03-04 GMT800 07187 - Special Coverage Adjustment/Instrument Cluster

[01cavalier]

Originally Posted by darndot

I got the letter in the mail on friday for my 04 Silvy. I don't have the problem but I afraid it will die after 70,000.

If you have the problem after the 70,000 miles, then call GM, there's always the chance of them goodwilling it.

Originally Posted by RN2B

GMCSonoma -

If I am understanding you correctly, and everything is "cut and dry," you would say that in your experience, GM would never issue an addendum to this Special Coverage Adjustment????

All one has to do is go to the NHTSA website, plug in the 2004 Impala and look at all the complaints regarding this very issue. How many more cases have to be documented before this car is added to the bulletin??

Believe me, if money were no object and I could afford the cost of the part and the $50/hr labor [or however much it is] charge, I'd have had this fixed as soon as it arose. Unfortunately, I am a disabled veteran on a fixed income and can not afford this expense. This is also my primary vehicle for my going back and forth to my school (80 miles/trip) as well as the vehicle I use to take my two kids back and forth to their school functions (16 miles/trip).

I also have photos still in my camera that depict the speedometer you could say "in the six o'clock position" while in park. If the dealer charges to diagnose or look at my car, I'd be SOL. God only knows I can't afford any speeding tickets either.

Explain to me the fairness of Silverado, Tahoe, Suburban, Escalade etc. owners getting theirs fixed for free while I take a gamble every time I drive my car. Are sedan owners (and we are legion) looked down upon by GM, or are there just too many of us out there and it would be too cost prohibitive for GM to have some accountability for this faulty equipment problem???

I've also noticed that alot of the car rental agencies utilize the Impala and if all of them were to go on the blink at around 45,000, those agencies would reconsider their choice in vehicle. This just sounds like bad business to me. What do you suggest I do???

I know this isn't directed to me, but if GM was going to include the Impala in this "special coverage" it would have been in the initial bulletin. It is possible that GM could put out a different special coverage policy that would cover the Impala. When I worked at customer assistance the Impala did not have nearly as many of these problems as the trucks did.

Originally Posted by fatratchevy

My '03 Avalanches' speedo when out about 20 months ago (roughly 58,000 miles), I had to buy a new cluster, at which point I ordered a Denali cluster (for the trans temp functionality). Will I get reimbursed for this?

The kicker is, I got a speeding ticket while waiting for my new speedo to arrive. . . . . I told the officer my speedo was inoperative and a new one was on order, to which his reply was "take it up with the judge." Almost two years later and still no court date to plead my case. . . .

I'm pretty sure they would reimburse you for it as long as you had to replace it because of the same problem. I'm sure the RO has the information needed.

[GMCSonoma]

First....an Impala is no where similar to the GMT800 truck, so a specific type recall/TSB or whatever would not blanket the 2004 Impala AND the GMT800 together....maybe IF they used the same instrument cluster...OK...
Not the case.

Second, whether the NHTSA, NTSB, FBI or whoever has "X amount" of responses for the Impala or not is NOT relevant to the GMT800 series trucks that this #07187 release affects! Sure you might have similar symptoms...however this specific S/P doesn't list anything but a GMT800!
If the Impala, et al did come out with a special policy, recall or TSB...it would be a seperate release based on my historical experiences with GM...hence my remarks...

Got it now???

Originally Posted by RN2B

GMCSonoma -

If I am understanding you correctly, and everything is "cut and dry," you would say that in your experience, GM would never issue an addendum to this Special Coverage Adjustment????

All one has to do is go to the NHTSA website, plug in the 2004 Impala and look at all the complaints regarding this very issue. How many more cases have to be documented before this car is added to the bulletin??

Believe me, if money were no object and I could afford the cost of the part and the $50/hr labor [or however much it is] charge, I'd have had this fixed as soon as it arose. Unfortunately, I am a disabled veteran on a fixed income and can not afford this expense. This is also my primary vehicle for my going back and forth to my school (80 miles/trip) as well as the vehicle I use to take my two kids back and forth to their school functions (16 miles/trip).

I also have photos still in my camera that depict the speedometer you could say "in the six o'clock position" while in park. If the dealer charges to diagnose or look at my car, I'd be SOL. God only knows I can't afford any speeding tickets either.

