TSB vs. Recall vs. Warranty, is my dealer BS'ing me?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 435
Likes: 42
From: Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
TSB vs. Recall vs. Warranty, is my dealer BS'ing me?
Last week took the car for my 10 km service and asked the service adviser about the clunking noise from the rear. He said that he will check it out. I also mentioned to him that there is a TSB where a lubricant has to be added to the diff. fluid. He then proceeded to tell me that you will have to pay for it! mind you my car is an 08 and still under warranty.
I asked him why and he said well because with TSBs the customer pays as opposed to a Recall. So TSB is not covered under warranty because it only applies to some customers but not all!! now is this
or is this true? and if it is BS then how can I prove it to him? I don't care if it applies to 2 people or 2 mil. as long as it applies to me and my under warranty car, why shouldn't it be covered under warranty?
p.s. only one dealer where I am at so no choice but to go to them!
-- saied
I asked him why and he said well because with TSBs the customer pays as opposed to a Recall. So TSB is not covered under warranty because it only applies to some customers but not all!! now is this
or is this true? and if it is BS then how can I prove it to him? I don't care if it applies to 2 people or 2 mil. as long as it applies to me and my under warranty car, why shouldn't it be covered under warranty?p.s. only one dealer where I am at so no choice but to go to them!
-- saied
Last edited by VamPY; Sep 3, 2008 at 05:31 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
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From: Hope, Arkansas - '07 LMB Coupe
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
The fluid change for the differenital has been covered by the warranty for many members. Ask them to get a second opinion from a regional GM rep if one is available to them.
10 Km service? That's just over 6,000 miles. The first sechduled service in the manual is at 25,000 miles which is about 40,000 km.
10 Km service? That's just over 6,000 miles. The first sechduled service in the manual is at 25,000 miles which is about 40,000 km.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Currently somewhere in IL,IN,KY,TN,MO,AR,MS,AL, or FL
In general, if you diagnose the problem and tell the dealer how to fix the car then you have to pay for it. If, on the other hand, you let the dealer do his job and fix a problem then you won't have to pay.
A TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) tells the dealer how to fix a specific problem. A Recall is a required repair whether or not a problem has been detected. A warranty is a contract that specifies what types of problems will be repaired free.
You have a clunk. That is covered by the warranty but there has been no recall for it. There is a TSB that tells the dealer how to repair it. Let the dealer do his job (i.e. fix the clunk) and it should be free and should include the proper lubricant. If, however, you just tell the dealer you want the lubricant then you will have to pay for it.
A TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) tells the dealer how to fix a specific problem. A Recall is a required repair whether or not a problem has been detected. A warranty is a contract that specifies what types of problems will be repaired free.
You have a clunk. That is covered by the warranty but there has been no recall for it. There is a TSB that tells the dealer how to repair it. Let the dealer do his job (i.e. fix the clunk) and it should be free and should include the proper lubricant. If, however, you just tell the dealer you want the lubricant then you will have to pay for it.
Team Owner
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Tech Contributor
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St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'10
Your dealer has it a little wrong. First and foremost, if you have a problem with the car and the car is covered under factory warranty then the warranty will pay for the diagnosis and repair of the problem unless abuse or changes to aftermarket parts can be identified that directly contributed to the cause of the problem.
If the car is out of warranty then you will pay. A TSB as noted is a Technical Service Bulletin. TSB's are written to help dealers identify and repair a problem that other owners and dealers have identified. They are designed to help the dealer save time and pin point a problem faster based on the experiences of others rather than have to flounder their way through a diagnosis and repair of a problem that they may not have encountered.
A recall is just that. A recall should be repaired by the dealership and paid for by GM regardless of the warranty state of the car. The recall is put out because a problem or defect in materials, design or workmanship has been identified and must be corrected.
If the car is out of warranty then you will pay. A TSB as noted is a Technical Service Bulletin. TSB's are written to help dealers identify and repair a problem that other owners and dealers have identified. They are designed to help the dealer save time and pin point a problem faster based on the experiences of others rather than have to flounder their way through a diagnosis and repair of a problem that they may not have encountered.
A recall is just that. A recall should be repaired by the dealership and paid for by GM regardless of the warranty state of the car. The recall is put out because a problem or defect in materials, design or workmanship has been identified and must be corrected.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 330
Likes: 0
From: Arlington VA
St. Jude Donor '07
Guys look where he is located : Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. Since he lives outside the USA it might be just that. Maybe he should call GM and ask them since the car is outside of the USA. Just my thoughts.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 435
Likes: 42
From: Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
Well I am not talking about the diff. fluid I am talking generally. So this adviser tells me that I have to pay for changing the clutch pack to fix the clunk because there is a TSB (not sure if there is one but this is according to him) and he says it will cost around $1000 for you to do it.
Problem is that I am not trying to tell them what they should be doing but since they weren't aware of the TSBs and I was, I found myself complied to tell them before taking my car apart.
But my only worry is that his definition of TSB is that it only effects a few vehicles and therefore not covered under warranty.
BTW, in our manual here scheduled services are every 10 km
Problem is that I am not trying to tell them what they should be doing but since they weren't aware of the TSBs and I was, I found myself complied to tell them before taking my car apart.
But my only worry is that his definition of TSB is that it only effects a few vehicles and therefore not covered under warranty.
BTW, in our manual here scheduled services are every 10 km
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Magnolia Texas
you may want or need to contact GM in your country to see if they have a different understanding of what is and is not a warranty item, etc. would assume warranty is similar to US but that is only an assumption. as for dealer, if he is only one around, he may be able to get by with charging customers for work that he should be doing for free. again, check with the GM representative to see.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: North Western Connecticut
It's real simple! You're car is still under warranty, the rear end has a clunk and you want it fixed. How the dealer addresses the issue is his problem. All they need to do is READ the TSB and follow it. The fix for the rear end is CLEARLY under warranty... how can it not be?
