2011 Sierra Duramax

[sceptre]

Picked up my 2011 duramax a little over a month ago. Brought it in to GM's quick lube bay for its first oil change at 3000 miles and they found a few things that made me a little upset. First off, guy pulled the cover off the airbox to check the filter and all the intake tubing fell apart...no clamps were tightened at all. Second, tranny was down about two liters. Front diff was down about half liter and the part that really pissed me off, is the rear diff took 1.2 liters of fluid.

 

Anybody else have luck like this? I have informed the dealer who PDI'd the truck and they basically told me I have warranty and not to worry. Anything else I should be checking for myself??

[becker87]

Sounds like a dealer issue not a GM issue

[jf781]

I would document the hell out of that and contact GM corporate. Especially with the diff's being low on fluid when it is new/breaking in. That is something that I'd have to believe is going to cause an issue down the road. Next 10k, probably not, but I'd have to assume that they will fail sooner then one who had been properly broke in with the correct amount of fluid.

 

You have every right to be upset and I would personally try to contact the owner of the dealer you purchased it form to find out exactly what his thoughts are on it. How much is he willing to do for you and what strings he could he try pull for in corporate to try and make this right. You didn't just spend 50k for something that is going to be in the shop for warranty repair all the time.

[Stevens03]

Your issue's with the dealership. Horrible dealer prep. Like mentioned, document it and save the paper work.

[revrnd]

Is checking the axle fluids part of the PDI? Is there a standard PDI form? The reason I ask is I never saw 1 when I picked up my truck.

 

Souns to me that the truck got out of the plant in a less than satisfactory condition.

[youcantkeepup!]

its not a factory issue, that is 100% a dealer prep item

[DTyrrell]

Shouldn't all the tubes be tightened and fluid in before it even gets to the dealer?

[kdixer]

Shouldn't all the tubes be tightened and fluid in before it even gets to the dealer?

 

 

Seeing as how they drive these vehicles to load and unload them, that would be my guess too. Not sure if the dealer is responsible for checking all levels though. I would think so.

[Diesail]

It has been noted by many that the diffs are not full to the fill plug from the factory and GM says this is normal and the correct level. The amount of fluid the transmission took is not enough to be concerned about but I would recheck it as your service person may have not done so correctly and has over filled it. Here is the correct procedure.

 

Transmission Fluid Check

 

Cold Fluid Check

 

The purpose of the cold check is to determine if the transmission has enough fluid to be operated safely until a hot check can be made.

 

Important: The fluid level rises as fluid temperature increases. DO NOT fill above the COLD CHECK band if the transmission fluid is below normal operating temperatures.

 

 

 

1.Bring the vehicle to a complete stop on a level surface using the service brakes.

2.Ensure that the engine is at low idle RPM (500-800 RPM).

3.With the service brakes applied, put the transmission in the P, PARK, position.

4.Engage the park pawl by slowly releasing the service brakes. The vehicle may move slightly as the pawl engages.

5.Apply the parking brake and ensure it is properly engaged.

6.Run the engine for at least one minute. Apply the service brakes and shift to D, DRIVE, then to N, NEUTRAL, and then shift to R, REVERSE, in order to fill the hydraulic system.

7.Ensure that the engine is at low idle RPM (500-800 RPM).

8.With the service brakes applied, put the transmission in the P, PARK, position.

9.Engage the park pawl by slowly releasing the service brakes. The vehicle may move slightly as the pawl engages.

10.With the engine running, remove the fluid level indicator from the fill tube and wipe the indicator clean. Important:

•If the fluid level is within the COLD CHECK band, the transmission may be operated until the fluid is hot enough to perform a HOT RUN check. If the fluid level is not within the COLD CHECK band, add or drain as necessary to bring it to the middle of the COLD CHECK band.

•Always check the fluid level at least twice using the procedure described above. Consistent readings are important in order to maintaining proper fluid level. If inconsistent readings persist, inspect the transmission vent assembly to be sure that it is clean and unclogged. If readings are still inconsistent, contact your nearest Allison distribution or dealer.

