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The Service Manager's Tool Kit
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HORROR--STORIES
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STORY # 1
From:
372 Norwood Drive
Danville, VA 24540
434 836-8290 |
 F.U.B.A..R. |
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RE: RO # 159255; Woodall Nissan, Danville, VA // 804 766-0019
804 766-0028
Repair of 1986 300ZX, non-turbo
2+2, VIN: JN1HZ16A9GX-092351 |
INTRODUCTION:
Original symptoms: one
day, out of the blue, my 300ZX would start and run for only about one or
two minutes before shutting down.
I tried all of the
obvious things, including replacing the fuel filter; checking the fuel
pump voltage and operation, and the fuel pressure. I replaced the ignition
coil; checked the distributor (optical angle sensor)--nothing solved the
problem.
Because, the 300ZX
had over 95 thousand miles on its second timing belt, I thought
that might be the reason for its behavior; so I decided to have it (and
the water pump) replaced. Also, the cylinder block temperature sensor was
open, so I would also have it replaced.
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----T
O C----
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SUMMARY:
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1)_ |
On July 11, 2000, I presented my 1986 Nissan
300 ZX, non-turbo 2+2, to Woodall Nissan, by way of the Service Advisor,
Tommy Strickland for the following repairs:
1) Replace
Timing Belt /
2) Replace
Water Pump /
3) Replace
Engine Temperature Sensor /
4) Perform
Fuel Injector Factory Recall /
5) Perform
Other Factory Recalls (A/T park switch) |
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2)_ |
I was originally quoted $1,100.00 for
Timing Belt and Water Pump. |
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3)_ |
Reduced the cost to $650.00 after I said
"the cost was too high." |
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4)_ |
After 29 days, I was told the repairs were complete,
it still would not run longer than one or two minutes. I was asked to come
get it, they needed the space. I subsequently had it towed to my home. |
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5)_ |
Called: said the
tech thought the problem was a RELAY [E.F.I.], said
that it had been ordered and would be in the next day. |
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6)_ |
He called several
days later, reported it was not the relay; that now the technician thought
it was the COMPUTER [E.C.C.S.], and said that a new
computer would cost >$800.00. Again asked when I could get my car
off his lot, "they really needed the room!" |
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Once I got my car back
I discovered
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--to my HORROR--
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the
following Discrepencies:
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1)_. |
The E.F.I. Relay was missing (both old & new $16),
and there was a jumper plugged into the relay socket (green), between pins
2 and 3--computer output and +12 volts. (see items 2, 3) -LINK |
| 2)_. |
The Fusible link (BR, BR) supplying the E.C.C.S. module
was burned and twisted together. -LINK |
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3)_. |
The
E.C.C.S.
unit (ECM) was Damaged: the Transistor controlling the E.F.I. Relay was
Burned
out. -LINK |
| 4)_. |
Also, the E.C.C.S.
VLSI A.S.I.C. (JACS) had been Overheated to the point of discoloration.-LINK |
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5)_. |
The power connector (located in the trunk) supplying
the Fuel Pump was disconnected. -
LINK |
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6)_. |
Three vacuum hoses were broken off and missing, one
on the E.R.G. control solenoid. -LINK |
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7)_. |
The Idler pulley for the Air Conditioner was missing.
--Scavanged? -LINK |
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8)_. |
Apparently, during the factory recall work on the
injectors, a large vacuum hose--located between the throttle plate and
the air flow sensor-- was damaged (split) and had been patched using
putty. -LINK |
| 9)_. |
The Connector block to the E.C.C.S. module (above
E.C.C.S., right kickpanel) was broken. -LINK |
| 10)_. |
Screws to the kick panel covering the E.C.C.S. module
were left out and/or not tightened. -LINK |
| 11)_. |
The engine cooling fan airflow shroud was loose, due
to missing bolts. |
| 12)_. |
Several cable harnes clamps along the top of the engine
were loose (missing bolts) or missing. |
| 13)_. |
A total of 4 Air Intake hose clamps were loose,
and 2 hose clamps to the Air Regulator were missing. |
| 14)_. |
A small coolant Hose that had been removed, was Split,
allowing coolant to spray the engine. -LINK |
| 15)_. |
The Coolant had been drained during the repair, and
replaced with Water Only. Winter = Freezing! |
| 16)_. |
Finally--I Hope--Coolant is being sucked
into the engine, resulting in water vapor, with the smell of coolant,
coming out of the exhaust. --Good Grief! |
| -- |
If I was able to find this much of the Technician's
NEGLIGENCE on the "outside," I shutter to think what else awaits me on
the inside. |
---ToC
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CONCLUSIONS:
| From
the very beginning, the whole experience has been unreal.
