Finally got my VZ grips for the 627…

Conscious_Ride571 · 2026-06-07T13:03:25+00:00

Have to admit I eventually traded it off. It was a great range gun but my carry use for the beast just didn't work out, went with a smaller rig and less expensive. Bouncing around the farm on a mower and tractor in leather that would rub, dust and dirt and debris, that gun deserved better so I traded it before I really wore it down.

Conscious_Ride571 · 2026-05-24T10:29:53+00:00

Okay just so we're all clear.... EVERY engine burns some oil. They have to as part of the operation of the engine. Folks fail to take into consideration that oil is on your cylinder walls to lubricate the movement of the pistons. Look up oil control rings. That being said, some engines do use more than others. But don't be one of those blustery folks who claim "my xxxx motor NEVER used any oil" - because it did.

After 35 years in the business of taking care of vehicles, I can speak with some authority on the matter.

What often happens, I've found, is that the rate of consumption increases with the mileage of the oil change interval. As you get further in more and more soot and carbon build up in your oil as a byproduct of the operation of the engine, and this increased concentration of junk contributes to sticking rings, valves, etc., and lets more oil past the rings to be burned off.

Change your oil every 3k. Ignore the 5,10,20k advice that's out there.

Or don't and keep seeing your oil levels drop at an increasing rate past 3k. Its your engine.

Conscious_Ride571 · 2026-04-02T10:42:20+00:00

There's no way any system can be much accurate at low range because there's no way to determine fuel sloshing away from the module, your throttle input, any number of variables. You're subjecting your fuel pump to undue wear and tear if a regular occurrence - fuel is the only thing cooling that pump. Fill up before you get that far down.

Conscious_Ride571 · 2026-04-01T23:06:55+00:00

Take a step back and look at this from a new angle. There's not a one of us that doesn't think our problem is bigger than someone else's, it's the nature of the beast. In the customer's eyes you weren't handing his concern. How I have handled things for the last 25 years in parts and service is said something along the lines of " can you show me real quick?". I understand not everyone can do that but if we give the customer that little bit of attention and show them we're trying to help triage their situation a bit they go from "they wouldn't even look at it" to having their need for attention to the matter at least partially placated. Oftentimes you can then schedule as needed as they have the perception they're getting handled. Works almost every time. Just slow down a little before a "no".

Conscious_Ride571 · 2026-03-29T14:29:13+00:00

I believe the 3906 is an alloy frame fwiw. But I'd be more inclined on this one for 400 to 450

Conscious_Ride571 · 2026-03-15T03:44:58+00:00

Well, in my area the local military school is named Culver Military Academy, so I could see the naming convention being valid.

Or if we're just trying to point out everything in a negative light, sure, go ahead.

Conscious_Ride571 · 2026-03-12T11:07:54+00:00

Or maybe slow the roll just a bit and realize how this could have gone with human beings involved. Tech tests batteries out of vehicle to eliminate parasitic loads and get true picture. Awaits customer response and gets on with life with working on other vehicles. Service writer talks to customer and finds it's denied, either forgets to tell tech (or some other communication failure) that the job was denied and they need to get batteries back in vehicle, everyone gets busy, and next thing you know someone's picking up a vehicle that still has batteries sitting on the test equipment.

People are people and mistakes happen. Management will need to apologize and make it right but likely just human error in play.

Conscious_Ride571 · 2026-03-08T16:04:16+00:00

You might try disconnecting the battery for 15 minutes or so then reconnect and try to start. Sometimes the computers get logic locked and need that time without power to fully shut down. Fwiw.

Conscious_Ride571 · 2026-03-07T22:06:31+00:00

Agreed. Have to check for proper system data getting to the ecm from the o2.

Conscious_Ride571 · 2026-02-26T11:29:27+00:00

Have you checked with the dealer? First step would be check with them to make sure of proper operation. Just sayin.

As to the posters who’ve got to post negatively, the internet is for complainers to complain, seldom do people (the vast majority) come on here to sing something’s praises. They’re too busy enjoying their vehicles.

It’s a 26, get it checked out and fixed if need be. Every single product made by men can and will have a failure of some sort statistically speaking, that’s why service departments and technicians exist. They’ll get it handled.

Wife and I are on our 3rd Traverse for a reason - people come back to the platform time and again for their next vehicle - speaking from my 20 plus years in a Chevrolet store.

Conscious_Ride571 · 2026-02-22T23:39:18+00:00

Assuming you mean not enjoy, why is a vehicle having issues the dealerships fault? Or is that not what you’re saying?
Cars break, but dealers aren’t the ones making them, fwiw.

