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Keyless remote, brakes, speakers


chips
12-31-2004, 02:58 PM
Had some time to fix problems that I put off for the past years on the 1999 Montana with 55k miles.
First checked the forum comments before starting and thank everyone for the info. Here is what I learned.

Keyless remote would not work; changed the battery in the remote transmitter, still did not work, pulled the fuses in the box under the hood (looks like the radio and the remote receiver share the same fuse) and cleaned the 10A fuse terminals with fine sand paper. Works again.

Front brakes; This is the 1st time the brakes have been changed, but do mostly highway traveling. Easy to do it yourself, bought the ceramic ones, rotors were still smooth, just scuffed with course sandpaper. Bought a $10 caliper compressor tools from local auto parts store, worked good, tool looks like a brake pad with a giant screw in it.

Rear brakes; pads were still good but the wheel cylinders were leaking, these required an E-8 flare socket to remove, socket cost $3 at the auto store, put on new brakes shoes since it was apart and old ones were coated with brake fluid. After putting on the cylinders you can use a 1/4" id fuel line hose and plastic bottle to bleed the rear lines.

Speakers; always wanted to put in some aftermarket speakers, 6.5inch round fit in the openings in the front doors and rear door. Need to drill 4 holes for each speaker and cut and solder the wires, also used some silicone adhesive to make sure speakers don't ever loosen (front screws go into plastic). Getting the door panels off is a challenge, needed to buy a door panel removal tool for $5. Would not try this without the tool. I see that cruthcfield.com has adapters to mount the speaker so don't need to drill.
Considered replacing the radio with one that can play mp3's but could not find anything that fits. Also wanted to keep using the controls on the steering wheel. Sound improved since the new speakers have tweeters and bass built into the cones.

Paint; Van gets scratched (keyed) sometimes at the local casinos here, one door was looking really bad, bought a can of matching metalic spray paint from Pontiac parts center, and a can of clear lacquer. Lightly sand the door, paint the metalic and then the clear. Looks better than I expected.

These Montana's are great for road trips and I'm looking forward to many more.

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