dealer won't acknowledge problem. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Benz300 · #1 10-24-2003, 02:41 AM

Guys,
I need help with this. I took my lexus to the dealer for the ongoing brake issues. Spongy pedal, extra foot force required to stop the car etc...
The dealer's service dept say they test drove the car and dont see anything wrong with it. However three other indys have acknowledged that it has to be the master cylinder.
what can I do ? The dealer is persistent the car is perfectly fine... I'm in a situation where I want the dealer to fix the Master cylinder because it was changed last year and is still under one year warranty...
any ideas ?

william rogers · #2 10-24-2003, 02:58 AM

put a star on the hood and take it to a Mercedes Dealer maybe they won't notice........
William Rogers.......

DuckMuck · #3 10-24-2003, 03:00 AM

Well, some other possible approaches:

Why don't you tell one of the techs to climb in the passenger seat with you, and show them the problem? Then swap seats and see what is his say...

Get what these three techs are saying down on paper...if they are certified mechanics, there is no reason why the dealership can't get their own techs to confirm with their peers...

jbaj007 · #4 10-24-2003, 11:22 AM

Tell them that your attorney is very concerned with the fact that you carry the legal minimum PLPD insurance and you almost hit an expectant mother, on crutches, pushing a baby carriage, while you were trying to stop at the school crosswalk. Make the dealer then put in writing the fact that there is NOTHING wrong with your master cylinder. I will bet they replace it.

manny · #5 10-24-2003, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jbaj007
Tell them that your attorney is very concerned with the fact that you carry the legal minimum PLPD insurance and you almost hit an expectant mother, on crutches, pushing a baby carriage, while you were trying to stop at the school crosswalk. Make the dealer then put in writing the fact that ther is NOTHING wrong with your master cylinder. I will bet they replace it.

I like the way you think !

Proves I'm not as sick & perverted as I thought.

azinn · #6 10-24-2003, 05:53 PM

Me too!

If that story doesn't work, I don't know what will.

The hard part will be keeping a straight face.

Benz300 · #7 10-24-2003, 07:43 PM

i totally agree.
I'll be talking to the dealer early next week. will keep you guys posted.
thanks for the replies !

haasman · #8 10-25-2003, 02:52 AM

Speak to the Service Manager and tell him you want to speak to the Zone District Service Manager- You want to schedule an appointment.

If he says no, then call the Lexus customer service number and report your problem.

Push, push, push .... they are questioning a safety item ..... ?hmmm, lets think about this for a minute .....

Tell him your close friend Mr. Haasman writes an automotive column and he'd love to publish this about Lexus.

Push back on them.

Haasman

Benz300 · #9 10-25-2003, 07:44 AM

thanks Haasman,
your sincere advice is by no means any less than that of a close friend and is very much appreciated.
I spoke to the service manager today. Had him take the car on a test drive personally. and then had him drive another similiar model for comparison sake. Thank God I got him to admitt that indeed the brakes aren't working the way they should. He asked me to leave the car there over the weekend for him to figur out what's going on.
Will keep you posted on what happens next.
thanks again for everyone's advice.

manny · #10 10-25-2003, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by haasman
[B

Tell him your close friend Mr. Haasman

Haasman [/B]

Don't try this strategie.
The service manager may know that Mr. haasman doesn't have any friends.

haasman · #11 10-26-2003, 12:15 AM

Well, friendless or not, I am glad the service manager has seen the light.

Lexus is a company that has worked very hard to establish high expectations. Good functioning brakes certainly falls within that category.

Keep us posted on what they find and do.

Haasman

Benz300 · #12 10-30-2003, 06:20 PM

got a call back from the dealer today. it's unbelievable. the service assist manager had test driven the car with me last week and acknowledged that the brakes werent as effective. now I get a call today from the manager of service saying the tech's checked it out again and don't see any problems. I wasted half an hour trying to reason with him but he won't listen. As a last resort I did tell him that I almost got into an accident situation and want to take this all the way upto corporate lexus and he said I'm welcome to do that...
They claim they checked the system but I know they didn't since their assist manager told me they don't do anything besides test driving the car and checking for leaks of brake fluid.
The master cylinder was replaced last year by them. When I told them that other techs have pointed out to a possilby faulty master cylinder he said it didn't show signs of any problems.
I'm stuck and quite frustrated.
what should I do next ?
I would like to know what other compnonents could possibly be at fault here. the following have been replaced so far :
1. master cylinder
2. brake booster
3. brake pads and rotors
4. Calllipers have been checked for proper operation.
5. bleeding done 5 times by different mechanics
6. pressuer check valve

Anything else that comes to mind ?
symptoms are :
spongy pedal,
never touches the floor but stops about 2 inches away from it.
requires additional foot force to stop the car. the more foot pressure is applied to the pedal, the harder the pedal seems to get, it's as if the pedal is resisting the foot pressure while I'm trying to brake.

I'm in new jersey, and would be more than happy to take it to anyone at this point who specializes in brakes. I just need the damn problem fixed. but before I do that, I want to make sure that the $2750 that i've given the lex dealer for the same problem don't go wasted either...

abe g · #13 10-31-2003, 11:50 AM

Go to your local district court (or equivelent) claims for over $2000. Get a summons against the dealer, (get someconfirmatin in wriring about the defects proven to local indy. SShow this with repair bills and claims (prove visits, get statement from dealer disclaiing any need to repair) I bet that within days after you preent summoons, will replace defective unit or have yu meet with Lexus rep. Good luckk Abe G

Mike Murrell · #14 10-31-2003, 12:07 PM

Is there by chance another Lexus dealer in your area? If so, take the car in and have them evaluate it. Get it in writing. Go back to the first dealer with the second dealers written opinion.

I would also speak personally with the general mgr. at the problem dealership.

william rogers · #15 10-31-2003, 12:21 PM

Exactly why I drive two ageing 126's I can buy a master cylinder from FastLane for 157 dollars and have it on and bled in the time it takes for one good argument with the sleezy dealer.........
William Rogers..........