GM should take notice

[steve1173]

Besides my 2001 Coupe M6 I have a 2002 VW Beetle Turbo S. The reason I say this is that the Beetles have a known problem with window regulators & VW now sent all owners a letter extending the warranty on the window mechanisms to 7 years. GM with the Corvette has known problems with the steering column lock, rocking seats, gas gauge, rear differential seal, etc. Once our factory warranty is up the repairs are on us for these known problems. Why can't GM step up to the plate like VW did, GM knows these are inherent problems but does nothing about it.

 

[DkBG]

I agree Steve ! Its one thing when a random problem shows up on your car , but when it shows up on alot of cars , the factory should admit a design mistake on their part , and make it right . Cliff

 

[Justin_cv87]

is this all vettes or just new ones?

 

[warren s]

its even more of a slap in your face when GM has a "TSB" or Technical Service Bulliten out on your car and they still play stupid at the dealers service area, than you show them one you printed off the internet and now its "Oh yeah,- that known problem"

 

[NavyPhrog]

GM needs to make the TSBs more accessible and not treat them like state secrets. If they would just do that it would make life much easier, rather than having us Vette diehards searching long and hard to locate them without having to pay for a subscription to a web site in order to retreive the TSBs. Thankfully we have people like c4c5 specialist that helps us all so much and FRC Tom.
Jim

 

[steve1173]

I got a better state secret that I read on the other corvette forum & I have a great dealer who reads that forum & mentioned to him what I read. Well it is this, GM has a secret warranty on our sagging rear bumpers. Originally they were replacing the bumpers if the customer complained enough but found out they all sag do to no support. If you persist & ask your service manager they can get it approved from the regional rep that they order the reinforcements from Eckler (hope I spelled the name right), dealer gets the part & they install it courtesy of GM. GM does not advertise this but I read it & asked & now my bumper is perfect.

 

[barkingowl]

:eek That's great to know! Thanks for the tip.

Chris

 

[NavyPhrog]

steve, how do we get the documentation to get the reinforcements before the rear bumper starts sagging?

 

[BigRed]

I was talking to my my mechanic and you know what, Gm is not the only one.

Did you know anything forwarded to a CHRYSLER/DODGE ABS system has a lifetime warranty? NO one knows this its probably the best known secret of the big three.

Now I haven't had to test this yet but my mechanic felt he should inform me due to my 93 Grand Cherokee.

Has anyone else ever heard of this?

He did tell me though you have to FIGHT with the dealers, but they have to treat it as lifetime.

I knew something was fishy when I bent my wheel speed sensor housing and ALL the mechanics I called said they are not able to perform work on Chrysler/Dodge's because the company will not release the codes or computer information required to diagonse a repair.

Cool eh?

 

[steve1173]

Got to wait for it to sag then go to service manager & have him contact regional rep. Never seen any official documentation but it must be there somewhere since mine was fixed by them that way. If you go to the other corvette forum when it is working correctly & do a search for it you will see where I read about it & asked mine & they checked & did it. They showed me the kit when it arrived, had the reinforcements & a tube of adhesive but by dealer sent it to their body shop & used their own adhesive.

 

[steve1173]

Off subject- steering column lockup

Forgot to ad something else, the NHTSA is doing an investigation on our steering column lockups. When the cars were locking up while parked they had no interest since it was an inconvenience but they are checking that 37 locked up while moving with 2 injuries so now it is a possible safety hazard. Mine locked up this year & I have a 2001 manufactured the last week of the run & has the latest GM fix from the factory but after it was towed in they installed the same new part & I was told there is so many reasons to cause this. GM claims this is the right fix but if it is tell me this why did they remove the lock from the A4's but keep it in the M6's. Because common sense says they do not have the fix but they could not remove it from the M6 because of Federal law where as either the steering or the transmission must be locked while parked. So if you have ever had yours lock up contact the NHTSA & file a complaint on their web page or call 888-327-4236 & give it to them on the phone. You will need
Vin #
Auto or Manual Trans.
mileage at the time locked up
speed you where going & distance
date
This is our chance to hold GM accountable..

