[Jay.zl1]

About two weeks ago the car started having lifter tick come from the engine while I was driving home and I had to get the car towed to the dealership that was closest to the area I was in. To preface this the car does have long tube headers and full exhaust that was put in about 8 months ago, I never got a tune done nor did I modify anything else on the drive train. The dealership just called me and told me that GM is unwilling to pay for anything under warranty and essentially I’d basically be paying for a brand new engine out of pocket. He told me I could try calling the GM customer care number and try and fight with them to get them to maybe cover it or perhaps I could take it to a different dealership and put stock headers on it and see if they can get coverage but I’m pretty sure it’s in the cars system already that the headers were replaced. Have any of you ever dealt with this before? This is my first experience with a warranty on a car and a car having this bad of an issue lol. I told him if there was a way GM has proven that the headers were the cause of the lifter tick and he said that due to the warranty being a “limited warranty” that GM can deny it due to any modification to emissions since he wouldn’t be able to complete the repair properly? I’m not sure what exactly he meant by that but I thought manufacturers had to prove the modification had to be the direct cause of the problem due to the magnusson act. I’d like to hear from anyone that has been through this and if you wouldn’t mind telling me what you did or what I can do beyond what I’ve said so far. I didn’t wanna call the customer care line before I know what to say exactly so I can at least have a chance at possibly getting this repaired under warranty.

[MT-SS1LE]

Hate to say it, but I think you are out of luck with GM, given that you have headers. I doubt the exhaust, if that's all you had done to the car, would have caused them to deny you coverage. But when you mess with emissions stuff you are really taking a chance on warranty. Not sure taking it to another dealer will help since GM will have a record of your vehicle's history as soon as they run the VIN. But if you are able to swap in the stock headers it is worth a shot.

[AZIROC]

I mean... you couldn't find the time or $500 to get a tune in 8 months?


Now, does that relate to a lifter tick, probably not. The plus though is since there is no tune (and is under a warranty) you can put the stock exhaust back on then take it to a different dealership. But with a full exhaust on the car, no dealership is going to deal with it. Yeah, you can fight it and you may luck out. But id guess more times than not, they will just tell you no.

Just up to you now if the cost to take the aftermarket exhaust off, get the oem stuff put back on, then take it to the dealership to get this looked at under warranty is worth it.

[Jay.zl1]

Trust me I know, I should’ve gotten the tune a while ago I just wanted to wait until I was able to add more onto the car and didn’t expect this to happen. Idk why I put lifter tick but it’s definitely lifter knock, the car is undriveable so it would for sure be worth it to me to put the oem exhaust on it and try at another dealership if I can get the repair done under warranty. I was just trying to see if someone has maybe done this before and if it worked out or what they ultimately had to do. I know each case and dealership is handled differently I was just looking for some insight on what others have been through in this situation.

[AZIROC]

When my car had a small issue I took it to the dealership to see if there was a code mt scanner wasn't picking up. I guess cause its a zl1 their "corvette" mechanic was the only one who could look at it. He was cool and said he COULD plug the vin in, but cause it had a tune, it would void my warranty. Gave me the same option though... bring it back with the oem exhaust on and he could check it out. he was also cool enough to tell me my issue was probably the routing of my catch can hoses (which it was).


Anywho, at this point you really have 2 options take it to a reliable shop. Probably a well known performance shop and have them check it out. Or redo the exhaust and tow it to the dealer.

[TRUEOGRE2SS]

Originally Posted by Jay.zl1

About two weeks ago the car started having lifter tick come from the engine while I was driving home and I had to get the car towed to the dealership that was closest to the area I was in. To preface this the car does have long tube headers and full exhaust that was put in about 8 months ago, I never got a tune done nor did I modify anything else on the drive train. The dealership just called me and told me that GM is unwilling to pay for anything under warranty and essentially I’d basically be paying for a brand new engine out of pocket. He told me I could try calling the GM customer care number and try and fight with them to get them to maybe cover it or perhaps I could take it to a different dealership and put stock headers on it and see if they can get coverage but I’m pretty sure it’s in the cars system already that the headers were replaced. Have any of you ever dealt with this before? This is my first experience with a warranty on a car and a car having this bad of an issue lol. I told him if there was a way GM has proven that the headers were the cause of the lifter tick and he said that due to the warranty being a “limited warranty” that GM can deny it due to any modification to emissions since he wouldn’t be able to complete the repair properly? I’m not sure what exactly he meant by that but I thought manufacturers had to prove the modification had to be the direct cause of the problem due to the magnusson act. I’d like to hear from anyone that has been through this and if you wouldn’t mind telling me what you did or what I can do beyond what I’ve said so far. I didn’t wanna call the customer care line before I know what to say exactly so I can at least have a chance at possibly getting this repaired under warranty.

