Renzatic on 31/3/2011 at 01:15
Mom and dad are gonna harass this new dealership one last time. They consider the "incentive" an act of weakness on their part, and are try to hit their jugular to see if they can draw blood.
Interestingly enough, we also got a nice detailed description of the problems with the truck. I'm not exactly well versed with the inner workings of a transmission, but I do know the basics of how they work. What I heard, what the dealership admitted to, took me by surprise.
Okay, this particular model of GMC Sierra has a "slight defect" with the torque converter, which causes it to somewhat overheat. Apparently it's nothing too serious (at least for now, hence the reason why they're suggesting mom and dad buy a new truck), but this "slight defect" can cause the converter to overheat, and warp the plastic bits in the planetary gear system.
My questions why...WHY in the name of all things fuckity would a goddamn transmission have plastic ANYTHING in them? Maybe I'm exposing my ignorance here, and science has recently provided us some cheap, super durable, heat resistant, consumer grade synthetic materials equal to tempered metals. I dunno. But whatever. Plastic in a transmission doesn't make sense to me. Specially plastic that warps when you get it too hot. Transmissions, you know...they get hot. Lots of friction. Near other hot parts in a car. Stuff. Wot...
The previous dealership knew of this, and replaced the plastic sun gear with another plastic sun gear. Car gets hot from the torque converter overheating, history repeats...so sorry.
It's like they're admitting they fucked up, and want to make amends by enticing mom and dad with a frankly insulting discount towards a new shit GM vehicle. After them telling me the quality of parts they use in their transmissions, why the fuck would anyone EVER want to buy a GM vehicle?
I suggested they go for a complete transmission/drivetrain rebuild with quality parts, and a 3 year, 100,000 mile warranty on the rebuilt sections. They admitted fault already, so it's not too out there to assume the dealership might go for it.
Jason Moyer on 31/3/2011 at 13:53
If I were your parents I'd stop taking it to the dealer to get rebuilt and just have a private mechanic put another transmission in it. Having an automatic transmission rebuilt sounds like an incredible waste of labor money.
Renzatic on 31/3/2011 at 21:32
That's the funny thing. It was sitting down at a local mechanic, waiting in line to be repaired before GM called in saying they'd take steps to remedy the situation. So basically mom and dad had to take it out of line, and get the truck towed 20 miles to the nearest dealership...just so said dealership could look at it and offer up a slight discount on a new vehicle.
If they went ahead and got it repaired, it would've cost $2400 and been finished yesterday. Instead, mom has to wait for her vehicle because GM wanted to jerk us around one last time. It's ridiculous.
You can understand why everyone is a little pissed here. I'm not even directly involved, and I'm pissed off because I've been hearing about it nonstop for a week now. All I've been able to suggest is mom rev up the truck, and drive it through the front of the dealership building. Won't get anything fixed, but it'd do wonders for her stress levels. There doesn't seem to be anything else to do.
But anyway, this is still ongoing. Mom and dad are going down to the dealership in person to discuss the situation with some higher up there. I expect if things don't go well, I'll be posting mug shots.
