Forum Members,


I just had my 2004.5 D/A (with only 3700 mi) checked out by an extremely reputable dealer here in So. CA. If you live close by, I highly recommend that you consider having your diesel serviced at Nicholas Chevrolet. They are located in Garden Grove, CA at Brookhurst and the 22.


The Service writer you should work with is Al Carreno. The mechanic you should request is Clyde aka: (socaldieseltech).


Heres what they did for me:


After having been to 2 local GMC dealerships and them not giving me full disclosure on whether or not they had done a reflash on my truck, and since the truck was still getting horrible fuel mileage and idling rough, I somehow stumbled across a post by socaldieseltech, and asked where he worked so I could have him take a look at my truck.


He checked my truck for all the updates on his Tech 2 and also checked the injector balance rates in front of me. WHalah!! found out that I had all the updates, but #7 injector was way out of balance. So happens they had an injector in stock, so about an hour later, I was all done. My truck has the power it had when new at mile 1, and now, Im getting an average of 5 MPG better.


socaldieseltech, you and your Service writer deserve KUDOS http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley32.gif


Forum members, theres a dealership you can call a dealership and NOT a stealership!


Many thanks again!!!!!


Doug

5 MPG better, wow! What were you getting before compared to what you are getting now?


Makes me want to check my balance rates. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley36.gif


I'm glad you found a good dealer. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley20.gif

Max Power,


12.5 and no better. Im getting right around 17.5. Would be better but its real hillly around where i live.


All the injectors were reading in the .10 range (not sure if that is PPM or what its reading for a rate). #7 was reading around 1. When we put it in gear, it jumped to 4.5 and greater. That was the part I really appreciated. socaldieseltech was showing me the "poop" on his Tech2 live.


Long term, may see that number go up or down. My truck only has about 3800 miles on it, so I expect it to be better in time...but 12.5 was really unacceptable...and the other dealers weren't figuring it out. Funny, they could put it on a Tech 2 as well....


One other thing I did was socaldieseltech suggested I start using Stanadyne. I put the recommended amount in the tank. Seemed to quiet the knocking a little bit. I don't think its my imagination either.


This is a great forum!


D

Clyde is my mechanic. Nobody touches my truck but him. Good guy.

Dojohnso,


Do you drive a cheby or GMC?


I thought you could not take your truck to the opposite brand


dealership?

Thanks dojohnso and DURAMAX1. I'm glad your truck is running better dojohnso, that is great. I don't understand why the other dealers wouldn't help you, that is ridiculous in my opinion. It literally takes about 1-2 minutes to check balance rates and ramp up fuel pressure to do a couple quick checks. To check for the new calibration only takes a little while longer. I try to do the best job I can with the tools, knowledge and resources available to me, sometimes things don't always go right because wierd problems do happen, but my customers know I'm giving it my best shot. Thanks again guys, your feedback is appreciated.


RonJT, yes dojohnso's truck is a GMC and I am at Chevy, but he told me that he already took it to 2 different GMC dealers that were unable to fix his truck. I think that is a good reason to "resort" to bringing it to Chevy, and I think GM would agree.

You Rock socaldieseltech http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley32.gifhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley32.gifhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley32.gif

I also took my truck to Clyde over at Nicholas Chevrolet and they did
an excellent job with the reflash. I had some wierd issues right after,
but they have since cleared themselves up. The truck would shudder if
idling with my foot off the brake. It's pretty much gone now. I also
got my A/C fixed there since it was not blowing very cold. Clyde hooked
me up there, too. Didn't even need to get it checked first. Just
ordered parts and made an appointment. DONE! My A/C makes ice cubes
now! Al Carreno was very nice and along with Clyde make for a great
combo at that dealer. I bought my truck at Classic Chevrolet in Anaheim
Hills and they were great to buy from, although I didn't have any
service there since Nicholas Chevrolet is closer to my work.



Hats off to those guys at Nicholas Chevrolet.

