Car got serviced today..long thread

[MangoSpeedG]

Took in my MSP for oil change, realignment, and ECU flash. Here's my beef....

1) Dropped my car off at 11:30 am. I was told that car should be done around 4:30-5:00pm. At 5:30pm, I did not have a call. I went down there and arrived by 6:15pm (service dept. closes at 7pm), asked the cashier if my car is done. She stated it is but still needs to the complimentary wash. No problem. She was friendly about it, but didn't apologize. I got my car within a few minutes. I got the feeling if I didn't go down there, I might not have gotten my car back today.

2) When talking to the service rep about how my car was pulling to the right, he said they would check it out and also recommended a tire rotation. Since the pulling began with my last tire rotation, I gave the ok thinking it would help. When I got the car back, it drove straight for the most part on surface streets. However on the freeway, the car still pulls to the right but not as bad. I checked my service notes. They did a road test and found no pulling. I guess that's all the testing they did. They probably didn't go faster than 45-50 mph. To go any faster, they would have to gone on a freeway. No alignment adjustment was done after the rotation. The Service notes said to my car is at "Manufacturers Specifications". I'm definitley gonna call them back tomorrow. ***For those that have this pulling issue.....HAVE YOUR CARS TESTED ON ROADS AND FREEWAYS!!!*** 'Nuff said.

The good points....

The rep recommended that I change my air filter due to the fires. I forgot about the smoke and ashes the car was breathing in and I had them change that too. If any one has not changed their air filter since the fires, DO IT!

As far as the flash goes, I got a small sticker concerning the flash. they placed it on the drivers side, next to the car specs. I have really tested the car my self but driving home felt smoother.
On my service notes it says:
"Hesitation correction-checked out, duplicated concern, no codes present, reprogrammed PCM wit updated file QOAP4CO program 3ALU-12A-650-MC. Road tested vehicle. OK.

Ah I feel better. Sorry for the long thread. Don't forget, change your air filter so cali people and make sure your vehicle is tested on road and freeway speeds for the pulling. Peace out

 

[nmaino]

Did you go to John Hine?

 

[Newf]

but they align it with the MSP specs or the ES specs. Some dealer do not know there is a difference and will try to convince YOU there is none when there is.

 

[Sloop]

oh yeah,

My car was pulling seriously to the right and I checked the tire pressure and everything is fine now. The right was 27 and the left was 30. It helped totally. Dealers never check tire pressure. Thanks all for the help on this board.

 

[BlkZoomZoom]

3psi difference won't make your car pull.
has to be more than 10.

 

[toucci]

Did you go to John Hine?

john hine sucks in my opinion

cush is better but far away for me

 

[BlkZoomZoom]

-If you told them it pulls more on the highway than on local roads they would have driven it on the highway, (even though it doesn't make any sense.....).

 

[boostisgood]

First, if the pressure is off by 3 psi it WILL casue the pulling, rememvber this car has an LSD. (sorry all non lsd equipped car owners, you dont get this pleasure) Second, all roads are made with a slight slope to the right. One, to help the water run off, 2 to help drunk drivers./sleeping people run off the road, and not into oncoming traffic. that, high speeds, and underinflated tires will cause that issue also.

 

[BlkZoomZoom]

First, if the pressure is off by 3 psi it WILL casue the pulling, rememvber this car has an LSD. (sorry all non lsd equipped car owners, you dont get this pleasure) Second, all roads are made with a slight slope to the right. One, to help the water run off, 2 to help drunk drivers./sleeping people run off the road, and not into oncoming traffic. that, high speeds, and underinflated tires will cause that issue also.

3psi won't make your car pull.......lsd or not.

 

[boostisgood]

Go measure your tires, then lessen the pressure on one side by 3 psi, then go drive it. I garuntee it pulls. There is more rubber to the ground, thus creating more grip on that side, thus pulling you to that side. Its a common topic discussed at my shop, and through testing, we have found this to be true that even a 2 psi drop, with the low profiles, and ESPECIALLY with an LSD causes a car to pull to the side with the lower PSI.

 

[loccusst]

Its the highway if you get a gradual pull to the right.

 

[Sloop]

My car pulled like crazy until I filled the right with air. Now it's perfect.

 

[BlkZoomZoom]

3psi won't make you car pull. lsd or not.
......man it feels like I heard that before.

 

[CarlM2]

I had the same problem with alignment and the same dealer experience, the first time. I checked my tire pressure and indeed I was off by about 3 psi. The pull wasn't as bad but, wasn't fixed either. 3 psi made a difference on my car. If you don't think it does, my guess is that you haven't experienced it.

I also noticed that when I drove in the left lane my car went straight and didn't pull to the left as it should, based on the crown of the road. Before properly inflating my tires, it would pull me back into the right lane.

I asked the dealer how they knew it was 'within spec' and they told me a road test. A road test? I said, why wouldn't you check the alignment, do you not have an alignment rack? They blathered on about nothing for a while. So, I went and got a free alignment check at a good shop that gave me a printout of my 'out of spec' alignment. I took this to the dealer and told them to make it right.... They did and now it doesn't pull.

Another thing about the crown of the road pulling phenomenon.. if your car is aligned properly, you should be able to let go of the steering wheel in the right lane and it will go straight for a short while and gradually pull off to the right. If it immediately pulls to the right, the alignment (or tire pressure) is 'out of spec'.

Good luck,
Carl

 

[Excitmnt94]

so yeah...check ur tire pressure.