retiredblade
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Posts posted by retiredblade
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First of all, when I had the Cruze, I delayed buying a baseplate, something in my spirit said to hold off, I did. No, I don't think I got snookered, I hang around my buddies auto body shop, and you should see the fairly new cars with rusted fender wheel wells and rocker panels, I thought the same thing like you. We use a lot of road salt in Pennsylvania. The problem on the Cruze on 4 wheel down towing? Have you been reading the forums over the summer? Big problem, many, many have burnt up tranmissions. The manual originally said you could tow 4 wheels down, that's why we bought a Cruze, it is a real nice car. Then a few months later, when this thing was coming to a head, we owners got a supplement to our owners manual with a letter saying you can't tow 4 wheels down, if you do, your warranty will be null and void. As far as legal action, don't know if anyone has started a class action, that is why GM is settling with Cruze owners. Besides, who gets richer when a lawyer is engaged? Certainly not the one who hires him. If you have a Cruze and are not towing or going to tow it 4 wheels down, keep the Cruze! It is a real nice car! GM hit a home run with this car. Yes, I had to pay a little more for the Regal, but, wow! it is a much, much better car! Did I answer your questions?
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I've been using the Guardian Rock Guard on my 2007 Saturn Ion since I bought the car new and have had no problems. Sounds hokey to me, never heard of anyone having problems like you described.
JohnF
I dragged a Saturn around with a rock guard for years, but it was one of those kind that looked like of bunch of stiff nylon strings, can seem to fine one of those, it came with my 93 Bounder. You can't beat a Saturn to tow, it's 3 speed tranny seemed almost indestructable! I put a solid rock guard on my pusher, going to tow a Buick Regal and I read things about that solid rock guard not letting air get to the toad. Well, I'm not taking a chance, so I took the rock guard off, when I towed my Jeep Wrangler, it didn't matter. I'm going to error on the side of caution!
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After weeks of dealing with GM concerning the Chevy Cruze 4 wheels down problem, and reading on 3 RV forums of other folks having the same problem ...
I have finally settled. I believe GM is doing their best to put this problem to bed, not wanting a class action launched against them. My local dealer now owns my Cruze. GM applied everything I paid for the Cruze on the 2011 Buick Regal that I chose. I only lost $400 in paint clear coating and undercoating -- they did give me undercoating at dealer cost this time, so I will write off the $400 as rental for 5 months, $80/month ... not bad at all.
I did have to come up with more money, but it was worth it. The Buick is a way better car compared to the Cruze. It is towable 4 wheels down. My wife didn't like the way the Cruze handled but loves the way the Regal handles -- what a difference! If Mom is happy, then I remain happy.
I would like to thank GM, and I know they read these forums, and I would like to thank my dealership, which did a excellent job. I would buy another GM product and I will go to the same dealership. I hope everyone else caught in this same Cruze situation gets the same treatment and a satisfactory ending.
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I called the Buick dealership owner back today to confirm what he said on the voice-mail. It appears that the LaCrosse uses two different transmissions. The one used for the six cylinder is, and has been, certified to be towed flat. The four cylinder however is not (at least yet). The Cruze uses a different transmission than the one that the six cylinder LaCrosse uses. He thought that the Malibu six uses the same as the LaCrosse six. He did say again that GM would offer a letter stating that the drivetrain would be covered under warranty when flat towed.
Based on this, I am still planning on getting the 2012 LaCrosse. The next question is when. It probably will not be before the end of the year.
I'm going to request a letter like that when I get that V6 Regal, which they told me is towable 4 wheels down, GM, if they ever had any, is, IMHO, starting to lose their credibility
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I had a Bounder with a 454 Chevy engine. It flat out moved on flat land, but going up the mountains, pulling a toad, I thought the engine was going to come out of the thing and no power! So, I bought my present motor home, a pusher and what a difference in ride, handling, and power! Goes up the mountains with my toad, passing 18 wheelers, down the hills using pacbrake and don't even have to touch the foot brakes! Lots of room for Wintering and not getting cabin fever like the Bounder. Get 8 mpg, oil change every year or 15,000 miles. Yes, up keep is more expensive, filters, oil, tires, everything, but you're a long time dead, might as well indulge yourself! I have to admit, and I'm sure you know, a motor home does not appreciate every year like a house, it depreciates like a car.
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I called the owner of a local Buick dealer and explained what I had learned from the Chevy Cruze topic as well as from the paper in the owner's manual stating that the 2012 Buick is not flat towable. I got a voice mail from him later in the day stating that he found out from GM that the transmission used on the 6 cylinder is flat towable but the one used for the 4 cylinder is not yet certified. He also indicated that he could provide a letter from GM stating this. I was not able to get back to him today to talk about it. When I do (maybe tomorrow), I will post my findings.
