wooway

I wrote a couple weeks ago about hitting 3 HUGE, crater type potholes at 60mph on a highway. It was like a severe roller coaster. We have a 2010 G37x Coupe. It has <4,000 miles on it, 5 months old. It now rides horribly. REAL rough acceleration from 40mph+, at 60-70mph highway speeds the cabin vibrates/shakes, I can feel it at the feet, the middle housing the gear shifter **** sits on. Slow acceleration up to highway speed is very rough, fast acceleration with downshifting is also rough. Coasting at highway speed is ALSO rough and overall the car drives CRAPPY and I hate it.

Taken it to 1 dealer (of 2 available) and 1 import type shop. Both supposedly didn't see anything. Got the alignment, wheel balancing done. A bit better, but not at all fixed and WAY WAY off. Got the SAI/AI measured, and it's WAY off, along with the Right Caster... Tranny/motor mounts apparently are fine (so they say), I don't know how thorough either place did with their suspension inspection. Probably a once over and then blew me off.

Of what's wrong, I've heard:
- left wheel bearing might have been flattened from impact
- front axle bent
- steering knuckle bent/damaged
- tranmission inner workings are damaged somehow
- vague ideads of suspenion damage

thank you to everyone who offers help.... ps. i am near St Louis.
my only plan now is an apt. to a 3rd attempt at remedy is local Infiniti Dealer #2 (then i'm out of options) this coming week...

Thank you everybody.. the car is essentially damaged goods (and BRAND NEW) if I can't get this figured out/fixed, and hopefully under warranty...
-wooway

wooway

Glad to see 55 people have read this and 0 have responded... nice.

1cleanG

iTrader: (53)

yeah bro take it in to a certified infiniti dealer. they have to know what's wrong, not to mention they'll keep replacing stuff since its covered by warrenty.

FM37

iTrader: (2)

FYI Have you considered you bent the rims....get them roadforced. Then you can rule that out as well. Steering vibration = bent rim/wheels not balanced correctly.

Modme

iTrader: (17)

If the wheel bearing is broken, you'd also experience braking issues. When my left wheel met the curb, I replaced the knuckle and the front subframe. My SAI was also off, but it was only on 1 side. You cannot see any physical signs or distortions. The only way to tell that you fixed the broken part is when the alignments go back to spec.

RedG37SNC

I'd take it to a collision specialist. Alignment is an area many shops are going to be weak in unless it's their bread and butter, these guys will be your best bet. You're looking for a shop that does repair work, body, frame & chassis and has alignment facilities. Not a place that sells tires and can do an alignment if you get my drift. You can pretty well be sure it's not going to be something a dealer will do under warrenty and the cost there will be rediculous. They both probably justed looked for apparent damanged and didn't measure a single angle.

wooway

THis was ruled out.. the wheels/tires are, according to their inspection, Hunter machined roadforce balanced, OK.. so no bent rims (I wish that was it, it would be so simple) and the tires aren't lumped or distorted... THanks for the idea bro.

s2ktoEvo

Warranty doesn't cover pot holes sparky. I don't know why the people on this forum keep thinking they do. Have any of you guys actually READ the warranty? It isn't a catchall for anything you do to the car If he's lucky, the dealership will "overlook" the pot hole and TRY to get it covered for him. They'll can make the claim that what he hit shouldn't have caused damage, then hope the factory rep agrees (if they're even willing to try).

The bigger POTENTIAL problem is he's been experiencing a lot of vibration in the shifter coming up through the tranny. Unfortunately it's up in the air whether or not the tranny is actually damaged or it's picking up vibrations from the suspension.

I know MY insurance would pay for repairs on something like this and not even raise my rates (kind of like hitting a deer, you get free pass). But I have a low deductible, so it would depend on which is cheaper.

s2ktoEvo

Did you ever make it over to the other dealership?

wooway

THanks sk2ktoEvo for keeping up with me..
I have been working all this week extra and haven't had a time to even get on the computer. I also haven't gotten in to the 2nd dealer yet.. it requires sitting with the car since I don't have another option for pickup, etc. I hope to go soon when I have the day off.

Also, I found another local mechanic shop that I've taken my mothers Toyota too and have been great with her car in the past.
So I by chance happened to ask the service manager there if they work on Infiniti and he said they do and that he, in fact, was Infinti service manager for 15 years at one of the local 2 Infinti dealers. So I think I will try this route first, then go to Dealer #2 secondarily.

Is the Alignment sheet I attached/posted visible in large enough size to read, btw?

THanks bro.

s2ktoEvo

I can read it, but it doesn't really help. Someone really needs to get under there are look who know what they are doing.

wooway

I talked with an import mechanic shop and the guy told me the best thing to do is take it to a collision repair shop and have them assess/measure the sub frame, chassis, etc.
That there could possibly be something bent at the structural level.. it that is the case, how on Earth is that fixed? It doesn't sound cheap or easy.... I am taking the car in to Dealer #2 on this coming Monday. Wish me luck.

PS. Are the dealer mechanics/shops able to assess damage or error in the chassis/frame? Or are they just able to fix common parts?

THanks sk2 and everyone else.. car still driving like a heap of dung, with only 4,000 miles on it and a large note still to be paid. Wonderful.

RedG37SNC

Can't believe your still messing with this, I'd be nuts by now wanting to know if I had a $800 repair or a $5000+ dollar repair ahead. Call the insurance company talk to them about collision coverage for road hazards like pot holes and mention you have structural damage and see if it's covered. If so get a recommendation and then get the estimate and decide if it's worth claiming.

Pbalos

iTrader: (1)

Just a thought but maybe the inside of one of the catalytic converters broke up from the jolt and is causing alot of exhaust restriction on one side of the engine. That would explain the poor performance and the vibration.