Pontiac Grand Am + water = frustration - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

icy_ca · 11-21-2003, 01:04 PM

Okay, in a '99 Grand Am SE I've had the windshield reset twice after a stone chip made me get it fixed. Everytime it rains I get an inch of water on the driver's floor. After the dealership pulled
off the door panels twice to repair two seperate leaks, I've gotten the windshield replaced for the third time.
Moral of the story...make sure your repairs carry a decent warrantee.
The leaks in the door have shorted out the power locks and windows and trunk release. The dome light needed to be rewired and I'm sure there are connections just held together by the corrosion...
Anybody want to buy a ....?

bigoldalphamale · 11-21-2003, 02:06 PM

sucks man. american cars (not suv's and trucks mind you) still just arent up to snuff on the quality.

89transam · 11-21-2003, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bigoldalphamale
sucks man. american cars (not suv's and trucks mind you) still just arent up to snuff on the quality.

\

wrong

Pragma · 11-21-2003, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bigoldalphamale
sucks man. american cars (not suv's and trucks mind you) still just arent up to snuff on the quality.

Take any car that gets a cracked windshield and a leak - pour water in it. It'll corrode. Now, mind you, I think most imports are superior to most domestics, but there's no need to turn this into that kind of a "haha, domestics are cheap" conversation.

Sorry to hear about the car though, icy_ca. No way to get the dealership to do a thorough examination fo the wiring? It sounds like it's a disaster waiting to happen.

Kurant · 11-22-2003, 07:23 AM

It doesn't need to, but it's true. Domestic CARS are cheap.

However, if it's under warrantey, the dealer has an obligation to that vehicle. Personally, I'd be drilling them to buy it back (The windshield has nothing to do with the leaks in the doors) because of the leaks in the doors, depending on what state your in, I'd also start researching the lemon law.

I had a 1998 Sebring that the passenger side window never sealed on, the battery light constantly came on, driver side door cladding fell off, they replaced it, the paint came off it, they repainted it, paint came off again. Fixed the window, popped out again, brake rotors were warped at 2600 miles, had to be fixed 3 other times before 11,000 miles. I finally researched the lemon law, paid 100 bucks to consult an attorney, and the Dodge/Chrysler dealer here bought it back, and gave me my next vehicle as 500 over dealer invoice. Sold it less then 4 months later, and made 1900$ on the car.

It's a little harsh, but it's your hard earned money. I'd start going about getting rid of the thing, without you losing anything. It's not your fault they built a sub-par piece of shit.

Peryn · 11-22-2003, 08:11 PM

The dealership pulled the doorpanels to get to leaks? And it didn't work? Then electrical stuff shorted out? If that is the case, they should be obligated to repair any electrical stuff that died due to THEIR inability to install it properly. They messed it up, stuff died because of it....they should have to fix their mistake as well as anything caused by it. I would be fairly insistant on this probably.

icy_ca · 11-24-2003, 11:00 AM

So far the dealership has been not to bad with the service. And before we continue to badmouth domestic/import quality control, every car is screwed up okay? There's no reason we should still be moved from point a to point b via controlled explosions.
That aside, water is the most difficult problem to control. Whether that is on a vehicle or a home. We've all heard horror stories of someone's brother's uncle's roomate who had a leak dripping from his ceiling that would not stop because the shingles were cracked on the other side of the house and the water ran for 30 feet before dropping on his ceiling.
Water only needs a pinhole in a membrane to cause major damage, can travel uphill against gravity in the right conditions, and it expands when frozen to make an even larger hole.
When Bruce Lee says "Be like water"...listen.
Thanks all.

Kurant · 11-25-2003, 08:52 AM

People are just giving you advice. If you just want to justify the reasons the dealer can't seem to fix a car, under warrantey, that you purchased, not only the vehicle, but the warrenty too, then why did you even bother coming back here to post? I think you would have known what to expect, everyone hates car dealerships unless your buying a car.

Here is the absolute bottom line.

YOu have a RIGHT to have that car properly warrentied and fixed, for christ sake, you paid for it when you signed for the car. If they can't follow the contract you signed with them, then that is a service not rendered. The HAVE to fix those leaks, they are obligated to it. If they can't do it, get your warrenty money back, or you go bigger, research the lemon law, and the law concerning services like that on, not being rendered, and you get them to buy the car back.

It's ridiculious - dealers all over the nation do things like this, hell, the BMW dealer left the oil plug out of the pan in my M3. The engine didn't seize up or die, but they replaced it because it overheated. They didn't want to at first, but they jepordized the integrity of that car. It's they're job, you paid for it, they have to render the service you paid for. It's contractual.

Personally, I could care less what you do. But if you justify to yourself it's OK that they can't fix it, then your a better man then I am. It's your hard earned money, I guess you choose what to do with it.

icy_ca · 12-03-2003, 10:47 AM

Thanks for that Kurant, I just didn't want this to turn into a slag the domestic thread is all. Also since I deal with homeowners complaints as a builder I know what the dealerships go through.
I do want a car that doesn't leak, goes point A to point B with no trouble and is reasonable to drive and maintain.
Simple.

irseg · 12-03-2003, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by icy_ca
every car is screwed up okay? There's no reason we should still be moved from point a to point b via controlled explosions.

What would you prefer? Horses and buggies? If moving "via controlled explosions" is so "screwed up", why aren't you doing anything to change it?

