NEED HELP! Lemon Law or Possible Solutions from Manager/Techs that read this?!?

kanniballl · #1 (**permalink**) 06-23-06, 02:58 PM

My dealer, as polite as they are trying to be, has told me that my 6month old car w/ a hair over 3,000 miles has a problem, but they can't fix it. And to hope the problem gets worse so they can. Note: I live in NJ (if that helps any).

Are there any loopholes for the lemon law if the car is 5.5 months old, and < 3100 miles? Or perhaps does a tech near know if a way to push this problem along in a better manner than "hope it gets worse."

A few weeks ago I posted that my car was bucking heavily until it was fully warmed up. Idling doesn't help, it has to be driven until the thermometer on the dash is beyond the 1/4 point. It bucks hard, super hard. Even the quality-assurance guy admits it. It does it every single morning even if I let it sit and idle while I go back inside.

I took it to a dealer, and they drove it with me and saw it. "Oooh yeh, there's a problem" he admitted. His first guess was a fuel-flow problem.

Anyway, their sensors can't pinpoint the problem, and their calls to Cadillac can't find anything. They called me back today to say that there's nothing they can do, so I should pick up the car and drive it until it gets worse.
They suggested I try actually warming up the car for "more than 30-seconds", even though I told them after several minutes of idling the problem doesn't go away.

They're being polite, so I can't fault them there. And I see their point, but this is a bit asinine. A new car with low miles and less than 6 months old having such a noticable problem, but there's nothing that can be done.

I'm pissed. I'm almost tempted to sell it back to them, lose 10k, and go buy a cheap Camry or something.

TagApl4 · #2 (**permalink**) 06-23-06, 03:41 PM

I do not work for a car dealership so as a owner of a cts IMO I dont understand why your warranty isnt covering this if the service manager admits u have a problem. Honestly i dont know if they would try to fix your car till they are blue in the face, but if i only put 3,000 miles on it i would tell them to replace that sucker, but i dont know how common of an occurance that is.

nickc50310 · #3 (**permalink**) 06-23-06, 03:54 PM

tell them youre not taking it back until its fixed. tell them their solution of "drive it till it gets worse" is unacceptable. you can contact cadillac corporate also.

kanniballl · #4 (**permalink**) 06-23-06, 03:57 PM

I should mention, I'm in NJ if that helps any.

beaglecookie · #5 (**permalink**) 06-23-06, 04:01 PM

I had a compliant about Whittier Cadillac breaking the caps off of my rims. All 4 of them. All corporate did was take it down as a compliant. They didn't do anything to help.... What good are they.....

kanniballl · #6 (**permalink**) 06-23-06, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TagApl4

I do not work for a car dealership so as a owner of a cts IMO I dont understand why your warranty isnt covering this if the service manager admits u have a problem. Honestly i dont know if they would try to fix your car till they are blue in the face, but if i only put 3,000 miles on it i would tell them to replace that sucker, but i dont know how common of an occurance that is.

It's only the first time bringing it in the for problem, and I think I'd have to bring it in 3 times for the lemon law to kick in. However, I think I might have signed something that said I might limit my lemon-law possibilities to 3k miles. I don't recall, I'll have to look. I just remember one of the forms I had to sign was about the lemon law.

I like the car, and if they could fix the thing I'd be happy. And while it's only the first time, the fact that they are just giving up after trying for 1-2 days worries me. I mean, I could bring it in until the "cows come home" and never get a resolution.

Can anyone recommend a really good Cadillac garage in NJ? I'm up near Union and Morris county.

CADIMAC52 · #7 (**permalink**) 06-23-06, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kanniballl

It's only the first time bringing it in the for problem, and I think I'd have to bring it in 3 times for the lemon law to kick in. However, I think I might have signed something that said I might limit my lemon-law possibilities to 3k miles. I don't recall, I'll have to look. I just remember one of the forms I had to sign was about the lemon law.

I like the car, and if they could fix the thing I'd be happy. And while it's only the first time, the fact that they are just giving up after trying for 1-2 days worries me. I mean, I could bring it in until the "cows come home" and never get a resolution.

Can anyone recommend a really good Cadillac garage in NJ? I'm up near Union and Morris county.

im in jersey too,cant you try another dealer,there are plenty around

KadKat · #8 (**permalink**) 06-23-06, 05:12 PM

You'll have a few other obstacles to over come to invoke a Lemon Law return. It is really the choice of last resort.

I'd have to say they would not have delivered this vehicle in this condition and with the low mileage, I'd leave it there until they do figure it out.

