Hey;

I believe I had my sub installed incorrectly at the factory - because of this all four mount holes/keyways became elongated, and now the sub cannot be reinstalled...

Backinfo:

The day after I bought my car I noticed odd looking over sized washers sitting on/in my spare tire...

Fast forward to finding my sub being crazy loose;
I made the mistake of touching it (but considering the attitude I've received from some parties, odds are I didn't make it any worse by touching it) - I removed the 10mm nut off the one location that appeared to still be holding the sub in place, then easily slid the sub out.

Of the three studs that I didn't need to loosen, two were simply hanging onto the sub case;
the third studs appears to have been overtightened at the factory to the point that it pulled itself into the rear of the sub, and I cannot figure out how to remove it.
The fourth stud, upon removal had some of the hardware literally fall apart on me.

So as it sat immediately after loosening that one retaining nut, I could not physically bolt the sub back into place;
it has been zip tied on one corner for several weeks now.

Here's where it gets good;
I took my car in for it's first oil change, and at that time asked that the service manager come look at an issue I had hoped to have resolved during that same visit.
The manager heard me out and the conversation went something like this;
HIM: I don't know what to make of that
ME: I haven't a clue what happened...
HIM: (looking at sub, see some scuffing) I see damage here on the sub, I think something hit it - did you hit it with anything?
ME: I didn't hit it, but something could have hit it at some point... (didn't know how to respond)
HIM: Well, this doesn't look like it's a result of a faulty GM part, this looks to be your problem - I can show you to the parts department, and you can order new mounting hardware.
(we'll stop there)

So I kept many thoughts to myself and the following weekend removed a sub from a local's car with the intent of buying hardware and maybe the sub;

You know those washers I mentioned off the bat?

Care to guess where I saw them on his car?

These washers were sitting on his sub mount studs inbetween the retaining clip, and the trunk carpeting.

As best as I could tell after seeing this, is that my sub was installed without these washers, and as a result one of the studs was immediatly pulled into the rear of the sub case, and the other three were in some state of being pulled through the sheet metal.

This got me miffed...

I still didn't get irate, but tried to see if I could still fix my sub mounts;

I was able to (mostly) straighten out 3/4 mounting bosses (or what ever they're called), but hte fourth has no second access point for me to hold a bolt in place (with a wrench) to tighten up with aftermarket hardware - to flatten the keyway/bosses...

So I go back to the dealer, but this time talk to the "cool" service manager (I had never talked to the other one before);

• he hears me out...
• he looks at the straightened out and one remaining distorted boss/keyway...
• he looks at the stud stuck in the rear of the sub case...

he then turns to me and say's (more or less adlibbed):
Jonathan, I've already understood that you're the kind of guy who would figure this out, and from what you tell me this all makes sense - lets get this fixed.
Let's go to the parts department, order new hardware, then when it gets in, I'll have you booked in to get this fixed - and we'll remove that stud from the sub.

Awesome - I couldn't have been happier.
The parts were ordered, and he instructed the parts counter to contact him directly (and not me) when the parts came in.

Here are some pics of what I was dealing with:

These are two of the stud boss/keyways that I was already able to repair;



This is the one boss/keyway that I cannot access to get a bolt w/washers to flatten;


This is a picture of the three loose studs, along with their broken retaining clips, and the unused washers (I could only find three, I'll get another if need be from that other guys car);


This is the one stud that is stuck in my sub case;


This has been my 'professional' sub mount for the past couple weeks;


Fast forward to monday; I got a message that "my parts had arrived, and I could come pick them up"



Fast forward to today; I found out that the "cool" service manager (who had been taking time off for health reasons, was three days later instructed by his doctor, to eleviate stress, and stop working... he no longer works there... or anywhere (to the best of my knowledge).
I had then spoken with another service guy at the dealer, and arranged to come in and talk about this;
I went in today, and without even looking over everything, or hearing me completely out he said something to this effect;
I spoke to our service manager, and we know you did this - something hit the sub, and did this damage - but, the parts are in, and we'll fix it..
(and he did not look at this damage on the sub face ~ imho calling it damage is way too generous, it looks like light scuffing/scratches from actually using my trunk)
He had tried to just give me the parts but since I didn't want to hammer on my inner quarter panel to try to straighten out this fourth boss/keyway - I asked that they straighten it out for me...

I'm left stewing here and cannot get over the attitude I got over this fiasco...

One thing that has occurred to me (but voicing it at the service dept seems pointless) is that let's say in theory, the sub was mounted fine, and all four studs were ok.
OK!?
Now lets presume something hit it hard... how in the world would that cause the sub to pull out!?!
It seems to me this whole logic of saying "oh there's scuffing, that's evidence of this being your fault" is hair-brained at best...

I did nothing wrong, but have been accused of doing damage to my car, and now have essentially been accused of lying to the service manager ect...



I have my car booked for a couple days from now, but am thinking of doing this;

1) leaving the sub, rear plastic trunk trim, trunk carpet/floor, drivers side trunk carpet all at home
2) upon arrival for booking, instructing that only the one boss/keyway be straightened, and that hardware be put into my glovebox.

Does that sound like a good idea?
This way I know that the sub will be properly installed and not (possibly maliciously) incorrectly installed at the service dept...
Is there any reason why I shouldn't do this?

Does anyone maybe have access to information showing the proper installation of the sub ~ which includes the washers?
(I have a hunch that the washers were added via service bulletin or whatnot)

If anyone can share mounting instructions or a service buleting (ect) showing the washers being used as a part of the proper install, I would think that I should then have infallible proof of no wrong doing...
(Any takers??)

what do you guys/gals think??
(please voice any thoughts or opinions on this whole matter.)


p.s. - please do not ask, I will not use any names in this matter.

 

i would just take it in have them install it and be done with it. if they give you more lip about installing it when you're there then just say fine your right ill do it myself

 

my my gut feeling is if I do this, the washers will be left off;
there is a simplified parts diagram dated from 2004 (preproduction) which shows everything except for the washers - from my meeting yesterday, I understood that I am not being believed on the washer being a part of the assembly because this drawing circa 2004 does not show the washers.

if anyone can look it up;

Parts Drawing #1A09-018
> view D

• #15 = stud/clip assembly (#11589198)
• #16 = sub wiring loom
• #17 = sub assembly
• #18 = retaining nut

 

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