gotta love these chevy dealers!!!

themoneypit · 06-28-2012, 09:48 PM

my sister has an 07 tahoe. she calls me the other day and said all the inside gauges stopped working, and she was headed to the dealer to see what the problem was. i was out of town or she wouldve called me first. anyhow, they tell her she needs a new instrument cluster, and cost would be $550.

i told her to run, and i would look at it when i got home. key on, pulled fuse for the cluster, re-installed, and everything is good as golden again.

these dealerships are crooks!! i know its not a camaro, but i had to share this story because our camaros have the same type of guages, and im sure that would fix these as well if they were to stop working on someones car.

DFWZ28 · 06-28-2012, 09:52 PM

Jeez, thanks moneypit....good info to have.

Supercamaro64 · 06-28-2012, 09:55 PM

Every dealer is a ripoff, for any type of service except warranty-covered (because its not paid for by you lol)).

tomlink · 06-28-2012, 10:02 PM

Actually I am surprised by the low level of expertise at the dealers. They can use Google too, no? And they have car-specific info from the car company that we don't.

Would they have replaced a good instrument panel without a fuse-pull? I'd bet yes.

themoneypit · 06-28-2012, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomlink

Actually I am surprised by the low level of expertise at the dealers. They can use Google too, no? And they have car-specific info from the car company that we don't.

Would they have replaced a good instrument panel without a fuse-pull? I'd bet yes.

google is how i found out how to fix it. quick search, clicked on a chevy forum, and found it. i even told her while she was at the dealer to have them do it. she said they checked the fuse and it was good, so it needs a cluster... i just started laughing and told her to run...

when i did it for the gauges, the stabilitrak light came on and stayed on. i shut it off, turned key to on again, and did the same for that fuse, then all was good with it. its been about a week now and no more issues.

ec1990 · 06-28-2012, 10:25 PM

I once had the dealership replace the entire steering shaft to fix a clicking sound while braking for over $600. Turns out it was a rotor retainer left on at the factory so they don't fall off. Fixed by the dealership for less than $30.

Good thing is I got a refund check from GM for the full amount after a quick complaint to corporate. Dealerships - Suck, GM - Awesome

themoneypit · 06-29-2012, 09:12 AM

its just crazy... i would bet that they would have done the fuse pull, and charged her the $550 saying they installed a new cluster. she called and complained after i fixed it in 30 seconds, and they tried to sell her a new tahoe discounted 10grand.. she told them, she would never buy anything from that dealership again, and hung up on him.

Ir0nM4n · 06-29-2012, 09:29 AM

This isnt GM, though it is about a Dealership. My wife owns a Hyundai Tucson and while I was loading bricks in it. I broke the middle safety belt buckle. Took to Hyundai, quote was $200 to replace. Well it was $160 for labor and $40 for the buckle. I explained to her to bring the buckle home and I would install it. Didnt have to remove the seat. I had it installed in less than 1/2 an hour. Reason it was that long is the new bolt for the buckle didnt work. Used the old bolt and whalah installed. I wonder if they just quote book price then do what I did.

Bruiser · 06-29-2012, 09:52 AM

Don't be surprised if they stop working again. There is a known problem that the stepper motors go out on these--well at least on the previous body style. '07 is when the new style came out. Anyway, you can get them to "reset" by pulling the fuse a few times but eventually, they just won't reset. Of course maybe the '07s didn't inherit the problems of the '06.

There are places that will rebuild the cluster or you can do it yourself if you can solder.

This is just my experience,
-Bob George

Bodih · 06-29-2012, 10:02 AM

Had a similar situation with the anti-lock brakes in my Impala SS. The ABS would stop working, and the DIC would indicate a system malfunction. after I dropped off the car at the dealership, they called me back about 20 minutes later to say it needed the master control module and the control valve changed for a total of $2,500. The kicker was they said they had to change both components because they couldn't tell which one was bad! I told them to button it up and I would come back to get it. They tried to charge me $125 for diagnostics. I asked them why I should pay if their diagnostics can't tell me what's broken; they wrote it off.
They must have reset the codes. The DIC and warning light were out when I left the dealer, but then came on 10 minutes later. I stopped to see a friend that works at a Firestone Service Center. He popped the hood to check the control module, and immediately said he saw the problem. The ground wire had backed halfway out of the connector on the module, so there wasn't a continuous ground. He disconnected the plug, snapped the ground lead back in the connector, and sent me down the road without a charge. I sent him a $100 gift card to a nice restaurant the next day.
How many folks blindly believe the first thing they're told by a mechanic. Unless I already know what the problem is, I get a second opinion, AND a second quote, before the work is done.

willhe64 · 06-29-2012, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomlink

Actually I am surprised by the low level of expertise at the dealers.

