Ok ... here's my tale:

(my truck is a 2004 LB7)

15 months ago, Nov (11/08) I noticed white smoke at idle. From reading this forum and others, I was thinking injector problem and I knew there was as a service bulletin for 7/200,00 on the injectors. Took to a GMC dealer and after 3 visits they finally determined that 3 of the injectors were bad and replaced them , 1 of those was cylinder 4... smoking problem subsided after that service. About 1.5 months ago I noticed white smoke again, took it back to same dealer and they couldn't find anything wrong (no surprise since the service advisor admitted that a diesel tech did not look at it, rather it was a non-diesel tech). I decided to take it to another dealership and specifically asked to have a diesel mechanic check it out.

Well, they called me today and said that sure enough one of the injector's "balance rate is off" and it happens to be number 4. The service advisor informed me that it would cost me $1400 to replace. At this I replied that there is a 200,000 mile warranty on the injectors (my truck has 89,000 on the odometer). She replied that they will only replace the injectors under that bulletin if all 8 are bad. "WHAT!!!!" I was thinking.

My questions:

Is a balance rate misreading a symptom of the problem covered by the extended warranty ?

Is it true that the extended warranty is only valid if they have to replace all 8 at the same time ?

What is the warranty on the replaced injector in #4?

Thanks,
"panicked and angry" Roger

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All,

Thanks for the comments/opinions. After complaining to the service manager about this and referring to the 200,000 mile warranty they said they would call GM. Now they are telling me there is a new doc out (Dec 09) saying that there is an extensive test they have to run that involves taking the valve covers off and running some "high-pressure" test to prove specific fail criteria. He says it costs 700.00 to do this and if the injector in question does not fail that specific test then the customer eats that cost. I told him that I would pick the truck up and not to touch it. Thought you all might like to know if you own this specific engine and are depending on that 200,000 mile warranty

Help,
Roger

 

its a 200k mile 7 year warranty. if there is fuel in the oil they usually change the injectors right away. They have got really picky about what falls under the warranty now, they will find a way to tell you no or get money out of you now.

that where are planning on doing is probably a return rate test

 

IIRC ... don't most stealerships provide a 12 month/12,000 mile warranty on their injector work? Was that #4 injector R&R'd within this period?

 

All,

I posted a while back that I needed an injector and dealership A refused to replace under warranty and wanted $1400 to replace just 1. I took it to dealership B and they said all 8 needed to be replaced and it was covered under the 7/200,000 bulletin. Needless to say I was very pleased. But now, they have had my truck for 6 days (2 of those was waiting on the parts) ... the reason for the delay is that they cannot get the number 8 injector out ... they told me yesterday on the phone they had to remove the head ... I could hear in the background someone (I believe it was the shop forman) say that the head would need to be replaced (as in a new head). My worries (assuming nothing else unexpected pops up), are what kind of troubles are likely to happen down the road as a result of such extensive work. Has anyone had a dealer replace a head before ... it just occurs to me that replacing a head is has to be done right or there's going to be ongoing and possibly major issues down the road.

Thanks for any insight.

(I'm going to post this same message on other Duramax web pages in case anyone notices ... please don't get annoyed)