New LT1 Nightmare. Who else had one blow up on day 1?

JitteryJoe · 01-17-2021, 06:50 AM

So after countless debating and searching for the perfect Camaro I finally pulled the trigger on a new 2021 LT1. Flew out to greater DC to buy and then drove to meet up with family before coming. Everything was all sunshine and rainbows until around mile 250 it started shaking and the esc and check engine lights started flashing. Now I am stuck 9 hours from home with no car. Dealer is not open on Sunday to diagnose. The only code onstar is showing is P0300 which i think might be O2 sensor? My wife's 18 traverse just had one go out and I feel like that was the issue but hers was post cat so no major issue. Its been on the lot for 4 months so I don't think it was old enough for the valve spring issues?

Not really sure what to do. If I get a rental and drive home and its something that can be fixed on Monday its going to be dumb to drive 9 hours and back but on the other side I have family and work obligations at home. There are no good choices here.

SSDan · 01-17-2021, 07:00 AM

This really sucks! I fear you are another victim of the infamous "broken valve" spring issue. I hope I'm wrong and that it is something easy and quick to fix.

It's a hard call but I think I'd get the rental and get home. Then deal with the car once the dealership gives you their findings.

Good luck!

cdb95z28 · 01-17-2021, 07:18 AM

Disconnect the battery to clear the codes. See what happens. If it is something simple and non-mechanical (valvespring) it might run fine for a short time before it throws the same code again. If it does this, then it's not the valve spring.

VQ35DE · 01-17-2021, 07:47 AM

Bet it is a broke spring. That means a complete new set (not the bad batch) for both heads. How far is the car from the selling dealer ?

JitteryJoe · 01-17-2021, 08:20 AM

I'm about 2.5 hours from the selling dealer so GM towed it to the closest one.

JitteryJoe · 01-17-2021, 11:35 AM

Yeah, I pulled the codes off it just now. Multiple misfires on both banks, enough to trip both Sets of O2 sensors for air fuel issues and to cause it not to start. I think I'm renting a car to drive home... definitely doesn't seem like a 1 day fix.

VQ35DE · 01-17-2021, 12:48 PM

How far away was the car from the closest dealer ?

JitteryJoe · 01-18-2021, 08:20 AM

Not very, I think like 7 miles

arpad_m · 01-18-2021, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JitteryJoe

Yeah, I pulled the codes off it just now. Multiple misfires on both banks, enough to trip both Sets of O2 sensors for air fuel issues and to cause it not to start. I think I'm renting a car to drive home... definitely doesn't seem like a 1 day fix.

A single flaw can easily trigger a cascade of errors, don't lose heart just yet.

According to GM, the valve spring issue affects engines made between June 1st and Sept 15th, so the time range does compute if the car sat 4 months on the dealer lot: https://gmauthority.com/blog/2020/09...gm-v8-engines/

SirJangle · 01-18-2021, 09:11 AM

Damn, this just so totally sucks! I'm sorry you're dealing with this!

JitteryJoe · 01-18-2021, 10:16 AM

Yeah could be worse. I decided to visit family so it could have broke down in the West Virginia mountains in the snow instead.

JitteryJoe · 01-18-2021, 10:45 AM

Should I ask if they can port the heads while they're in there?

arpad_m · 01-18-2021, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JitteryJoe

Should I ask if they can port the heads while they're in there?

Heck, make them slap on a Maggie and LT4 injectors while they're at it

JitteryJoe · 01-20-2021, 07:47 AM

Should I be concerned about 1,000+ misfires on an engine that's probably not fully broken in yet?

01-17-2021, 06:50 AM	#1
JitteryJoe Drives: 21' LTI, '18 Traverse, '15 Mazda 6 Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: At the end of the DHL/Amazon Runway, KY Posts: 183	New LT1 Nightmare. Who else had one blow up on day 1? So after countless debating and searching for the perfect Camaro I finally pulled the trigger on a new 2021 LT1. Flew out to greater DC to buy and then drove to meet up with family before coming. Everything was all sunshine and rainbows until around mile 250 it started shaking and the esc and check engine lights started flashing. Now I am stuck 9 hours from home with no car. Dealer is not open on Sunday to diagnose. The only code onstar is showing is P0300 which i think might be O2 sensor? My wife's 18 traverse just had one go out and I feel like that was the issue but hers was post cat so no major issue. Its been on the lot for 4 months so I don't think it was old enough for the valve spring issues? Not really sure what to do. If I get a rental and drive home and its something that can be fixed on Monday its going to be dumb to drive 9 hours and back but on the other side I have family and work obligations at home. There are no good choices here.

