Customers Knock GM on Noisy Engines

Detroit Free Press ^ | November 14, 2003 | Jocelyn Parker

[ShadowDancer]

Owners of some of General Motors Corp.'s most expensive light trucks, including the GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Silverado, say the vehicles they paid more than $30,000 for may be worthless now because of loud, irritating knocking noises in their engines, lawyers tell the Free Press.

[Khurkris]

You want LOUD? Try having a neighbor with a newer DIESEL truck! This dadgum thing wakes the dead when its running. Fortunately he had had the good sense to get rid of it. All of the newer diesel trucks I have seen are ridiculously LOUD.

[drlevy88]

The company, however, promises that the knocking won't cause any damage to the engine because the carbon that has formed on the ring land isn't hard enough to damage the cylinder wall.

If this stuff is softer than the cylinder wall, the impact should be dislodging it and it should be going harmlessly out the exhaust (well, harmlessly until it clogs the cat). This sounds strange.

[AmericaUnited]

Time to get out the motor honey...

[Leroy S. Mort]

According to Martiny and his attorney, Vince Megna, GM finally bought back the truck about a month ago. The company paid Martiny's $20,000 loan balance, plus another $20,000 and took care of his attorney fees.

This just made my hearing much more acute.....

[Post Toasties]

I always thought piston slap was what happened to the worn out engines of old neglected junkers.

[G.Mason]

"This just made my hearing much more acute....."

LOL

[glock rocks]

I havent had this problem with my truck. oh, but it's a dodge.

[toddst]

<. . . consumers, many of whom are loyal GM customers, say they're disappointed that there isn't a fix for the problems.

I had not heard about this earlier. Wonder how many engines are affected?

Sounds like a specific piston ring design used in some engines, but not all. The "fix" is a replacement short-block by GM. I suspect this is being done in some cases, as opposed to buying back the vehicle.

I'm curious whether any FReepers have had this specific engine knock experience & how it was dealt with by GM.

[toddst]

. . . consumers, many of whom are loyal GM customers, say they're disappointed that there isn't a fix for the problems.

I had not heard about this earlier. Wonder how many engines are affected?

Sounds like a specific piston ring design used in some engines, but not all. The "fix" is a replacement short-block by GM. I suspect this is being done in some cases, as opposed to buying back the vehicle.

I'm curious whether any FReepers have had this specific engine knock experience & how it was dealt with by GM.

[ShadowDancer]

Piston Slap

[pt17]

contact between the engine's pistons and cylinders, may be damaging in the long run.

Sounds like the beancounters have been playing around in the engineering department again.

[dakine]

Maybe I need a marriage of a GM transmission with my Dodge 5.9 V-8....

[dglang]

Back in the late 70's and early 80's time frame, GM signed a consent decree with the federal government because all of the small block engines made during that time, across all of the GM line which includes all makes and models had a problem with the cam shaft not being sufficiently hardened
and therefore wearing out prematurely.

I had purchased a new 79 Chevy K30 crew cab pickup truck. At about the 20,000 mile mark, the engine lost power and started knocking. My local dealer replaced the cam and lifters with the cost for them and the labor to replace them totally covered by GM.

[toddst]

Back in the late 70's and early 80's time frame, GM signed a consent decree with the federal government because all of the small block engines made during that time, across all of the GM line which includes all makes and models had a problem with the cam shaft not being sufficiently hardened and therefore wearing out prematurely.

I bought a 1984 Cadillac El Dorado new, had the same experience with power loss. They replaced the entire engine with no arguement.

[FreedomPoster]

I was wondering who would be first, a Dodge or a Ford man.

;-)

[oh8eleven]

If you accelerate, you can hear this vehicle 100 feet away.
Way back when ... I had a '68 Camaro SS (350) and when I accelerated you could hear it 100 miles away.

[RightOnline]

I've had numerous GM vehicles with big block engines (especially the 350). Love 'em...........including my '93 Suburban.

Has over 150K miles........runs like a watch.........and ..........it's paid for.

[doodad]

I had a '68 Camaro SS (350)

Ask my neighbors about my 96 F-1 camaro. LOL, they with they could hear the engine over the full exhaust.

[doodad]

RRR with=wish