Z06Vette.com - Corvette Z06 Forum - HELP! Z is tore apart at the dealership. They said they cant find the problem!!!!

BigDaddyZO6 · 08-02-2002, 09:05 PM

The Z started making a single pop noise that would come from the rear when I would take off in gear, get on the gas and get off the gas at a lower speed. It would not do it in the higher gears. Sounded like a U joint but, the dealership has the trans and Diff tore apart and cant find the problem. They are now working with GM direct to see if they can help. Any ideas???

TAMUz06 · 08-03-2002, 07:17 AM

The simple fact that they have torn it down that much leads me to believe they know something is wrong...IMO, of course.

Z06ified · 08-03-2002, 09:51 AM

I hate to say this being that your car is all torn apart, but I had the same kind of noise and it turned out to be loose rear upper shock mount bolts. You may have a different problem, but its worthwhile to tell them to check these bolts, as I've heard quite a few Z06s have left the factory with these loose.

Jayzvette · 08-03-2002, 07:22 PM

That's sour. I hope everything works out for the best and they find the problem.

Z0000006 · 08-04-2002, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Z06ified
I hate to say this being that your car is all torn apart, but I had the same kind of noise and it turned out to be loose rear upper shock mount bolts. You may have a different problem, but its worthwhile to tell them to check these bolts, as I've heard quite a few Z06s have left the factory with these loose.

Both sides....??? Left or Right?????

I have had an intermittent "clunk" sound....it comes and goes, only have heard it 4 times in 8000 miles... Hmmmmmmm........

**MikesZ06** · 08-04-2002, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Z06ified
I hate to say this being that your car is all torn apart, but I had the same kind of noise and it turned out to be loose rear upper shock mount bolts. You may have a different problem, but its worthwhile to tell them to check these bolts, as I've heard quite a few Z06s have left the factory with these loose.

When I was at the tuner yesterday, he told me that when they pulled the engine , the suspension bolts (front upper shock mounts) were so loose they unthreaded by hand

Peterod45 · 08-04-2002, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Z0000006

Both sides....??? Left or Right?????

I have had an intermittent "clunk" sound....it comes and goes, only have heard it 4 times in 8000 miles... Hmmmmmmm........

That may be the same sound I was experiencing. I happened to stumble on the problem by chance. I was cleaning the rear passenger wheel and reached in through the wheel to feel the parking brake cable( really close) and happened to pull on the wheel and noticed it appeared to be loose. I tried the other side it was tight(no movement). I took off the center cap and tightened the lugs. they were already tight. The car had been in the shop the day before for a rear diff. leak, so I thought maybe something was not tightened. I first thought the axle nut.
After the weekend I went to Dick Guldstrand's for my alignment. I mentioned it to him and with the wheel off the ground it was unbelievably loose

Come to find out, it was the upper suspension arm bolts. My dealer mech. did not touch those, so they had been loose for awhile. They couldn't believe that a car with so few miles(7500) would have such loose bolts...unless they weren't torqued correctly from the factory. After further inspection, many suspension bolts, front and rear, were out of spec...quite a bit!

That intermittent "clunk" was what I was hearing as well, but just never thought anything of it because it happened so rarely. Hope this is your solution as well. Good luck

Z06ified · 08-04-2002, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Z0000006

Both sides....??? Left or Right?????

I have had an intermittent "clunk" sound....it comes and goes, only have heard it 4 times in 8000 miles... Hmmmmmmm........

Just the right side was loose on mine for some reason. I didn't check the left side, because the left side wasn't making any noise (yet). While I was under there, I checked every suspension bolt and nut I could get a wrench on. All others were fine - just the upper shock mounts were loose. I'm a bit surprised that any suspension piece would be loose - the factory workers these days use "smart tools" that are set to exact torque specs and remind workers if they miss a bolt. Not sure how this could happen and why there seems to be so many cars affected.

70boss302 · 08-04-2002, 02:29 PM

Ask them to leave it alone and get a trained tech in from the factory to inspect your car while it is apart. Someone doesn't have a clue and maybe their shy about asking for qualified help!

Bill

Z0000006 · 08-04-2002, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Z06ified

Just the right side was loose on mine for some reason. I didn't check the left side, because the left side wasn't making any noise (yet). While I was under there, I checked every suspension bolt and nut I could get a wrench on. All others were fine - just the upper shock mounts were loose. I'm a bit surprised that any suspension piece would be loose - the factory workers these days use "smart tools" that are set to exact torque specs and remind workers if they miss a bolt. Not sure how this could happen and why there seems to be so many cars affected.

Interesting that your car is only 11 days apart from mine.....

Perhaps a February 02 related defect???

Mine is in storage right now, but in a couple of weeks, I will take a look at the mount and see what is up....

Peterod45 · 08-04-2002, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Z0000006

Interesting that your car is only 11 days apart from mine.....

Perhaps a February 02 related defect???

Mine is in storage right now, but in a couple of weeks, I will take a look at the mount and see what is up....

Now I will make this item real interesting ZO6ified and Z0000006. My build date was Feb 21, 2002. Sounds kind of spooky, doesn't it.

One day after Z06ified, and I had the same problem. I think somebody needs to figure out who was working the line those days, because it really is obvious, that there's a connection. IMO, it should be brought to someone's attention. But to who?? Maybe someone can help with this one.

Vlad.

Z0000006 · 08-04-2002, 11:36 PM

Great......

When I get back from Vacation....(and can drive the car....I'm in a cast!) I will check mine....I'll bet it is loose too!

Frank, or someone out there......got a Factory connection???

Z06ified · 08-05-2002, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Peterod45

Now I will make this item real interesting ZO6ified and Z0000006. My build date was Feb 21, 2002. Sounds kind of spooky, doesn't it. One day after Z06ified, and I had the same problem. I think somebody needs to figure out who was working the line those days, because it really is obvious, that there's a connection. IMO, it should be brought to someone's attention. But to who?? Maybe someone can help with this one. Vlad.

Yeah, too much of a coincidence there. Must have been a problem with a factory worker or the tool on that station. Oh well, easy enough to fix myself. Much easier than bringing it to the dealer and having those clowns try to figure it out.

Could have been a worse thing - the BMW M3 owners have had a slew of engine failures, which the owners have tracked down more than 90% of them were built during a certain period in October and November 2001. Probably a bad batch of parts that caused all the failures.

Loose upper shock mount bolts is such a trivial problem compared to what these folks had to deal with. I mean it shouldn't happen to begin with, but it makes you feel better when you think it could have been worse.

DavidBest · 08-05-2002, 02:59 PM

Also have the same problem - build date Feb 15th. Maybe someone was sick or on vacation, and the fill-in didn't do a good job?????

Torchedx2 · 08-06-2002, 12:20 PM

3/28/02 build date here and I have a loud clunk coming from the right side whenever I oput any torsion on the frame. i.e. leaving my steep driveway at an angle to avoid scrapping. If I go verrrryyyy slow and not to much of an angle, I can usually avoid it. You guys have me thinking this is the same issue.