 I was rarely, if
ever, told the truth:
The original quote was $1,100.00; when I told the Service Advisor that
was too much, "I'll junk it before I put that kind of money into that car."
He then asked how much I had expected to pay; I told him that
Southern
States Nissan, in Raleigh, had quoted $550 for the Timing Belt and
Water Pump--a year ago. A few minutes later he called back and quoted me
$650 (also including the temperature sensor replacement). --I
accepted.
He told me that
the technician said the problem with the car not starting/running,
was the E.F.I. (green) relay, and that they were ordering a NEW one; I
never saw the new relay, nor have I seen the original--supposedly bad relay.
I
received my car with a jumper wire in the missing relay's socket--shorting
the Computer output lead to the battery voltage (resulting in the burned
out Transistor and the overheated Integrated Circuit in the COMPUTER
(E.C.C.S. unit).
I was told, that
when the car was put back together it still had the original symptoms:
starting and running no longer than about one or two minutes before shutting
down.
I now know this
couldn't have been the case: when I received my car, the computer was completely
dead (fried), the E.F.I. relay was missing, the fuel pump power connector
was disconnected, three vacuum hoses were broken and/or missing, the fusible
link was burned out, and of course, the real reason for the vehicle's failure--the
distributor was still to be discovered and fixed. If that car ever ran
after they finished, it would be quite a Feat!
From the time I
was told that the car was ready to be towed to my home, until I was able
to, in fact, have it towed, was almost a week: I was put off and stalled
with a verity of stories.
Once it was home,
and I discovered all of the initially obvious deficiencies, I was treated
to a litany of excuses to why the Service Advisor hadn't
rounded up the missing parts, i.e., the blown fusible link, the missing
relay, and the strangely missing air conditioner idler pulley--no doubt
scavenged... He even went so far as saying that he thought his technician
and I were rounding up the parts--what is his function again? I only received
the parts (junk yard fair, and wrong)
after I left a message on
his boss's voice mail (who never returned said call). --Very
Professional!
---ToC
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| He
called to say their work was finished, car would not run [for any length
of time], they did not know what was wrong. He asked when I could have
it off their lot; they really needed the space. I felt pretty vulnerable.
--That sort of treatment is pretty PISS POOR! |
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I was required to pay $500 cash up front before any work was started. This
is a little demeaning, but I'll survive. --However,
It wont happen again, NOT THERE! |
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After installing the missing parts and replacing the damaged and missing
vacuum hoses, I attempted starting the vehicle with NO Success.
Upon examination,
I discovered the E.C.C.S. module was not functioning at all--it was dead:
there was no indication of activity by the red and green CODE LEDs (these
had functioned prior to Woodall’s work).
Further, upon closer
examination of the E.C.C.S. module, there were signs that one of the VLSI
integrated circuits (ICs) had overheated and looked as if it may be damaged:
it was discolored and had a distinct odor of burned phenolic/resin.
After testing the
E.C.C.S. module, I discovered that the transistor that controlled the E.F.I.
Relay was burned out. I replaced it and the module started to function
properly. --Barely missed that BULLET!
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---ToC |
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Accompanying Photos
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v----------- Burned Transistor
Replaced
-----------v
--------------Notice
Burned IC-------------------------------------------^
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.---ToC
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.---ToC
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..---ToC
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..---ToC
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.---ToC
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Another Split Hose: Coolant
Leaking Out
Coolant
was drained and Replaced with Water
comes
Winter = Frozen Block
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The Real Culprit: Angle Sensor
A.K.A., Distributor
A surface mount (SMT) capacitor
had a cold solder joint
The engine now RUNS after I soldered the capacitor.
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..Up
Dates
October 2, 2000
I just got back from my favorite Nissan dealer; after
confronting them with the
evidence of their misdeeds, they told me that
normally they don't work on cars more than ten years old, and that working
on mine was a mistake. I suggested that I agreed with the last part 99%
!
They neither acknowledged nor apologized for burning
out my computer, breaking my vacuum hoses, stealing my air conditioner
idler pulley, charging me for a relay I never got, etc., etc.
In essence they told me that I was Shit
Out of Luck!
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This Web Page will SOON be moving to a new domain address that I just
purchased: http://www.woodall-auto.com
This should not be confused with the dealer's web site: http://www.woodallauto.com
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---ToC
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