Help! advice on complaint procedure..faulty ?

[hannagh]

Hi, I bought my nissan pathfinder 8 wks ago for £11,000 . I bought it with reversing sensors and i also had a tow bar fitted from a proper Nissan Dealer. The nissan garage had to replace the cover on the gear stick also for it was torn. I went along 2 days later and collected my new car, the cover on gear stick needed to be ordered and would be in later.. On arriving home I saw that the sensors wer`nt working. I rang the garage and was told " they were switched off when putting on tow bar" .... i was told to bring the car back and they would put them on and also sort out gear stick. Then 3 days later the car made a terrible banging noise from the engine and the car shook vigoursly very very noisy. I rang the garage and booked to bring the car down. Then the door handle broke ..just one thing afteranother. I brought the car down and was told there was nothing wrong with engine and diesel engines are noisey and maybe it was cold start in the mornings.They never fixed reversing sensors said it couldn`t be done because of the tow bar. And didnt fix handle or gear stick, all service dept had left when i collected the car... On top I had to pay my insurance company for change of a veche for a day... they would not give me one of there cars????

I was promised by the service manager the next morning on the phone that he faithfully would ensure all problems with the car would be fixed the next time and I would have a car free of charge while mine was in there garage. All sounded good, but i have now been told today that they can`t find anything wrong with the engine and the sensors can`t be turned on. My problem is the motor has done this 7 times on different occassions.and im not satisified, it is such a severe knocking you would think the engine is going to fall out of the jeep. Also I bought the jeep with sensors and tow bar and now im been told it to complicated and also a safty hazzard to have them on with a tow bar. Can anyone advise or should i collect my car on there word that the engine is sound and do without my sensors. I refused to collect my car today until the engine was looked at again and the sensors switched on. The manager is ringing again in morningbut does`nt see his boss the owner allowing the sensors on due to health and safety...

Is thers a complaints procedure to follow...

[Conniff]

I would definately want to know what these health and safety concerns are, keep on to them about that, and get it in writing.

 

Take your car to a diesel specialist and ask him what the noise is, then you can take it back to the seller and get them put right.

 

Log everything that is going on. Start from the time you entered the dealership and started to look at the car including all that was said to you.

[hannagh]

Thank you for your hep at least i have something to work with now ..im still awaiting their call...

[hannagh]

Just got back from garage. I spoke to manager earlier and asked for a letter stating health and safety reasons and a letter stating the engine has been checked and all is ok. When I went to collect the car the manager wasn`t available and i had no letters and no sensors done. All I got was 2 printouts from a computer apparently showing " all DTC Reading "which shows absolutely no reference to it belonging to my car and a printout of "the Diesel system on Nissan vechiles. Iwas told engine was fine and with persistance they gave me a letter stating "there recommendation is that a towbar fitted to a nissan pathfinder is not suitable with parking sensors attached".......and not a mention of health and safety . This is not right any advice please..

[Conniff]

It could be that the sensors will pick up the towbar so wouldn't be of any use, it could also be that they have broken them and don't want to pay for a new one.

 

I would demand that they switch them back on. It is your car and they have no control over what you have and don't have, and if they are of no use because of the towbar, then that is your problem, not theirs.

 

Have they blocked out comedy radio stations in case you should laugh and have an accident. Well it is an health and safety issue.

[hannagh]

I have demanded and told them to have them put back on and also im more concerned about the banging from the engine..Is my next move best to write a letter of complaint but to who if the manager is avoiding the problem...

 

I have to go back next week to have a new seat belt replaced, The operater has told me he will have other letters then..i know he wont..they are making me very uncomfortable and ishouldn`t have to chase and chase this.... i keep hitting a wall. They are wasting my time

but i didn`t waste theirs when i paid for the car.

[Conniff]

Is this a genuine Nissan garage? If so, then it is a franchise and you can report the lack of service and the messing you around direct to Nissan. They won't be happy with that, it's their name and they franchise it to be looked after.

