Beware: Pointy elbows
09-03-2015, 11:48 PM
#101
I'm Batman..
Pro Mechanic
Member Since: Apr 2014
Location: Lehigh Acres FL
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Tech Contributor
09-04-2015, 12:32 AM
#102
Burning Brakes
09-07-2015, 08:31 AM
#103
Racer
After looking over my 15 it seems the foam on the armrest and console lid is very thin. By pressing my finger against both it seems the problem might not be the foam itself but the foundation supporting the foam. It feels like the foundation gives, not supplying a firm and stable base is why we get the depressions. The foundation itself when pressing against the foam feels like a cardboard type feel. Wondering if the base is the one giving and the foam just following it.
09-07-2015, 09:59 AM
#105
Le Mans Master
09-07-2015, 05:48 PM
#106
Instructor
Less than 500 miles on mine and Dealer ordered a whole new drivers side panel due to two indentations not from elbows on arm rest. They took one look and said we'll get a new one on order. that same day after sitting in the FL sun for a few hours the indentations were gone. seams like the sun affected the padding some how. I put the replacement on hold and a week later another indentation on the arm rest at a different location. Calling them in the morning to schedule the replacement. Something is going on with the foam padding but not a problem as long as they replace it and it looks like it should.
09-10-2015, 09:50 PM
#107
Instructor
Less than 500 miles on mine and Dealer ordered a whole new drivers side panel due to two indentations not from elbows on arm rest. They took one look and said we'll get a new one on order. that same day after sitting in the FL sun for a few hours the indentations were gone. seams like the sun affected the padding some how. I put the replacement on hold and a week later another indentation on the arm rest at a different location. Calling them in the morning to schedule the replacement. Something is going on with the foam padding but not a problem as long as they replace it and it looks like it should.
09-23-2015, 09:14 PM
#108
2nd Gear
Member Since: Aug 2012
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2015 C7 console deformity
Encountered the same problem. Multiple dimples where elbow rests on console. No improvement over time. Requested replacement under warranty and dealer agreed the console was defective and ordered a replacement. Question is whether the foam was from a defective batch or if this is a problem across the board that is likely to recur with the replacement.
09-23-2015, 10:14 PM
#109
My foam will depress when my very pointy elbow rests on it, but the dent will, within seconds come back up to nothing. I have checked by pulling my elbow up, and resting my hand on the "hole", and I can feel it filling in till there is nothing.
This makes me wonder if there is a bad batch, or three, of foam that won't do this.
This makes me wonder if there is a bad batch, or three, of foam that won't do this.
09-23-2015, 10:48 PM
#110
I'm Batman..
Pro Mechanic
Member Since: Apr 2014
Location: Lehigh Acres FL
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Encountered the same problem. Multiple dimples where elbow rests on console. No improvement over time. Requested replacement under warranty and dealer agreed the console was defective and ordered a replacement. Question is whether the foam was from a defective batch or if this is a problem across the board that is likely to recur with the replacement.
My foam will depress when my very pointy elbow rests on it, but the dent will, within seconds come back up to nothing. I have checked by pulling my elbow up, and resting my hand on the "hole", and I can feel it filling in till there is nothing.
This makes me wonder if there is a bad batch, or three, of foam that won't do this.
This makes me wonder if there is a bad batch, or three, of foam that won't do this.
09-24-2015, 08:58 AM
#111
Melting Slicks
My 'first day of production' '14 has the problem and several weeks after my recent trip to Road America it has finally smoothed out. We have had hot weather here lately which probably helped-not sure how much it will regain it's shape if the indents occur in the Fall and the temps don't hit 80's in the garage. How many times will the material continue to rebound? It's definitely a problem and when these cars start showing up on the used market in significant numbers with 'dented' armrests it will be something potential buyers will notice and factor in to their offers.
09-24-2015, 05:17 PM
#113
Burning Brakes
The arm rest on my door and center console both get dimples in them from my elbows.
When I first read this thread and some of the comments I panicked and thought I needed a warranty replacement.
Then I decided to keep my elbows off them for a day or two.
One sunny afternoon in the 90+ Texas heat and all the dimples were gone.
Now I just make sure not to put my elbows in the same place for extended periods of time.
If I do I just give it time as they will come out.
When I first read this thread and some of the comments I panicked and thought I needed a warranty replacement.
