How to fix piston slap issues in a 2003 Deville

The tech next to me was proceeding with a "decarbonization" procedure on this Northstar engine. He managed to drive it out of the shop and onto the parking lot before it puked it's guts out all over the ground. He managed to "hydrolock" the engine, broke a rod/s and the ends of the rod managed to flail around and tear up the block. Pretty funny, (mainly because it wasn't me).

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Now it gets a brand new motor...no more piston noise in the morning (for a few kilometers anyway) Heh heh!

Ian

Reply to
shiden_Kai
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Reply to
David J and Lynne J Shepherd

I guess it wasn't destined to reach 280,000 miles was it? Sad......

========= Harryface =========

1991 Pontiac Bonneville LE 3800 V6 ( C ), Black/Slate Grey _~_~_~280,596 miles_~_~_

~_~_~_~_U.S.A._~_~_~_~_~_

~~~The Former Fleet ~~~

89 Cavalier Z 24 convertible 78 Holiday 88 coupe 68 LeSabre convertible 73 Impala sedan
Reply to
Harry Face

good God..... how does the service manager explain that one to the car's owner? kinda reminds me of when I had my truck at the local tranny shop for a warranty issue... came back at the end of the day, tranny was in the build room... "your truck won't be ready today".

-Bret

Reply to
Bret Chase

"David J wrote

Yes, we do have to get zone approval. In fact, now, anytime you want a complete unit (whether it be engine, trans, t/case...etc) you must phone a particular branch of GM in order to get the item. And of course, you have to jump through the hoops, lots of documentation..etc.

Fortunately, our shop foreman has a very good rapport with the DSM and seems to be able to shove things like this through. He's very honest, and keeps our warranty quite low, and is always looking for ways to save GM money ( I disapprove of this part).

I don't know what story they came up with on this one. It's an obvious "f**k*p" as far as I'm concerned, but oh well...things happen.

Ian

Reply to
shiden_Kai

"Bret Chase" wrote

Cadillac owners are a curious breed. They don't seem to get too excited...as long as the vehicle gets fixed in the end. Plus, they are given rentals out the ying yang whenever stuff like this happens, or if they are in for pretty much any repair.

It would have been interesting to hear what the story was that was told to the customer. In any case, the piston slap will be gone!

Ian

Reply to
shiden_Kai

"Harry Face" wrote

Yeah, it is too bad, as it's a great engine. I'm keeping an eye on this one, and if GM doesn't want it back, I figure I can scavenge everything but a cylinder block and one, possibly two connecting rods. The connecting rods broke in the center, so there will be no damage to the crank. Eventually, I should be able to build a complete engine.

Ian

Reply to
shiden_Kai

I tell you what, I'm a picky SOB. Especially with my cars. There's one dealership Im not legally allowed near for beating a tech to the point he probably doesn't turn a wrench with out seeing my face.

Blow my engine, You aint dropping in a good wrench service replacement. You better be calling MY engine builder, and getting one to my specs. Free of charge to me as well.

Charles When the tech puts drywall screws in the floor of my car to fix lose carpeting, instead of adheasive, or replacing it as should have done (3rd time issue), I got a bit pissed. A few of my sustomers would shoot a person for crap like that.

Reply to
Charles Bendig

He didn't say something like "Hey Ian, Watch this !!!" did he??? ;-))

Looking at that casting I see GM is still buying a LOT of recycled aluminum. Lots of inclusions and separation there.

Reply to
Steve W.

"Charles Bendig" wrote

So you "physically" beat some tech up? That's a great way to deal with things, Charles! Fortunately, in our shop, if someone tried that, they would be dealing with more then "one" tech.

replacement.

In the case of this engine, you wouldn't have any choice. It's not the customer's call as to what they get for a new engine. The customer is getting a brand new Cadillac engine, not a "goodwrench" engine. Most Goodwrench service engines are brand new engines....there are a few (like the 3800 engines) that are horrible cobbled together rebuilts, but we like them about as much as you do.

You wouldn't get very far in our dealership with that attitude. We'd probably "fire" you as a customer.

Ian

Reply to
shiden_Kai

"Steve W." wrote

No, more like "damn it all". I ribbed him a bit this morning when I brought in a 2004 Venture van with a blown motor. The engine was squealing like crazy (motor had no oil pressure and probably spun a bunch of bearings). Some of the other techs came over to see what all the noise was, and I casually said, "oh, I was just doing a decarb procedure".....got that far and looked over at the other fellow. He took it all in good humour.

The aluminum castings are much better then they used to be.

Ian

Reply to
shiden_Kai

Yeah I remember cutting up a Vega block for my own casting use, Stuff looked like shaved pot metal inside. I really liked the GM bulletin on repairing porous rims due to poor castings.

Steve W.

Reply to
Steve W.

| | You wouldn't get very far in our dealership with that attitude. | We'd probably "fire" you as a customer. |

I suspected, based on my own experience, that this sort of culture of treating a paying customer in this manner existed at GM. Nice to see it confirmed. There is just one significant problem with this. You don't pay the customer...the customer pays you! The one doing the paying is the only one with the power to "fire".

Reply to
James C. Reeves

"James C. Reeves" wrote

