There's been some discussion of late as to my reasons for removing the engine cover from our long term Buick Enclave. One commenter said, "I think it's silly the stuff he complains about." While another backed me up "I think it could make a nice plant potter or recycle bin filler. It has no reason to be in the engine bay." But nobody hit the real reason the engine cover now lives in the trunk of the Buick: After only a few minutes of driving, the cover gets far too hot to touch.
Well that's not a problem, right? I mean, with the oil filler and dipstick available without removing the cover, what's the problem?
The problem is the power steering. It's still not right and we've been monitoring the fluid for the past few weeks. After a proper bleeding procedure there was still some air in the fluid that had to work itself out. Now that the fluid is running clear and the level is correct, there's still a problem. The assist is notchy and all the boost is all over the place. It goes from far too over-boosted to nearly power-free in the span of a 30-degree rotation. There are no set "good" spots, assist will fluctuate mid-corner without changing steering angle. I hate to say this, but it feels exactly how our Aura felt before it went to the shop. Though thankfully there is no clunk.
It will be going back to the shop shortly.
Mike Magrath, Vehicle Testing Assistant @ 21,120 miles.
louiswei says:
02:04 PM, 07/21/08
Problem with the Silvy tranny, problem with the Aura steering and now problem with the Enclave power steering?
GM is on a roll!!
wobbly_ears says:
02:09 PM, 07/21/08
Quality problems with GM products? You don't say!!!! Don't you know GM is better than Toyota & Honda?? Maximum Bob would eat you alive!
And, oh, the New Camaro is here!!!! Volt would be coming out in 2020 & Maximum Bob sats that it would get 1000mpg!!
Typical domestic crap....
benson2175 says:
02:46 PM, 07/21/08
I really do hope we have a flame out on these boards. It's been kinda quiet. Did they ban 1433 or something?
A lot of problems coming out of the GM vehicles, trannies and power steering are pretty basic major stuff that you'd think they could get right by now. Oh well. People seem to like the Bu and the CTS though I think the rear styling of the boo is amateurish and the CTS looks like a fat killer-death robot.
Cue the Toyota recall posts...
allenychung says:
03:18 PM, 07/21/08
Hee hee, I got quoted.
brn says:
03:50 PM, 07/21/08
"Typical domestic crap...."
Statements like that discredit you.
jsmilesrmhs says:
04:12 PM, 07/21/08
Well it looks like i'm going to be the post theat looks like I'm pro Gm.
Every car you buy in the first model year has some sort of problems. My mother had a brand new 2002 Toyota camry, and it had power steering problems. You can find many buyer that love there Enclave and have no problems. If you wait a year, hopefully all the little problems will be fixed in a car.
No car is any differenc
toyota4life says:
04:16 PM, 07/21/08
No surprises here at all!
my only question is ,did'nt edmunds stated that ,"THIS IS GM's BEST VEHICLE EVER"!!! no?
"Typical domestic crap...." agree + 1
cx7lover says:
04:17 PM, 07/21/08
This is not a first year issue with GM. That's all I have to say, this post reinforces my statement about GM not fixing the issue when they find out about it.
cx7lover says:
04:21 PM, 07/21/08
"Typical domestic crap...."
I have to disagree with this one, Ford is improving readily. The Edge in this fleet had a few issues but nothing with the PS or Transmission.
bimmerjay says:
04:37 PM, 07/21/08
Perhaps GM would be better off making cars that only go straight? This whole steering thing is entirely overrated anyway.
Sorry, couldn't resist. :-)
opfreak says:
07:30 PM, 07/21/08
by same accounts honda is terrible too. the fit needed a manual transmisson replaced. talk about old school technology the leader of small cars cant figure out.
jdub53084 says:
07:46 PM, 07/21/08
OOOHHH boy...
Well, my only advice is take your Buick to a midwestern dealer in say, Muncie Indiana or someplace like that. Maybe they'll know how to fix it...
ahightower says:
07:51 AM, 07/22/08
I still don't see the relevance of the engine cover being removed. Are you saying that you need the cover off so that you can check the power steering fluid often?
the_big_al says:
08:22 AM, 07/22/08
yes - if you look back at some of the photos http://blogs.edmunds.com/roadtests/2008/07/2008-buick-enclave-cx-the-engine-cover-and-oil-cap.html#comments, you will see that the power steering is under the engine cover. If you were frequently cheking the power steering, then leaving the cover off makes total sense, not just some dumb asthetic issue.
cruiserhead1 says:
12:34 PM, 07/24/08
yeah, i got quoted :)
not the stupid quote, the good one ;)
allenychung says:
12:00 PM, 08/ 4/08
@cruiserhead1: unnecessary to call my quote stupid.