H3 needed new engine ALREADY?

[Dani]

So.....I've had my H3 for almost 6 months now. I went on a 10 day vacation and left the H3 home. When I returned home to drive it to work- the service engine soon light had come on. I thought it was odd but it seemed to be running just fine. I decided to take it to the service dept. to get it checked out. Two days after being at the service dept. the service manager calls me and tells me that my engine needs to be rebuilt as the cylinder's are misfiring. Has anyone else had this problem?

[Hmmm2]

I did not have to have my engine rebuilt, but I did have to have a cylinder head/valve replaced somewheres around 6 months of owning it.

[HummBebe]

Originally Posted by Dani

So.....I've had my H3 for almost 6 months now. I went on a 10 day vacation and left the H3 home. When I returned home to drive it to work- the service engine soon light had come on. I thought it was odd but it seemed to be running just fine. I decided to take it to the service dept. to get it checked out. Two days after being at the service dept. the service manager calls me and tells me that my engine needs to be rebuilt as the cylinder's are misfiring. Has anyone else had this problem?

Why is it that I'm always hearing that people are leaving their trucks at the dealer for "days" without a diagnosis???

I get a response from my dealer within a couple of hours.

That's just crazy....pull the code and look it up. WTF???

[NEOCON1]

i camp out with mine whenever it has to stay over night

[MountainBlue]

Originally Posted by HummBebe

Why is it that I'm always hearing that people are leaving their trucks at the dealer for "days" without a diagnosis???

I get a response from my dealer within a couple of hours.

That's just crazy....pull the code and look it up. WTF???

Because of GM's sh*t policy that you can only get warranty work done at your brand's dealership, except in emergency cases. Since Hummer dealers are few and far between in most places except for the coasts, they're jammed with work and most of the time understaffed. Plus, since you've got no choice there's no pressure from them to get it done.

[HummBebe]

Originally Posted by MountainBlue

Because of GM's sh*t policy that you can only get warranty work done at your brand's dealership, except in emergency cases. Since Hummer dealers are few and far between in most places except for the coasts, they're jammed with work and most of the time understaffed. Plus, since you've got no choice there's no pressure from them to get it done.

If that's the case then that's CRAP.

I can see the work taking a while, but a diagnosis and a action plan should not take "days".

[f5fstop]

My dealer must be doing something wrong. I stop by and have coffee and they are dead in service. However, if a dealer is busy and all qualified techs are working then it is on a first come first serve basis. This is the same at any dealer, and any manufacturer. Not all techs in each dealer are qualified to diagnose an engine problem. Some techs will be only trim/radio/seats, etc., and some will only be heavy repair such as trans/engine/axles/etc.
However, this is a known defect and has a bulletin issued. Idles rough, code P0300-5, fails test and a new head should be ordered immediately.
As for taking to another dealer. I guess no one has tried to take a Vette into a Pontiac dealer for service, or a Cadillac into a Chevy dealer for service. You will be asked to take it to the proper dealer, unless it is a major repair the dealer can perform.
For the cylinder head issue, not all GM dealers have the correct special tool to perform the repair. Off the top of my head, only Hummer/Chevy or GMC would have this tool.

[Dani]

Originally Posted by HummBebe

Why is it that I'm always hearing that people are leaving their trucks at the dealer for "days" without a diagnosis???

I get a response from my dealer within a couple of hours.

That's just crazy....pull the code and look it up. WTF???

I think I had to wait for a few days because I didn't make an appointment to bring it in for service. Just drove it down and dropped it off. They said they'd get to it when they could. Normally when I take it in for service they look at it immediately.

[Dani]

Originally Posted by MountainBlue

Because of GM's sh*t policy that you can only get warranty work done at your brand's dealership, except in emergency cases. Since Hummer dealers are few and far between in most places except for the coasts, they're jammed with work and most of the time understaffed. Plus, since you've got no choice there's no pressure from them to get it done.

I bought my H3 from a Hummer dealership but when I require service- they send me to the Chevrolet dealer to have it fixed. Is that normal?

[Dani]

Originally Posted by f5fstop

My dealer must be doing something wrong. I stop by and have coffee and they are dead in service. However, if a dealer is busy and all qualified techs are working then it is on a first come first serve basis. This is the same at any dealer, and any manufacturer. Not all techs in each dealer are qualified to diagnose an engine problem. Some techs will be only trim/radio/seats, etc., and some will only be heavy repair such as trans/engine/axles/etc.
However, this is a known defect and has a bulletin issued. Idles rough, code P0300-5, fails test and a new head should be ordered immediately.
As for taking to another dealer. I guess no one has tried to take a Vette into a Pontiac dealer for service, or a Cadillac into a Chevy dealer for service. You will be asked to take it to the proper dealer, unless it is a major repair the dealer can perform.
For the cylinder head issue, not all GM dealers have the correct special tool to perform the repair. Off the top of my head, only Hummer/Chevy or GMC would have this tool.

