Help! Starting to HATE my new 2006 SRX :-( - Page 3

Superjim · #31 (**permalink**) 07-11-09, 12:32 AM

I don't know if they still do this or not...but about 4 years ago, I was talking to a N* powertrain engineer.

He said they would periodically pull a new engine from the assembly line and take it to the Dyno room.

They would then run it for THREE HUNDRED HOURS...at 6000 RPM.
Thats 12.5 DAYS...running wide open...24 hours a day.
Then they would tear it down and inspect it for any wear or issues.

Very seldom was there any problem at all.

Texas Jim

iprncess · #32 (**permalink**) 07-11-09, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robhersch

"Splain" to your dealer that "you understand that it is NOT A MECHANICAL problem" (the computer is NOT BROKEN, it just needs a computer savvy technition to correct the malfunction). Back in "the old days", GM could almost always get it right. Not sure Government Motors can or will, but we surely hope they do; meanwhile we may have to identify reputable independents to perform our service.
Good luck, we wish you the best!! SRX is a great vehicle and the N*V8 is still one of the best!!

Thanks

TimmyC · #33 (**permalink**) 07-14-09, 11:32 AM

Any updates on this? My STS is doing th same thing. I don't see any air leaks and I swapped the MAF with another STS with no codes and it is still doing it. Same codes as this poster. p1101, p0068, and p0174.

I read in the STS forum that it is a problem with the computer software and there is no solution. I hope that is not the case because I need to sell this car and that SES light is going to make it harder.

iprncess · #34 (**permalink**) 07-14-09, 12:11 PM

I should know something soon although it isn't looking good. I was planning to take mine in on Saturday for a second opinion, but service was closed. I dropped it off yesterday around 2 and so far...nothing. I just called about 30 minutes ago and the guy said they haven't pin pointed a cause yet, but are still looking. I'm thinking that my original guys may have been right.

Timmy, the STS is listed on the same bulletin I received. I'm waiting on a fix as well, if that really is the problem. Performance wish my SRX has been great. I do notice what feels like a slight rocking when I'm at a light, but I'm not sure if that's a big deal. I don't feel it all the time, and I'm not really sure if "rocking" is the correct way to describe it, but the first time I noticed it I immediately turned to see if my little one was dancing around (he does that while watching Madagascar

) but he wasn't moving.

I'll post as soon as I hear something. I did check the MPG on Saturday and it said 12.6 average MPG. I decided at the point to NOT LOOK AT IT AGAIN. Just enjoy the car and gas it up whenever she gets thirsty.

TimmyC · #35 (**permalink**) 07-15-09, 12:26 PM

Since my last post the light has stayed off. I won't know for a couple days or a week but it seems like the MAF fixed it.

JD2004 · #36 (**permalink**) 07-16-09, 05:40 PM

I got 11 mpg with the cruise set on 100mph from Hamburg to berlin (Germany). Anybody got any lower? Yes, hwy driving...

TimmyC · #37 (**permalink**) 07-21-09, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimmyC

Since my last post the light has stayed off. I won't know for a couple days or a week but it seems like the MAF fixed it.

It was off for 4 days then came back. I turned it off again and it's still off as of now.

iprncess · #38 (**permalink**) 07-21-09, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimmyC

It was off for 4 days then came back. I turned it off again and it's still off as of now.

Well I got the same answer from my second opinion as I did with my first. They didn't have a clue and the light still came back on. I'm just waiting for the update to the bulletin. Not even concerned with it at this point.....If it doesn't however get cleared up in 6 months I'll probably be trading in the car.

TimmyC · #39 (**permalink**) 07-22-09, 01:07 PM

I wouldn't care if I was going to keep the car. I'd just turn it off when it comes on.

It seems that the problem is the mass air is reading less air than what's actually going by it. This causes the computer to add too little fuel and you get the lean codes. I wonder if there is something that could be done to "fool" the mass air sensor into reporting more air. Some kind of modification to cause more of the air to go across the wire.

TimmyC · #40 (**permalink**) 08-28-09, 04:07 PM

I fixed the problem! Like I said in my last post, the problem is the MAF not reading the proper amount of air. I looked at the sensor and there is a wire that extends maybe 1/3 of the way across. The computer keeps that wire hot and measures how much current it takes to keep it that way. More air going across it cools the wire faster and necessitates more juice to keep it hot and vice versa.

In our case the calibration table that the computer reads is not correct, it's not putting enough fuel in for the amount of air that is consumed by the motor. The proper fix would be to change this table in the computer. Since that is impossible we have to move to more creative solutions.

