• If you currently own, previously owned or want to own an Avalanche, we welcome you to become a member today. Membership is FREE, register now!

Replacement Of "A" Pillar Plastic Cover

Durwin

Charter Member
Full Member
Joined
Apr 8, 2002
Messages
1,352
Location
Sacramento, California
Good Morning All,
During dealer prep the A-pillar plastic cover got damaged. (It's the one that looks like a triangle). The dealer told me that I'd need to leave the vehicle the entire day to have this cover replaced because it's the first one that they have done.. This doesn't seem right. Has anyone out there replaced this piece? It's looks like it's just a cover secured by 3 phillips screws. Any thoughts folks?
Durwin
Sacramento Ca.
 
Durwin said:
This doesn't seem right. Has anyone out there replaced this piece?
I haven't replaced it, but I took it off and put it back on. That's total nonsense! It should only take a few minutes. I think jackalanche has taken his off too. I'd ask them what that's all about.

helmet
 
Thanks for the info. To tell you the truth I think that I pissed the service department off and that's why they said that. >:D
Since my Avalanche got scratched up during the dealer prep, I made them completely detail it. Took about 2 hours while I sat there and watched. It's Family Chevrolet in Shingle Springs, California. Just wait til I get that survey!
Durwin
2002 Chevrolet Avalanche 2500
PS. One the whole I am extremely impressed by the AV. This is my first GM vehicle since 84. Just need to find a good dealer in Sac now. :love:
 
Since we are going to name names... let me throw in a few for those of you in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. I have found that Steakley and Van Chevrolet are less than helpful when it comes to their service and parts departments. God forbid you should ever call anyone at those dealerships while they are having a cup of coffee and a cigarette.
On the other hand, Reliable Chevrolet on 75 (North Central) has some fairly helpful folks. Some of the guys in their parts department are really fired up about the AV, and they will go the extra mile to help you out.

helmet
 
Helmet, it must be in the name "Reliable" Chevrolet.
My dealer, Grossman Chevrolet, has so far been a great experience but I have only dealt with the parts/accessories guys. The few times I swung by, my sales guy has to check the truck out to see what else I have done to it. I haven't done nearly as much as a lot of you but they dig what I did to my hood deflector, the decals on the cladding, the amber DRLs and especially the flag bowtie. I pretty much always run with a black bowtie now except for special occasions.

How sad am I!

Jamie
 
I'm glad to we all trade information. That's one of the benefits of this web site ;D

Does anyone know of a good Chevy dealer in Sacramento?
Durwin
 
Helmet's correct, I have had mine off too - actually the inside portions. The A-pillar plastic cover is a two piece unit, the inside piece comes off first, and to do that, the drainage grate needs to be popped off - it is a spring fastener kind of deal, it is designed to be removed fairly easily as the manual tells you to do so every so often to clean out the area. Then you can remove the inside portion of the A-pillar cladding, it mates with the outside piece in a few spots along the seems, be careful not to damage these points. Then, I assume the outside portions come off with the removal of screws - I have not done this and my only concern is that, in other cladding areas, GM uses their double sided sticky tape - but Helmet and others have found no such sticky tape in this area. (I have sticky tape nightmares thanks to GM)

But to tell you the truth, this isn't rocket science, and it isn't very time consuming. Your dealer was just buying time to get to your rig when it would be convenient for him throughout the work day.
 
Some of those service folks when rubbed the wrong way will really try to stick it to ya'......your right though come survey time don't hold back..I'm sure someone else has had similiar problems....... :B:
 
Don't forget that you can always get your warranty work done at a Cadillac dealership. I had my steering box replaced at the caddy shop and they were fantastic. Not only did I get the red carpet treatment, they completely washed the truck and topped off the washer bottle too. First class service. Any GM dealer can work on any GM vehicle, but since the AVY's got a rich uncle in the EXT give your caddy dealer a shot.
 
I will never leave my Av at the dealers all day again. It's been in three times for the same problem and was scratched up on the last visit. And to top it off I dropped it off at 7am went back at 3:30pm and they had just pulled it in the bay. I had to wait 2 hours. Here's a little tip, always have the service manager look over your Av with you before you leave the lot. It could save you a return trip if they have screwed anything up. I learned that the hard way.
 
Hey Durwin,

I'm in Sacramento too (South Sacramento). I bought my AV from Mike Daugherty off of El Camino and Fulton. Service has been mediocre to good. Since I bought my AV there, they give me 10% all accessories.

It's not a publized policy, but if I mention it, they'll give it to me. At least it pays for most of the taxes. :)

See ya around!
 
I got mine at John L Sullivan in Roseville (outside Sac, CA). It was a fairly good experience, except for the usual grind of getting a discount and them trying to bump me with an overpriced X-warrantee. Just stick to your guns! The service dept there has been really good though...
 
Durwin,
I got my Avalanche at MikeDaugherty Chevrolet in Sacramento. Service for me hasn't been stellar but it's okay. I once had to wait an entire day(I sat in every corvette on the lot) while they confirmed that my side mirror switch needed to be replaced and then I was informed that it would take a week for the part to come in from Michigan! I assumed that it's the same switch used in all of their trucks...
Still a bit peeved about my hardcover/softcover situation but I suppose their service is okay, I did get a smile!
 
Glad to hear of a good service experience. I'm going to there on Monday. I think I would use either them, or Elk Grove Chevrolet. THey were great in doing the 4 recalls on my wife's GMC Envoy.
Does anyone else have anything to add?
Durwin
 
Here's what I did to prevent scratches at the dealership.
Go to the rental portion of your dealership and get a sheet that they walk you around with when you rent a car or they loan you one on your lease. Take it home and cut and paste till it looks like you made it for a professional. When you drop your truck off, walk around it with your clipboard and the service guy. Note GOOD and bad things. i.e., floorboards clean, no dents, scratches, or other stuff. NOTE the mileage. Zero out the trip odometer in front of the guy and write down the mileage just like he does on his form. You would not believe how many times the car washer kid takes a customer's car to "Fetch lunch" for the crew. Note the gas gauge reading. Note the cleanliness. Have the service guy sign it. He has you sign his doesn't he? Why shouldn't you have him sign yours?

It really cuts down on the funny stuff.

Trophyman.
 
Howdy. Would like to get back to the "A" pillar for a sec. I was hauling a table saw, which proceeced to tip over and ding up the inside of the passenger side "A" pillar. I ask me dealer how much it would cost, and was told $450.00 bucks - for a flippin' piece of plastic. Does anyone know the part number for this piece, and can I get it anywhere for less? I want to replace it before the color has any chance to change. I know I can change it myself - just need the part.

Love the site, btw. Just found it, and couldn't be happier.

J.
 
Boiler - you are right about being a DIY project, replacing the inside A pillar cladding. As for extracting part numbers, most dealers I know, if you go to their parts/service window during a non-busy time, will give you part #s and prices, just tell them you are trying to price out the fix for an insurance claim. Even the Caddy dealer near my job is cool about giving me this info, as long as you don't act like you are demanding it. I haven't tried it yet, but maybe Dal (his ph # appears above in a banner ad) will give you a part # along with a price quote - I know he will happily quote you a price, he has done so for me.
 
Back
Top