[Kimjackjake10]

Hi I am new here and I wasnt too sure where to post this.

I have a 2014 Cruze LT with only 39k miles. I was coming home from work on July 1st and when accelerating I was hearing a rattling noise. As soon as I pulled up to the house my check engine light came on.

I had my car towed to the nearest dealership and they tell me I need a new turbo and seals. They asked for oil change receipts and I sent them over to them.

They call me back the next day and tell me that GM doesnt want to cover the parts or labor under warranty because they had found sludge in the line that runs to the turbo and it was all plugged up. Service manager said it wasnt going to be covered because I had went 2k over the recommended oil change mileage.

The service dept wants to charge me $2300 for parts and labor. I have always changed my oil when the oil light came on and that is what is recommended in the manual. I always used the correct oil and oil filters.

 

[obermd]

That's a load of bullshit. This car has such a varying oil change interval this claim simply wouldn't stand up in court. I very highly doubt the dealership even contacted GM.

 

[Kimjackjake10]

That is what I am wondering if they even contacted GM. Should I try and contact them myself?

 

[BrandoFisher117]

There is a Chevy Customer Care account on here that may be able to help you out.

 

[obermd]

Find out what that service manager claims is the recommended oil change interval. I suspect he's going to say something like 3 or 5,000 miles. The Cruze's OLM won't trigger an oil change alert for 7 to 8,000 miles at a minimum.

 

[spacedout]

Just call Chevy customer service and explain everything to them, they will open a case and contact the dealership. I almost guarantee they change their tune unless you have been doing 9000+ mile oil changes.




EDIT: I should add the owners manual says to follow the OLM or change the oil once a year, so I call BS on there being any mileage limit for you to have gone beyond.

 

[Kimjackjake10]

Find out what that service manager claims is the recommended oil change interval. I suspect he's going to say something like 3 or 5,000 miles. The Cruze's OLM won't trigger an oil change alert for 7 to 8,000 miles at a minimum.

He had told me 5k was the max GM had said it need to be changed.

 

[obermd]

He had told me 5k was the max GM had said it need to be changed.

He didn't contact GM then. My (optimistic) OLM shows a 10% lifetime drop for every 1,000 miles I drive. This means that my OLM says I can go almost 10,000 miles between oil changes. I don't, but I could and still maintain the warranty.

 

[MP81]

Find out what that service manager claims is the recommended oil change interval. I suspect he's going to say something like 3 or 5,000 miles. The Cruze's OLM won't trigger an oil change alert for 7 to 8,000 miles at a minimum.

Whenever someone tells me 3,000 miles, that's my trigger to ignore anything else they say.

The owner's manual for the car specifies to change the oil when the DIC tells you to, no specific change interval. Sounds like a **** dealer to me.

 

[30 Ounce]

At this point I would not trust that dealer to touch my car!

 

[spacedout]

He didn't contact GM then. My (optimistic) OLM shows a 10% lifetime drop for every 1,000 miles I drive. This means that my OLM says I can go almost 10,000 miles between oil changes. I don't, but I could and still maintain the warranty.

My 2012 cruze would have always taken me beyond 10K on the OLM, until I had the emission recall done the OLM was lowered to the 7500 mile range max. My 15 Sonic OLM doesn't go off until below 5% at 7800 miles.


Your correct though, as long as you follow the owners manual recommendations, (the OLM) you have met all warranty requirements...

 

[obermd]

My 2012 cruze would have always taken me beyond 10K on the OLM, until I had the emission recall done the OLM was lowered to the 7500 mile range max. My 15 Sonic OLM doesn't go off until below 5% at 7800 miles.


Your correct though, as long as you follow the owners manual recommendations, (the OLM) you have met all warranty requirements...

Interesting - the manuals didn't have that emissions recall. It appears part of the recall was to bring the OLM more into line with reality.

 

[obermd]

OP, so here's the scoop:

Verify you never went more than a 12-13 months between oil changes
Verify the longest you went was 7,500-8,000 miles (this is what the service schedule flags as oil change periods)
Verify that you always used a dexos 1 or better 5w-30 engine oil.

These are the three items that are required to ensure warranty coverage.

If you've done all these things contact GM directly. If you can't verify the last I'd still contact GM directly. You can do so via Private Message here to our Chevy Customer Care account. Also find a different dealer - I too wouldn't let this one touch my car.

 

[Kimjackjake10]

I called GM and opened a case. Said they will call me back.

