onecoolee

A little follow-up...

I went to my dealership today, and they agreed that my tires were extremely feathered and wearing unevenly, but were unaware of any TSBs related to the issue. I did not make any mention of the one that is out, since I want new tires !! The service manager was going to do some research today to see what he could find. He also mentioned that in the past tire issues have been handled by the tire manufacturer, and thats where my problems may end up. I don't care who fixes it, but this problem needs attention ! I called my NNA rep to let them know that the dealership saw the tires and agreed with me about the fact that something was wrong...I am keeping my fingers crossed for new tires and a fix that will prevent this from happening again.

The service department will have my Z on Tuesday and Wednesday for this problem, plus some rattle fixes, and the grease streak TSB fix. After that, it is going over to the body shop for a paint job from the front of the doors forward, plus a new rear bumper and bumper paint job. I wish they would repaint the whole car, but its just not going to happen. I did explain to the body shop manager that I am very ****, and I expect a perfect job, or I will be back...I am curious to see how they do...

kawataworks

Onecoolee -

I would NOT wait to get the new tires put on, I too thought this when I got my first set of new tires, but the cupping came back in 3k miles and now they are going to put Michelins Pilots on my car to see if that solves the issue, but others, who have done the smae thing say it does NOT solve the issue, but that the isssue is not visible as fast as the 040's.

I will add you to the list when you send me an email to mindfullivin@yahoo.com
I use this email address specifically for this issue.

Ian

Randy Gammon

Vin# 101320 Date 7/02 (Virginia ) Front and rear aligned (did not rotate )I had that done on my dime. Claim made August 03 at 7100 miles.

SungNamZ

Add me to your list:

Ron
Vin:009176 11/02
Case: 4240264

onecoolee

More BS, now from my Nissan Dealer...

They had my Z for 3 days last week, and had it to investigate this tire problem, along with fixing my grease streaks, and a rattle.

They called me this morning and tried to tell me that my front tire feathering problem was related to the fact that my rear tires are shot. They tried to tell me that my rear tire wear is a direct result of me laying rubber all over central Pennsylvania---TOTAL BS ! I have never peeled out, burned rubber, or squeeled my tires, ANYWHERE. I don't even drive this car hard.

They told me that my front tires are feathering and wearing unevenly b/c of my driving. This is total BS and I AM FURIOUS...no one is going to accuse me of doing something I didn't do...and maybe my Bridgestone Potenza's are crap ! I am going to pick my car up this afternoon, and my dealership's service departemnt is going to get an earful.

The funny thing about this whole situation is that there was no mention of a TSB, or problems with any other Z's. I will be taking a printout of the TSB as ammunition and I will demand a realignment, and new tires this evening. This suxx, but no dealership is going to pull this on me.

kawataworks

Ron -

I have added you to our list. If you would like me to add you to our email update string send me an email at: mindfullivin@yahoo.com

Ian

ZGATOR

Print out all the TSB that you can find. Also print some of the posts from this site. Tell them that you refuse to drive your vehicle because it is unsafe at highway speeds. Demand that they fix it. I have news for you there are many 350z cars out there with alingment problems, mine being one of them. Become very familiar with your lemon law rights. In the State of Florida you must have a problem that is serious such as alingment problems, you must allow them to correct the problem at least 3 times and or the car has to be in the shop for a total of 30 days. Keep track of the total number of days and keep records of your attempts to fix the problem. Once again in FLorida it is the cummulative number of days and you can include saturday and sunday. Do not mention lemon law at all. Leave the car there for as long as you can. Once you are ready to submit your lemon law papers the arbitrator at nissan must contact you within 10 days. and the state attorney gets a copy. follow the directions in your lemon law booklet. If you do not have one in your car(like I did) go demand one at your dealer. BY law they must provide you with one. NIssan will then have one final attempt at repair. THey will fly in some specialist buy you new tires and attempt to postpone the problem as long as possible. Good luck!! these cars suck and they know it. they figure not many of us will notice before the lemon law grace period is over.

shagz

iTrader: (1)

I'm in jacksonville, florida, and got new fronts from nissan about 7K miles back, and have about 16,500 on the car. They also did an alignment at that time. I just got the rears replaced today with Nitto 555's. The rears were going bald, due to normal wear & tear, and I was also noticing the low speed rumble that was happenning due to the tire feathering before. I asked the tech to check the fronts, and he said that there is definite feathering.
What is the grace period for the lemon law in florida? I got my car in October 2002.

onecoolee

STRIKE 1 for my dealership !

