Author Topic: Dealer being weird about my new bike, maybe you can help?? (Read 4488 times)

rider123 · « **on:** November 07, 2005, 02:56:14 PM »

The dealer from whom I bought the bike from is getting very hesitant about fixing the lean stumbling off idle as you have to drill the plugs to get at the mixture screws to fix it. I wrote up a comprehensive list of what needed to be done to the bike to make it easier for them. I basically told them how to fix the slight stumbling off idle, but now that they actually have to take the carbs off to drill the plugs they are infering that they are going to charge me 2 hours to fix a brand new bike I bought and paid for!! So I called them back and said in the most nicest way possible that the bike is not running correctly out of the factory and it should be under warrenty. My points are this:

A. The bike is too lean from the factory, it needs a 1/4 to 1/2 turn out and then it's perfect.

B. The main jets are fine it's the screws that need adjusting

C. I didn't put the plugs on there, Suzuki did. If they screwed up from the factory ITS NOT MY PROBLEM! It's Suzuki's.

D. Yes it's a pain in the ass to drill the plugs but if I'm buying a brand new bike and it's screwed from the factory how does it look on Suzuki and more importantly The dealer if they won't fix it? 1 customer lost = 10 customers lost in marketing circles

E. It's not rocket science to fix. WHat's easier? Taking the carbs apart and rejetting so it works, or turning a little screw? Which would you rather do?

F. The plugs are not really the issue, personally I don't get a rat's ass if the plugs are on there or not, I want the bike to run correctly when BRAND NEW.

G. If they won't fix it that's fine tell me now I'll call Suzuki directly and get them to re-emburse me to fix it. I'll take it to a trusted license mechanic I've dealt with for years and he'll fix it right the first time. And it will run perfectly.

What's the best way to handle this? I don't have the warrenty booklet in front of me so I don't have the Suzuki warrenty special number and extension in front of me. Anybody know the number and extension in Canada?

Does anyone have experience with this issue? Does it invalidate my warrenty if I get if fixed myself? I would like to handle this amicably as possible. what's bugging me is not that I have to fix a brand new bike right out of the showroom(teething problems) but that the dealer is dragging their feet to fix the most simple thing to make it drivable. It's the whole reason I took it in early. Think of it in car terms, if you bought a brand new car and it was hesitating and sputtering off idle, even minorly, would you just say "Oh I guess how that's how new cars drive?" I've been riding bikes for 20 years and this is the most trouble I've had to turn and adjustment screw in the 10+ bikes I've owned. Why won't they fix it? I'll call them back later today as I've given them an extra day and had to take public transit to work(it sucks).

If there is a way for Suzuki to re-emburse me the money to get it fixed properly, that's fine by me. I guess no one has that magic number for Canada

tacoman · « **Reply #1 on:** November 07, 2005, 03:10:11 PM »

Your particular dealer may have problems getting reimbursed from Suzuki, especially for carb problems. You may just want to bite the bullet and install a Holeshot or Ivans kit and be done with it. I know having to spend money on a brand new bike sucks but I've always preached that the carb kits should be included in your bike budget. Negotiate with the dealer up front and say these things run like crap stock so drop your price enough so I can get it jetted. My inlaw runs/owns JD Jetting and several of the local dealers around here buy his kits and install them before the new bikes hit the floor. "They run right, the people don't come back, and we don't have to mess with manufacturer," is what the dealers tell him. Get jetted by the pros and move on, good luck.

rider123 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 07, 2005, 03:48:51 PM »

Well yes eventually I may get a pipe and jet it after the warrany period. The issue is not the main jets, the bike runs fine as soon as it's on the mains, it just needs a 1/4 turn out on the pilots to kill the off idle stumbling/misfire. I'm almost ready to pay just to get it to run correctly if they won't do it for free. I think re-jetting when all you need is a 1/4 - 1/2 turn on the pilots is going overboard at this point. I'll see what happens. Worst case senario is I'll offer to split the difference with the dealer to fix it which will be 1 hour extra. And then just get them to put it down as "warranty tuning" or whatever to save the warranty. IT's fine by me. Or I'll just go somewhere else. It's the warrenty I want saved. The sad thing is, that if the plugs wern't on there we wouldn't be having this conversation. I would have fixed it the first day I got it and saved everyone including the dealer a huge hassle. Regardless I'm going to be polite about it.

