Not Starting after only 148 miles.

HarperZ71 · March 6, 2014

I bought my 2014 Silverado LT 4x4 Friday.

I gave up my 20 year old GMC Z-71. Love that truck, but she was getting old and couldn't pull the 14' trailer anymore without over heating in the summer. Other issues too. Was time to retire her to a good friend who will take good care of her in her final days.

Back to my brand new 2014 Silverado. Bought it on Friday and on Tuesday after 148 miles GM towed it to the dealer because it would not start. It will not crank over. Interior lights and radio turn on as normal, but that's it. The rest of the truck is dead.

I also smell a little burned oil from time to time. I mentioned that to the service tech at the dealership.

Here's the longer part of the story, if you care to read some of the details:

Monday I noticed when I tried to start the truck it wouldn't start. I thought maybe I didn't turn the key all the way. So I took the key out, put it back in, and the truck started with no problems. Tuesday I tried to remote start it from inside the house. The lights flashed as if it was starting. I went outside a few minutes later noticing the truck wasn't running. I didn't think it was more than 10 minutes, but maybe it was? so I got in to start the truck again. I saw the engine light. I tried a few more times and got nothing. It didn't even attempt to turn over. I have interior lights and radio turns on, but nothing more. Just an engine light.

I called the dealership who advised I call GM to have the truck towed to the dealership. Kudos to the GM reps I talked to. The very first thing they asked was if I was ok and in a safe location. I was at my home, so all was good. I appreciate their concern. GM was great in arranging the tow and called me back several times with updates and checking to ensure the tow truck driver was on time and courteous.

I was impressed with the detail in service just to get it towed. I am not impressed with the truck at this time. Needing a tow after 148 miles? really?

The dealer advised today (Wednesday) that the service department is backed up and could not put a tech on it today. He did advise GM is aware of the problem and other trucks have similar issues. He also offered a loaner car which I may take tomorrow afternoon if the problem is not resolved.

I'll also be sending a PM to GM rep on the forums.

Good to see a support community for people who have various issues.

GMC-AT · March 6, 2014

That's an original response from you... "common problem" or the best one of them all ... " to be expected for a new first year truck model"

Anyway.. to the poster.. it's not common. If it was, there would be thousands of people complaining about it. Considering there are over 1/2 million of these on the road now. However, these type of issues when they happen, do tend to show up in the very beginning. Kinda like new electronic devices. If there is something badly wrong, it shows up fast.

I'm sure the dealer will get it fixed pretty quick.

The oil burn smell is pretty common with brand new trucks.. a lot of folks mention that. Normally some kind of overspray burning off in the beginning.... I wouldn't be too concerned with that unless you still smell it after 1,000 miles.

scphilli · March 6, 2014

Same thing this morning for me with 400 miles on the truck. Tow is on the way. I have had the issue the first couple days but eventually it would start. The starter solenoid hits once and nothing.

MJFlores · March 6, 2014

From what I've read, there were quite a few starters installed in early 2014 that had moisture problems, which led to the no start symptom you describe. A new starter solved the problem for everyone I believe. The oil smell...ahhh yes, a brand new truck that smells like oil when you've been driving and come to a stop while the heater is on and in recricualtion mode. This is a very real problem on all 2014 GM trucks. You'll soon notice that driving down the local strip, you'll smell hamburgers, chinese food, etc. The "recirculation" mode on the heater / AC system doesn't work AT ALL. It does NOT filter air, it draws fresh air in from outside and fills your brand new truck with external stench. I'm waiting for GM to recognize, own, and correct the problem. I dont think enough people are actively complaining about the problem for GM to care about fixing it.

pm26 · March 6, 2014

I bought my 2014 Silverado LT 4x4 Friday.

I gave up my 20 year old GMC Z-71. Love that truck, but she was getting old and couldn't pull the 14' trailer anymore without over heating in the summer. Other issues too. Was time to retire her to a good friend who will take good care of her in her final days.

Maybe it was a lot cheaper to buy a new radiator than to buy a new truck that does not start? This issue should be a big embarrassment to GM.

HarperZ71 · March 6, 2014

Thanks for the feedback on the oil. Since I brought it up with the tech, they now have it on record if anything happens down the road with the oil. For now I'll ignore it.

As for the no start issue, thanks for the information. I hope it is something simple like a starter. Really disappointed it was just 148 miles into owning the truck. I'll update everyone once I hear from the dealership.

I agree with GMC-AT that if it was common we would hear about it in the news, however it has happened enough times that GM is aware there is a problem and is advising the dealership.