There is a certain small percentage of customers that are nothing but a pain in the ass, and certainly not worth the time spend on attempting to please them. I don't know what you do for a living, but I can guarantee that this type of customer exists in every type of business, and the smart ones "fire" this type of customer. It doesn't happen very often in our dealership, but every now and then a customer steps over the line, and we won't deal with them anymore. We do have that power, James.....and there isn't anything wrong with using it. This idea that the "customer is always right, even when acting like a total asshole" is ridiculous. These type of customers always say, "I'll take my business elsewhere"....to that I say, "go, see how far the other folks will put up with your shenanigans".

We've had certain people that have been basically blacklisted from almost every GM dealership in the city. Nobody "needs" that kind of customer.

Ian

Reply to
shiden_Kai

Here's the long story. I not only knew the owners of this dealer for over 10 years, we bought all our buick there, as did our buick owning friends.

We used to get great service there. Untill a few years ago. They know Im a Professional Mechanic. The owner of the dealersip owns two cars I did build up's on.

This same tech, had given me problems before about repairing things under warrantee. I even knew the guy personally. So I asked the service manager to not send my car to him for repairs. There are 30 other techs their that could have worked on it. When the service manager refused, I asked the dealership owners to do so. They promanced they would do that.

The Dealership knew I would not accept any jurry rigging. Especially after the third time. Im sure GM doesn't approve of 3 inch long Drywall screws being driven thru the rocker panels. The dealership owners knew I only bought this used car from them while rebuilding my credit so I could buy another new car from them. They knew in 3 years I would be back to buy, if not sooner. Heck I had just brought a friend of mine in the week before who bought a brand new century for asking price with no haggling.

The dealer had the car for one week. I get a call saying it's ready. I leave work, and get my G/F to take me to pick it up. Being just off work, I avioded the show room, and went in thru the service entrance.

I ask the Casheir for my paper work, and if I owed any non-warranty cost. I get charged $2.50. Which I assumed was for a can of adheasive (such as 3M #77). I walked thru the service department out to the parking area for repaired cars. Avoiding the show room as I looked like I had worked for a week with out sleep. (who really wants to see that in a show room?)

As I walk thru I hear snickering for said tech, and the service manager. I just keep walking. I get in my car, do not even look at the passengers side carpet. I was in a hurry to get back to work. I had someones car on the rack torn apart.

When I go to leave work, I took the time to inspect the passengers side floor, where the issue occured. Not only is the carpet not under the rocker trim molding as it is supposed to be, there are visible screw heads showing. In the carpeting.

The next day I call the service department about this, and get aksed not to come back again. This really makes me mad. So call #2 was to the dealership owner. I asked them what I had done to get asked that, and why an improper repair like that was prefromed. I was informed by him that I had walked thru the service department threating that "if my car aint right Im a goona kill people" Something I never had done, nor said.

Later that night I was at a bar I go to often, and in walks the tech in question. Who has the gull to sit next to me. He started talking smack, and down he went. I hate fighting, but at times it is needed.

Yes I did break his jaw, and his nose. He filed a restraining order against me, so I can not leggally go on the property of any shop he works at. He also got a life time ban from the bar for coming in and inciting a fight. I am still welcome there.

If my engine fails due to no fault of the tech, what GM installs will be fine. Execpt it will be sold asap.

If a tech screws up my engine, and causes it to blow, it's is the responcibility of the dealership to replace the engine, with one acceptible to me, not GM's problem.

If I blow the engine, due to my own fault I will replace it on my own.

I never have an attitude untill one is given to me first. Often when I take a car in for service I am respectfull dressed. I explaine to the service write what the issues are, in detail. Fill out the paper work, make sure I didn't leave any personal effects in the car that I may need before it's returned (parking passes, cell phone charger, ect). Once done I hand the keys over, and make sure I left both my contact numbers again.

What causes me to get an attitude is when a tech or a service manager tries to explaine I do not know what I am talking about. A good example of this is when my alternator was going out. I took the car in, and explained what it was doing. Low charge when headlamps were on, headlamps dim & flickering at idle, squeal from alt rear barring, visible arcs in low light from rear of alt.

The service manager tried to tell me all of this was normial, and I was being too picky. After listening to him, I asked if it is normial to have to use a booster pack to start a newer car. He replied with the comment "you don't know your ass from a hole in the ground".

Yea when he gave me that attitude, I went over his head. Made them fix it to my standard of accptible. I was a nice guy till insulted.

Funny thing is, I have never had a problem at any other dealership. I don't bring my cars in for things like a worn or crakced serpentine belt when they have 55K miles and expect them to replace it for free. I do that sort of stuff my self.

As for firing, I now go to a different dealership for my car purchases. As do my friends. That dealership has lost atleast 2 new cars sales per year, and 3 used cars sales per year. As well as revenew generated from service work. Charles

Reply to
Charles Bendig

omg I've seen that one, How do you screw that up? melt the aluminum a bit warmer so it melts together completely!

Reply to
Paradox

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