I know this is a long post but I am pretty much at the point of not knowing what to do next

My car is a 2016 coupe with M7 transmission and Z51 package with~24k miles
In late January I noticed that the clutch felt spongy. I took it into the local Chevy dealer where their “Corvette Specialist “ diagnosed a leaking slave cylinder. They explained that due to the location of this cylinder, it would require a considerable amount of labor (20+ hrs).
On Feb 2, I dropped the car off for them to do the work. No word from them for the rest of the week but at the end of the second week they texted me and said they put the new slave cylinder in but it turned out to be defective. They had another one incoming and expected to have the car done by Thursday or Friday of the following week. At the end of the week, I had not heard from them so I reached out and they told me it would be another week. No reason given. Finally on Friday Feb 27 they called and said the car was done but there was now a check engine light and the car needed an O2 sensor replaced.
At this point I was so frustrated with them (this was not my first less than positive experience with them) that I said forget it and picked up the car. I then took the car to a local independent shop. They did a scan and confirmed the O2 sensor needed replaced. Today I took the car in and the replaced the sensor with a new GM part. The check engine light is still on and the scanner shows the same fault message as before. The tech said some of the sensors are fused and he checked every fuse in the box and they were all ok. He suspects that at some point when the dealer had the car apart that a wire got pinched or not reconnected properly. If that is the case, I am probably looking at another big labor bill for someone to disassemble it to try to find the source of the fault. The independent shop said they were not willing to take on the amount of disassembly this would probably require
I don’t know if there might be some other reason

My understanding is that it will not hurt the engine to drive the car. What would you guys suggest?
Going back to that dealer is not an option.

 

A scanner will give the code thrown, but not WHY the code is thrown. The O2 code means the O2 sensor isn't functioning properly, but not WHY it's not functioning properly. So I agree with the Indy owner, a wire could have been pinched, pulled, cut, while they were in there. A lazy tech hangs parts and hopes for the best. When the part doesn't fix it a less than honest shop THEN will hunt for the real cause and pass that extra cost onto the owner.

If that O2 sensor tells the computer the exhaust is rich/lean and the computer tries to adjust for a wrong scenario - you could fry a catalytic converter. Not saying that is your case or it will happen, just that it will if the computer tells things to run rich and you drive it that way for too long. I've done it.

Your Indy shop should be able to diag a bad O2 code pretty quickly. Rather it's the part or a compromised wire, etc. They can do this without dropping the torque tube or even just putting it on a lift and looking. The code will tell them exactly which O2 it is.

I am not a tech by any stretch of the imagination. However a best friend is a master tech and writes classes taught at the national level for NAPA and teaches courses at national seminars frequently. I've learned a ton from him. Enough to know I will never be diagnosing a modern car.

 

Take the car back to the dealer

 

If the dealer caused this problem then you should have argued until they fixed it. I know, we shouldn't have to argue to get our cars returned to us as received but sometimes it happens.

 

A good shop should have a good scanner and someone able to properly use it.

A good scanner will tell you what the O2 sensor is doing or not doing.

It will tell you if the circuit is open (ie: cut wire) or shorted (ie: pinched wire to frame of car). The scanner will also tell you what the bias voltage is and will also tell you if the heater is working and its voltage and current. A good scanner will also display the O2 switching waveform.

With all this information you should be able to track down what the problem is. The key here is being able to logically interpert what the scanner is telling you and be able to use this information to fix the problem.

Sounds like to me you need to find a better shop or take the long road and learn how to diagnosis and repair it yourself. I do understand that is not always possible for most people especially with cars being so sophisticated now days especially in the area of electronics.

Good luck on your repairs.

 

I know the dealer and there's NFW I'd ever take my Vette there again. They're awful and they don't care. After my last visit - which will be my last visit to that dealer - I left them a one star review with a detailed reason why. I got no reply and they ignored it.

I've seen @Chevy Cust Svc post in other threads here about bad dealer experiences, maybe reach out to them and see if they can offer any assistance. When I get serious about buying a C8 or C9 it won't be from our local dealer.

 

We regret to hear you've been having such a hard time with your 2016 C7. There's nothing more frustrating when multiple concerns present themselves without an immediate resolution. While we understand your desire to avoid going back to your dealer, they will remain in the best position to continue work on your Corvette. Since the check engine light and O2 sensor concerns came to light after the initial repairs to the leaking slave cylinder, the dealer will be able to give you the best deal on repairs. Should you like an additional layer of assistance or have questions, you can reach us via email at socialmedia@gm.com. Please be sure to just include your forum username in the subject line, so we can use it to reference back to your original post here.

 

Stop buying from Chevy. They don't care about you. I now drive mercedes as my daily. And when the Z06 is sold, an AMG SL will replace it.

Last time I went to my local MB dealer for service on my S class I was hesitant to leave it cause I had errands to run. We'll these guys proved they care. How? They had a kid drive me around town to run my errands while the car was being fixed. Even took me to get my haircut!!
THAT is what a service department does when they care and value your business.

Goodbye Chevy. You are a major disappointment to myself and many thousands of others. BUT to be fair, Ford is the same nonsense.

 

There is no way I will go back to that dealer. I should have learned after my first bad experience with them several years ago when I had them replace the battery and started getting “low battery” messages. Took it back and they claimed a wire was loose but it had nothing to do with them changing the battery and insisted on charging me a diagnostic fee.


Two different independent shops have both suggested a Chevy dealer about an hour drive from here. I am going to call them and make an appointment Hopefully they have someone who can do a proper diagnosis ( as per Tinkertech’s post)

 

Maybe May or so last year I took my 2010 to Voss Chevrolet in Dayton to have the lock actuator in the drivers door replaced. When I got it back I was told the "Vette expert" had determined the oil pan was leaking, $1,500 to repair.

The floor in my garage was and still is bone dry, no oil.

The floor where I stored my Vette from early November until two weeks ago is clean and dry, no oil.

The oil pan was and still is bone dry.

 

Why would anyone make a deal for correcting issues caused by a previous repair? The dealer should investigate and if this was caused by the negligence of one of their technicians then they should cover all expenses for the repair. We all make mistakes, its how we handle those mistakes that separates us.

 

^^^. THIS ^^^
An O2 sensor code doesn't mean the sensor is bad. There is isn't a code in the world that will say "O2 sensor bad". The code will describe what the sensor is doing. Sensor signal high (rich), sensor signal low (lean) signal shorted, signal open. For example; if the sensor is stuck rich it may be a bad sensor or the sensor is indicating the correct reading the exhaust is rich. It is up to an automotive technician to find out why the sensor is constantly reading rich. (think high fuel pressure for instance) You can install all the sensors you want the exhaust will still be rich.
Can you tell us the exact code? O2 sensor signal high, low, open, or shorted? Can you provide the fuel trim readings? Fuel pressure readings?

 

Moved to C7 Tech for assistance.