Repair-It

So fancy!

This is a one-owner car who may have purchased it later in 2003/2004 as a used demo unit, but that's not clear. It has the entire vehicle maintenance history with it, a mix of dealer and independent shops.

Here are the highlights:
9/2004 -> 12/2004 - 3-4K - lower control arms and all 4 tires replaced to solve a vibration at speed issue (SI 1552616) as well as several re-balances. Turns out that wasn't the problem and they ended up replacing a RF wheel and another RF tire
9/2005 - 15k - 'D' service (LOF, trans flush, A/F)
10/2005 - 15k - water in the trunk, trunk weatherstrip replaced
11/2006 - 32k - battery, front brakes
3/2007 - 35k - 30k service (LOF, trans flush again for some reason, A/F)
5/2007 - 39k - coolant leak, replaced water pump housing and some of the coolant
11/2007 - 45k - 45k service (LOF, various BG things)
3/2008 - 47k - Tires
6/2008 - 49k - rodents in blower motor + cabin air filter
9/2008 - 52k - C1287 stability system code. Needs steering wheel position sensor, not fixed.
10/2008 - 53k - LF wheel bearing
6/2009 - 61k - Rear brakes, brake fluid flush, power steering fluid flush, coolant flush
10/2009 - 65k - airbag light B0065 - replaced LF seat belt tensioner
11/2009 - 68k - Front brakes + various BS chemical treatment things
6/2010 - 71k - some sort of window regulator (hand-written receipt)
11/2010 - 76k - Front struts
6/2011 - 80k - blower motor
9/2011 - 82k - RR window regulator
5/2012 - 86k - Brake fluid flush
6/2012 - 88k - LR window regulator
6/2012 - 89k - Crank sensors
7/2012 - 90-ish-k - Shitty paint job
1/2013 - 94k - Tires + front struts again
1/2013 - 94k - battery (AAA)
6/2013 - 101k - P0741 TCC performance - code cleared
10/2013 - 103k - fuel cap from CEL
6/2014 - 104k - CEL on for something, not listed in RO
6/2014 - 105k - P0741 TCC performance - code cleared
10/2014 - 107k - Coolant top off
7/2015 - (Unlisted mileage) - Thermostat, water outlet, radiator hoses
6/2016 - 110k - P0741 again, code cleared, Lucas trans fix added. Sigh...

There are many other invoices for oil changes and tire rotations. I only included them here when something else was replaces as well. We saw the "Service Stability System" code again on the drive back, so it seems the steering position sensor is an intermittent thing. First thing on the list is the torque converter and seals.

This is Jenn's car, BTW.

SPID decode:

