My Chevy Issue, cont’d…

[jeffrefrig]

I posted a while back about the MAF warning light I was getting. They charged me $480 to change the sensor and clean the innards like I did several times. That was in October. Light came back on so back up dealer today. Being caused by cylinder “blow-by”. Somebody or a couple of yinz mentioned that. Service Mgr. Joe said they “just recently” received a bulletin on the issue so now I wait for parts and they’ll do their thing. Just replacing rings and cylinders as far as I know. This is just an FYI to anyone with the 1.5 L Turbo. Mine’s a 2020 Malibu with 35,000 miles.
Peace, Friends!
Jeff T.

Edit: I forgot the rules!! Pics or it didn’t happen.

I meant rings and pistons.

 

[swsig]

An engine that needs new piston rings and cylinder liners at 35,000 miles? That's GM 1970s engineering at its finest!
Best of luck to all of you with 1.5 L Turbos.

 

[ladder13]

Should be on GM’s dime, no? Powertrain warranty.

 

[LVSteve]

Are they going to return your $480 for the ineffective "repair"?

 

[SMSgt]

Are they going to return your $480 for the ineffective "repair"?

Now that's funny right there.

 

[LVSteve]

Now that's funny right there.

Almost as funny as the service bulletin having been "just received".

 

[LVSteve]

Here are the pistons on a Malibu engine that quit at 98,000 miles. Too much heat happened at some point.

https://youtu.be/NBY57kelI0U?t=1818

 

[Old 44 Guy]

I had a Chevy just once. Sure glad saw ii to see go out of the driveway'

 

[Narragansett]

Ya need to go after the 480.00. I sure would

 

[venomballistics]

The Buick century made me a fan of Buick.
The 2011 Buick regal made me a fan of Subaru.
It pains me to say that... Till I pull a sub 6 second 0-60

 

[jeffrefrig]

Agreed with the $480 I spent. It all depends on the date on that service bulletin. My nephew works in the local Subaru's Financing Dept. That's as close to anyone I know that could help me load my guns with some info. BUT, wrong dealer, manufacturer, and department!!
I like that video: is that the by-product of putting a piece of tape over the light? Looks pretty brutal. Now, when they replace my pistons, are they going to have to bore and sleave that cylinder(s) that is causing the blow-by? I seem to remember the York 2-stage refrigeration compressors, helping to rebuild them and every cylinder would get a sleave. I was a gopher at the time. I'm def. not a motorhead, but they rocked pretty good.
Thanks for the help, and LVSteve thanks for that cool video.

 

[Bald1]

Sounds like the second coming of the 80s 305 with soft cams and blow by……… are they doing all 4 cylinders? They should. In fact they should just throw a new short block in it.

 

[Roofuss]

Was a Chevy owner all my life, until I had a transmission issue while on vacation with a new Chevy pickup at 17,000 miles. After losing over a week of vacation, having to pay for a week plus car rental, a warranty deductible and to have a new transmission air-freighted to the dealer from out of state for install. I vowed I was done with GM, and to this day, I still have never owned another GM vehicle .....that was 1994 !!!

 

[ladder13]

Car companies take a long time to have their come to Jesus moment to fix a manufacturing flaw. Personally, I've experienced that with Toyota and Mazda.

 

[URIT]

Years ago, I was at a dealership looking at a used turbo diesel Mercedes Benz. I asked why Mercedes didn't make a turbo for their gas powered engines and was told gasoline ran too hot and burned out the blades creating a cascade of other problems. He added that they wouldn't be putting turbos on gas powered cars until the issue was resolved.

That talk has kept me from buying a turbo powered car even though the issue might have been resolved. Still, I'd be hesitant to buy a car with a turbo that was borderline under-powered without a turbo.

 

[jeffrefrig]

I found a bulletin dated Jan. 2023; #20-NA-047. It has a Note: (refer to bulletin *** or ***** for causes from cracked pistons. They really didn't say much. I don't have to pay for the upcoming repair, but I'd like my $480 back. Hell, that's my December car payment, with enough left over for some beer.

 

[Oldengineer]

I’d write a letter to both NHTSA and EPA stating that you believe that the product is out of compliance with the Clean Air Act due to catalytic converter poisoning from oil burning. I’d also cc GM’s corporate compliance office and your state attorney general. The idea is give GM something big to think about……a class action lawsuit! It may take awhile, but I think you will get your $500 back. They really don’t want anyone doing private emissions testing in the field. VW/Audi found out that this is a very costly issue with their turbo diesel buyback mandate due to Nox compliance failures. I will offer to help write the letter!


Tom H.

 

[ladder13]

I’d write a letter to both NHTSA and EPA stating that you believe that the product is out of compliance with the Clean Air Act due to catalytic converter poisoning from oil burning. I’d also cc GM’s corporate compliance office and your state attorney general. The idea is give GM something big to think about……a class action lawsuit! It may take awhile, but I think you will get your $500 back. They really don’t want anyone doing private emissions testing in the field. VW/Audi found out that this is a very costly issue with their turbo diesel buyback mandate due to Nox compliance failures. I will offer to help write the letter!


Tom H.

Great advice.
My 2012 RAV4 had rear suspensions issues. Toyota denied any issue, until a class action. They had to pay for a full redesign of the suspension links for thousands of owners.

2016 Mazda faulty headlights, denied by Mazda, settled in some 5 years by class action. They paid for full replacement or reimbursement for repairs already done.
It takes awhile, hold all receipts for work done.

 

[venomballistics]

I’d write a letter to both NHTSA and EPA stating that you believe that the product is out of compliance with the Clean Air Act due to catalytic converter poisoning from oil burning. I’d also cc GM’s corporate compliance office and your state attorney general. The idea is give GM something big to think about……a class action lawsuit! It may take awhile, but I think you will get your $500 back. They really don’t want anyone doing private emissions testing in the field. VW/Audi found out that this is a very costly issue with their turbo diesel buyback mandate due to Nox compliance failures. I will offer to help write the letter!


Tom H.

I like the idea ...
But GM gave up on cars long before they gave up on cars.
I understand the thinking behind the 1.5L turbo in question.
Its a bid to tap into the efficiency of turbocharged power plants without necessarily creating a monster. The car in question isn't supposed to be a Porsche, it's a grocery getter.
the problem is, that it's a lot of work to ask of a 1.5L engine whose design team is still following the chevette formula.
Ultimately, they just want these things to go away.

 

[Oldengineer]

The concept of reuse and fewer parts has been around for a long time. If a manufacturer can reduce part count (3 cylinders instead of 4) and reuse the same parts on most of their 3,4,6, and 8 cylinder engines, it makes good business sense. The turbocharger really helps to facilitate this strategy. The cylinders MUST be round and straight regardless of the vehicle program cost objectives!