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I am looking to add the factory trailer hitch to our MDX, but the dealer (Sunnyside in Nashua NH) states that they are not allowed to add the trailer hitch with out also adding the transmission and power steering coolers. WTF???!!! We need a receiver hitch to carry a bike rack and the additional cost is just unacceptable to us. Any ideas or thoughts all?
Should I just investigate a U-Haul Drawtight hitch? Or should I approach other dealers? |
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MUNCH: I pressed my dealer on this and insisted that I would only be using the hitch for my bike rack. They let me have it without the cooling system. Otherwise, I would have taken my hitch business elsewhere . . .
ch |
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Certainly you should be able to buy the hitch without coolers: If your vehicle is rear-ended and needs a replacement hitch, I am sure you can buy one.
Also, the dealer cannot prevent you from adding a hitch without a cooler. Nor can they void your warranty for that, UNLESS you tow ANYTHING. (Moss Magnuson Act)
So , this is where it is sticky: They are playing CYA and want the coolers in case you tow, but they really cannot require it (They can refuse to install them, or discourage dealers from doing so.) Should you put a hitch on, and 49,900 miles later you blow up the tranny, how will they know if you've been towing anything.
Call around, find a parts counter that will sell just the hitch. Also, find the hitch first. Buy it. Then find someone to install it. If you call up asking for an installed hitch you will get service and they will side track you. I bet the parts counter wouldn't blink at some dealerships (unless Acura has started "kitting" these things with a hitch, and two coolers..)
Far as I know, nobody else makes a hitch. Perhaps in the next year there will be enough numbers to make it worthwhile for drawtite.
Come to think of it, the Ownners Manual DOES NOT state that a cooler is required for the hitch. It states it is required WHEN YOU TOW. Clearly, you are not towing, and are not violating anything Acura has told you. See if that gets you anywhere also.
Good Luck
Ard
PS Early on (like from Oct 6 until Oct 15) they were saying the coolers were only needed for towing 2000 lbs or more. They down revised that (to 0 lbs) when they realized they would have a problems determining which warranty claims were due to towing more than 2000 lbs in vehicles (trucks :)) without coolers.
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Thanx all, thinking that I may just go for the coolers to avoid any potential warrantee problems in the future, but I am pissed about it!
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