How Would You handle this situation???

ALATitan · 10-06-2005, 11:44 AM

Yesterday, I had to travel to Atlanta from Birmingham at when I arrived there I noticed a transmission fluid leak from the transmission cooler lines. After my meeting I stopped at a Nissan dealer in Atlanta and asked them to look at it before I left for Birmingham. They noticed the leak and said they would attempt to fix it. After about an hour they returned with the truck and said I was good to go. I left and got on the interstate. I immediately noticed that the transmission was shifting hard as I went down the on-ramp. About three miles down the road the engine temp warning light came on and the engine temp guage was beyond the high mark. I immediately shut down the truck and called for a tow. While waiting I noticed that the liquid boiling out of the radiator overflow had a light brown oily appearance. I pulled the transmission dipstick and it was covered with the same liquid. Obviously, as they tried to tighten the transmission cooler lines at the radiator they caused a leak within the radiator which allowed the engine coolant and trans fluid to mix and be pumped throughout the engine and transmission. That would explain the very quick overheating of the engine, as the transmission fluid runs at a much higher temp than the engine coolant and the rough shifting transmission. By the way the truck is a 2004 with 50,200 miles. So what would you demand in this situation? Any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks,
ALATitan

bestatchess · 10-06-2005, 11:56 AM

I think I would be talking to the dealer about the best deal ever made on a 2004 to 2005 or 2006 trade.

grunge311 · 10-06-2005, 12:17 PM

Good luck. You have 50k on the truck. They will tell you there sorry and they will fix the damage. It will take them 3 weeks for which they will not give you a loaner. They will try to avoid you.

In the end they will fix it, but it will be a major inconvienence.

IQ9 · 10-06-2005, 12:32 PM

Yep, you might be screwed...but lets hope not

abmobil · 10-06-2005, 01:01 PM

ALAtitan, you didnt happen to be on 285 when you pulled over were you? Was your tow company brown and brown?
My die hard ford friend had to call me and tell me he saw a titan with the hood up getting towed.
He also just had to have a new transmission put in his 01 f150 lariat with 78k on it!

Cominatcha · 10-06-2005, 01:51 PM

Bring a shotgun to the dealer that screwed you and "negotiate".
or if guns arent your thing bring some big goons.

abmobil · 10-06-2005, 02:00 PM

ALAtitan, if you do need a loaner and your current dealer refuses to give you one, try and get your truck to stone mountain nissan. They give loaners for all waranty work if you leave the truck with them.

Papa_D · 10-06-2005, 05:17 PM

You may have to deal with the chick you brought to the dance and have the same dealer fix it. Having dealt with thousands of customers at my fathers shop (only dyno within 500 miles back in 1979) and seen about everything, here is my advice. First, let the dealer determine what is wrong and how it got that way. Second, don't demand anything up front and offer to pay whatever is required to have your vehicle fixed. Third bite your tongue and put on a happy face. The reason for this advice is simple, if the shop is honest and the techs' are trained, they will find out soon enough what's wrong and how it got that way and do whatever they can to make you happy. Hopefully that is the case and it was an isolated incident and sh1t does happen even to the most seasoned tech. If this is not the case, you have a steep hill to climb and you may want to go straight to the big fish if you sense resistance on their part to fix it for free. If the resistance from the big fish is strong you may be in for trouble. If you are sure you are correct in that they caused it and you don't think they are going to come clean and fix it, then a can of gas and a late night trip to the dealer is in order. OOPS SORRY, if they are dishonest I have no idea how to deal with a dishonest dealer and you should consult someone else.

gstlouis · 10-06-2005, 05:49 PM

I had the dealer change my engine oil about two weeks ago. Then I notice a small oil leak the following week. I figured they didn't tighten the drain plug all the way, so I take it back to the dealer and the look at it and say its transmission oil, from one of the cooler lines. I asked the service writer if she knew why it would start leaking (12k on truck) and she said she wasn't sure but it is an updated part.

If I was in your spot, I would check for TSB's or recalls, maybe they will fix it for free.

Greg

GalaxyTitan · 10-06-2005, 07:45 PM

Was doing an oil change on my truck 2 days ago and noticed I have a transmission cooler leak as well. I haven't taken it in yet.

**P's Titan** · 10-06-2005, 08:00 PM

I had a similiar situation with a gas leak they screwed up on. Didn't snap the fuel line all the way and while driving the line came off and leaked gas for about a mile and had to use a tow.

What I did, took it to the dealer, tried my hardest to stay calm. The first mechanic that walked in that morning put my truck up on the left and saw it was the line and nothing else. I had ready to go in 10 minutes, no probs. I spoke to the service manager and explained to him what happend and he said " Sorry, accidents happen", he offered nothing for my lost gas, tow and inconvience. I was furious but held my composure. Later that day I went and talked to the guy that sold me the truck, he said lets go talk to the GM, I went in with the salesman who is a great guy and connection to have and told the GM the story with the backing of the salesman and his rant about the service people.

The GM went in drawerer signed a gas slip and said when your gas is on E go to this station and fill up with premium, next time you need a oil change call me first and I will tell them to write it off, I will give you a complete detail at your convience and when you have any kind of problem I will ensure it is fixed right.

I did not go irate or demand much, just respect as a buyer and owner and that this kind of screw up will result in a poor across the board survey and a loss of my business. Try to see what they will do first like said before, if your happy to higher, if that doesnt work, go higher. At some point your problem should be taken care of and you will be happy.

trowelsworth · 10-06-2005, 08:57 PM

ALAtitan you have 50,000 miles . Have you ever changed your tranny fluid ? If so at what mileage?

DeTitan · 10-06-2005, 11:03 PM

Wow,

Sorry to hear about the tranny drinkin antifreeze incident.

Like the solution to the gas hose left loose.

A complete flush and fill done twice should solve all the issues or as suggested a trade to a new rig at a grand rate!

Any one spring for the new steel $99.00 washable oil filter?

For me cleaning up the oil changing equipment after the oil change is headache enough leave alone washing a filter element. But who knows if the filter price goes to $200 for the disposable then the $99.00 dollar filter may be just the thing.

MOTO-MAX-TITAN · 10-06-2005, 11:41 PM

Another thing to consider is..
If the engine coolant got into the trans, the coolant will steam and ruselt in weakening the fibers on the clutch plates.
Then you run into the fiber's clogging the valve body,lines, selonoids etc.
Make sure they do a complete flush, not just drop the pan and filter.

*BAT1* · 10-07-2005, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeTitan

Wow,

Sorry to hear about the tranny drinkin antifreeze incident.

Like the solution to the gas hose left loose.

A complete flush and fill done twice should solve all the issues or as suggested a trade to a new rig at a grand rate!

Any one spring for the new steel $99.00 washable oil filter?

For me cleaning up the oil changing equipment after the oil change is headache enough leave alone washing a filter element. But who knows if the filter price goes to $200 for the disposable then the $99.00 dollar filter may be just the thing.

And this has to do with the original post how???