2004 5.3 Suburban Z71 4x4

[usamarshal]

Ya, just not good business I guess...I suppose thats why toyota is now the biggest car maker in the world now...I feel like an ass too cause I told my mom to get the new malibu...well she got two!!!...haha...god I hope there aren't any defects with the malibus...haha

Originally Posted by j cAT

thats why I was pissed off they got our tax money to bail them out.

GM is screwing us both ways !

[usamarshal]

Just finished up putting on the new heads over the weekend. It was quite a job. Spent about $1k for the heads, gaskets, plugs, wires, fluids, etc... Used about 8 cans of break cleaner as well...haha...much better than paying Gov't Motors over $4k.

The worst part of this job was not using air tools when breaking down everything...haha...only took about 1 1/2 hrs to put everything back together with air tools...

Below are the photos of the valve cover and both crappy heads...purchased brand new ones from Auto Zone, which was actually made by GM out of Mexico. I'm hoping I don't have to do this again after another 50-80k miles...haha

One of the heads had the markings from the website link provided on this thread, but the other head was a different marking, but was just as bad. Funny thing is the funny zig zaggy marking is the same type of head I bought from Auto Zone. Being that the new head is 7 yrs apart from the old head I'm sure its not defective.

After using all the break cleaner to clean the gasket area on block, rockers, rods, down the holes above the pistons and down into the case...it was an absolute sludge fest on the covers and heads...for some reason there was no coolant or sludge in the oil...I still don't understand how that can be?

Anyway put new oil in, new filter, and seafoam....going to change the oil after 500 miles three times. I don't feel comfortable driving 1k miles before another oil change...just don't feel comfortable...I almost want to just trade in the truck after what I saw in there...

The truck runs much better now. Doesn't act like it wants to misfire and everything is smoother than my ball sack. Oh yea, my engine took the 2nd design bolts....good thing I ordered them in the night before the job (just in case the 1st design didn't fit)...I'm smart like that...

Thanks again everyone...and on a final note...I tried to get the parts from the GM stealership...heads and bolts were on back order...haha...

I think its official...I am now done with anything GM...my mom just bought two brand new Malibu's and she is pissed!!!....haha...

[usamarshal]

So I sent a nasty gram to gm this week stating how I was disappointed that I was never notified about possibly having the defective heads in my truck, how I've been a loyal customer, and how my mom just bought two new malibu's, etc... Get a call from gm asking me some general questions about what had happened and what I did to correct the problem. I said to them that it would have taken a tech less than 30 min to just take one of the covers off to see if there was sludge and/or if I had the defective heads...stated it was bs that I could've been driving around town without knowning and then my engine dyin on me cause of a simple fix. He said he was sending my info to some investigative unit? Whatever the hell that is. Said gm might reimburse me for the parts...I was like there is no fukin way that will happen...haha...it was pathetic.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by usamarshal

So I sent a nasty gram to gm this week stating how I was disappointed that I was never notified about possibly having the defective heads in my truck, how I've been a loyal customer, and how my mom just bought two new malibu's, etc... Get a call from gm asking me some general questions about what had happened and what I did to correct the problem. I said to them that it would have taken a tech less than 30 min to just take one of the covers off to see if there was sludge and/or if I had the defective heads...stated it was bs that I could've been driving around town without knowning and then my engine dyin on me cause of a simple fix. He said he was sending my info to some investigative unit? Whatever the hell that is. Said gm might reimburse me for the parts...I was like there is no fukin way that will happen...haha...it was pathetic.

This investigative unit is not a tech GM engineer . this is the legal department. they will never admit to this failure. we WHO have the details, know better. GM is stupid to STILL THINK their information is well protected , from customers about the defects the vehicles have.

ALL VEHICLES HAVE DEFECTS , IT'S HOW THE MANUFACTURER HANDLES THESE ISSUES THAT MATTERS !

If you did get the dealership tech to remove those valve covers , then write up a work order stating what was found , they would have most likely fired the guy.

[usamarshal]

No doubt, I remember the tech saying that it may not be the heads. After telling him what I found he finally agreed with me. They actually put bad heads in the service call receipt after I paid for the pressure test.

Originally Posted by j cAT

This investigative unit is not a tech GM engineer . this is the legal department. they will never admit to this failure. we WHO have the details, know better. GM is stupid to STILL THINK their information is well protected , from customers about the defects the vehicles have.

ALL VEHICLES HAVE DEFECTS , IT'S HOW THE MANUFACTURER HANDLES THESE ISSUES THAT MATTERS !

If you did get the dealership tech to remove those valve covers , then write up a work order stating what was found , they would have most likely fired the guy.

[Hungarian99504]

This is also apparent on several 2005 Silverados with the 5.3. I had mine go and just after the guarantee ran out. I had taken it to the dealer several times while still in, but they didn't tell me anything about it until I was about 750 miles past it. They then told me I had to replace both heads and that it would cost me about $3500.00!!! Needless to say, I argued the fact that I had taken it to them and asked them to check on it. They agreed that all I had to pay was 1/2! I needed the truck, so I put up the cash. What a pain!

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by Hungarian99504

This is also apparent on several 2005 Silverados with the 5.3. I had mine go and just after the guarantee ran out. I had taken it to the dealer several times while still in, but they didn't tell me anything about it until I was about 750 miles past it. They then told me I had to replace both heads and that it would cost me about $3500.00!!! Needless to say, I argued the fact that I had taken it to them and asked them to check on it. They agreed that all I had to pay was 1/2! I needed the truck, so I put up the cash. What a pain!

with the proper paper work on your engine issues in warantee you would have won in court down here. that is a big rip off. cost is far too high . you paid 100% of the cost on that job.