I'd simply tell them to fix the car end of story!!
I'd simply tell them to fix the car end of story!!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 435
Likes: 42
From: Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
It's real simple! You're car is still under warranty, the rear end has a clunk and you want it fixed. How the dealer addresses the issue is his problem. All they need to do is READ the TSB and follow it. The fix for the rear end is CLEARLY under warranty... how can it not be?
I'd simply tell them to fix the car end of story!!
I'd simply tell them to fix the car end of story!!
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 38,314
Likes: 35
Your dealer has it a little wrong. First and foremost, if you have a problem with the car and the car is covered under factory warranty then the warranty will pay for the diagnosis and repair of the problem unless abuse or changes to aftermarket parts can be identified that directly contributed to the cause of the problem.
If the car is out of warranty then you will pay. A TSB as noted is a Technical Service Bulletin. TSB's are written to help dealers identify and repair a problem that other owners and dealers have identified. They are designed to help the dealer save time and pin point a problem faster based on the experiences of others rather than have to flounder their way through a diagnosis and repair of a problem that they may not have encountered.
A recall is just that. A recall should be repaired by the dealership and paid for by GM regardless of the warranty state of the car. The recall is put out because a problem or defect in materials, design or workmanship has been identified and must be corrected.
If the car is out of warranty then you will pay. A TSB as noted is a Technical Service Bulletin. TSB's are written to help dealers identify and repair a problem that other owners and dealers have identified. They are designed to help the dealer save time and pin point a problem faster based on the experiences of others rather than have to flounder their way through a diagnosis and repair of a problem that they may not have encountered.
A recall is just that. A recall should be repaired by the dealership and paid for by GM regardless of the warranty state of the car. The recall is put out because a problem or defect in materials, design or workmanship has been identified and must be corrected.
From what I make of it, that says is, your car can have a mechanical or other problem, it could be a known problem, a well described and documented problem, and there could be a Technical Service Bulletin out about that particular problem, but unless the car is in warranty, you will have to pay for it.
OTOH, however if its a recall, due to a "defect in materials, design or workmanship" or if its a saftey recall, if its a saftey issue, then warranty does not matter. They have to fix it.
Whenver I have taken my C6s in to the dealer for repair, I'll print the TSB and tell them "This might help you, but it could be something else. Take a look at this if you are interested."
When I had the rear end clunk on my Z06 thats what I did, and they changed the fluid. Same as when I had the Service Active Handling lignt.
Last edited by '06 Quicksilver Z06; Sep 3, 2008 at 10:00 AM.
Team Owner
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That's what I did and they came back telling me that the additive fix does not work so we will change the clutch packs. Now here is where I got furious. How can they rule out a fix without trying it and going to the harder more difficult fix. On top of that, he tells me that I will need to pay for the fix! I did not insist because I was in a hurry but I am sure if I do insist, he will fix it under warranty but just wanted to make sure
If it needs the clutch packs changed, well then tell them to change out the clutch packs. Under warranty.
Its still under warranty. That means they fix it, whatever it needs.
Tech Contributor
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From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
Team Owner
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They are talking about somewhere in the neighborhood of $1,000.00. Hes probably in an area where people will drop that kind of money no questions asked. And the dealer thinks he can get away with charging him.
Last edited by '06 Quicksilver Z06; Sep 3, 2008 at 10:07 AM.
CF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Charlotte N.C.
10 km is ten kilometers, about 6.4 miles. Do you mean 10k miles? I assume so. Foreign dealers are difficult to deal with, no pun intended, and can make up rules as they go, they are not as legally bound as the dealers in the US or some other countries. Often times there are no other dealers for a second opinion and many times the warranty and other things we in the US are used to are very different. I hate to say it but I have seen many dealers refuse to work on a car because you didn't buy it there. Things are very different out of the US...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: North Western Connecticut
That's what I did and they came back telling me that the additive fix does not work so we will change the clutch packs. Now here is where I got furious. How can they rule out a fix without trying it and going to the harder more difficult fix. On top of that, he tells me that I will need to pay for the fix! I did not insist because I was in a hurry but I am sure if I do insist, he will fix it under warranty but just wanted to make sure
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Southern Utah
10 km is ten kilometers, about 6.4 miles. Do you mean 10k miles? I assume so. Foreign dealers are difficult to deal with, no pun intended, and can make up rules as they go, they are not as legally bound as the dealers in the US or some other countries. Often times there are no other dealers for a second opinion and many times the warranty and other things we in the US are used to are very different. I hate to say it but I have seen many dealers refuse to work on a car because you didn't buy it there. Things are very different out of the US...
Even in this group, servicing every 6 miles seems like overkill. Now WAXING every six miles...that's another story!
CF Community Team
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From: Charlotte N.C.
CF Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Tucson Arizona
You received some excellent advice and information...the problem should be fixed under warranty at no charge to you.
It's my understanding the dealership replaces the fluid with the friction additive first. Then, if that doesn't work they replace the clutch packs. Read the actual TSB relating to the problem...I recall it's essential you drive the car in slow figure 8's for a while immediately after replacing the fluid. Good luck!
It's my understanding the dealership replaces the fluid with the friction additive first. Then, if that doesn't work they replace the clutch packs. Read the actual TSB relating to the problem...I recall it's essential you drive the car in slow figure 8's for a while immediately after replacing the fluid. Good luck!