Truck @ the dealer for a loud ticking noise

[Jerry's Denali]

GM engineering are the only ones that can delve into the computer to check for tuning.

The mechanic cannot.

If you have nothing to hide, let them call GM

[MurphDDm4]

Even if your truck was tuned. GM would have to prove that the tuning caused the malfunction of part of the motor.

 

Some "head mechanic" at a dealership can't go around voiding warranties all willy nilly.

 

My guess since you said its a "family owned" dealer is they might be stroking you because they just don't wanna do the warranty work. Since they don't make money on warranty repairs.

 

 

Are warranty repair rates the same across the US? My local dealership gets $120hr give or take a couple dollars for warranty repairs. To me that seems like a number a dealership couldnt pass up on warranty work.

[fondupot]

 

 

Are warranty repair rates the same across the US? My local dealership gets $120hr give or take a couple dollars for warranty repairs. To me that seems like a number a dealership couldnt pass up on warranty work.

I actually meant they dont get paid as much. Certainly not their normal labor rate.

[Newm]

I appreciate all the ideas and help. I agree I was extremely worked up when gettin told my truck could be red flagged and all warranties voided. Knowing I did nothing wrong it immediately puts my defenses up. I have had a couple drinks with friends and much calmer knowing everything will work out.

 

I did pick up the truck. Talked to the service manager and head mechanic while there. Here is the skinny....my ecm shows 8 attempts to load a program and is also currently running said program that is not a gm tune. He showed me the print out and you can see the factory program loaded first which begins with 12......that is a known gm program. After that it shows a program starting with 42.....that has been loaded and reloaded 8 times and not a gm program and reason for a red flag.

 

He still after 5 hours hadn't heard back from gm which he kinda hinted was a little unusual. Truck is in my garage and I guess will sit until I hear what gm says.

 

He said its the #6 cylinder and not sure if its a pushrod, lifter or what. Advised me not to drive it as it is sick and it definitely sounds sick.

 

I will keep everyone posted what transpires tomorrow....I feel done with today.

[Newm]

On edit.....I asked if they could check the date of those mystery tune loads and said he could not. That gm could but not the dealer. So that will be something to explore if I have to.

[Ventilator]

It was probably their IT guy trying to load one of their bad updates. Have you had to do any recalls or reflashes?

 

My truck runs great, but next week she goes in for the TC recall, airbag, and refresh of the odometer. Not looking forward to them messing with what ain't broke.

[KARNUT]

When I went in for my last oil change, they wanted to do the odo up date. I did let them do the fire update last year. I told them no on the odo mine was working fine. You don't have to let them do anything to your truck its your truck. I also told them not do anything to my truck unless they get in writing from me. It looks like there may have been some playing or training being done on his truck, at the dealer. How about OnStar?

[TJay74]

Here is where people need to start listening to people who know how this works and quit listening to the tuners and whom ever else that at spreading wrong info.

 

GM will know of every attempt to tune the ECM/TCM in these vehicles. The system logs each modification attempt, the GM attempts are coded with a CVN (Calibration Verification Number) that is known to GM for any update from the stock calibration to any updated calibrations they have pushed out to the vehicle. When you tune the ECM/TCM you change that CVN and then it doesn't match what GM has on file for your vehicle.

 

I cant see the ECM/TCM storing date/time in its history, could be possible as long as the computers have some sort of battery backup in case of power loss. With the new GM Global architecture GM uses now they can see everything in the computers when the tech hooks the vehicle up to the laptop. The Tech II technology is a thing of the past in relation to what GM can do and see in the computers now. Please all of the new ECM/TCM has flash counters in them, all manufactures are going this way because of the tuning industry. Why should they (the manufacture) be stuck with warranty repair costs that were caused by a 3rd party issue.

 

While most will assume a hard mechanical failure is not related to a tune, it could be depending on the circumstances. A person could have raised the rev limited and over rev'd the engine causing the lifter to collapse and fail which then causes damage. While the burden of proof does fall on GM to prove the tune caused the failure, they have way deeper pockets than you do and in the end could just stall you out in court if they want. Not saying that is the case here but it could be a possibility.

 

This is exactly where you have to pay to play come into place. I went back and forth with tuning my truck and after owning it a year I did tune it, but only the transmission side and I left almost all of the torque management in place. I hope nothing ever comes up and while if it came to it I could provide the stock tune and a copy of my tune for GM to see the changes if it came down to them saying the changes caused the failure, it is not GM I have to win over. It will be a trial judge or jury that I have to win over and that is where the problem will lie.

[KARNUT]

Here is where people need to start listening to people who know how this works and quit listening to the tuners and whom ever else that at spreading wrong info.

 

GM will know of every attempt to tune the ECM/TCM in these vehicles. The system logs each modification attempt, the GM attempts are coded with a CVN (Calibration Verification Number) that is known to GM for any update from the stock calibration to any updated calibrations they have pushed out to the vehicle. When you tune the ECM/TCM you change that CVN and then it doesn't match what GM has on file for your vehicle.

