Author Topic: Went Solo and now F$%#ed (Read 49950 times)

Duck1313 · « **on:** February 11, 2011, 07:34:08 PM »

Well this is a last ditch effort to figure out my issue. Many have seen it first hand and no one has been able to diagnose or come up with a solution. Last dealership called GM directly and the finger still points to aftermarket exhaust. Any ideas out there or ways to get the dealer to not point the finger at the exhaust? I went Solo and now I'm stuck by myself with my d%^k in my hand.

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Sol Asylum · « **Reply #1 on:** February 11, 2011, 08:02:34 PM »

Still have the OEM exhaust? If not get one from someone that has removed theirs and put it back on your car. If it still smokes take it back and tell them it ain't the exhaust they can now remove their head from their ass and fix your car.

Duck1313 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 11, 2011, 08:05:42 PM »

Nope. Did not have room in the trunk on the way back from the mod meet.

Jebsmith · « **Reply #3 on:** February 11, 2011, 08:19:38 PM »

i thought you were talking about solo the company

Duck1313 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 11, 2011, 08:23:26 PM »

Thats whats on there now. Hi flow cat and Mach shorty. $1,000 intermittent smoke machine.

snaponbob · « **Reply #5 on:** February 11, 2011, 08:31:13 PM »

If GM is already involved, putting the stock exhaust back on will not get around the issue. Google the Magnuson-Moss warranty act and read up on it. If there is something there that will help you, print it and take it to the dealership. Expect MORE push back and be prepared to a) live with the smoke issue, or b) lawyer up.

Duck1313 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 11, 2011, 08:48:07 PM »

Quote from: snaponbob on February 11, 2011, 08:31:13 PM

If GM is already involved, putting the stock exhaust back on will not get around the issue. Google the Magnuson-Moss warranty act and read up on it. If there is something there that will help you, print it and take it to the dealership. Expect MORE push back and be prepared to a) live with the smoke issue, or b) lawyer up.

Thats all fine and good but unless I can find out what is causing the issue I can't use the Magnusson Moss act card. Solo says it GM, GM says it's Solo. GM says it needs to be stock before they will go forward becuase of the location of O2 and use of spacer. Just becuase you are told it won't void the warranty by the sales rep you should probably get it in writing. (Lesson Learned)

Anyone friends with or know John Beralta at GM?

JimVonBaden · « **Reply #7 on:** February 11, 2011, 08:56:39 PM »

Not sure how hard it is to swap them, but I live only a couple miles from you. If you want to swap them out with mine, I might be game.

Jim

Buzzardt · « **Reply #8 on:** February 11, 2011, 08:57:53 PM »

I don't see were you have checked with SOLO. If you haven't already, give them a crack at it.

Nice offer Jim.

DeepBlueGXP · « **Reply #9 on:** February 11, 2011, 09:02:16 PM »

I have a stock exhaust and CAT you can borrow to get it back to stock. It won't have the Sky tips but it's the same thing.

Dark Tech · « **Reply #10 on:** February 11, 2011, 09:37:53 PM »

if your smoking that bad, it could be oil in your intake. Did you consider getting the Oil Catch Can from DDM. Quick install and helps keep the oil out of intake thus minimizing on the smog out your rear.

Dark Tech · « **Reply #11 on:** February 11, 2011, 09:44:04 PM »

at least open your intake tube near the turbo. See if there is any oil sitting inside of the the tube. That should help some.

Helios · « **Reply #12 on:** February 11, 2011, 09:49:21 PM »

A) I assume it wasn't smoking prior to the SOLO exhaust mod? B) How long did it take after the mod for the current symptoms to develop (months/ miles)? I agree that returning the exhaust back to stock would be my first step in troubleshooting the problem.

Duck1313 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 12, 2011, 12:26:08 AM »

Joe, I might take you up on it. Can discuss during the parade. Would like to solder the GMPP sensors too. had a couple instances where I think there was something loose (code thrown and no boost after start up)
Joe Jr. your dad and I checked and clean as a whistle.
Buzz, yes. E-mailed them today before I picked the car up.
Helios, it did it right after and I thought it was the new pipes burning the crap off of it.

Time for another shot and a beer.

Helios · « **Reply #14 on:** February 12, 2011, 01:21:48 AM »

Quote from: Duck1313 on February 12, 2011, 12:26:08 AM

Joe, I might take you up on it. Can discuss during the parade. Would like to solder the GMPP sensors too. had a couple instances where I think there was something loose (code thrown and no boost after start up)
Joe Jr. your dad and I checked and clean as a whistle.
Buzz, yes. E-mailed them today before I picked the car up.
Helios, it did it right after and I thought it was the new pipes burning the crap off of it.

