Gm Certified - Bs!

[GMCStepSide]

Purchased a GM Certified 2006 Silverado LT3 last week. Today I crawl underneath to switch to synthetic and guess what - the oil filter is a genuine PENNZOIL oil filter. Then, when I checked the air firlter, it was a genuine K&N. Needless to say, their service department did not do the complete 117 point inspection they were supposed to do. Just a word of caution to those who may be thinking of purchasing a GM Certified vehicle - inspect every square inch as the service department probably didn't. And yes, I'm contacting the dealer to tear a new one and shove that Pennzoil filter as far as I can.

 

See for yourself:

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z10/GMC...de/P1010001.jpg

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z10/GMC...de/P1010002.jpg

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z10/GMC...de/P1010003.jpg

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z10/GMC...de/P1010004.jpg

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z10/GMC...de/P1010005.jpg

[Genuinefine409]

You have to watch those certified loads of crap. I just bought my wife an Escape(I didn't let the f-bomb fly this time) and it had a 130 some point inspection and they missed the half ripped rear wiper, 3 missing lug nuts, cracked rear rotors and who knows what else I will find. Lucky for me they sell all their vehicles with a lifetime powertrain warranty and I have 2 years bumper to bumper warranty. It also helps that my cousin is the warranty administrator and the assistant service manager but still some of the stuff missed is rediculous.

[unit731]

Is there a definition of "Certified"?

 

I have seen the ad for used "Certified" Lexus. My guess is that Lexus takes the good ones and does check things, but the car is good to start.

 

Sounds like everyone (dealers/manufacturers) is/are jumping on the "Certified" bandwagon.

 

Nothing beats taking the used car to a private mechanic that the buyer pays for. There are a few used cars that I should have done this for.

[therapy]

Purchased a GM Certified 2006 Silverado LT3 last week. Today I crawl underneath to switch to synthetic and guess what - the oil filter is a genuine PENNZOIL oil filter. Then, when I checked the air firlter, it was a genuine K&N. Needless to say, their service department did not do the complete 117 point inspection they were supposed to do. Just a word of caution to those who may be thinking of purchasing a GM Certified vehicle - inspect every square inch as the service department probably didn't. And yes, I'm contacting the dealer to tear a new one and shove that Pennzoil filter as far as I can.

 

I'm confused, how would either of these things prevent it from being GM Certified? Certified doesn't mean no 3rd party hardware, right? I mean, I had Line-X and an exhaust on my truck when I traded it in, does that mean it can't be certified?

[GMCStepSide]

You bet, go to http://www.gmcertified.com/certified/pdf/1...p_Checklist.pdf and you'll see everything they are supposed to do - including greasing zerks which according to the rust on the zerks, hadn't been done since it was new.

 

As you'll see on there, it states "Lube, change oil and filter required" thus had they done that, the Pennzoil filter would have never been there. In addition, the K&N is filter with caked dirt/mud/sand on it thus per the second item under the "Maintenance" category, the air filter should have been changed also.

[c4cruiser]

The checklist states:

Perform all required maintenance necessary within the next scheduled interval (GM/OEM Filters Required)

 

Does "within the next scheduled interval" mean that an oil change may not have been needed at the time you bought the truck? Was there anything to indicate that the prior oil change was with the interval for the next change? Oil and a filter is cheap and there is no reason why a dealer should not have done an LOF as part of the service.

 

I'll bet if you call them on it you will get a freebie oil change and maybe you can get a few extra if you take the Used Car Manager to task about it.

 

At least you got a K&N filter out of the deal. Get a K&N filter cleaning kit for it and you won't have to buy another paper filter for years.

[FREAKENHYE]

Im sorry that people got ripped off. But GM is not doing the certification, individual dealers are doing it. This is why there is GM reps in your area that you need to contact, and he will take care of it.

[MS3DALE]

They should of changed the oil & filter (using an AC-Delco PF46) and put in a new AC-Delco air filter at the very least.

I know we do on all of our used cars/trucks,no matter if the're going to be "certified" or not.

Kinda' makes you wonder what else needs done that they didn't do

[hubbycap]

A good friend of mine is a salesman at a local BMW dealership. He told me that BMW is so strict that a unit that has a non-OEM brand spare tire can not be certified. And mfg does spot audits and the continued ability to certify used vehicles hinges on virtually perfect adherence to BMW standards.

 

Don't own a BMW but that's the way a certified program should work if credibility is to be maintained.

[GMCStepSide]

I agree 100%. I think the thing that blew my mind was the fact that if you look at picture #2, you'll see oil dripped down the side of the filter and you can see drip of oil on the bottom of the filter. When I went to remove it, the thing was free. No need to use any grip (hand, oil filter wrench, etc) at all as it was already free. I park it outside in the snow thus I hadn't noticed any oil drips.