Explain to me the fairness of Silverado, Tahoe, Suburban, Escalade etc. owners getting theirs fixed for free while I take a gamble every time I drive my car. Are sedan owners (and we are legion) looked down upon by GM, or are there just too many of us out there and it would be too cost prohibitive for GM to have some accountability for this faulty equipment problem???

I've also noticed that alot of the car rental agencies utilize the Impala and if all of them were to go on the blink at around 45,000, those agencies would reconsider their choice in vehicle. This just sounds like bad business to me. What do you suggest I do???

[RN2B]

GMC Sonoma -

Well, that does make things a little more clear. I was just going by the problem and the make, I didn't realize that it was further broken down into cars and trucks. I know you're probably thinkin', "Well, DUH!" But you see, I'm just a regular person, not someone who knows a lot about cars or how the industry works. I took for granted that car and truck speedometers "guts" would be the same, especially the same year . Didn't mean to touch a nerve when mentioning the NHTSA, but the consumers' accounts were from regular people like myself.

I just Googled my question about my car and among the hits I clicked on, was the NHTSA, as well as this website. So I checked them out, combined my interpretations, and posed my question. It was addressed to you since you were the one who had put up the info, plus you sound like you do know alot. I may have sounded a little bent out of shape because I just wanted to put across the reality of my plight. I don't want to be misconstrued as being disrespectful. With all that being said, do you see a bulletin coming down the pike any time soon for us car drivers? Thanks. And thank you for your response as well, 01cavalier.

[unhappyburb]

70,000 miles is a little low for a problem that affecting so many vehicles. Anyone know why GM chose such a low number. I received a letter on this very issue a week ago and yet I can not take advantage due to the fact that I have 85,000 miles on my 03 Burb.

[GMCSonoma]

Originally Posted by unhappyburb

70,000 miles is a little low for a problem that affecting so many vehicles. Anyone know why GM chose such a low number. I received a letter on this very issue a week ago and yet I can not take advantage due to the fact that I have 85,000 miles on my 03 Burb.

Ask your dealer to contact their ASM...

[renjardus]

For those who is asking for reimbursement, I've heard that GM people are having difficulty with some of their customers because of several things.

First, most think they are reimbursable because they think this is a recall
Second mostly are submitting incomplete docs that what is written on the notice GM sent...

Hmmm, pity to them though...

[renjardus]

Originally Posted by RN2B

GMCSonoma -

If I am understanding you correctly, and everything is "cut and dry," you would say that in your experience, GM would never issue an addendum to this Special Coverage Adjustment????

All one has to do is go to the NHTSA website, plug in the 2004 Impala and look at all the complaints regarding this very issue. How many more cases have to be documented before this car is added to the bulletin??

Believe me, if money were no object and I could afford the cost of the part and the $50/hr labor [or however much it is] charge, I'd have had this fixed as soon as it arose. Unfortunately, I am a disabled veteran on a fixed income and can not afford this expense. This is also my primary vehicle for my going back and forth to my school (80 miles/trip) as well as the vehicle I use to take my two kids back and forth to their school functions (16 miles/trip).

I also have photos still in my camera that depict the speedometer you could say "in the six o'clock position" while in park. If the dealer charges to diagnose or look at my car, I'd be SOL. God only knows I can't afford any speeding tickets either.

Explain to me the fairness of Silverado, Tahoe, Suburban, Escalade etc. owners getting theirs fixed for free while I take a gamble every time I drive my car. Are sedan owners (and we are legion) looked down upon by GM, or are there just too many of us out there and it would be too cost prohibitive for GM to have some accountability for this faulty equipment problem???

I've also noticed that alot of the car rental agencies utilize the Impala and if all of them were to go on the blink at around 45,000, those agencies would reconsider their choice in vehicle. This just sounds like bad business to me. What do you suggest I do???

I agree to GM Sonoma. Also, not all GM vehicles carries the same cluster. First let's consider these: all vehicles may have a cluster, may look the same, work the same but not totaly same at all..

Confusing...?

Well, what I am trying to say, is that, yes its the cluster you are having problem with but that cluster may not be same as those on covered vehs is aspects such as: manufacturer, date of creation, and where it came from...

[rstark75]

While this snarky GM guy is not going to add anything other than "this is not about the Impala" reply I will post some helpful advice; or try to.

Im having the same problem with my 05 Impala and Im sure they'll do it in their own good time; they just want to cater to those who spent twice as much on their vehicles first. But; that's just my opinion.

