To those of you that have followed the extreme drama with my Z.

I finally found out why I can't get the car repaired this time around.

The warranty company put a Cadillac CTSV motor in the car instead of a stock LS6 for a 2002 Corvette Z06.

This is motor #2 (due to valve spring issues). It is under GM "repairers guarantee" and today during litigation, the 'cat came out of the bag'

I have the documentation that shows where the motor was purchased, the part number, date, etc.

Two separate GM dealers in the area have identified the parts number as a Cadillac CTSV motor. It is "un-warrantable" in my Z06 and should never have been installed in it in the first place.

GM Powertrain rep will not authorize anyone but a GM dealer to do the repairs. The kicker is this: No GM dealer in their right mind will touch my car with a 10' pole.


So, it is still sitting, but now suddenly it is being put inside the garage instead of sitting in the parking lot.


Things are heating up.


I would assume that I have just gained some serious leverage in this matter.

I have also been informed that this particular "part" is now obsolete. The motor purchaser (no names) must have had a few crate motors sitting around and thought they could save a few bucks and pull a fast one.


Part number/description 19210918 Engine

I now also have a "case number"


I suppose I could just give the car back, get my money back and the difference of money paid on a Corvette payment while driving cars like Ford Fusions, Suzuki SX4's, KIA Optimas, etc, etc....


Any advice from you all-knowing Corvette aficionados? What would you do if you were me?


Want more info? Dig into my past posts from my profile page. Theres a night's worth of reading (and pics) there.


Last vid of tow due to failed valve spring:




Car has been sitting in the shop and/or towed all over the country side while the "dealer" searches for someone gullible enough to work on this car and try to warranty it.

 

Why don't they just put in the correct engine?

 

You need to ditch the car now. Even if you find the right motor
the car has depreiciated to the point that you are better off
starting all over again with another car. Good luck and now is the
time to start over.

 

I would just trade in the car for the exact same one but that me. Its your car. Your just wasting your time sending the car everywhere when no one wants to touch especially GM. All I can say is that why can't GM just put the right one in and be done and sell the Cadillac motor to someone else. Or they can just give you the money for a new one.

 

Get out while the gettin's good! If you can get most of your money back, there are plenty of issueless C5s to pick from out there.

I also wonder if, assuming you get this all straightened out (a proper engine and trouble-free), these issues will show up on a Carfax report down the road. Even if this hassle doesn't show up on Carfax, these problems may very well come back to haunt you via some other documentation when it's time to sell the car. Just a thought...

 

That occurred to me as well!! Sounds as if you have them over a barrel so to speak,,,but I'm not a lawyer !!Who was the one that did that in the first place??Might be time for you to get legal consul!! Seems you should be able to do like the ex-wives and sue the other woman for alienation of affection!! I know I have been seeing various post of your tribulations for some time now,,and the stress of this hassle added to not having your vette HAS to be a lot of aggravation and stress!! I know it gets to me when I cant get in here for short periods in the winter,,this has to be really getting under your skin!! Sounds as if there is some fraud grounds there somewhere. Maybe a threat of a suit may get them moving!!

 

C6 time

 

The 2004 - 2005 CTSV's came with a LS6 engine that (I thought) was the same as the LS6 used in the Z06. The horsepower rating for the CTS-V engine was slightly different than the Z06 due to different exhaust manifolds, but I'm pretty sure the mechanicals are the same.

 

unbelievable story!

 

The mechanicals are basically the same, and yes, the LS6 was made for two cars: The Corvette Z06 and the Cadillac CTSV.

The problem is this: When you put this CTSV version into a Corvette, it is basically the same as a "mod" (modification )- therefore, the warranty is automatically voided.


So, when I get my C6Z and I want to keep the LS7 bottom and have the LS9 top end installed....


(yeah, right...)

 

The new information that I just aquired, and the threat of a suit, has gotten them moving.


I video taped them last night pushing my car into their garage rather than leaving it out in their lot (like they've been doing)-


I'm a pretty patient man...


Sometimes.

 

I have followed your plight and I have absolutely no legal back ground I do mental health now. I know there is a certain amount of attachment to vehicles, they become part of us. What I say is this. You have a lot of leverage at this moment in time. They tried to defraud you and the warranty. They now have to make it right. Now you are in a conundrum. Do you take a chance with a new engine that belongs to that car and its a real LS6 or do you get it done and trade it in for a new one, or go back and say they tried to "defraud me" and you want to a different car.