 

Write using recorded delivery direct to the manager. Ask it they are willing to give you straight answers and sort out your problems or do you have to write to Nissan headquarters?

 

That might wake them up.

 

If you still get no joy, then I would take it elsewhere and get a report and then 'tell' the the dealer to fix it, giving him a copy of the report, or you will reject the car and expect a full refund.

[lasertung]

Think Conniff is right about towbar. reverse sensors are activated by proximity to metal, and it may be that if they turn on the system it will work continuously, as it would react permanently with the towbar. I can recommend the fitting of the interior (plastic) mirror type of reverse aid. Don't know who is cheapest supplier but halfrauds do stock them--at a price.

[heliosuk]

Actually no. Lasertung is wrong here respectfully. Parking sensors are ultrasound devices which is basically a mini radar (well 99.9% of them are). You could have a towbar of carbon fibre and they will still see it. The problem is the type of tow bar I think. The bar that runs parrallel to the bumper should be behind the bumper cover so you cannot see it. Also, the actual tow ball should be removable. I think they have fitted a towbar with a fixed swan neck tow ball.

 

Now the sensors send out a horizontal beam of sound. So if you imagine the 1 cm disc of the sensor, from the edges it will send out ( i think) a 90 degree beam which is why you have usually 5 of them mounted in the cover. Anything in the way of the beam will trigger them.

 

I would say here that it is not a Nissan dealer as they will be aware of the issue. It's more probably a case of a salesman talking rubbish again.

 

However I do not believe this is a major problem. I'd be more concerned with the knocking vibration issue which to me is serious, in fact needs addressing very quickly. I think you have a misfire which on a diesel is a big no no.

 

Can you give an indication as to your location as if you are relatively local or where I'm around it gets a lot easier. Yes, diesels can be noisey but todays diesel is actually very quiet and efficient. If it knocks there is something seriously wrong.

[hannagh]

Hi Heliosuk..."I would say here that it is not a Nissan dealer as they will be aware of the issue. It's more probably a case of a salesman talking rubbish again."

 

 

Yes this is a reputal nissan dealer who also franchises toyota and renault. Its a large car retailer. Ive been told the engine is fine... this severe knocking noise shakes the entire jeep with brut force , its scary and you immediatly have to turn the engine off or you would think the engine is going to explode from the jeep. This has happened now 7 times i have never let the engine run when this happens it is your immediate reaction to turn it off in fear of it causing major damage. It has only happened when turning on the engine and not while driving. It happens at random times.

This has been my worst aftersales service ever and they sure know how to wear you down.

[Conniff]

Lets see if we can come up with a probably fault with the engine.

 

Does this only happen at idle?

 

If so, causes can be: Idle speed too low, fouled injector, pump pressure too low or engine mount failed.

There are combinations of the above. An injector could be fouled but is not a problem when the revs increase so increasing the pump pressure.

[heliosuk]

Conniff has some good points here. As I say the engine vibration is the main worry. Low idle speed is unlikely as yours will more than likely be a HPCR engine. This means it will have some complicated electronics which ensures idle speed stays the same. However, the electronics will also show an engine warning light if there is a fault with the injectors.

 

A very good indication of knocking, rocking and vibration is just as Conniff says a broken engine mount. The problem is that you say it has only occured 7 times. If it was a broken mount it would be there each and every time. You need to give more info as to what is going on with the engine.

 

How have you got on so far with the tow bar issue?

[hannagh]

The tow bar issue is non existent and they have ignored/dismissed it and as for the engine all i can say is when i switch the ignition the entire jeep vibrates very very vigiorsuly an extremely loud rattling and banging/knocking noise you are been shaken inside the jeep quit violently this is when i turn off immediatly. If i start it again it will go fine. It does take its notions. The garage has rang back today leaving a message to come in that my seat belt is in. to get replaced. I am going away for few days so have decided to sort it when i get back.