We have decided to give our dealer/GM tech support one last opportunity to eliminate the popping/creaking noises coming from the front end of our car. It's been in five times already, with just about every part replaced or tweaked. It's slated for upper control arm replacements now with a tech from another dealership being called in to assist. Thge noise/popping has reached a point where you can feel it in the brake pedal every time you turn or drive up/down a graduated surface.

If this does not eliminate the problem, we will be seperating ourselves from yet another of GM's "halo" offerings.

From our perspective; it's really easy to see why GM is in such financial turmoil.

Keep us updated- I hope it gets repaired - PROPERLY!!!!

Would this be a "lemon" divorce?

Floyd

We have decided to give our dealer/GM tech support one last opportunity to eliminate the popping/creaking noises coming from the front end of our car. It's been in five times already, with just about every part replaced or tweaked. It's slated for upper control arm replacements now with a tech from another dealership being called in to assist. Thge noise/popping has reached a point where you can feel it in the brake pedal every time you turn or drive up/down a graduated surface.

If this does not eliminate the problem, we will be seperating ourselves from yet another of GM's "halo" offerings.

From our perspective; it's really easy to see why GM is in such financial turmoil.
Sorry for your troubles!!!

I am wondering IF the Engineering team we met at BGII have any ideas that haven't been explored yet.

It may be worth a call or an email before you go the "fruit route".

I think we'll start a poll only for XLR-V Front End Issues to see how many of our users have had the same issues. I think BOBO mentioned having the same experiences.

Regards

Yes I did but with the change out of the front Rack & pinion whole assembly, it's like a mouse eating cheese.
Mark would not do the "fruit job". He is to dignified to go that route. He will merely ask for a buy back, show his badge, pull out his 357. bring them a case of wine and cheese and that will be the end of another XLR................and I am really sorry to hear that Mark got another bummer. Passion Diva will be so disappointed.
Bobo
XLR I FL...........what other car do you know that you have to bring back to an engineering team to get things fixed?............Think I'll buy a new Night Rider Mustang. Never had trouble with my 69 428 Cobra Jet. Well, that's not entirely true, I did have a tough time getting it stopped with those old binders.

quote=XLR I FL;28700]Sorry for your troubles!!!

I am wondering IF the Engineering team we met at BGII have any ideas that haven't been explored yet.

It may be worth a call or an email before you go the "fruit route".

I think we'll start a poll only for XLR-V Front End Issues to see how many of our users have had the same issues. I think BOBO mentioned having the same experiences.

Regards[/quote]

Hopefully we will not need anything short of accurate data to beat them at their own game. They love to open an RO, then leave it open while they play the "parts changer" game at the owners expense. You will make multiple trips for multiple parts swaps all charged against the same RO since it is all warranty work.

The problem is; that counts as one attempt to fix a problem. You may think you have been back to the shop five times for the same problem, but when you check the actual RO history, it's only showing one (1) attempt from their perspective - and when it comes to the Lemon Law, that is very important.

And what's really sad - I would not know that if it were not for my experiences with GM and their Halo Car Program.

Thanks GM for the insider peek of how the service system really works!

BOBO

I am glad that your front end issues are finally resolved!!! Maybe your solution will help resolve Marks issues and others that experience the same problems.

I too have experienced a TON of car problems over the years that were not resolved properly (not XLRs).

I think the difference is that we are now fortunate enough to have a XLR Team that does genuinely care about issues we are having and are willing to work with us and the dealers to get them resolved.

I view it as a vested partnership --we current owners are a prime source of repeat sales and referrals. So resolving our issues makes good business sense.

As you may have noticed Mark and I are attempting to move similiar issues to commmon topic areas so that over time the historical information will be easier to access.

Also, when it makes sense, we are also adding Graphic Polls to see what the other XLR owners experiences are. That way the XLR team can access the information and determine the appropriate course of action.

