Hi All,
I would like some advice on a Dealer issue.
I took my Lifted 2004 Duramax (87,000 m) in for a vibration issue. The dealer said my carrier bearing needed to be replaced and my extended warr. (100k) would not cover it because of the lift. I said ok and paid them 270.00 to replace.
This did not fix the vibration, so I took it back and they said they had another 2004 GMC they just took in on trade with 2800 miles on it and they wanted to put the entire driveline in my truck to see if that would solve the problem. I said OK and when I came back to pick up the truck, I paid 64.00 for some other work they had done and left. The new (Used) driveline fixed the problem.
They called me the next day to see if the vibration was gone (it was) and asked me to bring my truck back in and they would order me a driveline at 1000.00.
They never said anything about this until then, I thought I was done. when they said they were going to change out the driveline, they said nothing about me having to come back in....
When I paid the $64.00, I asked my service rep what they were going to do with the other truck, he said he didn't know and said nothing about me coming back in.
Do I owe the $1000.00?
My truck is fixed and nothing is on the contract about coming back and having to pay the $1000.00.
Do I owe the $$$?
Thanks
PS The dealer's reply to what they call my misunderstanding is to sell me the driveline at cost ($696.00)

If nothing is on paper, I would tell them it is their loss, but you will never be able to do business with them again, don't worry about going someplace else, they don't blackball you from other dealers, it would make them look stupid as Heck.

Just my opinion, do as you please........

tell em to shove it! I would try reasoning with them and then if all else fails, go find a new dealer. Good luck

What kind of tech's do they have there? A bunch of shade tree mechanics just doing the old process of elimination? So what did they do with the other truck? Put your bad parts in it and sell it? And now they are going to sell you used parts with no warranty also. Its good that they found the problem and were willing to work with you but they are diagnosing the problem improperly. This never happened in the two dealerships i worked at, they are suppose to provide the tools , technology, and proper diagnostic procedure to find the problem as quickly and as accuretly as possible. I would find a different dealership.

at the very least all cost spent before the discovery of the real problem,should be credited to the currant repair since they misdiagnosed it.or they should eat the real fix.thats the way it is here

If nothing is on paper, I would tell them it is their loss, but you will never be able to do business with them again, don't worry about going someplace else, they don't blackball you from other dealers, it would make them look stupid as Heck.

Just my opinion, do as you please........
:exactly: Screw the dealer

Sounds like they loaned you the other driveline to see if it fixed the problem, rather than tying your truck up. (Why they didn't just road test it on their own is beyond me). Couldn't they just send your old driveline out to a driveline shop, to be repaired.

Do you really expect to get a whole different driveline for free?

You shouldnt pay anything for the carrier bearing since they found out that wasnt the issue. Sounds like some misscommunication all the way around. And if you want to do the right thing(pay for whats messed up and work you had done) you should pay for the parts to fix it IMO. Now if nothing is in writing then you can probably get by screwing them.

Now....for a grand? What are you getting? Just a new drive shaft? Is your drive shaft just outa balance possibly? Lota freaking money if its just outa balance....

Sounds like the dealer also possibly dosnt know what they are doing 100%

Who installed the lift? Has it done this since lifted?

Tell them you want your $270.00 back for the carrier bearing and tell them you'll pay for the new u joints in your old driveline because you don't need a new driveline unless yours is damaged. I definantly dont think this other driveline should be free to you but it is unlikely you need a whole new driveline.

In theory, the driveline is yours if nothing was in writing. Just remember, Karma is a pain in the butt.

What a bunch of idiots working at that dealer.

1. have them swap back the old driveshaft setup

2. Demand your 270.00 back since it fixed nothing

3. Go to another shop and have them put in new U-joints since its a common problem on CC/LB trucks, espcially with a lift.

[quote][/Cobra#3747What a bunch of idiots working at that dealer.

1. have them swap back the old driveshaft setup

2. Demand your 270.00 back since it fixed nothing

3. Go to another shop and have them put in new U-joints since its a common problem on CC/LB trucks, espcially with a lift.QUOTE]

:exactly:

I also agree with Cobra with this one as well, but alot of it would depend on the dealers attitude!

I agree, I know what they tried to do but didn't comunicate it well. Sometimes its difficult to diagnose modified trucks but that is no excuse, they should have EVA and qualified tech's to use it. Give them back their parts, a carrier brg would have a totaly different vibration frequency then a drive shaft so it was miss diagnosed and ask for your original 270.00 to be reimbursed. Find a new dealer to work with as they seem to have the attitude: if you can't tie knots.....tie lots!!!

