My Camaro Story...

[-The Stig-]

Hmm where to start.

Well, let me first start off by saying, that regardless of what has happened to my wonderful F-Body I was going to sell it. Mainly, for me it was a fact of ergonomics.

The interior layout is made for taller people, somebody my size. Only being roughly 5'7". I have to sit rather close to the steering wheel, my arms being fairly bent... was rather uncomfortable. Something I didn't notice for say the first month of driving. It took me a while to realise why I never felt comfortable driving in the car.

The seating position for me was all wrong... sitting so close the position my arm had on the shifter was slightly off so making the 4-5 shift and the 5-6 shift was kinda a pain in some cases.

So with that said, the car was plenty of fun to drive... good power and such. Sounded good too with the Magnaflow catback. It just wasn't built for me, taller people seem to love them. That's fine, they can have them. hehe.

Now... onto my story.

Chapter 1
When purchasing my car, I was offered a deal to buy a warranty with the car. I figured at the time it'd be useless, mainly cause I had plans on modding the car and that soon as I did mod it and anything were to go wrong, I wouldn't be covered anyways. But, my Mother who was present with me during the purchase told me it'd be a good idea.

Which, in all reality, it was. But, turns out I was correct from the beginning.

Here starts the beginning of my financed nightmare:

First thing I notice about a week into driving my car, and getting to know it. Was that when I ever I romped on it, the clutch would stick and get gummy. The pedal would stick to the floor and I'd loose the ability to shift. Odd...

So I take it in, I try to explain to them that whenever I 'merge' onto the freeway from an onramp the clutch sticks. I had to use examples like that, cause how can you tell them that it only acts up when you drive the piss out of it?

Yeah, they looked at me like I was crazy. So the guy hops in my car with me in it and I tell him it only happens when you get on it and shift fairly quick. The guy just sorta gets on it not really driving it hard, but he did let it ride in the gear winding it out and shit.

They said it was probably nothing. I know this to be bullshit, but whatever.

A day or so later, I'm driving with my buddy. I decide to get brave and tool around in the car hauling some ass... Right past a county Sheriff going the other way. He goes to pull into a median to turn around I think... I didn't stick around to find out. But my clutch was stuck to the floor, so I forced it back to my buddies house floating gears trucker style with no clutch. Let the car cool off, we try to figure out what the hell was wrong. I figured the next morning I'd have to call AAA and get it towed over to their shop. But I ended up just pulling the pedal off the floor and then it was fine.

But we get snooping around, when they sell a car a dealership does what they call a "safety check" on it and they go through and usually check all your fluids and top off and replace anything that's low or bad.

Well, apparently the guy who the dealership hired to do all that. Was quitting, so he just passed my car off as good to go and didn't do squat.

Here's what we found:

- clutch resovoir was full, but the fluid was all black and gritty. Like somebody dumped something foreign into it.
- power steering resovoir was same story, black and gritty... look alot like dirt.
- radiator fill tube dipstick was covered in mud, inside the resovoir! On LS1's they have a seperate fill for the radiator in addition to the radiator itself. Pull the radiator cap off and the water was all icky and brown. It looked like something you'd expect from 40 year old car with rusty water.

So, next morning I roll on over and explain to the dude who sold me the car that it's got all this shit wrong with it. He apologizes and they do me up, flushing all my fluids, including the clutch fluid. And they have to break off the wheel locks on my rear wheels to do my rear brakes. Which weren't done during the 'safety check', then I had to go buy two lug nuts outta my pocket to put on the car. Not a big deal really, $6...

Three and a half hours later, they finish up and I go home. I figure with the clutch fluid replaced. It's good to go. Maybe cause the fluid was bad, it caused it to act funny under hard driving? I WAS WRONG.

Still stuck.

But, I still went to the drag strip with it being all stupid like that. And I suffered from it... running a best of 14.2 @ 102.5mph. I missed 3rd gear due to the clutch sticking to the floor.

Ok, so I ask about having a clutch replaced in my car. But, turns out my nifty warranty doesn't cover clutches. Fuck.

So, instead of buying a stock clutch. Cause obviously that's not working. I buy a Spec Stage 3 clutch, I did research on it and all types of LS1/Corvette guys raved about how good it is. And how it's got just a little chatter but that it goes away.

Fine... no biggie. Never experianced clutch chatter before this, didn't think it'd that bad. $560 later for clutch/flywheel set, and $300 for install. It's in... they say the chatter goes away in 500 miles... no biggie, I drive lots that'll go by fast right? (I had the clutch installed by another shop)

Fucking hell the clutch chatter was horrible. The whole damn car would shake, rattle and vibrate. I tried driving it slow, somewhat fast... but being gentle. I didn't want to bake my $860 clutch. So I was going to baby it. 500 miles pass by, it never got any better... still shook the car... it was a pain in the ass.