AJ7 - RESTRAINT SYSTEM SEAT, INFLATABLE, DRIVER & PASS, FRT & SIDE
AL2 - F SEAT, POWER LUMBAR
AP9 - CARGO NET
AQ9 - SEAT FRT BKT, LUXURY
A45 - MEMORY SEAT ADJUSTER, MIRROR, POWER, DRIVER, PERSONALIZATION
B36 - FLOOR MAT, LUGG COMPT
CE1 - WIPER SYSTEM WINDSHIELD, PULSE, MOISTURE SENSITIVE
CJ2 - HVAC SYSTEM AIR CONDITIONER FRT, AUTO TEMP CONT, AUX TEMP CONT
DD7 - MIRROR I/S R/V LT SENSITIVE, COMPASS
DEH - PLANT CODE DETROIT/HAMTRAMCK, MI, USA
DR2 - MIRROR O/S LH & RH, REMOTE CONTROL, ELECTRIC, HEATED, LT SENSITIVE, MANUAL FOLDING, COLOR
FE1 - SUSPENSION SYSTEM SOFT RIDE
FV3 - RATIO TRANSAXLE FINAL DRIVE 3.11
IL3 - TRIM INTERIOR DESIGN (L3)
JL4 - CONTROL ACTIVE BRAKE
JL9 - BRAKE SYSTEM PWR, FRT & RR DISC, ANTILOCK, FRT & RR WHL
KA1 - HEATER SEAT, FRT
KG9 - GENERATOR 140 AMP
LD8 - ENGINE GAS, 8 CYL, 4.6L, MFI, V8, DOHC
LHD - VEHICLE DRIVE LEFTHAND DRIVE
MH1 - TRANSMISSION AUTO 4 SPD, HMD, 4T80-E, ELECTRONIC CONV CLUTCH
MX0 - MERCHANDISED TRANS AUTO PROVISIONS, O/D
NC1 - EMISSION SYSTEM CALIFORNIA, LEV (NOTE: NOT TO BE USED AFTER 2007 MDL YR FOR DOMESTIC NAO PASS CAR & LT DUTY TRUCKS)
NC7 - ION OVERRIDE FEDERAL SYSTEM
NE1 - CERTIFICATION EMISSION, GEOGRAPHICALLY RESTRICTED REGISTRATION FOR VEHICLES UP TO 14,000 LBS GVW (USE 2003 MDL YR 9 1 5)
NG5 - EMISSION, CERTIFICATION, FIFTY STATE (50)
N30 - STEERING WHEEL DELUXE
N37 - STEERING COLUMN TILT, TELESCOPING
P05 - WHEEL CHROME, VAR 1
QPX - TIRE ALL P225/60R16-97S BW R/PE ST TL ALS
SLM - SALES PROCESSING STOCK ORDERS
UD7 - R INDICATOR REAR PARKING ASSIST
UE1 - COMMUNICATION SYSTEM VEHICLE, G.P.S. ON-STAR
UG1 - R GARAGE DOOR, UNIVERSAL
UM5 - RADIO AM STEREO/FM STEREO, DSP, WX, RDS, SEEK/SCAN, AUTO REV MUSIC SEARCH CASS, CD, CLOCK, ETR
UV7 - ANTENNA WINDSHIELD, RR WINDOW, RADIO
UX9 - SPEAKER SYSTEM 8, DUAL F/D MTD, DUAL RR DR, TRIPLE I/P, PKG SHELFAMPLIFIER, BOSE
UY9 - CLUSTER KILO & MILES, MECHANICAL DISPLAY
U2K - DIGITAL AUDIO SYSTEM S-BAND 121
VM3 - LABEL INFORMATION CONSUMER, CONTAINS BPR IMP STANDARD FOR FRT 5 MPH & RR 5 MPH
V73 - VEHICLE STATEMENT USA/CANADA
WJ7 - OVERRIDE INTERIOR *LEATHER* (TO BE USED BY ALL USERS BEGINNING 1997 MODEL YR)
1SC - PACKAGE OPTION 03
151 - SHALE INTERIOR
153 - TRIM COMBINATION LEATHER, SHALE/EBONY (3) (03)
41U - PRIMARY COLOR EXTERIOR, BLACK (02)
6BJ - COMPONENT FRT LH COMPUTER SEL SUSP (6BJ)
7BJ - COMPONENT FRT RH COMPUTER SEL SUSP (7BJ)
8FD - COMPONENT RR LH COMPUTER SEL SUSP (8FD)
9FD - COMPONENT RR RH COMPUTER SEL SUSP (9FD)

I do have an alternate suggestion on the torque converter.

You could try that Dr. Tranny stuff from Lubegard. If the problem isn't the friction materials, it won't really fix it. And I think the problem is leaking viscous coupling seals so....maybe that answers my question.

Two RPO comments.

It has auto wipers. That is cool. My in law's 01 Park Ave has that (also G-body). Works well on my STS.

I don't think it has the upgraded Bose system. It says 8 speaker. I think the 4.0 system was 12 speaker. But I would still expect it to be your best audio system of the fleet, so that's something.

Also that history is kind of what these cars were known for.

Adam wrote:9/2008 - 52k - C1287 stability system code. Needs steering wheel position sensor, not fixed.
We saw the "Service Stability System" code again on the drive back, so it seems the steering position sensor is an intermittent thing.

You can test that with the Tech 2, reading out steering angle and see if it is smooth. Are you saying it's needed that sensor since 52k and 9 years??

The rear climate control has fan and air direction settings. My STS has temp and air direction. SRX has just fan. An 03 Phaeton had 4 zone auto climate.

kevm14 wrote:

Adam wrote:9/2008 - 52k - C1287 stability system code. Needs steering wheel position sensor, not fixed.
We saw the "Service Stability System" code again on the drive back, so it seems the steering position sensor is an intermittent thing.

You can test that with the Tech 2, reading out steering angle and see if it is smooth. Are you saying it's needed that sensor since 52k and 9 years??

Yes, but it only performs out of spec intermittently so it was never failed enough for the previous owner to bother replacing (also they quoted $450).

kevm14 wrote:It has auto wipers. That is cool. My in law's 01 Park Ave has that (also G-body). Works well on my STS.

I observed it at work on the way home. It seemed a bit confused, but the wipers are shot. Not sure if that effects it.

kevm14 wrote: I don't think it has the upgraded Bose system. It says 8 speaker. I think the 4.0 system was 12 speaker. But I would still expect it to be your best audio system of the fleet, so that's something.

Yeah, its only 8 speakers. It sounds pretty good from my experience during the drive home using the radio. There are lots of settings I haven't explored yet, though. Need to read the manual. It looks like it can save 2 drivers worth of seat, mirror and radio settings, so that's something.