Another LT1 failure

internationlriders · 11-10-2017, 12:40 AM

So with just 3700 miles on my 1le, there was a strange whirring sound coming from the front of the car while across the border in Seattle. It was a weird sound but could have been the sound of something stuck to a tire. Anyhow within a few miles there was a harsh squeaking from the serpentine belt and a faint knock started. I immediately drove it to the nearest dealer and their service was closed Saturdays, a Web search showed another nearby dealer that was open so I carefully limped the car there only to find out they were closed Saturdays now too and it was a recent change in hours. The car was then running so badly it would barely start so I called roadside assistance and after having the first tow cancelled somehow and waiting 3 hours a truck showed up. I wanted to bring the car to a dealer closer to our families house and with a good reputation. I got the call today from the dealer after they have removed the heads and oil pan and they confirmed that a crankshaft bearing failed and hot spotted the crankshaft. Now I'm waiting for them to confirm if they will rebuild the engine or replace it.

It's ironic because the GM reps say the two most reliable vehicles in the lineup are the Colorado and the Camaro, yet I got lucky with a dud. This has almost completely killed my confidence in going on road trips with this car as now I'm 2 hours north back in Vancouver with a rental car and a partially ruined weekend. The car is 6 months old!

I have not yet red lined this motor, oil was changed at 1500 miles by the dealer, and it wasn't burning anything either. I don't baby it but I also don't thrash on it. I guess now I just really hope there aren't future problems if they rebuild it instead of replacing the engine.

Cameron27 · 11-10-2017, 12:55 AM

.

sengli · 11-10-2017, 06:57 AM

Sorry to hear of your issue. At that low mileage, I would push for a new engine. And ya, I would lose confidence in it too.

Franko07 · 11-10-2017, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by internationlriders

It's ironic because the GM reps say the two most reliable vehicles in the lineup are the Colorado and the Camaro, yet I got lucky with a dud. This has almost completely killed my confidence in going on road trips with this car as now I'm 2 hours north back in Vancouver with a rental car and a partially ruined weekend.

Colorado's are not as they advertise, we have 20 z71's at the office and they will die randomly down the street on occasion, the dealer says they have not had that issue but its hard to believe.

Risky Justice · 11-10-2017, 07:39 AM

Manufacturing defects happen. It seems more often since switching production from Canada.

KingLT1 · 11-10-2017, 11:41 AM

This has been going on with GM for 20yrs. When the LS1 dropped in 1997, there were lots of owners getting the engines replaced for excessive piston slap. To this day there are Piston slapping LS1-LS6 engines out there pushing 150k + miles with heads/cam setups still tearing up the streets. Point is failures happen, but The good thing with a engine is that a failure will likely happen early in it's life..so the warranty pretty much covers you. If it survives the first 20k miles or so, then it will likely go 150k miles easily with proper maintenance.

nancygrl · 11-11-2017, 08:19 AM

No car is perfect....but it sure does seem that the build quality has dropped off moving production from Canada.

KingLT1 · 11-11-2017, 09:27 AM

I would agree with that.

jaysonstuart · 11-11-2017, 11:06 AM

It's just bad luck man. The LT1 is a great engine. People are camming them, super charging them and all sorts of nonsense without touching the bottom end with no issues.

I hope GM takes care of you though.

CruzySS · 11-11-2017, 01:20 PM

Wouldn't lose much sleep over it! That's why you have a 3 year warranty! GM will take care of you

internationlriders · 11-13-2017, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CruzySS

Wouldn't lose much sleep over it! That's why you have a 3 year warranty! GM will take care of you

5 year powertrain actually 😉

Eric SS · 11-13-2017, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by internationlriders

5 year powertrain actually 😉

I forgot about that! And to think I was only expecting 3 years worth of track warranty on the engine/tranny. 5 years of engine/tranny coverage on track is magical

WhiteNight · 11-13-2017, 10:55 PM

Welcome to the club. I spun two bearings. Engine is at the shop awaiting new bearings and crankshaft.

internationlriders · 11-27-2017, 04:59 PM

I got the car back last Saturday, brand new engine so back to the break-in procedure.

Thanks GM, for giving me a new engine and not repairing the damaged one.