It only did it through first gear, or slow speeds. So coming to a light was a nightmare. 2nd-6th gear was fine...

Finally, I got tired of babying it. And I started to drive it harder. You all remember my burn out video? Yeah, I did that out of frustration of not being able to drive my car the way I wanted.

Finally the chatter all but went away, some 700 miles.

You all remember the video of me racing Terminal Velocity's 240z? That night was the begining of chapter 2 to our story.

Chapter 2
On the way home from racing Terminal Velocity's car... I notice a slight sound. A slight whiring sound coming from the rear of the car. I take note of it, it wasn't there before... but there it was.

Over the next few weeks it slowly grew from just a slight noise, to a very annoying sound. It got to the point where I didn't want to drive the car. But alas, I had to drive it... work... errands... the usual.

Finally, the rearend finally got so bad that I was getting umberable headaches from the whine it made, especially on the freeway at speed. I talk to the guy who sold me the car about warranty work. I didn't have my paperwork on me at the time but he said all I had to do was take it some place, and they'd charge the warranty company.

Simple enough right? Well, the brochure I had said the rear end was covered. But, the paperwork did not. Hmm... odd. Well, further investigating (looking at the two) turns out the brochure was for a totally different warranty company than what I have.

Thus, once bringing my car in for work... I find out that I'm not covered. Fuck.

Ask the guy, what am I expecting to pay. He says, depending on the job that needs to be done anywhere from $350-900. I winced at that, knowing my luck it'd be closer to the latter.

So, I drop the car off... a week later I get a call saying it's finished and that they had to replace everything. Bearings, pinion and ring gear and the fluids. Ugh. Yep... I was right. $884.18

Slightly depressed that I was now roughly $1800 in the hole from this car on major issues not covered by my lovely warranty that cost me a shit load, which in turn drives my payments up. I'm glad I put down a heft down payment to keep payments low to begin with.

The mechanic said they tried shimming the pinion and ring gears so that it'd stop humming, even after replacing the bearings. But it didn't stop. So they replaced everything... Said it was good to go.

I get in it, drive it... listening... can't tell if I hear anything. Get on the freeway for the 8 mile jaunt home. Hit 65mph, and settle in for a cruise... there it is. The whir. It's back to haunt me. At first I think, well I'm sure thats normal. Maybe that little bit was always there? And I never noticed it?

Nope, as I neared my destination it grew louder and as I downshifted and drove it normally it got worse. Skip ahead after two hours of doing errands with my mother, we take the car back. They look at me like what the fuck? I get out of the car looking at them like what the fuck! The confusion was generally mutual, as you can tell.

The guy, asks me how many miles I'd drivin. Hmm Oh I dunno, I drove 2000 miles in 2 hours!!! Fucker... I'd only drivin the 8 miles from there, and the 8 miles back.

So, me and another mechanic hop in my car and we go for a quick spin. Sure enough, it's howling. He's stumped. Then he thinks, maybe the transmission isn't aligned properly putting pressure on the pinion gear. A possibility, that when the clutch was put in they (the other shop) didn't get the transmission mounted 100% square.

So, we leave the car with them.

A week later, I get the call that it's good to go. That they'd driven it and it was all good. Yay!

Drive it home, it sounds fine and good. No sounds... just purrs along. Get home, my coworker waits outside while I run through the shower and when I get out he's sitting on my porche and announces that my car is leaking from the rear.

...

I check, sure as shit there's a small puddle of diff fluid under the rearend about the size of a halfdollar coin. Well, I said, it'll have to wait till later cause i've got shit to do.

Come back later that day and move the car, and park it. Come back out and yeah, it's not a fluke it's leaking fluid. But I wait and never see it actually drip. I figure it's a slow leak that only happens when the cars been moved and the fluids warmed up. Ok, it'll last me for a day.

Next morning, I attempt to make the 25 mile trek to where my grandpa's wake (funeral) was. I get within two blocks of the house and all of a sudden my rear end starts grinding. Not a whirring whine like before, this is a metal on metal grind. I'm like... shit... I must of leaked out all the fluid. Fuck fuck fuck.

I get there and park it, attend the services... call the shop. Tell them what had happened and that I'll be arriving by way of F-Series (tow truck). Drop the car off, literally... and call for a ride home.

A week goes by and no call, no updates. So the following monday, This monday I stopped by inbetween jobs while working to check on the progress, they aren't open on mondays but I could see my car sitting on the lift with the rear tires off which ment the axels were pulled and the diff was most likey apart. I called them earlier this week, asking what the deal was. He said he was waiting for shims. And that it should be done either the next day or the day after that... Well, it's been four days since that call and they haven't called me yet.

So, with all that said, we're starting week 5 of the saga that is my F-body.




I wish I could say it was over. But it's not... I'm a nice guy and pretty forgiving. But if they try to charge me for any further repairs, I'm going to make the ban stick a reality in reality.