 

I cant see the ECM/TCM storing date/time in its history, could be possible as long as the computers have some sort of battery backup in case of power loss. With the new GM Global architecture GM uses now they can see everything in the computers when the tech hooks the vehicle up to the laptop. The Tech II technology is a thing of the past in relation to what GM can do and see in the computers now. Please all of the new ECM/TCM has flash counters in them, all manufactures are going this way because of the tuning industry. Why should they (the manufacture) be stuck with warranty repair costs that were caused by a 3rd party issue.

 

While most will assume a hard mechanical failure is not related to a tune, it could be depending on the circumstances. A person could have raised the rev limited and over rev'd the engine causing the lifter to collapse and fail which then causes damage. While the burden of proof does fall on GM to prove the tune caused the failure, they have way deeper pockets than you do and in the end could just stall you out in court if they want. Not saying that is the case here but it could be a possibility.

 

This is exactly where you have to pay to play come into place. I went back and forth with tuning my truck and after owning it a year I did tune it, but only the transmission side and I left almost all of the torque management in place. I hope nothing ever comes up and while if it came to it I could provide the stock tune and a copy of my tune for GM to see the changes if it came down to them saying the changes caused the failure, it is not GM I have to win over. It will be a trial judge or jury that I have to win over and that is where the problem will lie.

He says he didn't tune, so if that's the case what do you think happened with his truck. Not the ticking but the data.

[fondupot]

Yea, Newm is saying is truck isn't tuned. And his dealer is denying his warranty. Whats the deal with that? They cant even recognize their own software?

 

Meanwhile, I just had the truck at the dealer last week, and its been tuned, and was returned to stock right before I brought it to the dealer. All my work was performed as warrant and I didnt pay a cent, not even for the loaner. I guess it might vary by dealer, but still if Newm truck is 100% stock...why are they denying his warranty?

 

Something very fishy is going on at that dealership.

[KARNUT]

Yea, Newm is saying is truck isn't tuned. And his dealer is denying his warranty. Whats the deal with that? They cant even recognize their own software?

 

Meanwhile, I just had the truck at the dealer last week, and its been tuned, and was returned to stock right before I brought it to the dealer. All my work was performed as warrant and I didnt pay a cent, not even for the loaner. I guess it might vary by dealer, but still if Newm truck is 100% stock...why are they denying his warranty?

 

Something very fishy is going on at that dealership.

He had some rant going, so I wanted to see if he could explain the data problem ,I believe him, that he didn't tune.

[Newm]

TJay...I understand and am 100% on the same page as you. I agree with everything you said....however I have done nothing wrong. I know nobody knows me on here or even at any given dealership but I am not that guy. Truck, to my knowledge, is 100% untouched by me or anyone I have seen around my truck. Had I done something I would honestly appreciated the heads up from the dealer to fix it on my own and keep the remaining warranty. Which is exactly what I would have done.....I would never try and cheat anyone.

 

At this point I will wait til noon today and call the dealership like we discussed yesterday and take it from there. I really want to have someone tell me dates when the "new" program was flashed because I can GUARANTEE it was either in the 5-7 miles before I picked it up or one of the dates I had it in for oil changes.....period!

 

I had never had any recalls done to my truck yet. Last oil change, around 7500 miles on the clock, I took it in on a Saturday for an oil change, balance my tires and to have the t-case recall performed. When I went to pick the truck up they informed me that I would have to come back for the recall because they really don't do that stuff on Saturdays....even though they scheduled it for me on a Saturday. So at this point that seems fishy to me now just because I am questioning everything. Did someone do something they shouldn't have....mess something up??? I have no clue but I will get to the bottom of this.

 

Who knows when I call the dealer they might say they made a mistake and everything is fine (said dealer will not be doing any work on my truck from here on out) but if they don't I will take the appropriate actions to clear myself. I am going to look at this like a game....and I LOVE to win!

 

Thank goodness for this forum....It is so nice to be able to come on here and vent and get some ideas of how to handle this from people that understand about being a "car guy" and have way more experience/knowledge than I.

[TJay74]

If you haven't tuned it then I would push for GM to download the tune file and have them compare it. The way the updates are done now with the laptops I would think just like you that they would have a log of the calibration modifications in their system.

 

Did the truck come from the dealer who got it from GM or was it a dealer trade?

[Newm]

If you haven't tuned it then I would push for GM to download the tune file and have them compare it. The way the updates are done now with the laptops I would think just like you that they would have a log of the calibration modifications in their system.

 

Did the truck come from the dealer who got it from GM or was it a dealer trade?

 

I special ordered the truck from a dealer in Illinois and picked it up with 5-7 miles on it....fresh off the truck is my understanding. And with so few miles I don't think it could be a dealer trade even if someone wasn't telling the truth but who knows at this point.

 

 

Just called the dealer and asked for either the head tech or service manager and couldn't reach either of them. Left a message to call me and have sent emails to them as well to see what they have heard and to please call me.

[14SLTZ71]

If it comes down to it being a non-GM tune things could get a little rough, that is if GM decides that the tune accelerated, influenced, or was the direct cause of the engine damage.

 

Hopefully it's all just a mistake and the tune is of GM origin.