I'm not. Most have one licensed mechanic and a bunch of apprentices (certified technicians) A.K.A. flunkies. And they all work on flat rate. Get the job done as quickly as possible or you don't make money.

DRKS1D3 · 06-29-2012, 10:27 AM

+100 Every dealership is a bunch of clowns. Once they have your money from a sale, they don't care about you anymore. It has to be the slimiest business there is!

Brett64D · 06-29-2012, 12:39 PM

If it happens again, go on ebay and look up getting the motors rebuilt. I had several go out in my Avalanche and the guy on ebay replaced all motors, lights and tuned up the entire cluster for $70 including return shipping. They work great now.

myold88 · 06-29-2012, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by themoneypit

my sister has an 07 tahoe. she calls me the other day and said all the inside gauges stopped working, and she was headed to the dealer to see what the problem was. i was out of town or she wouldve called me first. anyhow, they tell her she needs a new instrument cluster, and cost would be $550.

i told her to run, and i would look at it when i got home. key on, pulled fuse for the cluster, re-installed, and everything is good as golden again.

these dealerships are crooks!! i know its not a camaro, but i had to share this story because our camaros have the same type of guages, and im sure that would fix these as well if they were to stop working on someones car.

How about telling us who this dealer is. Also, I hope you call the dealer and let them know
how you fixed this $550.00 problem yourself.

06-28-2012, 09:48 PM	#1
themoneypit Drives: 2012 45th convertible ss ls3 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: CT Posts: 215	gotta love these chevy dealers!!! my sister has an 07 tahoe. she calls me the other day and said all the inside gauges stopped working, and she was headed to the dealer to see what the problem was. i was out of town or she wouldve called me first. anyhow, they tell her she needs a new instrument cluster, and cost would be $550. i told her to run, and i would look at it when i got home. key on, pulled fuse for the cluster, re-installed, and everything is good as golden again. these dealerships are crooks!! i know its not a camaro, but i had to share this story because our camaros have the same type of guages, and im sure that would fix these as well if they were to stop working on someones car.

06-28-2012, 09:52 PM	#2
DFWZ28 Drives: 2010 SS Join Date: May 2012 Location: Rockwall, TX Posts: 1,603 View My Garage	Jeez, thanks moneypit....good info to have. __________________

06-28-2012, 09:55 PM	#3
Supercamaro64 Right, right. Drives: 79 Z28, 86 Camaro, 94 Burb 4x4 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Fond du Lac, Wisconsin Posts: 1,350 View My Garage	Every dealer is a ripoff, for any type of service except warranty-covered (because its not paid for by you lol)). __________________ "You wanna lay the fate of the world on the kids camaro? Thats cool." "When reporters asked what it was, one official stated, 'It's a small, vicious animal that eats Mustangs.'" The Creampuff Fleet-

06-28-2012, 10:25 PM	#6
ec1990 Drives: 2012 AGM SS Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 1,407	I once had the dealership replace the entire steering shaft to fix a clicking sound while braking for over $600. Turns out it was a rotor retainer left on at the factory so they don't fall off. Fixed by the dealership for less than $30. Good thing is I got a refund check from GM for the full amount after a quick complaint to corporate. Dealerships - Suck, GM - Awesome __________________ Check out my blog for product reviews on detailing products!

06-29-2012, 09:29 AM	#8
Ir0nM4n Love me some Tacos Drives: 14 1LE Join Date: May 2011 Location: Washington Posts: 2,728 View My Garage	This isnt GM, though it is about a Dealership. My wife owns a Hyundai Tucson and while I was loading bricks in it. I broke the middle safety belt buckle. Took to Hyundai, quote was $200 to replace. Well it was $160 for labor and $40 for the buckle. I explained to her to bring the buckle home and I would install it. Didnt have to remove the seat. I had it installed in less than 1/2 an hour. Reason it was that long is the new bolt for the buckle didnt work. Used the old bolt and whalah installed. I wonder if they just quote book price then do what I did. __________________

06-28-2012, 10:02 PM	#4
tomlink Drives: 2011 Camaro 2LT RS Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: New Bern, NC Posts: 953 View My Garage	Actually I am surprised by the low level of expertise at the dealers. They can use Google too, no? And they have car-specific info from the car company that we don't. Would they have replaced a good instrument panel without a fuse-pull? I'd bet yes.

