Be careful if you have to get towed

Yippee38 · 07-17-2021, 04:33 PM

I've got a 2018 2SS 1LE.

During the last year, I took the opportunity presented by my employer to take time off. The last time I took off was January and February. My car sat pretty much the entire time. As a result, the battery went dead. I tried to charge it, but it wouldn't take a charge. So I called the local dealership to get the battery replaced under warranty. The dealer said they had to test the battery in the car, so they'd set up a tow with GM Roadside Assistance. The tow truck company showed up quick. They had to put my car onto the flatbed tail first. I watched the driver do his thing. Of course, he dragged the front splitter across my driveway and scratched the crap out of the bottom of it. I said something, and he played stupid, "Really?" He corrected what he was doing, got the car onto the flatbed, then secured it.

I didn't check to see what he hooked the winch to, or how he secured it. I know he didn't secure it with a web net over the tires (other towing companies had done that one previous cars of mine), or through the wheels.

Anyway, I got the car back with a new battery, and all was fine.

For a month.

Then, driving to work one day, any time I jumped on the gas, or his a decent bump, the rear end of the car would oscillate left and right pretty violently. It was a very strange feeling. I got off the expressway, and drove it slowly and carefully to work and home. The next day, I got under it, and I found this:

I took it back to the dealer, and they replaced that lower trailing link. It wasn't covered under warranty because it was obviously caused by damage. The technician and the service writer both said that when they held the two halves together, it was clear that something had pulled down the trailing link, causing stress. The stamped steel, the gave way over time. After a month, GM Roadside Assistance finally paid for the replacement of the trailing link. Everybody involved was convinced that the tow truck driver had hooked the winch to that trailing link, and then cranked down on the winch to secure the back of the car. That bent the edge of the trailing link, which led to failure.

If you ever have to get your car towed, make sure they do not hook onto the rear suspension stamped steel parts.

I've got BMR replacements ready to go in first chance I get for all of those stamped steel parts.

KyBoy · 07-17-2021, 04:40 PM

Hate that thise happened. There is tow hook spots, front and back.......

I stand corrected, there isn't one in the back. This still could have been avoided with a driver that cared to not damage your property.

We see too far.

Jb54 · 07-17-2021, 05:00 PM

Love the "Firehawk"! I had an 02 WS.6.

CamaroSSStlfan · 07-17-2021, 08:04 PM

Well, I'm out of warranty so if my car ever has to get towed I go through USAA. It gets screwed up I'll tell them they or the tow company will be covering the cost.

Pupilbone · 07-17-2021, 08:13 PM

Good tip. Thanks.

MR's 2SS · 07-17-2021, 08:20 PM

I know it was warrantee.... But towing it to the dealership to get tested seems extreme to me from the get go.
Im thinking for the cost of a battery and the 15 minutes it might have taken to replace it.... I would just change out my own battery.
I never even went back to the dealership to get my free oil change.
Just not worth it to me.

CamaroSSStlfan · 07-17-2021, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MR's 2SS

I know it was warrantee.... But towing it to the dealership to get tested seems extreme to me from the get go.
Im thinking for the cost of a battery and the 15 minutes it might have taken to replace it.... I would just change out my own battery.
I never even went back to the dealership to get my free oil change.
Just not worth it to me.

I agree. At least the dealer by my I wouldn't trust. I'd rather pay out of pocket than them dicking around with my car. You're rolling the dice going to a Chevy dealer even for a oil change. There are legit service centers like Stingray I've heard great things about but that's not the norm with GM.

sengli · 07-17-2021, 09:51 PM

These are wonderful precise cars, but they are light weight and very fragile. To the tow driver that was just a handy thing to secure to.

Redlinez · 07-18-2021, 07:05 AM

There are just as many if not more untrustworthy "aftermarket" shops out there. I see their work all the time at the dealership where I work. You just have to find a technician/service advisor combo who you can trust. You're way better off going to a shop that knows these cars regardless of where you chose.

jamala00 · 07-18-2021, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamaroSSStlfan

I agree. At least the dealer by my I wouldn't trust. I'd rather pay out of pocket than them dicking around with my car. You're rolling the dice going to a Chevy dealer even for a oil change. There are legit service centers like Stingray I've heard great things about but that's not the norm with GM.

