Post by
JWMaloney »
https://forums.nicoclub.com/jwmaloney-u226018.html
Sun Jan 18, 2015 10:42 am
Consumer Affairs called me back twice on Friday. First they wanted to know exactly why I had brought in my vehicle and exactly what I was asking of them.
I explained how I was once again hearing a whining noise and seeing poor performance after extended highway driving, just like the first CVT did before replacement. I told him how I didn't understand why my vehicle would *need* a customer-purchased accessory to function under conditions that are *normal* for where I live, and that if that were really the case, that the previous dealer should have installed it at the time of the CVT replacement.
I also noted that I really need this vehicle to last me a decent amount of time, and that I'm still paying on it! I explained that the Sentra was my second choice (it fit my price point better at the time) and that I really wanted to buy an Altima when the time comes for another vehicle, but that I obviously won't be doing that if this vehicle doesn't last me long enough. I even noted that it didn't make sense that Nissan had skipped out on installing the external cooler in my vehicle, since the frame is pre-fabricated to support it, and since every other vehicle using the same Jatco CVT (Jeep Patriot, Dodge Caliber, Mitsubishi Lancer) actually comes with the external cooler installed from the factory!
I asked him to cover having the external cooler installed and having the fluid flushed, and I expressed how ridiculous it was that I had to pay the dealer $175 to come up with a diagnosis that I had already figured out on my own. He apologized and basically said that's the way it is, but that he would see what he could do about getting goodwill assistance for the cooler installation.
A few minutes later he called me back the second time, and said that while he was still researching the issue, and while he had already been in contact with the dealer regarding their diagnosis, that he may ask me to bring the vehicle back a *second* time to get diagnosed again! He said obviously since I had already paid once, that they would cover the second diagnosis, but he wanted to see if that would be acceptable. I told him yes, and he said he would be back in contact with me if I need to do that, but I'm still finding it pretty ridiculous at this point.
I opened the case with them before I ever set foot in the dealership, and they told me I absolutely had to go get a dealer diagnosis first. So I paid out of my pocket to do that, and now they want me to go back again?! What, they don't trust the dealer's diagnosis? Why would they not trust it this week but trust it next week? I'm starting to get really frustrated by the way this is being handled, especially since the folks at the dealer basically told me that my transaction was between me and them, and that they wouldn't be dealing with Consumer Affairs on my behalf at all, whereas Consumer Affairs previously kept telling me that everything was up to the dealer as to whether or not they could cover something.
They're just passing the ball back and forth. As a consumer, it's really disappointing how far I've had to go to research the issue, diagnose the problem, and come up with *all* the details to cover all my bases before getting into contact with them. I'm actually very lucky that my vehicle has never gone extremely into failsafe/limp mode on the highway (where speed is significantly limited) and caused a safety problem, but if they're going to refuse "goodwill" to install a part which should have been there from the factory, I'm certainly going to make sure I never give them another dime.
Aside from the CVT problems, I've made it to almost 120,000 miles without a single major mechanical issue with the vehicle (my alternator clutch pulley has needed replacement for the last two years, which is another problem I diagnosed on my own after the dealer completely failed to catch it, but it hasn't caused any serious issues aside from intermittent rough idle under heavy electrical load). Nissan has certainly been making solid engines for a long time (aside from the timing chain guide issues in the KA series), so I'm really hoping I can finish paying off the vehicle before I need to replace the CVT again.