A&Q about 350Z
Q:
Are dealers vainly trying to stop the feathering problem by lowering the TP?
The last two times I took my Z in for maintenance the dealer has dropped my tire pressure so low the TP alarm went off the next morning when the tires were cold. Note that I live in Southern California, and "cold" means 55-60 degrees or so. Cold TP was set to about 28 PSI! With the pressure that low, the Z handles like my grandad's Cadillac. I am running stock Bridgestones on my 2003 Track.
I double checked the TP with a couple different tire pressure guages and they all confirmed the 28 PSI pressure within 1 or 2 PSI. The cockpit tire pressure guage is quite accurate, BTW.
One dealer claimed I was overinflating them and that was the cause of the feathering (I know different). I use two different Nissan dealers for maintenance, since I work so far from home. Anyway, both times I pumped them back up to what the placard says: 35 PSI cold and the handling improved.
Are the two dealers I use both twits or is this a vast conspiracy? :-)
2003 Silverstone Track, stock, with Nav
A:
Twits! Take some amo with you next time, like a couple of verifiable TSB's! Educate 'em! JMHO........... giZmo
A:
There is no cure for "feathering".....at least not yet! This whole "TSB...lets go to the dealer for an alignment" thing is just a way that Nissan is making a customer feel better about the feathering and stalling while the warranty is over....JMHO!
"The point of having a sports car is not to go from point A to point B...... it is the point!"
A:
Same song, different singer.
A:
I have a tech that has performed the tsb for the tire feathering on 5 cars that have come through my shop. None of the 5 cars have any sign of feathering and 2 of them have gone over 20,000 miles since then. We have done the tsb on 10 cars total, some obviously with a different tech, and not one of them has come back with the tires feathering again.
A:
Hunter164,
This is my second go around with feathering tires. I don't know if the dealer screwed up the alignment on the first TSB, but its back after about 10,000 miles. I drive 3200-3300 miles a month, so tires aren't lasting me very long, time-wise.
The dealer is mulling over replacing my tires again, as I type this.
2003 Silverstone 350Z Track, stock, with Nav
A:
my techs spend a lot of time on the alignment part to avoid dealing with the comeback. I may have just been lucky so far. Who knows. I guess I'll have to wait and see.
A:
oc7476, i think you're wrong, unless where you are might have something to do with it. i'd bet you could sell a Z in a big city piece of cake.
2003 350Z LeMans Sunset Track with Nav
No mods
A:
I had my 3rd set of front tires installed at 12,500 miles on April 13, 2004.
NIssan performed the the latest and greatest TSB/alignment too.
My tires are starting to roar again, somewhat at 16,000 miles.
I rode in my bosses 2002 Corvette that has the run flat Good Years that roar too.
I have decided to quit crying about it and just accept it.
There are way too many things I love about this car.
My 2 cents...
-Zanioed '03 Le Mans Sunset Touring Coupe w/ Nav.
A:
I am not sure about the before specs, but let me find my paper work for the after specs and I will post them,
-Zanioed '03 Le Mans Sunset Touring Coupe w/ Nav.
Post Edited (Jul 2, 8:38pm)
A:
350ZNewbie:
Here are my last alignment specs performed 4/13/04.
They are suppose to conform with the latest TSB that came out last April.
Front Left, Toe
Before: -0.09 degrees, Specified Range is 0.00 to 0.08 degrees
Front Right, Toe
Before: 0.26 degrees, Specified Range 0.00 to 0.08 degrees
Total Front, Toe
Before: 0.17 degrees, Specified Range 0.00 to 0.16 degrees
There were no values filled in for the "Actual" readings. Also a note at the bottom of these specs read:
All of the "before" values are not within specification. Tire wear, handling and safety problems may result.
-Zanioed '03 Le Mans Sunset Touring Coupe w/ Nav.
A:
"Even if I have to replace the tires every 10,000 miles"
what makes you think your tires will feather only every 10k miles? feathering normally shows up after 4k.
A:
I agree...I had the alignment done and now have an unbearable roar only 5K later. Maybe the rest of you can accept this, but it just means you never owned a GOOD car!