Chevrolet S10 Pickup TSB 020730024A

[fitbabits]

So I have a 2003 Chevy S10 pickup truck that has been diagnosed with a cracked transmission case. As you do, I Googled the symptoms, etc. and came across this bulletin:


2003 Chevrolet S-10
Bulletin #: 020730024A
Sequence #: 634999
Date: 08/01/2005
Component Name: 103400 power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:column shift
Make: Chevrolet
Model: S-10
Year: 2003
Summary: Diagnosis of cracked or broken transmission case.

I believe I've had this since I first got the truck as there's always been a fluid leak evident when I park for a long period of time.

To my question - how do I handle this? Do I take it to my local Chevy dealer and give him/her details of the Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) and ask for it to be repaired for free, or do I contact Chevrolet direct and request a repair?

[LarsenNET]

I'm pretty sure they will only fix it for free if it's a recall. Also I think recalls have time limits. Wouldn't hurt to call and ask your local dealer.

[OldeWolf]

If it was me, I'll rather a human person looking at me and giving me direct answers instead of spending 30 minutes getting to know the computer on the other end of the phone.

[Inspector Fowler]

I dealt with TSB versus recall a while back.

LarsenNET is correct. A Technical Service Bulletin will only be repaired for free on a car if the car is still under warranty, where a recall will be repaired for free.

In general, a recall will only be made if the safety of the car is affected. My car, for example, had a gas hose and pipe that were just a leeeeeetle too short. When it got cold out, they would both get a little shrinkage going on and then there would be enough space for gas vapor to get out. You could smell it very, very strongly in the cabin.

But it wasn't enough for Subaru to do a recall! Just a TSB. By the time I discovered the problem, the car was out of warranty. Because of the location of the parts, it is a labor intensive job, and thus expensive. I ended up doing it myself with some help from my dad. Bleh.

It won't hurt to call the Chevy dealers around town, but in most cases you'll be footing the bill for the repair.

[biosc1]

Raise a bit of a ruckus...Mention you're a long time Chevy buyer. I would think in today's climate, American dealers would be eager to please their customers.