01-17-2021, 07:00 AM	#2
SSDan Drives: 2016 1SS 6MT NPP Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Lake Murray, SC Posts: 2,243 View My Garage	This really sucks! I fear you are another victim of the infamous "broken valve" spring issue. I hope I'm wrong and that it is something easy and quick to fix. It's a hard call but I think I'd get the rental and get home. Then deal with the car once the dealership gives you their findings. Good luck! __________________ 2016 Camaro 1SS Hyper Blue 6MT NPP 2010 Camaro 2SS Cam/Headers/CAI/3.91 gears 476 rwhp/440 rwtq (sold)

01-17-2021, 07:18 AM	#3
cdb95z28 Drives: 2022 1SS 1LE A10 BCD WCT+PDR Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Johnstown, PA Posts: 3,200	Disconnect the battery to clear the codes. See what happens. If it is something simple and non-mechanical (valvespring) it might run fine for a short time before it throws the same code again. If it does this, then it's not the valve spring. __________________ 2022 1SS 1LE A10 BCD WCT+PDR2014 1SS 1LE NPP RECARO SIM-SOLD1995 Z28 M6 GSC PGM-SOLD1975 NOVA COUPE 300HP 350 TH350 FLASH RED-SOLD

01-17-2021, 07:47 AM	#4
VQ35DE Drives: 2013 / 2SS / RS / L99 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tennessee Posts: 827	Bet it is a broke spring. That means a complete new set (not the bad batch) for both heads. How far is the car from the selling dealer ? Last edited by VQ35DE; 01-17-2021 at 12:50 PM.

01-17-2021, 08:20 AM	#5
JitteryJoe Drives: 21' LTI, '18 Traverse, '15 Mazda 6 Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: At the end of the DHL/Amazon Runway, KY Posts: 183	I'm about 2.5 hours from the selling dealer so GM towed it to the closest one.

01-17-2021, 11:35 AM	#6
JitteryJoe Drives: 21' LTI, '18 Traverse, '15 Mazda 6 Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: At the end of the DHL/Amazon Runway, KY Posts: 183	Yeah, I pulled the codes off it just now. Multiple misfires on both banks, enough to trip both Sets of O2 sensors for air fuel issues and to cause it not to start. I think I'm renting a car to drive home... definitely doesn't seem like a 1 day fix.

01-17-2021, 12:48 PM	#7
VQ35DE Drives: 2013 / 2SS / RS / L99 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tennessee Posts: 827	How far away was the car from the closest dealer ?

01-18-2021, 08:20 AM	#8
JitteryJoe Drives: 21' LTI, '18 Traverse, '15 Mazda 6 Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: At the end of the DHL/Amazon Runway, KY Posts: 183	Not very, I think like 7 miles

01-18-2021, 09:11 AM	#10
SirJangle Drives: 2021 Acura RDX SH-AWD Advance Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 480 View My Garage	Damn, this just so totally sucks! I'm sorry you're dealing with this!

01-18-2021, 10:16 AM	#11
JitteryJoe Drives: 21' LTI, '18 Traverse, '15 Mazda 6 Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: At the end of the DHL/Amazon Runway, KY Posts: 183	Yeah could be worse. I decided to visit family so it could have broke down in the West Virginia mountains in the snow instead.

01-18-2021, 10:45 AM	#12
JitteryJoe Drives: 21' LTI, '18 Traverse, '15 Mazda 6 Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: At the end of the DHL/Amazon Runway, KY Posts: 183	Should I ask if they can port the heads while they're in there?

01-20-2021, 07:47 AM	#14
JitteryJoe Drives: 21' LTI, '18 Traverse, '15 Mazda 6 Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: At the end of the DHL/Amazon Runway, KY Posts: 183	Should I be concerned about 1,000+ misfires on an engine that's probably not fully broken in yet?

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