GM Idiocy

[Mr442]

OK, before all you GM fans get your panties in a wad, let me say that I am 99.9% sure all the other automakers do the same BS.

My son had a power steering fluid leak on his '08 GMC pickup.  It's under warranty, so he took it to the local dealer.  The dealer replaces the entire steering gear box.  For those that don't know, them things ain't cheap.

When we went to pick up the truck, I asked the service writer (whom I have known for a long time) what the problem was, with the box.  He tells me that the cover on the box was leaking.  That was it? a 15 cent (OK a couple of dollars at the dealer) gasket needed replacing, but they replaced the entire box?!?!?! 

It's no damned wonder cars are so expensive, when the dealers have to replace complete units of parts, instead of doing a simple and far less expensive repair.  The service writer explained,  "that they would like to do repairs, but GM does not give them small parts to do so."  Instead GM has them replace high dollar items and pass the costs on to the customers of new vehicles.

Not only do you figure in the cost of the parts, but the extra labor involved in some instances.  I could have made a new gasket and had it in place in a half hour, but the dealer had the truck for most of the day to replace the entire box instead.  And yes, it takes time for that  job.

The manufacturers can bitch about labor costs (in the factories) and other related costs, but you never hear them complain about their own self induced stupid expenses.

[Exterminator]

Hey, they're not going to fail because you buy a new power steering unit instead of a gasket!   

[Palehorse]

Built in obsolescence and redundancy; the cornerstones of American car manufacturing that have brought them to the place they are today. . . 

[Anne]

Same thing happens with all appliances, my dishwasher developed a leak and they had to replace the entire pumping system, it was still under warrenty.