Nissan Westgate horror story

[isa1023]

It's been a while since I posted here at Tsikot. However, I think it's about time I put one here as a warning.

Since bought brand new in 2007, our Sentra GX has always been casa-maintained by Nissan Westgate. We bought it because of the make's specialty: air conditioning.

For seven years, the aircon did well until last week when the blower stops blowing air when a certain low temperature is reached. Before anything else, I know that compressors stop automatically once the desired temperature is reached (as set on the thermostat) and that is not the issue here.

The Problem: Aircon blower stops blowing air intermittently, regularly.

When the problem surfaced last week, we immediately took the car to Nissan Westgate to have it checked 28 June 2014.

Their recommended replacements:
Expansion valve: P3600.00
Fan belt: P1200.00
Receiver drier: P6300.00
Freon: P1500.00
O-ring: P180.00
Micro-filter: P1800.00
Total: P14580.00

We decided to get a second opinion from a non-casa aircon specialist, since the warranty is over anyway.

The Culprit: Busted thermostat.

Which costed us around PHP2000.00 on parts and service. Now, aircon is back to good shape.

The Horror: We found no aircon filter in the box!

Now, going back to the horror story, we called them just today (5 July 2014) and talked to a service advisor named Jasmine. We told her the story and their over-quoted/over-priced (read: casa-priced) PHP14580.00 estimate which was actually resolved by a PHP2000.00 solution.

Jasmine kept on insisting that over the last two years (since the warranty expired 2012), we might have had the car possibly checked outside the casa, and that it is impossible that we kept it straight casa-maintained. Why? Is it because it's just an entry-level Sentra and we don't have money to maintain the car through casa? She said it in a very arrogant tone, much to our disdain.

We are firm that the car is straight casa-maintained and we have records.

The most recent (and probably last) casa visit was just Saturday (28 June 2014), which as mentioned was for to have the aircon checked and when they quoted PHP14680.00 for repair. During today's call, when we pointed out about the missing cabin air filter, they said "Wala kaming ginagalaw jan. Visual inspection lang ginagawa namin." Really? Are they really that kind of an aircon god who can just visually check a system and immediately quote PHP14680.00?

The Aggravator: She was vindicated that the missing cabin air filter is not their fault. And said it in a very arrogant tone. Siya pa yung galit.

Alright, we know the car is seven years old and chances are some parts are already due replacement. However, the issue here is the poor quality of their after-sales service of their current service advisors. The most civil and least aggravating response would have been a promise to investigate the cause of the missing part and keep us posted on the issue.

(We never had problems like that with the previous one named Egay. He gave us great service, but he's not with them anymore.)

The Mystery: Who was the cause of the missing filter?

We have our eyes on the Sylphy. Honestly, I like Nissan's clean and non-pretentious simplicity when it comes to exterior design. Although we know this could have been an isolated case of poor casa service, this changes everything.

The Toyota Altis is finally growing on me anyway. Oh, and the Ford Ecosport.

Good riddance, Nissan!

Your after-sales and service staff deserve your low re-sale value stigma.

[_Cathy_]

Jasmine kept on insisting that over the last two years (since the warranty expired 2012), we might have had the car possibly checked outside the casa, and that it is impossible that we kept it straight casa-maintained. Why? Is it because it's just an entry-level Sentra and we don't have money to maintain in through casa? She said it in a very arrogant tone, much to our disdain.

We are firm that the car is straight casa-maintained and we have records.

The most recent (and probably last) casa visit was just Saturday (28 June 2014), which as mentioned was for to have the aircon checked and when they quoted PHP14680.00 for repair. During today's call, when we pointed out about the missing cabin air filter, they said "Wala kaming ginagalaw jan. Visual inspection lang ginagawa namin." Really? Are they really that kind of an aircon god who can just visually check a system and immediately quote PHP14680.00?

The Aggravator: She was vindicated that the missing cabin air filter is not their fault. And said it in a very arrogant tone. Siya pa yung galit.

Alright, we know the car is seven years old and chances are some parts are already due replacement. However, the issue here is the poor quality after-sales service of their current service advisors. We never had problems like that with the previous one named Egay. He gave us great service, but he's not with them anymore.

The Mystery: Who was the cause of the missing filter?

Please report that woman to management. She does not deserve to have a customer service role. This makes me so mad!

The service adviser should be able to trace the mechanics that worked on your car.

You can also write a letter to management or Nissan Philippines on the treatment that you got from that dealer. I hope Nissan is as customer centric as Toyota is.

[isa1023]

Hello Cathy. Yes, we'll report the incident to NMPI.

Happy weekend!

[ClaNker]

Wait till you encounter a bad Toyota, Ford, et al casa and remember iba ang presyong casa kesa sa labas. That's why pag out of warranty kana eh sa labas mo na pagawa.

Don't have a problem with my Nissan SA here in the province.

[isa1023]

Good for you sir.

Yun nga po eh, buti may ganitong forums.

Hehe nadala lang po ng emotion sa Altis at Ecosport.

So far, ang okay sa akin na casa service is Honda Santa Rosa. They allow you to watch while you're car is being serviced, although not quite comfortably. Yun lang, mahal po talaga.

