A&Q about 350Z
Q:
I started noticing the growling noise from my front tires (Potenzas) about 3K miles ago, and I decided to take advantage of the TSB that I recieved concerning tire feathering. So, I took the Z into the dealer, and they said that they could replace my front tires free of charge. The tires were on backorder, so I wasn't able to get the work done that day.
Two weeks later (a week ago), I got a call from the service department saying the tires were in. So I took the Z back in the next morning. Halfway through the day, they called and said that they were unable to replace my front tires, because somehow the front wheels were on the back and the back wheels were on the front. Somehow the service department has never noticed this before in the half a dozen times it's been in the shop. I've never had any work done on the Z at another dealership or repair shop, and I've never personally done any maintenance or replacement of the tires and wheels. By all indications, this problem was made either at the factory or at the dealership it was delivered from (Birmingham, AL).
Anyway, they informed me that the tires that should have been covered under the TSB (the smaller front tires, which are on the back) had too little tread to be covered at all. Apparently, having the small wheels and tires on the back has caused them to spin alot more than normal (That would explain why I've had a problem with my Traction Control System from the very beginning). Also, they said that the tires currently on the front (which should have been on the back) are not covered under any replacement program, even though they have experienced the same feathering problem that many of you have had.
The service department has tried to cut me a deal by paying for the tires currently on the back, putting the tires/wheels in their proper position, and realigning the front. I think that they should cover all four tires, since the tires currently on the front experienced the normal feathering problem, and the tires currently on the back have experienced an unusually high amount of wear from spinning too fast. The service department manager discouraged me from calling customer service (1-800-NISSAN-1), saying that I would probably have to cover all the expenses myself if corporate became aware of it.
Sorry for writing so much. Right now I'm very disappointed and frustrated, and don't know what I should do. Any suggestions?
A:
Cut your losses, and either take them up on their half-offer or get a new full set from a local tire shop or tirerack.com. Dealers are the biggest pain to deal with, and usually fighting with them is not worth the effort. Personally I like the Potenzas, so I would recommend taking them up on the free pair of tires. Other people prefer a longer-wearing tire - so if you would prefer that route, just get a full new set from someone else, and then have the dealer realign the front end. btw, realigning the front end for a 350Z has become common practice for most dealers, so they should do that portion free regardless.
'04 Daytona Blue 350Z Enthusiast - B-Stock #34
Tanabe Sustec 36mm chromoly front sway bar
K&N drop in air filter
Hawk HPS brake pads
Pioneer Premier CD/MP3 head unit
18% tint rear and sides
A:
take them up on it and then call the number..
A:
Ahem, I really hate to mention this.....but you never realized you had 245's up front and 225's in the rear? Does not excuse their ignorance but still! I don't think the wear on the rears has anything to do with being the wrong size though; they don't spin any faster unless you are doing burnouts and the stock rears are only good for 20,000 miles or so anyway. But I would still raise a stink with Nissan NA - that is some dealer BS they are handing you. Nissan NA pays for the replacement tires - the dealers don't eat it. Good luck, and check your tires when they are done with whatever they decide to do - remember, it is pretty standard that the wider tires go on the rear.
A:
I still understand how the front and rear were messd up. I know you can't rotate but the way I understand it the wheels/tires won't fit or something.
But if the dealer is saying that is the problem then if you still have some warranty left then they should just fix everything at no cost to you.
2005 350Z Touring Roadster - Super Black - 6speed
Borla Exhaust and K&N drop-in.
Other toys include:
2006 Subaru WRX Wagon
2002 Isuzu Axiom SUV
2002 H-D Electra Glide Ultra Classic
2002 H-D custom Fat Boy
2001 Kawasaki Drifter 1500
A:
ComiCoZ,
The dealer is stroking you!! Don't fall for it. Nissan has set up the wheels on the 350Z so they can not reverse the front and rear wheels. Unless you modify the wheels they just can’t be reversed. I don’t know what they are telling you since I am not there. But, if their tech is worth his salt he should already know that. The dealer is just trying to make a couple of extra bucks at your expense. AGAIN, DON’T FALL FOR THEIR B/S.
Mspeasl
Central Illinois - Form member since 2/02
"Growing old may be mandatory, but growing up is optional"
03 Redline Touring 6sp "350Z" (Pre-Ordered 02/02) - Delivered 29 August 02
05 Satin Jade Pearl Chrysler 300C 6/04
A:
hmm.. do you really think the dealer is going to screw him over something so petty? maybe i'm naive, but i doubt it.
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'05 350Z Chrome Silver Touring
'73 240Z
A:
front and rear are both 18 X 8 on the '04 Touring - assuming you have the manual. (Perhaps since you didn't notice the front and rear tires were reversed, I should assume you have the automatic with 17s.)
Now ... if you've never had the car to any other shop, and you've never had the tires rotated, then the dealer is saying the 245s were put on the front and the 225s were put on the rear BY THE FACTORY!! The car passed all the quality control steps in Japan, was shipped, passed the admittedly lame inspection at the dealership, and has been serviced for two years by your dealer without anyone (including a hopefully normally observant owner) from noticing the tires were reversed front to rear??!!
Come on!! That's pretty brazen. If I didn't know any better, I'd say young ComiCoZ is yanking the forum's chain.
But, giving young Comi the benefit of the doubt, you have to fight this one for a while. There's no way this could have happened as described by your dealer. If it did, they certainly have a very important part in this situation, having let it go on for two years.
If the service clown holds to his story, politely depart the scene, write a nice but pointed letter to the owner of the dealership, delivered certified return receipt. It should describe this unfortunate chain of events in brief but explicit detail, and should end with your expectation: that his dealership should honor the extended warranty. Be sure to mention you would regret having to bring this matter to an attorney should it not be resolved to your satisfaction.
Good luck.
Post Edited (Mar 29, 7:10pm)
A:
i have to agree that the tires (front and rear) CAN in fact be reversed...
seeing how it is that i bought my car like that too... i don't know how they got like that... i just know that when i bought it... it was being serviced for a faulty VDC relay... then when i took it back in for an alignment... the dealer told me that they were backwards... didn't do anything about it but informed me... so when i got some tires from dicound i got them to put them on correctly...
so again i have no idea how long that has been like that but i definately needs to be corrected... from what i understand the VDC will not work properly with the wheels backwards...
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Chrome Silver '03 Touring -MT-
C.F. Nismo Wing
Shorty Antenna (Stolen!!! Thanks alot!)
Kicker Solo Baric L7 1200w
I don't think, I know...
Well, I don't think you know either
A:
I say the dealer is f!cking with you. Either that or you had a wheel rotation done at a shop by some idiot who didn't realize that the front and rear wheels were different sizes.
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1985 300ZX n/a
A:
been a while since i took my wheels off... next time i'll make sure to look though...if i remember... but i really don't thing that the bolt to prevent the mix up is there on mine... either it is, and the rim allows for it to fit... or... it isn't... so i'll check it out...
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Chrome Silver '03 Touring -MT-
C.F. Nismo Wing
Shorty Antenna (Stolen!!! Thanks alot!)
Kicker Solo Baric L7 1200w
I don't think, I know...
Well, I don't think you know either
A:
there's a bolt on the fronts that wouldn't allow them to put the back wheels on the front.
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'05 350Z Chrome Silver Touring
'73 240Z