So my question is- since this is a known defect- should I be worried about it happening again? I mean I didn't even know anything was wrong with it to begin with. It ran/drove the same as it did on the day I bought it. I didn't notice anything other than the service engine soon light being on. I mean I'm not by any means a rough driver so I doubt it's something I caused. Hopefully I don't have any more engine troubles. I'm paranoid now lol

[f5fstop]

Originally Posted by Dani

So my question is- since this is a known defect- should I be worried about it happening again? I mean I didn't even know anything was wrong with it to begin with. It ran/drove the same as it did on the day I bought it. I didn't notice anything other than the service engine soon light being on. I mean I'm not by any means a rough driver so I doubt it's something I caused. Hopefully I don't have any more engine troubles. I'm paranoid now lol

No, the cylinder head issue, if that is what the problem actually is, has been fixed with new cylinder heads that have harder guides. It is not due to rough driving, in fact, no one really can figure out why, it happens to some, but not all. I have a very early H3, with 17K and no problem with the cylinder head. Why? I run it rough. No one seems to know why. (I have my ideas, but they are not proven and NOT official.)
I guess we all have to accept the fact that some glitches happen, and hopefully, GM has learned from them and corrected the problem.
Looking at overall warranty on the H3, it is very low when compared to other vehicles, produced by GM or other companies. There have been issues on the early rear axles, front axle (but only under high stress conditions), and naturally batteries.

[wpage]

Go with the flo. Take the engine and run. Why let some local hoople mess with something he may fudge up!!

[MountainBlue]

Originally Posted by Dani

I bought my H3 from a Hummer dealership but when I require service- they send me to the Chevrolet dealer to have it fixed. Is that normal?

NO!!! I couldn't even get the local chevy dealer to look at a blow tail light blub for christ's sake!! The local GMC dealer told me I'd haveto drive 100miles round trip for the blub to be replaced under warranty. Or do it myself. What a bunch of SH*T!! Love the H3, but I won't ever buy another GM because of their wacked warranty policies. I should have read them before I bought the truck.

[Hmmm2]

Originally Posted by Dani

I bought my H3 from a Hummer dealership but when I require service- they send me to the Chevrolet dealer to have it fixed. Is that normal?

Each Hummer dealer is matched up with another GM vehicle, as far as I can see. In our area we have two Hummer/Cadillac dealers, and a Hummer/Pontiac dealer. Yours must be paired up with a Chevy dealer and that's probably where their service department is for both vehicles. Good luck. I'm sure it's going to work out.

[f5fstop]

Originally Posted by MountainBlue

NO!!! I couldn't even get the local chevy dealer to look at a blow tail light blub for christ's sake!! The local GMC dealer told me I'd haveto drive 100miles round trip for the blub to be replaced under warranty. Or do it myself. What a bunch of SH*T!! Love the H3, but I won't ever buy another GM because of their wacked warranty policies. I should have read them before I bought the truck.

Well, don't buy a Jeep and try and get it serviced at a Dodge dealer; same holds true for Lexus versus Toyota, Infinity versus Nissan, unless it is an emergency. So, to day GM is the only one with a wacked service policy is not correct; that is if you consider that a wacked service policy. I knew when I purchased my Hummer that I would be confined to a Hummer dealer unless it was considered an emergency and the dealer I was at could service it. That might be because I work for GM. However, when I had my Jeep, I knew when I purchased it I was confined to a Jeep dealer for service. I guess I researched Jeep...

[Dani]

On another note- why is it that I can't get **** from my dealership? I gave them thousands of dollars of my money and they can't even give me a damn Team Hummer toy. Now I'm not asking for a million bucks here. Just the free damn Team Hummer H3
They didn't even give me a damn keychain when I bought it either. I keep hearing how lots of dealerships are taking care of their customers.....not mine! My dealership hasn't even had any Hummer happenings or anything and I've had my H3 for almost 6 months. Ridiculous

[f5fstop]

What dealer?

[RubHer Yellow Ducky]

Originally Posted by Dani

On another note- why is it that I can't get **** from my dealership? I gave them thousands of dollars of my money and they can't even give me a damn Team Hummer toy. Now I'm not asking for a million bucks here. Just the free damn Team Hummer H3
They didn't even give me a damn keychain when I bought it either. I keep hearing how lots of dealerships are taking care of their customers.....not mine! My dealership hasn't even had any Hummer happenings or anything and I've had my H3 for almost 6 months. Ridiculous

Purchase 2 H-3's in Jan 06, haven't heard from my dealer since...

RYD

[Dani]

Originally Posted by f5fstop

What dealer?

Ed Schmidt in Maumee OH

[f5fstop]

Originally Posted by Dani

Ed Schmidt in Maumee OH

Ohio...what do you expect....

Actually, the only way I hear from my dealer is when I stop by and say hello, and steal donuts.
They have had two Hummer Happenings; one looked ok, off-roading somewhere in Genesee or Lapeer county (I believe); the other was for some sports thing in Port Huron (that sucked in my opinion). The first one I could not make since I was in TN at Windrock, the second I did not even answer.
I have told them they require more of these happenings, but it seems to fall on deaf ears.
It does disappoint me, but it would not stop me from purchasing another Hummer from this dealer. They treated me great as a customer, and the two times I have been in service, they did the repair right the first time. (I told them what was wrong, but they still fixed it right the first time... )