buckmeister2

I have an extended warranty, purchased from Dennis Fichner, of Menholdt Chevrolet. I took my 2012 CE 3LT base in for a few small things: Driver window would not go up or down; Passenger airbag light on (2nd occurrence); Passenger seat would not move, or heat. Three days later, they have determined that the window regulator is broken, and will be covered under extended warranty, though the regulator will not arrive until Monday. They will have my car 8 days.

They are claiming the passenger airbag light and passenger seat issues are due to "corroded battery cables". No coverage under warranty. Estimated cost of replacement for two cables...$935. I told them to fix the window under warranty, and I would take care of the cables.

The same airbag issue was repaired on this vehicle under a recall or TSB about 2 years ago. It came up again about a year ago, but I did not take it in because I knew they would keep the car for at least 3 days. I waited for something else which would need attention.

In summary, they are saying the airbag issue and the seat are due to the "corroded cables", and that when the cables are replaced, those two items will reset. I am calling a huge BS on this, not only for the facts that my cables have given no indication of problems...that those two items likely have nothing to do with the issues...but also for the estimate of $935 for TWO...STINKING...CABLES!!!

I love my Vette. If I sell it, I will get another. But, does anyone on this planet still wonder why almost all of us gripe about the crappy service departments we have to deal with???

I checked ebay for cables. They had no new, only used, priced mostly around $50. I checked RockAuto, which I always use for parts. They had NEW, ACDELCO #20835504 FOR $59!! Does that mean it should take me 7+ hours to replace them, given GM's estimate of $935?????

I have ordered the cables from RA. I have never had to replace cables on a C6...how freakin' difficult can it be????

thanks, guys. Jim, Las Vegas

SixAddict

Another Confirmation of why we call them stealerships.

Like you said, I bought two new GM cables for somewhere around 50ish bucks, haven’t installed them yet, but looking at them when the car is up in the air doesn’t look that difficult, but no matter how difficult I’ll do them myself to make sure it’s done right.

Good luck on your install and get that car out of that stealership right away...

mcandrew67

It isn’t to difficult I did mine. Take pics of the connections on starter etc before removing and easier if you label where they all go to. I cut off the factory connectors and put on some heavy duty connectors too.

Bushmaster

battery cables terminals can be cleaned, after cleaning apply corrosion protection. so simple even a caveman can do it. goggle it if unsure how to do it.

mcandrew67

not when your cables are black on both ends, they need to be replaced, you can only cut back so far.

GigG

I find it kind of hard to believe that bad cables would only affect the airbag. It seems that if they were that bad there would be other electrical gremlins haunting you.

Bushmaster

cleaning terminals does not require them to be cut off , but do as you see fit.

mcandrew67

I don’t understand what your comments of cleaning the terminals have to do with replacing bad cables. Bad cables are not dirty terminals.
I cut the terminals off my new cables because the factory ones are complete ****.

Bushmaster

in you post it states that the dealer said that your problem was caused by corroded battery cables. now you state the cables are bad , when you understand what is the problem is with your cables you will be able to determine what to do.

mcandrew67

wasn’t my post, I replied to his post in regards to how easy it was to replace the cables asI had done it due to bad cables, and while I did I replaced the stupid factory connectors.

Turbo6TA

$ 935 dollars to replace both your battery cables !

That's the silliest thing I have heard in the last month

Jeeeese .... it's a damned 1 hour job !

iflex2fitness

Buy the cables and then look for local corvette meetups/get togethers. Lots of vette guys have lifts and are happy to help people out. Seriously,
don't go to the dealer for that fix. See if your area has shade tree mechanics day. People get together and work on each others cars. Look under regional meets in your area. Get to know local vette people and you wont ever have to pay for outrageous repairs again. Repairs usually only cost the price of the part. That replacement isn't difficult to do.

Dano523

Would start by pulling a GM service history on the car, to see where the car has been.
Hence your in the middle of the desert, and corrosion/humidity should not be a problem to start with.

So short of the car spending most of it life at either coast to have salt water humidity problems over all, not seeing how the cables/air bag connectors could be that bad from the area your living in (short of the car being a flood damaged one).

So on that note, when you do change the battery cables, would split the shielding on the cable wire as far as you can, and see just how far the corrosion is running up the cable wire from the connectors. If more than a few inches, then the car was submarine'd at some point, and could have more problems with water that got into the wires inside the car to corrode them under the shielding as well.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-help-pls.html

dpigguy

For comparison only, they might be including a starter in the repair process. I had system diagnosed and checked, cables replaced and starter replaced due to charging issues and the bill was close to your estimate. Never saw any issue other than voltage drops.

Sunnyvale Dave

I don't see how corroded battery cables would only affect the passenger seat. Doesn't it seem more likely that the connection under the seat is bad?

danziger

A grand for cables? That is insane. I would at the minimum get another estimate.

Landru

Here's the real bite in the ****, especially for vulnerable owners totally dependent on dealer's 'expertise'?
IF new cables don't rectify issue?
It isn't dealer's 'problem' or mistake and you still owe the bill.

Yea, crazy.

Dano523

Basic rabbit hole from hell from the dealerships.
Hence keep throwing parts and labor at the problem until you finally stumble on to the real problem to fix what is causing the problem to start with, while charging the owner all the way for parts that were replaced that did not need to be replaced to start with.

zaragoza

I agree, I had Airbag issues. I disconnected battery cables, cleaned connection under passenger seat wrapped a tie wrap around connector and it cleared the issue.

Landru

The scam alright, Dano.
Can we say unaccountability?
MBA fingerprints are all over it.

It's slick tho', even if old : Heads Dealer Wins -- Tales Dealer Wins.