 

My biggest beef is GM touts the GM Certified label like you're getting a first rate inspection and resulting warranty on a vehicle so you can rest assured that it is a good vehicle - no need to take it to another mechanic as they did the job right with their mechanics. Now that I was able to see what GM says they do to the vehicles, I decided to check the air pressure in all four 20" factory tires. Guess what, three were at 39 and one was at 30. Guess they missed that too. Bottom line is be sure to check EVERYTHING prior to purchased a GM Certified unit as GM may have a 1st rate program but the dealers are the ones who hose the customers. And yes, I sent the general manager an email asking him how we can resolve this as I feel they were deceptive or at the very least negligent.

 

My son pointed out that Bose system radio display has bars going out on it so I can understand that I'll need to take it in to have it serviced or replaced under the factory warranty, but never expected a worthless piece of garbage Pennzoil oil filter or a crappy, worthless, piece of junk K&N air filter under the hood. Yes, guys, they are all crap and I'll stick with a paper AC Delco filter any day over the over-hyped, grit sucking, engine siezing K&N crap that can buy anywhere - but that's for a whole different thread.

[GMCStepSide]

Update:

Finally ended up contacting GM Corporate as the dealer is less than cooperative. I can't get a copy of the GM Certified checklist from them or a copy of the CarFax that is supposed to be available to every GM Certified purchaser. Even the Corporate Rep tried to get the Service Manager to fax it but at this point nothing. As I told the GM Rep, I don't expect a million dollars, just to be satisfied that the truck was inspected, that it IS GM Certified, an oil and air filter to make me whole, and an additional two years on the warranty for my time, inconvenience and to help restore a little trust in the dealership. The trust is gone with the dealer as the Service Manager even went so far as to lie to her and tell her all "safety" inspections were done but they just happened to miss parts of the check sheet.

 

The big story here is if you know someone about to purchase GM Certified, DO NOW ALLOW THEM TO DO IT until the have thoroughly inspected the vehicle. The salesman was a person I considered to be a friend thus I didn't spend alot of time on due diligence prior to the sale and that is my fault. However, don't assume the GM Certified label means the vehicle is ready to go as it probably isn't. They've got kids back there changing oil and probably have the same kid doing the GM Certified inspection.

 

Simply take it to another mechanic and have them go through the entire vehicle. GM Certified was meant to eliminate this process in the used car market but it simply means the dealer has a used vehicle for sale, that GM Corporate is footing the bill for the 5/100 warranty, the dealer is simply trying to move another used car. Caveat Emptor.

 

By the way, you can Google "GM Certified complaints" and variations of that, and you'll be surprised what has been given the title GM Certified and then cost GM in court fees. Salvaged vehicles, wrecked vehicles that were spliced togethers, all kinds of other deceptive practices.

[unit731]

The last time I read about Katrina - 40,000 cars marked as 'Salvage' had their titles 'cleaned' by traveling thru auctions and different states.

 

The local seller dealer may never know that he/she is selling a salvage vehicle as his/her buyer obtained them at a local auction with a 'clean' title.

 

Carfax does help sometimes.

 

 

[pm26]

This much is true:

 

When you buy a "Certified Used Vehicle", they are certifying that the vehicle is used. Nothing more.

[pm26]

They should of changed the oil & filter (using an AC-Delco PF46) and put in a new AC-Delco air filter at the very least.

I know we do on all of our used cars/trucks,no matter if the're going to be "certified" or not.

Kinda' makes you wonder what else needs done that they didn't do

 

Let's face, a certified vehicle should mean a fully inspected and serviced vehicle that GM stands behind. Changing oil and filter should be a part of any such certification checklist. Also, replacing the brake pads/resurfacing rotors if needed, tire rotation and balance, and alignment if needed. One pays a premium price for a certified vehicle, and therefore dealers should not cut corners when servicing such vehicles prior to a sale.

[1999 Tahoe 4x4]

A good friend of mine is a salesman at a local BMW dealership. He told me that BMW is so strict that a unit that has a non-OEM brand spare tire can not be certified. And mfg does spot audits and the continued ability to certify used vehicles hinges on virtually perfect adherence to BMW standards.

I bought my (at that time) 1 year old chevy truck from Assael BMW in Morovia, CA (Los Angeles Area). They also assured me that a rigouros gazillion point inspection was done and the tuck was ready to drive home.

 

When I agreed to pay the asked sticker price but pointed out to them that my front tires were completely worn down to 0, they refused to replace them free of charge.

When I got home and decided to change the oil+filter anyway, the oil that came out of the car was like tar.

 

We bought a BMW a few years later for my wife.

 

From a BMW dealer (Long Beach BMW) with a good reputation.