Need Advice - 2018 Yukon Denali - needs new engine

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

KratsYukon

TYF Newbie
Joined
Jun 11, 2024
Posts
22
Reaction score
31
We drove about 2 hours and at the end of our trip heard a winding or squeaking sound coming from the front of the car. At that point we were doing about 30-35 mph with in town. Got to my daughter's house had it idling tried to listen for the noise with the hood open and heard nothing. The car sat for a few hours and then we got back in it and within about 10 minutes I heard a quick squeak, air conditioner went off and lost complete power to the vehicle. When I mean power, I mean driving, I hit the accelerator and nothing happened. For a few minutes of us being stranded on the side of the road, the electrical system still worked, until it didn't, and the battery went dead. My initial thoughts were that it's the alternator that went, although no dashboard lights came on at all. We had it towed to the local Chevy dealer in Wilmington North Carolina and they are telling me that it needs a new motor, to the tune of $22,000. I asked for codes and they're still trying to gather those for me because the technician had left early for the day.

I had a few questions for him specifically how a mechanical engine failure would have drained the battery so fast and not one engine light came on. There was no knocking no dinging no smoke no overheating no smells.... nothing. Something doesn't seem right to me. I'd also add that we just had the hundred thousand mile maintenance done on it so we were expecting this to be clear sailing for the next few years. Anybody have any suggestions or thoughts? We are in Cary North Carolina right outside Raleigh if it helps.
 

Fless

Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Apr 2, 2017
Posts
12,174
Reaction score
24,846
Location
Elev 5,280
I guess knowing codes might point to something, but I would interrogate the service advisor and/or the tech for the cause of the engine failure. Specifically, what failed and what's broken as a result. Does the engine turn over by hand, etc. I'm not from Missouri, but "show me." I can't speak to the estimated cost for a new engine, but to me it seems excessive.
 
OP
OP
K

KratsYukon

TYF Newbie
Joined
Jun 11, 2024
Posts
22
Reaction score
31
I guess knowing codes might point to something, but I would interrogate the service advisor and/or the tech for the cause of the engine failure. Specifically, what failed and what's broken as a result. Does the engine turn over by hand, etc. I'm not from Missouri, but "show me." I can't speak to the estimated cost for a new engine, but to me it seems excessive.
Unable to get the codes from them today as the time of day didn't allow for me to speak to the technician, I was talking to the advisor. I'm supposed to get more information tomorrow. The engine failure is really hard to accept. The truck completed a two hour drive at 75-80 mph, with NO issues, sounds, or indication of an issue. The battery was dead 5 minutes after the truck died. I suspected it was the alternator the whole time.
 

OR VietVet

Multnomah Falls
Supporting Member
Military
Joined
Oct 8, 2014
Posts
20,994
Reaction score
37,531
Location
Willamette Valley
$22k, bulls*h*i*t. The first thing the tech should have done is attempt to start and pull any codes. If the tech says he has inspected enough to say you need to spend $22k for an engine, he has to have told the advisor why. They want time to get a story straight. They know by now you are stranded. Even if an explanation makes sense and they can show a need for an engine, $22k is freakin' outrageous. What is the breakdown on that $22k. Please keep us in the loop. This smells.
 
OP
OP
K

KratsYukon

TYF Newbie
Joined
Jun 11, 2024
Posts
22
Reaction score
31
$22k, bulls*h*i*t. The first thing the tech should have done is attempt to start and pull any codes. If the tech says he has inspected enough to say you need to spend $22k for an engine, he has to have told the advisor why. They want time to get a story straight. They know by now you are stranded. Even if an explanation makes sense and they can show a need for an engine, $22k is freakin' outrageous. What is the breakdown on that $22k. Please keep us in the loop. This smells.
Imagine being the advisor, and the technician says " needs and engine". Having to have to call me, you would think he would want to be prepared with all important information to deliver the message. He's literally just the messenger.
 
OP
OP
K

KratsYukon

TYF Newbie
Joined
Jun 11, 2024
Posts
22
Reaction score
31
Even an $8k engine and $200 an hour for 30 hours is $6k labor. Outragrous but guessing way high. That is $14k. What is the breakdown on the other $8k?

Guaranteed they will try to sell you a new vehicle and give you a "great" trade in.
Dude, he literally said, with his best somber voice, " I can connect you with sales if it helps"....this is a huge Chevy dealer in Wilmington NC too.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
132,779
Posts
1,874,158
Members
97,614
Latest member
Autopat
Top