11.Insert the fluid level indicator into the fill tube and remove. Check the fluid level reading. Repeat the check procedure to verify the reading.

12.Perform a hot check at the first opportunity after the normal operating sump temperature of 71-93°C (160-200°F) is reached.

Hot Fluid Check

 

Important: The fluid must be hot to ensure an accurate check. The fluid level rises as temperature increases.

 

 

 

1.Operate the transmission in D, DRIVE, range until normal operating temperature is reached. Normal operating temperature is any of the following:

•Sump temperature 71-93°C (160-200°F)

•Converter-out temperature 82-104°C (180-220°F)

•If a transmission temperature gage is not present, check the fluid level when the engine water temperature gage has stabilized and the transmission has been operated under load for at least one hour.

2.Bring the vehicle to a complete stop on a level surface using the service brake.

3.Ensure that the engine is at low idle RPM, 500-800 RPM.

4.With the service brakes applied, place the transmission in the P, PARK, position.

5.Engage the park pawl by slowly releasing the service brakes. The vehicle may move slightly as the pawl engages.

6.Apply the parking brake and ensure it is properly engaged.

7.With the engine running, remove the fluid level indicator from the fill tube and wipe the indicator clean. Important: Always check the fluid level at least twice using the procedure described above. Consistent readings are important to maintaining proper fluid level. If inconsistent readings persist, inspect the transmission vent assembly to be sure it is clean and unclogged. If readings are still inconsistent, contact your nearest Allison distribution or dealer.

8.Insert the fluid level indicator into fill the tube and remove. Check fluid level reading. Repeat the check procedure to verify the reading. Important: Safe operating level is within the HOT RUN band on the fluid level indicator. The width of the HOT RUN band represents approximately 1.0 liter (1.06 quarts) of fluid at normal operating sump temperature.

9.If the fluid level is not within the HOT RUN band, add or drain as necessary to bring the fluid level to within the HOT RUN band.

[09gmcwt]

I would have to agree with the others, that filling the diffs is not normally a dealer function, I have bought 3 trucks new in the last 2 years, and have never seen this done.

 

I also have worked for a major auto company (not GM), and our axles were already assembled and filled from the vendor (Dana, american axle, etc) and were just installed at the plant.

 

I would think GM would be the same, I doubt they build there own axles in house.

 

I would bet that the truck in question left the factory that way.

 

Mike

[09gmcwt]

Also, curious, when I took my new 2011 HD in for the first oil change, the dealer did not check the diffs anyway, is this supposed to be done at the first change?

 

Mike

[revrnd]

I also have worked for a major auto company (not GM), and our axles were already assembled and filled from the vendor (Dana, american axle, etc) and were just installed at the plant.

 

I would think GM would be the same, I doubt they build there own axles in house.

 

I would bet that the truck in question left the factory that way.

 

Mike

 

American Axle was the former axle operations of GM. GM had axle plants in St. Catharines, Buffalo & Detroit. The axles were shipped to our plant & placed on the leaf springs (chassis upside down @ that stage of the assembly process). I'm pretty sure there wasn't a fluid fill for the axle in the plant.

[pm26]

Sounds like a dealer issue not a GM issue

 

Not really. It reflects poorly on both. Sounds to me that all that quality control that GM brags about is just not there.

 

Yes, I would be very pissed if I just spent $ 50k on a new truck and someone found this.

 

Fortunately for me, both GM vehicles which I bought new in the last 5 years had correct amounts of fluid in them when delivered.

[markw8]

I agree with some that the spec for the diffs is not untill it comes out the fill hole. As much as 1" below. Thats alot on that big axle. Also it is up to the guy that does the PDI to check them.

 

In 1977 I worked for a Chevy dealer and the tech didn't check the front diff on a new truck. It was dry. Burnt up before the new owner got home.

 

Mark