11-10-2017, 12:40 AM	#1
internationlriders Drives: 2017 SS 1LE Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Calgary AB Posts: 135	Another LT1 failure So with just 3700 miles on my 1le, there was a strange whirring sound coming from the front of the car while across the border in Seattle. It was a weird sound but could have been the sound of something stuck to a tire. Anyhow within a few miles there was a harsh squeaking from the serpentine belt and a faint knock started. I immediately drove it to the nearest dealer and their service was closed Saturdays, a Web search showed another nearby dealer that was open so I carefully limped the car there only to find out they were closed Saturdays now too and it was a recent change in hours. The car was then running so badly it would barely start so I called roadside assistance and after having the first tow cancelled somehow and waiting 3 hours a truck showed up. I wanted to bring the car to a dealer closer to our families house and with a good reputation. I got the call today from the dealer after they have removed the heads and oil pan and they confirmed that a crankshaft bearing failed and hot spotted the crankshaft. Now I'm waiting for them to confirm if they will rebuild the engine or replace it. It's ironic because the GM reps say the two most reliable vehicles in the lineup are the Colorado and the Camaro, yet I got lucky with a dud. This has almost completely killed my confidence in going on road trips with this car as now I'm 2 hours north back in Vancouver with a rental car and a partially ruined weekend. The car is 6 months old! I have not yet red lined this motor, oil was changed at 1500 miles by the dealer, and it wasn't burning anything either. I don't baby it but I also don't thrash on it. I guess now I just really hope there aren't future problems if they rebuild it instead of replacing the engine.

11-10-2017, 12:55 AM	#2
Cameron27 Drives: 2015 2SS Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Texas Posts: 349	. Last edited by Cameron27; 06-06-2019 at 10:06 PM.

11-10-2017, 06:57 AM	#3
sengli Drives: 2015commemorative vert 2SS Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: northern Indiana Posts: 948	Sorry to hear of your issue. At that low mileage, I would push for a new engine. And ya, I would lose confidence in it too. __________________ 2018 ZL1 Bright Yellow, A10, PDR, sunroof, carbon hood, and dash- sold 2020 2SS A10 sunroof..shock and steel special-traded 2015 commemorative vert 2ss

11-10-2017, 07:39 AM	#5
Risky Justice Drives: 2016 Camaro 2SS M6 Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Panama City, FL Posts: 217	Manufacturing defects happen. It seems more often since switching production from Canada. __________________ ‘16 Camaro 2SS M6 - RotoFab CAI, Soler Performance TB, E85 8.102 @ 89.85 MPH (bone stock)

11-10-2017, 11:41 AM	#6
KingLT1 Drives: 2016 1SS NFG A8 Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: 46804 Posts: 6,800	This has been going on with GM for 20yrs. When the LS1 dropped in 1997, there were lots of owners getting the engines replaced for excessive piston slap. To this day there are Piston slapping LS1-LS6 engines out there pushing 150k + miles with heads/cam setups still tearing up the streets. Point is failures happen, but The good thing with a engine is that a failure will likely happen early in it's life..so the warranty pretty much covers you. If it survives the first 20k miles or so, then it will likely go 150k miles easily with proper maintenance. __________________ 2016 NFG 1SS A8 Options-2SS Leather/NPP Perf. mods-Whipple 2.9/Fuel System/Flex Fuel/103mm TB/Rotofab Big Gulp/Cat Deletes/Corsa NPP Per. times- 10.5 @ 137 w/ 1.8 60ft Full weight on 20's 1200DA

11-11-2017, 08:19 AM	#7
nancygrl 雪の玉 Drives: '22 Z71 RST Silverado Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: South Posts: 3,415	No car is perfect....but it sure does seem that the build quality has dropped off moving production from Canada.

11-11-2017, 09:27 AM	#8
KingLT1 Drives: 2016 1SS NFG A8 Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: 46804 Posts: 6,800	I would agree with that. __________________ 2016 NFG 1SS A8 Options-2SS Leather/NPP Perf. mods-Whipple 2.9/Fuel System/Flex Fuel/103mm TB/Rotofab Big Gulp/Cat Deletes/Corsa NPP Per. times- 10.5 @ 137 w/ 1.8 60ft Full weight on 20's 1200DA

11-11-2017, 11:06 AM	#9
jaysonstuart Drives: 2016 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Albany, OR Posts: 685 View My Garage	It's just bad luck man. The LT1 is a great engine. People are camming them, super charging them and all sorts of nonsense without touching the bottom end with no issues. I hope GM takes care of you though.

11-11-2017, 01:20 PM	#10
CruzySS Drives: 2016 Camaro 2ss Join Date: May 2017 Location: Annandale MN Posts: 588 View My Garage	Wouldn't lose much sleep over it! That's why you have a 3 year warranty! GM will take care of you

11-13-2017, 10:55 PM	#13
WhiteNight Drives: MB 1SS Join Date: May 2017 Location: Easton, PA Posts: 321	Welcome to the club. I spun two bearings. Engine is at the shop awaiting new bearings and crankshaft.

11-27-2017, 04:59 PM	#14
internationlriders Drives: 2017 SS 1LE Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Calgary AB Posts: 135	I got the car back last Saturday, brand new engine so back to the break-in procedure. Thanks GM, for giving me a new engine and not repairing the damaged one.

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