Getting the part took the longest (less than a week though.) As far as I know they only have to yank the screws out of the top of the neck and remove the hose clamps towards the tank and swap it out. No damages on my car at all. Took less than an hour to change, but I don't know how much of that time was the tech actually working on the car.

The pump thing is super annoying though. I had to tell the dealer about the TSB, they couldn't find it. Mine just ordered the part #s off the TSB post. Here is what I referenced:

Vehicle is Difficult to Fill with Fuel or Filling Station Pump Shuts Off Before Tank is Full (Replace Tank Filler Hose) #04-06-04-031 - (Apr 22, 2004)
Vehicle is Difficult to Fill with Fuel or Filling Station Pump Shuts Off Before Tank is Full (Replace Fuel Tank Filler Hose)
1997-2004 Chevrolet Corvette

Condition
Some customers may comment that their vehicle is difficult to fill with fuel or when filling, the pump continuously shuts off before the tank is full.

Cause
This condition may be caused by back pressure within the fuel filler hose. This back pressure trips the fuel nozzle prior to filling the tank, or results in a hard to fill condition.

Correction
Replace the fuel tank filler hose with P/N 10353139. This new hose has been redesigned to provide smoother flow conditions within the section. Use the procedure listed below.

Raise and suitably support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in the General Information sub-section of the Service Manual.
Remove the left rear tire and wheel.
Remove the left rear wheelhouse panel.
Loosen the lower hose clamp through access hole in body using ¼ drive ratchet and extension.
Loosen the upper hose clamp.
Remove the fuel tank filler hose.
Install the new fuel tank filler hose.
Tighten the upper hose clamp. Tighten
Tighten the fuel filler hose clamp to 4N·m(35 lb in).

Tighten the lower hose clamp through access hole in body using ¼ drive ratchet and extension. Tighten
Tighten the fuel filler hose clamp to 4N·m(35 lb in).

Install the left rear wheelhouse panel.
Install the left rear tire and wheel.
Lower the vehicle.
Parts Information
Part Number
Description

10353139
Hose, Fuel Filler

 

Did they do this from outside the car or inside the rear wheel well or from under the car? I'm afraid they would forget to connect something else that they had to take off to get in there.

 

Sorry about your luck out there in CA. If you were in Ohio I would help you and you would be impressed. I think most of the people on this forum would realize good service when they see it, dont know why you think they wouldn't. Most must be unfortunate enough to never find a REAL dealer for service , but they are not in Cincinnati

 

Didn't see them do it, but based on the TSB it looks like it's removing the wheel and accessing through the fenderwell. If they screw up, then sue.

 

Because most people aren't allowed in the service bay to actually watch the tech do the work. Over the years I have had service done an numerous dealerships around the country and each time I have discovered things on my cars either missing, scratched or damaged, when they were done. I have always looked over my cars very carefully before handing them over and then very carefully before taking them back.

When you realize how mechanics get paid you can clearly see why their work is not always the best. Their quality is time limited. It's not so much the mechanics fault as it is the system the dealerships use. I think most mechanics...er techs, want to do good work but if it takes to long, they don't get paid for it so they have to move things along.

 

This is a simple repair. Just buy the hose and install it yourself.

 

I'm sorry to hear about your experiences, and yes flat rate labor can cause some grief on the customers end. At our dealership I have chairs in my work area and customers are allowed to hang out and watch, very interactive actually. I (and our two other corvette techs) work on customers cars like they are ours. All three of us race corvettes in NCCC and SCCA so we do LIKE corvettes a little bit. Hell I was probably conceived in a corvette.
My best advise to you is to search for a dealer that has corvette specialist(s). You may have to drive out of your way, but if you find guys that truly care about Corvettes you'll be alot better off.

 

I could not agree more. I learned the hard way. Once I found a dealership with a tech that specialized in corvettes, life was good again. Not only is he good at working on the cars but, he's a really great person and is always happy to answer any question a may have about working on the car. I also include him on my X-mas list.

 

GM is the only manufacturer who has problems with this. I have two GM cars and they both do it even after the TSB fixes. So what I have found is that fuel vapor droplets gurgle into the fuel dispenser nozzle vapor recovery. So what you do is take the dispenser out and shake it on the ground. Let all the droplets fall out and then try to repmp gas. This works for a while then you do it again. Please spread this around to as many people as possible. You see the EPA mandates these dispensers to control smog emisions. What I do to get the dispenser to work violates that. If more people violate this and let the EPA know maybe the EPA will force GM to ask FORD how to make a fuel filler neck.

 

I wish it were this easy but, I would most likely have to drive 300 miles out of my way. There are many Chevy dealerships inside this range, just none worth servicing my car at. So with this in mind I have tended to do minor warranty repairs myself, and thus also having to pay for the parts myself.

If GM would get these things correct at the testing phase, non of this would be an issue.

 

I will be scheduling a swap out on the filler neck. Good news my dealer has three divisions, corvettes, cadilacs and chevy other. So at least the only techs will be corvette specialist. Bad news need to take a day off and go to Atlantic City and drive about 70 miles. Now if I can get a curtosey car I will have to suffer at the casinos. Its a rough life I know! Thank you all for the help.