Alberta: K-Country (Mclean) June 5Th

[Sugarphreak]

Confirmed today, Shaw GMC is every bit as bad as Dave says they are



Sent my truck in for the Recall and to get them to check out the power steering problem... I go to pick it up, they never re-assembled parts from my front end and the guy says to me "Nothing wrong with your power steering".



Ok.... so what gives?



Apparently my tires are too big and overwhelming the power steering... never mind the fluid gushing out or the fact I had them on before and no issues for like 7 months prior. Yep... the gigantic whining noise, also normal. The guy kept insisting the system was totally fine.



<img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... ngHead.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':banghead:' />



So I got my broken truck back today, all the front end parts in the box and bolts in the cup holder. barely even got it to turn into my driveway. Thanks Shaw for making things even worse for me! Nothing like getting up at 5:30am... sitting on a stupid shuttle bus and not even getting to work until 8:30... then the reverse.







sigh...





Anybody want to help me fix it? I don't think I know enough to fix it myself <img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... mellow.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':mellow:' />



I was thinking about ordering a pump and just replacing the one in there. That is where the fluid is coming from so I figure it is a seal that isn't holding.

[JL]

WHAT?! That's unbelievable... Let me get this straight, they literally did nothing?? Maybe you should send them a video of mine with the EXACT same tires and ask why this other guy's power steering isn't 'overwhelmed' and see what they have to say. Unbelievable man, I was this close to ordering the GM exhaust and rocker protector from Shaw (which is damn near $2k in overpriced parts) but I definitely will not spend a nickel there after hearing this. Too bad people talk to each other, eh Shaw??



But hey, any time you want a hand I'm certainly willing to help out.

[Khamul]

Screw that noise!!!!!



Phone GM Canada and explain what is going on! Ask for the public relations department regarding warranties and tell them that SHAW is refusing to honor the warranty. Dude the pump is shot.... I could get fluid on the end of my finger tip behind the pully, did you show them the spray of fluid in a complete circle around the pump?

What you could do is get a quote to fix it from a reputable Garage (I know the owner of Hawkwood auto in the NW here, or maybe someone Brian knows...) and to put down what is wrong with tHe truck and that the pump is shot and needs to be replaced. Then send that in to GM Canada with a footnote that you will be going to consumer and corporate affairs if they still refuse to fix tHe truck that is still under FULL bumper to bumper warranty! You are in the drivers seat with full legal recorse... I'll be a witness!!!!



They are just dogging you because of the alternator a few months ago so they probably have it in their mind that you are abusing the truck and are now going to be creative in copping out of the warranty!

[Khamul]

And if you go the manual route - I'm in!



I have a compressor and have been meaning to pick up an impact ratchet and gun!

[Sugarphreak]

Yeah they just gave the keys back to me and told me there was nothing wrong... I was beside myself wondering how the hell they thought it was normal to park the truck by wrenching on the wheel. Idiots.



I would love to stick it to them but that will take forever. Not to mention it is such a pain in the ass to get to Shaw in the morning only to have them f- around all day and then treat my truck like a backyard project by stripping parts off and throwing them in the bed; what the hell kind of dealership tells its clients "you will have to put it back on yourself". I figure either they are actually so incompetent they can't figure out the pump is shot... or they are trying to cop out. Either way it sounds like if I can prove there is something wrong with the pump they are going to start singing the "big tire, your own fault" song and it is going to cost me an arm and a leg... and probably 3 days to get it fixed.



I will probably just try to replace it myself, it is fairly accessible and looks easy to change out. I had pulled the air box out to clean it and there was oodles of space... just a matter of getting my hands on a new pump for a reasonable price.



Pretty shitty deal though, that is the last time I deal with Shaw.

[Sugarphreak]

On that note, anybody know where I can order one from> Part numbers? Compatibility with other GM vehicles?



