"Pumping" mad!!
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 6
Likes: 3
"Pumping" mad!!
I'm a 20 year certified master tech who works for the General in a Chevy dealership. I specialize in Corvettes and own one. I am also a current college student studying mechanical engineering. I will attempt to tread lightly here.
To this point, my only real beef with the C-6 quality has been the lack of support in the seats. But for the last two days I have had the displeasure of changing a fuel pump in a C-6!!!
I am beyond words as to how angry I am that this design made it to production. The C-5 and earlier Vette pumps were basic and no real problem. I would love to meet the engineering team that designed and then approved this set-up for mass production. I would be willing to bet some of you guys have had this sting in the wallet by now.
Even under GM warranty I cannot see how the cost is justified in what it takes to replace a pump/sending unit on either of the tanks!!!
Looks like I now have a reason to detour the tour of the Bowling Green plant when reaching the r&d/engineering department.
To this point, my only real beef with the C-6 quality has been the lack of support in the seats. But for the last two days I have had the displeasure of changing a fuel pump in a C-6!!!
I am beyond words as to how angry I am that this design made it to production. The C-5 and earlier Vette pumps were basic and no real problem. I would love to meet the engineering team that designed and then approved this set-up for mass production. I would be willing to bet some of you guys have had this sting in the wallet by now.
Even under GM warranty I cannot see how the cost is justified in what it takes to replace a pump/sending unit on either of the tanks!!!
Looks like I now have a reason to detour the tour of the Bowling Green plant when reaching the r&d/engineering department.
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 6
Likes: 3
Dropping the driveline from the bellhousing back to gain access to the fuel crossover/balance fill tube. That tube is under mild pressure to ensure sealing against the tanks. Let's not forget the extremely limited access to the filler neck tube clamp and pump connector.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 307
Likes: 4
From: Milford Connecticut
Dropping the driveline from the bellhousing back to gain access to the fuel crossover/balance fill tube. That tube is under mild pressure to ensure sealing against the tanks. Let's not forget the extremely limited access to the filler neck tube clamp and pump connector.
That's incentive not to VOID the warranty.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
I think motorhead-47 detailed the methodology. And way back when, I'd heard/read that the service hours were supposed to be somewhere in the 7 hour range. wow.
here it is : http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-t...fuel-pump.html
here it is : http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-t...fuel-pump.html
Racer
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 307
Likes: 4
From: Milford Connecticut
I think motorhead-47 detailed the methodology. And way back when, I'd heard/read that the service hours were supposed to be somewhere in the 7 hour range. wow.
here it is : http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-t...fuel-pump.html
here it is : http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-t...fuel-pump.html
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,972
Likes: 48
From: NCM Lifetime#2195 Bulverde, Texas 78163
St. Jude Donor '13
It is very possible to change the pump and/or fuel tank with out removing the driveline. I have done a bunch of them. The automatics are a little harder due to the clearance between the trans and tunnel. The hardest part is removing the crossover tube. Warranty pays good, Apx 10 hours and you can do it in apx 1.5 hours. You have to think outside of the box, Don't always follow the service manual. It's like the Cadillac Northstar crankcase, Warranty pays apx. 13 hours and I can replace one in 1.5 hours. Always looking for a quicker way to perform repairs, That's what makes me money.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,755
Likes: 190
From: Baton Rouge LA
St. Jude Donor '14, '16
Changed mine on my a4 on 2 jackstands without dropping anything but the tanks. Sad part is I have to do it again now (yay). Looks like the harness was bad from the car power side to the pump, appears to have a short or something (don't know for sure yet).
Round two of this very soon for me
Round two of this very soon for me
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,974
Likes: 14
From: Pinellas Park Fl
St. Jude Donor '08-'09 & '12, '14
I'm surprised as a "20 year certified master tech" and "corvette specialist" you weren't aware of this. You sound like this is your first rodeo.
I would have prefered an access door(s) like other makes but it's not like GM hasn't made other blunders.
I would have prefered an access door(s) like other makes but it's not like GM hasn't made other blunders.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,254
Likes: 136
From: Short Hills, NJ
That does look a bit complicated 
but on the other hand, how often do they really go bad on a stock/near stock C6, assuming that it hasn't been abused by it's owner of course (running out of fuel, putting harsh/unapproved additives in there etc.)?
It's got to be pretty rare relative to how many C6s are out there now I would think.
but on the other hand, how often do they really go bad on a stock/near stock C6, assuming that it hasn't been abused by it's owner of course (running out of fuel, putting harsh/unapproved additives in there etc.)?It's got to be pretty rare relative to how many C6s are out there now I would think.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,171
Likes: 2
From: foley al
I'm a 20 year certified master tech who works for the General in a Chevy dealership. I specialize in Corvettes and own one. I am also a current college student studying mechanical engineering. I will attempt to tread lightly here.
To this point, my only real beef with the C-6 quality has been the lack of support in the seats. But for the last two days I have had the displeasure of changing a fuel pump in a C-6!!!
I am beyond words as to how angry I am that this design made it to production. The C-5 and earlier Vette pumps were basic and no real problem. I would love to meet the engineering team that designed and then approved this set-up for mass production. I would be willing to bet some of you guys have had this sting in the wallet by now.
Even under GM warranty I cannot see how the cost is justified in what it takes to replace a pump/sending unit on either of the tanks!!!
Looks like I now have a reason to detour the tour of the Bowling Green plant when reaching the r&d/engineering department.
To this point, my only real beef with the C-6 quality has been the lack of support in the seats. But for the last two days I have had the displeasure of changing a fuel pump in a C-6!!!
I am beyond words as to how angry I am that this design made it to production. The C-5 and earlier Vette pumps were basic and no real problem. I would love to meet the engineering team that designed and then approved this set-up for mass production. I would be willing to bet some of you guys have had this sting in the wallet by now.
Even under GM warranty I cannot see how the cost is justified in what it takes to replace a pump/sending unit on either of the tanks!!!
Looks like I now have a reason to detour the tour of the Bowling Green plant when reaching the r&d/engineering department.
Last edited by da vette guy; Feb 3, 2011 at 11:27 PM.
