Hi this is my first post, but let me start by saying I love this board. I just bought my first vette, a 2008 and have had it for 4 weeks. I only have 325 miles on it. On Saturday the car started to hesitate and stutter while driving. I turned it off and then it wouldn’t start. I had to get it towed to a service center. The car has been there for four days now. Yesterday, they told me that I have a bent pushrod and they are going to replace the pushrod and springs. I have not driven the car hard and am staying under 55 during the 500 mile break in period. I can’t believe that I am having a major engine problem with a new car. Now my concern is that I paid 50 plus for a damaged car. Should I be concerned that there may be continued problems with the car? Could I get GM to either replace the car or give me a refund. Is that even possible? Just wondering what everyone’s opinion is or what my options are at this point. Thanks.

 

YES I would ask the Dealer to contact the local Zone manager and tell them this is unacceptable to you and you want the car replaced with a new one. If they don't respond call the BBB number in the back of the manual. Get it set in motion now. Quite frankly I would guess the motor was defective before it was installed in the car.

 

When I first read your post for some reason I was thinking you said "bent connecting rod".

A bent pushrod would just mean that the valves on that one cylinder weren't opening up all the way (or at all). I don't think that would cause any permanent damage to the engine but I'm sure folks that know more about that will chime in. IMO it was probably just a defective part that got through the system. Once they replace it everything will be fine.

 

 

uhh,excuse me but that's what WARRANTY's are for,325 miles not withstanding.Pissed as you may be,I doubt they'll give you a new car.New motor,maybe..free oil changes for life,maybe...If the car is off the road for xxx amount of business days,then you can go lemon law.

 

AAah don't forget that the wheel that squeaks the most gets the most grease. It worked in my buy back case.

 

Unfortunate as this incident is on a brand new car, I doubt they're going to replace your car.

 

While you are aggravated and it is truly unfortunate, a bent pushrod is not a major calamity. Let them fix it under warranty which, as said above, is exactly what it is for. Your car will be good to go. And no, just because this happened does not necessarily mean the whole car is jeopardized, jinxed or will fall apart on you.

 

Sounds like it was not adjusted correctly at the factory. As others have mentioned.. It is not a big deal and can be easily repaired. They just remove the valve cover and make the fix.
For a new car, I can understand your concern but this is really not a big issue. Good luck with the repair.

 

<Flame Suit On>

Okay...here we go again. Let me begin by clearly stating that (a) I feel your pain, and (b) you have every right to be upset. That said, you are crazy if you think a new car is in the cards here.

Many C6 owners in here seem to believe that everything that befalls them should automatically result in a new 2008 being delivered to their door. Nope. The guy whose C6 was bumped while in the service department - he wanted a new 2008 out of the deal for "pain and suffering." Are you kidding?

Bottom line - you had a bad engine part in your new car. Okay. That sucks. BUT, assuming that the bad parts can be successfully repaired/replaced, why would you assume that you are entitled to anything other than a quality repair job?

The law does not say you get GM to buy back your car. The law does not say that you get lots and lots of damages or free goodies. The warranty does say that you get your car fixed. Now, if your car continues to crap out on you, or it is down for weeks and weeks, then you might want to look into the Lemon Law. That is what it is for. Until then, give them a chance to fix it and make you happy.

 

Plausable.

The OP didn't say, but, I wonder how many miles were on his "new" car when he took delivery.
A bent pushrod might be the result of an eager lot boy over reving a new engine.

 

That's ridiculous... GM isn't going to replace every car that has a problem. That's what warranties are for. Buy back policies are in place should the problem meet the criteria of days out of service or the problem can't be resolved in x amount of attempts.
Maybe you want your next car to cost 5 times the price because someone had a problem with their floor mats and demanded a new car.
It sounds like the valve adjustment was too tight and caused too much stress on the pushrod and spring. These engines are very tough and the fix is easy and simple to resolve.

 

Thanks for the reponses. Its just very disconcerting that a new car would have this problem. I am awaiting the service center's call for how the repair went today.

BTW - the car had 6 miles on it when I got it

 

Possibly.. we all face that possibility.. I've repaired bent rods before.. fix is easy and simple, the beauty of a simple design.
One of the things I liked about museum delivery is that it cuts down the chances of pre-delivery joy rides..
as the saying goes.. Better a push rod than a con-rod...

 

Bad part. Spring failed and took out the rod? Adjusted wrong?

Did you try to hit third and tag 1st instead or maybe slap 2nd when aiming for 4th? That would bend a pushrod. A pushrod repair is simple and does not mean that your engine/car/life is over as you know it. Just hitting the rev limiter will not bend a pushrod.

Relax, let them change it and you'll probably be just fine.


Elmer

 

Hang in there.. I understand your concern.. but this really is a simple fix. Don't let it detract from your new ownership experience.

 

It could just be me, but how would a bent pushrod prevent the motor from starting. Hell, the valve would still open some and even if it didn't, you would be running on 7cyl instead of 8. I think there may be more to it than just 1 "bent pushrod"

 

Its unfortunate your new C6 has an engine problem....what are the odds? At this point, GM is obligated to fix the problem so let them do it and see what happens. I wouldn't necessarily expect further engine problems just because a defect was repaired.

FWIW, a few months after purchasing a new $46K 2001 Suburban, its 496 cu in engine started over-heating. Like you I was upset. The dealership was at a loss as to why it was over-heating. Finally it was discovered that only one side of the engine block was hot....a cross-over pipe inside the engine was either malformed or developed a blockage. They tore the engine apart to fix the problem.

I still drive that same truck....its been bullet-proof. In over 100,000 miles of hard use I've only had to replace a water pump. It's been so reliable I hesitate to replace it (besides, I can't get a new Suburban with a 496 cu in engine).

Yes, a repaired engine can be reliable. Don't worry about a problem that doesn't even exist.

 

What suburban came with a 496cu motor??!?!

 

Just to add a point for conversation; keep in mind that the LS3 engine has changed in several ways, including the use of offset rocker arms contacting the pushrods.