Anyone else having these kind of problems in getting parts?


New 2004 Silverado 3500 crew cab duallie blew an injector near Coalinga, Ca. and had to be towed into the small, local dealership.


Seems the valve train assembly came loose and shifted, so other than the bad injector, I need all those parts replaced, including keepers and the cam. Other than the cam, there are no parts in the U.S. as they come out of Woodstock, Canada and, if lucky, might get them in 8 days as GM admits having customs problems at the border.


The real pisser is that the dealers are unaware of new parts for the LLY as no bulletins been issued them by GM (verified this with my servicing dealership's service department in Texas) and are unaware of the parts situation in the U.S.


We haul yachts and this downtime is very costly not to mention the two very unhappy drivers.


I was about to place an order for 5 additional trucks but now...?


If you ever need help out of GM's Customer "non"Service Department, you're much better off reading your owner's manual. They c/n even tell me if my extended warranty offers to pay for a rental vehicle, which it does. The local service manager had to OK that. They're so small they d/n offer loaners. Had to have Enterprise rental deliver a car to the drivers, from 30 miles away.


Counting horned toads in Coalinga, Ca...


4x4hunter

Hello 4X4, see you found your way over here. Don't understand why someone hasn't answered your post yet.


Maybe if you told them about the broken camshaft and valve train you would get a bit more response! Of course it is Memorial Day weekend, and lots of the guys may be out of town and off the site for the weekend. Me, I'm retired as I said earlier, so I just stay home on holiday weekends and go some other time when the campgrounds, etc. are less crowded. I'll scout thru the site and see if I can find one of the techs and PM him with a request to come over and chat with you on this. Most of these guys have LB7 as LLY is very new, and they tend to hang out on LB7 forum and this LLY forum doesn't get nearly as much traffic.


I still think that with all those broken and buisted internals they should be shipping in a complete new engine instead of parts. Iknow 2 guys who got new engines when theirs had internal catastrophic failure.

Frank, I surfed around the forum and would you believe not a single one of our resident techs is online! I sent PMs to 3 of them asking them to come to your thread when they get online.


Hopefully we can get you some expert advice!


Don't get too frisky with those horny toads!

PS: guess I scanned your first post a bit too fast. Upon reviewing I see you did mention all the busted parts. I still say they should send out a complete new engine.

Uh, yeah....new frick'n motor! Ask them if you should just go "lemon" or should they give you a new truck? .... just ask





Burner------------> http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

Burner, I personally know 2 people who received complete new engine under warranty after they suffered the kind of massive internal damage that 4X4 has.


If you are as knowledgeable as your posts indicate, then you know that crap is spread all through that engine and only a complete removal and tear down wiil get it out.

That surely doesn't sound good at all! Why did I wait for the LLY to order a new truck, I can get a new 2004 with the LB7 but didn't want it. Maybe I should consider that one?
Guess I have to make that decision before June 10 when the order date come for the new trucks

Thanks, Guys


Been having problems getting back onto this site as I'm new and had to be approved by the Administrator. Still don't know if that happened.


We're just having to hang in there until Wednesday for the parts out of Canada. Got a good service manager in Coalinga, CA even tho. dealership is very small. He was willing to take an injector out of the only LLY vehicle he has in stock but then found out about the other problems.


Patrick, a tech out of Oregon, has been trying to get in touch with me and I answered heim. I'm guessing he must have gotten a message from you, DOM, thanks for your help. I did ask Patrick if replacing the parts will suffice or do we need to get into the engine more.


I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that we'll be buttoned up come Wednesday.


Thanks again,


4x4hunter

Frank, Glad to see Patrick has been in touch with you guees the rest sre on holiday and I would be too if I weren't retired! Patrick is a young man, and enthusiastic about his work. I feel sure that he can handle all of your questions.


Hope this all turns out OK and please, return and let us know what they did and how it is working out.


How are you and those Horny Toads getting along?


David aka dirty old man

Start asking the regular questions about how the motor works. Ask them about clearence, rod journals and how "little pieces" affect the life of a motor. Then, through out that someone said something about sleaved or wet sleaved motors and stuff...... Then ask them what you have and how the dammage "wouldn't hurt" you motor. Metal will not repair it's self, period.