Then I decided to keep my elbows off them for a day or two.
One sunny afternoon in the 90+ Texas heat and all the dimples were gone.
Now I just make sure not to put my elbows in the same place for extended periods of time.
If I do I just give it time as they will come out.
09-25-2015, 09:59 PM
#114
Burning Brakes
Originally Posted by TennisFreak
The arm rest on my door and center console both get dimples in them from my elbows.
When I first read this thread and some of the comments I panicked and thought I needed a warranty replacement.
Then I decided to keep my elbows off them for a day or two.
One sunny afternoon in the 90+ Texas heat and all the dimples were gone.
Now I just make sure not to put my elbows in the same place for extended periods of time.
If I do I just give it time as they will come out.
When I first read this thread and some of the comments I panicked and thought I needed a warranty replacement.
Then I decided to keep my elbows off them for a day or two.
One sunny afternoon in the 90+ Texas heat and all the dimples were gone.
Now I just make sure not to put my elbows in the same place for extended periods of time.
If I do I just give it time as they will come out.
Thankfully It did. The bottom line is the center console arm rest and door armrests in this car are not adequate for their job description.
09-25-2015, 10:28 PM
#115
Racer
First time this happened to me I was pissed off, got a small dent in the center console. Read this thread and left it in the sun, it was gone 8 hours later. Notably some that were in my driver's armrest at delivery also disappeared. 2 days ago I broke my rule and rested my elbow on the center console again, this resulted in a larger dent than last time. Again I was pissed off but hoping the sun trick would bail me out again.
Thankfully It did. The bottom line is the center console arm rest and door armrests in this car are not adequate for their job description.
Thankfully It did. The bottom line is the center console arm rest and door armrests in this car are not adequate for their job description.
09-26-2015, 04:20 AM
#116
Pro
I think you are off base here a bit. The "armrest" in all cars is intended to be used to rest your arm on it. Regardless of how you rest your arm it should be able to withstand being used for its intended purpose. If the armrest cannot handle a wide variety of arms and styles or people resting their arms then there is an design flaw. I have owned a lot of cars and all of them were not as easily beaten by a "pointy elbow". Having to augment your armrest -THAT WAS DESIGN TO REST YOUR ARM ON- with a furniture cup is not only ridiculous, its plain out insulting for a car with this price tag. That's like saying if your paint is flaking off the car just put a few stickers over that spot so you do see it. Totally inexcusable.
09-26-2015, 04:31 AM
#117
Pro
09-26-2015, 09:01 AM
#118
Racer
[QUOTE=J_Vette_Manuel;1590408940 I suppose GM could solve this and replace them with C6 hard *** plastic lids... No more bitching then.[/QUOTE]
No... the choice is not between the overly soft "memory" foam currently being used or "hard *** plastic lids." That's a false dichotomy...
Chevy simply made a bad choice when they selected the foam for this center console lid/armrest. As evidenced by every BMW I've owned in the past 30 years -- all of which had comfortable center armrests and none of which suffered from this problem -- there are plenty of other foams available that could have been used instead of the current material.
It's a legitimate complaint as the armrest dimples are highly visible, very unsightly and detract from an otherwise beautiful 3LT interior. This problem shouldn't occur in a modern automobile at any price, much less one that costs over $70K.
No... the choice is not between the overly soft "memory" foam currently being used or "hard *** plastic lids." That's a false dichotomy...
Chevy simply made a bad choice when they selected the foam for this center console lid/armrest. As evidenced by every BMW I've owned in the past 30 years -- all of which had comfortable center armrests and none of which suffered from this problem -- there are plenty of other foams available that could have been used instead of the current material.
It's a legitimate complaint as the armrest dimples are highly visible, very unsightly and detract from an otherwise beautiful 3LT interior. This problem shouldn't occur in a modern automobile at any price, much less one that costs over $70K.
09-26-2015, 11:37 AM
#119
Melting Slicks
C5 did it, 05 trailblazer did it...(plastic support arches internal to the console broke, so it's dished out the entire length)
Grand Prix, Saturn... Now that I think about it, all my vehicles have eventually gotten elbow divots...
Grand Prix, Saturn... Now that I think about it, all my vehicles have eventually gotten elbow divots...
05-26-2016, 03:28 PM
#120
Le Mans Master
I noticed the center cosole has a dimple.. 40 miles on the odo lol