Yet more warranty work ...

JimG · March 11, 2004

Figured I'd share this with everyone:

Well, my truck is at the dealership for some more warranty work. The truck has 26,700 miles on it - first two times was for minor problems.

Last time it went for the rear brakes. Both discs were scored. They managed to cut the rotors and fix it that way. This time it went for several issues:

1. Clunk in the steering wheel - surprise surprise

2. Rust on the inside of the bumpers

3. Driver's seat fabric separating at shoulder belt trim

4. Radio does funky stuff if the station uses RDS (I gave them a full paragraph of the problem)

I was shocked when they said my radio issue was actually something they duplicated but don't know what the problem is. Apparently there's a call to the TAC for help on that. Other two issues (1,3) are not major and easily fixed. But, I swear GM must train their service guys in the phrase "This is normal". I got told the rust "is normal". They're not fixing the bumpers - said I could call GMC and discuss it with them. However, they never mentioned the TSB for it. I'm going to call them tomorrow and see why the TSB doesn't apply.

Anyone else have a hard time getting the dealership to fix the bumpers???

Granted I could do it myself in a weekend, but it's still under factory warranty.

Shaners · March 11, 2004

What does the TSB for the bumpers say?

asepgrad98 · March 11, 2004

All the bumpers rust on the inside so i can see how it is "normal"

Tommy'Z 6speed · March 11, 2004

I took mine in last week for the third time in 8 months. Truck has less than 6000 miles on it.

I had a check engine light, the leather steering wheel wrap was coming loose at one spoke, the right hand outside mirror had what appeared to be rust flakes between the glass and the reflective coating, and the front bumper chrome quality was terrible. It had visible grind/sand marks in it and had a discolored spot on the top. I would have let it go but I figured while they had it, I'd at least complain a little.

Well, they replaced my steering wheel, mirror glass and front bumper!

The Check Engine light was the canister purge valve again.

I was very pleased with their response but was a little concerned that this is my third visit for the purge canister.

gmcjoe · March 11, 2004

All the bumpers rust on the inside so i can see how it is "normal"

JimG - be glad those things are covered under warranty

JimG · March 11, 2004

I'm very grateful it's all covered under warranty. I know I can do the shaft - but everything else was a dealer item, especially the radio.

As for the TSB, apparently it says something about refinishing (not replacing) the bumpers to eliminate the rust. I got the number for GM, so I think I'll go waste some time and call them. See if I can get this fixed, and if not I guess I'll do it myself at some point. If this was a Caddy Escalade, I'm sure rust wouldn't be "normal".

Edit - here's a link to the thread where someone explained the TSB a little: http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?...showtopic=26691

I can even find the TSB on Alldata.com, but since I"m not paying for it, I can't see the specifics.

JimG · March 12, 2004

Good news: After speaking with someone at GMC, and giving them the TSB # which they didn't know about - even the service guy at my dealership didn't know ... they agreed to fix it per the TSB. Cool!

So everything's fixed on my truck - new radio too since whatever went wrong is internal to it.

Bad news: As they pulled it out of the garage, someone cut off the guy driving my truck and ended up hitting the front bumper. So apparently my bumper (fixed) is now twisted, and some light sheet metal damage as well. So they get to keep my truck til at least Wednesday of next week to get the parts in and fix it all. And they get to fix the new bumper as well. What a week.

Wingnut · March 12, 2004

Wow! That sucks!

Oh, well....We know that they gave you an Escalade for a loaner....So that makes it OK.

Kevin zellweger · March 12, 2004

I am having the same problem with my dealer as well. I have the rust inside my front bumper and on the rear one also, i complained and he does not want to fix it so we agrued a bit more and he said what do you want us to do "sand and paint it"

i told that's exactly what i want you to do. then he asked me if i want to talk to his DSM. wrong move because i told him yes so he was squrming a bit after to get out of it.

at least he sending my truck to the body shop to repair the doors and hood. ( paint bubbling and falling off and rust under the hood) i will post what happens, also he won't cover that junk they call fog lights and air dam. so much for extended warrenty what a joke.

JimG · March 12, 2004

Wingnut,

LOL - yeah, right. I got a 02 Sonoma til Wednesday. Not bad but the engine's got issues. Step on the gas and nothing happens until you floor it. I wish they'd give me an Escalade. Better yet, I'll take a loaded 2500HD for the week.

