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2003 Buick Rendezvous, any advice DEEPLY appreciated!


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JennyHollis84
New User

Jun 30, 2009, 4:49 PM

Post #1 of 10 (9501 views)
2003 Buick Rendezvous, any advice DEEPLY appreciated! Sign In

2003 Buick Rendezvous V6 with 78890 miles

I just bought a 2003 Buick Rendezvous 2 weeks ago. It has 78890 miles on it and started acting funny today. At idle and at very low speeds (when we're first taking off, backing up or slowing down) the car starts to sputter/jump and feels like it wants to cut off. At normal speeds, the car runs perfectly fine. Also, the "service engine soon" light came on yesterday. Any ideas?

Thank you, in advance, for your help. I'll be online for awhile if anyone has any ideas and needs more information.

Jenny


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Jun 30, 2009, 8:54 PM

Post #2 of 10 (9495 views)
Re: 2003 Buick Rendezvous, any advice DEEPLY appreciated! Sign In

The "check engine" or "Service Engine Soon" light is an indicator for a system that monitors many electronic functions in the system, also called the

"malfunction indicator lamp" (MIL). It can come on for any of hundreds of different causes from any of the systems that the computer monitors.

Some are very important and can lead to further component or engine damage and some are emissions related not as serious but still a problem and

need to be repaired.

Your first step is to have the computer scanned to retrieve the trouble codes that were set when the check engine light came on. Those codes will

give you specific information about what the computer saw and will get you pointed in the right direction to find your problem. With a 1996 or newer

and some 95 cars and you have an AutoZone or Advanced auto parts in your area, they will read them for free. Once you have these code numbers, we

can be a lot more specific about what your problem may be.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



JennyHollis84
New User

Jul 1, 2009, 4:10 AM

Post #3 of 10 (9488 views)
Re: 2003 Buick Rendezvous, any advice DEEPLY appreciated! Sign In

Code P 0300


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Jul 1, 2009, 4:57 AM

Post #4 of 10 (9484 views)
Re: 2003 Buick Rendezvous, any advice DEEPLY appreciated! Sign In

That code means "random Misfire". That indicates that the engine is misfiring but not on any one particular cylinder. With the mileage you have, I would expect you to need plugs and plug wires. Once you have good plugs and wires, if you still have a misfire problem, then it would be time to look at possible dirty fuel injectors or a bad coil.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



JennyHollis84
New User

Jul 1, 2009, 4:59 AM

Post #5 of 10 (9480 views)
Re: 2003 Buick Rendezvous, any advice DEEPLY appreciated! Sign In

Thank you, HT! :) "Plugs and wires" don't sound too expensive. After spending $8200 on buying it two weeks ago, I feel duped by putting more money into it.


Hammer Time
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Jul 1, 2009, 5:07 AM

Post #6 of 10 (9477 views)
Re: 2003 Buick Rendezvous, any advice DEEPLY appreciated! Sign In

Your welcome Jenny. Let us know how you make out.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Sidom
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Jul 1, 2009, 3:50 PM

Post #7 of 10 (9463 views)
Re: 2003 Buick Rendezvous, any advice DEEPLY appreciated! Sign In

The only suggestion I would offer is.... If you bought it off a lot, give them a call. Even tho used cars are an "as is" sale and the seller isn't responsible for the repairs some of the better ones might help you out if it's only been 2 weeks. The worst they can say is no....

If it was a private party then the odds get even worse but you still never know.... If it was me I would try something to help you out a little given the short amout of time.....

Just remember..... you catch more flies with honey than vinager....


JennyHollis84
New User

Jul 30, 2009, 2:49 PM

Post #8 of 10 (9380 views)
Re: 2003 Buick Rendezvous, any advice DEEPLY appreciated! Sign In

I took it to a shop and was told I need a new engine for a total of $4300!! OUCH! The problem is a misfire on number one cylinder. Can't this just be repaired rather than replacing the whole engine? I have only had this car for 45 days. :(


Sidom
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Jul 30, 2009, 3:51 PM

Post #9 of 10 (9378 views)
Re: 2003 Buick Rendezvous, any advice DEEPLY appreciated! Sign In

Ouch,,,, that's a bad deal.... I would have know what they are saying the problem is, all problems can be repaired, it's just that with some problems, the cost gets so high it's better to just go with a new engine.

A total long shot you can try, all manufacturers have to carry an 8 year 80 k emission warranty (I'm in CA but I believe this is federal as well, if I'm mistaken someone will jump in but definately in CA) You could see if a dealer would slid it in under the emission warranty. It's a long shot because this is a powertrain warranty issue ( 5yr/50k) but hey with a bad cylinder that is affecting the emissions so ya never know...........


Double J
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Jul 30, 2009, 4:35 PM

Post #10 of 10 (9377 views)
Re: 2003 Buick Rendezvous, any advice DEEPLY appreciated! Sign In

Only things covered under the Federal 8 year/80k emission warranty are the (PCM)computer and the Catalytic converter.

Dealers cannot put any engine thru under any emissions warranty because all warranty repairs have a labor operation number assigned to each repair.An engine Labor operation would bounce back on the dealer because its in the system under powertrain and/or base warranty and will kick out if its out of the provisions of the warranty.It would need a special authorization code inputted to be paid for by GM.
Each labor operation has a set amount of labor it will pay and will recognize a certain amount of money for parts and other related things that it may require.special auth codes are needed for any additional costs involved.
Hope all this makes sense...Worked at GM for over 15 years


This just doesnt sound like it going to need a new engine from your description...Get a second opinion from a different shop.
Dont tell the 2nd shop the first shops diagnosis...see what they say.....


(This post was edited by Double J on Jul 30, 2009, 4:37 PM)






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