Well i'm up at school in the middle of nowhere and im looking for a good dealer (I wish I could bring my home dealer up here...theyre all great!)..finally found a decent dealer up here. I needed my ECM software updated, and a bunch of other software updates (as recommended by that AC Delco website where u type your VIN and it gives u all the updates)...I even printed out the pages cause I knew they wouldnt listen to me if it was coming from my mouth. I needed my whole cluster reflashed for a "Diesel" too because when it was replaced a while ago under warentee, they didnt flash it for a diesel and I lost the O/D lockout light and my high-idle option. When they finished with the truck, I asked about the infamous FUEL FILTER LIFE % minder. They said they hadnt heard of it (of course...god forbid the dealers learn anything or stay up to date:rolleyes: ). I showed them the update page that says in BIG easy to read letters "FUEL MINDER UPDATE!!!!!". The guys kept trying to tell me "theres no such thing as a fuel life %...there is a OIL LIFE %" (thanks guys, I didnt know that). I asked them what that update was then. They kept adamantly insisting "oh thats for the water-in-fuel light and sensor" and then proceeded to teach me what the water-in-fuel sensor was and the whole deal. When I asked them to add the high-idle feature BACK into my DIC, they spent another 10 minutes explaining to me what the high-idle was for and that "it wont work unless its below 32*". WELL THANKS! Seeing as I asked about the high idle, i think I know what it does thanks. They didnt understand that I was telling them THE STINKIN' OPTION TO TURN IT OFF OR ON ISNT EVEN IN THE DIC; I KNOW IT WONT ACTUALLY WORK UNTIL ITS COLD OUT!!!!!!!:mad: By then I was getting really frustrated with them and played dumb and gave the "ohh ok now I understand...thanks guys...perfect...thats all c ya later, appreciate it" (I was nice about it tho).


Well here's the funny part. Hop in the truck and the DIC was on my trip odometer, so I meant to hit the "road" button on the steering wheel controls to bring it back to main ODO, but I accidentally hit the "fuel" button...and guess what popped up on the DIC... "FUEL FILTER LIFE 100%". I had a good laugh. The dumb fools updated it without even knowing it...they had no idea what they even did to the truck!!!!:rolleyes: :mad:

Sorry guys...im done :rant: ing. I dont like dealers who dont know what theyre doing, but what gets me even madder, is when they insist theyre right and assume the customer doesnt know $#!*...

---Ben

What web site or address aare you referring to about adding your VIN to it?
Thanks

http://calid.gm.com/vci/VINEntryPre.do

---Ben

I know they are, thats why my truck has never been to one, except for minor warranty work (the clock went out on my radio, they replaced the whole thing, but had problems programming it, went without tunes for a weekend).
I want to get my ecm reflashed, but am afraid I won't be able to find a compentent dealer to take it too.

Unfortunately you are correct. The majority of the people who work there are just on cruise control, punch-in punch-out, go home. I am not aware of any dealers in my local area who have car/truck enthusiast working for them. I remember when the local Ford and Chevy dealers had race cars and traveled the race circuit, the crew members were the line mechanics during the day.

sad but true..took me 6 dealers to find one that had an actual Diesel Mechanic and really did know what was going on with flash updates and injector issues. Everyone else told me I was crazy and didn't know what I was talking about even when I had a copy of the PIP internal document showing it did in fact exist... crazy!!

I'm fighting with both the dealers and GM CAC over the whole Dex-VI thing ever since I bought my truck.

So far, the MOST encouraging response I've gotten is "You don't need to replace your Dex until 50,000 miles. Just replace the Allison spin-on filter and you're okay"

The dummies don't understand that when you remove the spin-on, it's going to bring a pint with it. Am I supposed to drain the old filter into the new one?

I'm about "this far" from verifying (in writing) with Allison whether or not TranSynd is okay and just doing a full flush and never dealing with GM service again.

I always go to my dealer with TSB's in hand and they've gotten quite pissy about it. "Where did YOU get all this information?" and "I'm not sure THAT TSB applies to YOUR truck". So far everything I have told them to do has fixed the problem that was occurring. Frustrating to do the research and try to save THEM some time (and me some $$$) and get nothing but BS in response.

I always go to my dealer with TSB's in hand and they've gotten quite pissy about it. "Where did YOU get all this information?" and "I'm not sure THAT TSB applies to YOUR truck". So far everything I have told them to do has fixed the problem that was occurring. Frustrating to do the research and try to save THEM some time (and me some $$$) and get nothing but BS in response.

Fred, where do you get the TSB's. I would like to have them in hand when I visit my dealer. The dealer I bought my truck from does not have a Duramax certified mechanic. I need to have as much information as I can get. I am not 100% confident about their ability to work on my truck.

Example: When I went in for my last oil change (4100 miles) I was going to have the external Allison spin on filter changed. From what I have learned on this site I know you do not have to drain the entire trans to do this job. The service writer said that it was necessary to drain the entire trans to change out the external spin on filter. I asked him if he was sure about that and he said absolutely. I just told him we'll do it some other time......yea right...