Call the 800 Cadillac number and get them involved. It may take a while to track the problem down, but they have 30 days to fix it. They should be provide you with a loaner for the entire period they have the vehicle. Take a close look at your Owners Manual and read the entire section regarding warranties and Owner Satisfaction.

I've had some administrative problems with the Cadillac and have been astounded at how sincere they were to resolve the problem and keep me happy.

A vehicle behaving as you've described should not be allowed to leave the Service Department until it is fixed. A good Service Department would fix it. If it's so bizarre they can't and other stuff starts breaking, they'll be seeing you a whole lot more than they are now. Stay calm and work with them.

dj-makinnoize · #9 (**permalink**) 06-23-06, 08:08 PM

I agree. From my experience, if you aren't happy with the work ,or lack there of, being performed on your new car, you should ask to speak with a manager first and then if the problem isn't solved.....call or email cadillac directly and explain the situation to them. It helps to have names. I don't know what corporate Cadillac actually does to the dealerships, but my dealership certainly became more customer friendly after I emailed Cadillac.

If I was a manufacturer and found out an authorized dealer wasn't doing everything he/she could to keep my customers wanting a Cadillac...I would be furious.

..Especially considering the CTS's competition.

kanniballl · #10 (**permalink**) 06-24-06, 09:37 PM

Thanks all.

Yeh, my salesman gave me an 800 number to call. He said to get all of my paperwork first to make sure I had all of the information. I'll be doing this on Monday.

I don't demand perfection, and I know *stuff* happens. I took the "what-will-be-will-be" attitude when I had to take it in for a leaky diff last month.

But this situation has me irked. Had they fixed it, I would still be a little worried that I had 2 things in the first 5.5 months but I'd move on. But the whole "we can't see the problem, just keep driving it until it's worse" really doesn't sit well with me, , particularly since that may just screw more things up down the line. Couple that with the fact that it severely impacts my morning commute (must cross 2 busy streets w/ no light/stopsign) it's more than an annoyance. For 40+k I was hoping to get a better response than that.

I'll wait until Monday when I'm a little more cool-headed.

imlostnow98 · #11 (**permalink**) 06-25-06, 02:31 AM

I have been dealing with Cadillac Corporate and they are very pleasant and are trying to help me. You need to follow up with them constanly so that your case doesn't get pushed to the side.

I bought a Certified CTS in Jan. and have been to the service department 9 times. In the last 2 weeks I have been to the service 4 times for the same problems and no resolution.

Be nice and they will work with you.

Z71 · #12 (**permalink**) 06-25-06, 09:17 AM

I think that these well trained techs cannot solve any problem unless it sets a code in the computer.

While my problem is not this annoying they can't fix mine either. The problem is engine pinging and nothing stops it, nothing.

But the bucking you mentioned just occued with me yesterday but not when the car was cold. I had just taken off from a traffic light and was a little agressive winding it up to 45 mph rather fast BUT then the trans would not upshift. It just held the hign rpms and then I had to slow down for another light, the car started jerking like crazy and the trans downshifted hard.

I wonder if the trans is the problem because I am sure getting the feeling mine is.

RedGalant2k1 · #13 (**permalink**) 06-27-06, 04:51 AM

You could ask if there is a TSB on the trans computer or engine computer maybe it needs a reflash.

As for the dealership keeping the car and throwing parts at it doesn't really make sense either. They be out maybe thousands of dollars, and days of time and not find and fix the source of the problem.

Did the dealership inspect your coolant system? Spark Plugs? Spark plug wires?

schambo · #14 (**permalink**) 06-27-06, 08:35 AM

I'm in Bergen County and use Martin Cadillac in Englewood Cliffs. I've been there about 6 times in 2 months and they have been great.
I have 2500 miles on it and now the brakes are squeeking a bit too much.
I also had the differential leak.

I agree with most and think you should tell them your not driving it until it's fixed. Tell them it's a safety hazard. Get a loaner and they should try to resolve it ASAP. Most dealers won't want you using a loaner for too long.

Good Luck.

Goddamskippy · #15 (**permalink**) 06-27-06, 02:24 PM

I also live in the North jersey area and have been dissapointed in the service of some of the Cadillac dealers in the area. I know its far, but there is a good dealer in Florham Park that has done good by me a couple of times. Also, one of the first things i got on my car when i got it was a remote starter. especially for the winter, my car is nicely warmed up when i get in and all it takes is pressing a button before i jump in the shower. PM me if youre interested in a good installer in the area. good luck man!!!