9000 miles post TSB repair and no clunk

 

My 2006 GX has never had much of a "clunk" issue, but the dealer ordered the parts and replaced the drive shaft, control arms, etc. Now I have a significant MAJOR problem with the way it handles when driving, and I had a perfect ride before and never had any problems like this.

For example, when driving down the freeway (or any road) and I accelerate to pass (or whatever), I get a pivoting/twisting in the vehicle to the left which is 5-10 degrees. If I quickly take my foot all the way off the gas pedal, the vehicle will pivot/twist to the right enough to change lanes if I take my hands off the steering wheel and let it. The ride now is very mushy, with alot of body play under normal driving conditions.

I stopped by the dealer yesterday and spoke with the service manage who insisted that there was no problem with my SUV because they do this TSB all day long and never have a problem afterwards. He said the vehicle must need alignment and bring it in for service. As I didn't have the time to carry on our debate at that time, I'll take it back latter this week with more ammunition.

1. I understand the physics of torque and acceleration, and what I have is a whole lot of new, unsafe, body movement whaich wasn't there before the dealer got the vehicle.

2. I couldn't get the service manager to admit the relationship between engines, drivelines, torque, etc..

3. I did ask if the suspension had been normalized as mentioned in other posts on this forum and he assured me it had.

4. In two days I go back and take my regular service advisor for a ride.

Anyone out there have any experience with this type of problem, or any problem-solving input at all? All help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Bruce

 

Wow, that doesnt sound too safe at all. Make sure you point out to your dealer that this is a safety issue. BTW did you have any other service done when you did the TSB?

 

Just the 5000 (20,000 miles total) service with oil change, rotate wheels (that shouldn't do it) etc.

Thanks,
Bruce

 

If the tires are out of balance or if the alignment is off, that can be the cause. From what you are describing, it may be something more serious than that.

 

For the older GX owners... I have an 03 with 48K, and I have noticed it at certain times, but its more an issue of if it bothers you that much. For me, not really, as it does it once in a great while, and its not that bad... Being that my car is older, Id probably have to shell out cash for it since it isnt a recall... If it gets bad or to the point where my passengers look at me with that 'what the H was that' look, then perhaps...

ah, what we do to pursue the relentless pursuit of perfection...

Went from: 1999 Chrysler 300M & Mitsubishi Eclipse RS
Went to: 2002 Lexus ES300 & 2003 Lexus GX470

what a world of a difference... although I had my Chrysler 300M (7 years)with 130K and no problems whatsoever... believe that.

 

If I had to pay for it, I am not sure if I would had it repair as well. For me it was a no brainer since its under warrenty. During the summer season, the cluck gets worst. Everytime I come to a stop, I dont have to wait for that clunk or cluck moment. I think my blood pressure is down a few point just because of that , but seriouly, it just make the GX a lot more relaxing to drive.

 

Not sure if others' have tried this, but mine doens't clunk if it's on the firmer two suspension settings: ("Sport1" or "Sport2").

I'm a big believer in the axiom that nobody is going to put it together as well as the factory did. In other words, it's going to need to be really broken before I trust the dealer to take it apart and put it back together correctly. I've had way too many trips back to a mechanic (dealer or otherwise) to fix the thing they just fixed, or fix the associates set of things they broke "while they were in there".

 

I always leave it on sport 1, it doesnt make any diff. Of course anytime you take something apart, you will run the risk of breaking something else, but if the problem gets worst the warrenty, then you are out of luck.

 

Sounds like people are having issues with the clunk fix - here is mine!

Took it in last week to get the clunk fix done, got it back the next day. 2 days later I move it in the garage and there is oil under it, climb under the truck and one of the rear shocks is coated in oil and dripping - looks like they damaged it doing the fix. Take it back to the dealer - they look at it, say they are replacing both shocks and it will take a few days to get them. 4 days later I pick up the car today, get home and look at the shocks - they replaced 1 and the otherone is now coated in oil and dripping also - WTF - 3 trips to have something fixed that was less of an issue than the problems they created - on top of that they scraped the rear bumper. It takes me 1.5 hours driving to drop off and get home, plus the wait - so 4 hours a trip - I am now out 8 hours of my time and the thing is broke worse than when I take it in. How can anyone be so completely incompitent?

 

rklages, which dealer in MA did you go to?

 

Watertown - to give them some credit, when I called they where besides themselves and send a guy out to grab my car and leave me a loaner, they are going to replace the shock I originally asked to have fixed and fix my bumper back to new, still would have rather avoided the whole scenario, but they seem intent on making good on it - never had another problem there before.

My favorite part is the paperwork

"Customer states there is a dark fluid leaking out of the drivers side rear shock absorber since the last tsb service"

Technician underneath writes

"Leaking, the technician replaced the leaking shock on the right rear, road tested and repair is ok"

What's funny is they ordered the left shock because they didn't have it saturday, but today called and said they had it so they could fix it today, so they must have ordered both of them and then the tech was handed the right side one and told to put it on and never looked at the other side or something!

 

Thats the dealer I use, they are usually pretty good. Whats more important I think, is that they are not giving you the run around and attempt to make you happy.

 

I think I'm beginning to love my clunk

 

I actually miss my clunk - it was so much less of a hassle - apparently the shock (the correct side) is fixed now and they will drop at my office in the morning. At least they have done what they can to not incovenience me for the mistake, so at least I can appreciate that!