Engine Missfire Turns Bad

Freyguy · September 30, 2003

I just thought I'd share my recent experience with everyone just incase it might happen to you. My 2002 2500HD CC 4x4 6.0L really started missing one day last week while driving. It got to the point that it would almost stall at idle. The check engine light even came on and was flashing. I had this problem before and the dealer changed the fuel filter and cleaned the injectors and it was back to normal. So I filled up with some good gas, changed the fuel filter, oil & filter, the pcv valve (just because it's cheap ), and put some gas treatment in. A short ride later it was just as bad so I took it into the shop. The also thought it was clogged injectors, but cleaning didn't help. They tried other spark plugs which didn't help. So they took off the valve cover and found that a valve spring was broken on cylinder 7! Total cost was $297 but the worst part is that the spring only costs $2.31. They also hit me up for some carb cleaner ($5), but I can accept that. The truck only has 38,500 so they tried to get it covered under the "good will" policy, but no luck. I asked the tech if he has ever seen it before and his reply was, "never." It's just kinda wierd for it to happen, plus I'm kicking myself in the butt because I could have fixed it in the driveway for $2.31.

CMNTMXR81 · September 30, 2003

That's unexcusable that it wasn't "goodwilled"!

And yes, valve sprigs do break on these engines but it takes a high RPM run to do it generally.

JimWilson · October 1, 2003

I agree; they should be fixing it gratis. Contact GM directly and see if you can rattle there cage some. But then again, with what they did to me you might want to just bend over now...

Shaners · October 1, 2003

I agree with JimWilson. I would try to call GM on this one... The reason I would is because GM has been giving alot of people extended warranties for free on their engines due to the Cold Start Knock, and if you would have complained to them about the CSK and gotton the free extended warranty, then the valve spring would have been covered.

CMNTMXR81 · October 1, 2003

I agree with JimWilson. I would try to call GM on this one... The reason I would is because GM has been giving alot of people extended warranties for free on their engines due to the Cold Start Knock, and if you would have complained to them about the CSK and gotton the free extended warranty, then the valve spring would have been covered.

That may not be possible though. A valve spring has nothing to do with CSK. Therefore any extended warranty would be applicable to damage caused due to CSK.

Either way, it still should've been goodwilled. We probably would've done it. That dealership could've had a bad month warranty expense wise though and had to cut any "gray area warranty coverages".

Freyguy · October 1, 2003

Thanks guys. I will give GM a call and see what they can do.

timk49 · October 5, 2003

So if high RPMs couse the valve springs to break what is the chance I will have one break while towing my trailer up the mountian. When that tranny downshifts and the tach hits 5000 is that when it will snap?

BDBWTE · October 5, 2003

So if high RPMs couse the valve springs to break what is the chance I will have one break while towing my trailer up the mountian. When that tranny downshifts and the tach hits 5000 is that when it will snap?

I hope not. I rev my 6.0 up the the rev limiter on daily occasions. Gotta love that awesome studder at 5500rpms. d**n fuel shut off or spark retard what ever it is. But so far so good, knock on wood, with a stick I'm able to R out my engine quite a bit and somethings I pull require me to turn in up pretty tight.

awdvkd · October 8, 2003

The extended warranty that GM gives reference the csk is a total warranty up to 100,000 miles. It is not limited to just CSK components.

CMNTMXR81 · October 9, 2003

So if high RPMs couse the valve springs to break what is the chance I will have one break while towing my trailer up the mountian. When that tranny downshifts and the tach hits 5000 is that when it will snap?

High rpm's equal usually 6,500+ RPM.

Well out of the normal range for your truck engine. Not to say that it can't happen, but the number of broken valve springs repaired are relatively small compared to the number of trucks out there with these motors. So I wouldn't lose too much sleep over it.

As to the CSK issue, if you brought your truck in with a faulty valve spring under GM's "extended CSK" warranty for us to fix, you'd have to prove that the CSK caused the valve spring to fail for us to cover it. Most dealers are independantly owned or franchised. Once you are out of the standard issue manufacturer mandated 3yr/36k (or whatever) warranty it is OUR discretion for the most part. This whole CSK issue is a "gray" area in terms of coverage and we were pretty, well very lenient in our department, but we'd have to hear a pretty good argument for a broken valve spring to be covered under the CSK issue.

GM says THEY will cover the engine for the rest of it's life, but it's up to the dealer as to whether or not they want to honor it. it is the dealers out of pocket expense until GM re-imburses them. Just the same as under the standard warranty, but once out of that, you enter that "Gray" area and possibly not getting re-imbursement from GM. As such some dealers tend to be a little more cautious as to what they will cover under certain "100% clause" extended coverages.

That's the best I can explain it anyway.