They had my car for 3 days...I picked it up last night, it still has the roaring during slowdown and braking. Apparently, they realigned the entire car, and here are the before alignment numbers:

Left Front:
Camber = -0.7 (within spec)
Toe = 0.05 (slightly above max spec, 0.01 above)

Right Front:
Camber = -0.9 (within spec)
Toe = -0.08 (way out, -0.08 below the low side of spec)

Front:
Cross Camber = 0.1 (within spec)
Total Toe = -0.03 (-0.03 below the low side of spec)

Left Rear:
Camber = -1.9 (approaching min of spec)
Toe = 0.05 (max spec)

Right Rear:
Camber = -2.4 (0.4 below min spec)
Toe = 0.03 (within spec)

Rear:
Total Toe = 0.08 (within the spec)
Thrust angle = 0.02

It looks like both of my front end toe settings were way out of spec. Does this mean that they were originally set incorrectly at the factory, or have they gone out of spec in my 8000 miles of driving ? I never hit any potholes, or anything that would have screwed the alignment up, and I baby this car to death. I want to know if these variations from the alignment spec are the cause of my tire feathering issues.

The dealership said that they did the alignment for free, but aren't going to do anything else...they told me it may be a tire issue, and should be taken up with Bridgestone--BUT, if the car was incorrectly set at the factory as far as alignment goes, it would be a Nissan problem, RIGHT ?

I will follow up with my Nissan rep today...basically to let him know that my problem is NOT fixed, and that I am not happy at all. I honestly feel that the Toe numbers are the cause of my feathering problems, and that Nissan screwed up at the factory...this is my argument until someone explains to me otherwise.

Hopefully, some tire gurus here will be able to tell me if the above numbers could have led to gross wear/feathering on my front Potenzas. Any help or advice is appreciated--thanks!

hugo1669

Can someone please explain what "feathering" is and how to determine if you have it.
I've read posts on this subject and now I'm paranoid. I have 2200 miles on my car and the build date is Oct 2002.

onecoolee

Do a search here and find some posts on feathering by Droidekas...he has some good pics in his feathering threads. It is quite apparent from his pictures and should be easily noticable if you have the smae problem.

Personally, the easiest way to tell is by listening to your car--if it sounds like a freight train when you are slowing down, then you probably have the problem.

Boomer

Most of the problem has been the the cars were out of alignment at delivery. They didn't go out as a result of driving. Call your Nissan rep and tell them the dealer's crap answer and say you know better. NNA has been aware of this for many months and they need to run interference for you with the ignorant dealer.

Boomer

hugo1669

I contacted NNA today and they told me to take the car to a dealer and they will follow the service bulletin for this problem. Nissan titles this service bulliten "Road Noise". So I contacted the dealer and they told me that they will do an allignment and rotate the two front tires. I said what about all of the wear already caused by this situation and they said they can only follow the procedure. I want new tires since mine are worn, What do I do now?

onecoolee

Basically, you can't do too much, except bend over and grab your ankles...

You will still have the "Road Noise" even after alignment and rotation, like I do. I will be taking mine in again, for the 2nd time next week, and I will stay on my delaership to get new tires for me. After the 1st failed attempted fix, the dealership will be told to call Nissan Technical Assistance (for dealerships), and they will discuss the problem with Nissan techs who are supposed to know about this stuff.

My alignment was way out, and probably the cause of the feathering, but the dealership is not stepping up to the plate for me. I hope that with enough bugging and persistence, I will get new tires, but I am not too optimistic. I am working on my 3rd rep for this same problem now, and hopefully, it will get resolved eventually. However, I want to know that if Nissan puts on new tires, or if I put them on at my expense, that the same thing is not going to happen again.

