When there is a TSB on our cars if we take it to the dealer does this mean they fix it for free even if its out of warranty. I have a 98Z and there is a TSB for the belt tensioner. Will they fix it for free.

 

Since no one has answered I'll take a crack at it,

Sorry but no, they wont. What you are thinking of is a "recall or campaign." Those will be covered by GM for up to 5 years or so after the recall is released {if I am correct on the time frame}. Recalls are usually saftey related and risk personal injury. GM will call in the affected vehicles and pay for the parts and labor at no cost to the customer. Don't worry they will track you down if your vehicle is affected and send you mail to go in and have your car repaired.

A "TSB" or Technical Service Bulletin, is a document wich GM puts out to aid technicians in diagnosing known common problems in vehicles. GM will monitor all vehicles repaired under warranty as well as inspect the parts once removed from the vehicle {yes we have to turn in all removed parts from a repair made under warranty}. They can even narrow it down to a particular production run of vehicles affected, say if they got a bad batch of parts during assembly, they can pinpoint vehicles affected. This mean GM will inspect the parts and if they find patterns they will release a TSB telling technicians to be on the lookout for this particular problem if a customer brings a vehicle in for this concern. They may make changes in design to the parts and may specify updated parts for the repair. In this case, this is why in this particular TSB they provide VIN breakpoint of prior to Y2107225. Look at the last 9 digits of your vin and if they are before this VIN number your vehicle may have the 1st design bracket installed and might benefit from the new design bracket. If your out of your 3 year 36,000 mile warranty and have no extended warranty, sorry, it wont be covered. If your still in warranty and have the concern, bring it in and it would be covered.

I in no way speak for General Motors or am I representative of General Motors. I'm just a technician trying to answer your question, hope it helps. <img border="0" alt="[Banging Head]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_banghead.gif" />

Jay

 

Thanks alot man you told me everything. Just one more ?. Do you mean the last 7 digits or 9 the two letters before the number are xw then 212---- does this mean I'm before the breakpoint.

 

It's not clear cut. Some times a TSB refers to a failing (read defective)part. So for instance, on my SS there is a TSB on idler pulleys because they found that some of the original mounting brackets were not straight, causing the pulley to wear out. On my 96 impala there is a TSB on the EGR and they replaced at 80k miles (and 6 years old) for free.

 

I'm sorry I meant the last 8 digits of your VIN number. IF its numerically lower than Y2107225, then you have the 1st design bracket. if your number starts with W212xxxx with "W" being the 8th digit I can already tell you that you already have the updated 2nd design bracket on your car. Because W212xxx would be numerically higher than Y2107225. See what I'm getting at?

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">
It's not clear cut. Some times a TSB refers to a failing (read defective)part. So for instance, on my SS there is a TSB on idler pulleys because they found that some of the original mounting brackets were not straight, causing the pulley to wear out. On my 96 impala there is a TSB on the EGR and they replaced at 80k miles (and 6 years old) for free. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">You would be correct there is no policy set in stone about this <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> , it does not hurt to ask. I didn't mean to be so as matter a fact in my post. The reality is that 19 out of 20 times they would not pay for an out of warranty repair without previous history of this particular complaint while the vehicle is in warranty. Hey, like I said it don't hurt to ask. In a situation similar to this, I wouldn't go in demanding it be done and pound on the desk <img border="0" alt="[judgement]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_judge.gif" /> . They are not obligated to replace any part out of warranty. The dealership can ask GM if they will pay to replace it out of a "Goodwill" repair. But if GM refuses then the dealership would be stuck with the bill. So, many times they will say no outright because GM does not pay for very many repairs out of warranty at all. There are exceptions of course.

Like I said earlier, I don't speak for GM I just know what I see as cars come in and out of my dealership. I may be wrong about specifics of the policies, but as a tech you pretty much get a feel for what will fly and what won't....LoL. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />

Jay

<small>[ November 16, 2002, 02:17 AM: Message edited by: JAY4SPEED ]</small>

 

What does the w satnd for because mine begins with a W wouldn't that mean mine was before the Y number you gave but my number is 212 after the w so were the w built before the Y's.

 

Sent you an Email.

Jay