Piston Service Bulletin

[madd03]

My 2003 Coupe was experiencing a knock what sounded like lifter noise to me. I took it in thinking it was the o-ring as stated in previous posts. I received a call from the dealer and i have to take the car to another dealer with a certified mechanic. He states that there is a noise coming from one of the pistons. Does anyone have info or experience with this. He states there is a service bulletin for 2003's on this and i will get a copy when i pick the car up this afternoon. Thanks for any info -this is my first post also-Hey everyone.

 

[MsSchroder]

Hey Madd, welcome to the CAC!
We're getting a big Atlanta contingent here. I'm sorry to hear about your piston problem, I haven't heard anything about that.
Tammy

 

[c4c5specialist]

HI there,
There is no service bulletin as of this writing. There is only a preliminary service document for a condition that is something of what you described.
This document I cannot release, however, correct diagnosis is critical for effective repair.
Allthebest, c4c5

 

[wm_sorg]

Sonds like the infamous LS1/6 piston slap. This is well known in the LS1/6 world. GM is aware of it and believes this does not affect reliability.

 

[madd03]

Thanks for the reply c4c5, They gave me a copy of the document I quess your referring to, TSB#PI00150. It explains what has to be done for the repair and how to replace the affected piston. Not very pleasant considering it is a new car. I appreciate the info and I'll let ya'll know how it goes.

 

[offshore]

TSB IS A SERVICE BULLITIN. CAN YOU POST A COPY?

 

[c4c5specialist]

Hi there,
This is a preliminary document, and NOT a bulletin, and should not be posted.
Allthebest, c4c5

 

[offshore]

Hi there,
This is a preliminary document, and NOT a bulletin, and should not be posted.
Allthebest, c4c5

t.s.b.= tech. service bullitin. but it's not a bullitin? I don't get it.

 

[c4c5specialist]

t.s.b.= tech. service bullitin. but it's not a bullitin? I don't get it.

The member wrote TSB, however, if you would like to confirm this, go to the NHSTA recall site, and you will see that it is NOT published. Any and all TSBs will be published through them, by LAW. The PI, is for preliminary document, and you will never find that prefix on TSBs.
Allthebest, c4c5

 

[bowtiebandit]

To back up what c4c5 said a PI is preliminary information and is VIN specific. The info on these should never be posted nor should it have been released. It is information that has not been ok'd by legal for publishing and may be revised or changed before it goes public.
I myself finished up 2 of these piston replacements this week.

 

[IH2LOSE]

I own a 2002 C5 and it has nasty noise in the bottom end,If it was a used car I was looking at I would run away thinking something on the bottom is knocking to get out,
I used to belong to another forum and was advised this is normal with this motor and pose's no reliablity risk what so ever

I have never had a good dealer exspereance so for sure my car will not be in the shop to adress this noise untill there is a hole in the side of the motor.

I dont know if I have read it here or else or if I was understanding it correct but

but if a major portion of the front suspention has to come out some of the fasteners have to be replaced.I would think if they were going to rplace the piston in car for sure the have to make some room on the bottom of the car and may remove some supention parts

And to the two guys who replied who were gm tec's I am sure you guys do the right thing,and I never want to flame a forum member so I applogize in advance if you find it offensive to you.I own a fleet of GM vehicles and every time a vehicle goes in for a repair it ends up returning at least 4 to 5 times to correct other problems created from the poor quaility repair of the first defect.And I really hate to be Bs'ed to by service wrighters.I had a 800 mile old vehicle have to go into the shop for a new trans,called the shop the following day after it was pulled in and asked what have the found out? (Truck lost its tranney 2 hours away from my shop so it was at a non local dealer and he knew we were not local to him) the service wrighter exspained He had the truck brought in first thing in the morning and they are working on it now.I have a satelite tracking system in the truck and was looking at my truck on my computer screen showing the truck had not been moved nor started for the last 18 hours.I told they guy he was a LIAR he had not touched the truck His only concern was why did I come all the way up to his shop surely only because I wanted to start trouble for him
I exsplained about the satelite and then paid 323.00 out of my own pocket to bring the truck home for a local dealer to repair it.

 

[offshore]

I own a 2002 C5 and it has nasty noise in the bottom end,If it was a used car I was looking at I would run away thinking something on the bottom is knocking to get out,
I used to belong to another forum and was advised this is normal with this motor and pose's no reliablity risk what so ever

I have never had a good dealer exspereance so for sure my car will not be in the shop to adress this noise untill there is a hole in the side of the motor.

