i need help, i'm helpless

brightdim · July 20, 2005

I'm the life owner of a '03 ZR2 that's had no issues until a local chevy dealer, Reed-Lallier, messed with it last week. Moday, it was in for AC service and had about ten parts replaced. Tuesday, it overheated for the first time ever and was towed back. Wednesday I was told it was fixed and was only an issue with the radiator cap not sealing even though there was no moisture around the radiator (it was stone dry) and it took two people to get it off. Thursday, I get the truck back, Friday I take it back and explain it is still running hot, the AC is not cold (it's like a furnace), the engine sounds like it's struggling when accelerating hard or up hill and the coolant is leaking and smells burnt.

Yeah, I got my truck back today. I feel as if it's been raped. The dealer claimed their was rust in the cooling system but couldn't explain how water got in. They cleaned it, flushed it, and refilled it along with replacing my thermostat and casing. It is still running hot, about 20-30 degrees hotter than normal, the oil pressure is low, the engine still sounds like it's struggling only now, it's all the time. it's a loud roar with slow acceleration. you can feel the resistance in the pedal when you push it down, it feels like something's pushing against you. if you try to accelerate harder, not even flooring it, it'll get to about 20 mph by the time it's at 5000 rpms. it's shifting harder and later. into 3rd gear at 4500 rpms instead of around 3000. An hour later, I brought it back, went to the service manager and explained my problem that the issue had not been fixed completely and there is now an issue with stressing the engine or possible damage. Last Friday he was great about taking the truck immediately, getting a tech to work on it and try to give us a diagnosis on the spot then getting us a rental for the weekend. Today, it'll be 8 days before anyone can touch it, let alone just go for a test drive with me so I can tell him what's not right.

Can anyone help me? Does it sound like there's engine damage from throttle bodies or maybe head gasket? Would driving it make it worse? Do I even have any options?

MrQuadrasteer · July 20, 2005

Man, what a nightmare !!!!!!

Get with the GM of the dealership, explain everything that's happened, DEMAND a loaner. They obviously screwed something up....

Frank S · July 22, 2005

Jeez dude, don't let them touch it again.

Take it to a different dealership ASAP and don't drive the truck. Have it towed.

brightdim · July 22, 2005

Tried. The other chevy dealer in town has a worse reputation and no openings for a service appointment until august. I'm screwed. The first two times I contacted Chevrolet, they tried to wash their hands of it. I'm really hopin' they'll give me permission to have my GMC dealer look at it on their tab.

Frank S · July 23, 2005

Any GM dealership will honor the factory warranty.

Find another one for your sake.

brightdim · July 23, 2005

that's what i thought and i was wrong. i tried to take it to the GMC dealership and they told me they could not touch the vechicle while it was under the factory warranty. if i bought an extended warranty from say united auto, then they could. chevrolet customer service confirmed that for me. if i take it, even under warranty, it's on me.

MrQuadrasteer · July 23, 2005

That sounds like a crock of s**t.....

Oh, we're talking about taking a chevy to a gmc dealer ?? Still, what crap.....

Bummer, dude.... f'ing sue em all !!!!!!!

What the hell has happened lately ?? You, Lisa, a friend at work... hell, even me back a few weeks ago, but that was more my insurance than the dealer... BUT STILL !!!!!!!

MrQuadrasteer · July 23, 2005

WTH ??? I've been getting double posts here lately ???

GM-Tech · July 23, 2005

Any GM dealership will honor the factory warranty.

Actually, we can only do a warranty repair on a line we don't carry if it's an emergency repair. Otherwise, if you have a Chevy, you have to go to a Chevy dealer, not a GMC or any other division.

And this is something new. Prior to recent changes, we couldn't do warranty repairs on anything but our own division, regardless of the reason. There was no way we could submit a warranty claim on a GMC, Buick, etc.

brightdim · July 23, 2005

i'm still stuck. the only other Chevy dealer in town aside from the one who screwed up my truck is trying to wash their hands of the situation. no chevy dealer can take a look at it until August. right now, there's only 500 miles left on my warranty. by then, i'll probably be close to being out of it. i was told if it's out of warranty, they'll still run a diagnostic on the computer and if no codes come up, we have to pay for it. to me, that's s**t. they ran a diagnostic after it overheated the first time, nothing came up. four days, and two trips later, they told me there's rust in my coolant line and that was causing my overheating. it's still not fixed.

Envoy Fan · July 23, 2005

i'm still stuck. the only other Chevy dealer in town aside from the one who screwed up my truck is trying to wash their hands of the situation. no chevy dealer can take a look at it until August. right now, there's only 500 miles left on my warranty. by then, i'll probably be close to being out of it. i was told if it's out of warranty, they'll still run a diagnostic on the computer and if no codes come up, we have to pay for it. to me, that's s**t. they ran a diagnostic after it overheated the first time, nothing came up. four days, and two trips later, they told me there's rust in my coolant line and that was causing my overheating. it's still not fixed.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Time to call the 800 number for customer service. Get them to document and give you an assigned case number. Also consider purchase of an extended GM warranty. You cannot buy an extended GM warranty if vehicle goes out of warranty.

brightdim · July 25, 2005

so far, customer service has been borderline useless. the first two people i talked to where extremely ignorant and the current person i'm working with hasn't really been able to give any options. he tried to get a dealership to up an appointment to us, but couldn't. the only thing he told us he could do is try to see if he could extend the warranty bumper to bumper until a dealer can see us.

as for the extended warranty, i already plan on doing it only thorugh UnitedAuto instead. GM's is almost twice as expensive, doesn't cover as much, and can only be taken to a Chevy dealer. with united auto, you can take it to any certified mechanic in the states, better rental deal (5 days instead of 3) and provides a better range of options.

Envoy Fan · July 26, 2005

so far, customer service has been borderline useless. the first two people i talked to where extremely ignorant and the current person i'm working with hasn't really been able to give any options. he tried to get a dealership to up an appointment to us, but couldn't. the only thing he told us he could do is try to see if he could extend the warranty bumper to bumper until a dealer can see us.

as for the extended warranty, i already plan on doing it only thorugh UnitedAuto instead. GM's is almost twice as expensive, doesn't cover as much, and can only be taken to a Chevy dealer. with united auto, you can take it to any certified mechanic in the states, better rental deal (5 days instead of 3) and provides a better range of options.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I have heard a lot of horror stories about aftermarket warranty companies. Bankrupt, refuse to pay claims because of some lame reason, etc.

Check out this link http://www.gmoutlet.com/ for discount price on GM Warranty. No sales tax either if out of state.

Whatever, good luck with your issues.

brightdim · July 26, 2005

thanks for the suggestion. UnitedAuto really isn't that much of an aftermarket group, though. It's nationall recognized, been around for decades, and Penske has a 40% controlling interest. It is accepted at any dealership or mechanic who is ASE certified. UnitedAuto owns completely a percentage interest in well over 100 dealerships nation wide. It gives better coverage than GM, more mileage, and covers more. If you were looking for an extended warranty, I'd defintely check them out.