So; advice for those and maybe some helpful words for GM. The cluster works just fine when the engine and the weather is warm. If I let the car warm up for 10 minutes; the needle still has issues (jerkiness) but tracks the speed correctly.

Also; for those that have it perma-stuck; first let the vehicle warm up. Second; turn the car off; then turn the ignition key to acc and back to off repeatedly. You will notice the speedometer kinda resets back 5-10 mph at a time. I've been at 120 mph and managed to get it to 0 again before moving on and it works fine that way. This way I have something until GM decides that it's the sedan's turn.

Also; since the GM guy has yet to post it; also let Chevrolet know about your problem here:

http://www.chevrolet.com/contactus/getinformation/

[shadams]

Disclaimer: This is not directed at anyone in particular, and this does not necessarily reflect the views and opinons of GMI or any of its other staff members. This is all me baby....

Hehe, funny stuff. Anyway, since you guys seem to think you know all the reasons behind why GM does some of the things they do, I'll make it short and sweet. As already stated, this is not a recall, it is a special policy. That means that GM isnt being forced by the government or lawyers to do anything about a particular problem, but have decided to because an abnormal amount of vehicles have exibited the same condition, and said vehicle have clusters supplied by the same manufacturer. GM DOES NOT BUILD THESE CLUSTERS. They obviously have an agreement with the manufacturer of these parts to repair them (which BTW, is what they are doing, the cluster you get is "remanufactured") and they settled on a mileage limit of 70,000. Between you, me and the fence post, my area service manager authorized us to "goodwill" clusters for customers exibiting this problem on these vehicles up to a certain point if they have had the problem previous to this coming out. If someone comes in screaming and yelling, they can drive around with a broken speedo, or call GM (giggle giggle).

Can other vehicles have the same problem? Sure. Dont tell me you have never seen to different vehicles with brake lights out, or transmissions "blown" or batteries that have gone dead. So why is this any different? Oh that's right, you dont know anything about how/when/where/by who/which parts are made where and by who/anything in general about cars so its easier to just whine on-line. Oh and the hush-hush on the phone stuff is a riot. I have said all along, as much as I hate to, that GM cust assistance is a joke. They know as much about cars, and customer service (IMO) as the Fry guy at McDonalds. Dont take anything they say to heart, as the only people they deal with are calling complaining, so they have a warped sense of whats what. And also, BTW, all they do is call your/a dealer and basically ask us if they should do aynthing for you. (ahh, cats out!!) So lesson is, you'll catch more flies with honey, or something like that.

Ok, now that thats off my chest....Yes, more than likely if your speedo stops working, it has a failed stepper motor (? I think thats what they are called) that drives the needle of off electrical signals from the PCM/TCM. It can go bad just like anything else. If enough of them break, and GM can get the manufacturer to back up their work beyond the standard 3/36, then maybe they'll come out with something for you. Until then, go to your dealer for regular service, be a valuable customer instead of a pain, and I bet you will have a much better experience, and they will have a reason to keep you happy.

So much for short and sweet ehh?

I dont think there is much left to say............

[GMCSonoma]

Originally Posted by rstark75

While this snarky GM guy is not going to add anything other than "this is not about the Impala" reply I will post some helpful advice; or try to.

Im having the same problem with my 05 Impala and Im sure they'll do it in their own good time; they just want to cater to those who spent twice as much on their vehicles first. But; that's just my opinion.

So; advice for those and maybe some helpful words for GM. The cluster works just fine when the engine and the weather is warm. If I let the car warm up for 10 minutes; the needle still has issues (jerkiness) but tracks the speed correctly.

Also; for those that have it perma-stuck; first let the vehicle warm up. Second; turn the car off; then turn the ignition key to acc and back to off repeatedly. You will notice the speedometer kinda resets back 5-10 mph at a time. I've been at 120 mph and managed to get it to 0 again before moving on and it works fine that way. This way I have something until GM decides that it's the sedan's turn.

Also; since the GM guy has yet to post it; also let Chevrolet know about your problem here:

http://www.chevrolet.com/contactus/getinformation/

I assume this is directed @ me...

I am NOT a "GM guy", except the fact I am a long time GM dealer employee who volunteers his time to post on GMI.

Snarky? Yes...because of what shadams just posted, as I concur with his assessment of the topic...

My advice to all the Impala owners who feel they've been wronged by this "conspiracy" of mine & GM to cater to the big customers...start a new thread under the "Complaints" section of GMI....


Thanks

GMCSonoma/GMI