It seems that the dealers are adding added confusion to this towing situation! I got a call from the salesman I deal with at my Buick/Chevrolet dealer yesterday,and he said the 2012 Buick Regal are Not towable. So where do we find out the truth? GM puts out manuals saying it is towable fours wheels down then sends us letters they are not. I wished I had never bought a GM product, I don't need all this.
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Is anyone on the forum towing a 2011 Buick Lacrosse or Regal 4 wheels down?
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Wow! That's a shocker! I am looking a LaCrosse and Regal (2011) because they are 4 wheels down towable. Now, I'm gun-shy!
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Has anyone tried the Remco Lube Pump?I have never tried one, heard about them, they seem to do the job. But if your considering one for a Chevy Cruze, you will have to wait 60-90 days, that is what they told me. They are currently testing a pump for the Cruze, they were told that the Cruze was towable 4 wheels down so they didn't make a pump for it, why would they? But Cruze, as we owners all know, it not towable, and here we are waiting for GM to make it right, will they? Has anyone settled up with them yet? Would like to know, I have been waiting and waiting all week for the ok from my GM reps boss, he is either in a meeting, out to lunch or just plain won't answer his phone. Sounds like foot dragging to me. Frankly, I think they better get this thing settle, hear rumblings of a class action.
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Researched Chevy Cruze Auto to Flat Tow. Salesman told me it could be Flat Towed. I checked the Owners Manuel and It told how to Flat Tow. I purchased the Auto Cruze on Aug 16. I had a base plate and wiring installed on Aug29th. Car has 700 mi on it. Aug 30 a friend of mine called and told me not to buy the car because it is NOT flat towable. Too late. I called Chevy Warrenty and was told If I flat towed the vechile I would void the warrenty. A letter went out to Cruze owners. Nevewr got one. They gave me a case number and someone will call me. I called the dealer. The General Manager of the dealership has a Cruze and got the letter 2 weeks ago. When I purchased the Car the salesmen knew I was going to Flat tow. I even went on the Blue Ox web site to show him how they will install the base plate. You think the'd call me and tell me not to do it. Got a call from GM Rep "Cindy" She offered me a $1500 tow dolly. You can't get a good one for less than $3000. Also there's the $850 I spent on the base plate. Got rid of one in 2001. She said the district manager will contact me and offer me a buy back. Probably at the used car rate. The DM contacted me and offered to put me in a new Equinox,swap the Cruze and I'll pay the difference, $5,000. Don't want it, too big to tow. Called again and offered to put me into a 2012 auto Sonic. Even swap and he will add the Blue Ox Base plate. The Sonic cost less than the Cruze and then there's the cost of the $850 bass plate I put on the Cruze. I don't want to make money on Chevy's screw up but I will not lose any either. Base plate form Sonic not available for a few months. What a mess!
It is a mess, and a lot of us are swimming around in this mess like you. I also have been promised a buy out, and I appreciate it because it is the only way out that I can see, don't want a tow dolly, I don't care what they cost. At present, working on getting another car, I will have to shell out more money but what is the alternative?
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IMHO a REMCO lube transmission pump is not going to happen, I really hope I'm wrong on this. I just hate the thought of giving up my Cruze it's been one of the best new cars I've owned and I've had many. When I talked to the Customer Service person I believe she said that REMCO is not an option at this time.
If it's not something that GM makes and sells I don't believe they are going to offer it to the public as a fix, just my 2 cents. I don't believe they will drag this out very much longer.
You're right. GM rep told me that GM doesn't recommend Remco because they don't make a pump for the Cruze. I said I know that, Remco told me after finding out, and I did E mail them with the news that Cruze could not be towed 4 wheels down. They, later E mailed me and said they are testing a pump and would take 60-90 days, and that I would be put on a list and notified later. Why should Remco have had a pump for Cruze, Chevy Cruze was listed as 4 wheels down towable? He said, do you want to wait until the testing is done? I said what about exchanging to another car, that I had heard some are. He said he would get back to me, yesterday, never did.
What a mess, what a problem. I have heard that the 2012 Chevy Sonic, which is 200 lbs lighter than the Cruze, is towable, but that might be proved wrong and I'm not going through this again!
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As a owner of a 2011 Cruze, bought it to tow 4 wheels down. I also am fighting with GM, so far, got the insert to put into my manual over the old page stating that it is not towable 4 wheels down and if you do you will damage the transmission and void the warranty.
I believe the transmission 6T40 is the culprit. I'm waiting to hear if they will take the car back, I don't want the tow dolly either.
