Avalanche CONS(Annoyances)

FSUGUY · Feb 18, 2003

Let me start off by saying this thread is not meant to bash the AV.

For those that are P.O'd about something - take it elsewhere. It's not intended to cover major mechanical problems (i.e. midgate leak, bad service, cover oxidation,etc...)

I just wonder what other SMALLER things you found hard to deal with.

here's mine:
Car seats!
got them in the back and have to take them out to use the midgate. we got a great feature, just hard to use with these.
Also, have tried putting them in. the seat belt has the feature where once you pull it out it will only go back in. So if you have a problem with seat belt on a car seat, you usually have to start over. (I am getting better at this).

and yes i want keyless entry to my beer cooler too(and tailgate)!

What are your smaller problems?

Boar-Ral · Feb 18, 2003

Rattles. Everywhere.

StrobinAvalanche · Feb 18, 2003

I'd rather have all four doors unlock on the first push of the UNLOCK button on the key fob

RJLACK · Feb 18, 2003

One small problem is now everytime that I go somewhere the whole family wants to go along with me - and in my AV not the wifes Suburban.

When I go to the National Event I will need to have my wife follow in the Suburban as a support vehicle as my AV (with front buckets) wont seat 6 comfortable for a 2 day drive.

Oh well these are small problems I kinda like

FSUGUY · Feb 18, 2003

Boar-Ral said:
Rattles. ?Everywhere.

what are your rattles?

(do I really want to know?...then i'll start hearing them..-j/k)

Limerick · Feb 18, 2003

FSUGUY said:
here's mine:
Car seats!
got them in the back and have to take them out to use the midgate. we got a great feature, just hard to use with these.
Also, have tried putting them in. the seat belt has the feature where once you pull it out it will only go back in. So if you have a problem with seat belt on a car seat, you usually have to start over. (I am getting better at this).

Do your carseats have the teather straps? I didn't check out the Av enough to know, but I'm pretty sure it has to have the teather anchors in the backseat.

ColoradoAV · Feb 18, 2003

Another "noise" complaint - there is a little pinging/rolling sound on the driver's side midgate latch or somewhere in the window

. The sound kinda reminds me of a loose coin rolling around in there

. Everytime you make a turn you hear the rolling noise for 2 or 3 seconds with a loud ping once it hits something.

My other con: the bed mat. Sure I like it for some things but when I take it out, it's so heavy and it's pretty darn difficult to slide anything on it

sands611 · Feb 18, 2003

FSUGUY said:
Let me start off by saying this thread is not meant to bash the AV.

here's mine:
Car seats!

Also, have tried putting them in. the seat belt has the feature where once you pull it out it will only go back in. So if you have a problem with seat belt on a car seat, you usually have to start over. (I am getting better at this).

and yes i want keyless entry to my beer cooler too(and tailgate)!

What are your smaller problems?

Hey Man- not to flame or anything but I have to chime in here as that what this site is about- Love, modding and taking care of oneanother- Right?

So, the reason yor seat belts for the CAR SEATS only go in is the following-
You get in a wreck?!?!?!?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God I hope not, but if you did the tensioner in the belt is in a locked position to HOLD FAST that kid in a car seat-

It is a pisser and anoying as heck but it is there for a reason.
SO when installing the car seat-
PULL ALL THE SLACK out of the belt (rear shoulder) and then AFTER SEAT is buckled IN TIGHT. feed ALL THE REMAINING SLACK into the hole- PULL AS HARD as you can to get ALL the slack out adn that seat is in there-
I ahve gotten too mad at taking the damn seat in and out so I bought a COOL mod- approved device at Babies R Us, it is a ratcheting car seat tensioner for 14 bucks.
I can put a seat in and out in like 2 minutes- the right way and it is TIGHT.
Forget those stupid little clips everyone uses-

As for the remote for beer cooler-
Only when I am the DD, Designated Drunk!

Later-

musiks · Feb 18, 2003

Strobin, the 03 AV's have that lock option.

Boar-Ral · Feb 18, 2003

FSUGUY said:
what are your rattles?

The most annoying sounds like it is coming from the passenger side a-pillar. The dealership fixed a rattle inside the passenger side front door but this one is new. If it doesn't go away, I will have them investigate.

Beaverton · Feb 18, 2003

Sometimes, when it's quiet, the engine sounds like it is pushing a 6200 lbs mass of steel around the countryside.

And I can hear the fluid noise from the gas flowing through the fuel lines.

Who am I kidding? ?With the new Magnaflow, it's never that quiet ?

FSUGUY · Feb 19, 2003

sands611 said:
So, the reason yor seat belts for the CAR SEATS only go in is the following-
You get in a wreck?!?!?!?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God I hope not, but if you did the tensioner in the belt is in a locked position to HOLD FAST that kid in a car seat-

It is a pisser and anoying as heck but it is there for a reason.
SO when installing the car seat-
PULL ALL THE SLACK out of the belt (rear shoulder) and then AFTER SEAT is buckled IN TIGHT. feed ALL THE REMAINING SLACK into the hole- PULL AS HARD as you can to get ALL the slack out adn that seat is in there-
I ahve gotten too mad at taking the damn seat in and out so I bought a COOL mod- approved device at Babies R Us, it is a ratcheting car seat tensioner for 14 bucks.
I can put a seat in and out in like 2 minutes- the right way and it is TIGHT.

