Suggestions for a response to Yamaha

[SecuLaw]

I took my 2007 in on December 1 to get the new ECU, have some adjustments made, oil change and I had recently noticed that the rear brake was not operating well. The dealer calls and tells me that a part of the ABS for the rear brake (apportioning value if I understand correctly: part number 3P6-25940-00-00) is defective and will need to be replaced under warranty. Dealer orders the ECU and the brake part on December 4. Takes a few days for the ECU to arrive but the dealer is told by Yamaha that they don't know when the brake part will arrive. I wait three weeks and call back to learn that this part does not exist anywhere in the US and we have to wait until it ships from Japan. And the workers in Japan are on a three week vacation! The earliest it will ship is January 8, 2008. So essentially, I'm without my bike for 6 weeks because Yamaha doesn't stock its parts warehouse very well (the downside to "just in time" manufacturing?) Now do you think the Yamaha Finance thinks I can skip a payment while my bike is on hold? Nope. I've been speaking with the Yamaha customer service and they confirmed what I already knew but they are "looking into it" and will get back to me. I'm still waiting.

So I'm without my FJR for a minimum of 6 weeks, still responsible for paying for it during that time, solely as a result of their manufacturing defect and inability to correctly stock parts in the US.

Any suggestions on what I request for recompense? Or am I full of crap and should just suck it up and move on?

 

[FJRay]

I would think that you might as well suck up and move on.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

A friend had his (un-named Euro-bike) rear-drive fail while he and wife were on-tour. The nearest dealer (several states away) couldn't help because there were no (0) parts in the country. My friend contacted his home dealer who took a part off a bike in the shop and shipped it to the out-of-state dealer. Who made the bike whole again while friend and wife toured in a rental car for a few days.

I don't know how it all finally shook-out, financially? But, that's how he continued to ride when no parts were available.

 

[vectervp1]

Look into your state's lemon law. Here in AZ the law states if a vehicle is in the shop for the same repair for X number of days, its a lemon. I think this might be a bit extreme personally, but it may be an option.

 

[FJR Steve]

I would read your finance agreement carefully. Pretty sure circumstances such as the one you described would be covered, in the favour of the finance company.

If it was me, I would be looking for a further extension of warranty (a minimum of 6 weeks would stop me pounding on the dealers/Yamaha's door). Any more than that, would be a bonus.

 

[weekend rider]

I say send Yamaha a bill, file insmall claims court get a judgement in your favor,they will not pay, than after 6 months file a mechanics lean against the company and try to collect once a year. It will create night mares for the company.

what do you get, the satisfaction of "I did it"

In other words like FJray said suck it up

Just an evil thought :angry2:

 

[SockMonkey]

I've seen this question asked on automotive forums numerous times (can anyone say "Land Rover"?), and I believe the general consensus is/was that you don't have much ground to work with. In most cases, unless specifically provided for in your retail finance Agreement, a broke vehicle doesn't preclude one from making their payments. As you're likely aware, there is no such animal as Yamaha Finance in the US. Your contract is most likely held by either GE Money Bank or HSBC Retail Services; neither of whom are particularly interested in anything other than you fulfilling your obligation (and on time).

On a separate note, I am interested in hearing about your rear brake issue (specific symptoms) for reference sake. I'm not conversant in ABS systems (particularly on this bike...), but intuitively believe a broke metering valve is probably not a good thing.

 

[03HiYoSilver]

The earliest it will ship is January 8, 2008. So essentially, I'm without my bike for 6 weeks because Yamaha doesn't stock its parts warehouse very well (the downside to "just in time" manufacturing?) Now do you think the Yamaha Finance thinks I can skip a payment while my bike is on hold? Nope. I've been speaking with the Yamaha customer service and they confirmed what I already knew but they are "looking into it" and will get back to me. I'm still waiting.
So I'm without my FJR for a minimum of 6 weeks, still responsible for paying for it during that time, solely as a result of their manufacturing defect and inability to correctly stock parts in the US.

Any suggestions on what I request for recompense? Or am I full of crap and should just suck it up and move on?

