Well I dropped the ride off at the dealer yesterday and found out that yet another gasket they replaced when they replaced the head has now failed and needs to be replaced. What really amazes me is that no one in the city stocks that gasket. This seems to be the same situation with everything that fails on my car.
I put in a complaint with Chevy and on the hypothetical question of what could be offered at the end of this current problem, was told that an extended warranty and protection plan would be the most likely. Though the idea seems great, I don’t see that helping me at all being the car has been to the dealer so much, no one will buy it with that history. I consulted a lawyer on this matter and was told that there was a good chance of getting a substitution of collateral if I played my cards right. Though I really don’t like getting lawyers involved, but I don’t know what else to do to get out from under this car.

 

That's really a shame...have you considered taking it to another dealer? The warranty covers you regardless of where you have the car repaired and it sounds to me like the one you are dealing with is not giving you the service you are entitled to.

I once knew someone who was so mad at all they had to have done to their vehicle that they put cardboard lemons on it and parked it near the dealership and said I bought this lemon (name of dealership) here. While that's definitely going to the extreme...it was effective and the problem was handled readily.

Have you considered contacting your local television station and having their troubleshooter reporter look into it for you? Lawyers cost money...these guys don't. In fact...check out the site below...guys name is Tom Martino and this sort of crap really irks him. The have a toll free number you can call to get assistance as well. Lots of helpful information on there site too.

http://troubleshooter.com/

 

I'd check into the CA lemon laws. You might qualify.

 

When I spoke to the Lemon Law lawyer, they believed that it is borderline lemon and that there was a good possibility of it falling under that. My only concern is I get the GM employee discount due to family, and I don't want to start a bunch of hassle for them.
Though I understand the dealer has made some mistakes, they didn't build this car, they are only repairing it to the best of thier ability with the parts GM gives them. If it were an issue of the parts failing due to poor installation, I would go after the dealer, but it looks likes the parts that are installed are just failing. With all this adding up on the car, I am more concerned that I will never be able to sell it. Even trading it in would take years because the car is worth 5K less than I owe on trade in at this moment, and I won't roll that debt to another car. I am going to have to wait till Monday to see what Chevy says and go from there. My family member that works for GM is going to pull some strings from his side and see what can be done also, so it's just a waiting game now.

 

I'm not sure how the laws are written in CA, but as they are written in MO, and with the circumstances you've laid out, I think that would be the best bet.

Good luck resolving this. And you are right, this type of situaton is not a reflection on the dealer.

 

This is what I have delt with so far. I bought the car on 7/5/06 mind you and didn't take it home till 7/11/06

Time at the dealer:

07/05/06 - 07/11/06 - Seatbelt tensioner sensor in the passenger seat for the SRS

08/08/06 - 08/09/06 - Radio reception problem

09/08/06 - 09/18/06 - Engine head rebuild / belt tensioner

09/23/06 - 09/23/06 - Oil leak (Galles Chevrolet in ABQ)

09/26/06 - 10/02/06 - Oil leak / replaced tensioner again / Oil Seal ruptured

11/03/06 - Current – Oil Leak / Radio reception problem

 

In MO, if the car has been in for repairs for 30 days total , or repair attempts have failed 3 times in 1st calendar year, it is considered a lemon.

The manufacture then either has to buy your car back from you or replace it. In both cases they can deduct a "reseanable" ammount for use.

 

I did something silmilar once. I bought an old Buick from a place called Action motors and the engine blew about 2 weeks after I bought it. So I made up these little signs that had a picture of a lemon on them and it said "Lemon courtesy of Action motors" and I drove around town with it. (The engine was blown, but the car would still run....with steam pouring out of it) Well, less than a week later, I get a call from the dealer offering to take the car back and give me something else. Mess with me will ya!? Lol

 

That's great Cobra...I knew we had to have someone on here that may have done something like. Whatever it takes to get their attention is all good in my book. Mess with you is right.

 

You may have issues because you bought it using GMS. There is a mandatory arbitration clause attached to the discount. You may want to look at this and decide if it is time to start the arbitration.

From gmfamilyfirst.com:

"In consideration of the discount I receive on the purchase/lease of the vehicle, I will not be able to bring lawsuit for any dispute involving repairs made to that vehicle under GM's Lmited Warranty or regarding the extent to which such warranty coverage is provided on that vehicle. Instead, I AGREE to address such disputes through the GM Dispute Resolution Process, which includes mandatory arbitration that is binding on both GM and me. I acknowledge that this Authorization evidences a transaction involving interstate commerce. The Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) (9 USC 2 et. seq.) shall govern the interpretation, enforcement, and proceedings of the arbitratoin. For matters the FAA does not cover, the laws of the State in which I reside shall govern."