GM will decline warranty if you put in the additive

[slow35th]

Originally Posted by CVP33

I'd rather take a cheese grater to my man marbles

I hate when that happens.

Hopefully there were a few smarter than the average bear "tech's" that got their collective asses reamed over this deal.

[globed70]

Strange as it sounds, I actually got much better service from Dodge on my Viper GTS than Caddy on the V. Even with low volume, many Dodge dealers were knowledgeable about the car and it's special needs. When things did go wrong, they were generally attentive and never blamed me... and this included dealers in the US, England, and Switzerland. (Putting aside the a-hole dealer in Miami who took it joy riding and left parking tickets as evidence). Even when some dealers couldn't work with balancing the 335 width rear tires, they'd take responsibility to get the job done.



Although my dealer service rep has been very interested, there is still an unsatisfactory lack of knowledge about the V. I bought in Feb 2004, an early customer you could say. I immediately noticed oil temp and wheel hop issues. It required 6-7 months for the oil temp fix and 16-17 months for something that attempts to address wheel hop. Rather pathetic. And even with a kind service advisor, I've still had: the TPS set incorrectly twice after rotating; the oil overfilled once; an inability for the dealer to work with the factory runflats (and I had to work that out on my own); and an overall lack of knowledge on anything V related.

[Florian]

man marbles!!! too funny, Chris. Sorry the DSM was a douche and toed the party line. cheese grater...man marbles! damn....

F

[ace996]

CVP33, I'm very glad your situation has been remedied. Sometimes it pays to pull the sword, if for no other reason than justice.

[ronr]

Originally Posted by CVP33

I need everyone's help.

GM corporate is demanding that I return my CTS-V to Colonial Cadillac to be inspected by a technician. GM claims that Getrag is incorrect. Karen Uthena, from the "Executive Office" asserts the following:

#1 - The CTS-V does NOT have a limited slip differential
#2 - The rear differential does NOT require a friction modifier or additive
#3 - If you are having problems with your CTS-V's rear differential is could be due to aftermarket parts such as exhaust, headers, CAI, etc.

Now obviously I'm not going to return my CTS-V to Colonial who has once again botched my repair, nor do I feel the need to have a tech "look" at my car. The question is simple. Do I need the additive? GM claims NO, Getrag claims YES.

TODAY IT'S MY WARRANTY TOMORROW IT'S YOURS.

If you want to help, call Karen Uthena at and ask for a definitive answer as to whether or not YOUR CTS-V needs the additive. How can one dealer say yes and another say no. If you're wondering why the rear differentials blow early I think we just found out.

CALL TODAY AND LET GM KNOW WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS
ANYMORE.

I really need everyone on this one.

Just an update. I ran into an issue getting the mechanic at my dealership to but the right fluid into my diff. The mechanic insisted:

#1 - The CTS-V does NOT have a limited slip differential
#2 - The rear differential does NOT require a friction modifier or additive

Sound familiar

Anyway, as a result of this thread I called Karen. It took her a while to get back to me after I explained the situation but she called back today and said the following.

When this issue was initially raised last year (I'm assuming as a result of CVP33's efforts) that GM had an internal meeting about this issue and there is now an internal document that is "readily available to the dealers" that states explicitly that the car has a limited slip and that it needs the high dollar fluid and that it needs friction modifier. She would not give me the number on the document claiming that it is for internal use only so perhaps one of the dealers here on the forum could get it for us.

She also offered that if anyone does have trouble with a dealer putting in the right stuff that it should just take a call to Cadillac Customer Service to get it cleared up. I'd suggest calling Karen directly (313) 667-7499 since she is now even more familiar with the issue. My hope was that she would take some further action to figure out why my dealer seemed unable to find this "readily available information" but all she offered was a call to GM if we have a dealer issue.

[Chef]

Well done! And thanks for the update as I'm heading down that path myself.

Chef

[CVP33]

Dear god, this crap still continues? And for the record I did nothing. I just complained until I could wake somebody up. It's when I stop complaining that GM should worry. When I give up, I'm gone.

[Geno]

The thing I like about the dealership (Dominion Cadillac) I deal with is, if I wanted them to put corn syrup in the diff they'd do it. They kind of figured out I know a little about cars so they never give me grief.

[ronr]

Originally Posted by Geno

The thing I like about the dealership (Dominion Cadillac) I deal with is, if I wanted them to put corn syrup in the diff they'd do it. They kind of figured out I know a little about cars so they never give me grief.

My service writer is like that (will do whatever I request) but the push back from the actual mechanics is irrational.

[CTS-VPaco]

I have had two diffs replaced and no trouble. I'm just over 40k and now worried what's gonna happen, seeing how I'm averaging a dead rear every 20k miles. I hardly consider myself an abusive driver.

I think it's complete bullshit that anyone would receive any grief over anything regarding the rearend of our V's. Short of shooting the Godamn thing, a hard shift or a hole shot shouldn't crater such an intregal piece to the vehicle. It should be able to stand up to the advertised claims and power.

I guess I feel better after preaching to the choir. Off to call my service adviser to check on the status of my new rear end, arm rest and to complain about my sail panels and the ashtray thing cos it's not working right after they replaced my radio for flaking buttons. Seriously, I'm not joking.

Hi, GM!

[joshdctsv]

So here's the problem (I think). Service Advisors are looking up our VINs in their system and it's not showing the limited slip diff. They then come to the conclusion that the additive is not needed. GM simply needs to correct the VIN database and this issue would be resolved. Give them a few years.

[ronr]

Originally Posted by joshdctsv

So here's the problem (I think). Service Advisors are looking up our VINs in their system and it's not showing the limited slip diff. They then come to the conclusion that the additive is not needed. GM simply needs to correct the VIN database and this issue would be resolved. Give them a few years.

I think your exactly right. Also, I think this is only true for the '04 and '05 V's. The gal I talked to at GM said the document she was looking at (the one that clarified this situation) was specific to the '04 and '05 models.

[rand49er]

Originally Posted by ronr

... The gal ...

Chauvinist pig!

(j/k)

I was told by my "gal" service writer (sorry, Ron, I couldn't resist) today that GM is basically telling them (the dealers) to just replace the difs when it's presented to them by the customer and don't put up such a fuss. Apparently, there's a recognition by even GM's bean counters (I was one for three years) that it's good business. However, it could be district service manager dependent, too.

[SwampFox]

This is a very sad thread. Like most of you I love my V (06) 11k miles, but unlike most of you I have a great Dealer who treats me like a paying customer (Don Massey in Plymouth MI)
Every complaint I have mentioned even in passing is dealt with and I get a free loaner too.
Yet.... I hear that whine at ~40mph, Clunk when shifting normally (no clunk when shifting aggressively), a stupid gas guage, minor rattles, a foot brake, the most unfriendly GPS navagation/radio system possible.
All these and others I ignore because those occasional days when the car lives beyond any expectation you can read about.
Yet.... The next car I buy may be Japanese built because the class I barganed for when I bought this car is tarnished in stupid ways.
Let alone dealers with complete ignorance of customer service.
I hope GM can figure it out (then force dealers to buy in or get out).
I am pessimistic.
Swamp

[P-Funk]

Originally Posted by SwampFox

The next car I buy may be Japanese built