Z06 Engine Ruined by Dealer?
11-15-2018, 12:33 AM
#41
wait a second . Here we have a kid at a detail shop playing with a pressure washer . He squirts water directly into the intake , then blows off an injector wire or two.
My experience with a 305 once that had a cracked head , it filled a cylinder and locked up , i waited then started it, it locked again
So Im thinking that water trapped in the intake locked up the engine when the dealer tried to start it. they may have ruined an injector then but the kid with the pressure washer is the root cause here. you need to decide if you want to spend that money on a motor or a lawyer. the lawyer wont get all your money back for you
My experience with a 305 once that had a cracked head , it filled a cylinder and locked up , i waited then started it, it locked again
So Im thinking that water trapped in the intake locked up the engine when the dealer tried to start it. they may have ruined an injector then but the kid with the pressure washer is the root cause here. you need to decide if you want to spend that money on a motor or a lawyer. the lawyer wont get all your money back for you
11-15-2018, 07:52 AM
#42
Burning Brakes
FFS. Can’t anybody friggin read? He drove the car to the dealer. The dealer drove the car. HOW COULD THE DETAILER HAVE HYDROLOCKED THE MOTOR?????? Delayed hydrolock? That ain’t the way it works, kids.
Where in the facts was anything said about pressure washing the engine? I’d want to see pictures of the corrosion in the PCM. If it is corroded, it’s questionable that it had occurred since the “detail” but that might be possible. However, that condition should have been blatantly obvious to the dealership when they plugged in their diagnostics. This is 100% on the dealership.
Where in the facts was anything said about pressure washing the engine? I’d want to see pictures of the corrosion in the PCM. If it is corroded, it’s questionable that it had occurred since the “detail” but that might be possible. However, that condition should have been blatantly obvious to the dealership when they plugged in their diagnostics. This is 100% on the dealership.
11-15-2018, 09:05 AM
#43
Actually, kid, that is precisely how it works if you have a leaking/stuck injector that's gradually filling a cylinder with gasoline. And the excessive "smoke" (prob. actually water vapor) being produced after leaving the detail shop would lend credence to this theory.
11-16-2018, 07:58 AM
#44
Dealer's come down to $6,000 to replace motor (originally quoted 10k, then $6,700 for one with 75,000 miles vs. mine with 73). Having trouble finding someone in Ann Arbor, Michigan to fix vs. replace - to explore that avenue. Contemplating having to store broken and move broken; storing and soaking 'till Spring. Also still thinking about taking both to court. Family lawyer advises there is a legal case against both.
11-16-2018, 09:58 AM
#45
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You must have money to burn?
Try posting in the Great Lakes forum for shop recommendations and take the car there. Then, get them to determine if the engine is damaged internally or not. If not, the starter bridge bracket will fix it for you. I'd give this a decent chance of success since the starter broke off when the piston stopped moving. If the starter had held then the cylinder would likely have damage.
Of course a lawyer will tell you there is a legal case - they only make money if they get work.
Try posting in the Great Lakes forum for shop recommendations and take the car there. Then, get them to determine if the engine is damaged internally or not. If not, the starter bridge bracket will fix it for you. I'd give this a decent chance of success since the starter broke off when the piston stopped moving. If the starter had held then the cylinder would likely have damage.
Of course a lawyer will tell you there is a legal case - they only make money if they get work.
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Sam Handwich (11-16-2018)
11-16-2018, 12:03 PM
#46
Drifting
This has happened before
A guy on one of the other corvette forums has a post that says that after his engine was steam cleaned the same thing happened to him. This happened while his car was apparently still under warrantee sometime in 2006. This may not help you but it seems pretty clear that you should never pressure wash the engine.
03-27-2019, 09:48 PM
#47
I thought you might like to hear the rest of the story - at least to this point. My Z06 went to the Chevy Dealer Labor Day weekend. It's now end of March and they still have it. In the interim two refurbished motors they obtained they rejected, one because of melted parts, one because it had a modified cam. Upon checking in to see the status after no word for many weeks, I was informed that the General Manager and service staff were fired. The new team decided to go with the used engine with the modified cam. Without consulting me, they removed the modified cam on the used engine and transferred my balancer, flywheel and clutch to the used engine. They also used the timing chain, lifters and push rods, and cylinder heads from (my) original engine. They replaced the ECM, changed the oil, refilled the cooling system, and said the CK wiring system from the ECM to the injector is still good. They haven't explained why they unilaterally decided to cannibalize parts from the original engine. They haven't put the used engine mileage or warranty in writing after repeated requests. Oh, I discovered they left my always heated garaged car out all brutal Michigan winter long.
