2005 Buick Rendezvous
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,728
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From: Damascus-Boring, Ore
Attention shoppers, the blue light is flashing on isle 7! OK- I'm exaggerating- but these things are a great buy if your looking at a slightly used one. Reliability ratings are close to best-of-class, the 3.4 is durable if uninspired, and no stories to tell on the Versatrac AWD system. I've sold a couple of these to friends (have to be careful what you put in people's driveways when they know where you live 
) that were looking for a compact, comfortable little SUV with decent gas mileage. Expect 17-19 in down, mid-20's highway mileage. Try to find a CXL model with all the whistles and bells- it'll resell better down the road.
) that were looking for a compact, comfortable little SUV with decent gas mileage. Expect 17-19 in down, mid-20's highway mileage. Try to find a CXL model with all the whistles and bells- it'll resell better down the road.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 214
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From: Charleston, WV
If you do get one, keep an eye on the coolant. The 3400 is prone to LIM leaks, and the fix is not cheap. I had the 3400 in my Grand Am. My only under-the-hood problems were the LIM leak, and water pump and A/C compressor going out. I dunno how much is shared between the GA and Rendezvous, but knowing the way GM operates, I wouldn't be surprised if it was mostly the same.
*edit* I should elaborate a little... When it was time to get my LIM fixed, it would have cost me around $800 at the stealership if I didn't have a warranty. I've heard of guys doing the work themselves and saving a bunch of money of it, but it takes a long time to do the work. Most of the $800 was labor.
*edit* I should elaborate a little... When it was time to get my LIM fixed, it would have cost me around $800 at the stealership if I didn't have a warranty. I've heard of guys doing the work themselves and saving a bunch of money of it, but it takes a long time to do the work. Most of the $800 was labor.
Last edited by mightypan42; Jan 11, 2006 at 10:12 AM.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,728
Likes: 1
From: Damascus-Boring, Ore
Intake manifold gasket is covered under the 3/36. Extended warranties on any late-model car/truck/SUV isn't such a bad idea- repairs, if/when they do come up, can be stupfyingly expensive. LIM is actually a common issue with virtually every domestic V6 and V8 that I'm aware of, around 75-100K miles. Comes from putting a plastic or aluminum intake manfold on top of a cast iron block. They expand/contract at different rates, and wear the gasket out.
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Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
Does LIM mean Leaking Intake Manifold? If so then there is a GM tablet for cooling system leaks that my cousin the mechanic swears by. The normal cooling system leak compounds supposedly will plug the heater core. I have had three Ford 4.0 engines and they ALL sipped a little AF thru the head gasket but leak stop fixed it for years. Those are iron head engines also. One of them finally failed completely at 200K miles and just was not worth fixing even tho the engine ran like a top up until it failed.
Is the 3.4L an aluminum head with a cast iron block engine? Does GM have an equivalent to the OASIS system for their vehicles that would have a history on a used vehicle?
Is the 3.4L an aluminum head with a cast iron block engine? Does GM have an equivalent to the OASIS system for their vehicles that would have a history on a used vehicle?
Last edited by Torque1st; Jan 11, 2006 at 02:15 PM.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,728
Likes: 1
From: Damascus-Boring, Ore
3400 has aluminum heads- just walked downstairs and popped the hood on mine. BTW, just about everything is running aluminum heads anymore. You don't see this issue on imports because they typically run aluminum blocks along with the heads- expansion/contraction rates are constant, so minimal wear on that gasket.
Eric- if you pm me the VIN, I can run a VISS on it for you (GM's equivalent of OASIS).
BTW, just about everything is running aluminum heads anymore. You don't see this issue on imports because they typically run aluminum blocks along with the heads- expansion/contraction rates are constant, so minimal wear on that gasket. Eric- if you pm me the VIN, I can run a VISS on it for you (GM's equivalent of OASIS).
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Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
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Thanks, the vehicle is in Minnesota and my father in law is looking at it. I may be able to get the dealer to run the VISS as long as I know what it is called. Of course checking the dealers printout against another one is sometimes a way to spot discrepancies... -hehe
I personally have had loads of trouble with aluminum heads and iron blocks!
I personally have had loads of trouble with aluminum heads and iron blocks!
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,728
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From: Damascus-Boring, Ore
Eric- never a bad idea to run a Carfax and a VISS. Is it a private party or a GM dealer? Much of the late-model stuff is GM certified, so they guarantee you, among other things, no bad stuff on either.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,746
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From: Tampa Bay, FL USA
My neighbor has one, and she loves it. Last February, while in Florida, I noticed this was the new "vehicle of choice" for the wealthy-and-retired golf set. They are freakin' EVERYWHERE in the Tampa/ Clearwater area. The styling isn't to my taste, but that doesn't seem to slow down the sales rate on 'em.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,385
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From: Mercer County, OH
Last fall we bought an `02 for my wife to drive, it's a CXL AWD with 36,000 miles and she loves it. It has a third row seat that's OK for two kids or smaller adults and with the seats all folded up there's a lot of room for cargo. She's getting about 21.5 mpg combined highway and city which isn't too bad for a small SUV. We've put about 4,500 miles on it so far so good.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 214
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From: Charleston, WV
Originally Posted by polarbear
Extended warranties on any late-model car/truck/SUV isn't such a bad idea- repairs, if/when they do come up, can be stupfyingly expensive.
Originally Posted by polarbear
LIM is actually a common issue with virtually every domestic V6 and V8 that I'm aware of, around 75-100K miles.
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Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
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He is looking at a GM dealer he deals with all the time so an extended warranty is possible etc. As far as looks , -to me they are "but" ugly. It looks like a sedan with a plastic bump where the rear window and trunk should be on the "but" end. Plastic parts always seem to have a very limited lifespan so I figure it is a throw-away vehicle just like so many others made by the OEM's. Seems like a terrible waste of resources. Try getting those plastic parts for vehicles later on. They are extremely expensive and in some cases made of "unobtainium". The parts in the salvage yards are also broken or will break when they are removed or installed. Sometimes a new small part can be fabricated or re-engineered but in the case of an intake manifold that is near impossible without the ability to make a mold and cast a part from metal which usually only happens within a third world country.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,728
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From: Damascus-Boring, Ore
Good news- I'm pretty sure the manifold isn't plastic on the 3400- that was the 3800's issue, though. I wouldn't vote the Rendevous as a beauty Queen either- but they seem to hold together quite well, and as Jeff mentioned- the folks that have them love them. I'd vote for an Equinox, personally- but that'd be a lot more money (too new to see many on the used lots, and they haven'tsurfaced in the rental fleets). I just miled out my second Equinox demo, and feel there's some compelling features to that model.
