I am beginning to not like my car

[JBMark33]

Recently, this cold weather has really been tearing my 2000 SE apart, it has 161,000 miles and runs great, but I am just getting tired of sinking money into it. I would really appreciate it if we could become a think-tank and maybe try to pull some of these annoyances together and make my car fun to drive.

1) After replacing the front caliper I am getting a vibration somewhere in the front end. It's like a realllly loud "HUMM" when I start to apply the brakes. It only does it when I am braking a lot and heat up the rotors (my guess). I can feel a slight vibration in my steering wheel and brake pedal when this happens.

Turn your volume up pretty loud, it's hard to hear b/c it's off my cell phone.
http://s201.photobucket.com/albums/aa21 ... 091549.flv

2) The transmission has issues on cold nights. I think I am going to add some trans tune to it and drop the pan to replace the fluid and filter. Question: what all do I need for this mission? How long can I leave transtune in the tranny and how much fluid will I have to siphon out?

3) If I am pulling into a parking spot and my engine is at idle, my steering makes clumpy noises and fights me. I know the Intermediate steering shaft could be a suspect, but does it cause resistance? It feels like the power steering pump isn't doing enough work at idle.

4) I need an alignment, my car pulls to the left. How much does this cost?

5) My gas cap is really hard to get off because the filler neck is all rusted. Is a dremel and a vacuum alright to fix this?

6) I think my solid front engine mount has made another engine mount go bad, when I shift into Reverse or Drive I am getting a lot of engine movement.

7) I am getting rust on the lower ends of the doors on my passenger side, and paint is bubbling around my gas fill area.

I am sure I will think of more.

[Archon]

1 - What's the condition of the rotors? Sounds like at least one may be warped.
2- The little bit of Trans Tune added shouldn't cause a problem. I've added it to the existing fluid without and problems. Some have run a month or longer without a problem. My understanding after talking to various mechanics is that most of it evaporates after a time.
3 - The intermediate steering shaft will cause the clunking, but not any noticeable resistance. It could be the pump problem, but those usually whine in protest at the same time.
4 - Around here $65 - $70 is an average cost for an alignment.
5 - Use some fine sandpaper or emery cloth to clean off the rust, then use some spray on rust reformer. That has worked for me.
6 - Inspect the mounts for any cracks.
7 - The rust around the gas fill area starts from the inside. I checked with a body shop on mine, and they said the only long term solution is to cut the area out, rust proof it and weld in new metal.

[PRD2BDF]

If it helps any, my 1999 Bonneville SE had the same issue about steering fighting me at low speeds (aka idling into spots) It did this regardless of weather, to solve this, I just don't idle into spots anymore (Cost: Free)

The bubbling around gas cap area is a common issue, I believe on 00+, I remember seeing it on Tracy's 00 SLE and a few other 00+.

The alignment, you probably hit a big pothole, happens to me all the time, oh lordy...

And did you make sure the front wheels were tightened down, they can cause excessive wear on brakes and vibration.

[JBMark33]

And did you make sure the front wheels were tightened down, they can cause excessive wear on brakes and vibration.

I would sure hope my front wheels are tight. It rides really smooth on the highway, I would imagine that I would have some vibrations cruising at 70mph if my wheels weren't on tight.

[Peterg22000]

not just tightened down, but torqued evenly..

[imidazol97]

5) My gas cap is really hard to get off because the filler neck is all rusted. Is a dremel and a vacuum alright to fix this?
.

I'd not want anything with an electric motor up in the gasoline fumes from the filler tube. That would apply especially to something sucking them in like a vacuum cleaner.

[JBMark33]

I got my gas cap fixed up my sanding down the filler neck and sticking a damp rag in the "down-pipe" , then vacuuming the filings out. Then, I greased it down a little to make it slide easier.

The tranny has been getting more frequent with its' issues. Let me re-iterate. It downshifts fine, but shifts hard (my best description is a loud BANG into the next gear when upshifting. I don't have much money, as I just paid my semester bill, but I think I am going to siphon out some old fluid, add some new fluid and mix it with seafoam's transfix, then change all the fluid and the filter when it gets warm in a month or two. Anytime my family or I had a tranny issue, we usually just replace it. What is all involved in replacing it, if the seafoam trick doesn't work and how expensive and where can I find a 4T65E with 3.05 gears?

When this happens, and I come to a stop, here's how my engine sounds. I am just revving the engine in park up to about 2100 rpms. Here how whiny this is? My engine sounds nothing like that when it's shifting normal. Why does this have anything to do with my tranny?

[01bonneSC]

My car has about the same milage and seems when most American cars get to that point things just start getting worn out, dont fret, just fix one thing at a time. Your pressure control solenoid or your torque conver clutch solenoid seems to be failing with your hard upshift, I got the same thing. Im just gonna drive it till the trans goes or I have money for a mildly built 4T65-E HD. And I have the low speed hard turning problem, so ur not the only one!

[imidazol97]

When this happens, and I come to a stop, here's how my engine sounds. I am just revving the engine in park up to about 2100 rpms. Here how whiny this is? My engine sounds nothing like that when it's shifting normal. Why does this have anything to do with my tranny?

Isn't the whining pump an indication of a problem with the pressure control module and the pump is working full blast, hence the noise?

Please tell me you didn't use a electric vacuum sticking it into the filler opening to pick up those filings.

Is the power steering pump uneveness caused by the belt slipping?

[grandprix104]

Isn't the whining pump an indication of a problem with the pressure control module and the pump is working full blast, hence the noise?

^^More on this please.

JB - I have also had a problem with my steering being sluggish at idle. The whole car will sometimes shudder and the engine bog down when I turn at low speeds. I have always thought the PS pump was too weak but maybe imidazol has more to say about this pressure module thing.

As for the wheel vibration, check for play in the wheels. I am getting some noise that may be similar, but I have a bad wheel hub. It will make a grinding/humming noise when braking around turns and is causing vibration at all speeds.

[imidazol97]

Isn't the whining pump an indication of a problem with the pressure control module and the pump is working full blast, hence the noise?

^^More on this please.

I was referring to the transmission pump. Is that the sound that's in the recording?

Some others have indicated the power steering pump quits spasmodically and then restarts at low pump speeds. I wonder if a slipping belt aggravates the problem with the high load, slip, pump drop out with less load and subsequent speed up, then pump catches again applying pressure and load to the motor. If holding the motor speed up slightly with accelerator keeps this from happening..., analyze what it might be.

[Archon]

Try the Trans Tune and see what it does. You could also take it in and have it scanned for a P1811 code. Many code readers can't pull up this code, however. If you have it, installing a shift kit will likely take care of the problem.

You could try pumping out, and then replacing the power steering fluid a few times to see if that helps the problem with the steering.

[Phyrestorm]

JB, I get the same exact noise ever since I put in a new Power Steering pump in it however my steering is fine just makes that whining noise you hear.

For the Tranny issues I had very similar issues and it finally progressed into banging into gears when i put my car into drive and reverse, had to get mine rebuilt but doing the Trans Tune and dropping the pan changing out the tranny fluid gave me several more months of life before doing so.