So, soon as I get the car back I'll be selling it. Cheap, I just want it gone. Sure, I've lost money on it... and these last oh I'd say three months of my life have been depressing... I just want it over.

Updates to come, I'm sure.

[2000LS1Z28]

I hate to say it, but i'm with you on getting rid of that P.O.S. It almost sounds like they got the car from someplace that had suffered from a hurricane and flooding (judging by the fluids). I hope you get good money for the car, but that, more importantly, they fix it, so that you don't piss off somebody else by selling it.

Hopefully it'll be sold soon.

[-The Stig-]

Originally Posted by 2000LS1Z28

I hate to say it, but i'm with you on getting rid of that P.O.S. It almost sounds like they got the car from someplace that had suffered from a hurricane and flooding (judging by the fluids). I hope you get good money for the car, but that, more importantly, they fix it, so that you don't piss off somebody else by selling it.

Hopefully it'll be sold soon.

Well, I think what happened was the previous owner had the car reposesed. And he knew it was going to happen so decided to 'sabatage' the car.

That's my guess...

[ac427cpe]

I'd tell them they just bought a camaro.

actually, I would say something along the lines of, "You just bought back your camaro for $2000 more than you sold it to me. I'll be by tomorrow to pick up the check and drop off the car."

[-The Stig-]

I wish I could do that, but the dealership and mechanic place are seperate businesses. They just happen to share the lot.

[ac427cpe]

bummer dude... get that thing on ebay!

[CassiesMan]

Man, that sucks to hear about...makes me worry about picking up an LS1 meself...what condition is the motor in? If its in good condiotn, you could sell that for good, then just have the body scrapped for a bit of cash...any idea on your next ride?

[-The Stig-]

Originally Posted by CassiesMan

Man, that sucks to hear about...makes me worry about picking up an LS1 meself...what condition is the motor in? If its in good condiotn, you could sell that for good, then just have the body scrapped for a bit of cash...any idea on your next ride?

I could never do that, I'd never come close to paying off the rest of the loan.

[Mr. Luos]

I know we talked about it before.

I know you aren't looking to spend anymore money on this car....but it might be time to search local F-Body sites and LS1tech for a used rear end. If mine was coming out anytime soon I would sell it to you for pretty cheap.
Have they tried putting a new cover/gasket on the rear?? You can get the Moroso cover with gasket for $48. Maybe there is something with the stock rear cover being warped.

[-Josh-]

I'm sorry about your experience matt, i honestly have never heard of anyone having as many problems as you with their LS1 Maro/Bird. Bad luck i guess? To be honest you may have just gotten a lemon, remember all the previous warranty work that had been done to it? You dont see that kind of work done on a lot of cars that early in their life.

Oh and i just checked on Luos' idea, there are no recalls on rear end or Technical Service Bulletins.

[Andydg]

Oh boy...that really makes me nervous about getting an F-body. Glad you posted that up though...thanks!

[2000LS1Z28]

I know you aren't looking to spend anymore money on this car....but it might be time to search local F-Body sites and LS1tech for a used rear end. If mine was coming out anytime soon I would sell it to you for pretty cheap.
Have they tried putting a new cover/gasket on the rear?? You can get the Moroso cover with gasket for $48. Maybe there is something with the stock rear cover being warped.

I told Matt of my buddy selling his 10 bolt rear for $300, which includes 3.73 gears and a posi unit. I dunno if he'll ever get that car back though. Sounds like the dealership and mechanic shop work in unison, keeping the car away from him.

On another note, i've had numerous problems with my LS1 as well. Since I purchased it in November of last year this is how many times i've taken my car in to get serviced:

1. Driveshaft gasket leak, caused by aftermarket exhaust rubbing it.
2. Power steering water pump replaced.
3. Power steering motor replaced.
4. Power steering cooler replaced.
5. Radiator had to be flushed, as power steering cooler was leaking power steering fluid into radiator.
6. Power window motor failure (Driver's side).
7. Steering column is getting replaced.

Oh, and now i'm having trouble going into reverse. My 2000 Z28 never had this many problems. I am beginning to see that LS1's are not rock solid, as Matt has pointed out. Though some are better then others.

[-Jayson-]

that sucks, any idea of what kinda car your gonna get once you sell the Z?

[Whumbachumba]

Wow, that does suck. Should have gotten a honda.

[CBFryman]

my truck has clutch chatter....

if yo uareny paying attenting and just about stall the thing in 1st gear...

anyway. Sucks dude, but ya i know how you feel with the talness thing, my truck is the same way but i have it jsut about perfectly comfertable for long drives and nobody drives my truck but me.
i drove my bro's old z28 around an empty parking lot when i was 13...i was like 5'1' 5'2"' and i dont know how someone my height could own one of thoes things. even now sitting in this kids firebird i dont think i could drive it being 5'5''. i dont know how he does it being only alightly taller than me.