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Hey folks! Last month I traded in my C6 for a C7 with around 18k miles. Sunday while cruising on the highway I switched the car from eco mode to touring mode and after a few seconds, the engine started making a slight clicking sound. The sound got louder and would happen more rapidly as the RPMs went up. Before I could stop the car there was a loud pop and a something that sounded like a piece of metal hitting the exhaust pipe. The engine started screeching and I stopped the car. Highway patrol came and told me to move out of the highway and had me try to start the car with no luck. We pushed the car off the highway and I had it towed to the dealer (This was Sunday.) The dealer said they were able to start the car up and move it into the garage but the tech heard a sound and was going to investigate. After confirming with GM that I hadn't tuned the car, they began the teardown. They are telling my my engine is covered under warranty but trying to start the car fried my starter and I have to pay for it out of pocket. this sucks! I feel like I'm SOL on the starter and towing costs ($400) but any advice is appreciated.
I did some research and it seems like engines on C7s blowing is somewhat common? Luckily I had 11 days left on my powertrain warranty!
I had mine tuned and the tuner disabled,eliminated my 8 into 4.He said it is complex.As far as a starter to me I wouldn’t mine paying out the money.Their going to fix the engine.
Wait, wait, wait, I have had a few beverages this evening, but the dealership was the last to start the car but want you to cover the bill even though whatever has occurred to your vehicle might have caused the starter failure when they tried to start it. Hmmmmm.
Regardless, I hope you get her fixed and back soon. Good luck!
Last edited by Corpsvette; Aug 23, 2019 at 05:58 PM.
Sorry to hear this, but with GM picking-up the engine replacement, you're concerned about a starter and tow? You need to do a search here at the Forum on engine replacement costs.
I went through the same fight as my motor dropped a valve, trying to start it fried my starter and the 350 amp fuse , was told that I shorted it by trying to use a jump box and I would have to pay
They installed the starter and new fuse and the motor was still locked up tighter than a drum .... all of a sudden the story changed ... and a new motor was on it's way along with another new starter and 350 amp fuse . I wanted them to cover the battery which was now dead but they kept telling me it was testing fine ... so I bought one myself
Moral of the story .... keep fighting as that is a bullshit answer for them to tell you
See below , they tell me it was over 15,000 dollars by the time you add in labor fluids gaskets oil and all the other stuff
Dave
I kept fighting and even spoke with GM directly. They refuse to cover the starter. They're trying to charge me labor costs for the starter install I told them the whole engine is on the ground and that the additional 15 mins of labor it's gonna take to install the starter is negligible. I agreed to pay for the $270 starter if they just have me pay for parts. Let's see how this goes.
I'm happy I get a new engine with a new 2 year warranty on all parts and labor specially since I only had a handful of days left on my powertrain warranty when the engine blew.... but I'm sad I don't get the car back until after Labor Day weekend.
Last edited by Vahshiee; Aug 27, 2019 at 01:23 AM.
That is crazy , they blew the starter trying to start the car and they want you to pay for it . I know how you feel. After all the BS I went thru I got a phone call saying that an airconditioner bracket is cracked , I said well you know I did not crack it so ..... then after looking up the service history it seems another dealer had put in a new compressor . After arguing once again in the end I just gave up and paid them the 107.00 dollars as I was sick of fighting and wanted my car back
The one good thing I can say is i did get a new motor and not tried to repair myself one and the whole thing start to finish only took like 7 business days ....
DOD lifter does not lock up the motor ...it will squeal like hell and miss like a stuck pig but never lock the motor up tight like the OP said his did as well as mine . I just think it was a coincidence that he was coming out of AFM and when the lifter pumped up is when his spring let loose .
LT 1 motors I am finding out have a penchant for breaking Valve springs ... after mine blew I made contact with several others who had the same issue . I am not taking a chance with my new motor , i have had a Range Device plugged in since the day it came back from the dealership with the new motor
I have owned and built many motors mostly big block chevys that made some pretty stout HP numbers and some small blocks that I spun to 6500 rpm and never , ever have I had one drop a valve because of a valve spring breaking
The good thing ... i got a new motor with a 2 year guarentee and I am not worried about value depreciation because, with how many that were made it will never be a collector's item in my lifetime , I will either drive it into the ground or trade it in in a new one .
Stealership was pissed about having to work labor hours under warranty. So they wanted something and got you on the starter. They know owners won't take them to court over stuff like that but if you had filed a motion against the dealership, you would have won. I've done it 4 times in my lifetime of warranty claims on my cars. Won all of them. One of them was for my key FOB not connecting with my truck. The scum bag technician told me it was my fault because I never used the key in the lock. lol. wtf?
C7 Z51 engine blew
this sucks! I feel like I'm SOL on the starter and towing costs ($400) but any advice is appreciated.
I told them the whole engine is on the ground and that the additional 15 mins of labor it's gonna take to install the starter is negligible. I agreed to pay for the $270 starter if they just have me pay for parts. Let's see how this goes.
