Colds Start Knock Update

Beaux Duke · December 4, 2002

I thought I'd ruffle some feathers again.

TSTRANIK over on PUTC says he has discovered the method to use in order to get a new 6.0 engine out of GM. His quote follows or read it yourself at PickUpTruck.com

I'd give it a try but I have an 8.1 and so far there's nothing in place to replace that engine... yet.

Anyone with a 6.0 care to do a little leg work and verify his claim by using the technique he describes below?

I've done some editing to make it easier to read.

TSTRANIK quote follows

DON'T GIVE UP!!!!! THERE IS HOPE!!!! I just got a call from my dealerships service manager this morning and he told me that he had spoken with our GM area representative and that if I want I can recieve a new engine. He said that it's not set in stone yet because he still has to get all the paperwork that he'll need to get this done, but he didn't seem to think it would be a problem since the area rep basically gave him the OK. I just heard from him this morning, so I'm a little nervous posting this, especially since I've seen the firestorm that Gixxer1000's initial post caused, but I want to let the rest of you know that there is hope, and don't give up pressing for what you deserve.

The tactic that I believe worked for me is I went to the web page for that Miramar Pontiac GMC dealership that Gixxer1000 is getting his engine swapped at and printed the page for their service department that has their service managers name and the dealerships phone number. Then I took that printout to my service manager and explained the situation and politely asked him to call this service manager in California and figure out what is going on.

He was doubtful, not really believing that a dealership was replacing engines, but he agreed to call them. The very next morning (yesterday) I got a call from him saying that, yes they were replacing 6.0L engines and were doing several a week. He seemed surprised. He said that their service manager explained that it was a California only thing though, possibly due to California law or something.

I asked him (again politely but firmly) to contact the Arizona GM area representative and find out why California was different. He agreed and asked me to contact GMC customer care and get a case number about my engine knock that he could give to the area rep, and that I should make it clear to GM customer care that I knew that California had recieved authorization to swap motors.

Now I've had a case number with GMC for at least a year documenting my engine knock, but apparently GM changed their computing system and when I called them up they gave me the new number for the new system.

I explained the whole situation to the case worker on the phone about how I knew a dealership in california had recieved authorization from their GM area rep to swap engines. She insisted that there was no such GM authorization and that the only thing GM would do is give me the extended warranty.

I kept saying that No, the GM area rep HAD given authorization and she kept telling me that she didn't have that information and there was nothing she could do about it and I must be wrong.

Keep in mind I stayed very calm during this whole exchange. I finally asked to speak with a supervisor and she put me on hold while she went to get one.

I explained the situation to the supervisor who was much more reasonable. He said he didn't have any information about this but would research it for me and get back to me with an answer. He asked for the name of the Mirimar dealership and mine as well.

As soon as I got off the phone with them I called my service manager back and gave him the correct case number for my engine knock complaint (left him a message actually). The very next morning (this morning) I got a call from my service manager again saying that he had spoken with the Arizona area rep and that if I wanted, that I could get the new engine.

He did tell me though that the 100,000 mile engine warranty that I had previously been given for this issue a long time ago will no longer be valid if I choose the engine swap. I will only have my remaining factory warranty (about a year and a half to go) if anything should fail.

I told him hands down that I want the new engine and if that's the way it has to be, then I"ll accept that. So he said he'd go ahead and get all the proper paperwork and get my engine ordered for me...

Moral of the story ladies and gentlemen, DON'T GIVE UP!!!! Keep pressing the issue, tell them that you know what is being done and they can't hide from the truth!

Speak to your service managers directly, the peons won't have the authority to do anything... have patience, and STAY POLITE! I think if I had lost my temper and gotten angry with the service manager this all would have gone down the tubes.

I'll give you all more details when I know more, but considering that it's now the holiday weekend, I don't expect to hear anything till next week.

End of Quote

Any volunteers to try it?