“BOW TIE”
Volume 4-08 August 2008
From the Owners
Despite the challenges facing us this year we continue to add services to help you better support your customers. This month we have added an online ordering site for parts. These parts are competitively priced and most importantly are in stock and available for immediate shipment. Our intent is not to undercut your local GM dealer but to fill in the gaps if you have an immediate need for a repair part. In the rare instance we do not have the part immediately available you will be provided a status report on our progress to procure the part. Our promise is to have a part moving in your direction within 24 hours.
We are excited about the introduction of the G4500 cutaway van rated at 14,200 GVW. This product fills a gap in our product line and provides you an alternative to the Ford and the Sprinter vans. With best in class diesel and gas fuel economy we know this will be a winner for all of us.
We are also announcing the introduction of some additional handling packages for the Kodiak C4500/5500. That pricing sheet listed below will give you some options to offer to your more discriminating customer. All of these kits may be installed by your maintenance facility.
Thank you for your business and we appreciate that you have chosen McCormick Motors as your chassis supplier. Our goal is to make sure we always provide the support you need and deserve. All the best for the balance of 2008.
Bernie Beer, President
Gordon Moore, Vice President
General
McCormick’s Web Sites
Since the introduction of our commercial web site www.mccormickmotors.com last year we have introduced two major enhancements.
Information: The first enhancement is the addition of user tabs on the “Manufacturer/Fleet” button
http://dealers.mccormickmotors.com/
These tabs include forms for bid assistance and repair assistance, support documents, service bulletins, the GM upfitter and body builder manual. The password area allows the upfit manufacturers to see the status of the delayed warranty start program and the status of any McCormick Motors assisted repair.
Parts On Line: We have also added a link to an entirely new site called “Fleet Parts”.
http://parts.mccormickmotors.com/
This new site provides you a parts store to look for the most commonly used G-Cutaway,
3500 Cab & chassis, and C4500/5500 Kodiak parts. This site is geared to your specific
vocation and vehicle. We will provide direct shipping of the parts to your location. Our
mission is to provide you and your customer with timely and competitively priced parts.
If you have any additional questions concerning this site please contact Ray Wolfe or
Josh Long toll free at 877-773-3134.
Sales
Diesel vs. Gas
Listed below is language concerning the sale of diesel powered G-vans and the C4500/5500 Kodiak. This language has not been sanctioned by General Motors but is our recommendation to you and your sales force when discussing the type engine to use in a vehicle. It is very important that you understand how your customer plans to use the vehicle and that the customer understands the limitations of the diesel engine.
· Because of the regeneration process required on diesel engines for both light and medium duty vehicles, there are some applications where the diesel engine may no longer be the most appropriate option. Specifically, those that are operating their vehicles at less than 30 mph or have significant idle times, and rarely operate their vehicle at a speed greater than 30 mph, should specify a gas engine in lieu of the diesel engine.
· This is especially important in the light duty product line (express van, cutaway express, cab and chassis) where there is no manual regeneration switch. There may be instances where the criteria for automatic regeneration in the light duty product will never be met and the DPF will require frequent servicing at a GM dealer or replacement because it cannot regenerate.
· For the medium duty truck product with the manual regeneration option this will mean that the operator will have to use the manual regeneration process on a frequent basis.
G4500—14,200 GVW Cutaway
The long awaited G4500 Commercial G-Cutaway Chassis is now coming off the production line. Listed below are some of the technical specifications for this vehicle. These are being introduced with the 2009 model year.
· Wheelbase 159” only
· 4,600 lb front axle & 9,600 lb rear axle
· 57 gallon tank aft of the rear axle
· Engines
o Duramax Diesel w/250 hp and 460 lb-ft torque
o 6.0L Vortec V8 Gas w/323 hp and 373 lb-ft torque
· 4L85E HD 4-Speed Automatic Transmission
· 20,000 GCWR
· 1,600 pound increase in payload over the 12,300 GVW
Service
Kodiak Handling Packages
Symptom: “Body Roll or Sway”
Solution: McCormick Stabil Ride.
What it Does: The OEM front stabilizer and progressive spring aides are replaced
with heavier, more aggressive components.
Cost: Kit - $200.00 Labor - .5 hours
Symptom: “Body Roll or Sway”
Solution: Roadmaster Anti-Sway Bars.
