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I bring before the GL4x4 Court...

3K views 29 replies 16 participants last post by  MonkeyBiz 
#1 · (Edited)
So, here's the deal.

When I bought my 1999 GMC Sierra, the very next day I took it to my 'trusted' oil change place. Told them I wanted everything changed, Oil, Trans fluid, TC fluid, differencials so I knew everything had been done. That was over a year ago. Since then between 3 & 5000 miles I have exclusivly gotten my truck serviced there. Every time I say I want a "Full Service" done.

Fast forward to last week. While doing some work on the truck I check out my front Dshaft ujoints. I notice that the front axle doesn't spin. After doing some testing with the front actuator it comes apparent that something is stuck in the TC, not allowing a true 2wd. So Saturday, since I needed an oil changed anyways, I went to my trusted oil change place. Tell them, "Full Service". So they start.

I then get out of my truck, and start talking to the guy in the pit. I ask him to check my TC fluid level. He cracks the fill plug and a drip comes out. He quickly closes it and says, "Yep, it's full". I told him to pull it all the way off, I want to see the fluid. He removes the plug completley, and nothing comes out. Sticks finger in it, and it's dry. Stick a paper towel down it, and it's dry. Tell him to pull the drain. A 1/2 quard of ATF comes out. I tell him to flush and refill. He askes if I have the TC is Automatic of Manual. I tell him automatic, as I have an Auto 4wd option. He pulls out the synthetic Dextron II stuff that is ment for it. This was checked by myself calling the dealership to verify.

I called their "Corporate Office" ( it's a locally owned place) and asked them their definition of a full service. They said all fluids changed/topped off/ replaced at a minum checked, minus brake fluid, tires PSI check, air and cabin filter check, chassis greased and doors lubed. I plan on talking to the Owner tomorrow as I belive that they owe me either a rebuilt transfer case or to rebuild mine. I'm sure I'll get the, "You should have done it your self" arguement, but I didn't I paid a business for a service which I don't feel recieved and now I believe my TC has been damaged, by their fault. What say GL4x4 court.

Here is the fluid that came out. You can see a small dab of the fluid that should be in there (blue)

 
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#4 ·
This is why I do every thing my self.
I took my old truck a 97 ranger to an oil change place two weeks later my motor was knocking and the oil drain plug was completely striped I talk to the owner and he told me to fuck off Basically.
Ever sense then I have never and will never pay to get my stuff worked on or fluids changed again
Live and learn I guess
 
#12 ·
Grab your receipts showing 'full service' and talk to the owner, explaining how you trust his business to take good care of your truck and that you are sure this is just an oversight on their part. If he's concerned about his business reputation he should offer some sort of remediation. If not, then unleash the lawyers.























































Oops, almost forgot, Anal rape. This is the Court of GL4x4 after all.
 
#13 · (Edited)
Grab your receipts showing 'full service' and talk to the owner, explaining how you trust his business to take good care of your truck and that you are sure this is just an oversight on their part. If he's concerned about his business reputation he should offer some sort of remediation. If not, then unleash the lawyers.
Oops, almost forgot, Anal rape. This is the Court of GL4x4 after all.
Yeah, thats the plan in the AM. I don't think my reciepts actually say "Full Service" on them. It's just what I've always said when I come in. After looking I've noticed that it one some of the reciepts it says that they've checked the "Tranmission/Xfer" fluid and that it was OK... I think this is my saving grace. That is also why I called to ask their Companie's definition of what a Full service entails. All the workers there know me and my vehicels.
 
#17 ·
Just for info purposes.
There is an issue with the GM Auto Trac fluid (the blue stuff) evaporating from the auto transfer cases especially when used for towing.
Saw this first hand on a K3500. I checked the t-case fluid when he brought it to us for it's first service and assumed (remember what that means) if it did not leak it should still be full. I was wrong and paid for a t-case rebuild. My transmission specialist told me about this from a rebuilders article he read.
 
#18 ·
Which I would totally not have a problem with. There is little to zero doubt, that it was filled with ATF, and not the Auto Trac stuff. Also, it should have been filled with the blue stuff, every time I was there then also.
 
#20 ·
What is your concern? That the Auto trac transfer cases stays locked in? Every autotrac I have owned stayed locked in 2wd. They may have filled it, but it may have leaked out. GM t cases are notorious for getting pump rub holes in them causing a slow leak. Full it up and keep an eye on the level your t case is probably fine.
 
#21 ·
I have several friends that have the same driveline, in either surbans or avalanches. Their front driveshafts spin by hand when in 2wd, freely. One of the testing we did was to engage the front actuator, locking the passenger shafts, raising the rear end, unplugging the actuator so it stayed locked, putting back in 2wd and putting it it drive. We almost immediatly stopped, as the griding was horrible. I talked to my cousin, who is a parts guy at GM in GR and he said the ATF in those transfer cases really, really piss off the clutches.

Did you see the picture.. That is not Auto Trac fluid that came out. It is ATF.
 
#25 ·
They charged for full service. I talked to their person who deals with claims today. I gave her the run down, she reviewd my account. She said that she needed to do some checking with the manager and employees of that store, and that they woulld be getting back to me. She started to say that tranfer cases weren't included in their full service check, as some new vehicles they are sealed. I reminded her that my truck isn't one of those, and at the very least, if they claim that their 'full service' at a minium checks all fluids beside brake and power stearing, that I should have been notified, which I wasn't. She agreed, and said from my customer history, that I often had diffs check/filled, tranny flushed, that it wouldn't be much of a reasonable strech that the TC would have been caught at some point it the past 2 years I've had the truck if they had done their job. She said they would definatly be back in touch after they did their own little internal investigation.

I told her that I would work with them, and that if there was a particular place that they prefered to have the work done, that I would consider their option.
 
#26 ·
If it doesn't list exactly what Full service means with the products they used, and how much of them they used, then they don't know how to run a business very well IMO. It should have all the details on the receipt. Hell, they probably should have gone over the list each time with you.:thumb:
 
#29 ·
There's really nothing that can be done, because it was like that when you brought it in. You can't prove that they didn't fill it last time, because you left the shop, something could have happened and the fluid drained out or you could have drained it yourself and brought it in to and are trying to get something out of them.

I don't agree with that, but that is exactly what is going to be said. You can't prove they didn't do it last time, no matter how obvious it is.

The just lost your business, and are going to get a bad word out from you and probably everyone on here. That's the best that can be done
 
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