Dealer Goofed - Big Time
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,996
Likes: 77
From: Louisville KY
Dealer Goofed - Big Time
My neighbor has a 2002 Z06 MN6. He took it back in for the 3rd time for the typical driver side rearend leak. After he got it home he has checking things under it, and WOW !!! They had punched a hole in his passenger side floor board (from the bottom). It went through the bottom metal and into the balsa wood middle but did not go through the top metal. His question for you is what should be done to fix this. By the way the dealer said they were at fault and will fix it correctly. They are checking with GM to see what to do. The service manager told him to check with other Vette owners and see what they suggest to do. I glad it is not my 2003 MN6 (but wait I go in tomorrow for the 4th time on rearend leak). Give us suggestions 
Last edited by Jim2003; Jul 24, 2005 at 08:04 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
Likes: 906
From: Lake Elsinore, CA
The C5 body repair manual outlines two approaches to floor pan repair. The first is to replace the entire panel if the damage is extensive enough to warrant it. The second method is to use Sheet Molded Compund (SMC) repair techniques. I can send you the manual in pdf format so you can print it and take it to the dealer. Although, this is a GM repair manual so they should have it on the shelf, no? 
Anyway, email me and I'll send it over.
edbon@adelphia.net
Anyway, email me and I'll send it over.
edbon@adelphia.net
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 365
Likes: 1
From: Massachusetts
St. Jude Donor '10
re
how about they give him kelly blue book value and a c6 at dealer cost?
When he goes to sell the c5 the repair will show up on a carfax. If I was buying the car I would have second thoughts.
When he goes to sell the c5 the repair will show up on a carfax. If I was buying the car I would have second thoughts.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Here is what the floor board looks like if you cut it in half.
This one is actualy one off of a C6 Z06. It is made of carbon Fiber and some sort of filler in the middle. Talk about light
Bill C
This one is actualy one off of a C6 Z06. It is made of carbon Fiber and some sort of filler in the middle. Talk about light
Bill C
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,820
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Originally Posted by sdef
how about they give him kelly blue book value and a c6 at dealer cost?
When he goes to sell the c5 the repair will show up on a carfax. If I was buying the car I would have second thoughts.
When he goes to sell the c5 the repair will show up on a carfax. If I was buying the car I would have second thoughts.
Bill
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Race Director
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 16,723
Likes: 1
From: Redacted
That "filler" is balsa wood.
Balsa is an amazingly light and strong material. Sandwiched between composites like that, it forms a strong and light structural and sound proofing panel.
Too bad the dealer screwed up so bad. That sucks. I like the way they let you drive off in it, knowing they'd punched a hole through it.
"Maybe nobody will notice..."
Balsa is an amazingly light and strong material. Sandwiched between composites like that, it forms a strong and light structural and sound proofing panel.
Too bad the dealer screwed up so bad. That sucks. I like the way they let you drive off in it, knowing they'd punched a hole through it.
"Maybe nobody will notice..."
Drifting
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,715
Likes: 1
From: cAshburn VA
You do not want any moisture getting to that balsa wood. I would settle for nothing less than replacement. No repair they can do is as permanent as a fully intact piece. Ask another car dealer, but I believe there are special laws about releasing vehicles with problems in the floor boards. My old gf bought a car from a dealer that had extensive rust to the floor boards, and they had to take the car back 6 months later. Not exactly the same, but you dont want to have to explain this to someone you might be selling the car to down the road. R&R that puppy....
Good Luck!
Oh, and btw, I went through the dealership dance with the leaky rear end, got mine fixed on dealership #2, try #3. In hindsight, I think it would have been better to take it to a pro and have done with it. No I'm not dripping money, but man, sometimes it just ain't worth it.
Good Luck!
Oh, and btw, I went through the dealership dance with the leaky rear end, got mine fixed on dealership #2, try #3. In hindsight, I think it would have been better to take it to a pro and have done with it. No I'm not dripping money, but man, sometimes it just ain't worth it.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,996
Likes: 77
From: Louisville KY
Thanks for the help. My problem with this whole thing is that GM should have come up with a decent repair for the rearend leak many years ago. This is absolutely insane that we take cars back time after time for the same repair. This is at least a 5 year GM problem. My buddy's car would have never been on the lift if they had solved it, I would not be going back for the forth time today if they had solved it. He goes to one dealer and I go to another, so hopefully mine will not put a whole in my floor pan.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,244
Likes: 13
From: Laguna Woods, CA
Hi,
More interesting to me is HOW they punched a hole in your floorboard.
Realistically, the dealer is not going to bend over for you. They'll offer to make a 'reasonable' repair, which may include replacing the entire panel. I think it'd be nice to have your repair order reflect that the dealer punched a hole and how it happened. Just in case...
As far as the effect on the value? Nil.
Why didn't they tell you? It's the difference (to them) between 100% certain aggro and possible aggro.
Regards,
GB
More interesting to me is HOW they punched a hole in your floorboard.
Realistically, the dealer is not going to bend over for you. They'll offer to make a 'reasonable' repair, which may include replacing the entire panel. I think it'd be nice to have your repair order reflect that the dealer punched a hole and how it happened. Just in case...
As far as the effect on the value? Nil.
Why didn't they tell you? It's the difference (to them) between 100% certain aggro and possible aggro.
Regards,
GB
Drifting
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,715
Likes: 1
From: cAshburn VA
Originally Posted by Garibaldi
Hi,
More interesting to me is HOW they punched a hole in your floorboard.
Realistically, the dealer is not going to bend over for you. They'll offer to make a 'reasonable' repair, which may include replacing the entire panel. I think it'd be nice to have your repair order reflect that the dealer punched a hole and how it happened. Just in case...
As far as the effect on the value? Nil.
Why didn't they tell you? It's the difference (to them) between 100% certain aggro and possible aggro.
Regards,
GB
More interesting to me is HOW they punched a hole in your floorboard.
Realistically, the dealer is not going to bend over for you. They'll offer to make a 'reasonable' repair, which may include replacing the entire panel. I think it'd be nice to have your repair order reflect that the dealer punched a hole and how it happened. Just in case...
As far as the effect on the value? Nil.
Why didn't they tell you? It's the difference (to them) between 100% certain aggro and possible aggro.
Regards,
GB