What it Does: The OEM front stabilizer bar is replaced with a Roadmaster Anti-
Sway Bar and the a Roadmaster Anti-Sway Bar is added to the rear suspension as
an addition to the OEM sway bar.
Cost: Front Bar - $575.00 Rear Bar - $700.00 Labor - 2.5 hours/bar
Symptom: “Every Bump in the Road”.
Solution: Koni FSD Shock Absorbers.
What is Does: A unique valve system filters out annoying vibrations before they
enter the vehicle body.
Cost: Shocks - $180.00 per set of two Labor - 1 hour
Symptom: “Tail Wagging the Dog”.
Solution: SuperSteer Trac Bar.
What it Does: Reduces the “tail wagging the dog” and greatly improves stability
in turns and reduces right to left corrective steering.
Cost: Trac Bar Kit - $510.00 Labor - 1.5 hours
Driver Tips
Attached for your review are two documents that should be reviewed by the operators of vehicles. You should review this material with your customers very early on in the process and you may want to use these documents as part of your vehicle delivery package. There are minimum standards that driver’s must perform to operate the vehicle. Failure to understand and perform these functions may result in unnecessary break downs or potential damage to the engine.
· Diesel Regeneration. The instructions for the operation of the Duramax diesel engine are in the owner’s manual. For your convenience we have attached those instructions from the owner’s manual that are relevant to the regeneration process. It is important that operators understand not only how, but under what conditions, regeneration may occur. Failure to perform in the regeneration process as outlined in the owner’s manual may result in significant damage to the vehicle.
· Air Ride Suspension Systems. All air ride suspension systems on the C4500/C5500 are aftermarket products. We install the Link air ride system and have included as an attachment the operation and maintenance instructions contained in the owners manual. In general terms all of the systems (regardless of manufacturer) are designed for vehicle operation with the air bag inflated. Operating the vehicle with deflated, or partially deflated, air bags will result in damage to the suspension components. During normal maintenance they should be checked for air leaks and your servicing dealer should re-torque all fasteners within the first 90 days of operation.
GM Bulletins.
· 08179 (Service Update) – Turbocharger Vane Position Sensor, selected 2008 C4500 & C5500 Medium Duty Trucks, (May 2008): Units impacted C4500 (VIN 8F412024 – 8F900004), C5500 (VIN 8F410711 – 8F413570) This bulletin provides a service procedure for the replacement of the Turbocharger Vane Position Sensor with an improved corrosion resistant sensor on the vehicles listed above. If you have a vehicle within the range of VIN’s listed call us toll free at 877-773-3134, to verify that the vehicle requires the recall. If a recall is required we will assist you in making an appointment with your servicing Chevrolet Medium Duty truck facility.
· 1908438 (Customer Satisfaction) – Information on Diesel Fuel Additives, 2007 and Prior Light Duty and Medium Duty Trucks, (2/20/07):
The use of diesel fuel additives is not required or recommended for the 6.5L diesel or the 6.6L Duramax Diesel engine under normal conditions. The filtering system is designed to block water and contaminants without the use of additives. However, some customers may desire to use fuel additives to improve the characteristics of available diesel fuels.
Please visit mccormickmotors.com, Service Page for further information on the Service Notices or the GM Recalls.
Shows We Attend
We routinely attend the primary annual shows and meetings of interest to the shuttle bus industry. Bernie Beer and/or Gordon Moore attend these shows as part of the GM display group as indicated below.
· Aug 14 – 16 – Fire Rescue International – Denver, CO (Gordon)
· Sep 16 - 17 – BusCon – Chicago, IL (Bernie, Gordon, Marilyn, Cassie, Ivy)
· Oct 13 – 17 – EMS Show – Las Vegas, NV (Bernie)
· Oct 29 – 30 - Assoc for Pupil Transport – Myrtle Beach, SC (Bernie)
· Nov 8 - 11 – IH/M&RS (Hotel, Motel and Restaurant) – New York, NY (Gordon)
· Dec 1 - 3 – American Ambulance Association – Las Vegas, NV (Gordon)
· Dec 2 - 4 – RVIA – Louisville, KY – (Bernie)
This newsletter is for use within your organization, and includes your franchised dealer
network. You may forward this newsletter to your organization, including your
franchised dealers. You may also want us to forward this to your dealers directly. If you
wish us to forward to your dealers directly please contact Ms. Ivy Arndt, 877-773-3134
or email her at .
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