I've seen this so many times in so many posts. Are all the GM/Chevy dealers everywhere in the US crap except the one that is here by me? I've taken all our GM vehicles to the dealership here by me for almost 30 years now, including my Camaro. Never once have had an issue. I take my Camaro to the dealer for oil & filter change. I'm not crawling around on the garage floor. Too damb old for that. Not to mention getting rid of fluids around here is a pain as well. Glad I have a reputable GM Dealer in my area.

tommcd24 · 07-18-2021, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamala00

I've seen this so many times in so many posts. Are all the GM/Chevy dealers everywhere in the US crap except the one that is here by me? I've taken all our GM vehicles to the dealership here by me for almost 30 years now, including my Camaro. Never once have had an issue. I take my Camaro to the dealer for oil & filter change. I'm not crawling around on the garage floor. Too damb old for that. Not to mention getting rid of fluids around here is a pain as well. Glad I have a reputable GM Dealer in my area.

+1 for having found a good reputable dealer. I used to have two trustworthy GM dealers within 15-20 minutes, one closed, but the other still gets all my business. Great people and great service. It just depends on the company, management, how they treat there staff, and if the staff are happy and then treat their customers well.

Just because one dealer/store/restaurant is bad doesn’t mean all are. At the same time, I’m not disagreeing with anyone who has had poor service, because I’ve been there as well. And what happened to OP’s car is unacceptable. Chances are the driver saw the damage when he unhooked, but didn’t want to own up to the mistake.

FarmerFran · 07-18-2021, 09:16 AM

Interesting, both times I got towed by GM they sent out a "special" roll back. Not only did the truck have a lowering air suspension the guy specifically knew how to deal with "performance" cars.

And yes I am still pissed about seeing my brand new Camaro on a wrecker twice!!

Gunkk · 07-18-2021, 09:19 AM

OP, thanks for sharing.

Rayvan · 07-18-2021, 01:03 PM

Tow truck driver sux. As for dragging the nose; Did the dealer you bought the car from give you your orange spring-spacers when you bought the car? Gives the nose a bit more clearance for towing. Need to take the weight off the front to install them, but it's not hard to do at all...

07-17-2021, 04:33 PM	#1
Yippee38 Drives: '11 SGM 1LT/RS, '02 SOM Firehawk Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: near Chicago Posts: 450	Be careful if you have to get towed I've got a 2018 2SS 1LE. During the last year, I took the opportunity presented by my employer to take time off. The last time I took off was January and February. My car sat pretty much the entire time. As a result, the battery went dead. I tried to charge it, but it wouldn't take a charge. So I called the local dealership to get the battery replaced under warranty. The dealer said they had to test the battery in the car, so they'd set up a tow with GM Roadside Assistance. The tow truck company showed up quick. They had to put my car onto the flatbed tail first. I watched the driver do his thing. Of course, he dragged the front splitter across my driveway and scratched the crap out of the bottom of it. I said something, and he played stupid, "Really?" He corrected what he was doing, got the car onto the flatbed, then secured it. I didn't check to see what he hooked the winch to, or how he secured it. I know he didn't secure it with a web net over the tires (other towing companies had done that one previous cars of mine), or through the wheels. Anyway, I got the car back with a new battery, and all was fine. For a month. Then, driving to work one day, any time I jumped on the gas, or his a decent bump, the rear end of the car would oscillate left and right pretty violently. It was a very strange feeling. I got off the expressway, and drove it slowly and carefully to work and home. The next day, I got under it, and I found this: I took it back to the dealer, and they replaced that lower trailing link. It wasn't covered under warranty because it was obviously caused by damage. The technician and the service writer both said that when they held the two halves together, it was clear that something had pulled down the trailing link, causing stress. The stamped steel, the gave way over time. After a month, GM Roadside Assistance finally paid for the replacement of the trailing link. Everybody involved was convinced that the tow truck driver had hooked the winch to that trailing link, and then cranked down on the winch to secure the back of the car. That bent the edge of the trailing link, which led to failure. If you ever have to get your car towed, make sure they do not hook onto the rear suspension stamped steel parts. I've got BMR replacements ready to go in first chance I get for all of those stamped steel parts. __________________ Yippee38