Anyway, if you or someone else could let me know how to get the TSB's for my truck that would be great.:)

http://calid.gm.com/vci/VINEntryPre.do

---Ben

Are the calibrations that they list the ones that are NOT calibrated and need to be done???

I always go to my dealer with TSB's in hand and they've gotten quite pissy about it. "Where did YOU get all this information?" and "I'm not sure THAT TSB applies to YOUR truck". So far everything I have told them to do has fixed the problem that was occurring. Frustrating to do the research and try to save THEM some time (and me some $$$) and get nothing but BS in response.

my service writer is just the opposite. She loves it when I can quote the TSB that will fix the problem.

Jim

Are the calibrations that they list the ones that are NOT calibrated and need to be done???

Yes...I beleive so... A Tech 2 will be able to tell for sure if you have the update or not tho.

--Ben

I'm trying to get the info from the GM site for calibration, however the clock keeps spinning and it tells me Getting Calibration Information and that's all it does, can someone chime in and direct me in the right direction to get this info.

I'm trying to get the info from the GM site for calibration, however the clock keeps spinning and it tells me Getting Calibration Information and that's all it does, can someone chime in and direct me in the right direction to get this info.

Your browser probably has pop-ups blocked. Try unblocking them, or holding down the CTRL key when you click on the NEXT button.

Joseph

Does there need to be a specific problem with the truck in order for them to update the software or should it be done just because. I haven't had any issues with my truck , but when I brought up, updating the software issue to my dealership, they stated they won't do it unless there is a specific problem. Whats the honest answer?

Your browser probably has pop-ups blocked. Try unblocking them, or holding down the CTRL key when you click on the NEXT button.

Joseph

Got it to work. Thank you

I was trying in Netscape and the clock just kept spinnng I then tried int in Explorer and it still took a while but gave me the info.

Does there need to be a specific problem with the truck in order for them to update the software or should it be done just because. I haven't had any issues with my truck , but when I brought up, updating the software issue to my dealership, they stated they won't do it unless there is a specific problem. Whats the honest answer?

IMHO do not update the software unless there is a issue. I've owned my truck since 2/04 and the only software update has been for the memory seat module due to it's inability to remember.

Yea the service writters at my dealership would not know a clutch fan from an electric fan. She gets lots on any problem I try to explain. I have found it is best to type the problems on a sheet of paper for her to attach to the service request and give it to the Technician. The technician seems to be pretty good. Has called me several times to ask for more clarification on the problem or about additional symptoms and so on.

Summary

15141668 Operating system

15245557 Service cal fixes: engine combustion knock elimination/reduction at 80 to 140 Mpa rail pressure under light to medium throttle driving, rough idling and white smoking condition elimination/reduction, low speed light throttle driving surge elimination

15245549 Service cal fixes: engine combustion knock elimination/reduction at 80 to 140 Mpa rail pressure under light to medium throttle driving, rough idling and white smoking condition elimination/reduction, low speed light throttle driving surge elimination

15787621 New calibration with diagnostic enhancements for DTC P0401 and P0404

15136389 Fuel system

15282640 New calibration to reduce the potential for the engine coolant hot temperature telltale coming on prematurely.

15087291 SPEEDOMETER



These are the tsb's for my powertrain. I don't have any of these issues presently. Should I let my truck be flashed with these in search of more mileage, power, or smoother running?

Yea the service writters at my dealership would not know a clutch fan from an electric fan. She gets lots on any problem I try to explain. I have found it is best to type the problems on a sheet of paper for her to attach to the service request and give it to the Technician. The technician seems to be pretty good. Has called me several times to ask for more clarification on the problem or about additional symptoms and so on.

That's what I always do. But it seems sometimes the service writer will put it into their system and leave off the explanation on how to get it to do something.

Ben, if you think that is bad, I went to a stealership back in late 03 or early 04 to see if they had the lly in their trucks. They said the only motor was the lb7. I said they stopped production on the lb7 and started building the lly. One of the "mechanics" overheard us proceeded to stick his foot in his mouth by telling me he had just come back from a 2 week duramax course and the lb7 was all they made. I told him a couple guys from this website had already driven the new motor. Then it became one of those "I am a man and won't admit when I am wrong to another man" kind of things. We went back and forth for a while. They even told me the GM website only had the lb7 listed. I asked them if they had internet access, and proceeded to show them this site and some of the threads about the new motor. Well, that shut them up. The sad thing was is that if someone wanted to buy that truck with the new motor, they would probably turn away. Too sad, Jerry.

Why Can they sell a duramax equipped vehicle but not have a certified diesel tech. I go through the same problems. My service tech laughed at me when I told her that the LB7 injectors are covered for 200k.

the problem with dealerships is tha labor times they pay their techs they want the techs to fix it but dont spend too much time on it. just for an example the labor op to replace 8 injectors on a dmax is 8 hours the last one I did took me 12 or 13. so that why some techs have a negative attitude. anda lot of times when you guys add all the stuff to make more power you are damaging your engine in the long run. and the dealer can turn you away with any drivability problems. and they most likely get "pissy" because that info is supposed to be for technicians and not the do it yourselfer. just my .02..