Stranded With New Truck

23LTW · August 3, 2023

Brand new 23 1500 Z71 currently at the dealer with a grinding transfer case while on vacation. Truck is just under 4000 miles and dealer is saying it barely had any fluid and won’t be covered for lack of maintenance. I asked where it says in the manual I’m supposed to stop every 50 miles and check fluid levels in a new truck and the service writer got smart with me. I saw fluid covering the underside of the truck when we stopped to check the noise but there was no way I was going to spend the night at a gas station in BFE with my family and continued on to the hotel since it was so late. The actual leak looks to be coming from where the case mounts to the transmission at that gasket.

Will any 2 speed transfer case from 2019 and newer fit or does it specifically have to be fit a 10 speed transmission? If I can find one a local mechanic said he can get it replaced in two days. What a HUGE POS!!!!!

newdude · August 3, 2023

10 minutes ago, 23LTW said:

Brand new 23 1500 Z71 currently at the dealer with a grinding transfer case while on vacation. Truck is just under 4000 miles and dealer is saying it barely had any fluid and won’t be covered for lack of maintenance. I asked where it says in the manual I’m supposed to stop every 50 miles and check fluid levels in a new truck and the service writer got smart with me. I saw fluid covering the underside of the truck when we stopped to check the noise but there was no way I was going to spend the night at a gas station in BFE with my family and continued on to the hotel since it was so late. The actual leak looks to be coming from where the case mounts to the transmission at that gasket.

Will any 2 speed transfer case from 2019 and newer fit or does it specifically have to be fit a 10 speed transmission? If I can find one a local mechanic said he can get it replaced in two days. What a HUGE POS!!!!!

This would be on GM here. Fluids are supposed to be checked during dealer PDI. If you have fluid external to the truck, there must be a leak or something going on.

Keep up the fight, be professional about it. Start a case with GM.

jaxcam02 · August 3, 2023

37 minutes ago, newdude said:

This would be on GM here. Fluids are supposed to be checked during dealer PDI. If you have fluid external to the truck, there must be a leak or something going on.

Keep up the fight, be professional about it. Start a case with GM.

I agree, open a GM case against the dealer. To me, a failing gasket is the cause. Lack of fluid inside resulted because of the faulty gasket. I may have the truck towed to another dealer.

How that dealer can say its your fault on a truck that hasn't even hit its first maintenance schedule is just unbelievable. Sounds to me they just don't want to do warranty work.

see page 426 of the manual and ask them to tell you where the manual mentioned checking any fluids within 4000 miles. Hint: it doesn't until 7,500 miles

https://www.chevrolet.com/bypass/pcf/gma-content-api/resources/sites/GMA/content/staging/MANUALS/5000/MA5633/en_US/2.0/22_CHEV_Silverado_1500_OM_en_US_U_84719634B_2022APR04_2P.pdf

Edited August 3, 2023 by jaxcam02

BIGDOGx · August 3, 2023

Wow do they really hire services writers dumb enough to state you should check the x-case fluid level on a brand new 23 truck with 4k miles on it? I fail to see how any person even one that is new to the automotive world could be so damn dumb to state that to a customer! That part is covered fully under the factory warranty and the service writer is wrong and a moron, i would also look into reimbursement if it had to be towed at your expense.

KARNUT · August 3, 2023

6 minutes ago, BIGDOGx said:

Wow do they really hire services writers dumb enough to state you should check the x-case fluid level on a brand new 23 truck with 4k miles on it? I fail to see how any person even one that is new to the automotive world could be so damn dumb to state that to a customer! That part is covered fully under the factory warranty and the service writer is wrong and a moron, i would also look into reimbursement if it had to be towed at your expense.

When I had my Trailblazer SS the service writer told me the warranty was going to be void because I was past 3K for a mobile one oil change. I laughed and bought it to my salesman’s attention.

diyer2 · August 3, 2023

IMO

Dealers don't like dealing with warranty claims, not a great revenue source. And I bet at some dealers service writers are told to avoid them if they can.

Gangly · August 3, 2023

42 minutes ago, diyer2 said:

IMO

Dealers don't like dealing with warranty claims, not a great revenue source. And I bet at some dealers service writers are told to avoid them if they can.