 

[AnytownUSA]

Where do you guys get the TSB's and what do they do for you? Does it tell you how to fix whatever it is addressing or is it mainly for the dealer to know where to start with the problem so they don't waste a fist full of dollars? I've seen the TSB's listed on AllData.com (I think) but have never been able to read one, so I really don't know what they are all about.

 

[NavyPhrog]

Anytown, the TSBs you find on alldata you have to pay for. Some of them you can read and the rest you have to suvscribe to the alldata system to get access. The TSBs do not necessarily tell you how to fix the problem. What they do tell you is that the manufacturer is aware of a common problem, whatever the TSB may be about, and they have to fix it under certain guidelines if you have the problem and bring the car in for service.
From what I understand the TSBs are a matter of public record but I haven't found any place to get free public access to them. Fortunately we have great forums that get them for us and post them so we can be aware of what some of the issues with our cars may be.
I am sure someone else can elaborate more on this with more knowledge than I have about this.

 

[AnytownUSA]

Well, Phrog, I understand then why they are not readily available. If it is going to cost them money to fix it they would hide the information - or at least minimize the distribution. So all those things I see listed on AllData they would fix if I brought it in and made a stink about it? It sounds like the TSB's are "pre-recalls" then. Thanks for the info, I see TSB's mentioned all the time but just haven't asked before. Where do you y'all find them posted?

I once went into the local Chevy house while having problems with my Sonoma. I had seen the TSB on AllData about EGR problems, so I asked the service manager if I could get a copy of it. He told me no and that it wouldn't do me any good anyway, that they were stuff for the diagnostic computer. I just figured you guys had equipment I didn't and were able to use the TSB's. Sometimes it's embarassing how gullible/ignorant I can be.

 

[Vettelt193]

FYI: GM usually extends the warrantee on Corvettes to 4 years.... what happens in the 4th year is the dealer has to get the fix approved, or the owner has to call up the 800 number to get the fix approved. In my experience, one owner 'Vettes get 99% of repairs done in the 4th year for free. If the car has changed hands it is less likely, but many times GM offers to split the bill.

I managed to get 4 new wheels for my '93 when it was 5 years old for 25% of the cost because the originals had a clear coat problem.... I just made sure I explained we are a chevy family, bought the car new, and was very upset about the problem when I called the 800 number.

 

[wrrvette]

Steve,
I have a 2000 coupe which has a "rumble noise when performing parking moves'. This problem has been known to Chevy since the introduction of the C-5s in 1997 because there has been a service bulletin on the NHTSA website every year since 1997.
Since I'm past warranty I would have to pay 500.00 to get it fixed.
Just another case of Chevy knowing they have a problem but not caring enough to keep their customers happy.

 

[dmkoger]

Same thing with the tire pressure sensors. They're notoriously unreliable with aftermarket tires.

 

[steve1173]

Is that the notorious marbles in a can noise of the M6 that GM states is normal.

 

[wrrvette]

I have an A4 and the cure is to replace the generator and belt tensioner together. The noise comes from under the hood but is quite loud.

 

[c4c5specialist]

Hi there,
This is where I must step in, and bring fact to this post, on a few issues.
First off, GM is GM, and every dealership is a franchise. They do there own thing, and can make life very difficult for the customer. Each conducts their business, in their own way. GM cannot possibly monitor every dealership, at all times.
Now, Corvette engineering is constantly working, tirelessly, to make sure that these cars are the best ever, and continue to be so.
Rocking seats, TSB, with a preliminary document issued about 6 months after problems arose.
Fuel gauges, also, same thing. Now, with the redesigned FFS system, nothing is the same as the older ones.
Rear axle leakage, revised service procedures, which have been out since 98, when followed, are effective, and repair the problem.
Column lock issues, which if correctly diagnosed, will be repaired with GMs fix. I have not seen any, at all, reoccurances of problems after the fix.
While there are always unforseen circumstances, its the dealerships responsiblity to search out the fixes, and the correct way to serve Corvette.
www.nhsta.com for published technical service bulletins.
Any questions posted here, are usually answered within 24 hours.
There are many avenues to explore, when owning and servicing Corvette.
Allthebest, c4c5