Coming home from the NCRS National Convention

[Vito C.]

It has been a very interesting day coming back from our National Convention at the zMax speedway in Concord NC, our SUV died on highway 81 in Woodstock VA. Had it towed into the local dealer "Grubbs Chevrolet". Hopefully they can repair by tomorrow and we can get home. So, if we have any Members in Woodstock VA that knows if Grubbs Chevrolet has a good service Dept, I would like to know about it.

[Richard M.]

Re: Coming home from the NCRS National Convention

Vito, Sorry I have no dealer info for you but curiously, what is the year & model and what exactly was the problem? Did the DIC or Check Engine light give you any clues? Do you have Onstar? They can run diagnostics remotely if you're on the Safe & Sound plan.

Rich

[Vito C.]

Re: Coming home from the NCRS National Convention

I believe the flywheel may have cracked, I had an engine/drive-train vibration at 75 mph and the check light started to flash after about 15 miles I lost power and could not go over 30 mph.

[Gene M.]

Re: Coming home from the NCRS National Convention

We ran the the old 65 Corvette home at a fairly steady 70 MPH. Windows down, (coupe) only 15 to 17 MPG but she stayed together and was fun to drive.

I understand with two kids a Corvette would not be the choice of vehicle.

NCRS put on a great national and even better road tour.
Thank you to everybody for all your work to put together a great national convention.

[Richard M.]

Re: Coming home from the NCRS National Convention

I believe the flywheel may have cracked, I had an engine/drive-train vibration at 75 mph and the check light started to flash after about 15 miles I lost power and could not go over 30 mph.

Darn, Bad timing of course. Sorry to hear the troubles got you. Sounds like it may even be a crank or cam position sensor or something like that. If a sensor goes bad on these new designs it typically will put the engine in "limp mode" like you saw(low power just to get you off the road). Hopefully it'll be something simple and you'll be good to go. I had a bad A/T sensor on my C6 last year and it went into limp mode so I could get home. Turned out to be the IMS(Internal Mode Switch) which is just a feedback sensor from the shifter to trans. New switch under warranty and was all set.

I'm curious what the final outcome is so please let us know. Hopefully your in warranty, after 07 GM you get 5 year 100k powertrain coverage. I have a few newer GM vehicles (06 Silverado, 10 Acadia, 07 Corvette) so these types of problems are good history info for the future.

Good luck....
Rich

[William S.]

Re: Coming home from the NCRS National Convention

Just spoke to Vito a bit ago by cell when I heard about his break down. Problem was a plugged catalytic converter. Grubbs Chevrolet did not have the correct GM part but installed one from a local jobber and got Vito and family back "on the road again". Vito asked me to make this post and extend his thanks to NCRS (MAC) member Ron Shrum who lives in Woodstock for his help. Great cars (even with a non-GM CAT) and even greater friends.

[Clem Z.]

Re: Coming home from the NCRS National Convention

Just spoke to Vito a bit ago by cell when I heard about his break down. Problem was a plugged catalytic converter. Grubbs Chevrolet did not have the correct GM part but installed one from a local jobber and got Vito and family back "on the road again". Vito asked me to make this post and extend his thanks to NCRS (MAC) member Ron Shrum who lives in Woodstock for his help. Great cars (even with a non-GM CAT) and even greater friends.

for the converter to plug he has other problems he should look for.

[Brian M.]

Re: Coming home from the NCRS National Convention

I'd bet his local dealer will see this car in short order for a Cat re-placement, and associated repairs.

for the converter to plug he has other problems he should look for.

[Dan D.]

Re: Coming home from the NCRS National Convention

The only thing I have ever seen plug a Catalytic is leaded gas. That will plug them almost immediately. Don't see how that can be a problem now days - leaded is long gone. Maybe Vito has some NOS gas???? -Dan-

[Edward J.]

Re: Coming home from the NCRS National Convention

I believe the flywheel may have cracked, I had an engine/drive-train vibration at 75 mph and the check light started to flash after about 15 miles I lost power and could not go over 30 mph.

Vito, generally when the service engine light flashes this ia a indicator of a engine misfire, (spark plug or coil, Ing. wire)The problem will cause a power loss and rough running engine. and the other end of the power loss could be a fuel pump issue, causing the misfire also.

[Donald O.]

Re: Coming home from the NCRS National Convention

The only thing I have ever seen plug a Catalytic is leaded gas. That will plug them almost immediately. Don't see how that can be a problem now days - leaded is long gone. Maybe Vito has some NOS gas???? -Dan-

A blown head gasket sucking coolant and purging it out the exhaust will kill a cat/conv. But to plug a new monolithic design converter requires raw fuel to be burned in the cat can and not the cylinder. This will cause the ceramic honeycomb to melt and give off a nice warm bright orange glow under the vehicle. Be interesting to hear the actual root cause of failure.

DonO

[Jack H.]

Re: Coming home from the NCRS National Convention

You might get lucky here when the tech connects his OBD2 tool and pulls the MIL code. I've seen situations where spark plug wire retaining clip(s) (plastic these days) fracture and one or more plug wires 'fry' against the exhaust manifold.

IF that turns out to be the case, think hard about having the dealership do the repair... Expect to fork out roughly $100 for the code read (a NICE profit enhancement item by GM Service that'll pay for your own OBD2 reader!) and then expect the dealership to install a FULL set of plug wires instead of replacing JUST the damaged ones (another $350 in parts & labor).

[Edward J.]

Re: Coming home from the NCRS National Convention

You might get lucky here when the tech connects his OBD2 tool and pulls the MIL code. I've seen situations where spark plug wire retaining clip(s) (plastic these days) fracture and one or more plug wires 'fry' against the exhaust manifold.

IF that turns out to be the case, think hard about having the dealership do the repair... Expect to fork out roughly $100 for the code read (a NICE profit enhancement item by GM Service that'll pay for your own OBD2 reader!) and then expect the dealership to install a FULL set of plug wires instead of replacing JUST the damaged ones (another $350 in parts & labor).

Jack, I Don't know of the year SUV Vito drives, But most of the newer SUV,s and trucks are coil on plug, but the little rubber boots on those coils can be replaced.my hunch is the fuel pump pressure dropped and cause the engine to start running lean and start misfiring ( hence the flashing serv. lamp). 75mph and a full load would require more fuel at times and if climbing hills, Thats when you really need good steady fuel pressure.

[Terry M.]

Re: Coming home from the NCRS National Convention

My 2001 NC State Highway Patrol Camaro threw a hard MIL on the way home. Testing revealed the RH Converter was non-functional. $400 (discount price) later and all was good.

Two years later I got a recall (YES, a real campaign and not a TSB) notice for the cats. Chevrolet paid the cost of the converter. They got a bargain since I got a discount and my labor was free. Oh, and the LH cat had been replaced under warranty while the NCHP had it.

I know this is not quite the same thing as a plugged converter, but leaded gas and coolant will only destroy the converter and usually not plug it.