dunnojack

some of you may know, my car has been in the shop for very loud rattles in the rear ceiling area.
This is the 3rd time in the shop, and it's been a long time this time.

Several weeks ago, Lexus field tech recommended that spot welds be done on the window frame.
Now, suddenly, they've taken a 180 degree turn and said they won't repair it unless it is duplicated under normal driving conditions.
From my video in my sig, clearly we're under normal driving conditions.
They say they can't duplicate it. I have lots of video documentation, and they say they can't duplicate it.



All of a sudden, the dealer is playing dumb. It seems like Corporate has stepped up their cockblocking game and are trying to refuse to take responsibility.

they want us to take the car back home.

Any thoughts? What would you do?
It seems like they're waiting for me to step up my game.

2thfixr

Wow, contact a lemon law lawyer for a consultation! Although this may not exactly constitute a lemon, it's quite possible that there is a structural defect that could definitely be considered a safety issue. Also, since you have given them three opportunities to repair the vehicle, you have satisfied the three attempt requirement.

This may sound stupid but consider all avenues for assistance. Contact a local news station with all of your documentation and video because they love that kind of stuff. Contact the BBB, Bureau of Automotive Repair, CA Dept of Consumer Affairs, and any other organization you can think of. Like I said, it sounds stupid but these organizations actually do put a fair amount of pressure on companies because they demand a response.

In other words, step up your game.

ES350Bob

I have been in the position of...all of a sudden...180 degree turn on my former car.

I believe it is because you had the (nerve) to ask for a buyback last week and then low and behold they have amnesia on your car's woes. Same thing happened to me when it was clear to them I wanted a replacement car or my money back. I did not want that POS, it also was with missing weld same as your car. All of a sudden every scheduled repair, every diagnosis went poof, gone.

Do as 2th suggested, step it up to degree required.

I would send an e-mail to your highway patrol and alert them you have been stuck in a car that needs unibody work in case they work an accident as one suggestion above 2th's.

dunnojack

heheh. I have considered this, and I may carry through with it.

But then again, I'm sure toyota and lexus buys advertising on the local channels, and may influence whether or not they take up the story. Of course, it doesn't hurt to try.

ES350Bob

You could play dumb and say I have no problem meeting with a tech and driving with one so you can duplicate this and say to them let me know when I can do this.

dunnojack

Since they're making me jump through these hurdles, I've already scheduled another appt to drive with a tech.

The stupid thing is that they have to hear the rattle while driving before they can authorize body shop repairs.

And since the nature of my rattle is that it rattles for 20 minutes at a time, then disappears for 20 minutes or a day, they would have to be at the right spot at the right time to hear it, on the right road conditions with the right vibrational frequency.
I guess my job now is to find a location where the car always rattles.


Their 'new' rules are just a pain in my ***. The first time they replaced my tire pressure antenna, they didn't even drive the car out. They just replaced it no questions asked. Now, suddenly, they're making special rules for my case.

MD350

Have you tried another Lexus service department? Another service writer or manager may take the extra time needed to get your car fixed. Especially when they know you are a customer of their competition, they may treat you extra special to win you over.

Ice350

iTrader: (1)

I dunno, I think some of you guys are too sensitive. I have a few squeaks in my G35. Doesn't really bother me. Every so often there's a squeak in the GS. Again, doesn't bother me or the missus. I keep the music too loud to be concentrating on intermittent squeaks. Actually, they've decreased in frequency so i'm really not paying it any attention.

If you really must make an issue of it, here's my secret weapon. Walk through the showroom and tell every potential buyer that dealership doesn't stand behind their cars. I did it got immediate attention. They called the cops creating a big scene. So I left, got a big sign and stood at the entrance, on the sidewalk. The sign said these people are rip off artists, don't buy here. They called the cops again. This time the cop said they could not force me to leave the sidewalk and I had a right to peaceful demonstration. After several customers left, the management was all too eager to help.

dunnojack

Yes, some guys are too sensitive.
But if you check my sig, you'll know i'm not.
You'd have to be deaf to not be bothered by it.

And I'll never settle for the loud music remedy. I hardly listen to the radio at all as it is. I like riding in quiet cars. And I'm sure my sleeping passengers would, too.

92ES5sp

WOW I cant believe those videos. You need to go to the dealer and raise hell. Do it in front of everybody!!! There is absolutely NO reason to not repair or Replace that piece of ****. I gotta tell ya ive seen a million Lexus's and Toyotas with a quarter million miles on em that dont sound anything like that!! I would be absolutlely LIVID!!! But that is a brand new car, and your enjoyment of it is ruined. You didnt buy some rolling junk show, you bought a LEXUS!! No engine should ever sound like that, not even a Ford Escort... If it did that for no more than a minute on cold startup maybe I would understand, but goddamn!!! You have my sympathy for sure Best of luck to you buddy

ES350Bob

LOL 92, maybe we should start taking you to dealer with us all for service visits. Anyone having owned an ES300 is going to call that noise what it is

That engine noise= "normal operation" per Lexus, that is what you see listed on poll with problems you were in thread before, only dunno's is warmed up there.

When you complain, you are told it is normal and left stuck with it in the car every day

ES350Bob

dunno,

Mostly kidding but you could: Make a CD to play in the CD player of the car, containing, in sequence, the rattle, the squeeking carpet noise and the engine noise and then roll down the windows and blast the sound as you loop around the dealership with signs on the car saying...listen to "quiet" you hear every day when owning and driving one of these. They will run out to fix your body weld

92ES5sp

Yea sorry I guess the videos are kind of a wake up call. I was beside my self watching them

NoiseFree

I dunnojack, that's some serious engine noise problem you've got!
I listened to all three of your clips. It all has to be repaired, No question about it.

As far as the rattle noise is concerned, I would describe it as a ticking noise rather than a rattle. My car currently makes this type of noise on occasion.
It would surface on bumpy roads when the car was getting jarred a bit.

Fortunately my ticking noise lasts for a split second rather than the continuous ticking noise that yours exhibits. But from what I hear, the basic sound is the same (and mine is coming from the rear as well).

Trust me, I'm keeping tabs on this noise very closely.

What am I comparing this to? My '96 Camry that I traded in for my ES-350.
For over 10 years there were absolutely *no* internal noises/rattles/ticks/shakes etc. from the Camry.

wanderer99

Hi Dunnojack - the fact that you've had it in 3 times now and it's still not fixed, that should give you some clue to the ability of the techs to solve this for you. It is just insulting that they're at the "can't duplicate" phase and now you've got to demonstrate it - again.

I've been down that road many times myself with my ES350. If it can't be duplicated then my dealer doesn't see it as a problem.

If they can't fix your rattle, what do you think they'll do for your engine noise?