2011 Suburban 2500 Vvt Issue

[Colorado Hoe II]

I've got a 2011 Suburban 2500 (6.0L) with 2200 mles on it. At 1000 miles I had a set of ARH LT headers installed and had a tune performed. Truck ran great. In town gas milege went from 10 to 12 mpg. The first time towing my travel trailer (6600 lbs) the CMP actuator solenoid got stuck causing valve train noise. Took it the dealer and they found the solenoid was stuck and would not move and that the actuator spring was broken. The dealer replaced all of the CMP actuator components. The fix took care of about 75% of the noise (dealer's statement...). Remaining noise was coming from passenger side of engine. Dealer removed head and found scoring in the #4 and #6 cylinders due to broken rings. GM requested dealer provide pictures of ECM calibrations. GM comes back with warranty denied because the ECM had been tampered with. My bill for repair:$12,237.92 to replace engine and return vehicle to factory configuration.

 

Has anyone else had or know of any similar VVT issues? GM is saying the change in the ECM calibrations "over-stressed" the engine, thus causing the damage. GM isn't budging. I filed a BBB case and I'm waiting for the arbitration hearing date.

 

I'm trying to find some other cases of VVT/CMP actuator issues that I can use in my case to show that there may be issues happening despite having headers and a tune.

 

Thanks in advance!

[ChevyTech77]

I have not heard of or seen any cases of VVT actuator issues as of this time, sorry.

[Colorado Hoe II]

Has anyone with a tune had their truck go into the reduced power mode? Did your engine run fine after it came out of the reduced power mode?

 

Can a tune in a stressed situation, towing a trailer up a long grade, cause the spring in the cam actuator to break? If so, how? I've got my arbitration hearing scheduled for Sept 6th and GM will not tell me anything about how the tune actually caused the damage to my engine. Mechanic said that there were no DTCs.

 

The mechanic at the dealer said that GM is coming out with an improved cam actuator set up. Has anyone else heard of this? I'm trying to find any documentation about GM VVT issues and why GM would be putting out "improved" components. I've found articles about sticking actutor solenoids causing engine noise on other GM engines, but not on the truck V8 engines.

 

Any help is greatly appreciated!

[markw8]

Doesn't your owners manual say if you tune it you may lose your powertrain warrenty? Mine does.

 

Mark

[Colorado Hoe II]

My warranty says "Original Equipment Alterations This warranty does not cover any damage or failure resulting from modification or alteration to the vehicle's original equipment as manufactured or assembled by General Motors. Examples of the type of alterations that would not be covered include cutting, welding, or disconnecting of the vehicle's original equipment parts and components. Additionally, General Motors does not warranty non-GM parts and/or calibrations. The use of parts and/or control module calibrations not issued through General Motors will void the warranty coverage for components that are damaged or otherwise affected by the installation of the non-GM part and/or control module calibration.

 

I take that to mean if the calibration caused the damage, the damage would not be covered.

 

I consider the tune provider to be of highest integrity and provides a reliable tune.

 

I'm trying to find answers to questions like:

If the vehicle ran fine for over 1000 miles with the tune, how could the tune cause the damage that occured (CMP actuator solenoid stuck, actuator solenoid spring broken, and scoring in the cylinder walls?)

 

If the engine was all stock, what affect would a broken actuator spring have an the engine?

 

Thanks!

 

Doesn't your owners manual say if you tune it you may lose your powertrain warrenty? Mine does.

 

Mark

[07 CC Sierra]

No way in hell you're winning this one unfortunately, even though the tune probably had nothing to do with the issues you are having. Having a spare ECM tuned and the original one on hand might have prevented this. (FYI for the future)

 

Good luck and I hope I'm wrong.

[markw8]

One of the biggest changes with a tune is it will lean out the fuel curve at higher rpms. This makes heat and the potential to spark knock. Then add your trailer and the Colorado hills. It's going to be tuff to say the tune didn't cause this.

 

Mark

[Colorado Hoe II]

Took the situation to the BBB. The arbitrator decided in my favor. GM is putting a new engine in my Suburban under warranty. Thanks very much to Justin of Black Bear Performance for his support! The new GM will not get another dime out of me...ever.

[Cool Zr2]

.....The new GM will not get another dime out of me...ever.

 

Why? You did what the owners manual said not to do, regardless if it caused the problem or not.

[BlackZ71Silverado]

Took the situation to the BBB. The arbitrator decided in my favor. GM is putting a new engine in my Suburban under warranty. Thanks very much to Justin of Black Bear Performance for his support! The new GM will not get another dime out of me...ever.

 

How can you be upset with GM because they didn't want to pay for your repairs after you altered your vehicle with a tune? They are not in the business of paying for everything that breaks they don't install. The thing is, ALL manufacturers will try to blame after-market items for something breaking, they don't want to pay if it's possibly something you did caused the problem.

 

You are very lucky to be having this taken care of, doesn't happen often. Hope you don't have any more issues wit hthe new engine, there is no way they will do it a second time.

[ChevyTech77]

A people wonder why GM and their dealerships can be touchy about warranty repairs and such. Here's a great example why.