That aside, are you sure it never leaked before? Mighty odd that you had the windshield replaced and now the doors are supposedly leaking. My guess would be that water is leaking through the windshield, down the A-pillars, and into the door through the wiring bundle going into it.

Elitegibson · 12-05-2003, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by irseg
What would you prefer? Horses and buggies? If moving "via controlled explosions" is so "screwed up", why aren't you doing anything to change it?

I'd prefer a car that was propelled by lasers!

11-21-2003, 01:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
icy_ca Insane Location: Steel Town, Ontario	Pontiac Grand Am + water = frustration Okay, in a '99 Grand Am SE I've had the windshield reset twice after a stone chip made me get it fixed. Everytime it rains I get an inch of water on the driver's floor. After the dealership pulled off the door panels twice to repair two seperate leaks, I've gotten the windshield replaced for the third time. Moral of the story...make sure your repairs carry a decent warrantee. The leaks in the door have shorted out the power locks and windows and trunk release. The dome light needed to be rewired and I'm sure there are connections just held together by the corrosion... Anybody want to buy a ....? __________________ After all is said and done, more is said than done.

11-22-2003, 08:11 PM	#6 (permalink)
Peryn Junkie Location: San Diego, CA.	The dealership pulled the doorpanels to get to leaks? And it didn't work? Then electrical stuff shorted out? If that is the case, they should be obligated to repair any electrical stuff that died due to THEIR inability to install it properly. They messed it up, stuff died because of it....they should have to fix their mistake as well as anything caused by it. I would be fairly insistant on this probably. __________________ Dont cry kid, It's not your fault you suck.

11-24-2003, 11:00 AM	#7 (permalink)
icy_ca Insane Location: Steel Town, Ontario	So far the dealership has been not to bad with the service. And before we continue to badmouth domestic/import quality control, every car is screwed up okay? There's no reason we should still be moved from point a to point b via controlled explosions. That aside, water is the most difficult problem to control. Whether that is on a vehicle or a home. We've all heard horror stories of someone's brother's uncle's roomate who had a leak dripping from his ceiling that would not stop because the shingles were cracked on the other side of the house and the water ran for 30 feet before dropping on his ceiling. Water only needs a pinhole in a membrane to cause major damage, can travel uphill against gravity in the right conditions, and it expands when frozen to make an even larger hole. When Bruce Lee says "Be like water"...listen. Thanks all. __________________ After all is said and done, more is said than done.

12-03-2003, 10:47 AM	#9 (permalink)
icy_ca Insane Location: Steel Town, Ontario	Thanks for that Kurant, I just didn't want this to turn into a slag the domestic thread is all. Also since I deal with homeowners complaints as a builder I know what the dealerships go through. I do want a car that doesn't leak, goes point A to point B with no trouble and is reasonable to drive and maintain. Simple. __________________ After all is said and done, more is said than done.

11-21-2003, 02:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
bigoldalphamale Loser	sucks man. american cars (not suv's and trucks mind you) still just arent up to snuff on the quality.

11-22-2003, 07:23 AM	#5 (permalink)
Kurant Junkie Location: Don't worry about it.	It doesn't need to, but it's true. Domestic CARS are cheap. However, if it's under warrantey, the dealer has an obligation to that vehicle. Personally, I'd be drilling them to buy it back (The windshield has nothing to do with the leaks in the doors) because of the leaks in the doors, depending on what state your in, I'd also start researching the lemon law. I had a 1998 Sebring that the passenger side window never sealed on, the battery light constantly came on, driver side door cladding fell off, they replaced it, the paint came off it, they repainted it, paint came off again. Fixed the window, popped out again, brake rotors were warped at 2600 miles, had to be fixed 3 other times before 11,000 miles. I finally researched the lemon law, paid 100 bucks to consult an attorney, and the Dodge/Chrysler dealer here bought it back, and gave me my next vehicle as 500 over dealer invoice. Sold it less then 4 months later, and made 1900$ on the car. It's a little harsh, but it's your hard earned money. I'd start going about getting rid of the thing, without you losing anything. It's not your fault they built a sub-par piece of shit.

11-25-2003, 08:52 AM	#8 (permalink)
Kurant Junkie Location: Don't worry about it.	People are just giving you advice. If you just want to justify the reasons the dealer can't seem to fix a car, under warrantey, that you purchased, not only the vehicle, but the warrenty too, then why did you even bother coming back here to post? I think you would have known what to expect, everyone hates car dealerships unless your buying a car. Here is the absolute bottom line. YOu have a RIGHT to have that car properly warrentied and fixed, for christ sake, you paid for it when you signed for the car. If they can't follow the contract you signed with them, then that is a service not rendered. The HAVE to fix those leaks, they are obligated to it. If they can't do it, get your warrenty money back, or you go bigger, research the lemon law, and the law concerning services like that on, not being rendered, and you get them to buy the car back. It's ridiculious - dealers all over the nation do things like this, hell, the BMW dealer left the oil plug out of the pan in my M3. The engine didn't seize up or die, but they replaced it because it overheated. They didn't want to at first, but they jepordized the integrity of that car. It's they're job, you paid for it, they have to render the service you paid for. It's contractual. Personally, I could care less what you do. But if you justify to yourself it's OK that they can't fix it, then your a better man then I am. It's your hard earned money, I guess you choose what to do with it.