The lift has been on the truck for 83,000 miles with no problem.
I don't expect a driveline for free, but I really don't like how I have been treated through all of this. They have not taken any responsibility at all.
They are taking their employees word over mine.
They say he explained it to me, but the guy is lying.
He may have mean't to but didn't.
Should I trust them to put my old driveline back in?
Give me my money back and go someplace else?
What a hassle, my truck is fixed now.

I think you are dealing with a bunch of idiots. If it is not in writing, tell them to take a hike, and find a new dealer fast.

Wow they must be a bunch of idiots. Who takes used parts off another vehicle that you have no clue of the history of, then installs it on a customers truck. Then they let you drive it with used unknown parts and then let you leave without anything in writing :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: .

But really what do they expect you to do? Bring in a good truck that was fixed for free courtesy of their stupidity and shell out a $1k. The right thing to do would be to give them their stuff back. But heres what I would do since you asked for advice. Call them and tell them to meet you at Joe Blows Transmission shop with your parts and $270. Have Joe Blows shop swap the parts at the dealers expense and then pay Joe Blow to fix your truck. Do not take your truck back to them. Do not let them touch it!!! Thats about all I can contribute. Best of luck and keep us posted.

DMAXBOB

IMO don't pay them crap there ignorance is no excuse. It may not be the right thing to do, but they already misdiagnosed your truck once.

1000.00 seems kind of steep. Two years ago i hade to have my drive shaft balanced and a rear yoke replaced on a 1997 3500 hd 4wh drive it was around 450.00 . If you need drive shaft balance only it should be around 175.00-250.00.after istalling a rebuilt tranny i had them put jack stands under rear axel to find off balance drive shaft while parked and rear wheels rotating. Ask dealer what it includes. Look in phone book for a drive-line shop. Try to pay with debit or visa card it has saved me a couple of thousand with improper work.good luck.

I always read on here how this dealer is crap cause they won't work on my modified truck or this dealer sux because they wanna throw expensive parts at it or yada yada yada. All the same crap.

The dealer should have got something in writing but I guess the TRUSTED YOU. They won't make the same mistake again I bet. You deserve your $270 back because it didn't fix it,true. You should give them back their stuff and go and try find another dealer to look at it(good luck) or take it to a driveline shop. Atleast they found out what was wrong for you eh?

Each dealer that won't touch modified stuff has been screwed at one point in time by working on them. I would be very suprised if this dealer ever touches a modified truck again.

Here in Fl if there's no signature on the repair order than you're only liable for $50... period. If there's a dispute and they want to hold or lein your vehicle you go to the courthouse and get a bond in the amount of the repair bill, present that to the dealer and they must release your vehicle.

Back when I was at a dealer if we swapped a drivetrain to check a vehicle, that driveline did not stay, we figured out what was wrong. GM has engineering support that'll come to the dealer.

mabe times are hard for them and they need money lol dont pay them anything

It is a shame that a mis-understanding like this happens, especially when they seem to have fixed the problem. I am guessing that you should not get something for free here, but I would make it explicitly clear with the dealer what is to be done to the truck before you take it back to them. Once they get their hands on your truck again, you are going to be out of luck. Make sure that you outline to them exactly what you want to do (if that is returning the driveline for the old one or whatever), and resolve the issue of the $270 carrier bearing before you let them touch your truck. Also, find out if they are going to charge you to swap drivelines again. This could get expensive, and once they have the keys, who knows...

No way I would take my truck back there.

You need to go back there, tell them to credit the money you spent on the carrier bearing towards the new shaft.
You shouldn't be expected to pay for a tech to just throw parts at the problem but you can't expect them to fix it for free.

You need to go back there, tell them to credit the money you spent on the carrier bearing towards the new shaft.
You shouldn't be expected to pay for a tech to just throw parts at the problem but you can't expect them to fix it for free.
Exactlyl.

Kind of a hit or miss approach. Not very profesional. I guess you have to decide if you want an ongoing relationship with that dealer. I am in south Florida and have an excellent service writer I deal with all the time. It really helps to have sombody in your corner when s--t goes wrong. I think I have to go with the guys that are sugesting some sort of negotiated partial payment.

The only reason techs use the "shotgun" approach is they're out of answers and/or there's someone too lazy to check for TSB's or contact GM engineering.

A google search can be a techs best friend

Flame away if you wish... only been a tech for 26 years

I'm thinking that this site can be a tech's best friend :).