Burner--------> http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Ermm.gif

Posting for 2 reasons, get this back up page, and to remind 4X4 to let us know what is going on with his engine.


With 3 hrs diff in time zones, I realize they are just opening up at the dealer's and it is too soon to know anything yet. But I wanted to get a post in here before I left for the daily errands.


Hoping for the best on this and want to hear from you about it.

Service Manager gets his parts delivery around noon, Pacific time. We're lacking pushrod tubes and keepers. Come to find out we d/n have a bad camshaft but rocker arm shaft bit the dust, along with most of the rest of valve train assembly. The valve train assembly shifted (guess it was a Monday production) plus the bad injector.


He assures me that no metal damage occured to top of cylinder head, etc. so perhaps I just might luck out and not have engine internals contaminated. Getting oil and filter changed along with fuel filter, even tho. way ahead of change interval.


Anyhooo, hoping the last of the parts arrive from Canada. GM customer service will not return my left messages - they can hide, but not forever. Haven't heard from them in 4 days now.


This has cost me some $15-20K in lost business, motel rooms, driver meals, etc.


If it's mechanical it can and will break. What's unforgivable is GM delivering a changed Duramax, inadequately tested and not advising their service managers via bulletins of the changed parts and NOT having parts available for this new LLY.


GM tested the new LLY using imported diesel fuel from Sweden, as Sweden has a superior clean burning diesel, just to ensure tests pass new 2004 EPAs. It's the "dirtier" diesel that we Americans buy that is the primary cause of injector seal failures, whether it's a Duramax, Cummins or Power-stroke. Normal fuel filters are inadequate to filter all the micro-sized contaminants. It's the nature of the beast and the luck of the draw. And it was my time to draw the short straw. Flint plant is holding up on a backlog of 1600+ units that they will not ship due to these type problems.


Thanks for all your help, guys, here and direct emails.


Frank B. (4x4hunter1)


2004 D/A 3500 Silverado Crew Cab 4x4 duallie - all the goodies. Stationary in Coalinga, Calif.


2002 Avalanche Z71


1998 Tahoe SLT Z71


1998 Silverado pickup Z71


1985 K5 Blazer - 350 40 over, Holly Pro-Jection 4, Edlebrock Performer, RV 1 cam, roller lifters, headers, dynomax 3 inch exhaust, MSD ignition, etc.


1981 Jeep CJ7 - Chevy 350 and R700

Some parts arrived in Coalingua - incomplete order, still missing rocker arm shaft and one bolt.


No one at GM "non" customer service will call back - been trying since before 3 day weekend.


Can anyone advise how I can get to senior management level to voice my complaints? Customer "non" service won't pass that info. along.


Thanks!


Frank B. (4x4hunter1)


2004 D/A 3500 Silverado Crew Cab 4x4 duallie - all the goodies. Stationary in Coalinga, Calif.


2002 Avalanche Z71


1998 Tahoe SLT Z71


1998 Silverado pickup Z71


1985 K5 Blazer - 350 40 over, Holly Pro-Jection 4, Edlebrock Performer, RV 1 cam, roller lifters, headers, dynomax 3 inch exhaust, MSD ignition, etc.


1981 Jeep CJ7 - Chevy 350 TBI and R700

Well, seems like SNAFU applies here. Never even seen under the valve cover of LB7, much less LLY. Trying to understand how valve train can "shift". Wish one of our resident technicians would jump in and elaborate.


The sad part of this whole thing is that even when GM finally gets your truck back right, that isn't going to any way compensate your secondary losses.


Here's hoping for the best.


Dave

Last of the parts finally came in from Canada. Dealer buttoned the engine up this morning and fired it up...fired it up except for #2 cylinder.

This engine has big, big problems.

Having to rent a car to get my drivers home to Texas from California -10 days is enough!

Been mulling over if need to declare the vehicle a lemon, BUT, have over $3500 of additional equipment on board vital for my business, so I'm pushing for a new engine...then have to break it in before can haul anything.

Still can't get anyone at GM Customer "non" Service to call me back. They're pretty well out of the picture once we're into a mechanical flaw or problem. But I sure expect reimbursement for meals and lodgings, not to mention lost loads. Mention "reimbursements" and GM Customer "non" Service seems to suffer from a severe pucker up syndrome.

