Towed to Dealer at 20k

2625 Views 13 Replies 8 Participants Last post by _MerF_, Dec 9, 2015

greens

Discussion Starter · Dec 2, 2015

2014 Cruze LS Manual with only 20079 miles. Treated well and is my daily driver for a very short commute.
So last night my Cruze had a fit.
Sitting at a stop light, in neutral. Light turns green, I disengage the clutch, put it into first, and engage the clutch.
I get a bit of movement followed by a wicked rattle.
I had enough momentum to just barely coast through the intersection and get out of the way of traffic.
I gather myself, and try again. This time I get zero movement and just a clanky, spotty, rattle.
I am able to cycle through all of the gears with the clutch pedal down, however attempting to engage the clutch in any gear, including reverse, results in no movement and that rattle, like a ball bearing in a paint can shaking around, loud slowish clunks.
Called GM Roadside and the car was loaded on the flatbed and we were on our way in under 45min.
Dealer said he doesn’t have a transmission guy to look at it until Friday, but honestly I don’t think its transmission related, I can cycle through my gears fine, gotta be something with the clutch – they are going to update me sometime today.
Hopefully it’s just something simple that a tech can handle.

I live two blocks away from work but, school is another matter. Tests this week and Finals next week so I have to rent a car, can’t be dealing with limited mobility during crunch time.

Anyone have a similar problem or hear of it happening?

I will update as I get more info.

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Robby

· #2 · Dec 2, 2015

Your description is a true 'something broke' down there.

Could be in the trans or even possibly a drive axle.......your kinda stuck till they can assign the job.

Rob

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adamcar

· #3 · Dec 2, 2015

Can the dealer give you a loaner car? Read you owner manual about courtesy transportation when you car requires overnight warranty work. They may reimburse you for a rental car if they don't do loaners.

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ChevyGuy

· #4 · Dec 2, 2015

Depending on OP's age, that might be a problem. Some rental places won't rent to adults under a certain age. The fact he mentions "school" could make this ugly.

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adamcar

· #5 · Dec 2, 2015

Take a 24 hour Buick test drive every day? Sorry but had to!

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greens

Discussion Starter · #6 · Dec 2, 2015

Hey Guys!

IT IS THE DRIVE AXLE

I forgot to mention i swapped out the engine for a V10 and was hammering it fully locked through a turn... JK. No clue how an economy car drive axle snapped from just... driving normally.

Two weeks estimated time to get the part and the dealer is hooking me up with an Enterprise Purchase Order from the dealer.

I'm just continuing my education a bit later than most

As a follow up concern...
Could the broken axle have damaged my transmission at all? The sound i heard must have been the car transferring power to a nub of an axle and it rattling around? I'm not really that concerned, but maybe i should be?

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ChevyGuy

· #7 · Dec 2, 2015

greens said:
No clue how an economy car drive axle snapped from just... driving normally.

I know prior years have had recalls for the axle. I don't know if any apply to the 2014 or not.

greens said:
Two weeks estimated time to get the part and the dealer is hooking me up with an Enterprise Purchase Order from the dealer.

I'm just continuing my education a bit later than most

Cool! At least you get a loaner. :go: Two weeks without a loaner would have really sucked.

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Blue Angel

· #8 · Dec 3, 2015

Greens, as long as your dealer has a good look around to make sure nothing was damaged by the decoupled axle (brake lines, wheel speed sensor wires, etc.) I'm sure your car will be just fine. I wouldn't worry about any transmission damage, everything that took place did so outside of the tranny.

Glad it was something simple and obvious. Rob nailed it right away, which is not unusual for him.

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greens

Discussion Starter · #9 · Dec 8, 2015

Sooo... this is unusual!
Just got a call from Chevy telling me my car is ready for pick up! Which, would normally be great.
They estimated it would take 14 days at least, and the rental company put the purchase order in to cover through the 16th. I prepared for such. I recieved no updates or notices, and wasn't expecting any.
I'm in no way able to pick up my car before Friday without causing myself detriment. I work for a hazardous waste transporter and it is finals week at school, i'm drowning as it is.
I told him "You told me it would be done in two weeks, and am currently unable to swap the vehicles"
The dealership said "If you don't return the rental by tomorrow you will be charged"
I responded "I would be more than willing to pay for an extra day or two rental at the base rate for Enterprise, but not for the new "SUV" they gave me"
He said "I don't make the rules..."
I said "The rules are to keep your customer in the dark, and expect them to be able to immediately respond?"
He said "My job is to notify you when the car is repaired"
I said "Great, well done" and disconnected the call.

Does anyone have any similar stories or been in a similar situation?
Guy was nice enough but seemed incredibly unwilling to be flexible, or even understanding the situation i'm placed in.

I won't have any choice but to return the car when i can obviously, and it didn't seem worthwhile to talk to him, as he immediately went with "I don't make the rules"

Does anyone from Chevy have a copy of the "rules" I can look over?
Do i call back and ask for a manager and relay the story?
Not really sure how to proceed.

There is no way i will be able to get there tomorrow or Thursday, but could totally be there Friday evening. Should I just risk the charge and make a stink if they charge my credit card?

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Robby

· #10 · Dec 9, 2015

Call the dealer tomorrow after 9:00 A.M.

Ask for the general manager.......Repeating.....GENERAL manager, not service manager.
Without emotion, explain your plight and ask for his suggestions...
He may go to bat for you......Chevy doesn't need to know the car repair is completed.

Good luck,
Rob

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tmar

· #11 · Dec 9, 2015

greens said:
There is no way i will be able to get there tomorrow or Thursday, but could totally be there Friday evening. Should I just risk the charge and make a stink if they charge my credit card?

No! Both times I've had my car in for warranty work over a few days, I've gotten a free rental car from Enterprise. When my service guy called me the first time, I was out of town and told him I was unable to get it until Monday (it was Friday). He said, no problem I'll put it for the extra days, take your time.

NO ISSUE what so ever getting it a few extra days. Your service consultant is refusing to have GM pay $100 extra (if that) to keep your car coming in for service every time you need it. Talk to a manager, get it done. Shouldnt be an issue AT ALL

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cdb09007

· #12 · Dec 9, 2015

As I was reading this, I was like, "well this all worked out nicely!" and then I got to that final post of yours. hahaha. Yeah a general manager will not lose your business over a few hundred bucks of rentals.

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greens

Discussion Starter · #13 · Dec 9, 2015

Well Well, guess who called me this morning!
Dealer; same nice service guy.
He told me that they would figure something out, not to worry, and wished me luck on my exams. Told me I could bring it in anytime on Friday to swap it out free of charge.

Works out perfectly! I just wish I'd have had time to pick up a Christmas tree with the Equinox before i got my Cruze back, oh well.

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_MerF_

· #14 · Dec 9, 2015

Glad to hear they worked it out.

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