Corvette tech training?
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Don't know about all dealers, but when I had a problem with the driver's seat cover in my 2015 Impala (required replacement of the lower cover), my local dealer had the in-house techs do a replacement. Not sure what the issue is with your upholstery - a tech may or may not be trained to do the repair.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada
Same on our family vehicle (Subaru)...driver's seat upholstery cover had to be replaced under warranty...they did it without issue. Seems like a common job for a dealer to look after. Out of warranty I'd be going to our long time indie upholstery shop that does amazing repairs & custom work.
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I don't know what training they get. But more generally than upholstery, the C8 is crazy complex. I have a copy of the service manual (7000 pages), and from time to time, in response to topics on the forum, I try to find overviews in that manual of the various systems (lubrication, crankcase ventilation, infotainment system, etc. etc. The level of complexity in all the systems is just crazy. I can't imagine how that training must go. I'm not saying its a bad thing, by the way. Just that there is a lot of attention to detail in the design of the car, and the techs have a lot they need to understand about this car.
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Because the job's "done at the dealership" doesn't mean a dealership employee did the actual work. Some things are farmed out or someone with some skill brought in. Nothing at all wrong with that. I'd be happy if Vette techs actually knew how to do the mechanical work... without screwing-up something else! 
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
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From: NE South Carolina
Know my dealer would have their body shop do it! Their highly skilled Vette tech is too valuable to mess with a seat!
Know some will send interior stuff sent out to a car upholstery shop.
Like tires, the large Chevy/BMW/Mercedes Dealer in town sends all wide low-profile tires out to the Firestone dealer (where I had my Vette tires fixes, changed.) Asked the service manager at the small dealer I now use what they do with tires. They send them out to a shop specializing in tries and handle the very low-profile tires that look like elastic bands!! Everyone has specialties and you need more that a good touchless machine. Need someone who does it every day!
Know some will send interior stuff sent out to a car upholstery shop.
Like tires, the large Chevy/BMW/Mercedes Dealer in town sends all wide low-profile tires out to the Firestone dealer (where I had my Vette tires fixes, changed.) Asked the service manager at the small dealer I now use what they do with tires. They send them out to a shop specializing in tries and handle the very low-profile tires that look like elastic bands!! Everyone has specialties and you need more that a good touchless machine. Need someone who does it every day!
Last edited by JerryU; Jul 20, 2022 at 08:05 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
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I run the bodyshop at a Cadillac Dealer. Changing seat covers are nbd we change them routinely when a car deploys a seat airbag.The service guys can do it too, as when a heated seat malfunctions or throws a CEL for occupant sensor etc. no worries they’re easy
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Little Elm TX
Because the job's "done at the dealership" doesn't mean a dealership employee did the actual work. Some things are farmed out or someone with some skill brought in. Nothing at all wrong with that. I'd be happy if Vette techs actually knew how to do the mechanical work... without screwing-up something else!
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: NE South Carolina
correct. When the windshield on my ‘15 had to be replaced. (Covered by a TSB) they had someone come in to do it. Was done at the dealer, but not “by” the dealer. They also sent it out for an alignment, as it wouldn’t clear theirs and it went to a shop that had an in ground setup.
Good points! Expect most have a windshield replaced by a company with Techs skilled doing that. A Corvette Tech would probably not be trained AND like mounting tires if you don't do it every day, won't be good at it! Even the Firestone Dealer in town where the local large Chevy/BMW/Mercedes dealer with 25 bays sends low profile wide wheel tires to Firestone in town. They have about 20 technicians for their 12 bays (list of who's working on the office wall) and since I had new Vette tires repaired/replaced recall the manager saying they only had 3 who they let do those and I would have to wait. They don't want a wheel dinged any more than you. Takes more than a touchless tire machine to do that!The small Chevy dealer I now use did the alignment on my C8 BECAUSE I HAVE A LIFT. They could not do it for my 2017 Grand Sport with a Stage 2 aero option that included a carbon fiber splitter (and side skirts) as splitter would not clear their lift ramps. Had to use the large Chevy dealer in town because their new Hunter Alignment machine ramps were lower and just cleared the splitter! I watched as the Tech called another over to watch as he drove on the lift. Had 1/2 inch clearance!
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Like the others have posted, your dealer may/may not send the car out to an upholstery shop to have the repair done
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 776
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From: Florida
I don't know what training they get. But more generally than upholstery, the C8 is crazy complex. I have a copy of the service manual (7000 pages), and from time to time, in response to topics on the forum, I try to find overviews in that manual of the various systems (lubrication, crankcase ventilation, infotainment system, etc. etc. The level of complexity in all the systems is just crazy. I can't imagine how that training must go. I'm not saying its a bad thing, by the way. Just that there is a lot of attention to detail in the design of the car, and the techs have a lot they need to understand about this car.
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