In owning the General's vehicles for the last 25 years, I've never had this kind of experience. The one sided non-communication stinks as does parts availabilty for the Duramax within the U.S. as it's non-existant in the U.S.

To order parts for the LLY entails a person physically taking them from Duramax engine assembly at Woodstock, Canada then Fed Exing to the dealer.

Hope ya'll aren't experiencing problems with your LLY 'cuz it's a real bummer.

4x4hunter

Tell GM to swap the truck with another ............ no cost to you.


Let them fix it and sell it at a loss with a new motor.........


Thttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clown.gifNY

Well Frank, I'm sorry to hear it isn't kosher after all that wait. BUT, I can't say I'm surprised, and from what you've told me about your mechanical background, I doubt that you are surprised either.


You just don't have that much top end damage and exoect the rest of engine to come through unscathed.


This thing is going to wash out that GM and you would have been far better off to have installed a new engine to start with. Damn shame.

First and formost, I'd like to express my appreciation for all the help and advice I've been receiving from y'all, both here and via many private emails. Many Thanks!


Here's the answer I received to the email I sent G. Robert Wagoner, JR., President and General Manager of General Motors. Obviously, I wasn't expecting to hear from him but at least it got through. Read from bottom to top.
<BLOCKQUOTE class=CITE cite="" ="cite">Date: Fri, 04 Jun 2004 21:55:56 -0500
To: info@gm.com
From: Frank Bagnall &lt;tlcfeb@comcast.net&gt;
Subject: Truck dead in Coalinga, California

Dear Tiffany:

Thank you for replying but my patience has been exhausted. 10 days is enough.

My drivers are on their way home to Texas in a rental vehicle.

The truck is sitting in the service bay at Coalinga Motors, Coalinga, CA, where it's been for the last 10 days, needing to be shot and put out of its misery. After all the parts finally showed up it was discovered that cylinder #2 will not fire and there is coolant in the oil and/or oil in the coolant.

I've contacted GMAC and have initiated the paperwork to have the vehicle repurchased by GM under the "Lemon" law.

I shall also be seeking full reimbursement for expenses incurred due to this breakdown, including lost yacht deliveries. Thanks to this breakdown, our reputation in our industry has been tarnished as we listened to and believed when told of "fix by" dates only to re-break contracts, several times.

The question that I'm now mulling over is do I want to accept delivery of the next 4 trucks that are on order?

I suggest that a real live person, with some decision making authority contact me, by phone, and come up with some solutions on just how GM intends to make this untenable situation right?

Regards,

Frank E. Bagnall
TLC Marine Delivery, LLC
cell: 469-576-9738

At 03:28 PM 6/4/2004, you wrote:

<BLOCKQUOTE class=CITE cite="" ="cite">Dear Mr. Bagnall,

Good Evening! Thank you for contacting the General Motors Customer Assistance Center. We sincerely apologize for the concerns you are experiencing with your 2004 Chevrolet Duramax LLY and appreciate your taking the time to write to us about the handling of these concerns.

General Motors realizes that the consumer is not only attracted to a quality product, but also to quality customer assistance that comes with the product. This office gathers information and based on that information determines the best method of handling.

Joseph Duffy is currently working diligently to provide you with a resolution in the shortest time possible. We ask for your continued patience in this matter and apologize for the delay.

Please consider this confirmation of our receipt of your email. In addition, we have added the comments you provided to request number 1-221048711, and sent a notification to Mr. Duffy on your behalf. They will follow up with you accordingly.

If you should need to contact us in the future, simply reply to this message or call our General Motors Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-222-1020. Customer Relationship Managers are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., Eastern Time.

Again, thank you for contacting General Motors.

Sincerely,

Tiffany Abbott
Customer Relationship Manager
General Motors Customer Assistance Center

For more information regarding the maintenance and care of your vehicle, please visit www.mygmlink.com (http://www.mygmlink.com/). This free online service offers vehicle and ownership-related information and tools tailored to your specific vehicle.

June 3, 2004

Dear Mr. Wagoner:

I've been a loyal GM customer for the past 25+ years but am feeling that the loyalty is no longer being returned. I currently own 5 of your v