I know this isn't about a cobalt but look at what GM is trying to blame for melted pistons

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Document ID: 2387499
#PIP4765: Engine Misfire And No Compression Due To Piston Damage - Inspect For High Performance Aftermarket Accessories - (Jan 25, 2010)

Subject: Engine Misfire and No Compression due to Piston Damage - Inspect for High Performance Aftermarket Accessories

Models: 2007-2010 Cadillac Escalade
2007-2010 Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe
2007-2010 GMC Sierra, Yukon
2007-2010 Hummer H2
with Any of the Following V8 Engine RPO Codes:
L76, L77, L92, L94, L9H, LC9, LFA, LH6, LH8, LH9, LMG, LY2, LY5, LY6, or LZ1

The following diagnosis might be helpful if the vehicle exhibits the symptom(s) described in this PI.
Condition/Concern:

Some customers may complain of a SES light and a constant engine misfire. In some cases, they may also complain of an engine tick/knock noise. During diagnosis, the technician will find no compression on the misfiring cylinder(s) with 100% leakage into the crankcase.

This may be the result of an aftermarket ECM calibrations/components and detonation that lead to a melted piston.
Recommendation/Instructions:

If SI diagnosis isolates no compression on the misfiring cylinder(s) with 100% leakage into the crankcase, perform the following steps as necessary before disassembling the engine:

1. If a lighted bore scope is available, inspect the top of the related piston(s) through the spark plug hole to determine if any of the pistons are melted as shown below. These photos all show examples of pistons that were damaged/melted due to detonation that was induced from aftermarket calibrations and/or components. If this type of piston damage is noted, it is most likely the result of aftermarket ECM calibrations and/or components. Follow the remaining steps to determine if this is a warrantable repair. If this type of piston damage is present and aftermarket items are found during steps 2 or 3, this should not be considered a warrantable repair.

2. Inspect for aftermarket components, such as an exhaust, ignition, high performance air filter (K and N style), or air intake system. Take photos and document accordingly if anything is found.

3. Determine if factory ECM calibration numbers and CVNs are present by following the latest version of 09-06-04-026.


Object Number: 2222086 Size: SH
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Object Number: 2222088 Size: SH
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Object Number: 2222090 Size: SH
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Object Number: 2222092 Size: SH
Click here for detailed picture of above image.

Please follow this diagnostic or repair process thoroughly and complete each step. If the condition exhibited is resolved without completing every step, the remaining steps do not need to be performed.

GM bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, NOT a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform these technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how to do a job properly and safely. If a condition is described, DO NOT assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition. See your GM dealer for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the information.


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© 2010 General Motors. All rights reserved.

 

causing a melted piston !

Looking for any excuse to duck outta this one, are they ?

I could potentially see a lawsuit - Mangunson Moss (sp = ? ) , anyone ?


Thanks for the heads up !


Britt

 

I saw that to at work. I just refers to trucks that the rednecks put liftkits and big tires on and think they have a race vehicle. We see alot of those vehicles and problems at work.

 

Sounds like our transmission TSB on abuse. "If it's between this date range and cracked it's abuse"....."if the motor suffers a meltdown it's cause of anything but poor engine design". They're assuming before it even comes in that it has nothing to do with the motor; suppose this shouldn't suprise me.

 

gotta blame someone and save a buck too. Its a win win for them....

 

Sounds to me as though they're using the presence of aftermarket equipment(bolt-ons,etc.) merely for documentation and as a reason to check for a reflash. I don't think they're saying K&N = piston meltdown, even if they don't approve.

 

K&N AIR FILTERS MELT PISTONS



Wow GM please go and **** yourself and then re-write that TSB.

 

I just reread that and yea apparently anything aftermarket = Kryptonite,lol.

 

yeah, i think they are just looking to pinpoint which cars may have been tuned.. stock cars generally aren't tuned so it's a good way to look narrow it down. still sucks

 

This is why it's funny when everyone keeps asking, "Will this or that void my warranty?" Nothing "voids" your warranty. A dealership might refuse warranty service for an aftermarket part, but this doesn't "void" your warranty. They just stick a black flag on the car's record so other dealerships can see it, and it only black flags the part of the car you're trying to get fixed.
As far as this crap about them having to prove that the aftermarket part caused the issue, well...................it just that: crap. The burden ultimately falls on you. You have to get a lawyer. You are the one that has to gather evidence for your case. You have to drag them to court or settle out. YOU are the one that ends up having to prove that your air cleaner didn't cause the piston to melt. Meanwhile, you're without a car. Dealerships know this.

We drive the kind of car that teenagers like to thrash and drag in for warranty work. We drive the kind of car that tuners like to push the limit on and take in for warranty work. As much as a hate to say it, the blame should fall on all of those that break **** by modifying, then take it in to the dealership to claim that it wasn't their fault.

So.........if you don't want to have trouble with the warranty, then don't modify the car AT ALL. Use their air filter, use their belt, use all their overpriced ****. Also, find a good dealership.

 

I must note, the Mangunson Moss Act was designed to allow you to run a Carquest filter instead of an OEM filter. K&N would be covered. It does not directly cover aftermarket parts as most of you think of aftermarket parts.

 

QFT. I love when people reference that thing for everything they throw on their car like it's supposed to allow you to run whatever parts you want and have things covered. It's mainly designed to protect you so you can buy aftermarket OEM-spec replacement things like filters and light bulbs and oils and things like that. It is NOT put in place to allow you to run aftermarket exhausts and intakes and things like that. Silly kids.

 

Yes sir! Said it better then I did.

 

The filter itself isn't causing the meltdown we know that and so do they. They are just looking for that to justify looking for a tune.

 

Exactly.

You have to remember, GM needs to cover their ass too. There are plenty of "tuners" out there who will tune cars to run too lean, resulting in burned valves and/or pistons. GM shouldn't have to warranty damage caused by aftermarket tuners. The car was only tested for performance, quality, and longevity with the factory tuning and parameters. There's no way they could account for all the possible things people could do to modify their cars, especially being turbo engines.