rjemison1109

Ok so sorry for the long post, wanna get all the facts in for anyone that might have input or be helpful has them all.


2007 base c6, 78k miles, mods I did (LT, muffler, tune) Mods when purchased (intake) and a cam/springs/retainer that I did not do nor did the dealership obviously know about that were in the motor when they tore into it


-About 2 months ago I drive my car in for my high pressure steering hose leaking to be fixed under my extended warranty that I purchased with the car (used) all mods on the car now were on it then also. They call me and say hey your balancer and the shims are coming out, we called your warranty company and they said we could go ahead and replace it for free. I say awesome yes please.


-After about 2 weeks I get the car back and drive it home, between work and weather it doesn't get driven but about 250 miles. All driving is as normal as the day I got it no vibrations or sounds or anything. Driving home going about 80 at about 4k rpm I get this sound like I hit something in the road, so I pull off and it gets louder and a more violent shake to the car so I kill the motor. When I pop the hood everything looks fine BUT the bolt that holds the balancer on is backed all the way out to the steering rack (rack needs dropped to take bolt out)


-I take the car to the dealer and they say they are gonna go through the warranty company (I know its there fault the whole time but I'm like whatever its getting fixed) so they tell me they need to take it apart to he point of failure and an adjuster will come out I say ok.


-Now on to today, they call me and say the warranty company wont cover it due to the mods. Which I say ok I get, BUT this isn't a mods issue. I think this is human/tech error on installing the bolt, upon inspection the torque tube is bent, crank is messed up, and overall its "out of balance" (which isn't that what the balancer does you asshats lol) and are saying I need a whole new motor along with other things. My reasoning and please anyone correct me if I'm wrong on these before I go in on Monday and talk to the owner....


-they replaced the balancer and the BALANCER bolt backed out
-I cant see any visible Loctite on the threads (service manager stated it was a already locktited bolt??)
-I called a corvette tech at another dealership and he said he has never seen that happen.
-I went to there sister dealership across the street and the 9 techs there said that has never happened
-The bolt tightens clockwise and the balancer spins clockwise


So I guess I'm asking is do balancer bolts just back out, after 200 miles, or at all??? They're also claiming that something else (torque tube) was "out of balance" and that's what messed the balancer up in the first place (this is a common issue we all know about, it just happens on our motors) and stated if they put a new balancer on it would just do it again.


Do I have a case here from a technical standpoint or is this a I'm **** outta luck type thing cause this happens to our cars?




Thanks for any input or tech advice I can use on them etc....

irok

they messed up by not torquing the bolt properly!!!!the bolt is a torque to yield and can not be reused.check your invoice for a charge for new harmonic balancer bolt.that bolt does not look like a new one.if they didn't use a new one they are responsible for all damage!!!if the bolt is not on the invoice for the job you have them by the *****.where ever the car is now get a unique paint color and mark the bolt with it.have some one with you when you mark it and take video for evidence.don't let anyone at dealership take that bolt!!!its going to be a **** show and you will probably need to lawyer up.just the bolt backing out even if it was new makes them liable as they were negligent in torquing it to factory specs.good luck with it and keep us informed on what is going on.also when this gets taken apart make sure there is a DEW washer on the back side of the hb.the washer helps to prevent the hb from spinning on the crank snout and coming loose

EVRose

That is a one time use bolt. Once it is removed a new bolt MUST be used. It doesn't look to me like a new bolt in that photo. I would say a new bolt torqued correctly will solve your problem.

irok got in before me!

irok

I've changed enough of these and that is not a new bolt.no bolt torqued once will look like that

bmfvette

The factory bolt does come with the red loctite already on it (as you can see in the pic, the whole hat on the flange has it). The question is if they did the correct installation/torque sequence.

If it comes off, like your pics, idk if it would f'up everything behind it as stated by the dealer.

Plenty of threads about the balancer coming off but no collateral damage to the extreme of what your describing (that I've read).

Good luck.

EVRose

Isn't that what I said?

rabrooks

They need to call their insurance company because they are going to have a high repair bill

This is a problem that we've seen before because techs don't read the manual. There is a very specific torque process that has to be followed. And the bolt is not reusable. They owe you. Good luck

Cracked torque tube? hmm, I cant imagine the mods doing that. I expect it was the vibration when the bolt backed out. check your motor mounts too

rjemison1109

irok

yes ,just added condition of bolt after 1 time use?

irok

she lies like a carpet.do you have the invoice for the work performed?get a copy if you don't from the dealer or the warranty company.the tech that worked on your car destroyed it

3X2

That's not Loctite, that is sealer to keep oil from seeping past the bolt.

3X2

That does not look to me to be a new bolt. Based on what the OP has said, I'll lay blame on improper balancer installation. The GM procedure was not followed. Is/was there a diamond washer behind the balancer? I use red Loctite, and the diamond washer when installing the balancer and paint pen the bolt head and balancer. If it is not fully seated, the bolt can back out. If the balancer has spun on the crank snout, the crank may be ruined. Did the balancer rub on the backside of the steering rack? They too, may be ruined.

rjemison1109

Dutch08

Having been there done that my vote is this ....(and the rest of what 3X2 said)

rjemison1109

sooo I def think I have them by the ***** now, the bolt looks beat up but could possibly be new and just sitting around for years. There is blue locktite on the bottom of the treads, but also looks old.


The service bulletin states as such


Install and tighten the new crankshaft bolt.
• Tighten the crankshaft balancer bolt a first pass.

Tighten
Tighten the crankshaft balancer bolt a first pass to 50N•m (37 lb ft).

Put a paint stripe on the bolt running from the 12 o'clock to the 6 o'clock position in order to verify the correct torque requested in the next step.

• Important: When tightening for the second pass, a minimum torque of 320 N•m (236 lb ft) should be observed. If this torque is not achieved, the bolt should be replaced.


Tighten the crankshaft balancer bolt a second pass.

Tighten
Tighten the crankshaft balancer bolt a second pass to 140 degrees using the J 45059.

Important: Recheck the position of the previously painted stripe to assure 140 degree rotation. Achieving the correct torque angle is critical to the success of this repair. Over-torquing or under-torquing the joint will result in an unsatisfactory repair.


After talking to the manager he said ill hear from him tomorrow after he investigates into it, waiting game, still....

irok

all you have to do is look at your invoice.if a new bolt or wheel alignment was not charged you know they have not been following GM procedures for the job.that will show negligence on their part

rjemison1109

schizcat

I wont comment on if you have a case or not. Wont go there.

What I will say is find a reputable shop in your area who works on Vettes. Get it done right. Extended Warranties are nice and all, but to my experience (and a few others on here), it is still work being done by a dealer...and that doesnt mean that it is good work. It just means they hired someone who can read a manual and follow instructions. But I digress. Either do it yourself and get a good Vette shop.

Torque tube out of balance? That shouldnt fly. If the TT was jacked, you have a few other issues. These are also internally balanced engines. It truly is a pulley more than a balancer and shouldnt get thrown off by the TT. Sounds like they are blowing smoke up your *** by trying to blame other parts and not bad workmanship.

irok

balancer only on the invoice means no new bolt.if it cost them a penny it will be on the invoice so that they get paid for it.all dealers write itemized invoices so there will be no arguments and they will be paid for every single item and all work performed.if it doesn't say alignment on invoice they didn't do an alignment

rjemison1109