And yes I totally agree. Pag out of warranty na, sa labas na pagawa. Grabe talaga presyuhan sa casa.

[uls]

normal lang naman sa mga casa to quote everything kahit di pa sira

parang Rapide mga casa

__


kung first time lang ipapaayos ang aircon at wala pa gumagalaw sa aircon since the car was purchased so lumabas pala ng casa ang brand new car wala filter?

The most recent (and probably last) casa visit was just Saturday (28 June 2014), which as mentioned was for to have the aircon checked and when they quoted PHP14680.00 for repair. During today's call, when we pointed out about the missing cabin air filter, they said "Wala kaming ginagalaw jan. Visual inspection lang ginagawa namin."

tama naman diba? nag bigay lang sila ng quote. wala pa sila ginagalaw

Really? Are they really that kind of an aircon god who can just visually check a system and immediately quote PHP14680.00?

actually they don't even have to do a visual

may template na sila para sa presyo ng aircon repair

[17Sphynx17]

Good for you sir.

Yun nga po eh, buti may ganitong forums.

Hehe nadala lang po ng emotion sa Altis at Ecosport.

So far, ang okay sa akin na casa service is Honda Santa Rosa. They allow you to watch while you're car is being serviced, although not quite comfortably. Yun lang, mahal po talaga.

And yes I totally agree. Pag out of warranty na, sa labas na pagawa. Grabe talaga presyuhan sa casa.

Iniisip ko about yung filter.

In our old Revo, we used to have an issue with the compressor shutting off in the middle of a trip. So we had to turn off the airconditioning and turn it on again just so it can kick in again.

The reason for that was the filter (small 2" by 4" approx) was clogged up. We had it serviced outside casa and they were the one that found it. That service actually asked us if okay to remove the filter. The reason for that was that the compressor was working doubly hard because the filter is choking the fans.

It was okay to replace the filter but the problem will resurface again once the filter is clogged. They asked if okay to just completely remove it. And we said yes since it was an old car anyway and wasn't for heavy use anymore.

I am wondering if the diagnosis for your aircon involved such an act which is why the thermostat was narrowed down (by outside casa shop) and they replaced the filter with a new one (just a guess).

I know the SA should have approached your concern differently instead of insinuating blame immediately just because you already had it done outside. So I would say it should have a reprimand on her part. But the filter issue, it's up in the air and just have NMPi have it investigated at least.

If they say no, that it wasn't them. Leave it at that for me. They did give you a quote for your consideration only and didn't force you to pay that amount.

I usually considering having the car serviced outside casa after 5 years with all our vehicles.

Just me.

[crazy_boy]

Maraming cars ngayon hindi talaga kasama ang cabin (aircon) filter. Like toyota, mitsubishi, honda, etc. There is a provision and you have the option to install one. So possible na wala naman kinuha yung casa.

Sana sinama na ng manufacturer yun.


Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

[BratPAQ]

TS must have known that he had a filter. The car is 7 years old.

Posted via Tsikot Mobile App

[dr. d]

when i bought my 2005 innova, i was all praises, including the cold and strong aircon. i had it serviced always in the casa, because of the warranty, and because tamad ako.
i found out after 3 years (wana warranty) that i had no aircon filter! i found out because i was having it serviced outside, and it was the banawe guy who informed me that i had no aircon filter (after all these 3+ years?!!). well, we looked around for a discarded filter in the shop, found a dirty one, cleaned it up and installed it, all free of charge. ok na saken used, mahal ang bago, e. hanggang today, 5 years later, it's still with me. i just wash it periodically.
when i bought my second innova in 2012, same casa, first thing i noticed was the weaker (compared to my first innova) airflow from the aircon vent. and true enough, when i checked, the aircon filter was there.
i believe that all them toyota cars come out of the factory, with aircon filter installed.

but is it possible that, because the aircon will work anyway and because it takes some hand acrobatics to check, almost no one checks their aircon filter when they buy the car new..?
that the casaboys know this, and target the new filters themselves... no one checks, 'di ba? easy money..

i had my 1997 sentra for 14 years.. i still do not know where the aircon filter is located, if it has one even.. and i consider myself more knowledgeable than the average owner..

[tidus1203]

Actually di yan problem, a lot of cars DON'T HAVE AIRCON FILTERS especially entry level cars to save on costs. The Ford Fiesta for example does not come with one which also shocked a lot of owners. But most higher trim cars come with one...

[baludoy]

^ true. our monty didn't come w/ one too so i had to buy from a reseller here at tsikot.

tinitipid lang talaga tayo ng mga dealers dito sa atin

[Walter]

Sometimes only higher end variants of a model are installed with an aircon filter.

[dr. d]

Sometimes only higher end variants of a model are installed with an aircon filter.

so how do we consumers know which has one, and which has only provision for one?
don't we have a say on whether we want one or not anymore?

[Horsepower]

*isa, you can always go to a different Nissan dealer. So far, happy with Shaw and North EDSA.

Now, I gotta find out if mine has a filter. Saan kaya ito banda? Normally sa front passenger dash area, right?