| monetkins |
Hi Guys,
I bought my first ever 2004 acura mdx (used) from an acura dealer in Toronto, Canada back in Dec 07. (low milage and in great shape)
I had some issues at first with the alignment- had it checked and reset 3 times! I still dont feel that its handling correctly-the steering feels a bit heavy and it feels like its wandering a bit. the dealer is blaming the new Bridgestone tyres that I had fitted and insists the alignment is now fine. I am not conviced that the tires are at fault (although I could be wrong!)
Any suggestions on improving the situation? I really love the stying, the interior, in fact everting about it, but am just not enjoying the drive-so much so that I currently choose to drive the wifes Kia Sorrento!
Any one else had any handling issues? |
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| mdxforever |
3 times ? Do you mean it gets knocked out of alignment every time ? and did you have it set at the dealer everytime ?
Either way, forget the dealer, take it to another tire/wheel shop (the shop where you got your tires from?) and have them check "4-wheel" alignment. Most shops just look at the front end and be done with it. The rear axle adjustment is equally important for handling issues like you are having. |
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| RN7676 |
Tires can certainly cause a car to pull one direction or the other or cause other handling oddities. ... but new tires typically wont do that.
It's a long shot, but maybe your shop is aligning it to the wrong specs.
You might try taking it to a differant alighnment shop. Alighnments are pretty straight forward, it is not something that has to be done exclusively by your Acura dealer.
You might try rotating the tires first. Move the rears to the front. You can do one wheel at a time and use your spare as a placeholder as you work around the car. Or have your tire place do it. Most tire places will rotate tires they sold for free. |
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| monetkins |
Hi guys,
thank you for your feed back. Initially I had the alignment checked at the tire place (when they fitted the tires). The originals were low, we were heading for snow season and it was pulling to one side. They could not complete the 4-wheel alignment as the right rear wheel adjuster was seized.
I took it to Acura (just bought it and its still under an extended warranty). They disagreed about the right rear wheel and set it up using their 4-wheel alignment rig-Told me the right front was out.
A week later I took it back, not happy-they told me the left front was out. A week later took it back-They said the alignment was fine and I had the wrong tires-Told me you can only fit Michelins to an MDX. "Take your tires back and come back for a free alignment check!"
Bottom line, I think you are right and I bet it is that back wheel adjustment. Cheers guys Ill let you know what happens and happy motoring! |
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| Ceenit |
quote:
Originally posted by monetkins
Told me you can only fit Michelins to an MDX. "Take your tires back and come back for a free alignment check!"
There could certainly be a manufacturer's defect in one of your tires.....however the above comment is ridiculous coming from the dealer:eek:
Especially since they sold the cars with both Goodyears and Michelins. And there are lots of satisfied Bridgestone owners on this board. |
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| monetkins |
I took the advice of fellow members, and had the 4 wheel alignemnt done at Midas-Instant cure and the car handles great!
I have done a couple of thousand Kilometres since and I love it! |
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| hammermdx |
| Excellent, and stay away from that dirtbag dealer!! |
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| midnightMDX |
| Glad to hear its fixed. :D |
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| mdxforever |
Awesome! Thanks for letting us know!
Now go tell the dealer to get their act together. Their so called "Acura Experience"..... |
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| oops |
| Yeah stay away from the dealer specially if it's ACURA 2000. They don't know what the they're doing. |
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| RN7676 |
For what it's worth, my local Acura dealer can't seem to get a 98 RL or 05 MDX aligned correctly either. ... but the alignment shops sure can.
Not sure if my Acura dealer has an equipment problem, or technician problem, or alignment spec problem or what. I've given them 2 shots at the RL and 1 at the MDX. |
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