Cross posted from the V6 forums, I just know you V8'ers don't pay attention to those threads!
Things will work out I hope!
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Homestar, TJ91 and Rarebird, thanks for all your comments I really appreciate them! It's been a bad situation but with all this support I don't feel so alone.
I met with my Canadian Camaro buddies last night at one of our meets and had alot more support and a few good ideas. Many shared thier stories with me and how things turned out when they had similar problems and what they did to get resolutions and that will make a difference in all this for me. I am a little pis*ed that I have not been able to catch the hard starting/stalling on video as it has now happened 4 times, but I have a charged digital camera in the car and now film ever startup so I will hopefully catch it again and have it as proof.
It's very strange a problem as when it's happening it sounds terrible like it's not running on all cylinders and it's mechanically rough as hell. Then it corrects itself and starts up fine for many startups, some are sluggish and slow but the car drives fine. Then one of those hard startups happen, the check engine light goes on but stays on for a day or so and goes out on it's own.
I just started it up this morning, to move it one parking spot and it started up fine and sounded great. It did startup sluggishly a little but it's running fine. I just wonder if it's a mechanical issue or is the computer and/or sensors just not all on right and the wrong information is being processed in the CPU and causing it to run poorly electrically. If there was a mechanical problem, I assume that it wouldn't run smoothly at all as it does now 80% of the time, right?
We will see what the dealer finds as I will be dropping off the car first thing Monday morning. I need a loaner now for sure. I was going to drop it off Friday, but they told me it made no difference as they close service early on Fridays. I will try to catch this hard startup on video and post it for all of you to see, I would really like your opinions on what you think is going on in that engine. I am driving it normally, trying to see if it can remain reliable or not. Some other posters have recommended that I try to "blow" the engine so they have no choice but to flip the engine and that is frankly, preposterous to consider. Not only is it just plain wrong to do, but it is wasteful beyond all measure to all parties involved. If someone ever did that, they risk being caught many ways. Modern car computers retain all kinds of information and I am sure that if you were to try to do just that it would be recorded in the computer and this would void any warrantee and frankly, any good will, with GM. Then GM wouldn't be able to see why this car is running poorly in the first place and then the next guy that gets a similar problem with an LLT V6 will be as unlucky as I have been without GM being able to prevent this issue in the first place. It's also dangerous because who knows what would happen if parts started "flying", people could get hurt.
So please, anyone that is thinking of posting any future comments on willfully blowing up this engine, please refrain from suggesting this as it doesn't help my case and it's just plain evil. I am posting the ongoing progress of this issue for the betterment of the whole C5 community and for the support I am receiving from everyone. It's important to CLEARLY show GM and the entire automotive world that social media can have a major impact on how the OEM's and consumers can create a dialog that is constructive and powerful so that everyone is on their best behaviour! Gone are the days of the single voice of a single consumer, there is power in numbers and this forum has been nothing but positive for me, before and after my Camaro purchase.
Thanks to the moderators, thanks to all of you for your kind words and ideas. I will reciprocate by keeping you all informed in the most unbiased way I can. I have a good feeling that GM will step up to the plate on this one and do the right thing! If they change the engine, I will gladly keep this car as I just love it through and through. If they would rather trade it in, I will get an SS and pay for the difference. I just hope for a fair trade in. Also, thanks to Mr. Scott Settlemire for giving me his advice and recent devine intervention, without his help I would be at thhe mercy of the dealer alone, GM having given thier final verdict of repair, repair repair. The Fbodfather is now my automotive patron saint! I just hope one day he doesn't come asking for a "favor" that I cannot refuse! (ok, ok, I just had to write that! His is a "godfather" after all, no?
More news real soon!
eB
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Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition by the mediocre mind.... Al E
2010 Summit White 2LT Camaro:
Ordered August 14th,2009
Allocation October 1st, 2009
Set for production Monday November 23rd, 2009
(Defective engine installed in great car this week)
Shipped by truck Monday November 30th, 2009
Dealer received Wednesday 2nd December, 2009
Picked up by ME, Friday 4th December, 2009
Happy Forever after...December 5th
EDIT:
actually happy until August 2010 when my bearing spun and engine blew. The fairy tale has no happy ending...yet.