Letter - Cycling Thermostat

ben550 · September 28, 2017

I purchased my 2014 used a few months ago. Noticed the coolant reservoir was low and topped it off. Smelled the coolant standing next to the truck. After researching i found this post and TSB. I went to the dealer where I purchased the truck from and while having the transmission fluid flushed asked them to check the radiator due to coolant loss. I mentioned this TSB. The rep called me back later that day saying he researched the coolant loss and confirmed it was due to the thermostat cycling and that it was fully covered under a special warranty. I just picked it up today with new radiator and thermostat. My bill was $0.00 including a loaner truck while they worked on it. I am very happy with the service and grateful it was covered under the warranty. Truck has 90k miles on it.

Jullian is not my name · November 6, 2017

I just discovered that I have a leak in my radiator as well. I'm at 55k miles on my 2014 Sierra CC, built in Mexico. When the dealer told me I had a small leak, I found this post and called him back. Of course he says that my vehicle does not fall under the TSB. There is no way he is willing to do the repair for me under warranty unfortunately. I also talked with GM customer service, and they simply say that I need to talk to the service center to find out if my vehicle is covered.

It is frustrating how much discretion the service center has to complete a repair and cover it under warranty or not. Anyway, I'm planning on having the repair done elsewhere and save a lot of money not going to the dealer. Does anyone know for sure if doing so would exclude me from a reimbursement offer if this ever expands to the Mexico built pickups?

(edit to answer my own question). I was told by my service advisor that if I do have the repair done by a non-GM repair center and GM decides in the future to expand the reimbursement to cover my vehicle, that I would be eligible for reimbursement up to the amount that I would have been billed by GM had they done the repair.

Edited November 7, 2017 by Jullian is not my name

TJay74 · November 10, 2017

Go to another dealer, if your truck is losing coolant as per the TSB then it should be covered under the special warranty coverage that GM extended.

tbarn · November 10, 2017

It's simple for the dealer to see if the special policy applies to your truck. They can do a vin check. All special policies/recalls come up. Not all '14s are included in policy #15829.

Edited November 10, 2017 by tbarn

afireinside7444 · February 12, 2018

So looks like i have this issue 2015 45k miles. Is their a mileage extension? Im not to sure on the wording. Or is the extension on 2014 only?

Eddie 70 · February 12, 2018

I just took my 2014 in for coolant smell near the passengers side front a few weeks ago. They replaced the radiator and the thermostat under warranty. My truck has 97k on it. I even got a rental while the work was being done.

GMCSierra99 · February 12, 2018

I had this done under warranty last winter and ever since then I have noticed that the truck smells a little hotter especially after towing. Has anybody else noticed the same thing. The temp gauge has never cracked 210 and all seams fine. I am guessing this is just how the new rad and thermo stat work.

jrob56 · February 12, 2018

I have the smell and verified it is leaking, I can see it on the radiator. My local dealer is telling me it isnt covered... Going to try through the dealer I bought it from. If not I guess I can do it myself when its warmer.

15 Z71 · February 12, 2018

1 hour ago, jrob56 said:

I have the smell and verified it is leaking, I can see it on the radiator. My local dealer is telling me it isnt covered... Going to try through the dealer I bought it from. If not I guess I can do it myself when its warmer.

Yeah,I don't understand it. Some people have had it covered under the power train warranty and some say they would not cover it. My 15 sierra had this problem also.

afireinside7444 · February 13, 2018

ok so went to the dealer they contacted GM. They will let me pay $450 for a new Rad and thermostat installed 1 year warranty on my 2015. I can get a Stant thermo for $15 or gates for $100 (not sure why the huge price difference) and a Sperctrum Premium cooling depot Rad shipped for $150 (all rock auto prices) My experence is after martket is better then OEM (or else I wouldent have a leaking rad a 2.5 years and 45k.

Is the install that bad? I read that the AC condensor will not have to be removed just unclipped is this true? Should be pretty strait foward I fix all car issues.

So $165 for Stant/Spectrum parts. $250 Gates/Spectrum. Or $450 GM replaces.

What say ye?

diyer2 · February 13, 2018

How important is $285 or $250?

As long as the A/C doesn't need recharged, I'd do it myself.

afireinside7444 · February 13, 2018

To the wife the money is alot lol. she is very mad that a new truck is having these issues. Me its more i hate paying for labor/depending on others/glutton for punishment/wanting it done right not by stealership hacks. The same dealership broke my seat pad clips that I found out when I installed my Katskins last week soooooo. But it is attractive to have them do it and not worry about it.

And if i can confirm that the AC dosent need to be meesed with i.e. unclipped from rad ill do that.

Edited February 13, 2018 by afireinside7444

GMCSierra99 · February 13, 2018

The dealership replaced my T-stat and rad under the powertrain warranty on my 2014 Sierra. They said the T-stat was part of the engine that is covered by the powertrain warranty and therefore the T-stat was the cause of the cracked rad, they would also replace the rad under powertrain. Although the dealership did not connect the tranny cooler line correctly and left me stranded on the side of the road spewing tranny fluid every where. I was pissed but they took care of it. Has been fine since besides it smells a little hotter than before.

Edited February 13, 2018 by GMCSierra99

afireinside7444 · February 14, 2018

Great thanks for the info. That is good logic and I called my service manager who ive delt with in my old position as a apparatus supervisor for my FD for our GM ambulances and he seemed to think it may work so he is going to try and submit the thermo caused the rad failure process.

If not I think I will just do it myself. $150 rad that Im sure will be better then the garbage GM installs. WIll prob use the updated GM thermo just to be sure to not use a old style its $40ish. It will save me $250 for the adjusted price they are helping me with. ($1000 from the non adjusted price if I just paid cash)

Looks easy enough remove top cross member, unclip from Condensor, drain coolant, remove shroud bolts and hoses remove trans linesx4 and lift out. 2 or 3 hours goofing around

kingoftheworld · February 14, 2018

Has anyone been successful with getting the V6 repaired under this TSB? I have a 2014 4.3L V6 at 59k with a cracked radiator tab.

I started noticing my temperature gauge going up and down recently, and I turned the truck off over the weekend and the fans were running for a few minutes afterwards. I popped the hood and noticed my coolant reservoir was dry as could be. I ended up filling it with a gallon and half of coolant. I have coolant residue on the top of my radiator on the drivers side with a cracked tab. I am curious to know if anyone was successful in getting this repaired with the V6. I have an appointment with the dealer for later this week, but the adviser at Chevy's 800# said my VIN was not included with these TSBs.