HarperZ71 · March 6, 2014

Update:

The dealer was able to start the truck. Under advisement from GM they checked the battery and found it low. After stress testing, the battery passed. They said it might be low from sitting on the lot too long. I said why wouldn't it charge after driving 148 miles in a few days?

GM advised for the dealer to keep the truck over night to do a cold start in the morning.

I should be getting a loaner car today.

pm26 · March 6, 2014

Update:

The dealer was able to start the truck. Under advisement from GM they checked the battery and found it low. After stress testing, the battery passed. They said it might be low from sitting on the lot too long. I said why wouldn't it charge after driving 148 miles in a few days?

GM advised for the dealer to keep the truck over night to do a cold start in the morning.

I should be getting a loaner car today.

Translation: "We have no idea why it did not start." Your alternator should have charged the battery sufficiently over 148 miles in a few days to reliably start your truck if you had a healthy battery that was just sitting for a while. And the fact that the battery passed the load test tells me it is not the battery.

KMGZ400 · March 6, 2014

Not saying it's common but I just saw a 14 GMC being towed into my local dealer while I was waiting for my oil to be changed. Asked the service manager what was wrong and he said it only has 300 miles on it and would randomly not start. He also said there have been 2 other trucks with the same problem in the past 2 months..

HarperZ71 · March 7, 2014

Update:

they are keeping my truck overnight. GM advised they do a cold start first thing in the morning. It's supposed to be about as cold tomorrow morning as it was the night I had the no-start. Hopefully it will do it for them so they can continue diagnosing.

Translation: "We have no idea why it did not start." Your alternator should have charged the battery sufficiently over 148 miles in a few days to reliably start your truck if you had a healthy battery that was just sitting for a while. And the fact that the battery passed the load test tells me it is not the battery.

I agree completely. When I asked the tech about it, he didn't give me a direct answer.

I saw the print out from when they tested the battery. It was not in the "excellent" area where you would expect a new battery. It wasn't low enough to be considered defective.

Not saying it's common but I just saw a 14 GMC being towed into my local dealer while I was waiting for my oil to be changed. Asked the service manager what was wrong and he said it only has 300 miles on it and would randomly not start. He also said there have been 2 other trucks with the same problem in the past 2 months..

KMGZ400, do you live in a warmer or colder climate?

KMGZ400 · March 7, 2014

Cold... Been anywhere around 10 to 25 degrees at night for the past 2 months sometimes colder

TJay74 · March 7, 2014

There is no way there 500,000 of these new design trucks on the road, so to say this is not a common issue is not correct. As of now it is a reported a common issue for the 2014 trucks on the no start. Early on several people had the starters replaced, as said some of the diagnosis was too much grease on the internal contacts and or moisture issues.

michaeldc46 · March 7, 2014

There is no way there 500,000 of these new design trucks on the road, so to say this is not a common issue is not correct. As of now it is a reported a common issue for the 2014 trucks on the no start. Early on several people had the starters replaced, as said some of the diagnosis was too much grease on the internal contacts and or moisture issues.

Definition of "common" depends - Those of us in the very cold north that have the 2014 trucks with the affected starters have had consistent no starts right after delivery of the new vehicle. Some of the GM Tech. Field Engineers know of the problem, they know of another supplier with a different part number, they have directed dealers to just change the starter - for those dealer that they support. The frustrating thing for the affected owners is that some dealers have been instructed to go ahead and change the starter to the new part number, other Field Engineers are not giving clear directions to change the starter and are frustrating the owners of the brand new vehicles. There is most likely a finite number of starters that could cause a potential problem on the new trucks in the cold north - the starter build dates and affixed starter bar code should be able to pin point a possible problem vehicle. If a new truck is delivered in the frozen north with a potential affected starter AND the truck has starting issues right after delivery - the dealer should be instructed to change the starter immediately upon the new owner getting the non start condition. The GM Tech. Field Engineers need to get a common solution and direct that same solution to all the dealers .........some dealers are trying to duplicate the problem - they may be able to duplicate or it might start - the new owner picks up the truck and the next cold morning gets a no start. In the universe of 2014 vehicles delivered, this is not a common problem, but to those of us with the affected starter build dates and in a very cold climate the no start problem is fairly common and maddenly quite predictable with an absolutely positive solution - install a new starter and quit messing around with these new owners!

GMC-AT · March 7, 2014

TJay,

Look at the numbers.. they have been building these truck for a year now. Yes.. there are certainly over 1/2 million of them out there..

pm26 · March 7, 2014

If this was a safety issue, such as a documented fuel leak or something similar, they would have a recall. If it does not start, apparently they consider it to be a mere inconvenience.