Joined: Oct 2012

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I just bought a used 2010 suburban, the first day I drove it over 150 miles no problem, on day 4 i was driving on the interstate and the check engine light came on and later went off before I got home. Then next day the light came back on and it ran like crap. My snap on red brick would not communicate with the truck so i push the on star button they said that I have a p0300 code(multi-cylinder misfire). I disconnected the ignition coils one at a time to see which cylinders gave me a problem. 1 and 6 when disconnected gave no change to engine RPM. I had spark at both cylinders. I took the truck to O'Rielys to have them pull the codes the got P03400. decided to take the truck into the GMC dealer and see what they know. $65 later they said I have a code P0306, and low compression on cylinder number 6 (65 psi), they preformed a cylinder leak down test and found air escaping from the intake. They recommended a new camshaft and lifters.

Hear is my question, if the cam got a flat spot like they claimed why would i get air coming from the intake side or low compression. A flat spot on the cam would fail to open the valve not cause it to stay open. Maybe the lifter is shot, I now the active fuel management system uses specail lifters, would a failed lifter cause it to push open a valve? I tend to think not. But i also have not worked on this before. Thanks for any help or answers.

This part is how chevy dealerships added to my frustration. I decided to call around for another quote for the cam repair, I started with the Waynesville MO chevey dealer. The guy quoted 1700-2300 depending on the cost of the parts, this sounded better that the 2757 the GMC dealer quoted me. So I asked how much the camshaft cost, he said $75 or he has a cheaper one for $40. Well that's a hell of a deal I went to go buy the cam or get a official quote in person. No one knew of the guy got quoted by the parts guy over 300 for a cam.
So I called the next closest Chevy dealership in Rolla MO and asked for a quote to replace a camshaft. the lady took my information about my Suburban and said she would call me back with the labor cost and that I need to call the parts department for the quote for the parts. Never mind the parts department didn't want to answer there phone. Since when is it the costumers job to get information and research half of the quote? Isn't that there job? Well she called me back several hours later with a quote for labor $2900 for labor alone 20+ hours for the camshaft install and 11+ hours for installing the lifters. She said there might be some over lap of times there but wasn't sure.
How do you work at a chevy dealership and make quotes and not be sure. I don't work there and I know that part of removing a cam is to remove the lifters.

Anyway let me know what you think, dose it sound like a bad cam?