I feel as if I am having a nightmare. About 2 weeks ago I took my C6 into a local dealer to have the GM Corsa Sports exhaust system put on my ride. When the mechanic put the car on the lift he did it improperly and put a couple of cracks in the body on the rocker panel under the passenger door. They called me and told me about it and were good about fixing the problem (how in the world a GM certified mechanic could let this happen is beyond me). Anyway I went down to pick up the car last Friday and as soon as I got in the car to drive it home I noticed something was wrong with the clutch pedal, it wouldn't come all the way back to its normal position and the RPMs would slip when giving it gas. I immediately turned around and took it back to the dealer who looked at it, was able to pull the pedal back into position but things were clearly not right. When I pressed the clutch to the floor with the shifter in reverse the car slowly moved backwards. I shut down the car and left it with the dealer. The mechanic initially thought the problem was the clutch pedal master cylinder. Today they called and said that they replaced the master cylinder but were having problems bleeding the hydraulics and thought there may be a problem with the pressure plate. They apparently called GM who told them what to do and that they were having this type of problem with other vettes. Anyone else had a problem with their clutch? My car is a garage queen, got her in April of 05 and she has just over 1000 miles on her. Do all dealers screw up your car or is this a legitimate factory defect that other people are having? Thanks

 

Your car suffers from lack of use.
This is your punishment for only driving 50 miles a month.
Why buy the thing?
Why not just buy a big poster of a vette to hang on the wall instead?

I’m kidding of course….But why don’t you DRIVE the thing?

 

I'm sorry about your problem but not surprised about the dealership lifting your car improperly.

When I took my car in for an oil service, the certified mechanic was getting ready to lift it without any jacking pucks/pads. When I asked him about it....he didn't have a clue what I was talking about. I told him to wait and I got my BMW jacking pucks out and popped them in. The mechanic said "cool." When I asked him about it he said that this is just how we do it (without pads) and then he said he doubted the owner would spring for some. I told him the $20 for the jacking pucks would probably be cheaper than having to repair cracked rocker panels. He just nodded affirmatively. I'd be curious if they ever bought some jacking pucks to use.

Although I don't use them for oil changes anymore, when I did recently have to take my car in for its first ever problem, I immediately snapped my jacking pucks in assuming they wouldn't be using them.

Good luck on your clutch problem.

 

After the dealer fixed the body damage from improperly lifting the car I had them install a pair of rail frame guards made by Elite Engineering. They did this at no charge and they worked like a charm when they lifted the car to work on the clutch. I highly recommend these. I spoke to the dealer today and he quoted a GM tech memo describing a problem with the fly wheel in trannies on cars made prior to May 2005. My car was made April 8, 2005. I am going to go by the dealer and get a copy of the memo today. I admit I don't drive her enough, I used to freak out worrying about keeping her in perfect shape but after this episode with the clutch and body damage from lifting the car I think I am over this neurotic behavior.

 

Mine was built 10/7/04 and I have never seen anything like this. In fact, my clutch and tranny have been perfect. So, whatever the problem is, it doesn't necessarily affect all early build cars.

I'd be curious to see if any of the other owners of earlier C6's have experienced this type of problem.

 

You first noticed this problem for the first time right after taking the car home from the dealer...? Too much of a coincidence... they most likely did something to bring on this problem. Maybe they were burning up your clutch doing donuts in the parking lot. I would not be too happy about this. Or... unless they somehow disturbed the clutch system while doing the exhaust work... gee, if they were so inexperienced as to crack the rocker panels, chances are they made other errors as well. Sorry to hear about it.

Yes... put more miles on the car... drive the heck out of it and don't worry about it. The car has a life and chances are it will be killed eventually by some circumstance that is beyond your control... whether it is stolen or wrecked or whatever... so enjoy it NOW while you can cuz you will not have it forever.

 

Even my poster would have done more than 1000 miles by now.

 

next time leave the exhaust stock (kiddng)

just another reason I never let the dealer touch my C5.

don't worry about NOT driving it - its your car -- and lo mileage Vettes are always worth more if you ever have to sell it.

good luck with it and please keep us updated.

 

TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION,THERE WAS A TSB On this problem.Look up in the FAQ section for it,or maybe someone will post it for you.It's happened to me in my 05 once a long time ago,up in high RPM range.Hasn't happened since,but it's high RPM related.

 

[QUOTE=
Although I don't use them for oil changes anymore, when I did recently have to take my car in for its first ever problem, I immediately snapped my jacking pucks in assuming they wouldn't be using them.

Good luck on your clutch problem.[/QUOTE]

My pucks stay on permanently.

 

Heck, I've done 1,000 miles in just a few days in my Vette.

IMO the dealer probably did you a favor if they pushed the car a little on a test drive to bring about this issue. It is something that would have reared it's ugly head eventually, and perhaps outside of the warranty period as slow as you are racking up the miles.

 

that's itm DRIVE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT, i like it when i run late for an appointment... then i have an excuse to floor the beast...

 

You might want to check out this link. This is the only TSB I could find that sounded similar to your situation with the clutch. Hope it helps. http://corvetteactioncenter.com/kb/q....php?qstId=562

 

Thanks for the info on the TSB. It references the clutch pedal not returning to normal position at high rpms (6000rpms). Mine was not working properly with the engine off and at all engine speeds. It was working fine prior to taking it to the dealer. I suspect that a few high rpms were put on the engine in a "test drive" after the exhaust was installed, however, if I get a new clutch it is better than this happening out of warrenty. I'll keep you posted regarding the outcome. Thanks for the help and I plan to put some serious milage on it when I get her back.

 

Shoot for a new clutch with that TSB. And hopefully you'll be golden again. If not let us know. 2 other things that can cause the clutch to stick down are bad clutch fluid and too much clutch throw. But again, these are mainly high rpm problems.

 

Ref. your original question.........

So far, all dealers are bumblers when it comes to working on Corvettes as far as I am concerned. I have hope that one day I can find a Chevrolet dealer that will not screw up the car when they work on it. I do still have hope........

I think the key problem with the domestic car companies has nothing to do with the quality or value of their product and everything to do with their inability to professionally service the vehicles and respect the customer as an informed, intelligent consumer. The whole business model relating to the dealer and the treatment customers receive from dealer is broken. That may be partially a societal problem wherein the quantity of people satisfied with blue collar or sales type employment is shrinking, thus forcing a response of reduced competency in staffing these positions.

 

Best I can do is my nice dealer who fixes everything they mess up.
I'm used to it already.
I anticipate 3 visits or more when I bring the Vette in.
First visit to check out my problem.
They order parts.
Second visit, wrong parts.
Third visit I'm fixed, but they damage something else.
Maybe they fix it then, or fourth visit. Etc.
They're real nice and I like to chit-chat with the service people and the shuttle drivers.
Life just isn't so bad after all!

 

Don't despair, maybe it won't be too long before the car dealer/service option changes dramatically in the not too distant future.
With the internet and increasing world wide competition and cost cutting the dealer may soon just be a relic. Why even have a dealer these days? Everything can be done easier and cheaper and with a broader audience on the internet. Look at the forum dealers. We can see cars, pick out colors and options, and order cars on the net. All we need is a delivery center or some sort of pick up process. And a repair facility that doesn't necessarily need any dealer around.

 

Amen Brother. The auto company that figures out the quality service issue will revolutionize the industry. However, as I mentioned previously, this is not an issue confined to having your Vette serviced. I can't find a plumber, electrician, painter, lawn service, etc. worth 2 cents. But like I said, I still have hope...........

 

My clutch seems fine but the shifter becomes extra notchy when it's cold.