06-29-2012, 09:12 AM	#7
themoneypit Drives: 2012 45th convertible ss ls3 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: CT Posts: 215	its just crazy... i would bet that they would have done the fuse pull, and charged her the $550 saying they installed a new cluster. she called and complained after i fixed it in 30 seconds, and they tried to sell her a new tahoe discounted 10grand.. she told them, she would never buy anything from that dealership again, and hung up on him.

06-29-2012, 09:52 AM	#9
Bruiser Drives: 2010 SS/RS IOM w/Cyber Gray Stripes Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New Mexico Posts: 48	OT--Tahoe Cluster Don't be surprised if they stop working again. There is a known problem that the stepper motors go out on these--well at least on the previous body style. '07 is when the new style came out. Anyway, you can get them to "reset" by pulling the fuse a few times but eventually, they just won't reset. Of course maybe the '07s didn't inherit the problems of the '06. There are places that will rebuild the cluster or you can do it yourself if you can solder. This is just my experience, -Bob George

06-29-2012, 10:02 AM	#10
Bodih I Got My Orange Crush Drives: it like I stoles it... Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 2,079	Had a similar situation with the anti-lock brakes in my Impala SS. The ABS would stop working, and the DIC would indicate a system malfunction. after I dropped off the car at the dealership, they called me back about 20 minutes later to say it needed the master control module and the control valve changed for a total of $2,500. The kicker was they said they had to change both components because they couldn't tell which one was bad! I told them to button it up and I would come back to get it. They tried to charge me $125 for diagnostics. I asked them why I should pay if their diagnostics can't tell me what's broken; they wrote it off. They must have reset the codes. The DIC and warning light were out when I left the dealer, but then came on 10 minutes later. I stopped to see a friend that works at a Firestone Service Center. He popped the hood to check the control module, and immediately said he saw the problem. The ground wire had backed halfway out of the connector on the module, so there wasn't a continuous ground. He disconnected the plug, snapped the ground lead back in the connector, and sent me down the road without a charge. I sent him a $100 gift card to a nice restaurant the next day. How many folks blindly believe the first thing they're told by a mechanic. Unless I already know what the problem is, I get a second opinion, AND a second quote, before the work is done. __________________ My love is in league with the freeway. Its passion will ride, as the cities fly by, and the tail-lights dissolve in the coming of night. And the questions in thousands take flight ~Robert Plant - Big Log~

06-29-2012, 10:27 AM	#12
DRKS1D3 Drives: '17 Corvette Grand Sport M7 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 3,748	+100 Every dealership is a bunch of clowns. Once they have your money from a sale, they don't care about you anymore. It has to be the slimiest business there is! __________________ MY RIDE: 2017 CORVETTE GRAND SPORT--TRIPLE BLACK, 7 SPEED MANUAL, VARARAM TCR-7 INTAKE, BORLA CATLESS X-PIPE, CARBON FIBER STAGE 2 AERO, MGW SHORT-THROW SHIFTER SOLD2011 TRIPLE BLACK SS CONVERTIBLE--6 SPEED MANUAL, MANY MODS, 455 RWHP/435 RWTQ DAD'S RIDE: 2012 ZL1 #1866--BLACK, 6 SPEED MANUAL, EXPOSED CF HOOD, POLISHED WHEELS, SUNROOF, ROTO-FAB INTAKE "Silly Americans, taking from the rich and giving to the poor only works in fairy tales. Success is earned here!".

06-29-2012, 12:39 PM	#13
Brett64D Drives: 2010 2SS/RS A6 LS3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Europe Posts: 149 View My Garage	If it happens again, go on ebay and look up getting the motors rebuilt. I had several go out in my Avalanche and the guy on ebay replaced all motors, lights and tuned up the entire cluster for $70 including return shipping. They work great now.