In comparison, most other vehicles will allow you to Re-pull to get more slack from a point in the middle. The AV makes you put the belt all the way back in to restart. It's not hard putting the seat in anymore I just noticed this my first time or 2.

txyank1 · Feb 19, 2003

I had an annoying noise emmitting from the passengers seat, but I discovered if I left the Wife home it was gone.

truckman · Feb 19, 2003

Several years ago when I used to use a car seat for my kids and while I lived in CA, a CHP showed me a pretty cool trick to secure a car seat. Set the seat up in the position you want, feed the strap through and latch it. Then, put your knee in the center of the seat and push down hard. At the same time, pull up on the adjustment strap removing any slack. When you release the pressure from you knee, that car seat isn't going anywhere.

When I would take the car seat out, it would literally pop out because of the pressure holding it in. My $0.02

My kids are too big for car seats now, but I never had a loose seat and after 3-4 times of installing the seat, it only took a few seconds.

Truckman :B:

Beaverton · Feb 19, 2003

txyank1 said:
I had an annoying noise emmitting from the passengers seat, but I discovered if I left the Wife home it was gone.

Now that you mention it, I've noticed this, too! Don't forget the kids in the backseat!

Chief · Feb 19, 2003

NW_Nick said:
Now that you mention it, I've noticed this, too! ?Don't forget the kids in the backseat!

That is why the invented DVD theaters with headphones. >:D

IHAVALANCHE · Feb 19, 2003

The rear view mirror, why isn't it power

I wish it was. I mean everything else is power. It seams that GM goes 95% not a 100%

pedr0 · Feb 19, 2003

Two things come to mind:

1) Wiper Blades don't swing out and lock when cleaning windshield. So I have to stand them on edge, then hold with one hand while cleaning bottom of glass.

2) This is really going to sound dumb, but I cut myself on the plastic edge that surrounds the power steering set button! The edge is really sharp, and I can't figure out the best way to round it off without making a huge mess. Any ideas?

golfdude18 · Feb 19, 2003

IHAVALANCHE said:
The rear view mirror, why isn't it power I wish it was. I mean everything else is power. It seams that GM goes 95% not a 100%

I would LOVE IT if the rear view mirror was power. Everytime my wife drives the AV she has to move the seat up and move the rear mirror. It seems like it takes 2 days to get it back right where I want it. ( I know an easy fix would be not to let her drive it!! )

Another thing that bugs me is, occasionally, when I start the AV the muffler rattles....almost sounds like a growl. Doesn't seem to do it once it's been running awhile.

jackalanche · Feb 19, 2003

FSUGUY said:
here's mine:
Car seats!
got them in the back and have to take them out to use the midgate. we got a great feature, just hard to use with these.
Also, have tried putting them in. the seat belt has the feature where once you pull it out it will only go back in. So if you have a problem with seat belt on a car seat, you usually have to start over. (I am getting better at this).

be thankful the Av has the ratcheting seat belt feature (triggered by pulling the belt out fully) because it makes for a much safer car seat installation. (My Durango does NOT have this feature and you have to tether the seat then. and I have tried it with the Av, the tether attachement point is UNDERNEATH the seat - just go ahead and try to attach you car seat tether to it since the seat will likely be UP when you are installing a car seat! So that's my peeve, the car seat tether attachment point. and the failure to include a front seat passenger airbag disable switch (like you find on any other GM Truck with a back seat) but I fixed that issue.

jackalanche · Feb 19, 2003

truckman said:
Several years ago when I used to use a car seat for my kids and while I lived in CA, a CHP showed me a pretty cool trick to secure a car seat. ?Set the seat up in the position you want, feed the strap through and latch it. ?Then, ?put your knee in the center of the seat and push down hard. ?At the same time, pull up on the adjustment strap removing any slack. ?When you release the pressure from you knee, that car seat isn't going anywhere. ?
:

unless your car/truck doesn't have the ratcheting feature, like I said above the Durango does not, or did not in 2000. Note that some Av owners have found that they have this feature unintentionally in the front passenger seat, and hate it.

TXAVy · Feb 19, 2003

CONS:

The bed should be 100% Protec like the upcoming option on the Silverado instead of protec side panels and steel painted bed with rubber mat.
The backup sensor from the EXT should be an option considering the lack of visibility behind this beasty.

AvaGator · Feb 19, 2003

This may sound hokey, but I have a major static cling problem with the center console. ?I've tried wiping with Bounce and spraying with Static Guard, but it always comes back in a few days. ?Arm hairs are always standing up. ?Very annoying.

Don't even think of recommending shaving the arm.

lewdog123 · Feb 19, 2003

1. Console reflection off the rear window @ night. Makes backing out of parking slot a bit more difficult than it already is. I like to keep mines on at about 60% intensity.

2. Someone mention the thing about the wiper blades not being able to lock while cleaning the windows...I second that emotion!!

That's about it...I love my AV and would purchase it again...

-Lew

scubarex · Feb 19, 2003

can't get much more trivial than this...when I store items in the side pocket of the drivers side door, always wind up hitting the power seat adjustment throwing my seat out of whack.

Avalanche CONS(Annoyances)

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