Bring back Saturns!! You hear me GM? You blew it and you know it (they read these posts, folks)!!
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May look like it, but that makes no sense. It is unusual to see a converter AND an inverter/CHARGER in the same system. And, you would never (at least not properly) wire an inverter to power the converter. That would create a closed loop that would quickly drain the batteries.
An Echo charger connects house with chassis battery bank. Once a certain (programmed) voltage is reached in the house bank, it will close the relay/Echo charger to allow the converter or inverter/charger to charge the chassis batteries as well.
Start by figuring out exactly what inverter/charger you have. An inverter/charger alone (without converter) is the normal configuration if you do, indeed have an inverter/charger. Now, if you have an inverter that does not have a built in charger, a different matter.
Brett
I have a Freedom 458 combi inverter/charger. Now this other thing is a WFCO Ultra 3 Deckmount converter WF-9800 series mod WF9865. The wiring schematic shows a 110 v plug in the back, the chassis is grounded. It show Neg side wire goes to ground bar then to neg side on 12v Battery, Pos side goes to distribution panel power center then to pos side of battery. Only trouble is, my ground side is wired ok, but positive side, instead of going to distribution center, goes directly to the positive side of the battery. How do you figure that? All I can figure that is when shore power is plugged in it gets its 110 volts and charges the house batteries, by passing everything. It looks like a add on, I don't think National put it on. Looking at the manual I download, it's wired wrong but I see no sense in having it if the inverter/charger is doing its job.
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Retiredblade,
Sounds like several, perhaps unrelated issues.
Some coaches are not wired to charge the chassis batteries from the inverter/charger-- is yours?
Chassis batteries will discharge over a couple of weeks due to parasitic load, even if fully charged when your park. So for long-term storage, it is best to have a charging source for the chassis batteries such as a Xantrex Echo charger (so the inverter/charger charges the house batteries and the Echo charger then charges the chassis batteries). Another option is to disconnect the chassis batteries.
Yes, an inverter left on with shore power/generator off WILL take power from the batteries. Not a lot, but it is in "Stand-by" mode when left on. That is so it is instantly ready to supply 120 VAC if you turn on a 120 VAC appliance that is wired to an inverter-supplied outlet. When parked with no shore power, turn it off.
But, with a smart charger PROPERLY PROGRAMMED (battery bank size, battery type, temperature) you should be able to leave it plugged in 24/7 without overcharging the batteries. Once fully charged and in FLOAT MODE, voltage should be 13.2-13.5 VDC. That should not boil a healthy battery with proper water level.
As I am sure you are aware, deeply discharging a battery materially shortens its life. Sadly, many batteries sit deeply discharged while in storage-- on dealer lots as well as by the owner, so shortened battery life is not unexpected.
Quality batteries treated right (not overcharged and not discharged below 50%) can last many years. The Lifeline AGM batteries I installed over 6 years ago in our coach are working just fine.
I don't think mine is wired to charge the chassis batteries, I have two solar panels by each a/c that is suppose to do that. I turned both master switches off, coach and chassis, and put a little 1 amp trickle charger on the chassis batteries to keep them up, after a few days, it seems the charge is feeding to the house batteries, hence water laying around the caps of the batteries. So I took the trickle charger off and throw a volt meter on it every week to check on the charge, last I checked it was 12.50 volts, going to go out and check again, might put the trick back on.
Ran outside and checked with a volt meter, no trickle charger has been on them for over a week: chassis read 12.69 volts, house batteries 14.15 volts. But before I shut the inverter/charger off a month ago I went I to exercise the engine and not enough power to start, it read 11.50 volts, so I charged them up with a external charger, and it started up, no problem next day. Got to thinking again, so I ran out to the compartment where the batteries are and opened the door above the batteries where the fuse/distribution panel and inverter/charger resides, and, I had to get a mirror to read it, it's a wfco 65 amp power converter mod WF9865, positive wire from it going to positive wire on house battery, neg wire from it going to neg wire house battery, wire in back goes to 120v wire coming from the inverter/charger. What the devil it that? Is that like a echo charger, its not going to the chassis battery.
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Good information, mine was doing the same while plugged in, sitting in my drive way. So I unplugged, but it kept doing the same, so I got the inverter/charger manual and it said if your motor home is sitting for long periods, shut the inverter/charger off. Not having a "higher end" inverter/charger before, I didn't know you could turn it off, I did. No boil over but not charging, apprently the inverter/charger was running off the batteries when unplugged from shore power,and I found that my chassis battery was draining down so that I couldn't start the coach, even my power boost wouldn't work, guess I will go to the manual again and see what I can figure out, I've always been slow!
