) setting.

I believe the Malibu is practically identical to the Grand Am. We purchased a 2001 with a 3.4 (basically a 3.1) and it's been the worst car we've ever owned. It's doing okay now after new head gaskets and heads but it's still got issues. A water leak at each door that goes into the floorboard. The worst, when it rains the interior lights come on and won't go out.

Hmmm...I've got a white '95 SC as well, and I'd call it moderately finicky. As you've discovered, there are way worse out there (and also better), but it's the looks that grab you and keep you fixing on it.

I already fixed the blower motor in the Malibu, the guy that owned it before us had replaced the resistor with the new credit card style, and he had bent and cracked it! I have no clue how he did this because it's so easy to install it's sad (I did it with a loose bag of sockets and a flat screwdriver in about 30 mins).

I'm getting the codes ran on my Buick this weekend, if I have to guess I'm going to say o2 sensor, EGR, or the CPS. Every now and again it will slightly miss going down the highway. It's very rare and not recurring enough for me to start pulling parts before a good scan. It will probably be that or the ignition module (I think they call it ICM in these). A friend of mine works at a garage and they have a VERY nice real time scanner ") I also think my balancer is starting to go out because it does the weird shutter when low speed turning, and now and then the idle seems a bit rough.

The Malibu is VERY similar to the Grand Am, but at first you wouldn't know that, they change just enough to fool you. My friend had a 2000 Grand Am and got rid of it within a year. He also experienced the same problems I was (losing coolant, random transmission no lockup etc). Also the gas mileage that we were experiencing was close to 21mpg!!!! With a sequential fuel injected motor, in a light little chassis, how can they be this bad!!!! I really think GM planned obsolescence into these cars. They have way to many "mystery problems" that usually turn out to be an ECM flash, or a proper gasket away from being fixed.

brian10962001 wrote:

I already fixed the blower motor in the Malibu, the guy that owned it before us had replaced the resistor with the new credit card style, and he had bent and cracked it! I have no clue how he did this because it's so easy to install it's sad (I did it with a loose bag of sockets and a flat screwdriver in about 30 mins).

I'm getting the codes ran on my Buick this weekend, if I have to guess I'm going to say o2 sensor, EGR, or the CPS. Every now and again it will slightly miss going down the highway. It's very rare and not recurring enough for me to start pulling parts before a good scan. It will probably be that or the ignition module (I think they call it ICM in these). A friend of mine works at a garage and they have a VERY nice real time scanner ") I also think my balancer is starting to go out because it does the weird shutter when low speed turning, and now and then the idle seems a bit rough.

The Malibu is VERY similar to the Grand Am, but at first you wouldn't know that, they change just enough to fool you. My friend had a 2000 Grand Am and got rid of it within a year. He also experienced the same problems I was (losing coolant, random transmission no lockup etc). Also the gas mileage that we were experiencing was close to 21mpg!!!! With a sequential fuel injected motor, in a light little chassis, how can they be this bad!!!! I really think GM planned obsolescence into these cars. They have way to many "mystery problems" that usually turn out to be an ECM flash, or a proper gasket away from being fixed.

About that stutter, take a look at your motor mounts. If they ahve not been replaced you're overdue. THere is another thread about mounts, you can get an insert for the rear trans mount and the other mounts I understand are now available on the aftermarket, except the front engine mount - which you can replace by buying a park avenue mount, bending out the metal tabs and swapping its good insert for the wack one in the Riv. so I think you can replace 'em all for under $200.

The 3800 engine, even with a balance shaft and harmonic balancer, isn't all that smooth. If your mounts are worn at all you'll feel it in the darndest ways and places.

Albertj

albertj wrote:

brian10962001 wrote:

I already fixed the blower motor in the Malibu, the guy that owned it before us had replaced the resistor with the new credit card style, and he had bent and cracked it! I have no clue how he did this because it's so easy to install it's sad (I did it with a loose bag of sockets and a flat screwdriver in about 30 mins).