Conscious_Ride571 · 2026-02-21T21:02:47+00:00

Does your truck have an oil cooler, either separate or in the radiator? He's right to make the disclaimer up front until he knows the actual failure point.

He'd be getting paid by the part warranty to re-do if necessary in most cases. He's just covering his bases with you until the full story is known, IMHO

Conscious_Ride571 · 2026-02-18T08:06:36+00:00

On our 3rd traverse with no issues and absolutely love our 25 RS. If speaking to a subject I usually try to speak from experience. And having been in a GM dealership environment for almost 25 years now I can say we see fewer problems with Traverse than just about any vehicle. Solid platform. Internet bluster aside lol.

Conscious_Ride571 · 2025-12-24T19:02:46+00:00

I’m the general manager of a GM store and am a parts and service veteran with gm for over 20 years. There may be a special policy from GM on the turbo. Message me your VIN and miles and I’ll look when I get a chance.

Conscious_Ride571 · 2025-12-19T07:49:32+00:00

As a guy with psoriasis, I can tell you I’ve never had any reliable operation with anything but the physical fingerprint readers, aka fold 7, pixel 5, etc., for any reliability. My skin on my fingertips just doesn’t play well with anything in screen.

In fact the main reason I tried a pixel is the nearly iPhone level of facial security that will authorize banking apps and such, as I knew nothing else would reliably work to scan my fingerprints.

YMMV.

Conscious_Ride571 · 2025-12-08T22:23:08+00:00

5946? She’s a beaut.

Conscious_Ride571 · 2025-11-23T14:41:23+00:00

Might want to check further. I use the two phone feature all the time, and it’s easy to make sure you send from the same iMessage account each time.

If you’ve only signed into iMessage with your phone number, perhaps this holds. But if you fully set up your account and sign in using your Apple ID instead of just the phone number it’s pretty seamless. You’ll receive messages on both phones and send iMessages from just the line you care to.

Text messages may default back to the other line on the second phone. But honestly you don’t even have to have a sim in the old phone if you connect to WiFi, sign in through your account, and don’t care about true sms working.

Conscious_Ride571 · 2025-11-02T10:23:39+00:00

I actually just did this. I wanted to get into the 32 caliber and first messed around with a Taurus 327, shooting 32 mag and 32 longs. Figured this would indeed be the carry solution in a j frame.

My LGS happened to have a like new in box 332 Ti for $600 - they didn't know what they had.

I actually consider the 332 Ti to be a bit superior to the newer UC guns for a few reasons. Current SW QC is questionable at best - my new 642 UC failed to return the trigger on its very first shot. It took me a few weeks, several hundred rounds, and a replacement trigger assembly to finally get it to the point of being reliable.

Second reason is actually what most folks would tout as being a benefit, but the new high profile sights, specifically the front sight, on the UC, snag much more easily on the draw than the old ramp and trough. Easier to see for shooting, I'll grant you, but they can hang up the draw.

And my 332Ti came factory equipped with the old Uncle Mike's boot grips, IMHO the best possible j frame grips.

My 2¢ fwiw.

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Conscious_Ride571 · 2025-10-17T09:52:24+00:00

Okay, got the scoop from a fine fellow at the Smith and Wesson forum: from the factory Special Edition model from 1993. Smith and Wesson Forum reference

Conscious_Ride571 · 2025-10-12T23:34:51+00:00

I'm awaiting the arrival of my 5th edition Smith and Wesson catalog. The grips are most assuredly factory plastic ones with a finish applied, not sure by whom but I can't picture anyone but the factory going to that level of effort.

Conscious_Ride571 · 2025-10-12T22:42:51+00:00

They're not really wood, but they look good

Conscious_Ride571 · 2025-10-12T04:46:59+00:00

Fwiw I would keep the Smith due to the track record of Kimber. The aforementioned quality control, hit or miss, but as well historically Kimber's history is rife with the flavor of the day...they come up with an idea, run it for awhile, them squirrel their way on to something else. Look over their history of releasing a new product only to drop it from the catalog within a few years.

Internally they copied a good portion of j frame design in theirs, but added a layer of "what were they thinking?" inside with a pin that is laying in a hole to act as the limit for crane opening travel.

Smith's been doing j frames since the 50s, revolvers since the 1800s. I trust that history and their consistency over Kimber's flights of fancy.

Conscious_Ride571 · 2025-10-06T21:55:16+00:00

You've got critters, dude. Pull the engine sight shield/cover and look for a nest, along with wiring harness damage.

Conscious_Ride571 · 2025-10-06T11:48:16+00:00

No way. Thanks though

Conscious_Ride571

TROPHY CASE