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There's a vast difference between automobile insurance and RV insurance. When I bought our MH (in Nov 2001), I called the agent that handled my car and told him to insure the MH - big mistake! A year later, Allstate wanted another $200 more to renew. I started doing some research - calling all the insurance companies that advertise in the FMCA magazine. I got an education along the way and found out I was overpaying for the coverage I was getting and it wasn't covering as much as it should. I switched to a company that gave me all the RV coverage I could ask for and still saved $500 the first year and every year since. I still got total lost replacement for the first 5 years and purchase price coverage since then. Luckily, I figure my payments have just about kept pace with depreciation so we wouldn't be too bad off anyway but, I really like knowing we have the purchase price coverage as well as several other very RV specific coverages and it's saved us a lot of money along the way. Soon afterward, I saved a bunch more by switching my cars away from Allstate also - and then my homeowner's policy to finish things off. One of the best moves I ever made. I suggest others do the same research I did.
I've only had one claim - when I turned sharply in a gas station to get to a pump at 90 degrees to the store front and the swing-out clipped a parked car (my bad). They fixed the damage on the car and my motorhome (the diminishing deductible took care of my share) without any problems. Now I'm two years (1/2 way) into building up my diminishing deductible again.
You failed to tell us what company you switched to?
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I wonder if they read these forums? I know the MH manufacturers sure do. Glad to see they are waking up.
I'd ask them if they would have any objection to using the $1500 for a lube pump and would they leave the warranty on the tranny if I had one installed.
GR
Yes they do read them. One of the phone responders told me they went on line and checked around. After sleeping on it, wife and I decided against a tow dolly, never liked the thought of one, again, that is why I bought a Cruze for 4 wheel down towing like my old Saturn. I am going to call them and see if they will either give me cash, or spring for the Remco lube transmission pump. Either way, they have to pay.
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I think they smell a class action law suite in the making.
I was called today and offered $1,500. towards a tow dolly. I would rather tow 4 wheels down but since I have the Cruze, and I really like it, I believe I will take them up on the offer.
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It is official, at least to me, GM just called me to tell me that I cannot tow my Cruze 4 wheels down, I would be getting a letter along with everyone else who has a Cruze stating such. I am going to my dealer to lodge a complaint and see what we can do.
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Scroll down in this thread to the photo of the Cruze.
That was a nice thread you put up. I bought my Cruze in March with the intention of outfitting it to tow behind my motor home replacing my Jeep Wrangler. I put off buying the baseplate, told my wife "lets tow the Jeep this winter again". Now hearing and reading that you can tow a Cruze 4 wheel down, then you can't, I called GM, well they told me you can. Then I started hearing of transmissions heating up and having to be replaced. Then read where GM is sending out a supplement to the owners manual stating you can't tow 4 wheels down. Again, I called GM today, haven't hear back. If it's true you can't tow 4 wheels down, I think they are setting themselves up for court action. Maybe us taxpayers should have let them go belly up.
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This is really a bummer! That is why I bought a Cruze to tow 4 wheels down. Think I will call GM an belly ache. Guess I will continue to tow my Wrangler.
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I just reviewed the installation manual for this system and to me it is the same as my US Gear braking system that I have had for year and have transferred it from my Saturn to my Jeep Wrangler.
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On another forum, some were questioning whether a Cruze is towable 4 wheels down. I have a 2011 Cruze and that is why I bought it to tow 4 wheels down. The salesman assured me it was, I read the manual, and it is, but there are things you have to do if you do tow it. It says when stopping for fuel to start the Cruze and run it for 5 mins. to lube the transmission. He says perhaps people aren't doing that and are having problems with the transmission.
I called the Chevrolet Marketing Division at 1-800-950-2438 and they gave me the answers to my questions. 2011 is towable 4 wheels down. I asked about the 2012, he didn't know but if one wants to know about the 2012, call this number to see.
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I was thinking about remodeling my bathroom in my '94 Bounder, removing the tub, but the tub goes up the sides about a foot and a half. I could make it out of ceramic tile, but the weight is what I worry about. I've done a lot of home bathroom shower/tub areas. I will just have to roll it around a while before making a decision. (Might take a few years!)
GM Settled With Me
in Toads-Towed Behind Motorhome
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At the beginning they offered me also $1,500. towards a dolly, that wasn't what I wanted. I looked at the Sonic, it looks at lot like the Cruze, tad bit smaller, but I didn't like the appointments inside it (dashboard). Also been reading about Fords tranny problems, this one couple burnt out three transmissions, Ford replaced them each time, after the third they went through their states lemon law and got rid of the car. I'm just guessing, maybe Ford thought it was cheaper to replace the transmissions, hoping that the third time folks would use the lemon law thus relieving them of replacing anymore? Who knows? Ford does!