Background:
My girlfriend drives a 2006 Saturn Ion, 5 speed, 106k. When she purchased the car last year she purchased an extended warranty with it (rolled into the loan, approximately 24 months remaining on the loan). She bought the car from an independent dealer lot. The warranty covers all powertrain components.
Lately we have noticed that when the car is started there is more valvetrain noise than normal until the engine is warm. So she took it to our local GM dealer to have it looked it. GM dealer suspected worn timing chain components so they called the warranty company to make a claim.
The warranty company requested that the dealer open up the engine so they could send someone to visually inspect the valvetrain before they warranty the work.
Today the dealer pulled the valve cover and discovered this:
At this point they stopped and called my girlfriend and basically told her that if the warranty company sees the sludge buildup they will not warranty the repair.
She has had the car for roughly 20k miles and has had regular oil changes in that timeframe. Obviously this car was not well maintained prior to her ownership. And several of the mechanics have said that this buildup has been happening far before she took ownership.
At this point I'm trying to figure out her options.
I'm thinking she should try to trade it in and get into another vehicle. Immoral, IMO, but hey the place she bought it from screwed her.
- or-
Find a way to make the car last 2 more years.
I'm worried that if I seafoam the crankcase, the sludge will break off and clog the oil passages, and seize her oil pump.
Any suggestions? What would r3v do?
My girlfriend drives a 2006 Saturn Ion, 5 speed, 106k. When she purchased the car last year she purchased an extended warranty with it (rolled into the loan, approximately 24 months remaining on the loan). She bought the car from an independent dealer lot. The warranty covers all powertrain components.
Lately we have noticed that when the car is started there is more valvetrain noise than normal until the engine is warm. So she took it to our local GM dealer to have it looked it. GM dealer suspected worn timing chain components so they called the warranty company to make a claim.
The warranty company requested that the dealer open up the engine so they could send someone to visually inspect the valvetrain before they warranty the work.
Today the dealer pulled the valve cover and discovered this:
At this point they stopped and called my girlfriend and basically told her that if the warranty company sees the sludge buildup they will not warranty the repair.
She has had the car for roughly 20k miles and has had regular oil changes in that timeframe. Obviously this car was not well maintained prior to her ownership. And several of the mechanics have said that this buildup has been happening far before she took ownership.
At this point I'm trying to figure out her options.
I'm thinking she should try to trade it in and get into another vehicle. Immoral, IMO, but hey the place she bought it from screwed her.
- or-
Find a way to make the car last 2 more years.
I'm worried that if I seafoam the crankcase, the sludge will break off and clog the oil passages, and seize her oil pump.
Any suggestions? What would r3v do?
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