I dont know if I have read it here or else or if I was understanding it correct but

but if a major portion of the front suspention has to come out some of the fasteners have to be replaced.I would think if they were going to rplace the piston in car for sure the have to make some room on the bottom of the car and may remove some supention parts

And to the two guys who replied who were gm tec's I am sure you guys do the right thing,and I never want to flame a forum member so I applogize in advance if you find it offensive to you.I own a fleet of GM vehicles and every time a vehicle goes in for a repair it ends up returning at least 4 to 5 times to correct other problems created from the poor quaility repair of the first defect.And I really hate to be Bs'ed to by service wrighters.I had a 800 mile old vehicle have to go into the shop for a new trans,called the shop the following day after it was pulled in and asked what have the found out? (Truck lost its tranney 2 hours away from my shop so it was at a non local dealer and he knew we were not local to him) the service wrighter exspained He had the truck brought in first thing in the morning and they are working on it now.I have a satelite tracking system in the truck and was looking at my truck on my computer screen showing the truck had not been moved nor started for the last 18 hours.I told they guy he was a LIAR he had not touched the truck His only concern was why did I come all the way up to his shop surely only because I wanted to start trouble for him
I exsplained about the satelite and then paid 323.00 out of my own pocket to bring the truck home for a local dealer to repair it.

WOW !

 

[madd03]

Bowtiebandit, Does the piston replacement fix this permanently or am I going to have problems for the duration with this motor. My vehicle has been with the local dealer here in Atlanta for three (3) days now and they seem to be perplexed. They have had two Certified Corvette Technicians look at it and they tell me they are just trying to be sure where the knock is coming from before they repair it. This is my first Corvette and until this problem , the experience was great, now.......... Thanks again for the reply

 

[offshore]

Bowtiebandit, Does the piston replacement fix this permanently or am I going to have problems for the duration with this motor. My vehicle has been with the local dealer here in Atlanta for three (3) days now and they seem to be perplexed. They have had two Certified Corvette Technicians look at it and they tell me they are just trying to be sure where the knock is coming from before they repair it. This is my first Corvette and until this problem , the experience was great, now.......... Thanks again for the reply

Is this a merc. marine engine? Don't blow a gasket they build engines for chev. for vettes.

 

[bowtiebandit]

Bowtiebandit, Does the piston replacement fix this permanently or am I going to have problems for the duration with this motor. My vehicle has been with the local dealer here in Atlanta for three (3) days now and they seem to be perplexed. They have had two Certified Corvette Technicians look at it and they tell me they are just trying to be sure where the knock is coming from before they repair it. This is my first Corvette and until this problem , the experience was great, now.......... Thanks again for the reply

Yes, so far it has fixed every one I have done.

 

[68Roadster]

Check out www.pistonslap.com

I became aware of this after buying a 99 Chevy Truck. I'm just glad I have never had the problem.

A coworker has a 2001 and after several months of unusual oil usage, GM fixed her up.....

 

[Bob25thTA]

Does anyone have a copy of TSB Service Bulletin Num : 020601038 which is part of the TSB's in this forum for 2003 C5. I have a Engine knock or lifter noise and also would like to know what the remedy is.

 

[c4c5specialist]

Hi there,
This bulletin is for a leaky Oring, at the oil pump pickup. Instructions are to remove the oil pan, and replace the oring.
However, this noise is usually more prevelant when cold, and decrease with warmth.
Allthebest, c4c5

 

[madd03]

I have my car back from the dealership now, and got the response I thought I would from them. They changed the O-ring as stated in that service bulletin. No change. Then I got the standard reply that Chevrolet has told the tech's to give, "Normal engine noise", thought, I repeat thought to be coming from lifters. They stated they didn't think the noise is not coming from the pistons. The dealer did admit there is a problem with the LS1's piston's and Chevy hasn't come up with a reliable fix. He states that if he did change the piston as in the service bulletin I "wasn't supposed to get a copy of", that the problem would just come back later. They gave the standard answer that "Chevrolet assigned a case number to it", if I should have future problems. Yeah, right. I'll let you know what reply's I get from the home office, they are"researching the problem" and will respond by the 11th. Dealer is also not happy that I went to Chevrolet assistance to complain on service received. Just got e-mail asking where their dealership is that they can't locate them by Nalley Chevrolet, "I feel comfortable now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:duh