[Z-REXX]

This is one thread that I do not like to read. Stomach cramps, anxiety. Lol. Sheez.

 

[Administrator jsvette]

This is one thread that I do not like to read. Stomach cramps, anxiety. Lol. Sheez.

Rx Remedy Z-REXX: remember the 10s of 1000s of us who are fortunate to own and enjoy a trouble free C7!

 

[Petercwelch]

Can't imagine the angst with such a sequence happening. Would expect full engine replacement and cannot imagine GM disagreeing. If this happened to me not sure what I would do Lex. You have my sympathy.

 

[U.S. Marine]

Lex, I'm speechless and yes it is saddening to see pictures of your C7 masterpiece tore apart. I have no idea what I would do in this situation. I hope that you get it back ASAP, looking factory new.

SF
Rick

 

[lexluther]

I picked her up today so thats 33days shop time and a bill over 15k covered under warranty. Below is the official cause of failure and just what I assumed was the case including the rod knock that I had starting at 250miles when new and the seeping head gasket pressurizing the cooling system which was blowing all the coolant out and chewing up caps that I mentioned numerious times both written here and spoken to the service dept. If the car would have only grabbed DTC errors for this I am sure all would have been prevented but that is just not the case all 3 dealers didn't spent any diagnostic time just topped off coolant and a swift kick out the door. As others have seen with overheat issues there are no DTC's and I hope this serves to help someone before their engine pops!

Pictures above show my radiator on the ground and another shows a driveshaft over it. It seems my RO shows a replacement yet these following picture reveal a radiator with corrosion on it,fins bent, numerous bugs embedded like my old radiator and a part label dated aug 2014 which is mysteriously the build date of my car and I don't see GM parts warehouse storing one for over a year.

The car overall still shows evidence of a catastrophic failure which the service didn't correct. I was wondering why the RO shows the same mileage I brought it in at as the check out mileage yet the car had an addition 30miles on the odometer when I picked it up. Apparently the dealers idea of cleaning the bottom of the car of all that oil and coolant was to drive it so that the exhaust burned off the oil and wind blew any residual fluids so I wouldn't complain about leaks in my drive or garage. Needless to say I would have though at least a wipe down but when I peeked underneath it was still wet with oil residue same goes for the engine bay. I am worried what else they skimmed as the ancillary components billed out to about 7,800 the radiator was about 300 plus labor.

 

[srobert910]

I'm guessing that the crankshaft bearing failure was the thrust bearing like it was in my first motor. Seems like it has been a common denominator in the c7 engine failures I've seen reported.

I'm pretty confident that is what is wrong with my current motor too. Guessing that the torque tube alignment is putting pressure on this 180 degree thrust bearing in the wrong places and causing damage.

 

[mybluecorvette]

To leave the engine bay a mess and to damage the radiator and then install it like it is a new unit is just horrible workmanship. I hope your troubles are over.

 

[English Rebel]

I would complain to the area GM people about the less than competent repair work. To leave the car in that condition is shameful. At the very least the should have taken it to a detail company that specializes in a thorough cleaning. When my Ferrari 360 had a leaking rear main oil seal which put a lot of oil in the under tray they steam cleaned it and when I picked it up it was like new. I was shocked to see all those components just laying on the shop floor.
Alan

 

[Gyrsaker]

Lex-Their lack of professionalism is disgusting-I'm surprised you don't have PTSD!

 

[Paulp]

I own a 2016 Z51 automatic and have had multiple issues with the transmission and engine. Car has been in for service a total of 2 months. First, at 5000 miles, I heard a rattling noise from the engine compartment. Dealer replaced transmission flex plate, driveline support tube, bolts and fluid. No issues later with this problem.

Next major issue at 7000 miles the car stopped running with no noises or warning, engine just stopped. Towed to dealer who said my battery was bad, installing a new one and fuse. Then car running rough, not shifting from 6 to 7 to 8 smoothly. At busy intersection car dies again. Towed to dealer who tried fixing with 10 electrical and engine parts(don't have a listing of them). Test drive failed resulting in another tow back to dealer. They said after starting it multiple times it needed a new starter because it burned up?? After install of new starter another test drive resulted in another tow back to dealer. Service tech could not figure the issue out. GM notified. They approved a new engine. New engine installed and 3 test drives later they say it is fine. I filed a BBB Lemon Law complaint not feeling safe in this car, towed 4 times with only 7100 miles and new engine not matching VIN number and not installed by factory. GM resisting to build me a new car. Awaiting BBB notification for next steps with GM.

Does a new non-factory installed engine reduce the cars value? Should I accept car with new engine or arbitrate with BBB & GM?? Paul

 

[elegant]

Good question and 95+% of forum members would say a replacement engine will not reduce your car's value. I am in that camp.

GM is producing 40,000 C7's this year, and unless you have a C7.R or other special, limited edition car, a new motor will not reduce your car's value. I would have zero issues if my motor went south and GM installed a new one --regardless of mileage on my car.

In all fairness, there are a few forum members who strongly disagree with my perspective on this issue.

