No additive after recall?

[sol79]

Ok, I had the recall done today and I read the parts invoice. It lists lubricant and the seal kit, that's it.

I'm guessing they either forgot the additive (not likely, I'd probably know pretty quickly if it wasn't there!) or the recall doesn't require additive. Perhaps the mechanic only needed to top off the fluid?

Is the differential drained and refilled during the procedure or is the fluid merely topped off?

[MomsSol]

Originally Posted by sol79 Ok, I had the recall done today and I read the parts invoice. It lists lubricant and the seal kit, that's it. I'm guessing they either forgot the additive (not likely, I'd probably know pretty quickly if it wasn't there!) or the recall doesn't require additive. Perhaps the mechanic only needed to top off the fluid? Is the differential drained and refilled during the procedure or is the fluid merely topped off?

Here is what Small Dealer posted with regard to this:

Does the fluid have to be changed? It is one of the areas of the recall and procedure that is unclear. The recall, as has past service information, talks about the importance of keeping the pinion bore free of fluid. Fluid that could give the perception of a repeat failure. It does not require, or list it, it as one of the steps in performing the seal replacement. The parts information lists the required fluid and additive, but the payment section makes no reference to it. But, it does go a one step beyond though and states "It may be necessary to drain some or all of the axle fluid...". It would appear it is up to the dealership or their tech, on what to do. With out further guidence from GM, or dealerships getting claims bounced for excessive parts allowances, my recommendation would be to request that the procedure be done with a full drain and refill.

[Envious06]

I'd insist on a full refill, even if I had to pay for it. With all of the people I hear coming up with metal in the drained fluid. Besides, I would have to think that would have to be proper procedure. Otherwise it would be kind of like changing your oil filter and putting the old oil back in.

[sol79]

My bill says:

19179933 Seal Kit
89021677 Gear Lubricant

No mention of additive. So much for not listing the gear lubricant in the payment section. Perhaps the dealer needed more lubricant than what was called for in the recall?

[MomsSol]

Originally Posted by sol79 My bill says: 19179933 Seal Kit 89021677 Gear Lubricant No mention of additive. So much for not listing the gear lubricant in the payment section. Perhaps the dealer needed more lubricant than what was called for in the recall?

As a point of reference here sol79 (as I don't recall your car) ... do you have LSD?

[sol79]

Originally Posted by MomsSol As a point of reference here sol79 (as I don't recall your car) ... do you have LSD?

Yes, I do have a limited slip differential. I'm going to call the dealer tomorrow. I'm very concerned that they've made a mistake. Hopefully, the dealership just forgot to include the additive on the invoice! Anyway, I'm going to drive the Mustang tomorrow. No way I'm moving the Solstice one more inch until I know for sure that the repair has been done correctly.

[sol79]

I did some more research, here's the parts list for the recall:

is additive included in seal recall? - Cadillac Owners

Part Number - Description
19179933 - Seal Kit, Diff Drv P/Gr (CTS, STS, SRX, Solstice, SKY, GT) (Note: STS AWD & SRX AWD will also require P/N 19179936)
19179934 - Seal Kit, Diff Drv P/Gr (STS-V, CTS-V)
19179936 - Seal Kit, Frt Diff Drv P/Gr (STS AWD, SRX AWD) (Note: STS AWD & SRX AWD will also require P/N 19179933)
89021677 - Lubricant, Gr Synthetic, SAE 75W-90
01052358 - Lubricant, Limited-Slip Differential (if needed)

Looks like the dealer almost certainly made a mistake. Thank goodness I have a night to sleep on it, because I'm pretty angry right now.

Here's the million dollar question, though. How much damage did I do to my new differential by running it with no friction modifier? I went about 10 or 15 miles, going as fast as 80 mph on the highway and in stop and go traffic. I probably operated the vehicle for about 30 minutes.

This car has been nothing but one incredible headache since I bought it in June.

[AWhatstice?]

sol79, I'm not sure your dealer made a mistake. If I'm reading and interpreting the parts list correctly (and I'm not sure I am), all vehicles affected require one of the 3 Seal Kits (our Solstice getting Seal Kit 19179933), and all vehicles require 89021677 - Lubricant, Gr Synthetic, SAE 75W-90, but not all with Limited-Slip Differential will get the 01052358 - Lubricant, because it's only 'as needed'. I guess its how the (as needed) is interpreted. Is the list saying that the 01052358 - Lubricant is needed for all Limited-Slip Differentials, or it's up to the Tech to determine if it's needed or not on Limited-Slip Differentials based on some other criteria/inspection/observation not described on the list? I can see where there could be some misinterpretation of the recall parts list without further clarification.

[AWhatstice?]

Don't get me wrong. Either way, I'd be doing the same thing you are just to be safe and sure. I'd question the dealer again too if I were you.

[bigblau]

Unless GM gives me the parts to do the job myself, I think I’m going to take my chances and not have the recall done -the rear isn’t leaking yet, but chances are good it will after dealer gets hands on it.