THANKS FOR YOUR CONTINUED INPUT AND FEEDBACK!!!!

I'm back!!! I just wanted to expand on our experience with our Cadillac service deparment.
The 1st trip in for the popping/creaking noises was January 3. I dropped the car off on my way into work. My service writer called to tell me they found the problem (stabilizer end links). They had to replace both left & right, only had the left, so my 2nd trip was to replace the right, a week later. I picked up the car, drive home, as I pulled into the drive way, the popping/creaking was still there.
The 3rd trip, service decided they knew what the problem was ((t/rod boot binding), and of course they had to order the parts. 4th trip, they replaced the boot bindings. My service writer called to tell me the popping/creaking was still there, they were on the phone with GM tech support, who decided the problem(upper control arm) parts would have to be ordered. 5th trip in, February 19, dropped car off. Late morning, Parts Manager (not sure why) brings car to me at work, Quote "I drove the car all over the place, even did figure 8s, no noise, I want you to drive it". I pull out onto the street, popping/creaking can be heard by my salesmen standing several feet away. I just look at him, CAN'T YOU HEAR THAT!!!! He takes the car back to Cadillac Service. Now they have ordered (lower control arm). And the story continues.....:banghead :banghead

I am reminded to clarify an earlier comment I made (wonder who would tell me to do that??) :rolleyes

The dealership is bringing in the GM area engineer to assist with the latest parts swapping. On the bright side, there can't be that many pieces left to swap out, so one way or another, they will solve the issue. :skep

PD & M,

I am very sorry to hear about your poor kid! I do know how you feel about issues not getting resolved, or new ones popping up. Never ending saga it seems. I have driven more loaner CTS's than I can count on two hands plus the toes..hehe By the time they are all done with both our vehicles, we will have FrankenX's.
I wish you guys luck on your X! :(
GM needs to train and certify their XLR techs yearly to better serve the X owners with all these issues.
I vote for GM just swapping it out for the new 09....:jester M

I second that motion, but make it a V.PD & M,

I am very sorry to hear about your poor kid! I do know how you feel about issues not getting resolved, or new ones popping up. Never ending saga it seems. I have driven more loaner CTS's than I can count on two hands plus the toes..hehe By the time they are all done with both our vehicles, we will have FrankenX's.
I wish you guys luck on your X! :(
GM needs to train and certify their XLR techs yearly to better serve the X owners with all these issues.
I vote for GM just swapping it out for the new 09....:jester M

We are just frustrated with the problems we have experienced with the XLR's. Two cars, both with less than a few thousand miles (current car has about 5,000) and half the miles were either going to the shop, being test-driven, or driving it home. It's not that we hate the car per se, just all of the problems and the lack of ability on the part of the techs to fix it right the first time - or second - or third, or even the fourth time!!! On top of that there is little sympathy, no offer for compensation for all of the time/trouble and loss of work.

I must say, I have received several PM's offering assistance from our BG friends, so I will send them the data they need and see if this issue can get resolved.

With that said, we are still losing faith very quickly!

Mark,

I certainly understand your frustration :cry . I would not be very happy to see my XLR at the dealer for the same problem too many times.

Hopefully the help from our tech folks will soon identify the problem and solution to get you back on the road and enjoy your cars.

SilverX

We are just frustrated with the problems we have experienced with the XLR's. Two cars, both with less than a few thousand miles (current car has about 5,000) and half the miles were either going to the shop, being test-driven, or driving it home. It's not that we hate the car per se, just all of the problems and the lack of ability on the part of the techs to fix it right the first time - or second - or third, or even the fourth time!!! On top of that there is little sympathy, no offer for compensation for all of the time/trouble and loss of work.

I must say, I have received several PM's offering assistance from our BG friends, so I will send them the data they need and see if this issue can get resolved.

With that said, we are still losing faith very quickly!

