So I took it to the shop....

[NHARINTON]

Well I was gonna update the thread on the other site but figured I would do it here....


Quick notes from "the other side"

A4wd & 4lo works fine, 4hi does not. We figured it out to be the encoder motor.


SO.... I have 3,000 miles left on my extended warranty. In the process of getting under the truck I noticed my power steering pump was leaking. I have never seen any leaks under my truck but when I had the truck up on all 4 wheels I turned the front passenger wheel by hand (truck was running) and I got sprayed. It has been a bit harder to turn when driving but no significant fluid loss. I also have a cel light so I though what the hell, might as well let them do it all. Fun eh!

btw.... I have had no drivability issues besides 4hi......
So the last I heard.

Camshaft actuator is bad. (I had autozone pulled the codes and knew this)
Timing is off real bad (guy said it should not be running)
Encoder motor is bad (figured this out already)
TCCM is bad (had "tons of codes" <he is gonna give me them latter)

As for the power steering, they are still taking the pump out.


Looks like the $1200 warranty is gonna pay for itself! Also the last time I was gone with the Army the wife had the A/C and the computer replaced.

I also asked him to take a look at the spline disconnect for wear and tear while they were looking into it. He said he would.


Yeah for new parts!!



And I'll I will have to pay is $100. Thats if the aholes at Wynns will authorize all the fixes!

Wish me luck! I will be gettin soon!!

[Zero]

Thats amazing. sounds like you found a good dealer. Nice to hear they are fixing everything instead of the old "could not duplicate" bs you hear about all the time.

[NHARINTON]

So, all they are fixing is the camshaft actuator. Apparently the encoder motor is not a part of the transfer case. and they could not duplicate the power steering........

[bartonmd]

Fight it... The encoder motor is as much a part of the T-case as the camshaft actuator is of the engine...

Mike

[Trail X]

What about the TCCM?

So the encoder is not covered because it's not 'part of the case'?

What extended warranty do you have?

[midnight]

Fight the powa!!!!!!!

I agree it should be covered as a part of
the 4wd system.

[bgwolfpack]

Hey Nick, you can fight with them or just take their knowledge from them. Use what they can give you for free and do the rest yourself. There is nothing you can't do on this vehicle yourself if you do HVAC and plumbing for a living. Don't think you will make a shop do something they don't want to even if you're right.

[bartonmd]

Hey Nick, you can fight with them or just take their knowledge from them. Use what they can give you for free and do the rest yourself. There is nothing you can't do on this vehicle yourself if you do HVAC and plumbing for a living. Don't think you will make a shop do something they don't want to even if you're right.

I think it's the aftermarket extended warranty people who don't want to cover it...

Mike

[bgwolfpack]

Mike, that I bet is where the shop wants Nick to see it from. The shop can take care of him, if they choose to be an advocate on his behalf. But there always seems to be the sliding scale of percentage in moneys when dealing in warranty work. You fight warranty work, your in their ring without any stick at all.

Nick said. "Thats if the aholes at Wynns will authorize all the fixes!"

It seems you already had a claim on this warranty previously. Quote Nick-"Looks like the $1200 warranty is gonna pay for itself! Also the last time I was gone with the Army the wife had the A/C and the computer replaced."

Extended warranties are to make the warranty company money, nothing more.

Good luck Nick. I only hope you don't waste too much time on something they won't do compared to something they've said they will.

[The Roadie]

And as always with warranties, aftermarket or otherwise, it all comes down to the contract. The exclusions are written by lawyers to make it LOOK like something's going to be covered when you evaluate the warranty before you buy it, and to NOT be covered when you go to enforce it.

Would love to see the boilerplate on your precise warranty, if it's available online or if you could scan it in. Good luck!

[NHARINTON]

I'll get the warranty scanned in tonight. They just keep saying unless the part is specifically pointed out it is not covered. The transfer case casing and "internally lubricated parts" are covered. Not anything outside the case though. Should have never got the warrenty, but oh well. They replaced the A/C before and paid out $800, I only had to pay $100. So its not too bad.

I just took it back from the shop and am gonna do it myself. Found a encoder motor out of an 05 TB for $75 and a TCCM for $125 not sure on the year though. So that's not bad. The camshaft actuator is only $30. So less then $200 for all of it. Not too bad. Only issue I see is the TCCM is the part number 15..... not the newer 12590220. So I'm not sure if I should keep trying to find the newer one.

[NHARINTON]

1 more quick note. When I took it in the I could use the switch and had no 4wd service light. I got it back and it has a 4wd service light and there is no lights on the switch, no sounds nothing. I went back in and he said "when I pulled the transfer case codes the light cam on and the switch went out"

Why does that no seem right to me? Not gonna fight over it as I'm sure sooner or later it will die, so I'll just do it.

[The Roadie]

Pull the fuse for 30 seconds and reset the TCCM. Then see if it starts communicating again and the Service 4WD light goes out.

[NHARINTON]

Pull the fuse for 30 seconds and reset the TCCM. Then see if it starts communicating again and the Service 4WD light goes out.

Did it with the keys out and once with them in the run position. The switch lights come on and flash for about 2-3 seconds and then shut off and still have the service light.

[Philberto]

Here ya go...

[NHARINTON]

got one that looks brand new from the scrap yard.....



So I may just drive my truck strait through the shop it was at. I figured I would give the TCCM one last chance and hook it back up hoping it would wake up. It didn't. So I went to the junk yard got the parts and took the new encoder motor out to my truck to compare them, just to make sure it was the right one. The mother f**ker didn't even plug the encoder motor back in. So I did, service 4wd light is gone and all lights are back on and working. What the hell?!? How can you be dumb enough to not reconnect the parts you looked at! I also check the cam actuator sensor they checked and sure enough he forgot to reconnect that to! I am gonna go down and throw a fit, I had to pay $50 for the diagnosis because I didn't have them fix it.... I want my money back.

[bgwolfpack]

Nick, spend your money and energy on a Helm book for your truck.
(Trailblazer EXT Envoy XL and Bravada ST-Platform Service Manual Set)

[Hatchet669]

id still go back and talk to u the service manager... what if it was a brake line... or air bag that they were looking at and left unplugged... id go back a raise hell bout them not finishing...

[Philberto]

What kind of shop did you take it to? Word of advice for everybody, for diagnosis and repair, take your vehicle to the dealer, just don't order parts from them. The labor rates are usually comparable, and the techs are actually trained on the vehicles, in addition to having access to OEM tech info that other shops might not be willing to pay for. Or, of course, do it yourself, with a steadily growing set of tools, and a Helm, Chilton, or Haynes manual. If you're even better, you'll have a subscription to AllData or something like it and a basic scantool. Just my fyi.

[NHARINTON]

Woo! The encoder motor did it 4WD works great!


Now onto the new issue. lol

Truck pulls to the right and has a pretty bad shake in the wheel. So I was lookin at the ball joints, upper and lower look to be shot, and the rear sway bar end links have a ton of play. Also noticed this:

Pics of my upper control arms:

Drivers side:


Passenger side:


Passenger side with marks:




Notice the difference in the red circle. Does this look bent as hell to anyone else?