Does GM Only Hire Engineers Who Squeak By In College?

[15GMCSierra]

Ok, a rhetorical question I must admit, but think about it. Twenty plus years of:

 

1. Crappy transmission programming

2. Daytime running lamps that operate on one side only. My daughter (7) plays a game to identify all of the GMC and Chevrolet trucks with burnt out DRLs (usually one light only). Low and behold, the engineers cannot even get the LED string DRLs to operate consistently. I have noticed ALOT of GM vehicles with one side of the LED DRLs not working.

3. Vibration issues

4. Oil consumption issues (need I say more...AFM should be renamed AFU)

5. Poor headlights. My vehicle required the BCM reprogram and new headlights.

6. Poor radio reception. XM works about 40% of the time in my truck and significantly degraded compared to my last truck.

 

Anymore that I missed? By the way, I lemon lawed my last truck due to piston slap and left GM for 15 years. I have seen some posts concerning piston slap, but in general it does not appear to be as prevalent.

[newdude]

S#&T happens. The day they engineer anything 100% perfect is the day any manufacturer goes bankrupt and belly up because nothing breaks. Gotta keep people employed.

[Newell33]

Engineers are only as good as the bean counters allow them to be...

[RyanbabZ71]

As an engineer I am highly offended by this topic.

 

Tons of suppliers provide parts and like it was stated above the "bean counters" have a major roles in this, more so than engineering.

[Silverado-Hareek]

Yeah as an engineer, I have to say the problem is likely not the engineers. They're most likely constrained by a budget given to them to operate within by GM and, coupled with federal regulations for safety, fuel economy, etc., they're tasked with producing something that's affordable, gets better gas mileage with every generation, and doesn't kill us. In that light, it's pretty remarkable what they actually do come up with. It would be an engineer's dream to have unlimited access to funding for a project in order to create the perfect "thing" whatever it may be.

[MikeNH]

Go read Car Guys vs Bean Counters by Bob Lutz. It'll give you some insight to some of the dysfunction he faced during his time at GM. He fixed some of it but I doubt he was able to totally get their heads out of their butts.

[j-ten-ner]

As an engineer I am highlky offended by this topic.

 

Tons of suppliers provide parts and like it was stated above the "bean counters" have a major roles in this, more so than engineering.

 

So basically you're saying that the engineers at GM are only supposed to do damage control?

Driving the test vehicles for zillions of miles just to figure out how to make them somewhat drivable with all the junk and cheap parts?

Like they shake hands "Hey we managed to make the trans to shift w/o falling off" ?

 

Maybe you're right.

 

so long

j-ten-ner

[kstruckcountry]

This has been covered before. If it was up to engineers, your pickup would have 500+ horsepower, 1000W stereo, bulletproof glass, kevlar body, etc. It would also cost at least $200,000.

 

There's an old saying that you should never ask an engineer whether to build something or not, because the answer will always be yes.

 

The objective in a company the size of GM, is to meet all economy, safety, and general SAE requirements while providing a vehicle that isn't scary or hard to drive, all while staying under a certain price. Many things about a vehicle (seats or transmission shifting) are an individual preference, and what feels good to some may not feel good to everyone.

 

A balance has to be struck, so some sacrifices are made. For example, GM does not manufacture all their parts, as many are from outside suppliers.

 

As the saying goes... "If you want it done right, do it yourself" So I'd say if anyone doesn't like the pickups a manufacturer makes, they should feel free to build their own, and teach those "engineers who squeak by" how it's done.

[15GMCSierra]

_{I am an engineer and quite understand budgetary constraints. However, the issues in the post do not require any more or very little money to make it right.}

_{1. Crappy transmission programming.}

_{Software code that most other manufacturers get right.}

_{2. Daytime running lamps that operate on one side only.}

_{ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE!}

_{3. Vibration issues.}

_{From all the post and repairs, it appears highly likely to be an engineering screw up. It is costing them more in warranty work.}

_{4. Oil consumption issues.}

_{AFM added complexity so it drove up costs vice saving money.}

_{5. Poor headlights.}

_{Again, absolutely no excuse and little to no money to make it right.}

_.

[TheVision]

Do people really use XM radio? I thought only my parents liked it.

 

My 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe had 360,000 on the motor when I traded it in for this 2014 piece of junk. I agree, it seems like they dont make em like they used to (Chevrolet). I'd be surprised if this thing even makes 100k.

[TxTruckMan]

Ok, a rhetorical question I must admit, but think about it. Twenty plus years of:

 

1. Crappy transmission programming

2. Daytime running lamps that operate on one side only. My daughter (7) plays a game to identify all of the GMC and Chevrolet trucks with burnt out DRLs (usually one light only). Low and behold, the engineers cannot even get the LED string DRLs to operate consistently. I have noticed ALOT of GM vehicles with one side of the LED DRLs not working.

3. Vibration issues

4. Oil consumption issues (need I say more...AFM should be renamed AFU)

5. Poor headlights. My vehicle required the BCM reprogram and new headlights.

6. Poor radio reception. XM works about 40% of the time in my truck and significantly degraded compared to my last truck.

 

Anymore that I missed? By the way, I lemon lawed my last truck due to piston slap and left GM for 15 years. I have seen some posts concerning piston slap, but in general it does not appear to be as prevalent.

So, what other OEM is better than GM? I guess I missed all the other perfect vehicles on the road that never had any problems...

 

1. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean it's crappy. CAFE likes it. Mine is fine.

2. DRLs were fixed by a bulb change.

3. No vehicle is vibration free. Other OEMs have the same problems.

4. Other OEMs have similar problems.

5. Lights were fine before, but better now - stop whining.

6. Tell your service department. My radio works great. FYI, XM needs a clear line of sight to the satellite, so you can't expect it to work in your garage, around tall buildings, or under a bridge.

[RyanbabZ71]

_{I am an engineer and quite understand budgetary constraints. However, the issues in the post do not require any more or very little money to make it right.}

_{1. Crappy transmission programming.}

_{Software code that most other manufacturers get right.}

_{2. Daytime running lamps that operate on one side only.}

_{ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE!}

_{3. Vibration issues.}

_{From all the post and repairs, it appears highly likely to be an engineering screw up. It is costing them more in warranty work.}

_{4. Oil consumption issues.}

_{AFM added complexity so it drove up costs vice saving money.}

_{5. Poor headlights.}

_{Again, absolutely no excuse and little to no money to make it right.}

_.

Most of those are electrical engineer issues

 

 

Ryan

[patriot]

Most of those are electrical engineer issues

 

 

Ryan

..maybe he should write a short paper with detailed solutions to the problems noted and send it to those low-skill GM electrical engineers so they can fix everything?

[RyanbabZ71]

 

 

Ryan

[j-ten-ner]

So, what other OEM is better than GM?

 

 

 

Wrong question.

Why can't GM do better than other OEM's?

 

so long

j-ten-ner