My solution was to divert the air from the part of the MAF that the sensing wire does not cover to the part of the sensor that the wire does cover. My ingenious diverter? a piece of electrical tape! I put one strip across the MAF and cleared the codes. I drove it for a few weeks like that and the light didn't come back on. I checked for the code that precedes the light and that was not present either. It wouldn't go more than a couple days before my little modification. It sounds like a half-baked plan but it worked without side effects. The car runs perfectly and no one will ever know that there is a piece of tape in there.

dctex99 · #41 (**permalink**) 08-29-09, 01:54 AM

Wow; that is amazing; too bad you couldn't get that info back to Cadillac!! I am sure they would have a fix that included a different resistence in the wire; a whole new computer; or a plastic cover diverter; and all would enable a dealer to bill cadillac at least $300!! That is our Government Owned Manufacturer!..lol

iprncess · #42 (**permalink**) 08-29-09, 11:54 PM

Well the light has still been on in my car with no updates to the bulletin. I finally got tired of waiting and this week and I wrote a strongly worded letter to the Sales GM and the Service GM. Well the Sales GM called me first very apologetic that the used car guys hadn't escalated this issue further up the chain of command since the bulletin claimed a fix would come in July. He first discussed trading me out the vehicle to another one, but I'm buying a house right now and I don't want to do anything to will involve my credit until the house is built and I close in November. Too bad because it would have been a really nice deal! Get another car with nothing out of pocket for the exact same price. Kind of like an exchange :-). Well the Service GM called me an hour later and said he didn't see any point in trading me out of a car that could be fixed. Lucky for me and to my surprise the Service GM's wife is an executive at the company I work for. I had no clue until she came and asked me if I was having car trouble because her husband saw the company name on the email I sent. He called her to see if she knew me and as big as our company is she is an exec in MY department. She told me not to worry about anything and he called back to tell me to drop the car off that afternoon and to plan on not getting it back until it was fixed. He said he had been with the company in Service for 21 years and he would personally see to it that the car was thoroughly checked out and anything that is wrong is fixed. He also said that the Used Car guys mean well, but I was to only speak with him from this point on. I picked up a SWEET Black loaded 2009 CTS with 200 miles on it as a loaner on Wednesday. Now just waiting around to see what they say! Loving the CTS, but it's worth about more than double what I paid for the SRX so needless to say I drive it very very carefully!

jdavis · #43 (**permalink**) 08-30-09, 08:34 AM

I hope you showed him the posts or told him about the way TimmyC was able to solve his similar problem. Uhh..h.h.. maybe not if you are enjoying your time with that CTS

Superjim · #44 (**permalink**) 08-30-09, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimmyC

I fixed the problem! Like I said in my last post, the problem is the MAF not reading the proper amount of air. I looked at the sensor and there is a wire that extends maybe 1/3 of the way across. The computer keeps that wire hot and measures how much current it takes to keep it that way. More air going across it cools the wire faster and necessitates more juice to keep it hot and vice versa.

In our case the calibration table that the computer reads is not correct, it's not putting enough fuel in for the amount of air that is consumed by the motor. The proper fix would be to change this table in the computer. Since that is impossible we have to move to more creative solutions.

My solution was to divert the air from the part of the MAF that the sensing wire does not cover to the part of the sensor that the wire does cover. My ingenious diverter? a piece of electrical tape! I put one strip across the MAF and cleared the codes. I drove it for a few weeks like that and the light didn't come back on. I checked for the code that precedes the light and that was not present either. It wouldn't go more than a couple days before my little modification. It sounds like a half-baked plan but it worked without side effects. The car runs perfectly and no one will ever know that there is a piece of tape in there.

Good analytical thinking.
Also good fix.

You may want to check on the tape every once in a while..to make sure it is not coming loose.
Remember ... it is subjected to a lot of heat under the hood, which may affect the stickiness of the tape.

Texas Jim

Superjim · #45 (**permalink**) 08-30-09, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iprncess

Well the light has still been on in my car with no updates to the bulletin. I finally got tired of waiting and this week and I wrote a strongly worded letter to the Sales GM and the Service GM. Well the Sales GM called me first very apologetic that the used car guys hadn't escalated this issue further up the chain of command since the bulletin claimed a fix would come in July. He first discussed trading me out the vehicle to another one, but I'm buying a house right now and I don't want to do anything to will involve my credit until the house is built and I close in November. Too bad because it would have been a really nice deal! Get another car with nothing out of pocket for the exact same price. Kind of like an exchange :-). Well the Service GM called me an hour later and said he didn't see any point in trading me out of a car that could be fixed. Lucky for me and to my surprise the Service GM's wife is an executive at the company I work for. I had no clue until she came and asked me if I was having car trouble because her husband saw the company name on the email I sent. He called her to see if she knew me and as big as our company is she is an exec in MY department. She told me not to worry about anything and he called back to tell me to drop the car off that afternoon and to plan on not getting it back until it was fixed. He said he had been with the company in Service for 21 years and he would personally see to it that the car was thoroughly checked out and anything that is wrong is fixed. He also said that the Used Car guys mean well, but I was to only speak with him from this point on. I picked up a SWEET Black loaded 2009 CTS with 200 miles on it as a loaner on Wednesday. Now just waiting around to see what they say! Loving the CTS, but it's worth about more than double what I paid for the SRX so needless to say I drive it very very carefully!

iprncess,

Good for you.

Glad to hear that you are finally going to get your problem resolved.

Texas Jim