My First Service with V, Mahwah Cadillac for Warranty/Maintenance Stuff

[atdeneve]

Just for kicks, ask that dealer how much for a mount/balance of four F1 EMTs. And be ready to restrain yourself from crackin up in their face. Maybe they've done a set or two by now.

[darkman]

Originally Posted by atdeneve

Just for kicks, ask that dealer how much for a mount/balance of four F1 EMTs. And be ready to restrain yourself from crackin up in their face. Maybe they've done a set or two by now.

I never ask the car dealer but even the EMT tire dealers struggled with these tires for awhile. For example, when I replaced my EMT F1s with GS-D3 run flats I explained to the Goodyear EMT tire dealer that the unblemished wheels that he was about to work on cost more than $650 a piece to replace. He did sell me the tires and did pull the wheels off the car, but he took the wheels to another Goodyear store 15 miles away to have the tires changed because they had a newer tire machine. Bottom line is I don't let anyone change the tires unless they are willing to accept the risk of having to replace a wheel if they scar it up in the process.

[bpitas]

Interesting - I work for a company that bought another company based in Mahwah, Viecore, and I wonder if any of my collegues at Viecore have picked up a V since there's a local dealership. A few of them are car guys down there. :-)

[shadybx7]

Originally Posted by the cadillac kid

I swear by Brogan Cadillac on 46-E.

Thanks, I'm bringing my car there tomorrow for a new Navi

[FactoryFast]

Well, I took a sick day today so I guess ill update the board on the progress off my car:

Status: Unknown

lol, same shit different brand. I called the service department up on Monday and left a message wondering whats going on with my car. Im also wondering when the loaner upgrade would be available because the POS Cobalt they gave has been stuck in the driveway for the last 4 days as the driveway is a sheet of ice. Good thing my gf works at home and let me use the Jeep.

As of right now, still no call back. If I dont hear anything today im calling the General Manager tommorrow. Wether or not the technicians do good work I will most certainly be trying out another dealership after my experience with the front end of Mahwah Cadillac. Very disappointing customer care.

[FactoryFast]

Got hold of my service rep today. The differential has not arrived yet. Everything else is supposedly done. We did not speak on a loaner upgrade as im strangely content in the Cobalt.

Diff should be in from Florida tommorrow or Monday, so I should have it back by the end of next week. Woot!

[VforMe]

Originally Posted by OzarksHillbilly

I don't understand why you gleefully boast of trashing the dealer's loaner car, even if it is a lowly Cobalt. Shouldn't respectful treatment be a two-way deal?

If spilling lettuce in the floorboard is disrespectful you should see what I did to the minivan I had last time I was in MN. It's a rental car.....or as I like to call it a rent a party. I have a buddy who used to work at enterprise and he is worse than anyone I know on rentals.

I was just looking on the hertz website today and noticed they have corvettes at the airport here, its like $250 for the whole weekend. I'm not sure how they can afford to keep tires on them at that rate

[FactoryFast]

Im excited to get my car back. Two weeks of the gf's 3.7L Jeep and this Cobalt have me yearning for some torque and a shifter. I need my V back! However, its nice to be salting up the loaner and not my baby. With my schedule it looks like ill be free on Friday to pick up the car...hopefully its done by then!

Im finally getting the Cobalt out of the driveway with some consistantcy now WOOT!!! Heres a pic of the driveway:




Hey Hillbilly, your right, respect is a two way street. They promised me a better loaner which I never got. Hell I had to call them several times to get an update without a callback. If it makes you feel any better i got most of the lettuce out but now theres some ground in Lucky Charms and a yodel to contend with....I also seem to have a McDonalds bag wedged into the back window somehow...

[jclayc]

I took my 2005 V in to Clairmont in West Caldwell. Honestly, they didn't seem to have any CLUE about much of anything. (For example, they had no idea what CAGS was). Plus, it took them 2 days to do the 15K mile service and some TINY fixes (like a loose door panel)... no loaner car either.

They did figure out my steering wheel shake at 58-62 MPH (wheel balance) but charged me almost $100 to balance them. Geez

My last issue: when I got my car back, it STUNK of oil when it heated up. Ok, fine - they just got some oil on the headers or something... but it's been 2 weeks and, when it gets hot, it still smells of oil a little. I'm wondering if I should take it back to them just in case... because if they screwed up something and I burn up the engine because it's leaking oil, I'm sure they'll say damage caused by lack of oil isn't covered under warranty.

Long and short - I won't take my car back to Clairmont. Sounds like Brogan is the next place I'll take mine.

[darkman]

Originally Posted by jclayc

I took my 2005 V in to Clairmont in West Caldwell. Honestly, they didn't seem to have any CLUE about much of anything. (For example, they had no idea what CAGS was). Plus, it took them 2 days to do the 15K mile service and some TINY fixes (like a loose door panel)... no loaner car either.

They did figure out my steering wheel shake at 58-62 MPH (wheel balance) but charged me almost $100 to balance them. Geez

My last issue: when I got my car back, it STUNK of oil when it heated up. Ok, fine - they just got some oil on the headers or something... but it's been 2 weeks and, when it gets hot, it still smells of oil a little. I'm wondering if I should take it back to them just in case... because if they screwed up something and I burn up the engine because it's leaking oil, I'm sure they'll say damage caused by lack of oil isn't covered under warranty.

