Aftermarket video screen warning-warranty issues

[llajumpvid]

I have my Armada in to have a laundry list of warranty items done on it and the big one is the resonance issue (fellow armada owners know what I'm talking about) Anyway it has gotten pretty bad over the last few weeks. I explained to them the choppy road effect, the banging sound, and constant irritating rattle since day one all coming from above the rear passenger area. They called back late this afternoon and said they can't do anything with the headliner because it will void the warranty due to the aftermarket video. They said Nissan just came out with a bulletin that says the max weight of a monitor is 1.5 lbs. I held my temper and said that is BS the noises I'm getting have nothing to do with the monitor and that there is a TSB out on this exact problem I'm having. Anyway I told them I would get the monitor spec because I was sure it weighed less than 1.5lbs. Luckily its 1.1lbs. So if anyone is planning on putting in a monitor/overhead DVD be sure it's less than 1.5lbs or they are going to harrass you when the cheap plastic console breaks....they also said the monitor caused the console to crack around the screws...(it was doing that before I put in the screen)..

They didn't even drive the damn thing to see what noises I was talking about and just tried to write it off as caused by the monitor.

They also tried to say the reason you can't select AUX on the rear controls is probably due to the DVD wiring..huh?..Told them think again nothing is tied to the AUX and now that I have the DVD working like factory its not a big deal but I want them to verify its not a defect and to check a few other vehicles. Then I can make a educated call/letter to Nissan asking why it's like that.

They ended up having to pay for my rental because they couldn't get the pass. air bag light to go off with a 120lb passenger. Said they would have to trace wiring and check the sensor Monday. Any bets if they try to blame the DVD on that too. Just wait until they figure out I have the conversion for video on the NAV screen, that probably will really f*up any warranty work.

The service writer I'm working with is nice enough and just reciting what his warranty manager is telling him. I hope providing them with the monitor specs. below their max weight kills the claims of voiding the warranty and they fix the noises in the attic. Before the whole monitor thing they said they would put in some sound deadening material I provided so I'm tring hard not to piss them off so they'll still do it. I told them if they still try to say the monitor is too heavy, take the overhead out and drive it over their parking lot speed humps to verify its not the weight of the monitor. When I dropped it off I told them that I got all three of the overhead noises driving in the lot and they could verify everything that way...I'm still irritated that they didn't at least drive it before saying the monitor probably voided the warranty and they can't do anything

Sorry for the long post

[Potroast]

they can't just "void" the warranty because you installed a screen.

Check out the Magnusson Moss Act -- it goes over what a dealer can and cannot do. Basically a dealer cannot void or otherwise not honor your warranty due to an aftermarket part or modification unless they can *prove* that part caused the problem. That would at least require them to take a look, which you say they're not doing.

[llajumpvid]

Yea I know, I can see if I hung a 14" TV up there that would give pause. But, the monitor I put in was the same size as the factory monitor so I'm waiting to get pissed off until I find out what they do today (Monday) after I told them Friday I had the specs that say the monitor is less than 500g (1.1 lbs) which is less than the 1.5 lbs they said the limit was.

[llajumpvid]

Get this, they still are saying they won't do the resonance fix (even though they admitted the symptoms are there). Since I supplied proof the weight of the monitor is less than their quoted max they are now saying it's because the "headliner was entered without a Nissan Certified Tech present". WTF!!!! My "entering the headliner" consisted of taking down the plastic overhead console, threading the video wire through and then reaching into the space that is cut out behind the overhead console, putting in a bolt that was missing from a support bracket, duct tapping the foam blocks that had fallen out from the roof vibrations back in place and a piece of tape on the cable where it layed on the headliner. Can anyone explain how in the world this would void the warranty of the roof, in which there is a documented assembly line problem, WHICH they admit they hear the noises? Nothing that I did but any undue forces on the headliner. I can't get why they are so reluctant and keep looking for excuses to not do the fix! Based on their resoning you can't change the in cabin airfilter because it would involve entering the dash as you have to remove the glove box. Come on all I want is some common sense applied and not make me go through hell to fix this issue.

The other major ticket item I have that they aren't fixing is the airbag light. They say that you have to sit "exactly" in the center of the seat for the light to go off. They tested it with a 120lb person and it went off if she sat exactly in the center. I told them its suppose to go off at 60lbs and that no matter how a 120lb person sat in the seat it should exert more than 60lbs unless they were clear on the edge which isn't the case if you have to fidigit around in the seat to find the "sweet spot". WHAT A BUNCH OF BS!

Oh and they said you have to plug something into the AUX jack to get it to select on the rear...asked if they did that and got it to work...told them they should because it doesn't matter I've done that. Will bring in a walkman to prove it tomorrow.....

The one thing they are doing is replacing the passenger seat bottom because I complained that you couldn't get the fron higher than the rear...maybe it comes with a new airbag sensor????