Seculaw,

I know the frustration. If you can still ride the bike, get it back until the parts arrive. I had mine in the shop for 2 months (1 of which was waiting for parts from Japan 2x) and I could not ride it during the best riding months of the year.

If Yamaha Finance will authorize a skipped payment?, GET IT IN WRITING or you will most likely get a Tarnished Credit report.

Otherwise, be patient and appreciate that it is winter time when I wish mine was down.

 

[painman]

SecuLaw, I feel your pain. I had a similar issue on my 06 in that my front brake master cylinder was defective and the dealer told me no parts were available and would have to be ordered from Japan. I then called "Customer Service" and pressed the issue and found out Yamaha keeps an amount of "emergency" parts at the headquarters in CA and they found the part and shipped it to my dealer. Took about a week. Don't know if you've done this route but it worked for me. I have in general found myself calling Customer Service more than I called my dealer to get any satisfaction when it comes to the FJ. It shouldn't be this way be thats the way I've been forced to go. Shouldn't it be the dealer doing all the calling to "Customer Service" and then calling me to let me know what's going on? :angry: Good luck. PM. <><

 

[eworth]

If this is the worst thing going on in your life,

you are doing GREAT!!!! :yahoo:

Just wait it out, it'll come.

 

[SecuLaw]

In most cases, unless specifically provided for in your retail finance Agreement, a broke vehicle doesn't preclude one from making their payments. As you're likely aware, there is no such animal as Yamaha Finance in the US. Your contract is most likely held by either GE Money Bank or HSBC Retail Services; neither of whom are particularly interested in anything other than you fulfilling your obligation (and on time).
On a separate note, I am interested in hearing about your rear brake issue (specific symptoms) for reference sake. I'm not conversant in ABS systems (particularly on this bike...), but intuitively believe a broke metering valve is probably not a good thing.

You're correct on who holds the note but there are options under the uniform commercial code which applies to this situation. Unfortunately, such options are time consuming and the bike will be repaired by then.

As to the behavior of the rear brake, when I engaged the front brake I no longer felt the rear brake engage. When I stepped on just the rear brake it felt "mushy", didn't slow the bike down like before the problem and there was no engagement of the front brake (don't if there is suppose to be or not) but the most noticeable thing was if I really pressed hard I could lock the rear tire which, as I understand, one is not suppose to be able to do on an ABS bike.

I then called "Customer Service" and pressed the issue and found out Yamaha keeps an amount of "emergency" parts at the headquarters in CA and they found the part and shipped it to my dealer. Took about a week. Don't know if you've done this route but it worked for me. I have in general found myself calling Customer Service more than I called my dealer to get any satisfaction when it comes to the FJ. It shouldn't be this way be thats the way I've been forced to go. Shouldn't it be the dealer doing all the calling to "Customer Service" and then calling me to let me know what's going on? :angry: Good luck. PM. <><

I will call Customer Service again on Monday and see if there are any of my needed "emergency" parts in a warehouse somewhere. As far as the dealer is concerned, he felt he has done his job....ordered the part and waiting on Yamaha. If I call the dealer he will call Yamaha but absent my prompting him with a call I'm SOL.

If it was me, I would be looking for a further extension of warranty (a minimum of 6 weeks would stop me pounding on the dealers/Yamaha's door). Any more than that, would be a bonus.

I may go for broke and demand an extended Y.E.S. warranty free of charge. As matters develop I'll post again.

 

[SecuLaw]

If this is the worst thing going on in your life,
you are doing GREAT!!!! :yahoo:

Just wait it out, it'll come.

I'm betting you're one of those "the glass is half full" kind of guys.

 

[Crash Cash]

So I'm without my FJR for a minimum of 6 weeks, still responsible for paying for it during that time, solely as a result of their manufacturing defect and inability to correctly stock parts in the US.

I call ******** on the "we can't get parts" - I'm sure the dealership **** just wants to sit on his *** for the holidays, if they're anything like most of the guys I've met in Florida. The dealerships in Florida are so bad, I bought my FJR in Tennessee. I think I have finally found a knowledgeable/ethical one in Sanford just this week.

