You didn't mention anything about the questions discussed in this thread (???)

 

After reading all the posts of this and numerous other threads regarding the matter...I've finally become convinced that Nissan is just gonna screw us over. It sounds like the problem cannot be fixed within anything resembling a reasonable cost...which of course means that we pay the cost of fixing the feathering (if it all possible). Let's just say I will not be a return nissan customer.

NzZ

 

I'm fascinated by this thread...

I just went in to get an alignment at my dealer (I have an '04 roadster with 10,500 miles purchased in October '03). I've noticed for awhile that I need an alignment, and then hit a nasty pavement transition that *definitely* made me think I needed an alignment, so I brought it in.

Sure enough, needed an alignment, and then they told me my tires were worn out and needed to be replaced. At 10,500! I was shocked (hadn't heard about the tire/alignment/suspension issues yet).

Then tonight I hopped online to find out if other people were having tire wear issues, and so here I am.

Here's the kicker -- my car was in at the same dealer in early June for the 7500 mile service, and in flipping through the receipt, I see a readout from their drive-over alignment test that says "Failed -- check wheel alignment". Which they didn't point out to me when I picked up my car (and it wasn't noted in the regular part of the receipt/invoice).

So the car needed an alignment before I bottomed out on the pavement transition.

And of course, on neither visit did they mention the TSB to me.

I think I will be calling the dealer tomorrow...

 

Every time Nissan gets ****ed, its their karma for ****ing those of us with alignment problems. Your own karma is a different issue.

 

Cialti, "an alignment" and/or "tires were worn out and needed to be replaced" isn't really the exact issue here. ALL cars need alignments. ALL tires will wear unevenly if the car isn't aligned properly. Misalignment can be caused by many things (daily driving). I can't tell if your post is referring to feathering (the abnormal aligment issue that is covered in the TSB) or just a somwhat common alignment issue which would affect any car.

 

I got my car back yesterday after getting the front tires replaced and wheel alignment. Tires look great now and the growl is completely gone. I asked the service man that helped me "So is this something that I'll need to come back in to get fixed in another 10K miles?" His response, which completely contradicts what the serviceman I talked to when I dropped off the car told me was that "No, the problem is completely fixed. When the Z's came from the factory, their alignment and toe-in was off which caused the tires to wear incorrectly. That has now been fixed on your car so you shouldn't have to worry about it again."

I'm not really sure I believe him, but I guess only time will tell.

-Chris

 

That is the same thing I was told the first time.I have had another set since then.

 

Not sure I'd buy that one either as if that were the case all new cars would have (probably) been aligned properly at the dealer (after leaving the factory, but before being delivered to customers).

Although I recently got the alignment done and new tires, I just got aftermarket tires and wheels and am trying to figure out if I should go back to the dealer and pay for an alignment again to be sure ("sure" *wink*), or to an alignment shop that someone posted about near me (they say it was more accurate than the dealer and that they haven't had feathering... at least yet).

 

With all the complaints by Z owners I've read about tire feathering problems, you'd think the dealership repair shops would have ample experience. The problem with the Z isn't a poor alignment from the factory. Too many people have had their cars aligned multiple times and still have feathering problems. The problem is the Z can't hold an alignment.

I was going to buy an '04 Z but canned the idea over this problem. I was holding off for an '05 model confident Nissan had it fixed. But now I'm shifting opinions. I'm getting the impression -- based on their silence as the '05s start production -- that they have no fix and are going to continue to sell a defective product.

I'm starting to shop for a sports car from other manufacturers. Nothing interests me as much as a Z but their ****-poor handling of this problem leaves me cold.

 

Wow, check out this site dedicated to the tire wear problem:

http://www.nissantireproblems.com/autoweek-tsb.html

Be sure to click on "FULL TEXT OF OFFICIAL NISSAN SERVICE BULLETIN" to see the latest TSB. This site is full of use full info and facts.

Also check out this site for all the TSBs:

http://www.nissanhelp.com/Bulletins/350Z/Year.htm

Saw at least three issues I'm having with my '04 that have TSBs.... Guess I'll be talking to Leesburg Nissan again soon.

BTW: I had my font tires replaced under warranty by Leesburg Nissan. When I went to pick up my Z, I first found it on the lot to look for damage. Sure enough, the ****ED my rims... Fortunately, being smarter than your average monkey, I had the foresight/paranoia to have a sales guy (service dept closed) look over the car when I dropped it off. Guess who was there when I picked up the car... Yup, same guy, again service dept closed. Guess who else was there, who just happened to be working late on a Friday... the director of customer service... yeah... The sales guy went back and told the director about my plight, then they went out to the lot to see the damage. When they came in, the guy says "Hi, I'm Tony Beakes, director of customer service. We'll be ordering you some new wheels on Monday" Score!!! So I happily thanked him then went to the cashier to collect my keys. He wanted me to sign 3 copies of the work order... no problem... until I saw the copy that the technician had. On that copy the tech had written "Damage to right front wheel before service performed". The cheese slipped right off my cracker. I refused to sign anything. After a lot of talking and wanting to break ****, the director finally signed off on the work order and assured me the wheels would be replaced.
On Monday, I called my usual service advisor and told him that my rims were damaged when I picked up my car. Without any pause (like digging ou my paperwork) he said "We'll, I know one of your wheels was damaged before you dropped it off, do you mean that the other wheel was damaged as well?" Seems like he had his version of the story all ready for me. Guess Tony wasn't in yet. So, I laid out the whole story. No apology, no sorry, just "I'll talk to Tony as soon as he gets in".

I think he and the tech were just covering their a$$es, and trying to pull a fast one so they didn't get hit with buying new wheels. Tony set him straight latter that day. My new wheels should be in any day now. Thing is, If I hadn't been completely paranoid, I'd be screwed.

Take a tip from me, when you drop off your car, take pictures

 

My tire feathering is pretty bad. It started at about 8000 miles. I'm at 10K miles now. I really need to make an appt. My dealership is very dodgy too. I hope it goes well. I'll post my impressions after my appt date.