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Trans And Battery Trouble

andyems

By andyems
in Ask A GM Technician

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andyems Enthusiast

andyems

Posted
Posted

My '07 NBS Silverado seems to have alot of slack in the trans when it goes in Park. If I am pointing down hill and put in in Park, when I lift off the brake, it rolls an inch or so. It's enough to rock the whole vehicle back and forth and you can even hear the fuel tank slosh around as the truck bounces. It only does it when the vehicle is pointing down hill. Up hill there is hardly no slack, much like every other vehicle I have owned.

Also, the charging system does not seem to be up to par. At night, the headlights dim with just about anything I do. Roll the windows up or down, push the brake pedal, even if the stereo hits a nice low bass note, the lights dim with it. I'm not talking about idle, this is running at 60 MPH.

Took it to a dealer who I really trust and they found nothing wrong with either. The trans is normal they say, it just takes alot of slack to catch the Park gear. They also told me not to worry about it because I have a good powertrain warranty left if it does turn out to be something major. What kind of answer is that? I'd rather not have the trans go out to start with than to have to hope it goes out under warranty. As far as the charging system, they also say that is normal, the truck uses so much electricity that Chevy didn't put a big enough alternator in them, and it has a hard time keeping up. They said they get complaints every week from people with these trucks and there is no fix. I told them my girlfriend's 4 cyclinder Honda Civic can roll all 4 windows up with the radio playing and never strain a thing!

Anyone have an idea? Should I go to another dealer, or will they tell me the same thing? Didn't know if anyone else has had these troubles.

Thanks

Nytemare Senior Enthusiast

Nytemare

Posted
Posted
My '07 NBS Silverado seems to have alot of slack in the trans when it goes in Park. If I am pointing down hill and put in in Park, when I lift off the brake, it rolls an inch or so. It's enough to rock the whole vehicle back and forth and you can even hear the fuel tank slosh around as the truck bounces. It only does it when the vehicle is pointing down hill. Up hill there is hardly no slack, much like every other vehicle I have owned.

Also, the charging system does not seem to be up to par. At night, the headlights dim with just about anything I do. Roll the windows up or down, push the brake pedal, even if the stereo hits a nice low bass note, the lights dim with it. I'm not talking about idle, this is running at 60 MPH.

Took it to a dealer who I really trust and they found nothing wrong with either. The trans is normal they say, it just takes alot of slack to catch the Park gear. They also told me not to worry about it because I have a good powertrain warranty left if it does turn out to be something major. What kind of answer is that? I'd rather not have the trans go out to start with than to have to hope it goes out under warranty. As far as the charging system, they also say that is normal, the truck uses so much electricity that Chevy didn't put a big enough alternator in them, and it has a hard time keeping up. They said they get complaints every week from people with these trucks and there is no fix. I told them my girlfriend's 4 cyclinder Honda Civic can roll all 4 windows up with the radio playing and never strain a thing!

Anyone have an idea? Should I go to another dealer, or will they tell me the same thing? Didn't know if anyone else has had these troubles.

Thanks

The Park thing is normal...my 03 does it. I never let it just sit on the park Pawl though...I always set the parking brake...I dont trust a little Pawl to hold a 5000lb hunk of steel on a hill...or on the flat for that matter.

as for your charging system...if it ain't broke they wont fix it...unless a recall comes out. You can go get a yellow top optima or another high output battery to help keep up. Or you can buy a HD alternator. Bump up the amperage.

gmtech4 Senior Enthusiast

gmtech4

Posted
Posted

+1

 

you should get your receipt and tell us what they did.

 

they should tested the battery with the tester and record a code representing a pass or fail,

 

they should have also load tested the battery running to squeeze max amps out of the alternator and also record the results all to get their claim paid by the general,they actually want to fix it so are a happy guy .

 

the tranny is fine ,

 

if you take it to another store ,they will see all the service history when they run your vin which means nothing to you ,but if you go to another store they will do the same thing as the previous dealer and submit a claim to be paid by the general,

 

they do the right thing 'cause the dealer lives and breaths the survey you get after any warranty visit or new veh purchase ,the survey compiles a bunch of stats that ranks dealers so they want you happy and may give you a hat ,lol

 

if you don't have a receipt ,go ask for a print out ,and plse report what it says here ,you have every right to go back to the dealer and say LOOK closer and then keep the regional service manager in the loop or only deal with him,the dealer service manager will give you his number or the 1 800 IM PISSED OFF number .

 

I hope this helps ,you don't have to buy a new alt or battery,

andyems Enthusiast

andyems

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Here is what my receipt says after telling them everything that the headlights are doing when I do anything else in the truck, rolling windows, stereo, push brake pedal, etc.

 

"Customers asks to check headlights, they go dim going down road"

"Road tested vehicle and scanned for any possible trouble codes. Vehicle operation at time of test drive was normal"

 

Coarse, they road tested it in broad daylight.

 

"Customer asked to check trans, states rolls forward in park"

"Road tested vehicle and scanned for any possible trouble codes. Vehicle operation at time of test drive was normal"

 

As long as the trans roll is normal, that's fine, I can live with that. As long as it's not hurting the trans, no big deal. I can't imagine the electrical system not being able to keep the headlights bright when I push the brake pedal or when the radio hits a low bass tone at low volume. Just can't seem accept that as normal. They actually let me talk to the tech that looked at it. He said it's frustrating, but all of them do that. He said the hard part was telling someone in a brand new Escalade the same thing after they had spent $50-60,000 on a vehicle. He said one day maybe GM will do a recall or come up with a service bulletin to fix the problem, but for now there was nothing they could do. I hate to have to upgrade my battery or alternator on my truck. It only has 12,000 miles on it, but it's really aggravating. My girlfriend even noticed it, and she usually wouldn't notice a nuclear explosion 20 feet in front of us, so I know it's really obvious and not just being bolwed out of proportion in my head because I'm always looking for it.

brims Senior Enthusiast

brims

Posted
Posted

I would recommend using the parking brake as well. I do it every time I park the truck, takes the strain off the parking pawl.

gmtech4 Senior Enthusiast

gmtech4

Posted
Posted
Here is what my receipt says after telling them everything that the headlights are doing when I do anything else in the truck, rolling windows, stereo, push brake pedal, etc.

