Thompson Automotive Group Refused to honor engine warranty Raleigh North Carolina

On Sept. 22, I had my 2002 Avalance towed to this dealer for engine warranty repair. When I tried to start the engine, something broke loose and the engine locked up. This was a GM crate engine purchased 2 years ago through this dealership, and it has a 3 year 100,000 mile warranty. At the time of failure, engine had less than 20,000 miles and was two years old. After they had the vehicle for a week, Danny Irwin called me and told me they wouldn't honor the warranty because they claim the truck had been driven through at least 4 feet of water. When he made this ridiculous claim, I took time off of work and went to the dealership. There were absolutely no signs of water ever having been in the engine bay, and the interior as well as the carpet and pad were completely dry, with the carpet pad looking like new when carpet was pulled up.

This truck was rarely even driven in rain, much less driven through a pond. Once the make their claim of water intrusion, there is no way to dispute it, as they are judge and jury and they are the ones that decide whether to honor a warranty or not. This engine costed almost $5000, and it's unbelievable that they won't stand behind it. This is not a small amount of money, and it's not a small issue. My options seem to be either to put another new GM motor in (another $5000 obviously with no enforceable warranty) or buy a new truck (and it CERTAINLY won't be another GM product). I just want the warranty honored, and this dealership to do the ethical thing.