Make sure that you contact NNA, and stay in touch with your rep, and the dealership...hopefully, something will come out of this problem for all of us...

SungNamZ

Current mileage 17,300. Reported noise problem during 11,000 mile service. Nissan Dealer says, "Master Tech. not available, lets look at during 15,000 mile service". At 15,000 mile service, Nissan Master Tech. sees "feathering/cupping" and agrees there is "significant" noise between 30-40 mph, especially when braking. Appointment scheduled to perform TSB on 9/5/2003. Master Tech. on vacation, so rescheduled for 9/9/2003. Results:

1. TSB performed including dismounting tires and rotate.

2. Nissan Tech advises "Car ready, but you are not going to like! Sounds like you are driving a truck with "Mud" tires"

3. I have file case with Nissan1, so called and discussed. She in turn called the dealer.

4. My options were to replace front OEM tires (Potenza) under warranty or buy four (4) Michelin Pilot Sport A/S and file claim for difference between between two OEM's and Michelin Pilot's.

5. OEM's will be replaced at "No Cost". So, was advised: You know what to look for and know what to listen for. Keep replacing the OEM fronts under warranty until rears need replacing. Then replace all four (4) with tires of my choice and file claim for difference.

6. OEM front tires on order.

Boomer

How do you file for the difference between 040s and A/Ss? I took the 040s off at 1600 miles, found them beginning to cup and paid $828 +80 installation of my A/Ss. I got $350 for the OE 040s, which weren't damaged yet so I should receive $478 for the tires and $80 for the install.

SungNamZ

Was advised by Reliable Nissan here in Albuquerque, NM that the front tires only were "feathering/cupping" and they would be covered under warranty.

They could not put any other tires on my car but OEM. However, I could go purchase either two (2) or four (4) tires of my choice, have them installed and return the two (2) bad OEM tires to them and file a claim.

My claim would be for the difference in OEM tire cost and tires I elected to purchase/install. Again, they would not do the installation of tires other than Potenza. They also had to have the two (2) bad tires to support my claim.

I do not know what their cost is for OEM, but "Pilot A/S's" were $208 + or - each. So, I will let them install OEM tires on the front under warranty. Sit back, watch and listen, then replace again under warranty if required.

Given what I have read in some posts, I feel I am quite "Lucky"! Just knew the 12,000 mile tire warranty was going to be waived in my face. No so! Reliable Nissan has a fantastic Service Department. My hat is off to Andy and Tim!

onecoolee

Some good news finally...

After constant bothering and staying on top of this problem for about 2 weeks, I got a call on Friday from my dealership. They told me that Nissan will be replacing my front Potenzas with the same exact tires, BUT they will be setting the alignment up to a different spec than the one that was originally used by teh factory and a different spec fro mthe one stored in their alignment machine.

This obviously shows that they are aware of a problem and essentially, they are taking a shot in the dark to fix the problem. My Nissan Rep made the dealership call Nissan Technical Assistance (dealership support) to realy information and get an idea of what steps need to be done to fix this.

This helps me out alot and should make my ride alot quieter and smoother, but it still doesn't fix my issues with quick weardown on the rear tires. I will be going to National Tire and Battery to complain about poor wear, and maybe they will help me out with getting a new set of rears at a prorated cost from Bridgestone. I am reluctant to go with the Potenza RE040 again, but if that is the only thing Nissan will cover, than I am stuck with them, and I will deal with it. I would like to try the MIchelin Pilots due to all of the good reviews I have seen, but the cost is higher, and I don't want the extra expense on account of the fact that I may not get more than 8-9k miles per set of rears.

I will post any further followups on this problem and I will contact Bridgestone i nthe meantime to see if they will look at my rear problems...

350zSpeedRacer

I'm on the list now.

First tried contacting my SM last week (Sept 9--haven't heard back yet, and I'm about to call NNA).

VIN 11545, 7800 miles, car built in January, and delivered March 8th.