Incredible "Transformer" Seville... a Journal

[mountainrider]

Behavioral Modification

As a long term monogamous guy, there is nothing better than feeling my knee puck skimming the asphalt. Its a total Zen-thing from the moment of commitment, past the apex and until the arc is finished. A quick twist of the wrist brings the next bend rushing forward and it all starts again. Rev matching the down shifts as the front brakes sing into action, and easing off until the throttle is rolled back on at the exit is as close as I get to Nirvana!

I usually enjoy giving my cars the same kind of exercise on our most excellent mountain roads. However, this SLS has me content with a bit more sedate pace. Why, I don't know! It is relatively composed and mostly compliant suspension wise. I was certainly more aggressive with the Riviera which was a notch or two down in the handling department.

Don't misunderstand. I do catch passengers reaching for the ohshit handles and stabbing imaginary brakes from time to time.

Maybe I'll finish the next round of repairs to the Alante this spring. My wife will not let me sell that thing and no priest can exorcise it's demons, but it is a fun drive.

[roger greeb]

this all sounds eerily familiar....all the way to the tires...mine is firestone tho...it gets much much worse...AND EXPENSIVE ...fun story tho love readin it...just lost your trip to work? this is march

[mountainrider]

Week Three, How do you make a [Kum]HO moan?

It seems as if the SLS forgot the answer this morning. None of the right-of-center inputs were met with any negative comments today. She must be in a more tolerant mood this morning. Also, I no longer hear the “tock” from the serpentine area…surprise surprise.

I had to drive one of our company F150’s 2 days last week, so the mileage is a bit less on this report.

Weeks beginning mileage: 42,848
Days driven: 3

Distance driven: 641

Total mileage: 43,489
Fuel economy: 26.9

[mountainrider]

Week Four


It's back! Looks as if I will be replacing the left front hub. Sometime next week I'll schedule a rotation oil change and have this done at the same time.

Weeks beginning mileage: 43489

Days driven: 5

Distance driven: 720

Total mileage: 44209

Fuel economy: 26.2

Maintenance: added half quart of 10w30

[mountainrider]

Bristol Racing Stripe Mod

The SLS's nose was almost even with the cab when the 18 wheeler began a deliberate low angled move into the left lane the Seville was occupying. The ABS sprang into action and cycled frantically as I steered toward, but tried to avoid, the temporary concrete barrier to my very immediate left.

"DRRRR" drowned out the Kumho's lock/release screach for a split second. I was pretty sure I had managed to stay off the driver side hazzard used to divide the temporary north and south bound lanes on this stretch of I-26 construction. A quick check of the rearview revealed my ass-rider had not kissed the rear. I deduced I had some passenger side cosmetic issues. Once I had an extreme close up view of the trailer doors, I was pretty sure that this phase of the incident was over.

I punched 911 into my cell and was quickly trasfered over to NCHP to whom I gave a quick recap . The dispatcher asked if I could read the tag. I answered that the Tennessee plate was damned near stamped on my forehead. I also read her the company name emblazened on the doors; "Schnieder Oppenheimer". She told me not to follow the rig but instead to find a safe place to pull over and await a phone call from an on duty patrollman. I did as told and took the next exit.

A quick inspection revealled the tire tattoo you see in the pic below. What you may not see is the new bevel on the base of the mirror. The Seville's door also has a slight depression just above the belt line and there is some fine marring of the rubber trim on the right front wheel well.

All the rubber transfer was erased by a rag saturated with some magic solvent supplied by a friends body shop. A casual glance would not bring to notice any residual damage. The most obvious would be the lower side of the mirror. That radius has been altered and some body colored paint has been buffed to bare plastic.

Trooper Harriss of the Tunnel Road NCHP office is investigating. He said he may never find this guy and Alstate said tough luck. I only carry liability and comp on this old car and, apparently, hit and run damage is not covered.