EDIT:



I think these are the right part #'s, they are for the Canyon 3.7L 5cyl



AC Delco (Inc. Reservoir)

AC-36516338



AC Delco (No Reservoir)

AC-05006347



A1 CARDONE (No Reservoir)

A1-20989





EDIT:



Maybe not, I found this blurb on a 4wheeler review

With an identical view from the driver seat as the H3, you would be hard-pressed to know you were driving the longer and larger T. Thanks to a higher-capacity steering pump from the V-8 on all models and a quicker steering ratio, the H3T drives almost exactly like the H3 over just about any road, save for situations requiring tight turns where the 134-inch wheelbase becomes a bit of a liability. Interestingly, the T only weighs a couple hundred pounds more than the SUV, and because of unique suspension tuning, the added heft doesn't seem to come in to play in everyday driving.

[Sugarphreak]

I was talking to the guys on Hummer Club, another thing could be happening. If I have damaged the steering rack/cylinder somehow it might be building excessive pressure trying to get it to turn and as a result blowing fluid out the pressure cap. There does not seem to be as much fluid as before coming out, but still lots in the reservoir. That would be consistent with less fluid in the reservoir, it would just be releasing air now.



Anyway, easy theory to test. I will throw it on some jacks maybe tomorrow and then turn the wheel side to side and see if the pump starts whining away with no resistance.

[JL]

GMPartsDirect.ca (don't order from from them they're also idiots) has this diagram of the pump, it's for an H3 not not the T but should at least be a good starting place for determining how it comes off and what parts you might need. Me I'd want to make sure that #10 there didn't just pop a seal on the fitting before getting the new pump, might just have to push the sucker back on! It looks like there's gotta be a fitting right on the bottom of the pump or reservoir that's right close to the pulley that would explain the spray, I'm guessing that's where the leak is? Just saying there's the off chance you don't actually need the pump? No way to tell until it's disassembled though... Anyway hope that diagram helps.

[Sugarphreak]

Just did some tests..



Test 1: Inspection of cap, ensured cap was tight and not damaged.... check



Test 2: Check for damage causing resistance, put the truck up on jacks and then turned it on. Checked full side to side... no resistance until the end.



Test 3: Noise Observations: With the hood up I could hear a lot more, at full lock (where the pump will labor a bit) I could hear the pump almost skipping... like a fast ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta noise



Test 4: Steering Rack Leak Test: Cleaned up all the steering rack connections and then carefully surrounded them with paper tower. Then with the wheels on the ground I turned the tires side to side... at first it was easy, but the power steering begin to dissipate until it was a arm wrenching task to even move the wheel. Result... no leaks on the rack... also no leaks present around the pump.



Conclusion:

Basically from what I observed the pump is making stupid noises not typical at all. With no leaks present now I can only assume that either the pressure is escaping in the form of air (perhaps the cap) or the pump is failing to built pressure.





[quote name='JL' date='15 June 2010 - 11:46 PM' timestamp='1276660008' post='18285']

GMPartsDirect.ca (don't order from from them they're also idiots) has this diagram of the pump, it's for an H3 not not the T but should at least be a good starting place for determining how it comes off and what parts you might need. Me I'd want to make sure that #10 there didn't just pop a seal on the fitting before getting the new pump, might just have to push the sucker back on! It looks like there's gotta be a fitting right on the bottom of the pump or reservoir that's right close to the pulley that would explain the spray, I'm guessing that's where the leak is? Just saying there's the off chance you don't actually need the pump? No way to tell until it's disassembled though... Anyway hope that diagram helps.

[/quote]



Sweet, thanks for the diagram!



I think it has to be the pump, if there was a bad seal it should be continuing to spew fluid which is had stopped doing now. I will try to have another look, but with how hard it was laboring I was expecting to see something and nothing came out anywhere.



I think I can probably get a pump & reservoir shipped here for under 150$, so even if it was just a bad fitting it is fairly inexpensive so it wouldn't be the end of the world.

[Sugarphreak]

Darn it... I tried to order it locally and nobody has the part number or pricing yet <img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... adbang.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':headbang:' />



I have to talk to Summit Racing today over the phone, I have a part number for A-1 Cardone, a brand they carry... maybe they can help me out.