Sitting here waiting for a tow truck.

1kwik72 · January 17, 2014

Thanks Craig. I understand where you are coming from. I guess all I can do now is wait til next week and see what they discover from further diagnosis.

Yeah good luck with it, trust me I know it can be frustrating. hopefully it will act up for them and they can nail it down and give you some piece of mind.

Craig

SILVERADOSC540 · January 18, 2014

No offense to the future owner, but I'd drive the loaner like you stole it, just to work out any bugs for the next guy and to see what else might arise on your own rig.

fondupot · January 18, 2014

No offense to the future owner, but I'd drive the loaner like you stole it, just to work out any bugs for the next guy and to see what else might arise on your own rig.

its a GMC Terrain. Nice little SUV. But reminds me of a car since its so low.

SILVERADOSC540 · January 18, 2014

Gotcha. Still be fun for a weekend. Hopefully that's all you'll need it for.

diannabill · January 18, 2014

That initial response from the service department was ridiculous. Glad they're keeping it, and glad you're pushing the issue. I hope they have a little conversation with that woman.

Stex · January 18, 2014

While checking a tranny drive ability issue on my 09, service mgr. had computer hooked up, he noticed some misfires. Said it happens not to worry. Checked plugs, wires coils etc. All ok. BUT we did not go into limp home mode...hell I never noticed the misfires as they we on coast down. Gas not the issue in your case. Keep pushing to make sure they check it further, like drive it in the cold etc. Dang

fondupot · January 18, 2014

That initial response from the service department was ridiculous. Glad they're keeping it, and glad you're pushing the issue. I hope they have a little conversation with that woman.

Yea. I agree. I wasn't trying to get the girl in trouble. But if a vehicle does something where it becomes literally un-driveable to the point of having a flat bed tow truck haul it to the dealership. I think the issue is a little more serious than checking the connections on the spark plug wires. The fact that they basically had the truck for 2 hours before they called me almost makes me think they hooked up a scanner, cleared the codes and just called it a day. If I half assed as much as the people who work at dealerships do, I'd be fired in a day. Dealership service is ridiculous and its what gives any respectable car manufacturer a bad name.

While checking a tranny drive ability issue on my 09, service mgr. had computer hooked up, he noticed some misfires. Said it happens not to worry. Checked plugs, wires coils etc. All ok. BUT we did not go into limp home mode...hell I never noticed the misfires as they we on coast down. Gas not the issue in your case. Keep pushing to make sure they check it further, like drive it in the cold etc. Dang

Yea the girl was trying to tell me misfires happen all the time. True, they might. But on the scale where it puts the truck into limp mode and becomes un-driveable? Seems like it might be a more deep seated issue than just scan for codes and check the wires. I'm not a mechanic, but that seems like its common sense.

I'll be sure to keep pushing the issue with the dealership because it has become a safety issue. If I need to I'll get the regional GMC corporate person involved.

1kwik72 · January 18, 2014

It isn't uncommon to see the misfire counters increment now and then on the scan tool history. That in itself isn't a big deal. The software is pretty sensitive it even uses the abs to determine if the road is rough to relax the misfire threshold so they don't set false codes. That said you are correct, a misfire event that results in a check engine light is not "normal" let alone one that has the light blinking (potentially catalyst damaging misfire) or causes the vehicle to stall or be undrivable. I have buddies that are dealer techs so I won't completely throw them under the buss, but you are right. They do tend to become parts changers because they see the same stuff over and over. Throw them something out of the ordinary and the number of techs that have the tools between their ears to properly diagnose the issue goes down significantly. The other thing you are fighting is the dealership/GM pay structure for the techs. In my opinion paying the techs flat rate on labor hours is asking them to rush the job. Other than their coveted CSI score there really isn't a bigger incentive out there except banging the most hours out they can. Add to that the fact that warranty time doesn't pay very well and you can see why the tech isn't going to spend much time trying to figure out your truck when it runs ok when he looks at it. Just my opinion and like I said I have buddies that work at the dealer that are great techs, we just differ a little in our fundamental thought process about how a job should be done.

Craig

rjgvt · January 18, 2014

fondupot,

I had a similar issue with my previous truck (2009 GMC Sierra 1500, 5.3L) 2 years ago on the first day of buck season here in VT. I was 110 miles from home at my camp. Warmed up truck with remote starter as usual. As soon as I put it in gear, the check engine light came on and went to reduced cylinders. Went back to Park and it idled fine. Disconnected the battery and reconnected, no change in symptoms. Limped the truck 1 mile to where I park to hunt at 20mph and went hunting. Hunted for 2 days and then called Roadside Assistance. Got it towed to dealer. 30 minute fix, they changed the TPS and all was good until I traded it in 2 weeks ago.

pm26 · January 19, 2014

The trucks are designed in Michigan, you think they would factor in cold weather testing when they are engineered...

They may be designed in Michigan, but they are built in Mexico. Do we know if the quality control is equivalent to trucks built in Canada and the US?

GMC-AT · January 19, 2014

his double cab, like all double cabs, are built in Indiana US of A

fondupot · January 19, 2014

his double cab, like all double cabs, are built in Indiana US of A

Correct. But as is with most "american cars" today. I dont think built in the US is a good term. More like assembled in the US. A lot of the pieces are outsourced and just come together in a US plant.

ms55330 · January 19, 2014

They may be designed in Michigan, but they are built in Mexico. Do we know if the quality control is equivalent to trucks built in Canada and the US?

I don't work for GM or other auto maker, but I do work for a equipment manufacture and I can tell you that the quality controls are the same at every plant worldwide. This is necessary for a variety of reason, primarily like the auto makers we validate one design and can not accept the variability of differing quality standards in either parts or completed units or that the product from any of them can be shipped to the more demanding customers (US Germany Japan ect) To be perfectly frank of the plants I work with the ones in the UK former Soviet states and around the great lakes have the quality problems. I'd much rather have had my truck built in the southern states but Mx is close enough

fondupot · January 20, 2014

Here is an update for everyone.

Just got a call from my dealership. He said that they did some more testing and found that there were several of the spark plug coils that were not connected properly. By the way there is a also a TSB on this issue. He said that as per the TSB they remove all 8 coils, and put dielectric grease in all the connectors and then reinstall them on the truck and make sure all connectors are 100% secure.

He said initial testing we put 7 miles on the truck and they are no longer detecting any misfires. But he would like to keep the truck and put up to 100 miles on the vehicle to really make sure it wont happen again.

I told him to do what he's gotta do in order to thoroughly test the motor. Just fill it up with gas when they're all through.

So like I suspected, there was something else wrong other than just being "loose spark plug wires." The actual coils themselves were not connected properly.

I would urge everyone to check their connections on their trucks just to make sure everything is in order.

Hopefully I will get the truck back soon.

Later