Attention Valve Spring Failures/Concerns
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 30,894
Likes: 1,189
From: chicago
whats amazing iswere hearing of this on 4-50 mile cars,,odd it wouldnt happen at the factory or on the transporter,or during PDI?
but 1hour-1 day after the customer picks up his new car
maybe its time for somebody from GM or the dealer to put 10-20 miles on them first
but 1hour-1 day after the customer picks up his new car
maybe its time for somebody from GM or the dealer to put 10-20 miles on them first
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 6,380
Likes: 3,294
Thinking ahead to my10/8 NCM delivery, what is the closest (reputable) Chevy dealer to the NCM should I get hit with the dreaded Valve Spring failure. We will do some local cruising before taking her over to Auto Armor for PPF, however since the failure seems to hit early I figure to get a few hours of cruising locally as a test run.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,583
Likes: 16,942
It could very well be happening at the factory, during transport, etc. That wouldn't be reported on an internet forum. The car would just be reported as being held at the factory. The only way we'd hear is if a customer was planning to pick up a car, only to get a call from a dealer advising them of the problem that occurred once they were in possession of it.
Pro
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 534
Likes: 158
From: Treasure Coast FL
It could very well be happening at the factory, during transport, etc. That wouldn't be reported on an internet forum. The car would just be reported as being held at the factory. The only way we'd hear is if a customer was planning to pick up a car, only to get a call from a dealer advising them of the problem that occurred once they were in possession of it.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 232
Likes: 22
From: New Port Richey, Fl
Stay local until 500 miles or 100 at a minimum and then if it unfortunately happens, have NCM deal with BGA. That's what the extra $800 is for. This is the main reason I decided on a local delivery and a separate NCM visit with my Game Changer soon (within a year). NCM is cool, but it creates logistical problems for an initial delivery.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,583
Likes: 16,942
You're right that NCM isn't going to be able to help you once you've taken possession. It isn't that they wouldn't be willing if they could, but they are not authorized by Chevrolet to handle warranty repairs. It will have to be transported to an authorized dealer.
Last edited by Foosh; Oct 1, 2020 at 10:09 AM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 7,146
Likes: 1,940
From: Hagerstown MD
St. Jude Donor '15-'16,'18
Lots of warranty work for dealers. Some will be happy to perform, others perhaps not so. For those that bought out of state it will be interesting to see how their local dealer reacts when they are asked to install new springs. Good luck to all, this is a real bummer especially if the failure happens on the drive home for the delivery dealer.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 141
Likes: 140
From: Hudson Valley, New York
Lots of warranty work for dealers. Some will be happy to perform, others perhaps not so. For those that bought out of state it will be interesting to see how their local dealer reacts when they are asked to install new springs. Good luck to all, this is a real bummer especially if the failure happens on the drive home for the delivery dealer.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 12,351
Likes: 14,185
From: Central Illinois
There is no inspection because it's just a break of the spring and until it breaks it looks normal. No they do NOT have to pull the engine to change the springs. My selling dealer had one fail at 428 miles and they changed all the springs with the engine in place. It fired right up, had no codes, ran smoothly and was returned to the owner.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,583
Likes: 16,942
There is no inspection because it's just a break of the spring and until it breaks it looks normal. No they do NOT have to pull the engine to change the springs. My selling dealer had one fail at 428 miles and they changed all the springs with the engine in place. It fired right up, had no codes, ran smoothly and was returned to the owner.
Last edited by Foosh; Oct 1, 2020 at 12:06 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 12,351
Likes: 14,185
From: Central Illinois
I also don't know the the logistics, just that it was sold on a Friday and the following Tuesday when it had 428 miles it had a broken spring. The logistics are lots of trips? How many heat cycles? Etc. does seem like most of the failures have been extremely low miles.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,583
Likes: 16,942
Last edited by Foosh; Oct 1, 2020 at 12:33 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 6,380
Likes: 3,294
With a few sub 100 and this one 428 in 4 days, probably not a lot of trips (cycles). Most of mine have been 10-20 each time. I've probably exceeded the failure cycle count, but hard to choose which picture to goes here. 1 in memoriam.
Last edited by C8J; Oct 1, 2020 at 12:34 PM.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 50
Likes: 42
From: Iowa
My cylinder 5 broke and only that one was replaced, car had about 38 miles on it when it happened, I am close to 700 miles now and no other issues *Fingers crossed*
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 6,380
Likes: 3,294
Are these spring defects that random that it won't affect the entire engine's allotment of springs? You think that they would keep track of parts via batch and ....otherwise there is absolutely NO QC at all.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 652
Likes: 368
So, I bought mine through MacM. in NH. It will be courtesy delivered to a dealer 50 miles away in NC and my local servicing dealer is 10 miles away in SC. The reason for that is the local S C dealer wanted $1000 for courtesy delivery. The NC dealer wants $350.
Who do I call if a spring or anything else goes TU on the drive home? Both dealers, SC and NC, have said they will do any warranty work.
Who do I call if a spring or anything else goes TU on the drive home? Both dealers, SC and NC, have said they will do any warranty work.