Our Truck is back on the Road.
Here's the whole story, start to finish. Kind of a long read but hey, your not that busy.
I learned a valuable lesson too.
The story begins with a problem I started having on April 15, 2009. I started the truck to go shopping. It ran but was spitting and sputtering and blowing a lot of blue and black smoke. It was as if it was getting too much fuel. We drove off and as I increased speed and it shifted into 2nd it smoothed out and seemed much better. When we stopped, the scenario started all over. Wednesday evening we went to Applebee’s for dinner with the truck still running bad. When we tried to leave after dinner the truck failed to start. We had the truck towed to the local Chevy dealer in Sterling IL. The next day I contacted the dealer and they couldn’t work on the truck because they didn’t have a diesel technician. I was able to get the truck running and drove it down the street to Ken Nelson GMC. The saga begins.
Nelson’s diagnosis was a Faulty Connector for the control module. They would have to get authorization from my GE Warranty Service before beginning the repair which was to re-solder 50 new pins into the connector. They also found a leak in the shaft of the power steering pump. Thursday afternoon I received a call and was told the repair was authorized for $643 and work would be done. I called Friday for a status report and was told parts were on order and would arrive Monday. Parts? I thought it was to be re-soldered. I suppose it’s safer to install new than to repair. I went to the truck Friday afternoon to get some things we would need for the weekend. While there I saw the disassembled connector on the bench. The tech said the parts were due Monday.
I called Tuesday the 21st and was told the connector didn’t completely cure the problem and now the problem is the injectors. Not to worry though, it’s all covered by a GM extended warranty and it’s only an eight hour job. But! There were no parts in stock and it would take 24 to 48 hours to get parts. I went to the dealer Thursday afternoon, 48 hours later, to see how things were going. Still no parts and they were being shipped from California. They should arrive Friday the 25th. They can remove the old injectors to get a head start on the job. Friday we got a call from John that the parts had arrived. At this point I assumed the truck would be done sometime Monday the 27th.
I get a call from John Monday afternoon and they are having trouble. It’s taking much longer than expected and he would get back to me. He called again around 4:30 and said he was hoping to finish the job Tuesday. They still had one bank to finish. That translates to 4 out of 8 injectors. They’re only half way done? He would call me by noon Tuesday with a report. Keep in mind, they are not sure that this will solve the problem. It’s now almost 9AM Tuesday the 28th. I’m very frustrated with the whole situation. I feel as if they are only working on my truck when time permits and they are doing their own regular customers service ahead of mine.
It’s Tuesday, April 28, 2009. I get a call from John just before noon. They have about an hour and a half worth of work to do and then a test drive. It should be ready by 3 PM. I get the call a little after three. John says it has a very slight hesitation but only while cold. If I can live with that, I can pick it up. We arrive at Ken Nelson GMC and get all the paperwork done and talk with the tech regarding the slight hesitation and the injectors. I get in the truck to leave and low and behold, the truck won’t start. Isn’t this just peachy. John and the tech both come out and it looks like the truck will be staying a while longer. John has arranged for a free rental for us. The saga continues.
The following morning, Tuesday, the truck was taken to a nearby “sister” dealer in Dixon. They just happen to have a Master Diesel tech for Duramax engines. I got a call from Jeremy in Dixon saying they detected gasoline in my diesel fuel. No way say I. I mentioned I had receipts in the console. Jeremy calls me back. I screwed up big time. 21 gallons of unleaded regular were mixed in with my diesel fuel. Jeremy hopes the new injectors aren’t damaged. They are going to drain the tank, purge everything and hope for the best.
It’s now Wednesday. Two weeks from the day this all started. I got a call from John. He can’t explain why his guy didn’t find the contaminated fuel in the first place. I agree but what’s done is done. The good news is the truck is done. The bad news! I only have to pay for the services provided by the other dealer. The total bill to me was $265.00. To me, that’s not bad news at all. The saga is over and I learned a lesson. And my new injectors are OK.