Bought a new transmission and cannot get dealer to honor warranty on it.

[OGC123]

I bought a transmission for my 1998 C1500 and installed it myself and it would not pull at all. I checked fluid level, it was good. So being that I didn't pay GM to install it I took the tranny out and the following Monday headed to the dealership, on the way I called ahead to let them know I was coming and I was told they would not take it back. I was told the only warranty they could do is if it is in the truck. This way they could test it. I told guy I was almost there and I didn't see any reason to re-install a bad tranny, so he told me to call GM customer care and they said I had to re-install and then tow to the dealership, so I called back to the dealership to see if they would cover the tow and they would not but the parts guy told me that if I would tow it there he would diagnose, fix and return me my vehicle in working order granted the problem is in the tranny, not a blocked cooler line, ect... (which I flushed the lines) So I said fine and re-installed it and payed to tow it there for the mechanic to claim that it is a good tranny but that I had broken the front pump during install and that the dealership would charge me $1800.00 to fix my brand new, under warranty, $1300.00 tranny. So I complained to the service manager who doesn't know anything about transmissions and he said he would stand by the decision but would fix it for $1550.00 I then complained to the owner of the dealership who said the same thing but he would drop the price to $1300.00, which I again refused since I am out twice the labor and paid for a working tranny in the first place which I never got. So then I call GM customer care to file a complaint against the dealership and I tell the lady my story and she places me on hold for about 20 minutes, in which time she calls the dealership and gets their story then picks the phone back up and says the exact same thing the dealer did. I naturally question why she even had a job there if all she does is call the dealership and repeat what they say, I had already heard that. I was trying to complain not confirm. I am outraged by GM on this. I paid good money to get stuck in the creek with no paddle. I didn't do anything wrong to the tranny. It was broke when I got it.

Then comes the kicker to it all. I am looking for a new truck (2008 - 2011 Crew cab 6.6 duramax, bench front seat low miles) and I have cash to spend about a $35,000.00 budget. I told the owner to make it right with my truck and I would hand him the money for a new one, or he could make me a deal and keep my old truck as a trade and he told me to just take my money elsewhere and come get my truck. So I called him back the next day and he avoided two of my calls so I left him a message asking him to prepare my truck for pick up and call me when I can come and he will not even return my call.

I am a loyal GM customer and I deserve some help here.....

[MrCritical]

The dealership is the arm of GM in warranty decisions. If they say the front pump was broken on the install, someone representing GM on the phone cannot override their decision.

If you're certain they are incorrect, and you didn't damage the tranny, your only recourse is to tow it to another dealer. You're being in the market for another truck has no bearing on whether or not the tranny is damaged. If they warranty a transmission you damaged, they can go to jail for warranty fraud. And yes, it does happen.

You paid good money for a transmission. You got one. Either you damaged the transmission or not. If you didn't, make them show you where it is damaged. If they can't, take it to another dealer and get the repair covered under warranty. Those are your two options.

[GM Customer Service]

OGC123, I'm so sorry to hear about your continued frustrations! I see that you contacted our Customer Assistance Center hotline already, so please let me know if you would like me to investigate the particulars of your service request (case) with our team. I'm reachable via private message, and sending the last eight of your VIN or your service request number will help me locate your case details in our shared database.

Best,

Katie
GM Customer Service

[TheBUC]

OGC123, I'm so sorry to hear about your continued frustrations! I see that you contacted our Customer Assistance Center hotline already, so please let me know if you would like me to investigate the particulars of your service request (case) with our team. I'm reachable via private message, and sending the last eight of your VIN or your service request number will help me locate your case details in our shared database.

Best,

Katie
GM Customer Service

This is the reason most all transmission shop don't let the customer install the transmission after they are rebuilt. The torque converter was not fully installed in to the pump and the lugs on the drive impeller are broken off, we only rebuild units for garages or dealers that know what they are doing. In my shop that is a no warranty mistake.

[Ed753]

This is the reason most all transmission shop don't let the customer install the transmission after they are rebuilt. The torque converter was not fully installed in to the pump and the lugs on the drive impeller are broken off, we only rebuild units for garages or dealers that know what they are doing. In my shop that is a no warranty mistake.

I agree, the transmissions are tested prior to leaving the re-man facility, the dude is bummed, because instead of saving a few bucks, he's done the job twice, paid for the transmission once and still has a broken truck. Now he's got to pay, what it originally would have cost him to really get it fixed.

OUCH!

[Tomko]

I agree, the transmissions are tested prior to leaving the re-man facility, the dude is bummed, because instead of saving a few bucks, he's done the job twice, paid for the transmission once and still has a broken truck. Now he's got to pay, what it originally would have cost him to really get it fixed.

OUCH!

Sad, but likely true.

[TheBUC]

I agree, the transmissions are tested prior to leaving the re-man facility, the dude is bummed, because instead of saving a few bucks, he's done the job twice, paid for the transmission once and still has a broken truck. Now he's got to pay, what it originally would have cost him to really get it fixed.

OUCH!

If he has it out of the truck now all he really needs to do is remove the pan, filter, lock-up sol. remove the pump bolts, O-ring on input shaft then pull the pump out split the pump and replace the impeller from either the dealer or a tranmission shop. It really isn't a big deal or take the pump to a transmission shop, it should be cheap.

[Ed753]

If he has it out of the truck now all he really needs to do is remove the pan, filter, lock-up sol. remove the pump bolts, O-ring on input shaft then pull the pump out split the pump and replace the impeller from either the dealer or a tranmission shop. It really isn't a big deal or take the pump to a transmission shop, it should be cheap.

