[ASKED] GM Dealership Corvette Technician Training/Certification Process
 

Hello,

After reading posts of horror stories at the dealership on here for many years (and experiencing some of it myself first hand) I call into question the level of training required to become a Corvette technician. Many owners here, rightfully so, are unwilling to even take their car to the dealership out of fear of improper service. Some are even refusing the free maintenance package on the C7 for this reason.

Some common examples:

• Dealerships not using Mobil 1 oil (despite the bulletin that was issued by GM).
• Dealerships overfilling the Z51 oil level causing oil in the intake.
• Dealerships not performing track alignment properly.
• Dealerships not jacking up the car properly.

My question: Is service quality and inconsistency an acknowledged issue by GM and, if so, what is being done to rectify it?

Even the best engineered product suffers if it is not properly supported, and I feel this is a major weakness for GM and the Corvette. Recent experience at a dealership in combination with horror stories on here are making me consider cancelling my C7 order. I would propose a much more stringent dealership certification/re-certification/re-training process required by GM to ensure a consistent level of competency.

I sure wish you had received some responses, as I have all these same questions, but especially about what training the corvette techs should have. I thought to be an official corvette tech, they had to actually attend a real GM training course. Thoughts?

Please boil this down to a single question vs a series of them.

There are way too many variables that go into this. For one thing, I personally know highly capable and intelligent technicians that know more about Corvettes than many "Corvette Certified" technicians. I also know many Corvette owners than know more about Corvettes than anyone at the dealership they bought theirs from.

What it boils down to is a very small population of "cult vehicles" that most dealerships handle very little of. The average dealership sells 3-4 Corvettes per year. Staff members are only going to truly focus and specialize in what is normally dealt with on a day to day basis.

For proper care and service, I recommend finding a dealer that not only sells Corvettes in high quantity, but also services them in high quantity. I'm the Corvette Department Manager for the dealership I work for, we have 2 Corvette only technicians that know these cars inside and out. We're growing tremendously year after year because people can actually trust us, a dealer, in servicing their Corvettes.

I do agree tho, it is too bad that there is very little consistency of competency and knowledge of Corvettes from dealer to dealer. But, that's good for my dealership, it keeps us ahead of the pack. Hopefully GM is listening. They made dealerships adhere to their "image", why stop there?

99% of technician training is online. There are only a few hands on and classroom training classes. Keep in mind that when it comes to being a good tech- you either have it or you don't. Some of the best techs out there can barely read or write. But it makes the public feel better when a repair facility can say his technicians are fully certified.

Mahalo n8dogg for your response. ��������

Done. I think this is an important one that needs addressed that spans multiple Corvette generations.

I agree. Based on your input and other experiences, it's obvious the certification program is inadequate and needs overhauled with a renewed focus.

Time to get this one going, the current well of questions is not nearly as significant or appealing to a wide audience.

He reinforced the need for this question, but did not resolve the issue at hand. Only GM can do that.

As n8dogg noted, there are some really excellent Corvette servicing Chevy dealerships. I had to "fire" the one 4 miles from my house, then terminate the one 22 miles from my house, yet I now go 38 miles to a Corvette dealer who has an absolutely excellent Tech. He has never failed to diagnose and fix my car at a very reasonable price (and I always call ahead and confirm that he is going to be there working the day/time when I plan on bringing my car in). Only he works on my car!!! Easy to bitch about the fact that we have to de-select more than a few Chevy service departments for their inability to fix our Corvettes. At the same time, I do not go the closest restaurant, but choose one much further away that provides great food and service. at reasonable pricing.

I wish we had plenty of choices, but unfortunately, there are only three Chevy dealerships out here. Two have super crappy reviews. I hope number 3 turns out ok. Because they know you don't have any other choices, they don't really give a shit out here. Living in paradise isn't always fun and games.

This is what I am doing as well. However, when I need service it adds hours to my commute. Do you think it's really unreasonable to expect that all Chevy dealers be able to provide knowledgeable, trustworthy service for Corvettes? I don't.

Updated question in bold to make it standalone properly without the thread title.

I called my local dealer to get a price on a track alignment and the recommended track oil change. Service tech had no idea what either of these were, put me on hold to ask someone else, who also had no idea..
told me he'd get call Chevy to find out and get back to me and never did.


But this was the same dealer that left my key in front of the windshield cowling by where the wipers rest and couldn't find them for 20 minutes so I'm not really surprised. :willy:

GM should jump on offering training programs for dealer so they would have a Corvette specialist and someone that really know these cars.


I have a problem with supercharger acting up or overheating on my 2017 Z07. I initially thought its just simple air in the system and it was. The car has been back at the dealership 4 times already and they cannot figure out the issue. They start the car and let it idle but no leaks were found. Then I drive the car home and run through the gears to pressure the system and as soon as I park it in my garage, the red fluid drips starts. upfront, right side car of the car, next to the intercooler bottle and runs on radiator rail.


I took few hours off work and went down to the dealership and spoke to a very experienced tech. He was very kind person. He have replaced engines, transmissions, and differentials on C7's. Bottom line he kept pressure testing the engine cooling thinking the Z06 have only one cooling circuit for both supercharger and engine. I had to physically show him where the intercooler is as he though the secondary radiator is the supercharger intercooler which explains why he thought both systems are on the same cooling circuit!


Now I am waiting to see if he can locate the leak. Bottom line, if I push the car a little, it goes into limp mode and reduced power almost immediately. Initially I was getting P0106 code so they replaced the MAP sensor. Not sure if this is all related.

Great question, looking forward to a response. I'd love to hear GM's stance on both Corvette Service and Sales.

Great question.

I agree with the points...especially
1) Dealer's not knowing how to lift the car
2) Vette owners avoiding dealers even for free oil changes.

Not sure Tadge can answer, yet this is a big Corvette owner issue and GM's typical, dealers are independent contractors B.S. needs to end.
Crack my rocker panel = replace my car
Seize my engine = replace my car
Let the dealer now own a "f**ked up" vette.
Monetary costs are one of the few items that one notices.

Vettes and their owner expectations are different than Malibu, Cruise even Honda etc owners etc.......for example jacking pucks......we expect the dealership's repair staff effort to get these tools from dispatch and to use them every time and use them correctly.

Guess I am preaching to the choir. End of rant.

I think that these are all legitimate questions...much better questions than what I normally see on the Ask Tadge forum.

Right now, it's like taking a Porsche to a VW dealer. Unless GM limits what dealers can sell and service Corvettes to those who sell in high volume, or separate Corvette from Chevrolet all-together, then prenotions will remain as they are.