Calling all GM Techs

[Ecocharge]

I happened to stop into the local Chevy dealer today to pick up a few filters, and happened to notice a different serive manager there. I have been trying many different dealers in my area for the longest time to see if they could install my GM Stage 2 reflash once I do the install, I have been either come across clueless dealers, dealers that don't want to take the task up, or those want a redicilous price just to do a flash. So I asked the guy if he was familiar with the GM LSJ stage kits, turns out he knew eactly what I was talking about and quoted me 1 hr labor to do the reflash. Holy sh1t, I was in luck, that is until I told him I was installing the kit on my RL. He said that GM only lets them do certain kinds of work on Saturn vehicles, and that I'd probably have to go Chevy or GM dealer that is an authorized Saturn service center to get this done. Turns out the closest one is 85 miles away one way, and go figure they had no clue about the kit when I asked them. No thanks

So for you guys that are GM techs, has GM really changed the rules up now only so that authorized Saturn service dealers can only do Saturn work? Or will Techline Customer Support release a VCI for the Stage kits for a Saturn vehicles to a non authorized Saturn Service center GM dealer?

I seriously don't see why there should be any problem since if they can do some work on Saturns, there should be no reason they can't obtain the calibration file from GM and load it via Tec2. It's the same thing as working on the Cobalt, only a different part number for the calibration data file. I have heard of people with RL in the past going to Chevy dealers in the past and getting the reflash, so I don't see what could be any different now.

Do you guys have any tips or documentation that you all could point me to so that I can show the manager that there should be no reason why they can't flash my car?

[TORQUE WRENCH]

come see me! starling chevrolet kissimmee,florida! saturn authoried service center.........

[montecarloman]

There are rules about warranty work but I dont think that would apply in this case. Only issue I can think of would be if the tech 2 the place had didnt have saturn bace programing loaded in it. That really shouldnt matter though if they have an MDI.

What state do you live in?

[Maven]

All GM dealers are now allowed to order Saturn parts direct and do all customer pay and warranty work on all Saturns. There was a period of time when Saturn was killed (until early this year) that only "Saturn Authorized Service Centers"(you had to sign up, and commit to training and certain purchases, etc, to be a SASC. It was to give these dealers who signed up a chance to grow their customer base, and so that Saturn customers could easily find a place they could feel comfortable at) could do all warranty work and order parts direct, however this has changed and now ALL GM dealers can service Saturns. Now that doesnt mean any given dealer HAS to service them, just that they can. The only Saturn car that the average traditional GM tech cant service at an average traditional GM dealership is the Astra, the Astra requires unique software on the Tech2, and its impossible to service car properly without it. Ions are just Cobalts as far as servicing goes, theres nothing truly "unique" about them that would stop a Chevy dealer from working on it. Its just easier for them to say no and avoid any issues.....

[Ecocharge]

come see me! starling chevrolet kissimmee,florida! saturn authoried service center.........

If you were not 700 miles away, I'd be there tomorrow

All GM dealers are now allowed to order Saturn parts direct and do all customer pay and warranty work on all Saturns. There was a period of time when Saturn was killed (until early this year) that only "Saturn Authorized Service Centers"(you had to sign up, and commit to training and certain purchases, etc, to be a SASC. It was to give these dealers who signed up a chance to grow their customer base, and so that Saturn customers could easily find a place they could feel comfortable at) could do all warranty work and order parts direct, however this has changed and now ALL GM dealers can service Saturns. Now that doesnt mean any given dealer HAS to service them, just that they can. The only Saturn car that the average traditional GM tech cant service at an average traditional GM dealership is the Astra, the Astra requires unique software on the Tech2, and its impossible to service car properly without it. Ions are just Cobalts as far as servicing goes, theres nothing truly "unique" about them that would stop a Chevy dealer from working on it. Its just easier for them to say no and avoid any issues.....

That's good to know that any GM dealer has the capability to do this. Not that I am doubting you at all, I just wish I could find some actual documentation showing this that way I print it off and show them without getting into a big debate over it. Everything I found online still talks about the SACS. They must be behind the times when it comes to this.

From talking to this dealer, they acted like they'd have no problem doing the reflash for me, but they seem to think that GM Techline support won't give them the VCI code to load the calibration file onto my car since they are not a Saturn authorized dealer. I am going to show up again next week with my Stage 2 kit paperwork, and have them call GM Techline Support. Techline support should be able to tell them if they will release the code or not, right?


Do either of you all know if GM backed down the rev limiter on their stage kit calibrations? I saw on ss.nub where some who recently go the kit talked about having a 6500 RPM limiter and were told GM did this for warranty reasons. IMO its sound like they didn't get reflashed correctly, but who knows when it comes to this

[Maven]

Its never a good idea to try and prove to a dealer that you're right and that they can work on your car. They are a business and can work on or decline to work on any vehicle they choose. Best to find someone willing to do it. Also note that the TCSC is closed on Saturdays and NO dealer will be able to do it on a Saturday. I just had to turn away an LNF upgrade on a Balt because its Saturday.