Warranty questions

Cool Zr2 · June 6, 2005

I have a question related to my warranty on my transmission.

This is sparked from another thread on this forum.

I have a 4l60-e in my truck that is for a LD 3/4 Ton, now my truck is a 97 and the trans in for a 98. I had to do this cuz I wanted a trans from a K and they had the old cases untill 98, and my 97 s-10 had the new case. Get what I mean, I needed the 98 trans so I could bolt up my t-case to it, it has the 6 bolt output, and the older cases are 4 bolt.

Ok, before I got it, I made sure with the folks at gm goodwrench that the trans would hold its 50k warranty with my application, and being it runs a suburban pcm and 350 vortec that it would be identical to that of the transmissions intended "place or install".

I have had the wiring harness replaced in it, and the front seal. All covered by the excelent warranty that I have. Now this was in the town where I USED to live. Both experiences were TOTALLY hastle free and they were very courtious.

Ok, the other day I started up my truck and drove to the store, and when I was leaving the store I see a puddle of fluid under the truck, so I see that its comming out of the vent. My trans is not over full, I check it every time I fuel.

Question What causes the fluid to come out the vent? Its not over full. I was told that a internal seal could be bad.

So I bring it to the dealer, and tell them what is going on. So I get a call later in the afternoon and they tell me that they need to tear into it to see the problem and need my permission to do so due to the cost. I tell them to do what ever becasue it only has 15k on it and my warranty will cover it, he says no it wont. So I go down there with my warranty papers and previous reciepts from warranty repairs. He says my warranty is void because the trans shouldn't be in that truck. I tell him to call whoever is incharge of approving the repairs at goodwrench and he refuses to, even though he sees my reciepts. So I leave. I won't go back due to their cocky attitude.

Now, there is another dealer 20 miles away. How do I approch them? Should I call someone at the transmission outfit and have them call the dealer?

Also, how would you look at this situation if you were dealing with it, would you assume something or follow up with the warranty contacts?

GM-Tech · June 6, 2005

Technically, you're screwed. Here's part of the warranty statement for the tranny on what is not covered...

"Damage due to improper installation, negligence, alteration, accident, or use for

which the transmission/transaxle was not designed or approved by General Motors,

including, but not limited to, improper use,or any use other than a vehicle it was

designed for, or any use related to racing or competition. Proper vehicle use is

discussed in the vehicle Owner’s Manual. In addition, coverages do not apply if

the odometer has been disconnected or the mileage reading has been altered."

That technicality can give the dealer the leverage they need to deny the warranty on it and you don't have a leg to stand on. Can you find a dealer that will repair it for you even if it's not the trans that belongs in that vehicle? I don't know.

There is no "transmission outfit" that you can call. There's no transmission outfit that we can call. The trans is from GM and warranty on it is handled just like any other warranty repairs done on a GM vehicle. No one at "Goodwrench" (there is no such place) has to approve repairs. The service manager approves the repairs. The only thing that would require GM's approval is replacing the trans entirely with another one.

Fluid out the vent is usually due to overheating. I'm not sure if that's what's going on with yours.

Cool Zr2 · June 6, 2005

or any use other than a vehicle it was
designed for

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This is the issue I talked to whoever about last year on the phone. Being the power train is that of the transmissions intended use, the warranty would be valid. I was told that just because the sheetmetal was stamped out to be a s-10 will have no merit tward this issue.

GM-Tech · June 6, 2005

This is the issue I talked to whoever about last year on the phone. Being the power train is that of the transmissions intended use, the warranty would be valid. I was told that just because the sheetmetal was stamped out to be a s-10 will have no merit tward this issue.

okay, I won't debate you on this. If that's really the case, then you should have no trouble getting it repaired under its warranty.

Cool Zr2 · June 6, 2005

This is the issue I talked to whoever about last year on the phone. Being the power train is that of the transmissions intended use, the warranty would be valid. I was told that just because the sheetmetal was stamped out to be a s-10 will have no merit tward this issue.

okay, I won't debate you on this. If that's really the case, then you should have no trouble getting it repaired under its warranty.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Its not a matter of debate, I'm just curious as to what you would do if this situation arose in your shop.

GM-Tech · June 6, 2005

Its not a matter of debate, I'm just curious as to what you would do if this situation arose in your shop.

Personally, I wouldn't want to have to deal with this. But if pushed, I'd call my AVM (factory rep) and get his take on it. I could do the repairs under the parts warranty, and the claim would get paid just fine. It's just submitted to a computer and it has no clue what kind of trans it is. I suppose there's the off chance that I might use a part that would cause it to reject due to incombatibility, but I think that's very unlikely.

The problem would come if we were audited by GM (it happens) and the audit team looked at that RO and they were able to tell something wasn't kosher. Like they looked at the original receipt, saw what kind of trans it is and said, "Hey, this trans doesn't go in this vehicle." That's probably a very slim chance. Still, I don't want to be eating a $1000 repair, so I'd run it by my AVM first.

Cool Zr2 · June 6, 2005

Its not a matter of debate, I'm just curious as to what you would do if this situation arose in your shop.

Personally, I wouldn't want to have to deal with this. But if pushed, I'd call my AVM (factory rep) and get his take on it. I could do the repairs under the parts warranty, and the claim would get paid just fine. It's just submitted to a computer and it has no clue what kind of trans it is. I suppose there's the off chance that I might use a part that would cause it to reject due to incombatibility, but I think that's very unlikely.

The problem would come if we were audited by GM (it happens) and the audit team looked at that RO and they were able to tell something wasn't kosher. Like they looked at the original receipt, saw what kind of trans it is and said, "Hey, this trans doesn't go in this vehicle." That's probably a very slim chance. Still, I don't want to be eating a $1000 repair, so I'd run it by my AVM first.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

OK, I appreciate your resopnses.

Can you describe what AVM is please?