Breakdown Nightmare Update

random155 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-05-07, 06:53 PM

Ok so my 03 cts (39000 miles) broke down three weeks after i bought it and the dealer said they wont help me. I call a local shop who come and pick the car up. Say its a camshaft sensor and replace it. When they start the car it cranks over... backfires... then stalls out. Now it wont start anymore. The code isnt there anymore but thats probably because the computer wasnt running long enough. The mechanic took the top end apart and got to the timing belt. There were timing belt shavings everywhere... but everything lined up ok and it looked like it was turning ok. So now my mechanic is stumped... He says that he wants a cadillac mechanic to fix it. So now I'm going to have to pay this mechanic and now a "dealership" to get this damn car fixed... i do believe ive made a huge mistake by buying this car. I told the guy to take it the extra distance to the place i bought it so at least i may be able to complain enough for them to do something for me... who the hell knows... im disgruntled.

87vertgt · #2 (**permalink**) 11-05-07, 08:16 PM

sorry to hear this...wish I could help you some how...hopefully someone will chime in....

dkozloski · #3 (**permalink**) 11-05-07, 08:48 PM

I never heard of a guy buying a used car from a dealer that didn't get at least 30 days of some kind of half-assed 50% warranty unless he "Cheap Charlied" out and bought it as-is. Hmmmmm...

random155 · #4 (**permalink**) 11-05-07, 09:34 PM

It has a 90 day or 3000 powertrain warranty, however they think its electrical

nikon · #5 (**permalink**) 11-05-07, 10:33 PM

^^^ are you kidding me!!!! Get a damn attorney you fool....or have someone else fix it, another dealer if need be...have them document everything and IF and likely when it turns out not to be an electrical problem, you can go after the original dealer with your attorney....good luck.

And start reading your warranty....just because something is electrical doesn't mean it's not covered under you powertrain warranty.....your air intake has an 'electrical' mass air flow sensor...yet technically it's part of your powertrain....so read up and stick it to em'

dkozloski · #6 (**permalink**) 11-05-07, 11:27 PM

How the hell is a shredded timing belt, electrical?

nikon · #7 (**permalink**) 11-05-07, 11:39 PM

well, technically the first problem was a cam sensor........but still.

wait4me6920 · #8 (**permalink**) 11-05-07, 11:44 PM

What you need to do is go through the terminology of your warranty very carefully to determine exactly what is and what is not covered, & if covered, to what extent. Powertrain is a very general descriptor & your particular warranty may or may not cover the crankshaft position sensor, timing belt, etc...

I kinda wonder if the guy that installed the sensor screwed up, leading to the backfire, shredded belt & possible further damage...

Good luck...

urbanski · #9 (**permalink**) 11-06-07, 07:33 AM

cpk relearn

random155 · #10 (**permalink**) 11-07-07, 05:33 PM

Ok car got towed to the dealership and the mechanic said the timing belt keeps slipping off. This has to due with the tensioner because of the low miles on the car. Now he has to wait for a warranty adjuster to come out and approve the fix. They are out of loaners so the manager told me to rent a car and bring him the bill when all is said and done and he will reimburse me.

kdstrm · #11 (**permalink**) 11-07-07, 07:34 PM

i had this happen to me a couple of weeks ago it was the crank sensor you have 39000 miles this is all cover under warranty so i would worry about it hit the onstar next time you break down they can tell you your warranty and you dont have to pay for towing

random155 · #12 (**permalink**) 11-07-07, 08:26 PM

Its not under GM warranty anymore because its an 03, however the dealer gave me a 3 month or 3k mile warranty that covers this. The sensor was replaced and the car still didnt work...

z06bigbird · #13 (**permalink**) 11-07-07, 08:59 PM

What engine do you have? I thought these cars had timing chains not belts.

Can anyone enlighten us. I am too lazy to pull my shop manual right now.

DDS rollin a CTS · #14 (**permalink**) 11-07-07, 11:07 PM

I'm glad I insisted on the GM certified pre-owned waranty on my car. Its good up to 6 years/100,000 miles.

random155 · #15 (**permalink**) 11-09-07, 09:27 AM

Ok so i talked to the service department yesterday... John said that my timing belt tensioner had a bearing failure. This caused the timing belt to become loose. As a result it damaged my valves. He said this is just a freak thing that could not have been prevented or avoided, by any type of service or maintenance. He has to wait for a warranty adjuster to come down and approve the work before they can fix it because its a MAJOR fix. He says its going to take at leat a week and a half to get her running again. I did get a loaner car... a Chevy Cobalt... almost as nice as my CTS... Hopefully this work to my engine will keep it tip top for a long while since i dont have the GM warranty anymore.