Kevin,

Give the DSM the TSB #. My dealership wasn't going to do anything until I made a phone call, explained the situation, etc. What happend to the fog lights and air dam? I read GM's majorguard warranty policy and found out what they don't cover - seems like they can squirm outta fixing that for you as warranty work.

I'm going to the dealership after work to see what it looks like. I recently put on a Carriage Works Billet Grille. I'm gonna do some @$$ kicking if that got damaged in any way. Also want to see what exactly got damaged on the body besides the bumper. Moron drivers in NJ are abundant, no question.

Wingnut · March 12, 2004

What's wrong with the airdam and fog lights?

The lens fell off of one of mine, and the other was close to it. I took it in, and the dealer didn't even bat an eye before giving me two new ones.

Kevin zellweger · March 13, 2004

Kevin,
Give the DSM the TSB #. My dealership wasn't going to do anything until I made a phone call, explained the situation, etc. What happend to the fog lights and air dam? I read GM's majorguard warranty policy and found out what they don't cover - seems like they can squirm outta fixing that for you as warranty work.

I'm going to the dealership after work to see what it looks like. I recently put on a Carriage Works Billet Grille. I'm gonna do some @$$ kicking if that got damaged in any way. Also want to see what exactly got damaged on the body besides the bumper. Moron drivers in NJ are abundant, no question.

I will make sure i give her that number. Thanks

as for the airdam and fog lights, personally i think they are a both peices of junk plastic on the underside of a TRUCK is not very good enginering. the fog light brackets are my problem they are made with plastic but not the good stuff, cheap brittle junk maybe GM forgot to design them for -30 degrees C.

The reason they broke is my fault i went snow drift hunting and hit one a little bit to big, thats how i broke one of the lights before but i fixed it and "beefed up" the other one only one broke but it looks funny with only one on. and the airdam did not rip off from the drift it just broke off more than it was. i think it was a high curb that broke it first. i should be more careful and i am but once and a while

$&!T happens. Even though that is no excuse for poor quality. I have a 1985 chevy suburban it may be dying of cancer but it has yet to take a drop of oil. (opps i forgot to mention it has 495000 KMs), this unit has no trouble going through snow drifts which by the way were very soft the day i hit them with the siverado. but the sub has a front bumper and airdam made out of some sort of material i think they used to call METAL.

Also to note the bumper on the 85 Sub has no rust what so ever inside or out.

(just the body, which howls when you cruise down the highway or is it the rear end)

I'm done ranting thanks for readin

JimG · March 13, 2004

Kevin,

Well, I'd have to agree that something low to the ground like the airdam shouldn't be made of plastic. They sure don't build trucks like they use to.

As for my truck, I went to the dealership after work and saw what happened. The mechanic driving my truck swerved to avoid the idiot ... so he hit a column or something. Personally, I'd like to meet said idiot and knock some common sense in. The chrome bumper and the airdam have nice large dents in them. Both require replacement. Service guy said I could come in Wednesday to see it all fixed. However, I'm wondering if I should take it for a test ride? And if so, what should I look for as problems? Looks to have been a low impact crash - nothing severe enough to set off the airbags. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Kevin zellweger · March 13, 2004

The mechanic driving my truck swerved to avoid the idiot ... so he hit a column or something. Looks to have been a low impact crash - nothing severe enough to set off the airbags. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Sounds like a fishy story, of course i probably am 1500 miles away and i have no clue onto what happened, but swerved and low impact don't go together just pondering the idea that it was slow speed and then he swerved and hit a column.

it doesn't matter anyway because you are not paying for fixing it, but be careful i take everything my dealer says with a pound of salt. just my 2cents that would be 1.5cents US.

make sure the alignment is alright and nothing is broken internally it does not take much to break plastic. see how it drives if you know your truck it will tell you if theres something wrong, you'll know because you won't feel comfortable driving it. just like driving a ford

JimG · March 13, 2004

I was thinking about wheel alignment - didn't think to check all the plastic stuff, good call. I don't know for sure what exactly happened, but it really sucks cuz they did a great job on the inside of the bumpers to get rid of the rust and coat it. Now they gotta do it all over again.