[markophoto]

I just bought a 2007 GXP (Mean) automatic, with a little under 5,000 miles on it. The car still smells new. I've been reading the forum for a while now before I made the purchase so I did inspect the diff for leaks. I did not see any and I've checked with GM and they say that there are no open tickets on the vehicle and that the recall was performed (07204). I am hearing the noise that so many have talked about at low speeds during parking maneuvers. It's a rubbing or slight knocking noise. What should be my first course of action to protect my new investment? Should I get the fluid changed and see how that works? I have a 30 day warranty from the dealer (Carmax) Also what sort of maintenance should I perform considering that the car has sat idle for most of it's life? Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[markberg]

I left info on another thread to you for this. Have the fluid drained before warenty over. Mine at 5k had metal particles in the fluid and I had to pay for a new carrier. I didn't buy the extended warenty.. 4700 miles... new car

 

[warrenhotrod1]

You may not see the leak, but you are low and need to top off the rear with some Posi Trac. Get it at any Auto store.

 

[MidniteBlues]

First thing I would do is perhaps definitely replace ALL fluids, especially the rear end and the engine & oil filter, don't forget for them to add the GM additive. I don't think I would let carmax do this work tho, I would take it to an ex pontiac or saturn dealer and have a factory trained tech do it, thata way you can learn also do a check by the VIN# to see if the recall was done on the rear.. I think you will be OK with the automatic:thumbs:

 

[shreve1]

The only thing that is going to correct the issue is a new diff.

 

[markophoto]

I've got an appointment on Thursday at a GM dealer. Not sure if they used to be a Pontiac dealer though. We'll see what they find. The car is cherry everywhere else though.
Thanks,
Mark

 

[markophoto]

Here's the update. I had the fluid drained, driven for 10 minutes making mostly turns, drained again and refilled with the additive included. This seems to have cleared up the problem. The dealer said that it could take a couple of days to work but the noise was gone by the time I got back to my office. I do still have a slight clunk when either putting the rear end under load or taking it off as in letting off of the gas. I'm not too worried about that though. Thanks for everyone's input.

 

[TecSolOnt]

Take a look at the other threads on this subject. In my case the GM folks did the same routine as they have done for you and it made the noise go away but a year later and 2500 miles (this is only a sunny day drive for me) the noise came back. Many recommended Royal Purple Max Gear, I swapped it out and so far so good. But then again the GM fix worked for a short time as well, it has been just a couple of days for me with the Royal Purple, just glad to have it quiet again. My noise was low speed turns primarily.

 

[TX08manualGXP]

My 06 has klunked sine the day I got it. Been about 6 month and I've driven the hell out of it and the noise has not gotten worse and nothing has broke. I'm gonna keep the diff full and drive it till it breaks. But it's good to know that it has not gotten worse over time.

 

[markophoto]

So it's been about 1, 400 miles and the clutch pack noise is starting to come back. I talked with the dealer and they've said that the only thing they could do would be to replace the diff. I'm thinking about trying the Royal Purple gear oil but it seems to have spotty results with this issue. Looking down the road I'm hesitant to put another GM diff in and I'm considering an aftermarket part. Any thoughts on this and trying Royal Purple?
Thanks,
Mark

 

[Mehran333]

I have the same troubles as you markophoto, but due to costly repairs at the moment, I do not have enough money for a rear differential. Please keep us updated on your methods and your solution(s)! Thanks in advance!

 

[markophoto]

Mehran, I'm still hoping to get some feedback on the Royal Purple but in the meantime I plan to keep driving her. Dealer pointed out that since there are no serviceable parts in the differential that driving more and possibly causing more damage wasn't an issue. Of course I don't want to totally blow it out. $2,700 was what I was quoted for parts and labor. They seem to think that whatever the issues were with the original differential that they would have been fixed by now but I'm not so sure which is why I'm looking at aftermarket. Should save some money too.

 

[rob the elder]

My recollection is that there were a couple of changes in the differential design, the 06s are different than 07 and up and I believe there was an additional running change in mid-late 07 and up but would need to check that. Point is while there were more issues with the early differentials, the later versions seem to be pretty reliable.

 

[TX08manualGXP]

That's why I was only looking at 08's and 09's when I went solstice shopping for the second time. I'm sure there are some totalled solstice out there with good diffs and if the one in the 06 blows, I'm going to try and find one out of an 08 or an 09. just the way it goes sometimes.