 

[Paulp]

John, Thanks for quick reply. I haven't heard from anyone else at this forum. Kind of odd. I'M still awaiting reply from BBB as to what GM is going to offer. So far just an extended warranty but I'd like a new car. P

 

[z06srt]

I own a 2016 Z51 automatic and have had multiple issues with the transmission and engine. Car has been in for service a total of 2 months. First, at 5000 miles, I heard a rattling noise from the engine compartment. Dealer replaced transmission flex plate, driveline support tube, bolts and fluid. No issues later with this problem.

Next major issue at 7000 miles the car stopped running with no noises or warning, engine just stopped. Towed to dealer who said my battery was bad, installing a new one and fuse. Then car running rough, not shifting from 6 to 7 to 8 smoothly. At busy intersection car dies again. Towed to dealer who tried fixing with 10 electrical and engine parts(don't have a listing of them). Test drive failed resulting in another tow back to dealer. They said after starting it multiple times it needed a new starter because it burned up?? After install of new starter another test drive resulted in another tow back to dealer. Service tech could not figure the issue out. GM notified. They approved a new engine. New engine installed and 3 test drives later they say it is fine. I filed a BBB Lemon Law complaint not feeling safe in this car, towed 4 times with only 7100 miles and new engine not matching VIN number and not installed by factory. GM resisting to build me a new car. Awaiting BBB notification for next steps with GM.

Does a new non-factory installed engine reduce the cars value? Should I accept car with new engine or arbitrate with BBB & GM?? Paul

Good luck Paul! I feel having a non-number matching engine in your new 2016 Corvette will affect the value of the car. If it were a Santa Fe or a Accord that's a different story. But it's a Corvette! A car fax report will show an engine replacement. Some buyers may not care and some will. Either way it cuts your potential customer base in half if you try to sell it. Given a choice between two similar Corvettes, one number matching and the second non-matching, I would take the former.

 

[elegant]

75% of Corvette buyers have no involvement with any car forum, and most second hand C7 purchasers also have nothing to do with Corvette clubs, nor similar. Doubt that more than a small percentage of Corvette buyers care about the motor being replaced, and were it me, I would be glad that my Corvette's motor had 7,000 less than the car I was about to buy.

Respectfully disagree that it cuts your buyers in half, maybe closer to 5-10%, for when folks are looking for a used car, even a Corvette, what they care about is coupe or convertible, transmission, exterior color, interior color, and then options and other specs. Buying a Corvette is an emotional experience, and when we see it, it either speaks to us (grabbing at our heart), or we move on.

In the days of 35,000 C7 units being produced yearly, number matching is not an issue but for just a small minority.

Now if we were talking about a 1967 big block, would say that 50% care about numbers matching.

 

[Paulp]

Guys, I just could not accept a $70,000 sports car with a heart transplant in my garage. After two months of haggling with GM and BBB/dealer support I was able to secure a new car. GM would not build me a new one but agreed that if I could locate one with a similar build as mine they would work with me if I would pay for any additional options. We found one at an Indiana dealer that has red calipers and carbon flash mirrors & spoiler. I close on it today. I'm very thankful to get this car but it has really been a struggle with GM. P

 

[Henry427]

Paul, I'm glad your persistence finally paid off. If I was looking to buy a used Stingray, I would walk away if I knew it had a replacement engine. I would be suspicious that the previous owner had mistreated the car and would worry other things might be wrong with it.

Here's hoping your new Stingray will be trouble free. :victorious:

 

[MyGreenVette]

After finding and reading this thread I thought I would ask how you got GM to replace your engine?
Last weekend my friend's C7 broke again while in a caravan with 48 Corvettes about 2 hours away from his home.
Unfortunately, he is not a SRF member so I thought I could find some info for him here.

He was one of the early C7 buyers, October of 2013. After about 500 miles he like many here, hear a noise coming from the engine. After pleading with his dealer for a new engine, he was forced to go to 2 other dealers to find one that would be able to rebuild his engine not replace it.
They rebuilt it and found a bad crankshaft bearing with a 40 mil tolerance when it was supposed to be 4 mils.
He was not too happy and they provided two more years of warranty.

All seemed okay until this last weekend, 10/15/16, on our "spirited" cruise when a hose broke or let go and smoke and antifreeze sprayed all over everything including the other corvettes. He almost lost it along with a couple of others!
We think it was a result of the rebuild and is in the process of demanding a new engine or possibly a replacement C7. Car now has 8,000 miles.
So what is the best way to get through to GM?
Thank you.

 

[elegant]

The best way for your friend to proceed IMO would be to strictly follow sections 13.1-13.3 of his/her Owners Manual, documenting everything in writing each step. At each step, politeness is recommended, but that of course does not mean backing off if he/she disagrees with what the GM rep has told them each step of the way.

Best of luck.

 

[lakemg]

MGV - did his engine lock up? I've had radiator hoses blow before and not damage my engine. Likely nothing wrong with it to warrant a new engine...

 

[MyGreenVette]

His engine did not lock up and was able to finally pull off. A good point though and maybe another item to improve the discussion for a replacement. This had to stress the engine a bit.

And Elegant, I did look up the section on Customer Information and the procedures for reporting to GM followed up by reporting to the BBB Auto Line.
I believe he has done the GM procedures but not the BBB reporting. I was thinking more of contacting some department in GM other than the normal procedures because he was not getting the desired results.
But these are good ideas that we will pursue.
Thank you!