ehpark

I purchased my LS460L with 22inch rims and TOYO Proxes4 tires.
I loved the look and the performance and both were a major factor in the purchase.

Unfortunately, when I got the car home, it pulled strongly to the right.

Long story short:
1) they swapped new rims- still pulled
2) they tried 4 different sets of new tires- still pulled
3) they put my wheels and tires on another LS460- straight.
4) my alignment measures straight- according to the dealer...
5) about 1/4 LS460's will not function with non-standard whees- according to the dealer...

I suggested I would pay more money for the best tires, Michelins. I wrote them a fat check but IT STILL PULLS!

Now the dealership is trying to badger me into switching to standard wheels and rims.

I called Lexus HQ and they said it wasn't their problem. No other dealership will do work on the car just as my dealership probably wouldn't touch it if I went to an outside installer for 22" rims. :-(

I called a lemon lawyer and he seemed to think it would be easy to sue the dealership and get my money back seeing as we have a contract and they were the aftermarket installers.

In the final analysis, they make a ton of money from the aftermarket upgrades, both in margin and in moving the cars off the lot. They want to make money but they don't want to stand by their failed experiments. And why can't they tell me what's wrong or fix it? Sketchy indeed.

I have owned BMW, Jaguar, & Mercedes in the past but they never gave me this kind of grief before. I confess that I am disappointed in the level of amateurism shown by these folks. My wife wanted me to buy a Maseratti Quatroporte and is riding the "I told you so" train now. :-(

Does anyone have advice or a legal opinion regarding this matter?

Thanks in advance.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

umm i definitely don't have any legal advices.

from your stand point of view i agree that the dealership probably should be responsible to get it right since they agreed to put on the stuff for you. if you did all that yourself that's a different issue

but on the other hand, from a higher scope of view, i am just very surprised how can this happen, that the same set of wheels don't wory on your car (pulling right) but it's ok on some other LS. it just doesn't make sense especially when you check and alignment is fine. the statement about "1/4 ls460 will not function with non-standard wheels", that's just unbelievable imho

MikeP

If your tires are non-directional, swap them from side to side (also front to back) to see if the pull changes to the left. Also, since the 22" wheels were installed before you took delivery, you have not checked to see if OEM wheels and tires would also pull to the right. See if your dealer would put a set of OEM wheels on your car and let you test to see if it pulls.

These 2 tests would help narrow down the source of the problem.

Atlas

This is just what I feared about putting other wheels on my car, LS460.

hendjaz

ST004-01 REPAIR MANUAL SUPPLEMENT: VEHICLE PULLING TO ONE SIDE (REVISED)

I found reference to the above update to Lexus repair manuals that may have some relevance to your situation. You might ask your service representative if they have this manual update and whether they have followed the procedure or steps. I could not find a copy of it to read but the Lexus service folks should have access to it.

ehpark

hendjaz: thanks. I will forward that link to them. I couldn't open because I am not a subscriber. Can you summarize?

MikeP: supposedly, they already tried swapping although they don't keep any records of this. No help there. As we speak, they are trying the stock wheels and I will give you the update on that.

romini wrote: "that the same set of wheels don't wory on your car (pulling right) but it's ok on some other LS. it just doesn't make sense especially when you check and alignment is fine. the statement about "1/4 ls460 will not function with non-standard wheels", that's just unbelievable imho"

I didn't think that made sense but everyone at the dealership seems to think it does. I swear sometimes I almost believe it (must be Jedi mind tricks at work.)

Finally, is it normal to not keep service records of what was already tried but failed to fix the vehicle? I was told is has to do with hourly employees. This strikes me as odd.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

ehpark, i would definitely not believe what dealership say 100% at this point. everyone at dealership seems to think it does honest doesn't do squad to me. a good mechanic / tech should have an explanation to everything rather than just saying "oh yeah it just do that, i don't know why"

i think mikep put up some very very good points. fine out what tires are on the 22s and see if they are directional or non-directional. although the fact that the same wheels work fine on another LS sounds weird. and if i were you, i would also demand to put 1 or 2 sets of stock wheels on your car (randomly) and see if the car has the same symptoms or not

Craig B

I keep all of my service records. I'm sure the dealer can print off another copy for your records. If you decide to sue, you will need all the records as your proof. I had my factory wheels chromed. I didn't want to buy another set of wheels and tires...

Good luck!

Craig

hendjaz

ehpark, here is a brief summary that went along with the reference to the service manual update. I don't have a subscription either so could not open the actual update bulletin. The service department should be able to open and print this just once they have the bulletin number.


"2002 – 2007 model year Lexus vehicles.

This bulletin contains general vehicle pulling diagnosis and repair procedures along with specific information to help correct pulling complaints.

This information supplements Repair Manual procedures when the symptoms are:

�� The driver holds the steering wheel without exerting steering effort while driving straight ahead, and the vehicle drifts to the right or the left.

�� While driving straight ahead, the driver has to steer either to the right or the left to maintain straight driving. "

Luxofreak

Here's the link for the afformentioned TSB in pdf format.

garyr

ehpark,

Sorry to hear about your frustration. Instead of going the legal way I would think it would be easier to try and fix the problem. Most dealers are extremely incompetent when it comes to alignments and most dealers don't own an alignment rack. Those who do, their is usually only one tech that knows how to use it.

I would recommend you find a front end specialist. A shop that just does alignments "NOT A CHAIN STORE" Like PEP Boys or Firestone rather a totally independent that has ASE technicians. They even have ways to bend suspention compents sometimes to fix drifts.

From what you said it does sound like a bad tire. Also when you change the width of the tire the rear alignment is critical in making the car drift.

ehpark

I went to the dealer today after they said the car goes straight with stock wheels and tires.

They are pressuring me into changing to regular wheels and tires.

My question is: if they know that this is a potential problem, why don't they have the buyer sign a disclosure/waiver to the effect that non-standard wheels and tires won't necessarily function correctly?

And I'll bet the answer is: because they would sell less cars and upgraded wheels and tires.

So far, their position remains:
1) your car is within acceptable limits with standard wheels
2) your car will not function with the wheels that we sold you.
3) you must accept standard wheels
4) this sort of thing just happens
5) we don't know or won't tell you why it happens

I actually had one of the techs jokingly say "I guess that's why they call it the 'pursuit' of perfection and not perfection."

The general manager just informed me that "cars are like children." Some are just built differently but you love and accept them just the same.

I swear, this is not what J.D. Power and Associates led me to believe.
Oh well...it is what it is...

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

Sounds like the dealer is working hard to find a solution.

At this point the 22's just don't seem to work, so I'd give up on them.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

maybe it depends on the contract of those aftermarket parts, whether they are supposed to come with the car or just another extra add on

just thinking if they can just take back the car, it's not your problem that the car can't take aftermarket parts, which THEY agreed to put on for you

Johnny

What a stupid moron. I'd have the dealership GM give this guy a dressing down, pronto.