They offered to knock $200 more dollars off for a new total cost of $5,485. Hard to believe a Chevy dealer would treat a Corvette owner like this.
They offered to knock $200 more dollars off for a new total cost of $5,485. Hard to believe a Chevy dealer would treat a Corvette owner like this.
03-27-2019, 10:26 PM
#48
Drifting
This is such a messed up story
I would pay with a credit card and then dispute the charge. You can do this as long as you have documentation on what the original repair estimate said i.e replace engine. As long as they did somehing different than the estimate to repair said and if there was no OK from you for the changes, you will win the dispute. Otherwise sue the in small claims court.
03-27-2019, 11:40 PM
#49
Mr. PDBrains
What is the dollar limit for small claims court? You offer some great guerrilla tactics. But as they say YMMV.
What is the dollar limit for small claims court? You offer some great guerrilla tactics. But as they say YMMV.
Last edited by Sam Handwich; 03-27-2019 at 11:40 PM.
03-28-2019, 09:41 AM
#51
When reading codes the key must be at the run position which fires off the fuel pump if the injector was stuck open it would dump so much fuel in the cylinder that it will hydro-lock especially if that cyl. is on the compression stroke. Just sayin'
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03-29-2019, 08:49 AM
#53
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St. Jude Donor '05
Get an LS3 in there, take em to small claims maybe youll luck out. Its easy quick and cheap
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Thomas A. Dow (04-02-2019)
04-03-2019, 10:28 AM
#54
Drifting
Don't know what the dollar limit in your state is but in NJ it's $3000. So at least you can back some of your money.
Last edited by C5MSG2004Vert; 04-03-2019 at 10:31 AM.
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Thomas A. Dow (04-03-2019)
04-03-2019, 02:20 PM
#55
Burning Brakes
I am a bit late to the party here but why did you not consider replacing the ECM ($450 installed according to them) and using the LS Starter Bridge option? Even if you replace the engine you need the ECM anyway so you aren't out any money. Hell, roll start it to make sure that fixes the problem before retrofitting the starter if you aren't sure.
I would not have spent another dime at that dealer. I would have at least taken it somewhere else and gotten a second opinion. You asked for opinions here but didn't take much or any of the solid advice offered which also confuses me.
I would not have spent another dime at that dealer. I would have at least taken it somewhere else and gotten a second opinion. You asked for opinions here but didn't take much or any of the solid advice offered which also confuses me.
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Sam Handwich (04-03-2019)
04-10-2019, 08:09 AM
#57
Thanks, this is still very much an option I'm considering. I'm speaking to a senior GM Customer Care advisor today or tomorrow to see what they say about the ongoing debacle.
04-10-2019, 09:13 AM
#59
Pro
Wow!!! They also sponsor a Corvette Club. I could tell a story about a friends $3500 dollor ripoff also, but its not my place to get into it. I highly recommend Masterworks Automotive in Sterling Heights Mich. for any of your Corvette work. They are probably the best in the country. The owner is a very well respected man in the Corvette Community. And I believe that he is in the Corvette Hall of Fame.
04-10-2019, 09:45 AM
#60
What a **** story. Sounds like the detailer got overly happy with the power washer and messed up your injectors. Then dealer added insult to injury not handling the situation correctly. I'm sorry for your headache... been there done that.
All the C5 wiring connections are weather-pack plugs... they can take water, but not power washer water. If I ever cleaned underhood I would spray with 50/50 simple green and water, agitate the bad areas with a brush, then use a garden hose to rinse it. Then I'd start the car up and let it dry quickly.
All the C5 wiring connections are weather-pack plugs... they can take water, but not power washer water. If I ever cleaned underhood I would spray with 50/50 simple green and water, agitate the bad areas with a brush, then use a garden hose to rinse it. Then I'd start the car up and let it dry quickly.
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Thomas A. Dow (04-10-2019)