bolivar

I would ask for my money back. At least, all the labor charges. Since they put a relay on your car, they probably will not want to refund this. Even though they should.

If they resist making this right, I would start to mutter about small claims court. Something like this is just what a small claims court is about. Should not need a lawyer.

I hope you have the bad starter and did not turn it in for a core charge. The bad part, along with the receipts from the dealer and the place that fixed it should make your case.

LMB-Z

I would take the starter back to Penske and demand a full refund along with an apology for not properly looking for the problem. Then I would report them to GM customer service. There is no sense in that at all.

2006c6keller

Good for you! I like your attitude, stick them with the invoices and the video. If possible, have the OWNER, service manager, and technician ALL look at the video AND demand CASH dollars back. You don't need any "lost checks, etc.) from this stealership. I'm proud of YOU!

Triumph Jerry

You went to the dealer, ...you told them where the problem was, and they
STILL couldn't fix it!
They are what's commonly known as "Cement Heads."
Check over the whole car, and see what else they damaged or broke, get your
money back, then stay away from dealers garages.

Blue Bandit

I called the service manager at the dealership and I explained what happened. He listened very well, and agreed to refund the money I had spent. It was more than I previously mentioned, as I was guessing from my overworked memory. They are sending me a check for approximately $325. At least the service manager made things right and is going to address issues like this with the service techs, mechanics, etc. With all the corvette owners who have been posting information on this website over the many years, there is a wealth of experience and knowledge on this website. It should be respected. Score one for corvette forum. Thanks for all the input fellow corvette owners. And remember there's nothing wrong with having the 2nd best looking corvette, since mines #1, lol.

Hameister

great result --- super!!!

bearphoto

Well kudos to the dealer for stepping up and admitting they f'd up.

This is a typical example of incompetent dealer mechanics who know nothing about corvettes.

wayback

Seems to me they know little about cars in general...Corvettes are not the only cars with a starter. But what do I know???? I'm just a member of CF.

ButWhatDoIKnow

...and we all know, there are no computers in cars!!

Triumph Jerry

NO! ....great waste of time going to the dealer at the start.

Hameister

Maybe you missed my point. I was happy with the OP's result, in that the dealer listened to him, didn't give him a hard time, and offered to refund his money.

The service people will be spoken to about this, which will hopefully improve their customer service as well. A win, win, scenario.

Most people, probably 80%, take their cars back to the selling dealer.

They put aside their fears of incompetent mechanics, and high prices, because they trust most small independent repair facilities even less.

I'm in that same situation myself. I have a new 'vette, that is only 8 months old. In a few months it will need an oil change, and I'm loathed to bring it in to the selling dealer, for fear the car will not be handled properly, or the oil change will not be done correctly.

Even something as routine as an oil change, makes me uncomfortable. Unfortunately, I am new to this area, and don't know, or trust any of the independent repair facilities.

I intend to check with the local Corvette club, and get their opinion on the dealership as well as independent repairers.

MP35N

There are a few threads out there on this subject. I've gone through two starters in the last 2.5 years. The basic problem is that the solenoid and battery connection is right above the catalytic converter. It's a little bit of a bitch to work on at home.

The first time I paid $500, the second time I had a starter in hand so I did it at home with the following trick. I wrapped the starter with a layer of Ultra High Temperature ceramic insulation from McMaster & Carr. We tested this stuff at work with a direct propane flame for 15 minutes and it survived.

Maximum Temperature: 2000° F
Heat Flow Rate (K-factor):
4 lbs./ cu. ft.: 1.0 @ 800° F
6 lbs./cu. ft.: 0.75 @ 800° F
8 lbs./cu. ft.: 0.65 @ 800° F
Color: White to off-white

Thick. Wd. Lg., ft. Each Each
1/4" 24" 20 ______ __ 93315K51 $23.33

Good luck.

EVRose

Changing oil is a simple DIY on these cars.

VET4LES

I wouldn't count on it. I've complained directly to them about the check air bag light issue and I now get the silence treatment. The only answer now is the National Highway Traffic Safety Association.
This is true for any safety related complaint.

http://www.nhtsa.gov/Vehicle+Safety/Recalls+&+Defects

slickstick

The voltage decreases at idle? I think I might have the same problem... over the past year or so it won't start intermittently but later will fire right up. I have the same voltage dipping issue, will idle 11-12 ish. My first thought was starter because battery tested good at auto zone, but delaer replaced battery first go round. Second trip for same issue, they replaced battery cables (mint condition car with 75K miles but they insist this was the problem - cables did not look corroded to me when they saved them for me). Last time I took it in they said nothing was wrong with the car and sent me on my way.

MP35N

The starter/solenoid that is going bad drains the battery down low before deciding to work. It usually takes a few tries with a wait in between for the voltage to come back up high enough for the circuit to be allowed to work. Once the engine is running the voltage climbs back up to normal.

St.Char

Hey Bro! Penske is not the dealer they used to be. You should join us for cars and coffee at 96th and meridian on Saturdays at 10am. We are in the parking lot where Daddy Jacks is at.

You might try asking to speak with Matt, he is the Corvette go to guy there.

Hameister

I know. It's very frustrating for me. I've changed the oil & filter in all my cars, my whole life.

Now, age and a bad back, has caught up with me, and I just can't do it anymore. Especially getting under a 'vette.

I understand. A couple of weeks ago, I asked a customer care rep. if she could find out if my local dealer has at least one factory trained, qualified, Corvette specialist.

She was very courteous, and offered to call the dealership for me, and find out.

A couple of days later she tells me that she spoke to someone at the dealership, and he was very nice. She repeated several times how nice he was on the phone, and I will be very pleased taking my car there because they are sooooo nice!

I thanked her for her time, and said that I'm glad they are nice, but I still don't have an answer to my question regarding a factory trained Corvette specialist.

The following day, a different customer care rep., PM'd me, and said that she'd get an answer to my question. That was about a week ago, and so far, I've heard nothing.

You'd think getting an answer to such a simple direct question would be very easy, wouldn't you?

DSOMC6

FYI...you don't have to replace an entire starter when you have just a bad/cracked solenoid. Any decent alternator/starter repair facility can R&R the solenoid for less than $20.

Other than the solenoid plastic compound cracking around the terminal (from electrical arc)...the started itself seldom (if ever) fails.

ProfessorDeath

You COULD just have your "check airbag light" or SRS actually CHECKED, or you could complain on the forums and risk your safety every time you hit the road. I'm pretty sure my life is worth the $89 diagnostic fee. Maybe yours isn't? I'm sure you have plenty to live for.

Back on topic, glad the dealership did the respectable thing. Unfortunately, any half-assed mechanic would've found the starter first.