So I have an 04 Z. Since ive owned it, on several occassions the speakers would go out in circumstances like hitting a bump in the road, and miraculously come back full power when hitting a bump later on. Also, increasingly there was a ringing noise, or a noise better described as chains being dragged under the car. Also, the front tires were choppy, or as the recall describes, feathered. On some other occasions I would drop the hammer on the car with VDC off and it wouldnt go anywhere fast as if VDC was on or the clutch was slipping without the RPMs rising. Now, many of you may know I feel the Z is sort of on the slow side for me, but perhaps it is this.

I was certain I was experiencing recall problems so I bring it into the NEW Nissan Service center in my area, it is still under warranty by the way. I will try to make this story as short as possible.

As I tell the lady the problems of the car and the reason for me bringing it in she is recording this in her problem log for the "technicians". She begins to tell me that I dont have any of these problems (as if they werent trying to take responsiblity for it even though it is a recall) and then she tells me that I should have no transmission problems being that the recalls for the tranny were only for the automatic Z's and since mine was a 6 speed, and I quote, "You dont have a transmission in your car". I immediately as wisely responded, "your not working on my car are you?" Thankfully not. Anyway, I leave, a while later that day she calls me back. "Sir, bad news, we have to replace your engine" Uhm okay? You mean transmission I ask. "oh yes, the transmission." (and here I thought my car didnt have one ) She continues to say they have to replace the whole Bose stereo unit, and the front tires and bushings. No **** Im thinking at this point.


So fast forward a few days and I get a call from the service lady again. "Hi Sir, we have all the parts, when can you bring the car in?" I think for a moment as the question of pure stupidity resonates through me with a bit of shock, I respond in disbelief. "yeah, uhm, I left the car there with you a few days ago, remember, you have the keys, and the car?" She then goes on to tell me, "Uhm, I dont think so but i'll check" Yeah *****, you might want to do that im thinking. She comes back on giggling, "Oh yes, we have it, eh sorry"

fast forward to today, "Sir, your Z is ready, you can come pick it up." Excellent I think. So I get a ride there today, expecting a problem at this point since there seems to always be one. And since this post is getting long, let me sum the rest my lovely experience up with a list.

1. They try to charge me for it and until I tell them 3 times its under warranty and a manager has to come to the rescue.
2. I walk over to the car and there is oil on the bottom side sill, and on the door inside, which I have to wipe off
3. As soon as I start to drive away after inspecting EVERY inch of my car, the gauge lights and cluster (the digital speedo, the oil and voltage gauge) goes dead. So I reverse her back in the place and wait 20 minutes for them to fix it.
4. I get back in the car and start to drive away, bam, the PSi light comes on. I reverse back in the place and wait while they fill the NEW tires they mounted with the proper PSi. I wasnt going to risk getting home and filling it myself to find out its a disconnected sensor as oppose to just a low level of air
5. I finally go on my way, the tranny is stiff but then again it is new so I take it in stride and driver her gentle, very notchy but alot better than before with no more tranny noise or chain like noise, or clutch chatter. though I bet they didnt even resurface the flywheel. I get miles away and hop on the highway, I accelerate to my usual cruising speed and bam, the whole car starts shaking. Wonderful, the **** heads didnt balance the tires properly. So by this time I am closer to home, I call and tell them they need to rebalance the tires. They go on to tell me it was a pain with my aftermarket wheels and cannot guarantee a free rebalance. I told them I would waste MY time and come there tomorrow to speak to the manager and I assured the dumb ***** it WOULD be rebalances properly.

Now, really quickly, 2 things. The car did NOT have 1 extra mile on it since I left it. Wouldnt you think after a tire balance AND a new tranny you would drive it a few miles to make sure its okay? apparantly not. Also, I asked them before I got there if they took my 6 CD's out of the changer before installing a new unit, they go "Oh no, we dont touch those things, we send the unit back to Japan and they mail us whatever CD's are in the unti within a month. I almost slapped her, fortunately whoever worked on the car had atleast SOME sense and took them out and put them back in the new unit.

Now, here is a question for you, I thought the Z was a bit on the slow side, do you think it may have been the tranny? I cant romp on her until I break the tranny in, so I am curious to find out.

Now, with all this ****ty Service Work and edicit these guys did, I was waiting for the car to breakdown on the way home.

So, thats my story, sorry for the long post. But I found it amusing. By the way, this service center is in Yonkers, NY

Care to share a horror story of your own?