Rearend Seal Recall - Bad Result?

[linderpat]

Took car to dealer for warranty work last week, and one of the things they fixed was the rear end seal subject to the recall. Now, when driving and decelerating, there is a loud whine sound comming from the rear end. Sounds like a truck now - very noisy. Anyopne else have this problem? Any thoughts on what it might be? Maybe the dealership didn't do the job right, and the rear differential is still leaking and losing fluid? My wife also said she smelled something burning today when we were out driving....Thoughts?

[Heavy_Metal]

It sounds like you should call back and get that looked at immediately. I took me four visits to get my tire pressure sensor issue resolved.

[linderpat]

thanks. It's funny because the tire pressure sensor was the primary reason for going in, and they didn't fix that correctly either!

[Heavy_Metal]

Yeah, it took four trips to fix the service TPS warning. The problem was when I started driving my car the RF tire pressure sensor would stay at a fixed value while the other sensors increased a few PSI after driving the first few miles. Then after 10 minutes, the service TPS warning would come on. Same thing every time. Even before I started having problems with the warning, I had noticed that the sensor pressure was not that accurate sometimes.

Based on my past experience with the dealer keeping my car multiple days waiting for parts, I asked the dealer in advance to please have a tire pressure sensor ready before I brought the car in. When I picked the care up the first time, I discovered that all they had done was add air and recalibrate the sensors (associate the sensors with wheel position). The light came on again after 10 minutes on the way home.

When I picked up my car the second time, they told me that they had determined that the RF tire pressure sensor was bad and I would have to come back because they did not have a sensor in stock. They said it is GM policy not to order parts in advance even though the warning said service TPS.

After the third time, they did replace the RF sensor but on the way home the the service TPS warning came on again but on a different tire, LR.

Finally after the forth time, they told me that they had replaced all four tire pressure sensors and had driven the car for 10 minutes this time to determine that it was really fixed. Turns out the problem was the sensor that was bad was interfering with the communication of the other sensors.

[ewill3rd]

I would agree, take it back and have them recheck their work.

[BMBSALES]

there are some awesome techs out there, but some real azzholes too...

[hiljak]

I too had my 2005 STS in four times for the damn tire monitor (aka annoyance monitor). They kept telling me, "oh, it just needed reprogrammed. We have a new way to program it...yada, yada. Finally on the fourth trip, I told them to replace the goddamn sensor! The simple things seem to be what gives my dealer troubles. They try to do everthing too fast and don;t test thier work

[hiljak]

scratch that, it was the fifth visit that it was actually repaired!!

[rchern]

Originally Posted by linderpat

Took car to dealer for warranty work last week, and one of the things they fixed was the rear end seal subject to the recall. Now, when driving and decelerating, there is a loud whine sound comming from the rear end. Sounds like a truck now - very noisy. Anyopne else have this problem? Any thoughts on what it might be? Maybe the dealership didn't do the job right, and the rear differential is still leaking and losing fluid? My wife also said she smelled something burning today when we were out driving....Thoughts?

Yup. Same symptoms. Smelled something burning after the recall but it went away. A couple of weeks later it developed a high pitched whine especially when decelerating. I brought it back and they fixed it. When the mecanic rode with me he said something about a shield that might have got bent when the recall was performed. When I got it back the service manager said that it was a loose rear brake shield. I couldn't hear the noise initially. Someone heard it when I drove past them at work. So, I would say that once you get the recall done, open the windows and listen for it for a while because it took me a while to hear it inside the car. It seemed most noticeable when decelerating.

[linderpat]

Okay, here's the follow up - just spoke with the dealer (took the car back in). It turns out they didn't torque the rear end cover bolts (over the "pumpkin", on the rear transaxle) to spec when they put it back together. The smell was from differential fluid hitting the hot exhaust as it leaked out, and the whine sound on deceleration was caused by a seepage of fluid out of the housing. Good thing we didn't drive it much after the initial warranty work.
They assured me they checked for metal shavings in ther fluid and carefully inspected the rear end gears, and that there is no damage or shavings, and that the problem is fixed. I hope so

[dkozloski]

Originally Posted by linderpat

Okay, here's the follow up - just spoke with the dealer (took the car back in). It turns out they didn't torque the rear end cover bolts (over the "pumpkin", on the rear transaxle) to spec when they put it back together. The smell was from differential fluid hitting the hot exhaust as it leaked out, and the whine sound on deceleration was caused by a seepage of fluid out of the housing. Good thing we didn't drive it much after the initial warranty work.
They assured me they checked for metal shavings in ther fluid and carefully inspected the rear end gears, and that there is no damage or shavings, and that the problem is fixed. I hope so

If that rearend as much as whimpers I'd be back there in a heartbeat. There is no way in hell that fluid seeping is going to make a sound any more than paint drying. That rearend was run completely dry. If it survives I'll be amazed.

[Heavy_Metal]

Sounds like the repair created the same safety problem that it was intended to prevent.

I agree with dkozloski, it's crazy to say that a seepage of fluid would cause the whine sound.

[rb92gt]

These rear diffs are a nightmare. Mine is leaking again. Has been in 4 times for diff, all of them before official recall. Glad my warranty is until 2012 as I thus far have had a complete new diff installed twice (new diff every year). They accidentally printed a bill on one occassion... about $3,000.... Holy %$^&. Now leaking so much that everytime I wash car, I have oil spots on trunk around license plate. If this was not covered by warranty, I would have to get rid of the car... otherwise an awesome car. If a car is out of warranty, but there is a safety recall, does the dealer have to fix it without charging the owner? This would be my only consolation to consider keeping car beyond warranty.

[ewill3rd]

Most recalls are good for the life of the vehicle. Usually it is a one time fix.
Once the updated parts are installed, they are warranted for one year or 12,000 miles. After that you are on your own again.
If the new design seal is installed you should be good... provided the recall applies to your car.
If your car is not subject to the recall you can still have the updated seal installed, there is a bulletin for it, however if the car is out of warranty you'd have to pay for it.

[bigdog9586]

Make sure they put all that in writting so down the road if out of warranty and a rearend problem crops up you're covered.