PeteSC · « **Reply #3 on:** November 07, 2005, 04:11:33 PM »

This appears to be the Canadian Suz warranty in pdf format

http://www.suzuki.ca/en/bike/Motorcycle%20Warranty%20Booklet%20WebE.pdf

I'd call the customer relations number listed.

The bike should be running 'right'.

rider123 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 07, 2005, 04:37:19 PM »

Thanks guys. You Rock!! Again!!

Well I called them about fixing the jetting by removing the plugs and it seems it's sort of a grey area. While it doesn't expressly kill the warranty, if something went wrong with the bike and it was the jettings fault they could deny me warranty service. But right after that the person on the phone said we haven't yet had a problem with someone fixing the lean jetting and it killing something. If anything I would think making it richer would reduce the temperature and make the bike run cooler. I think the gist of the conversation was "Ok you can do it but don't screw it up". So I've been trying to contact the dealer all day but there is only one service guy there so I can't get through to say don't bother. IF they have fixed the jetting then fine I'll bite the bullet and pay for it. But this is a poor way to sell carbuerated bikes let me tell you!

elofdahl · « **Reply #5 on:** November 07, 2005, 05:10:27 PM »

Quote from: "rider123"

Thanks guys. You Rock!! Again!!

Well I called them about fixing the jetting by removing the plugs and it seems it's sort of a grey area.

First of all, let me say that I understand your frustration over the lean stumble inherent in the GSF1200. Having spent 10 years (1978-1988) as the service manager of a local dealership, I knew the dealer would be unlikely to help me out if I’d asked. Therefore I performed the operation myself. The dealer must balk for several reasons. They know that the plugs were installed by Suzuki in order to conform to the EPA’s “tampering” law. The dealer knows they may expose themselves to legal recourse (by breaking Federal EPA laws) if they alter the bike in such a manner that the emissions no longer meet Federal standards (i.e. such as richening the idle/low speed circuit). They probably know that, by law, new plugs must be reinstalled after the originals are removed for any reason. Then, of course, there is the issue of whether or not Suzuki will reimburse the dealer for such an act. If Suzuki does that, it could imply that Suzuki was promoting illegal “tampering”…a risky business practice for a company that wishes to sell vehicles in the USA and/or Canada (Canada has harmonized vehicle emission standards with the U.S.)

To promote customer satisfaction, I hope the dealer gives in, and remedies your problem as we always did at our shop…even though I knew we were breaking the law.

Eddie

rider123 · « **Reply #6 on:** November 07, 2005, 05:24:31 PM »

Well first I'd like to say thanks alot for your guys help. The dealer just called me back 2 minutes ago and will take care of it under warranty!! And will leave the plugs out! Whoo hoo!! So I wasn't crazy after all. The issue was not wether I was right or not but as elofdahl pointed out whether it was covered under warranty or not. It seems that elofdahl is correct in dealers might want to fix the problem but are getting worried wether or not it comes under some strange liability issue. I'm sure most dealers want their customers to be happy, it's good for us and for them (i.e. More bikes sold). But as soon as you get any governmental agency involved it gets a little weird. Under normal curcumstances, before this EPA crap, the bikes came out of the factory with the mixture screws open so that the dealers and riders can tweek them for local temperatures, Humidity, etc. Also every engine will be slightly different than the next and some may need to be richer and some leaner. Unless Suzuki has hired Dion Warwick and her psychic friends to figure out where a bike will be ridden I think this whole capping the mixture plugs does more harm than good. If anything the caps should be put on by the dealer and not the factory, that way a bike can be tuned to local conditions before the caps are put on to prevent tampering.

From what I gather from the conversation the service manager will put it down as "mal-adjusted from factory" to save the warranty. Just from this experience alone I will recommend the dealer to anyone else who wishes to buy a Suzuki motorcycle and I will tell them so when I get in to re-enforce this ethical behaviour.