I'm getting the codes ran on my Buick this weekend, if I have to guess I'm going to say o2 sensor, EGR, or the CPS. Every now and again it will slightly miss going down the highway. It's very rare and not recurring enough for me to start pulling parts before a good scan. It will probably be that or the ignition module (I think they call it ICM in these). A friend of mine works at a garage and they have a VERY nice real time scanner ") I also think my balancer is starting to go out because it does the weird shutter when low speed turning, and now and then the idle seems a bit rough.

The Malibu is VERY similar to the Grand Am, but at first you wouldn't know that, they change just enough to fool you. My friend had a 2000 Grand Am and got rid of it within a year. He also experienced the same problems I was (losing coolant, random transmission no lockup etc). Also the gas mileage that we were experiencing was close to 21mpg!!!! With a sequential fuel injected motor, in a light little chassis, how can they be this bad!!!! I really think GM planned obsolescence into these cars. They have way to many "mystery problems" that usually turn out to be an ECM flash, or a proper gasket away from being fixed.

About that stutter, take a look at your motor mounts. If they ahve not been replaced you're overdue. THere is another thread about mounts, you can get an insert for the rear trans mount and the other mounts I understand are now available on the aftermarket, except the front engine mount - which you can replace by buying a park avenue mount, bending out the metal tabs and swapping its good insert for the wack one in the Riv. so I think you can replace 'em all for under $200.

The 3800 engine, even with a balance shaft and harmonic balancer, isn't all that smooth. If your mounts are worn at all you'll feel it in the darndest ways and places.

Albertj

Advice appreciated ") I will check those out.

Sorry to hear of your luck with the '95s. My '98 Riv is a lot more like your Nissan experience - the only real problem I've ever had was the transmission, but that was 70k miles ago and now still going strong. Even then I was able to drive it in to the shop for repair. I'm amazed at some of the things on this car that still work, things that usually break on other cars. HVAC - still works, heated seat - still works, rear defrost - still works. I'm still on the original water pump at 219k miles. Even the paint is holding up fairly well. I drive a lot of miles as well, about 75 mi/day average. I think driving cars frequently over a long period of time helps them to last.

Speaking of 'finicky', a coworker's '03 Saturn Ion broke down in our lot yesterday. Alternator failed and battery died. We got 3 guys together to go and push him into a space, but ran into a problem: without enough volts, the electronic steering doesn't work, and electronically controlled shifter wouldn't slide into neutral. So couldn't push it! Solution was to start up the Riv and park nose-to-nose (a few feet apart), attach jumper cables, and together we moved both cars with the cables attached. I drove in reverse, he followed. We are calling it "walking the dog", lol.

Quote :

We are calling it "walking the dog", lol.

Now you should have got that one on tape for You Tube!

Put all codes pulled over in the Series 1 tech section for anyone who's interested

brian10962001 wrote:

I had to unplug the sensor on my brake master cylinder to keep it from throwing the "brake" light constantly and dinging at me.

Ya know, it's probably worth sucking the old fluid out of the master, refilling it with fresh, and then stirring it around to try to break low-fluid sensor loose. Hell, even driving around with the new fluid only 1/2 to 2/3 full would probably provide a lot of swishing around... If you've never done it, it would also be a good time to flush out all your brake lines - just buy a bigger bottle.

AA wrote:

Speaking of 'finicky', a coworker's '03 Saturn Ion broke down in our lot yesterday. Alternator failed and battery died. We got 3 guys together to go and push him into a space, but ran into a problem: without enough volts... the electronically controlled shifter wouldn't slide into neutral.

Yet another vote against replacing simple cables with overwrought electronics, like the drive-by-wire throttles!

My master cylinder is shot (leaking brake fluid), but otherwise I don't really have any huge problems with my '95 Riv. Since I'm not exactly rollin' in dough right now, I tend to just keep a few bottles of brake fluid handy so I can top it off when the brake light starts to go off.

Other than that, (3) smaller, slightly-more-annoying problems: need a new thermostat, coolant sensor is shot (light is always on, level is always fine), and my passenger side window's motor might be crapping out.

When the car's title was transferred to me, she needed new brakes/tires/etc., but my dad hadn't been driving it. Otherwise, she runs like a dream and regardless of the problems I'll have this car forever.

'95 love!