I have my alignment specs from before and after the alignment...I wouldn't leave the dealership until they gave me a copy. I guess my lawyer friends are starting to rub off.

If I go in the office this weekend, I will try and scan the documents in. I have no idea what all the numbers mean.

 

This is real easy guys, call a nissan parts dept tommorow and get the part numbers for the struts/springs and ask them if any have been "superceded"(this is what we used to call it at Acura and Im Ive used it with Nissan before and they knew what I was talking about) that means does it show a different part number listed before the current part number(there will be a date or vin# designated to the supercede) if they say there is a superceded number than you know there has been a change to that part. Bingo!

 

I have 3700 on my Track Z wish was delivered in late November.

And yes, the feathering has started. I have also noticed a huge increase in tire noise, especially when braking. In my experience, feathering is caused by a car bouncing up and down due to ineffective (or old) dampers. Just like others have said, this is unlikely to be an alignment issue. It is an issue with the car's suspension. BTW, my feathering is on the OUTSIDE of the tire, so this is not an issue of too much negative camber as some have suggested. Also, the tire is not "rolling over" so this is not and issue of too much positive camber.

Unless NISSAN acts quickly, I think our choices are

1) Log the complaint (I will be doing so) and prepare for a class-action lawsuit OR
2) Redirect your tire money to a new suspension, like the Nismo setup.

As people have stated "THIS SUCKS!", especially given the fact that we can't rotate tires. What do you guys think? Can we get NISSAN to act?

Fly

 

I'm in for a class action suit. I have the energy for it

Secondly, I bought new rims (iForge FS-6 "THANKS BRAD for the forst posts!") and these and new rims will not go on until I have the funds for the TEIN suspension set up.

 

Okay since nobody else here wanted to do it I went down to Nissan today to see if there was a part change to the shock/springs. Sure enough there was a part switch to the springs in December. This means they had to make a choice to make the struts stiffer or the springs softer and the chose the springs. I personaly would have gone with a stiffer strut but this sounds like the choice a car company would go with. If people ***** enough you might get them to issue a recall to install the new springs. Worth a shot

 

Preface by saying that I am not a lawyer but from my experience filing under Texas Lemon Law, well for legal remedies, NNA is pretty well protected by a long line of procedures... I was made out to be a persnickety 350Z owner with nothing better to do.

Yes, I have filed for tire feathering problem. I have been informed that I am the only complaint file in Texas for this problem.

Lawyer informed me that before filing a lawsuit one has to go the "lemon law" path! Take to dealer, document these attempts to get car fix (yes, even if dealer does not accept car to fix it or does not want to provide you with "workorder"... some legaleese on attempts??). Call NNA, document calls by time, date and whom you spoke to and summary of conversation etc. Write a letter to NNA "demanding fix" or informing NNA of need for repair (certified, return receipt requested). Allow time for NNA to reply, if no reply from NNA then fill out paperwork for lemon law. Wait for action from Tx DoT DMV (very quick reply). Then wait for Tx DoT DMV to communicate with NNA and dealers.

So you can see this is very time consuming. Lawyer wanted too much for this paperwork (may recover cost at later time) but I fixed his computer for a bit of assistance.

Lawyer wanted $500 to $1000 for getting started (2 to 4hrs) for lemon law paperwork. I'm not cheap (just easy) so I traded my professional time for his.

So far I have made six visit to dealers for tire problem, each a minimum of two hours time (nearest dealer is 6+ plus miles, two trips for dropoff/pickup), car has total days out of service 10. Not to mention the calls to NNA and TxDOT. After 12 to 15 hour of my time I may get the tires replaced next week, new alignment (??).

If after this week problem persist then I can expect a hearing. If not satisfied with outcome of hearing then I can file lawsuit.

If some else has better information on this process please post it.

I think NNA depend on the fustration of customers to avoid fix of early models.

 

Did you get the old and new part numbers?

 

ha! I knew someone would ask me this nope, he read them off but i didnt have anything to write with. Feel free to call down to any Nissan parts dept, they have no prob giving out part numbers to whoever calls.

 

If you can provide a direct contact for the TX Dot DMV communication, I can round up a dozen guys or more right here in D/FW to file a complaint.

