Has anyone had to have their engine replaced I. Their c7? I bought a 2015 corvette stingray 2LT auto with 60k miles in August or September 2023. Around 3-4 weeks after I bought it it broke down. I changed the battery twice, changed the battery fuse box, changed the fuel pump module, then the high pressure fuel pump. The dealership had to contact GM technical support multiple times. And they’ve had it for almost 2 months now. Well after all that they now say that the engine is blown. I’ve paid almost $500 just in towing. Then another $500 for the batteries. Then $1100 for the high pressure fuel pump. And now they’re saying it needs an engine. I only have the limited power train warranty and I have a feeling they’re going to try to deny it. I’ve put less than 1,000 miles on this car and it already needs an engine. How much is it gonna be to have the dealership put a new engine in if it’s not covered? Any advice on how to go about it if they do try to deny it?

 

1) This is what happens when people shoot the parts canon at an issue. While the internet is a good source of info, due diligence still needed to be performed
2) Find a new dealer. They are obviously clueless. Knowing how they work, I'm willing to bet your car spent most of the 2 months there just sitting collecting dust
3) "blown engine" is too vague. That can range from "needs a new cam and lifters" to " there's a hole in the side of the block"

If you really need a new engine, parts and labor will be in the neighborhood of $20k at a GM dealer. If they're willing to find a good used engine, you can knock $5k-$7k off that figure. If it's just a cam and or top end work....probably $5k.

The actual price range can vary quite a bit...ie +/- $3k. Replacing an engine at a dealer in a city in a high cost state is a lot different than replacing an engine at a dealer in the country in a low cost state.

The dealer doesn't deny the coverage. The warranty company does. Best you can do is try to work with the dealer and get them to help you convince the warranty company. If that fails....lawyer up if you truly believe you have a case.

 

It would help if you told us what it is or is not doing that caus3d you to replace all those parts , what I'd the definition of broke down , what did it do ?

Dave

 

I have another post titled cranks but no start that has an extensive list of the issues and the steps taken.

 

10-15k would be reasonable guess?

 

all they told me is after they changed fuel pump module and high pressure fuel pump they were finally able to get it to start. Then they started and shut it off a few times to make sure it stayed running. Then they blew the starter fuse. They changed that then they said that it was idle high then low then dies. Then they said they dropped the oil pan and there was a lot of metal shavings and the engine was blown.

 

Any record of someone pulling the torque tube ?

Dave

 

I’m guessing that they had to since they replaced the fuel pump module and it was quoted at 13 hours.

 

Hate to hear about the problems you are having with your car. I would agree that if the engine is in fact blown, and the dealer replaces it, it will be a major expense. Find another dealer and get another look at the car.

 

they don't do a torque tube to do a fuel.pump but. . An improperly install torque tube will eat a thrust bearing in less than 2 to 3 hundred miles ..... if I was a betting man .... this was your problem and you are not the first ...

Dave

 

I'd want to see the metal in the oil.....trust but verify. If indeed there are shavings in there, the fact that it still turns over and sort of momentarily runs suggests a lifter wiped out the cam. The Gen V DoD engines have had this issue since they first came out and it's across all models....cars, trucks, etc....not just the Corvettes.

I'm extremely surprised they dropped the oil pan. In the Corvette, that is not a simple undertaking. Just to give you an idea of the magnitude of doing so, the dealer will follow the Service Manual. Step 2 is "Remove the Front Cradle"

Regardless, assuming metal in the oil, then you are at the point the engine needs to come out. Cam swaps can be done "in car" but the dealer will follow the manual and pull it. Some dealers will repair the engine. Others, in the interest of time, yank the old one and install another. Then there's the matter of getting an engine. I'm not sure if GM has any LT1s in inventory. If they do, they're likely re-manufactured which is fine.

They should be working with the warranty company for next steps

 

they dropped the oil pan from recommendation of gm tech assistance. And I don’t know if it is still turning over and starting after they said it was blown.

 

This doesn't look like anyone (dealership) is on your side. I would lawyer-up immediately. Good luck!

 

Chris,
That is a terrible situation.
I had to replace the engine in my '16 Z51 in 2020 at 61700 miles. Here's my story.
Car stopped running on highway in 6th gear at 55 mph. I had it towed to nearest Chevy dealer and after paying him $500 for diagnostics he said the engine was blown and it was $19000 for a new engine which was all on me since it was out of warranty. And he could order the parts immediately
When I got to the dealer the next day all the tech did was pull the dipstick and told me "no oil in the engine". That and the fact that the engine would not turn over was the basis for their recommendation.
I had the car towed back to my regular service dealer that same day and 2 days later, they had the heads off and showed me the damage to the cylinder walls and the pieces of the valve found lying on top of the piston.
Now I did not buy the car there, but I had developed a good relationship with them over the 5 years they serviced my car. So they went to bat for me and although I was out of warranty by just 1700 miles they quoted me just $11482 for the engine swap and after some weeks of discussions ,even got GM to pay 45% of the total cost.
My experience shows that there is a huge difference among dealer service departments. Obviously, you've not had an opportunity to build any kind of rapport with the service department.

96GS has given you a good list of options.

I agree, you should find another dealer, if that is the way you want to go.
Perhaps contact local Corvette club and see who they use. My regular service dealer has been the sponsor of the local Corvette Club for almost 40 years. Didn't know that at first, just got lucky.

Important thing is to get this behind you as quickly as possible so it doesn't continue to eat you up. Whatever it costs you, the sting will begin to wear off as you roll up the miles and smiles in your "new " vette.
I wish you well.

 

This is why I buy new Corvettes. Never a question of how the previous owner treated it.

 

You would "lawyer up" & do what? He bought a used car & it now has issues....the warranty company hasn't even chimed in yet with their statement

 

That is the sign of a shop that either doesn't know what it is doing or is trying to cheat you. Any GM car with the GM dry sump system will not have any oil showing on the dipstick if the level is checked on a cold engine. The oil level can only be checked after oil temp reaches 176 deg F and after the engine has been shut down for 5 minutes. Ten minutes after the engine shut down the oil level is too low to check. After 19 years of servicing GM dry sump engines, I suspect most GM mechanics have finally learned how to check the dry sump oil level. You were likely being misled by the mechanic. Some dealerships have been known to tell the Customer the warranty doesn't cover the damage and charge the Customer for the repair while they request GM provide warranty coverage with the dealership keeping all of the money.

Bill

 

Did I miss something here? The dealership had possession of your car; they performed a few experiments on it; and then it went to hell in a hand basket. I would be crying FOUL all the way to a lawyers office if the dealership didn't put in a new engine on their dime.

 

yes and at one point after changing fuel pump module and high pressure fuel pump they had it running fine according to them. So to make sure it was still starting and starting running they started it let it run a second and then shut it off. They did that a few times then said they blew the starter fuse. Then once they replaced the starter fuse it started but it would high idle then low idle then die. That’s when the gm tech told them to check the oil pan.

 

Right you are Bill.
I said to the tech " You do know this is a dry sump engine" and he said yes but there should still be some oil on the dipstick. I didnt say another word to him, just walked back to the service desk and told him I was calling for a tow truck to get my car off his property ASAP. Paid my bill but had to wait there in his lot for 3 hours till the tow truck arrived. in addition to the catastrophic damage, my regular service dealer found main 350amp fuse blown and a damaged starter motor, which he suspected happened when the first dealer attempted to jump start the car. So happy, I cut my losses and got my car out of there when i did.