17th Nov 2007, 14:29
5 months ago at 55000 miles, my rather rare 2003 Chevy TB became an embarrasing and head turning Jet airliner in Spijkenisse the Netherlands. I skipped the already scheduled replacement of the complete fan assembly because of the expected costs (approx:$1500). With the info found on this site, it is now time for a nice call to GM Europe in the Netherlands. I am sure automotive press in Europe will love this issue on American cars and the arrogant way it seems to be handled by GM. If this is the way GM wants to promote GM products such as Cadillac, I doubt their chance on success.
Anyway, GM airlines has now a branch in the Netherlands.
27th Nov 2007, 11:34
I had our 03 Envoy XL's clutch replaced under the GMPP extended warranty after it started sounding like a jet when we would start it in the morning.
After that fix it would still make a sound like a belt was loose and not spinning properly. I took it back two times and they said everything was fine. They would point to a service bulletin that said the new clutch would be little noisy. This noise was so loud everyone that would ride in our Envoy would comment on it.
I took it to a different dealership and within five minutes they showed me the issue. A bearing in the water pump was going out. The mechanic told me it was very common to have it fail after having the clutch replaced. After fixing it our truck now sounds and runs like new again.
He was also honest. He said they see these trucks all the time for the clutch issue and the bearing in the water pump. An honest mechanic - imagine that!
Besides that we have had no issues with our Envoy after 60K miles. We are quite happy with it. Too bad GM won't fix the clutch issue free of charge.
28th Nov 2007, 13:14
Interesting, I've been having the same problem. 02 GMC Envoy with 64K miles. Very loud fan coming on at start up and staying on for 15 min or until high engine RPMs. I went to the dealer, and service tech tried to tell me it was normal even though I insisted it wasn't. This is good to know considering my extended warranty is about to expire.
3rd Dec 2007, 16:02
I have a 2003 TB LTZ with 53,000 miles. And yes, the fan clutch went just like that. I like the term I saw in an earlier comment, the "TB 747 option". It sure made that loud roaring jet on take-off sound! That was funny except it cost me $660.00 to have it repaired at the dealership, plus another two days cost of car rental. Hope nothing else goes wrong. Spoke to GM and of course, there is no recall out there for this. Hopefully, they are made aware that this problem occurs more than it should, it's not normal wear-and-tear, that part is defective. I'm keeping my receipts for that day.
5th Dec 2007, 14:49
2002 Trailblazer LZT - <26,000 miles (retired). All the previous comments is making me nervous. The $$$ spent is similiar to the $566 I just paid to have the drivers rear door window sound like a fork caught in the garbage disposal. If I keep an average of 5,000 +- miles per year, I might get another 3 years out of it. Then I will highly consider one of the "fer'in" cars. My drivers mirror control broke. I couldn't buy the small bezel around the control knob. They wanted me to, but the whole switch unit for $50 +... NOTTA.
7th Dec 2007, 21:53
2003 Trailblazer, found this site and am not encouraged. I too have the intermittent "service engine soon" light that comes on and off, the loud jet sound coming from the fan/water pump area. Wish I could do it myself, but feel like I should have it done if/when the recall is issued. This is my 3rd Trailblazer hopefully GM will do the right thing so it is not my last.
8th Dec 2007, 08:16
Got a 2003 trailblazer and had the fan clutch replaced last year under warranty. Out of warranty now and a loud bearing type noise has now developed. Dealer diagnosed as water pump bearing and wanted $475 to replace the water pump. I am going to take it to my independent mechanic instead. I understand there is no extended warranty on this. I have just bought a 2008 Camry for myself, a 2004 Accord for my daughter. Will be getting a Toyota or Honda next to replace this vehicle and no more GM, Ford, or Chrysler for me.
10th Jan 2008, 22:52
Add me to the list... 2002 LTZ bad fan clutch. Called GM told them my problem, gave them this web site url. They called back the next day and said sorry we can't do anything. A day later a survey company called to ask how their service was! Ha.
GM can fix this and make us all happy by simply contacting the dealerships and having them issue a refund on this.
Out $800. Guess that's why Toyota is catching up.
14th Jan 2008, 11:28
2002 Trailblazer LTZ, 120,000 miles.
Bad fan clutch. Cmon GM, I've been a loyal GM guy since before I had a license, but this is getting ridiculous, man up and do the right thing. Hmmmmm, Toyota will be my next purchase.
25th Jan 2008, 21:57
This is my wife's 2002 LTZ with 75,000 miles on it. Loaded with every option on it! Love the "Ride" however, it also has had numerous issues. The latest being a "Check 4-wheel drive light" that came on 2 days ago. Today it went off? Not sure if it switches between 2WD and AWD, or even 4WD, because the indicator lights on the selector switch go off and on too. I suppose I will take it into a dealer just in case something is severely wrong with the transfer case?
In addition, this thing does make the "wound all up noise" but not all the time? I guess it's only a matter of time before it becomes constant and the "check engine light" comes on? This is why I bought a new Camry instead of the Saturn Aura this past year. You know, they want us to buy American, but with the BS like GM is making and not standing behind their product, we have to do what we think is right as consumers!!
31st Jan 2008, 14:25
02 trailblazer 79K miles, same symptoms as everyone else. Jet engine noise, service engine soon light.
My problem:
I diagnosed the locked up fan clutch from the sound. Could have done the simple repar myself in two hours or less, but the check engine light scared me into thinking there must be something else wrong as well - and because I don't have an OBDC reader I couldn't tell what else - so off to the mechanic.
I drove up, told him I thought the fan clutch was bad - He confirmed - 89 for the scan, 390 for the part from the dealer, 100 to install.
Looked at the part the mechanic replaced and noted it was incredibly more complex than the one on my old Ford Ranger. he also said "the dealer had three of these in stock - seems like it must be a common problem"
Calling Chevy to register my complaint...
31st Oct 2007, 23:27
Another 2003 TB EXT, 36,000 miles added to the list of crappy fan clutches. Out of warranty and supposedly my dealer doesn't see too many of these. I'm going to refer them to this board. Same roaring sound from the fan, loss of power on acceleration, normal RPMs. AC Delco replacement part $200 (dealer wants $390 - that's not a scam, is it?), and I'm going to attempt to install myself as I can't afford $750 for a GM manufacturing defect.
GM quality comes shining through...