Long and short - I won't take my car back to Clairmont. Sounds like Brogan is the next place I'll take mine.

Have you checked the oil level? If it is low I would take it back to the dealer that changed it. (If it is real low I would add some oil first, of course.)

[Mr.Tickles]

I hhave complained to 3 dealers now about my presets on the radio. The letters are always too high or too low, (outside of the channel box). It also glitches when I am on a long trip 400miles. it starts jumping from screen to screen (info/radio) they refuse to replace it. However I have never complained about the buttons. I am going to try that Monday when I visit the dealer that has my V.

[shadybx7]

Originally Posted by jclayc

Long and short - I won't take my car back to Clairmont. Sounds like Brogan is the next place I'll take mine.

Brogan was pretty good. 8 out of 10..
When i took the V in a few techs came over while i was rattling off the problems with it and diagnosed a few of the common problems. They ended up bickering over who got to bring the car to the shop. i liked that they were actually knowledgeable about the V plus While i was there another V came in from NY, so it looks like Brogan is heavily used by V owners, which i didn't know.

Brogan ended up hooking me up with the wheel hop TSB, Diff bushings, new navi, interior trim panels, and new motor mounts. I wanted the updated diff but my stock 05 doesn't whine at all. Also they wanted $200 installed for a new front lip spoiler but i declined because its so easily to do i could do it in 15min once i get the part and clips.. They returned all my calls and i got the car back within a week since they had to order the TSB bushings.They gave me a black 09 CTS4 for a loaner. it came in handy when we had that ice/snow storm. very nice interior caddy sure stepped up the interior quality.

just for kicks i checked out the V2's they had at least 5 in stock!. Those Recaro seats are amazing i wish they where an option for the V1.

[atdeneve]

Brogan of Totowa does get a lot of Vs and they are comfortably familiar with them...

[FactoryFast]

Originally Posted by shadybx7

Brogan ended up hooking me up with the wheel hop TSB, Diff bushings, new navi, interior trim panels, and new motor mounts.

Theres a wheel hop TSB?

Last I heard they were looking into my rough shutdown which should be the motor mounts. If Brogan isnt too far off the path that is where my next service will take place.

Also, ive been reading that when the Nav units are replaced something is going on with the steering wheel buttons...like it has to be programmed for a V...when Mahwah calls me I think ill have the service writer check for the issue before I ead down there. Am I right though? Its the buttons on the steering wheel that dont act porperly?

Thanks guys.

[darkman]

Originally Posted by FactoryFast

Theres a wheel hop TSB?

Bulletin No.: 05-04-114-001B
Date: January 23, 2008
TECHNICAL
Subject:
Controlling Rear Axle or Wheel Hop on Full-Throttle Application From a Standstill and/or Full-Throttle 1-2 Shift (Install Supplementary Rear Sub-Frame Bushings)

Models:
2004-2005 Cadillac CTS-V

Attention: The information presented in this bulletin is intended to inform educate and provide an effective means to further improve the outstanding high-performance handling qualities of the CTS-V for customers who value very aggressive driving capabilities.

Supercede:
This bulletin is being revised to revise the Warranty Information Section. Please discard Corporate Bulletin Number 05-04-114-001A (Section 04 - Driveline/Axle).
Condition
Some customers may comment on rear wheel hop or rear suspension bounce under full throttle acceleration. This condition is not unsafe by itself and is the result of very aggressive driving practices. This condition is primarily confined to hard acceleration from a standstill with wide open throttle though it may be possible to induce if the customer attempts a hurried wide open throttle or "Power-Shift" from 1st to 2nd gear.
Vehicle component durability is greatly influenced by these driver abuses. Driving in this manner is not recommended.
Customer Expectations and Real World Usage
The CTS-V is a very high performance vehicle capable of class-leading acceleration that, in most cases, exceeds even the capabilities of pure sport and muscle cars. The 5.7L V8 engine in the CTS-V provides outstanding reserves of power. This large available engine torque, coupled with a suspension system and tire combination designed for maximum road adhesion, may result in wheel hop under certain conditions.
Cause
In the rear of the CTS-V, a sub-frame is mounted to the body structure at four rubber-isolated points. These mounts were carefully chosen to achieve an effective combination of excellent handling, while retaining effective damping of road shocks and bumps. The force of the suspension rapidly occillating vertically (hopping) provides enough weight transfer (up and down) that these bushings, which normally compress to help isolate passengers from irregular road surfaces, may deflect or compress in sympathy to wheel hop.
Correction
Improving High Performance Suspension Characteristics
For customers who value very aggressive driving capabilities, a revised set of firmer rear sub-frame bushings are available that may provide an incremental improvement in reducing the tendency of the rear suspension to wheel hop. This is an improvement that will further extend the handling capabilities of the CTS-V - it will not remove the possibility of wheel hop in all situations.
Do NOT replace the rear sub-frame bushings unless the customer specifically has the concern of objectionable wheel hop.


Most folks who got the GM bushings did not like them - too noisy if I remember correctly.