However they ARE replacing the bit under warranty, they WERE intelligent enough to detect the problem, and aren't ******* you up the *** like Chevy did for me.

[ABS rant]

I had the ABS fail on my Camaro, and it had the strange behavior of completely releasing the brakes at about 28mph, coasting down to 24mph, then instantly locking the brakes. Plus it would randomly lock the brakes about 10% of the time I touched the pedal. There was other fun to be had as well. I had to pull the relay to disable the system so I could drive it. The Chevy dealership had NO ******* clue whatsoever. I did the trouble code bit and the computer was complaining about the right front wheel encoder ring sensor being defective. Went back to the dealership and they said "no, that's not the problem" - "so what's the problem?" - "I don't know". Independent shops either said "we don't have the equipment to work on ABS" or "we don't want to deal with the liability issues" - this was 10 years ago or so when ABS was something rather new.

So on the way home, I forgot to re-disable the ABS and it locked in the corner and put me into a guardrail backwards at 50mph.

This is why I was hesitant when I asked "so can I get an FJR w/o ABS?" and the answer was "no" - however it's such a damn fine bike, the most comfortable machine I've ever sat on, and since Yamaha isn't American, I bought it. I will buy Chinese before I ever buy American again.

[/ABS rant]

So it's six of one, and half a dozen of the other. It does suck to be without your bike. This is why I have several of them!

 

[v65]

Move further north, then you can claim the bike is laid up during the winter so you won't feel so bad. Sorry, I used up all of my intelligent answers last month.

 

[eworth]

If this is the worst thing going on in your life,
you are doing GREAT!!!! :yahoo:

Just wait it out, it'll come.

I'm betting you're one of those "the glass is half full" kind of guys.

I wish I were but I'm more of a realist. There's really nothing you can do about the part and I'm sure they'll keep their word and get the part to you when they can. As for looking for compensation of some sort, I just see it being more work and grief than it's worth in the long run. I'm in law enforcement and am starting to realize that most of things that upset me are insignificant compared to the messed up lives of those that I deal with on duty. I'm trying to turn over a new leaf and relax a bit. Wound way too tight.

This is all easy for me to say since I'm not the one that is unable to ride the FJR. BUT, before you know it, you'll be back out on the road enjoying a sweeet ride.

 

[LSUBOY]

If I called them, I would be VERY polite and tell them that:

- - - Even though I understand that they don't have the part in the US, that does not deminish the fact that a major company like YAMAHA USA can run an operation like a third world company. and..

- - - That I am throughly displeased with this turn of events....Then from there I would keep at it in a respective manner in an attempt to get them to give me some kind of concession, ie., taller windshield at cost, etc. etc. etc.

I know that you love your bike but how much riding are you going to miss in the next six weeks up in Maryland anyway?

 

[SecuLaw]

If I called them, I would be VERY polite and tell them that:
- - - Even though I understand that they don't have the part in the US, that does not deminish the fact that a major company like YAMAHA USA can run an operation like a third world company. and..

- - - That I am throughly displeased with this turn of events....Then from there I would keep at it in a respective manner in an attempt to get them to give me some kind of concession, ie., taller windshield at cost, etc. etc. etc.

I know that you love your bike but how much riding are you going to miss in the next six weeks up in Maryland anyway?

Believe it or not but my first contact with Customer Service was just as you described. I was calm, stated the problem succinctly and they responded in a professional manner. I suspect it will continue in that vein.

As far as riding in Maryland this time of year, today was 58 degrees with bright sunshine. If I had my bike I would have put in at least 100 miles today, most likely more. I've ridden in 38 degree weather with no problem. The only thing going to stop me is sleet and/or snow and I guess you could add: missing parts for the rear ABS.

 

[Kevin Daly]

Dude, its just your rear brake. Who needs it

 

[Shadow]

I had a similar experience with an XJR.

I was told "all" parts for this bike are available, but they forgot to mention that parts rarely called for are in Japan.

I asked why such a small part couldn't be put on a plane and sent over night.

Not the Yamaha way, goods are sent on the next available shipment.

Took 7 weeks to get the part here, but they did extend the warranty by 2 months.