07-17-2021, 04:40 PM	#2
KyBoy Drives: '17 2SS H50 Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Louisa, Ky Posts: 3,952	Hate that thise happened. There is tow hook spots, front and back....... I stand corrected, there isn't one in the back. This still could have been avoided with a driver that cared to not damage your property. We see too far. __________________ 2017 H50-2SS-MN6-F55-NPP-RIK-WL4-IO6 1100 - 5/26 0000 - Cancelled - 7/5 Contacted Becky - 7/1 2000 - 7/5 3000 - 7/6 3000 - 7/11 TPW 8/1 3100 - 7/18 TPW 8/1 3300 - 7/20 3400 - 7/21 Built - 8/2 - PS 1,182/1 of 699US 4300 - 8/3 5000 - 8/5 6000 - 8/13

07-17-2021, 08:13 PM	#5
Pupilbone Drives: 2019 Crush ZL1 M6 Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Grimsby, Ontario Posts: 708 View My Garage	Good tip. Thanks. __________________ #SaveTheManuals

07-17-2021, 08:20 PM	#6
MR's 2SS Drives: 2020 2SS Vert/M6/F250 SD Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Jersey Posts: 379	I know it was warrantee.... But towing it to the dealership to get tested seems extreme to me from the get go. Im thinking for the cost of a battery and the 15 minutes it might have taken to replace it.... I would just change out my own battery. I never even went back to the dealership to get my free oil change. Just not worth it to me. __________________

07-17-2021, 09:51 PM	#8
sengli Drives: 2015commemorative vert 2SS Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: northern Indiana Posts: 949	These are wonderful precise cars, but they are light weight and very fragile. To the tow driver that was just a handy thing to secure to. __________________ 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

07-17-2021, 05:00 PM	#3
Jb54 Drives: 2019 Camaro SS M6 Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: Nebraska Posts: 181	Love the "Firehawk"! I had an 02 WS.6.

07-17-2021, 08:04 PM	#4
CamaroSSStlfan Account Suspended Drives: 2016 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: FL Posts: 1,129	Well, I'm out of warranty so if my car ever has to get towed I go through USAA. It gets screwed up I'll tell them they or the tow company will be covering the cost.

07-18-2021, 07:05 AM	#9
Redlinez Shifts under load Drives: 2020 Camaro 1SS 1LE rally green Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Fuquay-Varina, NC Posts: 1,295	There are just as many if not more untrustworthy "aftermarket" shops out there. I see their work all the time at the dealership where I work. You just have to find a technician/service advisor combo who you can trust. You're way better off going to a shop that knows these cars regardless of where you chose. __________________ 24 Audi S3 prem plus, sport package HPDE - southeast - JTI- solo, PCA- blue. 22 Suzuki GSX-S 1000GT blue

07-18-2021, 09:16 AM	#12
FarmerFran Drives: 2023 ZL1 Vert M6 "Sharky" Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: Earth Posts: 4,046	Interesting, both times I got towed by GM they sent out a "special" roll back. Not only did the truck have a lowering air suspension the guy specifically knew how to deal with "performance" cars. And yes I am still pissed about seeing my brand new Camaro on a wrecker twice!! __________________ 2023 Camaro ZL1 Vert TR-6060 Sharkskin "Sharky" Firecracker Red Wrangler Willys, 3.6L eTorque, 850RE 8 speed automatic, 25W Willys package, Technology Group, Convenience Group (aka $600 garage door opener), Cold weather Group, Trailer Tow and HD electric group with AUX switches, 3 piece black freedom top.

07-18-2021, 09:19 AM	#13
Gunkk Thank you Al Oppenheiser! Drives: Red Hot A10 ZL1 Convertible Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 5,003 View My Garage	OP, thanks for sharing.

07-18-2021, 01:03 PM	#14
Rayvan Rayvan Drives: 2018 1SS1LE, Silver Ice Metallic Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 275	Tow truck driver sux. As for dragging the nose; Did the dealer you bought the car from give you your orange spring-spacers when you bought the car? Gives the nose a bit more clearance for towing. Need to take the weight off the front to install them, but it's not hard to do at all...

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