The dreaded 3.6 strikes again...

[Frosty]

Yup...another 3.6 has come in with a snapped timing chain. This also had the trans go on it(Enclave, 2nd one in 2 months)

I feel bad for these owners, they spend damn near $50K on an Enclave and have serious engine/trans issues. At least GM stands behind it but I can only imagine how many other issues are out there. That's now 3 transmissions and 4 or 5 3.6's that ate timing chains...and we're a low volume dealer/service department. I would love to know many of these things higher volume places are doing.

[maroman88]

refresh my memory... which 3.6 vehicles does this affect? just the direct injection models or all?

[91chevywt]

Is there a recall or TSB on it? Sounds like it could potentially be a big issue

[Frosty]

No recall. I've seen it happen on the Enclave, SRX and CTS, mainly the Enclaves.

It's funny how it works, GM specifically says to go by the oil life monitor and/or Onstar reports for their oil changes but the guys at TAC(Technical Assistance Center) say these chains are going because the customers aren't changing their oil ever 3K and it's eating up the chains...this was an off the record conversation of course. Gotta love it. GM did make changes gears last year or the year before though.

[maroman88]

ok more importantly... what model years, specific to the CTS... the gf's mom has an 07

[Frosty]

I really don't know, we don't deal with many Caddy's here. I'm just going by what I've seen. I've had one SRX come with it, one CTS(06 I think) and the rest were Enclaves.

[Tru2Chevy]

I have heard from friends that work at dealers that they have seen 3.6 Camaros with timing chain issues as well.

- Justin

[qwikz28]

Does it apply to 3.0s as well? I thought they were nearly the same motor.

[coolmanvette75]

my mom has a 2008 g6 gxp with the 3.6. is tbis something that can effect her?

[BigAls87Z28]

3.0 has some different stuff, and there are no problems with them so far.
3.6 timing chain problem is not tied to any one car. When I was at a GM Customer Service meeting in Detroit, we talked about it. The head Tech guy was in the room, and he said that its funny that its not all of them, and not any one car, so it seems to be sparatic. They have fixes, and they have since put thoes fixes into production.

[Frosty]

Yeah the new parts you order as replacements are a bit different.

[LS1Hawk]

Glad I got the 3.0 instead.

[BigAls87Z28]

I dont know if the LaX has any problems or shown any situations yet. I think being one of the newwer cars to get the 3.6.

[Frosty]

I haven't had one come back yet but again we're not a high volume dealer.

[NJ Torque]

Had a 09 Traverse come in with a p0017, today...

[BarneyMobile]

For a while, we had atleast 2 or 3 Traverses a week coming in for timing chains. We've also seen them grenade in several cases. I had 2 put holes in the block from rods breaking. My dealer is a fairly high volume dealer. Most of the 3.6's that came in were fleet cars.