Silverado LED Radio/HVAC knobs: part #'s & warranty claims

Silverado Steve · February 9, 2014

Seems proof playing dumb is the best approach if you want the most hassle free way to get the issue fixed rather than get into a debate with your service dept about whether GM is on the hook to fix the issue since it's advertised to have them.....note to lurkers of this thread with this issue.....Your lights used to work and play dumb when you go in for service.

LS 1st Gen · February 9, 2014

What's this about the wrong gears??? Did someone actually find that they have different gears from what is indicated by the option code in the glove box?

Silverado Steve · February 9, 2014

What's this about the wrong gears??? Did someone actually ffind that they have

different gears from what is indicated by the option code in the glove box?

Not from whats listed on the RPO, but if you look at the window sticker, the 20" and 22" rims are supposed to come equipped with the 3.42 gears as standard option. Even dealers were unaware. I found a truck in Kansas that i was negotiating. The dealer swore it had the 3.42 gears because they were supposed to be standard with the 20" rims. After insisting that he verify and put it in writing he reneged after researching the RPO codes. I would of been pissed after the fact if i dropped $45K when the 3.08 was a deal breaker for me. I drove one here in Colorado and it was gutless with all the hills,plus it has 30% less towing capability according to the owners manual. Several members have found out that they got the 3.08 gears instead with the bigger wheels. GM ran into a supply shortage with axles back in Aug/Sept which caused them to exclusively build 3.08 geared trucks. You really have to do your research because GM started listing the 3.42 gears as installed options when it contradicts what is supposed to be Standard equipment for thee bigger wheels to cover their butt....similiar to the LED lighting issue.

jcastyo · February 9, 2014

Were all the Silverado models supposed to have lit rings around the knobs. I was told by the service rep that they were only for LTZ & High Country models. Can anyone with an LT with factory working LED lights chime in.

Thanks

GMCustomerService · February 9, 2014

I played stupid and got mine fixed. Dealer was unaware of the issue so I went to the newest truck that just came in and showed them that they did light up. They ordered the parts and fixed it the first time I brought it in for the issue. I posted these to prove that mine were indeed fixed and part #'s. My service advisor got 2 calls now from members on here dealers asking about the warranty and whether to fix it or not. I can say my Chevrolet dealer where I purchased my vehicle truly cares about Chevrolet owners and their concerns.

Hi 20Bowtie14,

We're pleased to hear of your positive report of the dealership! We'll be sure to make them aware of your satisfactory experience.

Amber N. (assisting Jennifer)

GM Customer Care

tbarn · February 9, 2014

I think GM has been fairly deceptive with these trucks, why not throw 17" or 18" on the truck if you don't have the right gears...also the whole raising the prices back in October by $1500? Some dealers raised the price on previously existing stock....some didn't. I doubt GM will pay the bill to have $1 worth or resistors installed or swap $100s of parts to fix the issue in mass because of a parts shortage...in the long run it would of been cheaper to stop the line since there's a surplus of vehicle stock on hand so we're stuck being at the mercy of the dealerships service dept.

On a separate note and back on topic, i don't think its ever helpful to go to the Service Advisor and throw TSBs and info from forums in their face...its no different than going into a Dr's office and tell them what your condition is X and how they need to treat your condition with what medicine based in what webMD said. I think anybody on the receiving end would find that insulting. See plenty of novice mechanics are DIY know it alls and every professional mechanic and service advisor deals with them every day. Its all about respect and building a good relationship with the service dept. Arm yourself with the info from these forums, go to the service dept and if the service dept tries to BS you, or they give you wrong info, politely, say..."that doesn't make sense from how i understand the system to work..etc" or go somewhere else. Your way of asking to go look at another truck is a perfect solution, especially when they say it works as designed, so if another truck has working lights, then is that truck broken by their definition. Remaining calm, but appearing competent is the best defense. Demanding they refer to TSB X or throw "somebody on the Internet got their dealer to fix the issue by writing up the issue as X" and showing them a forum thread on your smart phone is just going to put people on the defensive and probably get the Service Writer to think and act on "well if you seem to know so much...go fix it yourself" many times these service writers and depts are the face and intermediary for the decisions the big wigs at GM made and they had no bearing in those decision...we need to remember that before we go making demands of them.

Truer words never spoken! If I didn't know better, (and I don't) I think he is is in the business.

SLESierra · February 10, 2014

Hi 20Bowtie14,

We're pleased to hear of your positive report of the dealership! We'll be sure to make them aware of your satisfactory experience.

Amber N. (assisting Jennifer)

GM Customer Care

Make mine aware I am not happy with the issue and being told it was not going to be fixed.

OUSux · February 10, 2014

Is this solely a Silverado thing? Because mine do not light up......

tvalley · February 10, 2014

Were all the Silverado models supposed to have lit rings around the knobs. I was told by the service rep that they were only for LTZ & High Country models. Can anyone with an LT with factory working LED lights chime in.

Thanks

I think that if that were the case the rings around the left side knobs (headlights and transfer case) would not light up either. Maybe we should complain that we should NOT have working lit rings on the left side of the dash and see what they say.

Hootbro · February 10, 2014

Were all the Silverado models supposed to have lit rings around the knobs. I was told by the service rep that they were only for LTZ & High Country models. Can anyone with an LT with factory working LED lights chime in.

Thanks

I have a base 1WT and have the LED rings around both radio and climate control knobs. All Silverado's regardless of trim should have the lighted rings.

OUSux · February 10, 2014

What about Sierra?

jcastyo · February 10, 2014

What about Sierra?

I am assuming if all models of Silverado are supposed have them lit I will say the same for GMC models

TheElementalCashew · February 10, 2014

I took mine in today for scheduled service, and told them that the my knob backlighting wasn't working. I compared the three knobs to the 4WD/headlight knobs on the other side, and they agreed the radio/HVAC knobs should also be lit. The tech pulled apart the dash, I guess to check and see if he could fix it (obviously he could not) and they have ordered replacement parts for me. They should be in next week, so we'll see what happens.

benitslu · February 11, 2014

Had my truck in for service today. They told me that not all trims have it and moved on. Didn't seem too confident in his answer.

I'll probably not worry about it. Does drive me real crazy.

Silverado Steve · February 11, 2014

Had my truck in for service today. They told me that not all trims have it and moved on. Didn't seem too confident in his answer.

I'll probably not worry about it. Does drive me real crazy.

See post 16