GM power train warranty. PTO users screwed?

[John Olson]

Had a cleaner call me and ask me if I knew GM's new policy for PTO systems. Seems they are adding/subtracting 33 miles for every hour on your machine from your 100k powertrain warranty. Now this was a tech at a GM dealer telling a cleaner whom I trust 100%. He went in for a warranty issue and the first thing the tech asked when he saw the machine was if it ran off the van. He checked to make sure it didn't. Seems GM made a big deal of it. Anyone else know anything? Doyle? Anyone at sapphire or butler?

 

[Mike Draper]

Their getting as bad at covering warranties as the carpet mills.

 

[Lee Stockwell]

Seems fair.

Remember it's General Motors, not Superior Motors.

 

[JS41035]

It honestly does seem fair. Bet butler will sell twice as many new hour meters now.

 

[Zee]

. Bet butler will sell twice as many new hour meters now.

I guess some of us think alike....Is there any other way GM might be able to show "hours used", other than what the tm hour meter shows?

 

[Mrice]

At least on marine motors they run detailed diagnostics that give a history at each RPM. Wouldn't surprise me if GM could cross reference RPM, Speed and all the gps data they are collecting and see that it sat for hours at idle while not moving. Not saying they will, but they certainly have all the data they need to figure it out.

 

[GeneMiller]

Extended warranty anyone. I don't believe in them but if I ran a pto I would probably have one.

Gene

 

[Sapphire]

John, we will contact GM and work to get an accurate answer for everyone. We will share as soon as we can.
Thanks for the question.
Dorrel

 

[John Olson]

Thanks Dorrel. We have a fleet account with GM and plan on calling my sales rep tomorrow but we still have hours of work cleaning up from Saturday we haven't even finished yet that I didn't get a chance to call so I thought I'd post and see if anyone else has heard anything. The tech told my buddy they just instituted it in the last 2 weeks.

 

[dgardner]

Bet butler will sell twice as many new hour meters now

Back before electronic logbooks, I've heard of truck drivers keeping two logbooks, one to show the Highway Patrol. Wouldn't surprise me....

 

[Louis]

Gm. Can read how many hours are on the engine . My mechanic showed me when I had my PTO.

 

[Terry]

I've a new 2015 express and it shows me all the hours, oil life etc.

 

[Jim Pemberton]

I just talked to a friend who works with GM and he confirmed what John just shared.

 

[Steve Lawrence]

No word to us from Butler Corp. yet. I don't think they could do this to vehicles owners who have already purchased.

 

[Mark Saiger]

I will try and make a call also to Butler and find out what they are finding....

But also keep in mind, if a warranty is important, I have been able to buy after market warranties on my Vans with Butlers in the past....

And the warranty company did know we were using it for business and running a pto system off it..

Now...who knows....that could change too I would guess

 

[handdi]

Seem fair though
I'll buy another pto

 

[mirf]

Seems fair on the motor but not the whole warranty of the rest of the vehicle.

 

[Danny Strickland]

Seems fair on the motor but not the whole warranty of the rest of the vehicle.

I think the heat, weight and vibration puts a toll on the entire vehicle???

 

[D Luke]

I have some contacts looking into this. All info coming back so far is very murky.

Also learned that starting in 2016 GM is going to a 5 yr/60,000 mile powertrain warranty. Bummer.

 

[Zee]

I have some contacts looking into this. All info coming back so far is very murky.

Also learned that starting in 2016 GM is going to a 5 yr/60,000 mile powertrain warranty. Bummer.

LOL!! That's like one year then...if you use the unit for 1300-1500 hours and drive a bit....laughable.

 

[Lee Stockwell]

My 76 Chevy van new had a 12 month 12,000 mile warranty...lasted me 8 months. Replaced a lot of stuff on my own dime because I couldn't wait for them to "work me in".

It was in the crusher in just 10 years

 

[FB7777]

My original work van , a 1988 Ford E150 had the same warranty Lee... Great van that served me well for 12 years

My 2 GM vans now have over 250,000 combined miles,and machine hours,each . Original power train

Won't effect my future buying decision on these workhorses

 

[Lee Stockwell]

Vans are just BETTER than they were back then, and the numbers bear that out....despite gripes about "the good old days".

 

[rwcarpet]

Think about it. If you were going to warrantee a work van, you would warrantee it for expected use of the engine to power the van drivetrain, not an aftermarket add on. I'm surprised that they have honored any warrantees all along. The van wasn't designed to power other equipment, or it would have had an optional PTO. Whats the average percentage that the van engine runs as a machine powering unit compared to actually powering the van?

What GM should do is offer an extended warrantee as it pertains to PTO use. Charge a few bucks up front to cover expected extended high idling.

 

[mirf]

I think the heat, weight and vibration puts a toll on the entire vehicle???

I would agree but the slide in has full warranty.

 

[Russ T.]

If I produced a product that I guaranteed with a warranty, I'd want ALL of its use accounted for. This seems pretty cut and dry.

I still think a quality PTO offers the most reliability available. This probably won't change a thing for most.

 

[Ray Burnfield]

The Chevy/ GMC dealers here have always added the PTO hours to determine if the warranty is within the stated limits.
It's nothing new

 

[Lee Stockwell]

33 is pretty modest.

I've heard 40 mentioned.

 

[doylebloss]

John-

We will check with our sources. Experience tells us that occasionally, specific dealers like to interpret things in a warranty that lead to statements like this. Usually, a couple of phone calls from the right people straightens things out. There are pto applications in other industries where additional stress is put on the main drive shaft of the van, but not with the CDS (or Sapphire or Butler for that matter).

 

[GeneMiller]

I personally would just go to the mechanic of my choice and ask him which after market insurance he likes. Problem solved. A slide in running won't cause the same problems or wear as a truck running in park for hours on end. Gas really isn't meant for that abuse. Diesel, now your talking.

Didn't I read something about it being better to put your transmission in neutral Something about it causing the fluid to circulate.

Gene