Guaranteed.

A dealership service center is only allowed to invoice a set value of hours per task under warranty work, as dictated by the manufacturer. However, once the vehicle is out of warranty and the consumer is footing the bill, the dealership charges whatever hours they want to for non warranty work. Some of the documents I review for itemizing costs show CRAZY disparities with some dealerships, often with the billed time for non warranty work being close to double. The income generated from the service facility can be absolutely ludicrous.

Grumpy Bear · August 3, 2023

42 minutes ago, Gangly said:

he income generated from the service facility can be absolutely ludicrous.

A local dealership owner has several Ford dealerships and a couple of GM. His parts warehouse bills a MILLION a month in parts. A small town could live on the margin that generates. :wtf:

Grumpy Bear · August 3, 2023

You have your factory "safety recal", John Law forces them to do.

You have warranty and non-warranty TSB's.

Workshop workbook work arounds that are not published. Supplements to the manuals as they develop.

And superseded parts and numbers.

When an OEM makes a few millions of something for a model year's manufacturing quota and find a flaw, it goes in anyway. They sell any surplus over the counter. Warranty what they must and have the flaw corrected and the part superseded. Hundreds of parts/numbers a year. And the ALL do it. It has to be pretty bad, and the bean counters get involved heavy before parts are scrapped.

At one point Honda use to stop the production, fix the flaw, bring back the bad ones and fix those then move on. They had a great rep and it was a great car. Then they built 12 plants in the USA and got on like all the others. 2/3's of Honda Cars and light trucks sold in the USA are made here.

Transient · August 3, 2023

I think we need more info here. Why was the transfer case engaged on the highway? It may just be that I'm an idiot, but I thought the transfer case was inactive when in 2wd. It's a Z71, so it has part time 4wd. It sounds like we're not getting 100% of the information from the OP. If the OP was not using the vehicle correctly then I can see why the dealer might decline warranty service. I just see a big hole in this whole situation.

23LTW · August 3, 2023

2 hours ago, Transient said:

I think we need more info here. Why was the transfer case engaged on the highway? It may just be that I'm an idiot, but I thought the transfer case was inactive when in 2wd. It's a Z71, so it has part time 4wd. It sounds like we're not getting 100% of the information from the OP. If the OP was not using the vehicle correctly then I can see why the dealer might decline warranty service. I just see a big hole in this whole situation.

The transfer case was in 2H. It’s grinding because there’s “a capful” of fluid and metal in it from all leaking out. The original dealer that gave me the BS was able to get a tech to look at it first thing before telling me checking fluid is part of maintenance but again the truck is new. I can understand checking the engine oil but transfer case fluid is nonsense.

I did not think to originally call GM. It’s getting moved to another dealer here in Orlando this afternoon but they are making no promises to get to it before next week. The picture shown is where the fluid is leaking from. Right where it mounts to the transmission.

64BAwagon · August 3, 2023

3 hours ago, Transient said:

I think we need more info here. Why was the transfer case engaged on the highway? It may just be that I'm an idiot, but I thought the transfer case was inactive when in 2wd. It's a Z71, so it has part time 4wd. It sounds like we're not getting 100% of the information from the OP. If the OP was not using the vehicle correctly then I can see why the dealer might decline warranty service. I just see a big hole in this whole situation.

Youre wrong. The T-case has power running through it no matter if in 4wd or 2wd. It only engages the front driveshaft when in 4wd.

Gangly · August 3, 2023

You either have a transmission output shaft seal leaking, or a transfer case input shaft seal leaking. Both are relatively easy fixes and can be done in a single day.

I had a leak from the same area and fixed it myself, something you DEFINITELY should NOT have to do considering your mileage. Here is a link to the repair:

repairman54 · August 4, 2023

Grinding T case is junk from fluid loss. It's a matter of getting one in from GM, hopefully not on backorder.

Open the GM case, that will throw the selling dealer under the bus also.

4k miles is not even the first oil change per the manual. Another reason I do my own fluid changes including my trucks first one so I can eyeball everything.

23LTW · August 4, 2023

Thank you all for the reassurance. This is my first full size truck coming from a Tacoma and first time ever dealing with GM warranty. Hope to hear something on Monday and then go from there.