Bring up the Magnusson-Moss act 1975, sure it's been updated since then, look into this and most definotely tell the dealership of this act.


How the Magnuson-Moss Act applies

• Dealer's burden of proof: The law places the burden of proof on the dealer. To legally deny your claim, the dealership must prove that the installation of your headers was the direct cause of the lifter failure. They cannot deny the warranty just because an aftermarket part is present.
• Not a universal shield: The Act does not force the dealer to cover repairs for damage you caused with an aftermarket part. If the dealer can demonstrate a link between the headers and the engine damage, they are legally within their rights to deny the claim.
• Consumer remedies:
  The Act provides a legal remedy for consumers if a warrantor fails to honor the terms of their warranty, including the right to sue for damages, refunds, or repairs.

Do yourself a favor and most definitely look this act up and know your rights and be that much more informed when you go back to the dealership.

[Jay.zl1]

Originally Posted by TRUEOGRE2SS

Bring up the Magnusson-Moss act 1975, sure it's been updated since then, look into this and most definotely tell the dealership of this act.


How the Magnuson-Moss Act applies

• Dealer's burden of proof: The law places the burden of proof on the dealer. To legally deny your claim, the dealership must prove that the installation of your headers was the direct cause of the lifter failure. They cannot deny the warranty just because an aftermarket part is present.
• Not a universal shield: The Act does not force the dealer to cover repairs for damage you caused with an aftermarket part. If the dealer can demonstrate a link between the headers and the engine damage, they are legally within their rights to deny the claim.
• Consumer remedies:
  The Act provides a legal remedy for consumers if a warrantor fails to honor the terms of their warranty, including the right to sue for damages, refunds, or repairs.

Do yourself a favor and most definitely look this act up and know your rights and be that much more informed when you go back to the dealership.

Okay I’ll go up there and tell them about it and see if they decide to still deny me or not. I did bring it up to the service advisor but he basically told me it’s GMs call and not his so I’m assuming I’m gonna have to call the GM customer care and bring it up there and hopefully they can escalate it or point me in the right direction. I appreciate this advice though!

[arpad_m]

Mine may be an unpopular take, but this kind of mooching is part of why vehicle and repair prices are climbing.

You modified your powertrain with long tube headers (and never tuned for them...) during your warranty period, then a few months later you got a lifter collapse on you (which is well known and to be expected with AFM, a feature that needs to be tuned out at least, or AFM lifters replaced with normal ones and a DoD hole plug applied), and now you want the manufacturer to repair or replace your engine for free.

I'm absolutely no fan of GM's tactics and shenanigans, especially lately, but I think you gambled and lost, time to pick up the tab. For the record, my car is very heavily modified and if anything breaks, I know who is paying for the fix, it's yours truly, so I'm not a wine drinker preaching water.

As to Magnuson-Moss, good luck with that. It was created for cases when you use an aftermarket oil filter or lightbulbs or other trivial accessories, not when you substantially modify the powertrain and, by the way, tamper with emissions equipment in the process, which alone is grounds for them to deny warranty in the first place. Modern cars have very complex designs, you cannot expect a manufacturer to cover their powertrain under warranty when third parties arbitrarily modify parts of it.

Again, if I sound like a GM shill, you need to look up my post history, I hate much of what they do and the Camaro has been our last GM vehicle in the family (bought a Nissan and a Mazda since then), but the truth is the truth no matter the parties involved.

[SomeGeoffGuy]

Originally Posted by arpad_m

Again, if I sound like a GM shill, you need to look up my post history, I hate much of what they do and the Camaro has been our last GM vehicle in the family (bought a Nissan and a Mazda since then), but the truth is the truth no matter the parties involved.

I totally agree. If you want to play the mod game, you have to be prepared for the consequences. Sounds like time for a B15 crate engine to me!

-Geoff

[Joshinator99]

Originally Posted by arpad_m

Mine may be an unpopular take, but this kind of mooching is part of why vehicle and repair prices are climbing.

You modified your powertrain with long tube headers (and never tuned for them...) during your warranty period, then a few months later you got a lifter collapse on you (which is well known and to be expected with AFM, a feature that needs to be tuned out at least, or AFM lifters replaced with normal ones and a DoD hole plug applied), and now you want the manufacturer to repair or replace your engine for free.

I'm absolutely no fan of GM's tactics and shenanigans, especially lately, but I think you gambled and lost, time to pick up the tab. For the record, my car is very heavily modified and if anything breaks, I know who is paying for the fix, it's yours truly, so I'm not a wine drinker preaching water.