The new parts are in (lower control arms), and after several phone calls back and forth today, (they would not give me his phone number), my service department has scheduled Monday morning with the GM engineer.... I only hope this person will be able to solve the problem. I have already informed them, that if I return again for the same problem after Monday, Mark will be joining me. Some of them remember him from the 04 XLR and 05 Corvette days. Several ask, that if that day does come, I plan it on their day off, FAT CHANCE, I want them to all be there!!!!!!!!!! :boxing :boxing :boxing

I don't have a V, but in my base XLR had the popping/creaking. Dealer replaced upper and lower control arms which resolved the issue.

That's good to hear, but they have already replaced our upper control arms with no fix - so perhaps the lower ones will be the trick.

BTW - Ours is not a "V", it's a standard, limited edition model.

Mark .... got an update on your groaner??? Ohh, that doesn't sound right :reddevil

Well, it appears that given five opportunities to swap out front suspension parts our service department was able to find the source and solve the problem. :party

Well, it appears that given five opportunities to swap out front suspension parts our service department was able to find the source and solve the problem. :party

Hurray! You and PD look great behind the wheel of that wild red monster! :thumbs

Well, it appears that given five opportunities to swap out front suspension parts our service department was able to find the source and solve the problem. :party


Many of us have the same problem- what was replaced to fix it?

Many of us have the same problem- what was replaced to fix it?

Sounds like it was the lower control arms.

Floyd

My xlr is an 05. It's been in the shop 41 days in 05, 81 days in 06, 48 days in 07, and 27 days so far this year. It's got 55K, and Sat night the engine blew.
Today I called GM to start the lemon out procedure. I love my R and I've stuck with it as they told me over and over again that it would be OK this time, etc..
I'd love to have them simply take the car and give me another one, but I can't imagine they'll do that.
Interestingly, when I called Cadillac cust service today, the nice guy that answered and took all the info was in a call center in Manila, the Phillippines. I know they're a global company, but I sure wish they'd keep these jobs here.

We hate to hear stories like yours, but we know it happens. Best of luck to you!

for about as long as i've been on this thread, i've heard about the grinding noise in the front end. Started on my 05 with 10k miles about 5 months ago. about two months ago i brought it to my dealer, Frankel Cadillac, in Baltimore. I printed out this thread and gave it to the shop foreman, with the apology that as a doctor, i never appreciated when patients announced what their diagnosis was as soon as they walked in...but...nevertheless..would he take a look? we took the car for a ride, he heard the noise, did not know what to make of it, said he'd check into it. a couple of weeks later they called to tell me that they had ordered new control arms, without my even asking, and would put them in at my convenience. i dropped the car off. the foreman called later and said he just could not justify putting in the control arms, mine were fine. he checked every possibility, thought the noise was coming from the hub, but was very honest in that he really did not know. checked caliper clearances, just about everything else, rotated the tires, kept the car and drove it in tight circles all day, could not reproduce the noise. whatever he did, it worked. it has been a couple of months and the noise is gone. btw, every experience with Frankel has been superb. I have never known a better dealership. The shop foreman is a great guy, friendly, open to suggestions, xlr certified, and honest if he is not sure about something. hope this great relationship lasts. i also got the best price on the extended warranty from them, right off the bat, and i'll write a separate post about that.

rob

Here is an idea.

Perhaps we can give an award every now and then to a dealership who consistently provides great service to XLR owners...!

The XLR Forum Outstanding Service AWARD..!

Cool isn't it?

SilverX

Well, everything seems to be catching. My steering wheel is lagging behind the seat when I open the door to get out. The seat has almost gone to the position to get out of the car and I have to wait for the steering wheel to retract and go up and then it makes a clunk noise at the end. It's not a have to fix, but I will have to get it in soon before the wheel falls off. What? You don't think it is possible with this car?
BoboSounds like it was the lower control arms.

Floyd

Yup, it sounds like a lower control arm all right.:yesnod

Elfred

I had that noise but in the rear end. They had to put a new type of oil in.