Based on all of the previous information, I would have to agree that the O2 sensor may not be fully in the stream of exhaust. I know after I installed my RPi exhaust and then later DDMs S/C setup that I noticed quite a bit more black smoke and soot. Mine was only really noticeable when I stepped on the gas esp. at WOT. I can't say that I've ever just had black smoke billowing out of the tailpipes though.

Duck1313 · « **Reply #15 on:** February 12, 2011, 01:28:27 AM »

Quote from: Helios on February 12, 2011, 01:21:48 AM

Based on all of the previous information, I would have to agree that the O2 sensor may not be fully in the stream of exhaust. I know after I installed my RPi exhaust and then later DDMs S/C setup that I noticed quite a bit more black smoke and soot. Mine was only really noticeable when I stepped on the gas esp. at WOT. I can't say that I've ever just had black smoke billowing out of the tailpipes though.

Pretty sure this is oil, Joe do you agree?

Helios · « **Reply #16 on:** February 12, 2011, 07:25:14 AM »

Quote from: Duck1313 on February 12, 2011, 01:28:27 AM

Pretty sure this is oil, Joe do you agree?

It just seems odd that it would be oil if the car started smoking right after an exhaust system change. Under normal troubleshooting logic, I would be hard pressed to think it was oil.

spartan · « **Reply #17 on:** February 12, 2011, 09:22:13 AM »

Wasn't it CHUCKDOC that had the PCV valve or related issue? If that is kaput you could be getting oil into the intake periodically, but ack that you checked it.

I just can't figure out how it could be related to anything downstream of the connection to the cat but am in no way a gearhead. The engine diagnostics didn't pick it up. Could it be the turbo is cracked or something is loose and after WOT it smokes from some residual oil?

Hate to see you have to retro but that looks to be what you'll have to do to get GM's help. McKay is one of two GM dealerships I go to and they seem to be better than average but not as good as Saturn of Fairfax was.

DeepBlueGXP · « **Reply #18 on:** February 12, 2011, 09:26:13 AM »

Chuckdoc's ended up being a Turbo and it did the same thing that Duck1313's did. These engines aren't that easy to trouble shoot. Chuck had the PCV valve changed on his own dime and that didn't fix it.

kennysabarese · « **Reply #19 on:** February 12, 2011, 09:40:01 AM »

I think it's bullshit that they are saying that the cat is causing the smoke.

But I'm going to have to put my stock cat on as well so I guess we're equally f'd

Jebsmith · « **Reply #20 on:** February 12, 2011, 10:37:13 AM »

its oil from somewhere. turbo seals most likely.

spider · « **Reply #21 on:** February 12, 2011, 11:39:47 AM »

In the mean time keep close track of your oil level, just to be safe. Check your plugs. If they all look the same it won't be a piston or ring issue. A turbo seal leak can also happen at the turbine side which won't show at the compressor side but will produce smoke without any misfiring. How is your gas milage lately?
If you have an aftermarket CAT or no CAT you will see smoke you didn't see before. These things run rich to protect from detonation plus boosted engines produce a bit more blowby than the norm. So a smaller CAT or no CAT won't burn as clean. So is it "some smoke" or "lots of smoke"?

spicy3480 · « **Reply #22 on:** February 12, 2011, 11:50:24 AM »

EDIT: Jeff spoke with the dealership for you and they noted that they are not blaming the exhaust or cat...GM just wants to stock one on before they will look at it further. We have no problem going to bat for you. We have hundreds of these out on cars already and none of these issues. We kindly ask that you modify the title of this thread in order to not attack the Solo name. Thanks so much and let us know if we can help you in any other way.

Steve, Jeff, and the Solo Crew

spicy3480 · « **Reply #23 on:** February 12, 2011, 12:15:24 PM »

I edited my post above...we have already been in contact with dealership...see edit above in reply #23.

spider · « **Reply #24 on:** February 12, 2011, 12:58:02 PM »

Agreed the title is very misleading. I was surprised & curious when I saw it. I was pleased to see the OP wasn't attacking your name etc. ANOTHER TITLE would & SHOULD describe his dilemma properly.

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Author Topic: Went Solo and now F$%#ed (Read 49950 times)

Jebsmith

Jebsmith