[Krashed989]

Originally Posted by mountainrider

The Journey Home

The Kumhos were thumping again, but subsided as I neared the Auto Zone. I borrowed their code reader and was happy to find that the only complaint was "misfire". That had to have happened yesterday with all that popping through the intake. I feel good-to-go so I cleared the code, reset the trip and headed south on I-75.

You don't need a code reader to check the codes. You can check them on the dashboard by pressing and holding the OFF and passenger warmer buttons at the same time until all of the lights light up. Do a search.

Nice story though man! I hope you find that guy who hit your car! That really sucks!

[mountainrider]

I spent most of the last two weeks in company vehicles, so the miles accumulated at a slower than normal pace.

Weeks beginning mileage: 44209

Days driven: 5

Distance driven: 911

Total mileage: 45120

Fuel economy: 25.9

Maintenance: added another half quart of 10w30.

The sticker in the upper left corner of the windshield shows a 3000 mile oil change due in 48 miles. The Seville is doing something other than lubricating its internals with a quart between oil changes. My DIC says 68% useful life left in the dead dinosaurs. The SLS is a freeway flyer, so I side with the DIC on this. I'm thinking 5K oil changes.

[mountainrider]

Week Seven

Weeks beginning mileage: 45120

Days driven: 5

Distance driven: 975

Total mileage: 46095

Fuel economy: 26.8

Maintenance: added another quart of 10w30.

[mountainrider]

week eight
I need a decoder ring

"Check Engine Soon" glowed an ominous orange. The N* was doing the rhumba as I did the morning reverse routine neccessary to get the SLS aimed at the plummet down my driveway. "Oh Great"! The power settled into a smooth hum within a few seconds. The rest of the 45 mile commute was typical except for the nagging display.

After running the codes at journeys end, I was informed that I had a "lean left bank". Hell...with the stock market the way it is, I'm surprised they arent both suffering!

Subsequent start-ups have been code free.

Weeks beginning mileage: 46095

Days driven: 5

Distance driven: 990

Total mileage: 47085

Fuel economy: 26.6

Maintenance: added another quart of 10w30

[Tommy Deville]

Every time I see this thread I think this is some video of a Seville turning into a robot.

[mountainrider]

week nine

To recap, this log exists for the benefit of those like me that visit forums prior to making purchases. There must be others lurking on this board gathering info and trying to decide whether the Seville experience can be civil. I have not responded to posts in order to keep this thread flowing and readable for their benefit. I do, however appreciate your comments, compliments and criticisms.

This car was originally thought to be a 99 STS, but "transformed" into a 97 SLS. Thus the title. I would change that if it were possible, but as you know, posts are uneditable once you leave the thread.

Weeks beginning mileage: 47085

Days driven: 4

Distance driven: 847

Total mileage: 47932

Fuel economy: 26.6

Maintenance: changed oil and rotated tires at 47550

[mountainrider]

week 10

Weeks beginning mileage: 47932

Days driven: 4

Distance driven:907

Total mileage: 48839

Fuel economy: 26.6

Maintenance: added one quart of 10/40

[mountainrider]

week 11

Weeks beginning mileage: 48839

Days driven: 5

Distance driven:525

Total mileage: 49364

Fuel economy: 26.8

[Tommy Deville]

well, one thing is that you are not dispelling the N* myth of going though a quart of oil every 1000 miles, many people come here in a panic with my Caddy is burning oil thread.

Depending on driving conditions the N* will eat any where from 1 to 2 quarts of oil per 1000-1500 miles.

Good read thus far, keep it up.
Have you serviced the cooling system yet? if not you should b4 summer just for you're own piece of mind.

[submariner409]

Mountainrider, question: Are you filling the engine oil to the top of the dipstick hashmark or are you letting it ride between the bottom and halfway up ?? Try the bottom of the mark to halfway up for a while: A Northstar tends to throw out the first half quart in a hurry. Mine's an '02, yes, but I get 3,500 + per quart, 5W-30 synthetic, 47,000 miles, suburban and highway 95% of the time.