 

All right, just got the car out of storage. Please tell me is this is what you are referring to. Each tread block is higher in the front than in the back on the inside of the tire. It appears on each tread block instead of the every few like your previous picture. I think the car sounds loud but I haven't driven it for four months either.

 

Thanks, K. I just e-mailed my dealer and requested the fix from the Sales Manager(my salesman), my Service Writer and the Parts Manager. I will be taking in the comments made by members of my350Z.com as an illustration of our concern and determination. We'll see if they have any info on it or if anyone but me has requested the fix. I'll post on Monday if I have anything pertinent to report. I would bet I'll be the first to request and they will need to contact NNA about this before they can do anything. Don't expect your dealer to have many, or any of the new springs in inventory.

Just tell your dealer by e-mail and a personal visit to get them working on authorization from Nissan and then they will order parts, unless some larger volume dealers are being proactive on this. I would advise each person to make a personal visit, if they can, so your dealer will act faster or at all. I don't feel legalistic is the approach to take, IMHO. Let them respond like any other warranty claim, if you can, I think you'll get what you want sooner, unless you've already gone ballistic, then who knows? At least we now have proof, right?

Everybody thank Krinkov. Thanks, K.

 

heh, well dont thank me just yet, now you gotta get them to do it

In any case, I can guarantee there are no nissan parts depts with springs in stock. Any unusold parts look like negative sales at the end of the month and the GMs hate this, so parts depts never keep anymore parts on hand than they expect to sell within a week or two. This is not a problem though, all parts depts get their parts from a central hub somewhere in thier region that has every single listed part for every car of that brand and they can get any part from their by the next day.

Also, dealerships bill Nissan for warranty repairs, so even if it seems like they might be resistant to cover things under warranty, they still get paid by Nissan to do their work, they just have to make sure before they cover anything that Nissan will feel its a legitamate claim.

 

I agree completely, we have to go get them from our dealers, who have to get approval that Nissan will pay for them, they will order them then and by the time they are installed may be several weeks. We don't know how many replacement springs have been manufactured for this problem, and it probably will be, first come, first served. Be patient or you could end up at the end of your dealer's list and have to wait for more springs to be manufactured. How many they have is anyone's guess now, so don't dwaddle or you may be at the end of the line.

 

any ideas what VIN # this started with???

 

its posted a little up the thread what the vins on the TSB were, also check the production date marked on your car to see if it is pre 12/02

 

very very interesting..

my car was built on
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12/02.....WOW, I may have gotten lucky, my VIN is 10,8XX

 

I have the TSB in my hand right now. It says:

TSB: 2003 350Z: Tire Road noise when braking
Classification: WT03-001
Reference: NTB03-006

Applied VINS: Vehicles built before:
JN1AZ34E93T004958
JN1AZ34D63T104023

Applied Date: Vehicles built before Sept 19, 2002

Repeat Repeat Repeat

APPLIED DATE: VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE SEPTEMBER 19, 2002

Repeat Repeat Repeat

APPLIED DATE: VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE SEPTEMBER 19, 2002

THIS TSB WAS POSTED ON MY350Z.COM ON 3/20/2003 BY SHAGZ, WHO GOT IT FROM HIS DEALER. ADD THIS TSB TO THE RUNNING CHANGE IN PART#IE. INCREASED RATE FOR SPRINGS IN DECEMBER, AND THE VINS LISTED ABOVE AND YOU HAVE IT.

EVERY 350Z built before SEPTEMBER 19, 2003 needs the NEW SPRINGS which SUPERCEDED(in December) the previous OE springs on the VIN#s listed above.

Does anyone have a problem with what I have written on this page?

Does everyone understand what I have written on this page?

Does everyone understand you need to take this information, including the language in the TSB to your dealer for assistance?

Boomer--all capitalization was for emphasis as an aid in understanding the importance of seeking assistance from Nissan for your tire noise problems. The stiffer spring also seems to correct the bounce problems as well, a simple, but well received consequence of the change.

 

yeah if the supercede is for 12+ thats too close to call make sure the vins are right, that will be the definite way to tell

 

haha i think Boomer is trying to say this to us

 

actually I went and re-read the thread, it says "any car built BEFORE Dec" (which means mine was built in December, so I should be OK. Plus I am about 6000 VINs away from the Sept date that was given above (again I am 10,8XX).

I think what he is trying to say is