3 U-joints = $180 (dealer cost) + $80 for 1 hour labor

Carrier Bearing= $260 (your cost)

Sounds about even to me.....Keep it,tell them to shove it ,and if they still presist,report there anticts to GM

If you decide to take the truck back and have them swap it all back, I agree that what others have said about getting the old carrier bearing back, a refund for the misdiagnosed parts. But when it comes time to make that switch I would not even leave the dearlership and stand at the service deck and watch them. They already sound like they dont have a clue and as someone said, pay it with a credit card. I had aproblem with a vendor on ebay and that was the blessing I had to get my money back from the jerk.

Good luck
Phillip

Call them up or go in there, and make them agree to refund your money for the bearing, if you return the driveline. GET IT IN WRITING!!! If they do not agree, than keep the drivline, or write them a check for the diffence between the bearing and a new drive shaft, leave it on the desk and call it good.

You have no choice in the matter. You must work this out with the dealer. If you do not, the dealer will simply place a lien on your truck and you will be forced to accept the dealer's terms.

You have no choice in the matter. You must work this out with the dealer. If you do not, the dealer will simply place a lien on your truck and you will be forced to accept the dealer's terms.

How can they put a lien on his truck if he did not get a written SIGNED work order?

I Know for a F A C T that deallers and lots of repair shops are complete crooks... NOT ALL

I was a gm tech myself years back and Ive worked as a tech at MANY shops Ive left them all because they were all CROOKS. they screwed customers and employees.

Thanks to a gm deallership near my house I have a few new and VERY happy Clients

Ive had to take 3 diferent trucks into deallers for Misc warrenty issues and ive got screwed on every one

I say If your to lame to figure it out without throwing parts at it then F/U go back to school.

Hehe Srry..... Rant off....

Ive had to take 3 diferent trucks into deallers for Misc warrenty issues and ive got screwed on every one


Same here. Well, not exactly -- they couldn't fix, or even find the problems - but i didn't pay them anything either

:exactly: How can they put a lien on his truck if he did not get a written SIGNED work order?

I Know for a F A C T that deallers and lots of repair shops are complete crooks... NOT ALL

I was a gm tech myself years back and Ive worked as a tech at MANY shops Ive left them all because they were all CROOKS. they screwed customers and employees.

Thanks to a gm deallership near my house I have a few new and VERY happy Clients

Ive had to take 3 diferent trucks into deallers for Misc warrenty issues and ive got screwed on every one

I say If your to lame to figure it out without throwing parts at it then F/U go back to school.

Hehe Srry..... Rant off....

Tell the dealer you want your old shaft re installed in the truck, a refund on the previous repair as it did not correct the problem, then take the truck to the nearest driveline shop and they should be able to straighten your problem out for less than the dealer charged you the first time around.

Yeah right, loan you a entire driveline?? kidding right? If I was to stroll up to a dealer and they wanted to swap used parts on my truck to see if fixed the problem, that would be a dead give away that they were nutz-o. Besides, a dealer loaning you parts off another truck doesnt even sound logical...no way. Thats like saying to me when I got my injectors fixed, "here, theses are out of a 2004 dmax, use theses until we get your injectors tested." Sorry not to bash your idea just my thoughts...


:smashfrea :smashfrea :smashfrea :smashfrea :smashfrea :smashfrea

Sounds like they loaned you the other driveline to see if it fixed the problem, rather than tying your truck up. (Why they didn't just road test it on their own is beyond me).

Do you really expect to get a whole different driveline for free?

Hey everyone, I want to extend my services to you. I will throw used parts at your problem, and it probably won't fix it, then again it might! I will charge you an unreal price for the used parts, and you have to leave HAPPY!

So come see me with your next problems!
I am not a dealer, but I am trying to work my way up to be!

Not to beat a dead horse... You do the "right thing" and take it back. They really really fix it right this time. You pay $1k and leave.

I will be watching for your post on how they have totally screwed up your truck and won't give it back until your check clears.

IMHO let them take you to court.

It's not often you get to eat the bear...

I agree with 1fastmax write a check for the difference left on the cost of drive line, or keep the stuff you have and say screw em!! that's what i would do! :)

all this talk about us just "THROWING" parts at your trucks reminds me of an actual gm srvice manual test. its for the geo line of vehicles last step of diagnosis was and I quote "install known good pcm" (where do you get a known good pcm for a tracker anyway?) the cost of those were about $800then recheck system. so gm even wants us to throw parts at them once in awhile. and I cant even tell you how many times a technical assistance adviser told me to try this. sometimes there are no good diagnostics to follow.

oh and vibrations are the worst there has been many times I had to swap parts from lot vehicles. to figure out what makes a vibration their mistake was leaving the stuff in your truck. they should have gave it back to you vibrating and gave youyr money back for the misdiagnosis. so untill you guys do it for a living you shouldnt be so critical of the people who do.