He stated he had to put it back in the truck and have it towed in for the Dealership to look at it and consider it for warranty repair (that was his 2nd install).

If the guy wasn't "skilled" enough to install it correctly, I struggle to accept he can perform any type of repair and then correctly install it un-like the first time, when he originally broke it.


Occasionally I've tackled "jobs" around the house, usually end up with one of 3 results: "boy should have just wrote a check"; "that was easy I saved big-bucks" and then other times, I know ahead of time, I'm not up for tackling from the get-go and pay someone to do the dirty work.

[Neanderthal]

I agree, the transmissions are tested prior to leaving the re-man facility, the dude is bummed, because instead of saving a few bucks, he's done the job twice, paid for the transmission once and still has a broken truck. Now he's got to pay, what it originally would have cost him to really get it fixed.

OUCH!

Ten-fo. You'd have to be insane to warranty something that a shade-tree installed. Or very, very wealthy, and very, very generous.

Now, speaking of broke and/or broken, about those paragraph breaks...

He stated he had to put it back in the truck and have it towed in for the Dealership to look at it and consider it for warranty repair (that was his 2nd install).

If the guy wasn't "skilled" enough to install it correctly, I struggle to accept he can perform any type of repair and then correctly install it un-like the first time, when he originally broke it.


Occasionally I've tackled "jobs" around the house, usually end up with one of 3 results: "boy should have just wrote a check"; "that was easy I saved big-bucks" and then other times, I know ahead of time, I'm not up for tackling from the get-go and pay someone to do the dirty work.

http://movieclips.com/YfAQ-magnum-fo...s-limitations/

[OGC123]

WOW!! I thought this was a forum about getting help, Instead it is a place to be keyboard ninja's and talk BS. I hope everyone of you nay sayers gets screwed outta a thousand dollars then you will look to others to help you recoup your money or at least find yourself a break even spot. I installed a "Henco De Mexico" part that was sold by GM as a good part but sadly someone didn't do their job well and damaged the unit prior to shipping. I wouldn't offer a warranty at all on parts not installed by the dealership if I was just gonna hand out crappy parts. If the warranty is there but can't be used then whats the dang point. You "online hardasses" need to stop and think. Maybe your mechanics, maybe you could be constructive. Maybe I know good and well that you have bolted brand new parts on something just to find out they are bad parts.

[demonspeed]

Put these responses into perspective, OGC123. From the information you provided, one can deduce:

You purchased a remanufactured part.
You installed the part yourself.
The part failed.
It was determined the part failed due to improper installation.

That's it. Period.

So, with this in mind, it was determined you can take the part to another dealer to get a second opinion

OR

you simply have to suck it up as you rolled the dice installing a part yourself -- and you lost.

None of us think it's easy to swallow losing money, but I'm not sure there is anything else to say about this particular situation other than live and learn.

[Neanderthal]

^^That's it.

I don't know what OP wants here, but demonspeed lays the cards out on the table. And yes, none of us likes to go sideways on car repairs.

But sometimes it's best to just eat it and have the work done at a shop.
Warranty is a magic word. And there are conditions. Always.

OP might try to put himself in the place of the dealer. Though many are morons, this sounds like a clear example of being penny wise and pound foolish.

[MrCritical]

OGC123, guess what? It was your responsibility to inspect the tranny for damage before you installed it. As the dealership would have if they had installed it. In which case, it wouldn't have been installed, and they would have gotten another tranny at no additional cost to you, and installed it. And if THEY had missed damage to the tranny BEFORE installing it, and installed it anyway, guess what? They'd be in the same boat that you are in now. THEY'D BE EATING THE COST OF THE TRANNY. Not you.

Admin, please consider changing title of thread to "Broke a new transmission, and cannot get dealer to honor warranty on it."

[OGC123]

OGC123, guess what? It was your responsibility to inspect the tranny for damage before you installed it. As the dealership would have if they had installed it. In which case, it wouldn't have been installed, and they would have gotten another tranny at no additional cost to you, and installed it. And if THEY had missed damage to the tranny BEFORE installing it, and installed it anyway, guess what? They'd be in the same boat that you are in now. THEY'D BE EATING THE COST OF THE TRANNY. Not you.

Admin, please consider changing title of thread to "Broke a new transmission, and cannot get dealer to honor warranty on it."

So your dumb enough to tell me that you would buy a new transmission and before installing it, you would tear it down and inspect it.

You must be a GM mechanic or inbred. Listen dumba** I would have rebuilt it myself if I could tear it down to inspect it.

So in your opinion the warranty is only good for the dealer to GM, not as advertised to be from GM to the customer.

[demonspeed]

I think he's saying a visual exterior inspection would have been done before installation. Had the dealer found nothing, they would have installed it. Had they then determined there to be a malfunction, they'd deduce the transmission was flawed internally prior to installation. Because the dealership has more distinction in making such repairs than does the shadetree mechanic, it would be a simple process rather than the "he said - she said" issue you are experiencing.

Nonetheless, it was your prerogative to install the transmission yourself. There is nothing wrong with that whatsoever; however, the failure, as determined by the "expertise" of the dealership, was determined to be by the installer. Therefore, this alleviates any accountability for the dealership and the product manufacturer based on this particular opinion of findings.

Remember, you have the option of getting a second opinion from another facility that also carries the same remanufactured transmissions. They may determine it was a manufacturing defect -- or they may determine it was an installation issue.

No matter how experienced people are at whatever, they do make mistakes. You may be an amazing shadetree mechanic, but this may have been your one and only big "oops." It happens to the best of us.