Annoyed...

[wmshoemaker]

So, I still love my 08 GP, but there are a couple things I am annoyed about. The first is more I'm annoyed at the dealership, the later I'm just annoyed with the audio system.

First, I took the GP into the dealership for a whining noise. I was sure it was power steering, but since it was under warranty, I figured I'd get the problem into the dealership's system in case it compeltely died later. The car has 35,500 miles on it, so I didn't want to take chances. Besides, I can't see the fluid from up top. Turns out, it was just lower on power steering fluid. They said they topped it off and I'm good to go, right? Less than a week later, same noise. I take it back in thinking there is a leak. Well, no leak. The tech said that nobody topped off the fluid when it was in. GRRRRR! That shouldn't be something somebody forgets, especially since it is the only reason why it is in there. The second time I had to leave in there the whole weekend.

OK, the second problem is about the aftermarket stereo system. First, I HATE that cars are made with stereos that can't be easily replaced. I installed the stereo using the Axxess module and everything was fine for a while. The DIC then started to say (a few months later) that there was a charging system failure. Took it to GM and they said it was the stereo. I took the car to a stereo install center (one highly recommended) and they doublechecked everything and said it was fine. All of a sudden everything started to go wrong.

The E-Brake started saying it was on, when it wasn't. The fuel system started reporting it had no fuel. The odometer and guages stopped working. Then the car stops running on the highway. It would idle, but no response when hitting the gas and the power steering stopped working. This all went away after turning the car off, then back on. Took it back to the audio place and they said it was likely because of the Axxess module, and they recommend another one. Why didn't they tell me that in the beginning? Why does GM make it so that I can't just replace that crappy H/U?

Just curious if anybody else has had these problems. I'm about to have the audio people put the factory H/U in the trunk and re-wire some stuff.

[cerick08GP]

I have an 08 also, so far I haven’t had any problems at all with it. On rare occasions my power steering seems to let out a little grunt. But it is short and sweet, I don’t suspect it to be a problem at all.

I may have a little insight on your radio being linked to a charging problem. While playing around on my car trying to get an improved grounding setup I finally hit pay dirt with a good setup, and then I too had caused a charging system issue.
What happened is that my new better grounding was not going threw the charging system amp meter and it was throwing my charging system out of whack. So if you wired your amp or other stuff right to the battery make sure you put the ground wire threw the amp meter. The amp meter is a ring shaped thing next to your battery, just follow the two big negative wires about 6 inches down.

Good luck

[SuperSport]

What is so wrong with the factory head unit? Did it completely die?

And dont think its gonna be any easier down the road to swap in your fugly looking aftermarket HU. Look at the interior pics to the new camaro or equinox. I wish you good luck.

[wmshoemaker]

Thanks for the heads up about the grounding. If I have any more problems I'll definetly try that.

There is nothing wrong with the factory HU, IMO, but its really my wife's car. She LOVES her satellite radio. We already had the aftermarket HU in a saturn that got totalled (some ppl need to learn red light means STOP! - not my wife...) and I tried to put it into the GP.

I know what you mean about its getting harder to replace stereos in cars, which is disappointing. I generally don't like the look of factory stereos, especially those big oval things with a million buttons and knobs. However, I have an 09 G5 and I love that stereo. No need to replace that one.