Think about it. I can't say what I'd do because that is me. While you are asking advise you really have to look deep and see what it is you want. I take my hat off to you, because you have way more patience than I have.

 

You know in a few weeks you'll be able to put this down on paper as a manuscript and get it published as a "True" Novel. But I don't know, I had a 1995 Monte Carlo back in the late nineties, My car had a Z34 double overhead cam 6 cyl. engine and it sat at the dealership where I had bought it, and it had been there for close to three months as they couldn't find anyone who knew anything about fixing the damn engine. I waited for two months and went to the dealership about six times, on my second trip, I slipped the Service Manager $50.00 "Lunch money' and i have to admit they were trying, the car was up on the lift for a month alone. The owner of the dealership came out to the service bays and I could hear him angerily saying my godd(*&^ car was getting to be a piece of artwork sitting up in the damn air already. I kept geting all kind of excusses,

But I finally called General Motors/Chevrolet Customer Service in Detroit and I got a nice women on the phone and I told her the whole story and the time line, and she said could I hold ? And I figured I was going to get the brush off again, but she said to me after giving me her name and employee number and she said DO NOT HANG UP, and she said she was on the other line with the dealership. it was about ten or fifteen miutes and when she came back she said Mr. Ward, your car WILL BE finished in two days and she said for me to call her direct if for any reason the can wasn't done on Wedensday, (It was Monday afternoon) and sure enought it was done. they/GM had sent a Cadillac Technician from Delaware to take over the job. Turned out to be a bent balancer shaft, and once it was done it ran perfectly. The timing belt had broke and a head had to be rebuilt along with of other things.

But I had good luck working with GM direct, I'd mention to customer sevice that dealership my next move would be a Lawyer if things don't start looking up soon. There's no way you should have to wait all this time and be racked over the coals over who's engine in who's godd*&^ car. The hell does it matter who is doing what, it's a Corvette and a GM vehicle and you perople should be able to sort out who is who and just get the damn thing fixed period ! Your a Customer, You bought one of their cars, now just fix it !

 

I have the GM Powertrain rep and one other-- these guys are like ****'s-- I didn't realize they were on my side, but they are perusing all the documentation.



B.A.R.-- Bureau of Automotive Repair- they are all over this.



I just can't believe the education I'm getting. Shiz like this doesn't happen all that often, but maybe when its all 'said and done' I'll be a frickin expert on the subject...

 

That is what I thought also, Who installed the motor? How come they won't warranty it?
If I have had half the troubles you have had the car would of been long gone.

 

It's cool that you are finally making some progress dude. It looks like there is finally light at the end of the tunnel.

 

The people who installed the motor are in litigation with the dealer I bought the car from.


The people who sold the motor to the 'installer' are about 8 hours South of my home. It could (and very well may be) towed to them.


Right now the hopes are that the B.A.R. gets one of the GM dealers that is closer to me to repair the car. I know that a dealer cannot be forced to work on the car, but the dealer(s) reasoning for NOT working on the car is what is causing the problems- and, will ultimately resolve the problems.


Some of you guys will have to read between the lines here, but I know sooner or later I won't be able to talk much about this anymore.


Why do I then?


I'm not sure. Maybe it's my way of venting. But, like I said, I am also learning. This may end up helping a Corvette owner (or two) in the long run.

 

Why doesnt the dealer repair the head and cut their losses? Or did the broken spring cause more damage? Tell them to give you $ plus the value of your car as a down for a LS3 C6...and make sure its the right LS3! Lol. J/k good luck. I wouldve gone crazy on them already.

 

I would file a sued to get a replacement vette plus for all the hassle you gone through,
I don't like to sued,but sometime is a requirement to get things done.
It's not your fault and obviously they tried to screwed you over.
Either way i agreed with previous post, Get rid of the car and start fresh.

Man, This sux!

 

The crate engines were always like that,you had to swap oil pans to make them fit the Corvette.So really it is a chevy engine with a cadillac pan.There should have been no issue with that as far as warranty is concerned as that is all that GM offers for replacement.Something is missing from this story........