 

"Customers asks to check headlights, they go dim going down road"

"Road tested vehicle and scanned for any possible trouble codes. Vehicle operation at time of test drive was normal"

 

Coarse, they road tested it in broad daylight.

 

"Customer asked to check trans, states rolls forward in park"

"Road tested vehicle and scanned for any possible trouble codes. Vehicle operation at time of test drive was normal"

 

As long as the trans roll is normal, that's fine, I can live with that. As long as it's not hurting the trans, no big deal. I can't imagine the electrical system not being able to keep the headlights bright when I push the brake pedal or when the radio hits a low bass tone at low volume. Just can't seem accept that as normal. They actually let me talk to the tech that looked at it. He said it's frustrating, but all of them do that. He said the hard part was telling someone in a brand new Escalade the same thing after they had spent $50-60,000 on a vehicle. He said one day maybe GM will do a recall or come up with a service bulletin to fix the problem, but for now there was nothing they could do. I hate to have to upgrade my battery or alternator on my truck. It only has 12,000 miles on it, but it's really aggravating. My girlfriend even noticed it, and she usually wouldn't notice a nuclear explosion 20 feet in front of us, so I know it's really obvious and not just being bolwed out of proportion in my head because I'm always looking for it.

 

first off ,the customer complaint is wrong Andy,never tell them what to do ,just what its doing,or read back the exact cust complaint ,2nd ,the tech is full of shit,

 

EPIC FAIL for that ****in store ,call the cust assistance # and don't get mad ,just repeat what ya said here.they are pretty good at resolving shit like this

 

DO NOT REPLACE ANYTHING YOURSELF

 

if your not happy go back and back and back tell them to FIX IT.

 

 

Aiden-the parts guys have the vin in there "putor(as you know) and the options come up for an alternator for that truck.

 

Andy ,go back and see the svc mangler and sit down in his office and explain the battery/alternator WAS NOT checked by his lube guy properly

 

if i got "check headlights at cust request "I would say to myself "what "and go ask WTF and get more from you thru the advisor

 

 

 

rant off ,my blood is boiling

Nytemare Senior Enthusiast

Nytemare

Posted
Posted

I do know that with the auto voltage regulator in these trucks aren't really quick to react, so if this was an idle issue...or would only happen when coming to a stop I would say this is normal, but if its happening when driving...that shouldn't happen.

gmtech4 Senior Enthusiast

gmtech4

Posted
Posted

exactly ,our army 03 dirtymaxs take maybe 30 sec to start charging.

 

he has a problem and I am almost embarassed to have been in the dealer enviroment listening to that crap how they blew him off

Nytemare Senior Enthusiast

Nytemare

Posted
Posted
exactly ,our army 03 dirtymaxs take maybe 30 sec to start charging.

 

he has a problem and I am almost embarassed to have been in the dealer enviroment listening to that crap how they blew him off

Some places are better than others right...

gmtech4 Senior Enthusiast

gmtech4

Posted
Posted

ya,that is for sure ,but

 

the hand held battery tester GM uses takes no time to disconnect the battery and test the battery,record the results for the r.o.

 

and walking across the shop to get the AVR machine ,well my god that is just to much to ask I guess,holy smokes and clip the GD cable ends over a couple of wires ,well goodness gracious ,

 

rant #2 off

Nytemare Senior Enthusiast

Nytemare

Posted
Posted
ya,that is for sure ,but

 

the hand held battery tester GM uses takes no time to disconnect the battery and test the battery,record the results for the r.o.

 

and walking across the shop to get the AVR machine ,well my god that is just to much to ask I guess,holy smokes and clip the GD cable ends over a couple of wires ,well goodness gracious ,

 

rant #2 off

Your forgetting....the service writer didn't ask for it...no one goes out of they're way to please the customer anymore.

gmtech4 Senior Enthusiast

gmtech4

Posted
Posted

that is true but those advisors are told to write up the RO and sell crap,alot of them are clueless and only regurgitate what the tech says when dealing with diagnoses ,so it makes no sense to a tech,the advisor thinks nothing different cause hes on a bonus plan to sell wiper blades that week lol

 

rant#4 off

Nytemare Senior Enthusiast

Nytemare

Posted
Posted
that is true but those advisors are told to write up the RO and sell crap,alot of them are clueless and only regurgitate what the tech says when dealing with diagnoses ,so it makes no sense to a tech,the advisor thinks nothing different cause hes on a bonus plan to sell wiper blades that week lol

 

rant#4 off

Its so true.

gmtech4 Senior Enthusiast

gmtech4

Posted
Posted

up north Aiden the little advisor one day decided that the time we looked up in the book for labour of a job was to high and was gonna tell the cust that it'll be less ,well,you want to see a tech go balsitic,I said "ITS NOT SALE DAY YOU LITTLE (**&^&^%$$##$%^^&&****(( THIS IS HOW i MAKE MY LIVING BY LOOKING UP THE TIME DOIN YOUR JOB ?GO *&^% YOURSELF "

 

I couldn't believe it ,he never did that again lol

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