[obermd]

Just got notified of another special coverage. I don't have the details yet but it's to resolve the loose Negative Battery Cable some people are experiencing. We have had many members report problems with this cable and its connections. I'll post more information when I receive it.

#14311: Special Coverage Adjustment - Negative Battery Cable Loose - (Dec 3, 2014)
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Subject:	14311 — Special Coverage Adjustment – Negative Battery Cable Loose
Models:	2011-2015 Chevrolet Cruze

[HR][/HR]ConditionOn certain 2011–2015 model year Chevrolet Cruze vehicles, the negative battery cable terminal clamp may have an insufficient crimp at the battery negative terminal. Over time, the internal resistance increases and vehicle electrical systems do not receive adequate power.
With this condition, the following effects are possible: the Radio/HVAC Display may turn off and on; the Antilock Brake System, Service Traction System, Service Stabilitrac and Steering vehicle messages may come on and off; the turn signal sound may not be heard; “Battery Saver Active” and “Service Steering” may display in the Driver Information Center (DIC); and the interior and exterior lighting may flicker. Power steering assist may also be lost, and greater effort may be needed to turn the steering wheel at low speeds or while the vehicle is stopped.
Special Coverage AdjustmentThis special coverage covers the condition described above for a period of 10 years or 120,000 miles (193,000 km), whichever occurs first, from the date the vehicle was originally placed in service, regardless of ownership.
Dealers will replace the battery negative cable, which will now require a bolt to fasten the small regulated voltage cable. The repairs will be made at no charge to the customer.
For vehicles covered by Vehicle Service Contracts, all eligible claims with repair orders on or after December 4, 2014 are covered by this special coverage and must be submitted using the labor operation codes provided with this bulletin. Claims with repair orders prior to December 4, 2014 must be submitted to the Service Contract provider.
Vehicles InvolvedAll involved vehicles are identified by Vehicle Identification Number on the Applicable Warranties section in GM Global Warranty Management system. Dealership service personnel should always check this site to confirm vehicle involvement prior to beginning any required inspections and/or repairs. It is important to routinely use this tool to verify eligibility because not all similar vehicles may be involved regardless of description or option content.

@gyrfalcon found the link at NHTSA for this coverage adjustment. It's a PDF with more detail. Thank you.

Another Link: TSB #14311

EDIT: Adding 2011-2015 Holden Cruze Service Bulletin for similar coverage:
Administrator

 

[Jim Frye]

Is "loose" another term for "defective"?

 

[obermd]

Jim, I don't have all the details yet.

 

[carbon02]

Omermd-

Are you getting these notifications from safercar.gov or from GM? Still wondering if I'm going to be getting the power steering one. Haven't seen that yet.

 

[Slammed2014Eco]

**** at this point GM might as well extend the coverage of these cars for 150k/15y at this point everything is going to have an extended service period :disgust (1):

 

[revjpeterson]

The new special coverage is already displaying in my Warranty Center at my.chevrolet.com. Looks like 10 years/120,000 miles.

 

[MilTownSHO]

The new special coverage is already displaying in my Warranty Center at my.chevrolet.com. Looks like 10 years/120,000 miles.

Same here but I have yet to receive notification on this or the steering one.

 

[Justinus]

**** at this point GM might as well extend the coverage of these cars for 150k/15y at this point everything is going to have an extended service period

I agree. I'm waiting to see when they come out with one for the in-cabin coolant smell.

 

[obermd]

I agree. I'm waiting to see when they come out with one for the in-cabin coolant smell.

PI-0935 if it's in the cabin only and not under the hood.

 

[Justinus]

PI-0935 if it's in the cabin only and not under the hood.

Yes, but the service bulletin doesn't get covered outside warranty. I think the cabin coolant smell has been a big enough issue to warrant one of these special coverage cases.

(I've been working with the service manager to get mine fixed despite being out of warranty since I have 2 documented complaints and multiple undocumented complaints about it before my warranty expired. It's been slow, to say the least.)