As to Magnuson-Moss, good luck with that. It was created for cases when you use an aftermarket oil filter or lightbulbs or other trivial accessories, not when you substantially modify the powertrain and, by the way, tamper with emissions equipment in the process, which alone is grounds for them to deny warranty in the first place. Modern cars have very complex designs, you cannot expect a manufacturer to cover their powertrain under warranty when third parties arbitrarily modify parts of it.

Again, if I sound like a GM shill, you need to look up my post history, I hate much of what they do and the Camaro has been our last GM vehicle in the family (bought a Nissan and a Mazda since then), but the truth is the truth no matter the parties involved.

Originally Posted by SomeGeoffGuy

I totally agree. If you want to play the mod game, you have to be prepared for the consequences. Sounds like time for a B15 crate engine to me!

-Geoff

100% agreed. I’ve said it a 1000 times and I’ll say it again: if you want your warranty, do NOT mod the car, period. If you want a fast car, then mod away and let the chips fall where they may.

[KingLT1]

You modded the car, it's on you! Don't let the dealership fix it. Pick the car up and take it to a reputable performance shop. A lifter failure doesn't mean you need a new engine. Do a DOD/AFM delete and replace the cam and lifters. There are some stock profile cams out there that will work but I would put a mild cam in it and get a tune. The SDPC 218/228 .570 .570 114 would work. Very mild, can use stock p rods and rockers. Just need springs, lifters, DOD delete and VVT lockout kit.

[Jay.zl1]

I’ve already accepted that I’m gonna have to get it repaired on my own haha. I knew getting the headers I wasn’t gonna get approved more than likely for any warranty work and I should’ve gotten the tune but unfortunately I didn’t. But yall are all right. I mean the dealership was saying it’s a cheaper route to get a new/used engine put in it than it would be to try and rebuild the engine I have. They never opened it up to look into it and see exactly what was wrong with it but from what I saw, there’s no metal in the oil or anything. Again this is my first time dealing with any major engine problem like this and I don’t have sound clip to post unfortunately. It was a knocking sound coming from the lower part of the engine on the drivers side. I don’t want to have to pay to have a shop tear it down just to find out it’ll be a cheaper option to buy a used engine but if there’s a good chance the rotating assembly wasn’t ****ed then I’d like to go that route and just upgrade the lifters and other parts of the top part of the engine.

[bishopts]

Originally Posted by Jay.zl1

I’ve already accepted that I’m gonna have to get it repaired on my own haha. I knew getting the headers I wasn’t gonna get approved more than likely for any warranty work and I should’ve gotten the tune but unfortunately I didn’t. But yall are all right. I mean the dealership was saying it’s a cheaper route to get a new/used engine put in it than it would be to try and rebuild the engine I have. They never opened it up to look into it and see exactly what was wrong with it but from what I saw, there’s no metal in the oil or anything. Again this is my first time dealing with any major engine problem like this and I don’t have sound clip to post unfortunately. It was a knocking sound coming from the lower part of the engine on the drivers side. I don’t want to have to pay to have a shop tear it down just to find out it’ll be a cheaper option to buy a used engine but if there’s a good chance the rotating assembly wasn’t ****ed then I’d like to go that route and just upgrade the lifters and other parts of the top part of the engine.

Take it apart yourself. What do you have to lose? You see it, you learn from it, its information you keep forever. Worse case is you have to buy another engine. But best case is you can fix it for cheaper.
There isn't any special tools needed for disassembly. Remove the intake, remove the water pump, valve covers, header bolts, head bolts. Then pull the head and you can see the lifter trays and lifters.
After you can see the situation a little better then you can plan your next move.


Also i wouldn't be surprised if the dealer is saying you need a new engine so that the tech can take yours and sell it. I was a dealer tech for about 8 years. They are mostly crooks.

[2SS Capt]

Originally Posted by bishopts

Take it apart yourself. What do you have to lose? You see it, you learn from it, its information you keep forever. Worse case is you have to buy another engine. But best case is you can fix it for cheaper.
There isn't any special tools needed for disassembly. Remove the intake, remove the water pump, valve covers, header bolts, head bolts. Then pull the head and you can see the lifter trays and lifters.
After you can see the situation a little better then you can plan your next move.


Also i wouldn't be surprised if the dealer is saying you need a new engine so that the tech can take yours and sell it. I was a dealer tech for about 8 years. They are mostly crooks.

I agree with this, you really have nothing to lose... A bit out of my comfort zone but if I was given this diagnostic, I think it would become quickly in my comfort zone to at least give it a good look... What do you have to lose at this point... Could be a really great learning experience and perhaps a really (relatively) inexpensive fix... At this point, you don't have much (if anything) to lose...