Hey guys it would be nice to find a good mechanic like socaldieseltech in Santa Clarita / Valencia "Magic Mountain" area. So far I have not had a problem with my 04' LLY with 7300mi. I grew up in OC so i'm familer with the OC area, It just makes it hard to get down there for a repair job or warranty work. The three dealers I have in my area are Power Chevrolet, Parkway GMC and a Hummer dealer. Maybe if someone knows of any reportable mechanic at any of the three that would be great. And I agree this site is greathttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley32.gif


Thanks


Jim

Hamsalad,


I bought mine at Classic too and have gone there for service. I really don't trust them and will not go back there. Good thing you didn't either.


Thanks for the tip on Nicholas.

I purchased my Chev at Guarantee Chev in Santa Ana. I have had it serviced at Classic Chev in Anaheim Hills (live in the eastern part of Yorba Linda) because they are convenient. I have taken 2 different trucks to Classic over the years and have ALWAYS had good results.


HOWEVER, I recently asked them how many injectors they (Classic) had replaced in the Duramax and the answer was "a couple, there are really no issues". So with that in mind (and thinking I would not want a rookie performing open heart surgery on my truck), it is good to know of SoCalDieselTech at Nicholas Chevrolet. Also, there is another Chevy tech that ocassionally stops by here (RocketsDmax). He works at MK Smith in Chino. I know of two people on this forum that have had injectors replaced there with excellent results also. So this is an EXCELLENT Forum Thread for those who live in OC or the Inland Empire to know where the good diesel techs are located. Thanks dojohnso for posting the information.


AlanEdited by: OC_DMAX

Hey, did all the good diesel techs move to OC?http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley19.gif

I wish I would have seen this post earlier. I have been waiting for 3 weeks to get an injector replaced by my local dealer(DeLillo) in huntington beach. The service writer is a good guy (Bill Smith) but i am not sure about the techs yet. I had to scream at GM to buy back my truck to get some action on the replacement. I will be going to Nichlos from now on.


Thanks for the info Dojohnso

04LLYDmax, I personally have spoke to Clyde over at Nicholas Chevrolet, and taking up 20 or 25 minuets of his time you can tell he defintally is on top of his game. Wish I had a tech like that around my home.


Good Luck


Jim

well If my dealer cant pull thier head out on Monday I will be going there soon.

04LLYDMAX, has your truck been down this whole time? Have they been waiting on parts? I had an LLY injector in stock for dojohnso, and ordered 2 for DURAMAX1, got them in 2 days.

No the dealer gave me my truck back and said it would not hurt to drive it. They called me Friday and said they wanted me to wait until Monday to bring it in. The most frustrating thing is that my truck is 6 months old and I have been getting about 12 MPG since I bought it. I had to have my waterpump and glow plug control unit replaced after 3 months and they should have been able to tell at that time that the injector was bad. The first tank of gas I recorded was 15.5 MPG and it dropped after that. I have been waiting since the 19th of last month and even GM told me that there was a national back order on the injectors. So come Monday if they can't get me in to do the job I will be coming to see you guys over there.

Which injectors are bad? #7? Tell them you will wait for it. Those injectors shouldn't take long at all 2hrs max, depending on which ones. Don't bring it over just yet, 04LLYDmax, there has been some recent drama at my shop. I don't deal with drama, I may have to seek employment elsewhere, I have a couple standing offers, so we'll see if they really want me to stay at Nicholas ($$).

They didn't tell me. I will wait to see where you end up and if you can let us know I will go to the dealer you end up at.

Hopefully they can handle it properly for you at Delillo, that would be the ideal situation. I would prefer to stay where I'm at of course, but I would let you guys know if things change.

Thanks and good luck working out your drama problem.http://dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley20.gif

I will be staying at Nicholas Chevrolet. 04LLYDMAX, is your truck fixed yet?

I would blow off a day anytime to get my truck fixed the first time by driving the hour to OC!! The San Diego dealers have a lot to learn about these trucks!


My 04 still runs like crap and the new replacement has been sitting at the dealership for two months as they fight over the how much GM will pay the dealer for doing the trade. GM now says they have worked it out with the local dealer and I might get it next week. This has been going on since April!!!


I hpoe I don't have major problems with the 05 but if I do it will be heading north for repairs!!


Dennis

well they told me it was fixed but I have not noticed any major changes in the truck. they claimed that #4 injector was bad. I will be able to tell in a few days after driving and checking my milage to see any improvements. I don't notice any power difference to speak of.


Glad to hear you are staying, you will be my new place of service that is for sure.