What's funny is when I first brought it up there he tried to tell me it was just my spark plugs and the boot cover was cracked and that is what was causing the rattle. You could clearly tell it was the turbo.

 

[obermd]

I called GM and opened a case. Said they will call me back.

What's funny is when I first brought it up there he tried to tell me it was just my spark plugs and the boot cover was cracked and that is what was causing the rattle. You could clearly tell it was the turbo.

Definitely don't take it back there. Even if GM instructs them to replace the turbo I suspect they'll screw it up somehow.

 

[NickD]

Wont' get started on some Chevy dealerships, but three closest to me will never see me again.

Was certainly questions on that very thin turbo feed line that caused me concerns, even removed it one time during an oil change to make sure it was clear, it was, though about using a larger tubing and different fittings, but never got around to it. Wife and I are very conservative drivers, never really pushed our Cruze, but a drunk sure took care of this.

Because of the latest throwaway part, the entire unibody, a bit disturbed, just wrote to my state legislator as why victims are treated the same as culprits, same BS about NADA value is all you can get, and doesn't even list all the options we had on our Cruze. But it with a perfect turbo and brand new tires is only worth a thousand bucks.

We are not the only ones, thousands of practically brand new vehicles fit in this category, if all else fails, check ebay, just did, not only used turbos, but plenty of replacement parts. Rockauto.com was listing a brand new turbo for your car for 470 bucks, but just learned they are not listing it anymore, an easy job, 2300 bucks is in the outrageous class.

Can't even trust dealers to do an oil change, caught one pouring bulk oil in a dirty can, another charging me for an oil filter leaving the old on in there. Owners manual says once per year or 0% oil remaining plus another 600 miles. Always changed mine with 20% oil remaining and took digital photos to prove it. Not that it did me any good, never even got close to that 36K mile mark at 36 months, and only two months left on the PT warranty with only 45K on it. Took photos of Delco filters and Mobile One with the dexos label on it, plus the date.

Good question as to why your oil tube was plugged and another good question as to why it was so thin for such an important job it has. Did see a new shaft with the impeller wheel on it, may be the only problem if the casting is still good.

Use to be, mechanics would replace a worn brush in a starter motor, generator, or even in a blower motor, now replace the whole unit for only $$$$$$$.

Reps here may help you, helped me, just told me to find a different dealer, did, but was like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

 

[spacedout]

Good question as to why your oil tube was plugged and another good question as to why it was so thin for such an important job it has.

I'm not sure the diameter of the tube has anything to do with the pipe coking up, wouldn't a small tube increase flow rate and help keep it clear? Just like the dealer I would blame this on the oil not standing up to the mileage the OP was driving, with that said the OP did nothing wrong following the OLM. I however would not use the oil they have been using, at least not at the change interval they had in the past.

The better question is why such an important part as the oil feed tube was placed between the hot turbo and engine block, seems dealing with this much confined heat would make the coking issue worse. Sure GM add a bit of heat wrap after 2012, but I notice the all new 2016 cruze moves the oil feed line to the top side of the turbo which should help eliminate this issue by not being sandwiched between hot parts.

Do I remember reading on here in the past that the oil feed line cokes up with oil after shutdown since the oil is no longer flowing? Seems this would be more of a problem right after beating on it and shutting down hot or possibly worn out oil oil that can't handle that heat is all it takes?

 

[ChevyGuy]

Do I remember reading on here in the past that the oil feed line cokes up with oil after shutdown since the oil is no longer flowing? Seems this would be more of a problem right after beating on it and shutting down hot or possibly worn out oil oil that can't handle that heat is all it takes?

I wonder if OP has been having the dealer do oil changes - which means it's probably been filled with GM"s semi-synthetic.

Curosity: Is GM's brand the only approved semi-synthetic?

 

[spacedout]

Curosity: Is GM's brand the only approved semi-synthetic?

No, I think allot of the Dexos labelled oil is blends. I honestly don't think those blends should be ran for extended drains in a turbo car, period. I drive 80% highway and even then that oil is well broke down by 6000 miles.

 

[NickD]

Comments on the plugged oil filter line were based on the assumption this dealer was being honest, but you already know about ass-u-me.

Some dealers love warranty work, helps them to keep their doors open, other prefer to rob you to death.

Father-in-law purchased a 1986 Chrysler with a turbo, failed within 9 months in that 12 month warranty, but when it failed again in 16 months and they wanted both arms and legs to replace it, dumped it at a major lost. Last time he purchased a Chrysler product.

Its a mechanical device, and any mechanical device is subject to failure, and this is why they have a warranty to get returned business.