Rick Humerickhouse

Tadge,



I am a recent purchaser of a 2012 Grand Sport with 18,000 miles from Landers Chevrolet in Norman, OK, with a clear Carfax report, but I am concerned about the vehicles past, due to the following:

From Carfax, it shows two owners. One had the vehicle for 3 years, from Dec 2013 to Nov 2016; the second owner had it for a few days, possibly sold at auction.

Landers could not provide any information about the prior owners, and the vehicle did not have an owners' manual, the 2nd key fob, no wheel or tire spare as shown on the shipping papers, etc., which causes some concern about it's past.

After buying and due to some possible engine tappet noise after driving home from Norman, I took the car into Hendricks Chevrolet in Overland Park, KS.

Hendricks replaced the balancer and two belts, under a Chevrolet bulletin recall. Hendricks also stated that a required 15,000 mile anti freeze flush had not been done.

Hendricks has been more than helpful, but Landers seems reluctant to provide complete information and has not returned several of my phone calls, etc.

On a side note; Landers was very adamant about me purchasing an extended warranty, which I hesitantly denied. I am also concerned why they did not complete a maintenance requirement and the warranty bulletin recall, yet sold the vehicle anyway(?).

My bottom line question, if you can help, please;

Is there a way to find out if this vehicle has any hidden problems, engine damage, flood damage, etc., that wasn't on the Carfax or lacking information from Landers?

Thank you!

1968swbbigblock

1st I've never heard of a 15,000 mile coolant flush
GM calls thier coolant lifetime coolant
I will change mine at 100k or 10 years
Your tappet noise is the injectors very common at you will get used to it
I am also unaware of a recall on the balancer. Yes they do fail on occasion but not often .
Ask your dealer to provide you with a gmvis report it will show everything about the car that
GM knows about your car including all gm dealer service history.
FYI , corvettes did not come with spare tires you have no place to put it.
Buy an owners manual and read it cover to cover you need to know how to enter and
Exit your car if the battery dies or your are in a wreck that disables the electrical system.
Post up some pictures and info here and in the regional parts of corvette forum and maybe we can find a prior owner.

EVRose

Yes balancers DO fail often on these cars and I've never heard of a recall on it either. There certainly should be though.

wayback

Should have done the research before you bought it.

The audacity of a dealer not giving you a spare tire. Some nerve!!

TorchRedFred

Your car should be equipped with run flat tires, and also dealerships try and sell you extended warranties not because they think you will need it but because they make money on them. Sounds like you are panicking a little because uncertainties that could be cleared up with a little research. Take a deep breath, chances are everything is fine.

GS057

I agree Grand sports do not come with a spare tire.

Sky High

I bought my '13 GS new and never have touched the coolant. So what your saying is I don't have to? I thought I knew everything about my car but I never heard of this.

v8sten

I have a 2012 GS and here is the service schedule as stated by the owners manual.

1968swbbigblock

Thank for the confirmation.
Op you've got some good advice here.
I might also reccomend a different dealer as it would appear that Hendrick took advantage of you.
Or better see if you have a great indep independent corvette specialist that is trusted by the locals in nearby corvette clubs

hrt vlv

Well I thought coolant was changed on time (5 years) or mileage which ever comes first.

jbc1995fb

Good info here.

Btw, Tadge isn't going to respond to your post.

HK770

2012 owners manual can be had in PDF form from, GOOGLE

Sky High

Your right. After looking at my owners manual it says 5 years or 150,000 which ever comes first. So it is not a lifetime coolant. Oh well I got one more year to go.

Topdown12

:

Rick Humerickhouse

Okay, thank you to all. I am new to my Corvette and to this site, but intently interested in it's contents, my Corvette, your Corvette's and all of the Corvette People herein.

My question reference the spare came from a GM Global Warranty Management paper, which came with my Grand Sport, listing all the options listed on the vehicle, including "9L3 - Spare Tire", which I assumed meant it had a "Tire inflation kit" (not a full spare, LOL), similar to my Cadi. Evidently the "9L3" info means something else...

Reference the balancer, Hendrick Chev wrote the following; "Check and found belt chirp. Upon inspection, balancer wobble present, verified over .020 wobble, found bulletin 'PIP4750F' advising replacement of balancer and belt. Replaced Harmonic Balancer and both belts. Recheck operation, now performs to intent".

By the way, I am more than pleased with Hendrick Chevrolet. They sponsor the Kansas City Corvette Club, and did not charge me for a free complete inspection and the replacement of the Harmonic Balancer and belts. They also got me in the same day I called and had it fixed the following morning :-).

Reference the antifreeze flush, Hendrick advised of the need and so did a long time Corvette Club member.

Maybe I'm overly concerned, as it scares the heck out of me thinking of some of the horror stories (flooded vehicles, etc.) I've heard from bad vehicle purchases. But, I have a smile on my face from all of you that took the time to answer me.

Thank you kindly and respectfully!!

If you have any other thoughts or help, I'd greatly appreciate it!

Thank you!!

Rick
913 461 3432

Rick Humerickhouse

I am interested and will keep in touch, but will wait a while longer since Landers promised by a 2nd Key Fob, but I have not heard anything from them yet. If not, I will let you know... THANK YOU!

doomi

I'm glad you made this post. I'm local to KC and need to get my car into a dealership for some TSB work. I'll take to Hendrick since you had a good experience.

Maverick1125

I live near Norman Ok. and I know Landers just took over David Stanley Chevy in Norman not too long ago. It may have been part of the inventory when they bought the dealership and they don't know anything about the cars.

David Stanley dealerships are the worst in the area and love to rip off customers more then the normal dealership. I hope when they bought the dealership they fired all the management.

Good luck and feel lucky you have a better local dealership

Rick Humerickhouse

Thank you for your reply. I hope so, too, that Landers fired all of the management. I am still concerned about my purchase for obvious reasons... Thank you for your reply!

Rick Humerickhouse

Hi Doomi! You are more than welcome! Again, I am more than stoked about Hendricks, their personnel, their help and service. Every contact I have had there has been more than up to par. Given my background in life, I can stand on my words about them. Thank you and good luck!