Help with a TSB

Maximln · #1 (**permalink**) 04-04-08, 03:35 PM

Can someone who has access to GM's TSB's, please post the contents of a specific TSB for me? The # is 030417004. It has to do with the replacement of the driveshaft. I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks,

Max

ewill3rd · #2 (**permalink**) 04-04-08, 09:37 PM

email me, ewill3rd at lindsaycadillac dot com.
I have a PDF copy of it I can send you.

Maximln · #3 (**permalink**) 04-05-08, 10:25 PM

ewill3rd,

Thank you very much for your response but I was able to obtain a copy of that TSB. Here's my problem. My cousin has a 2003 CTS that about a year ago, one of the 3 bolts that holds the driveshaft to the flange came out causing damage to the driveshaft. The local dealer replaced the driveshaft and the bolt that was missing but not the flange (which the repair did not call for) under the GE warranty that she has. Last week, the nut that holds the flange to the output shaft on the transmission came off, stripping the output shift which now needs to be replaced. Originally, the dealer recommended replacing the transmission but the warranty company had declined the repair. I have been going back and forth with the warranty company and the dealership. The bottom line with the warranty company is per that TSB, when the dealership replaced the driveshaft, they were supposed to use the updated bolts but did not. The TSB clearly states that if the incorrect bolts are used, damage to the flange and or transmission may occur, which it did so the warranty company is still declining the repair, saying the damage was caused by the dealership using the incorrect bolts. The dealership is saying that their repair was only warranteed for 3 months or 4000 miles (it has been a little over 12 months and 12,000 miles) and if the repair they did was incorrect, something would have occurred sooner. Also, the fact that the incorrect bolts were used does not matter because the 3 bolts were still tight to the flange. There was no wear on the bolts or damage to them or to the flange. They are also saying that what needs to happen is that someone needs to authorize them to tear into the transmission because they are saying whatever happened inside caused the damage to the output shaft (they are assuming something mechanical failed inside the transmission). Even if they don't find anything wrong inside (I was playing devil's advocate) they still say they wouldn't be responsible because their repair could not have caused the problem. Again, the warranty company's standpoint is that they used the wrong bolts which caused the problem and will not authorize the repair or to allow inspection of the transmission. I appear to be at a standoff. Does anyone have an opinion on this?

Thanks,

Max

ewill3rd · #4 (**permalink**) 04-06-08, 10:06 AM

Those are special bolts, special nuts and they require the application of a thread locking compound.
If you have a copy of the repair order, look it over and see what parts they billed out.
If they stuck bolts they had laying around in there, my opinion is that they caused the damage due to the tech not following published procedures. I haven't seen your car, I can't see the damage and I don't know what they used so please don't use my words as ammunition.

I don't want to cause any trouble between dealers, but frankly it sounds like you should involve someone else, perhaps your local BBB? See if you can have a sit down with that document and the General Manager of the dealership before you go throwing them under the bus from outside.
Make every effort to allow them to make it right first. (which it sounds like you are doing)
I can't tell you much more than that.

Maximln · #5 (**permalink**) 04-06-08, 07:42 PM

Thank you so much for the words of advice. I would never try to use them against the dealership. I think that they did just try to use a similar bolt because the one that they did use was definitely a little longer and most definitely the same as the first design, the bolts that the TSB said specifically not to use or damage may occur. Only 1 bolt was missing and was replaced; the other 2 were the 1st design bolts which were reused and that the TSB said not to use. The warranty company also had said that they failed to use that thread locking compound as there was no evidence of it. They said it is usually a different color. Even though the TSB specifically says this, the dealership is saying that since the 3 bolts were still tightly attached to the flange and that there was no damage to the flange, no damage to the bolts, or any indication that the bolts were stressed (such as wearing or something to that nature he said), there is no way using the incorrect bolts could have caused this damage, only something malfunctioning inside the transmission could have caused it. That is their standpoint. I tried to point out that possibly not using the correct bolts (the 1st design bolts were threaded the entire length of the bolt and the 2nd design bolts that were supposed to be used were only threaded half way up and the other half up to the top was solid) could have caused undue stress to the flange and therefore the nut that attached it to the output shaft. He said no way. As long as the 3 bolts were tight, which they were according to him, there was no way that could have caused the damage. In your professional opinion (which of course I would never bring up!), is it possible using the wrong bolts could have caused this damage? The damage that the TSB specifically says can happen?

Thanks,

Max

dkozloski · #6 (**permalink**) 04-06-08, 11:42 PM

I think you're out of gas. If the bolts aren't loose and the holes wallowed out, the bolts they used did the intended job. My guess about the flange nut was that it worked at least partially loose with the first episode but you have no way to prove it. Are the transmission output shaft threads completely gone or just buggered up? Maybe the threads can be chased and a new nut used with lots of red Loctite.

Bradygriffin · #7 (**permalink**) 04-07-08, 12:26 AM

I also agree.

ewill3rd · #8 (**permalink**) 04-07-08, 07:15 AM

What is the failure inside the transmission they are talking about.
I was under the impression the bolts came out.
The only other issue I see is that if they replaced one bolt and it had a different weight than the others they could have created a vibration that would cause some damage, however it should have caused a noticeable vibration and would have done something like cause a leak or failure of the output yoke bushing.

I was under the impression that some bolts came out, not sure why.
What are they claiming is failed here?
It would be hard for an external issue to cause internal transmission damage for sure.
Maybe you already posted the real problem? Maybe I just didn't catch it?