pushrod problem

I have a 6-speed 2001 coupe with 23K miles (most from highway driving in two cross-country trips) and have just been told all my pushrods need to be replaced, and that Chevy is refusing to pay for the repair. Chevy is claiming it is something I must have done, however, I have never raced the car, I have followed the maintenance schedule (actually, I have usually had maintenance performed early), and followed all the break-in instructions in the owners manual. I have heard from one of the mechanics where my Vette is sitting (I am entering arbitration b/c I don't feel I should pay for this...) and he said he heard of this problem, and that it only happens on 6-speeds. Has this happened to anyone else? If so, what did you do? I am seriously considering legal action, as I feel this is a breach of the warantee and need to know if I am the only person this has happened to...

[6 Shooter]

96 Wahoo,

Welcome to

I'm sure c4c5specialist will pick up on this thread pretty soon.

I can't believe that GM will not fix this problem. Keep us advised as to the progress of your arbitration.

Later,
6 Shooter

[bradfordsvettes]

sounds to me like the dealer made this decision i work for a dealer and know of no reason gm would refuse the repair only my 2 cents good luck steve

[c4c5specialist]

Hi there,
If I may ask some questions please here. First, what is the symptom that is causing your concern????
Are you experiencing a power loss, or a rough running engine????
Do you have a check engine light?????
If so, what are the codes that are present????
You see, overrevving the engine will cause bent pushrods, or bent valves. I have seen this a number of times on raced engines, like drag strip, or road course, where maybe a misshift has occured.
It will take quite alot to bend valve pushrods, or valves.
I would ask for more information on this particular concern.
Allthebest, and welcome to the CAC, c4c5

[1FASTDOG]

Originally posted by 96Wahoo
I have a 6-speed 2001 coupe with 23K miles (most from highway driving in two cross-country trips) and have just been told all my pushrods need to be replaced, and that Chevy is refusing to pay for the repair. Chevy is claiming it is something I must have done, however, I have never raced the car, I have followed the maintenance schedule (actually, I have usually had maintenance performed early), and followed all the break-in instructions in the owners manual. I have heard from one of the mechanics where my Vette is sitting (I am entering arbitration b/c I don't feel I should pay for this...) and he said he heard of this problem, and that it only happens on 6-speeds. Has this happened to anyone else? If so, what did you do? I am seriously considering legal action, as I feel this is a breach of the warantee and need to know if I am the only person this has happened to...

All the pushrods would be a very odd warranty related failure situation.

Most often, since pushrods are a sort of "fuse" in that they go before the pistons get "eyebrows" from valve contact, an over rev in a mechanical sense is the usual cause...as in a 3rd gear misshift to second at WOT has possibly occured.

16 pushrods getting bent is very, very unusual with the exception of a hard pass misshift to a gear where the rev limiter won't save you.

If you believe you have a breach of warranty situation, then by all means stand your ground.

Only you know what took place. If you are firm in you belief then go the whole nine yards.

If an engine was mechanically over revved and the dealer is sharp...the PCM would quite possibly have captured the info and there wouldn't be a reason for the warranty to apply.

Sorry to hear you have a disagreement with your dealer.

A little more info:

Actually, I didn't get any indication lights, etc, but I imagine like many of you, I am very attuned to what the engine SHOULD sound like. Appx 3 weeks ago, after driving cross country, I got out while the engine was still running, I noticed something I can only describe as a fluttering noise. So, I took the car in to Radley Chevrolet (where I know several people very well - my issue right now isn't with the dealer, but with Chevy ). When they went into the engine for diagnosis, they thought it might be the pushrods, and 5 of 5 they pulled (so far) were bent (it is the Service Manager's estimation that more are probably bent). To their credit, Radley has offered to do the repair at half cost and wave the diagnosis fee.

As for driving the car, I have never raced it or taken it onto a track. However, I have driven pretty hard on mountain roads around Monterey, Ca., where I lived for 1.5 years. If the downshifting that is required on those roads bent the pushrods (the only thing I can think of), then it did it without redlining the engine.

Anyhow, the current status is that the Chevy regional manager refused to pay for the repair as warranty work, so I have to go to arbitration through the Better Business Bureau.