Thanks again guys for all your help.

terrebandit · « **Reply #7 on:** November 07, 2005, 09:11:56 PM »

Seems simple to me....

1)You buy new bike with warrenty
2) Bike does not run well and it is fully covered under this warrenty
3) You take bike in and dealer honors thier warrenty.
4) End of of story!

It doesn't make a $hit whats wrong with it, they have to fix it, period... no argument....

To me, your mechanic is an idiot for NOT knowing how to fix a off-idle lean stumble. You had to actually tell him how to do that?

I'd be more worried about them working on my bike after I just found out that I knew more about the bike than them. Sheesshhh.

Dave

rider123 · « **Reply #8 on:** November 07, 2005, 10:01:54 PM »

Well I didn't tell them how to fix it I just suggested what was wrong and they agreed with me, that comes with 20 years of riding experience and bad jet jobs on used bikes I've bought. It's better than going in there with this statement:

"Hi, it's broken, fix it"

That doesn't tell you sh!t. It seems the holdup was not whether or not they wanted to do the work but them conacting their warranty guy so I wouldn't have to pay for it. But I agree with you if it isn't right coming out of the factory it should be fixed. I think it's more of a Suzuki problem than a dealer one. However after this service the next one is probably after a year and I have a great mechanic I can go to if I can't figure it out myself. But nonetheless it is a bit frustrating. Oh well at least it's sorted out thanks for your support.

tacoman · « **Reply #9 on:** November 08, 2005, 05:24:40 PM »

Glad you got it fixed. I think the dealer was concerned about any liability of removing the mixture screw caps. I don't imagine Suzuki likes dealer mechanics opening up carbs and tweaking. If they mess up it will be lots of warranty work which is bucks and loss of all profits.

PaulVS · « **Reply #10 on:** November 08, 2005, 06:50:31 PM »

FWIW...

A Honda I had back in the early 80's... at the 600 mile tune-up the dealer's mechanic cut off the a/f stops for me and adjusted them without me even asking.

The next bike I had I asked them to do the same thing and they did... no questions asked.

rider123 · « **Reply #11 on:** November 08, 2005, 07:02:12 PM »

Well I got the bike back today and thank god they did clean up the carbeuration and left the plugs out of it. Geez what a hell time just to turn a scew a 1/4 turn. Oh well at least it's done now and I never have to go back there ever!! And it's still slightly lean but at least the plugs are off.

ZipTi · « **Reply #12 on:** November 09, 2005, 09:04:23 PM »

so they tried to fix per your instructions, possibly exposing them selves to the wrath of the EPA, and probably will not get payment (warranty reimbursemnt) from Suzuki and your reply is, "Oh well at least it's done now and I never have to go back there ever!! "

Wait till all motorcycle dealerships are owned and run by LARGE automobile Dealerships!

e

Red01 · « **Reply #13 on:** November 10, 2005, 01:46:36 AM »

Quote from: "dirt bike bandit"

Wait till all motorcycle dealerships are owned and run by LARGE automobile Dealerships!

It's already happening... around here, we have KarMart - which sells Chrysler, Dodge, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Suzuki & Volkswagon cages and Big Dog, BMC & Vengance custom HD clones, Honda powersport & small engine products, Bombardier & Artic Cat powersports goodies.

Our local Cycle Barn chain isn't any better, they just haven't branched into auto sales.

Desolation Angel · « **Reply #14 on:** November 10, 2005, 10:10:29 AM »

Quote from: "rider123"

Well I got the bike back today and thank god they did clean up the carbeuration and left the plugs out of it. Geez what a hell time just to turn a scew a 1/4 turn. Oh well at least it's done now and I never have to go back there ever!! And it's still slightly lean but at least the plugs are off.

I think you should make a point of going back to them, as they went over and beyond what they were authorized to do to accomodate you. I mean, you got what you wanted, right?

They may do "other" things for you at some point that they really aren't supposed to in order to make you happy!