 

[Dvan5693]

Just checked my owner center and I have this as well

 

[ChevyMgr]

#14311: Special Coverage Adjustment - Negative Battery Cable Loose - (Dec 3, 2014)

Subject:	14311 — Special Coverage Adjustment – Negative Battery Cable Loose
Models:	2011-2015 Chevrolet Cruze

[HR][/HR]ConditionOn certain 2011–2015 model year Chevrolet Cruze vehicles, the negative battery cable terminal clamp may have an insufficient crimp at the battery negative terminal. Over time, the internal resistance increases and vehicle electrical systems do not receive adequate power.
With this condition, the following effects are possible: the Radio/HVAC Display may turn off and on; the Antilock Brake System, Service Traction System, Service Stabilitrac and Steering vehicle messages may come on and off; the turn signal sound may not be heard; “Battery Saver Active” and “Service Steering” may display in the Driver Information Center (DIC); and the interior and exterior lighting may flicker. Power steering assist may also be lost, and greater effort may be needed to turn the steering wheel at low speeds or while the vehicle is stopped.
Special Coverage AdjustmentThis special coverage covers the condition described above for a period of 10 years or 120,000 miles (193,000 km), whichever occurs first, from the date the vehicle was originally placed in service, regardless of ownership.
Dealers will replace the battery negative cable, which will now require a bolt to fasten the small regulated voltage cable. The repairs will be made at no charge to the customer.
For vehicles covered by Vehicle Service Contracts, all eligible claims with repair orders on or after December 4, 2014 are covered by this special coverage and must be submitted using the labor operation codes provided with this bulletin. Claims with repair orders prior to December 4, 2014 must be submitted to the Service Contract provider.
Vehicles InvolvedAll involved vehicles are identified by Vehicle Identification Number on the Applicable Warranties section in GM Global Warranty Management system. Dealership service personnel should always check this site to confirm vehicle involvement prior to beginning any required inspections and/or repairs. It is important to routinely use this tool to verify eligibility because not all similar vehicles may be involved regardless of description or option content.

 

[carbon02]

ChevyMGR-

Thanks for the info on this one. As many of us were thinking it was the cables that were loose, not the construction of the cable.

Is there a verification test that Chevy is making you do before replacement? Unlike the water pump that you can see leaking, I'd hope the manufacturer would allow effected owners to have this one done, without such signficant problems mentioned above that could arise from a bad battery cable.

 

[obermd]

Thanks ChevyMgr - I just copy/pasted your post into the thread start so people don't have to dig for it.

 

[Terra Nova]

Just got notified of another special coverage. I don't have the details yet but it's to resolve the loose Negative Battery Cable some people are experiencing. We have had many members report problems with this cable and its connections. I'll post more information when I receive it.

I am having my negative battery cable replaced due to many problems with the car telling me: no remote detected, parking assist off, traction control off. This has been going on since July 2014. They reprogrammed the BCM but lasted for only 1 month.

 

[Green]

I am having my negative battery cable replaced due to many problems with the car telling me: no remote detected, parking assist off, traction control off. This has been going on since July 2014. They reprogrammed the BCM but lasted for only 1 month.

Hopefully that will make things better. The electronics used today can be kind of sensitive to variations in voltage and strange things can happen.

 

[Terra Nova]

Just got notified of another special coverage. I don't have the details yet but it's to resolve the loose Negative Battery Cable some people are experiencing. We have had many members report problems with this cable and its connections. I'll post more information when I receive it.

My negative cable. I had the cable replaced today. Service Manager said perhaps the copper wires inside of the covering were bad. Don't know how that could be since the problem started 18 months after I bought the car. If I have these problems one more time...I am going to park my car at the dealer until it's resolved.

 

[Jim Frye]

Ah, loose, as in "loose connection", not loose post clamp! I wonder how many replaced cables engineering looked at before identifying what the problem was? Still wondering if this is a design flaw or a manufacturing mistake?

 

[obermd]

Ah, loose, as in "loose connection", not loose post clamp! I wonder how many replaced cables engineering looked at before identifying what the problem was? Still wondering if this is a design flaw or a manufacturing mistake?

Probably some of both. The new cables "bolt" to the battery terminal. I wonder if the issue wasn't so much with the cable as a connection that wasn't long term mechanically and electrically sound.

 

[Jim Frye]

Nice to see it finally corrected, but it's such a low tech item. I meam really, this piece has been largely unchanged for decades, but it was such a widespread issue. It reminds me of the story I heard from someone that works for a Tier1 supplier. Their lug nut studs were sourced from China and they were getting reject rates of over 20% for the splines being undersized so much they would fall out of the backing plates after being pressed in. Pretty low tech item, wheel studs, but the supplier just couldn't/wouldn't maintain the manufacturing specifications.