I’ll never forget a recall my mother had done on her 1979 VW Rabbit Diesel. It was a recall for reported brake line corrosion and subsequent failure. Took the car to the dealer. They replaced the brake lines, filled it with fluid and that’s that right? Well, after taking the car home we could smell oil fumes inside the car. Then, about a week later after getting some groceries I notices that the rear seat carpet behind the driver was wet. On further investigation it was brake fluid. Took it back to the dealer and told him what we discovered. Dealer denied any complicity and suggested that we may have done it ourselves. I called VW of America and they told the dealer to fix it. All the dealer did was take out the carpet and pressure wash it -of course the brake fluid striped the paint on the floor and the car rotted in a matter of a couple of years.

The dealer never admitted to doing anything wrong but about a year later, duing a Christmas Party my friend had I found out the whole story. My friends’ friend Pete, who worked at this dealership told me what had happened. We were just talking and I happened to mention what the VW dealer had done to my moms car. That’s when Pete said, “so that was your moms car.” Well he continued to tell us the whole story. Seems the dealer hired some young kid out of HS at minimum wage. The kid did the recall job on my mom’s car. After about five minutes of pumping on a five gallon drum of brake fluid into my mom’s car brake lines he goes over to Pete and tells him that for some reason he can’t seem to get any pressure in the brake lines? Pete went over and discovered that the kid forgot to tighten the brake line coupler (union) and that the brake fluid had leaked all over the floor behind the drivers seat of my mom’s car.

Like I said, until it starts leaking (unless GM gives me the parts to do the job myself), I'll just leave well enough alone.

[sirwm]

Originally Posted by sol79 I did some more research, here's the parts list for the recall: is additive included in seal recall? - Cadillac Owners Part Number - Description 19179933 - Seal Kit, Diff Drv P/Gr (CTS, STS, SRX, Solstice, SKY, GT) (Note: STS AWD & SRX AWD will also require P/N 19179936) 19179934 - Seal Kit, Diff Drv P/Gr (STS-V, CTS-V) 19179936 - Seal Kit, Frt Diff Drv P/Gr (STS AWD, SRX AWD) (Note: STS AWD & SRX AWD will also require P/N 19179933) 89021677 - Lubricant, Gr Synthetic, SAE 75W-90 01052358 - Lubricant, Limited-Slip Differential (if needed)

Thank you for posting this detailed list.
My work is planned for 2/15/08.

[PAO]

Originally Posted by bigblau Unless GM gives me the parts to do the job myself, I think I’m going to take my chances and not have the recall done -the rear isn’t leaking yet, but chances are good it will after dealer gets hands on it. I’ll never forget a recall my mother had done on her 1979 VW Rabbit Diesel. It was a recall for reported brake line corrosion and subsequent failure. Took the car to the dealer. They replaced the brake lines, filled it with fluid and that’s that right? Well, after taking the car home we could smell oil fumes inside the car. Then, about a week later after getting some groceries I notices that the rear seat carpet behind the driver was wet. On further investigation it was brake fluid. Took it back to the dealer and told him what we discovered. Dealer denied any complicity and suggested that we may have done it ourselves. I called VW of America and they told the dealer to fix it. All the dealer did was take out the carpet and pressure wash it -of course the brake fluid striped the paint on the floor and the car rotted in a matter of a couple of years. The dealer never admitted to doing anything wrong but about a year later, duing a Christmas Party my friend had I found out the whole story. My friends’ friend Pete, who worked at this dealership told me what had happened. We were just talking and I happened to mention what the VW dealer had done to my moms car. That’s when Pete said, “so that was your moms car.” Well he continued to tell us the whole story. Seems the dealer hired some young kid out of HS at minimum wage. The kid did the recall job on my mom’s car. After about five minutes of pumping on a five gallon drum of brake fluid into my mom’s car brake lines he goes over to Pete and tells him that for some reason he can’t seem to get any pressure in the brake lines? Pete went over and discovered that the kid forgot to tighten the brake line coupler (union) and that the brake fluid had leaked all over the floor behind the drivers seat of my mom’s car. Like I said, until it starts leaking (unless GM gives me the parts to do the job myself), I'll just leave well enough alone.

I understand its a personal decision, but as SD stated.....you probably will not be able to take the sol into a dealer again without the recall procedure being done....a liability issue on GMs part.......I would also say you are using a wide brush here to paint all service departments as incompetent....the story above is one example of bad management and supervision by one dealership....not a company as a whole....

we had the pinion seal replaced on our 06 at 11k and it now has over 31k on it an not a problem....Im still convinced to this day that many of the issues that we have seen with repeated leaks etc boil down to service techs not following the procedures as outlined in the TSBs or sheer laziness and incompetence on their part as well, followed by lousy TQM by service managers.....

we have a great service department and I personally wouldnt hesitate to turn our sol over to them for any type of work....Ive even recommended them to several members here who are now using them as well and are very happy with them....

[Small Dealer]

Originally Posted by sol79 My bill says: 19179933 Seal Kit 89021677 Gear Lubricant No mention of additive. So much for not listing the gear lubricant in the payment section. Perhaps the dealer needed more lubricant than what was called for in the recall?

If your reference is to information in MomsSol post, the "payment section" refered to is dealership claim preperation information contained in the dealership recall bulletin. Not the parts detail of the customer repair order.

It is also possible for a dealership to charge out misc fluids and parts in an area call "Net Item", not listing them in the part detail section.

[Small Dealer]

Originally Posted by sol79 I did some more research, here's the parts list for the recall:

Very close to being accurate.

[JustMike]

This is the correct part number for the additive ... 01052358 - Lubricant, Limited-Slip Differential (if needed)