[llajumpvid]

Well after a week the only thing they did was change the oil. I'm going to go to another dealership and hopefully get some satisfaction there. My brother-in-law works for Infiniti and their service manager says he knows what needs to be done but it has to be done at a Nissan dealer but he knows the manager at one and thought it should be no problem getting things fixed there...I hope so.

I got them to order a replacement stereo per the TSB at least, mines a April build. I did this more for spite as I wasn't having a problem with it. I'm in a major metro area close to the transmitters though. Figured I might as well not have to worry about it if I go on a out of town trip plus I'm P'd Off and figured I'd get some satisfaction out of the week long ordeal....

I hope the next post I do on this subject can be typed without my blood pressure at the boiling point and grinding my teeth The Asst. Service Manager told me that he knows it's ridiculous for the headliner thing and doesn't understand why they are being the way they are because he said its a simple fix...I asked if I had to pay myself to have it done what it would cost and he said a lot.....Well I got to go pick it up and first get a bandage for the blood vein that just burst on my forhead...

Hey Nissan you....aah I feel a little bit better now.

[alw]

Originally Posted by llajumpvid

Well after a week the only thing they did was change the oil. I'm going to go to another dealership and hopefully get some satisfaction there. My brother-in-law works for Infiniti and their service manager says he knows what needs to be done but it has to be done at a Nissan dealer but he knows the manager at one and thought it should be no problem getting things fixed there...I hope so.

I got them to order a replacement stereo per the TSB at least, mines a April build. I did this more for spite as I wasn't having a problem with it. I'm in a major metro area close to the transmitters though. Figured I might as well not have to worry about it if I go on a out of town trip plus I'm P'd Off and figured I'd get some satisfaction out of the week long ordeal....

I hope the next post I do on this subject can be typed without my blood pressure at the boiling point and grinding my teeth The Asst. Service Manager told me that he knows it's rediculous for the headliner thing and doesn't understand why they are being the way they are because he said its a simple fix...I asked if I had to pay myself to have it done what it would cost and he said a lot.....Well I got to go pick it up and first get a bandage for the blood vein that just burst on my forhead...

Hey Nissan you....aah I feel a little bit better now.

Out of curiosity, what dealer are you having the trouble through? I've had nothing but bad luck at Sterling Mccall and Gillman.

[llajumpvid]

Originally Posted by alw

Out of curiosity, what dealer are you having the trouble through? I've had nothing but bad luck at Sterling Mccall and Gillman.

Not either of those two, I'll wait to post my direct dealership complaint until I find out where I'm at for sure with getting a fix and am sure I'm not burning any bridges. You can probably figure it out if I say I live on the west side of town though.

[llajumpvid]

Okay I go to pick up my baby that I haven't seen for a week tonight and the service rep I've been working with apologizes a few times about not being able to fix anything. He brings my baby out of their gravel lot and there is probably a 1/16 of an inch of rock dust over it. I don't say anything because I know I will get it back with a billion scratches if I let them wash it.

I take back the Hey Nissan comment earlier now that I've read the service papers. They say "customer stated that he had removed headliner and reinforced things with duct tape and additional insulation" I look at the service guy and say WTF is this?! All I said when I came in was that I had put some tape on the foam blocks that had fallen out to try to fix some of the bounce in the headliner. I NEVER did anything but take down the console and reach through the hole and put some tape and put in a missing bolt...he shakes his head and acknowledges this. Hell if I were Nissan and read that I'd void the warranty too. Next issue, The service paper says Nissan states passenger airbag functioning properly refer customer to owners manual. I show him the weights that the passenger airbag off light is suppose to go off and ask if he honestly believes that a 110lb passenger can't exert more than 60lbs on the seat unless they are sitting in the "exact center"..Again I get a headshake and "I don't know sir, thats what Nissan told us". Next issue the sunroof trim keeps falling off and the service print out says it was replaced...I open the shade with the rep standing there and it falls out..This time I get a "you got to be kidding me"...Next issue the report says AUX selection on rear requires a source to be plugged in...I pull out my mp3 player plug it in and ask him to show me how it is suppose to work. He gets in and of course it doesn't work...I get a "I don't know sir"...Then the entire stereo goes off and I think its a blown fuse..nope battery is dead. Rep goes and gets a jump box and takes my baby back to test the battery and "fix" the sunroof trim. Says the battery is fine and can't explain why it would go dead with the car turned to acc for 5 minutes....I go to get in and the drivers seat won't go back....after some playing around it finally starts functioning.

They put a sticker on the paper work saying I might get a survey from Nissan and if I can't answer excellent to everything to please call....I asked the rep what do you think I'm going to put on the survey???? If I wasn't almost comical I'd probably of blown my lid. We'll see what dealership B can do for me.

[goathead]

[SIZE=7]WTF, I CANT BELIEVE WHAT IM READING, THAT IS ABSOLUTE BS.[/SIZE]