I think my dealer used the wrong fluid in my transmission

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Fire0nic3

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Ok so I went to the dealer a month ago to have my transmission fluid flushed for 30K miles. I just had it done for a better piece of mind. I'm anal about my car so I just have maintenance done when I want to. When I got there the dealer I told the dealer to perform a transmission fluid flush and they said okay. I asked them if they use the Nissan Matic S fluid as stated by the factory service manual and he said yes and that they WILL use it.

So I drop my car off, and get a loaner car. I go back to pick it up the next day and get my invoice paper. It says they performed a flush and used BG Universal Synthetic ATF Fluid 3123. I went and asked why did they use that fluid and not the Matic S fluid like what I told them to use and what they SAID they would use. The service manager told me that is Matic S fluid and that it just says that on the paper. SO I said ok maybe it's just dealer talk on the invoice for Matic S Nissan fluid, and let it slide.

Today I happened to be looking over some previous invoices and decided to look up this BG fluid on Google and see that it's BG's version of Nissan ATF fluid and you are to use it for cars equiped with Matic J and K fluid, but nothing about Matic S like what my 7 speed automatic transmission fluid uses.


I'm so pissed right now. I was lied to because I asked many many many many times over and over if they used Matic S fluid and they told me they did, but all my invoice says is that they used BG 3123 fluid. I also read that not using Matic S fluid will effect driving abaility and deteroation to the transmission.

I'm all worried now and don't know what to do. I'm calling the dealer and complaining about this in the morning. I don't like being lied to at all. It's the one thing that burns me up.
 
I dont know if it is possible or not, I would go back and have them clean it all up and do everything over again for FREE and throw in some more free maintenance while im at it.
 
sounds like a road trip to Aaron's dealership....how many crates of eggs can we fit in the FXs?
 
im in

1.jdTrader
2.FXP35818 lolll


eggs nah no eggs i got something better in mind :D
 
:frown::frown:I fear I'm going to start having problems with my dealer down the road now.
 
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Dealers often use fluids that are compatible, incl. probably the tranny. If they put it in, it's most likely OK'd by corporate. They should have also charged you less for the non-oem fluids. I think you'll be fine, but if the service guy promised one & you got the other, you should have the option of replacement oil.
 
^ They could have also been out of the Matic S fluid or didn't have enough quarts, so used the other stuff as gto says (still not right though)....my dealer said they were a few quarts too short on the Matic S so if I wanted it done, it would take an extra day to get it in.
 
But point is, the fluids are likely approved by Nissan. I promise you, the dealer uses non-OEM stuff all day long. It's cheaper & it works. BG also makes great fluids.
Nonetheless, this is just one more reason to buy your own fluids & take the service to someone you can watch or trust
 
I say go and talk to the general manager from the dealership and skip the service dept manager and bitch to him or her. Basically tell them that they need to fix their f@%k up and that if something goes wrong with your FX they will cover it.
 
I know I'm calling the dealer in the morning at 7


I paid $180 for this service with the BG stuff and found out with the Matic S fluid it would be like $300. I would of rather paid $300 and had it done the way I wanted.
 
Call corporate and ask them this (don't tell them what happened)...

"I want to do a transmission flush on a 2009 FX. It states the transmission uses Matic S. If I use BG Universal Synthetic ATF Fluid 3123 which is equivalent of Matic J and K, will it be ok?"

I suspect they will tell you it may void the warranty and that you should not use Matic J or K or its equivalent in your 7 speed transmission as it may cause damage.

Document the person you spoke to and the number/time date you called.

Now that you have it on record that they said this could potentially cause damage, (although, it most likely won't) you should tell them what happened. If they then tell you it should be ok... you have them on record saying otherwise. They will most likely tell you to take it back to the dealer and have it refilled with Matic S. Tell them to contact the dealer and have it done under goodwill.

Next, tell them because they said it could cause damage, you have concerns that your transmission is now compromised. Push for an extended warranty on the transmission. Emphasize that THEY said it could cause damage. They most likely will backtrack and either say it's effects are minimal is used for a short time or its compatible just not recommended. Push them on what happens if there is damage or premature wear. Push hard for extended warranty on transmission.

Be professional and courteous, focus on what they say regarding using Matic J/k instead of the fact it was the wrong stuff. Oh yeah, they may try to shift the blame on you saying that you told them the wrong fluid name. If they do, say this... you told the dealer to use the correct the stuff. The dealer is the EXPERT and should have used the correct stuff. They are the EXPERT and you relied on an expert. (It's one of the elements to establishing a legal claim should you need to later on).
 
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^^^ I don't agree that the BG fluid is comparable. "BG's version of Nissan ATF fluid and you are to use it for cars equiped with Matic J and K fluid" This means it lasts only 30k miles as opposed to 100k miles. Saying the trans was changed with oil that lasts 100k miles with oil that lasts 30k miles is comparable? Our 2nd gen trans use Matic S, which is full synthetic and is a new updated formula that lasts 100k miles and is why it's more expensive.

I think the point is that the dealer lied. Aaron asked for something and got something else. It was deceiving. Unacceptable and not comparable. Even if it was comparable, they should have called and told him about his options (my dealer did that with me when I requested a trans flush).

^^^This was in response to gto's message, but after my post, I noticed 3 new posts while writing my message! lol
 
ocal21 said:
I say go and talk to the general manager from the dealership and skip the service dept manager and bitch to him or her. Basically tell them that they need to fix their f@%k up and that if something goes wrong with your FX they will cover it.
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Their position is going to be that the damage is minimal if any regardless of who you talk to. The best you'll get out of them is maybe they refill with the right stuff for free. Any damage now or in the future will be denied and you will have to go to court to prove the wrong fluid in the transmission for however many miles is the cause of any damage. You will have to have experts examine the transmission and submit a expert report stating that the cause of the damage is specifically linked to the use of this BG fluid during this time. I suspect you will not find any such expert nor will it be worth your time and expense.

If you want anything besides a free drain and fill is to talk to corporate and hopefully they will say how horrible it is to put Matic J/K fluid in a transmission that requires Matic S thereby giving you a prima facie case that their mistake is the cause of the damage.

Corporate will have to stick to the policy that Matic S requires Matic S and anything else could cause damage. It's a CYA move. Your local dealer will stick with the fluids are compatible. Corporate's stance here will supersede local dealer. You need to involve corporate.
 
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rijc99 are you a lawyer or something lol? Good points you brought up there.
 
Yes but in California so YMMV.

Well, I guess I've got to put this in. My previous comments are not to be construed as an attorney client relatiinship nor is it meant to be legal advice. Please consult an attorney licensed to practice in your state for legal advice if needed.
 
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i said to myself (reading few sentences of your first post) this guy is in legal practice, the way you construct your sentences and insight.. What kind of attorney ? if you dont mind

rijc99 said:
Yes but in California so YMMV.

Well, I guess I've got to put this in. My previous comments are not to be construed as an attorney client relatiinship nor is it meant to be legal advice. Please consult an attorney licensed to practice in your state for legal advice if needed.
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I just got off the phone with the dealer who said their going to replace the BG fluid with the Nissan Matic S fluid. All I have to cover is the price difference it would of been. NICE props to the dealer willing to fix this issue.
 
Let's see if they go through with their word. Hopefully they put in the right fluid and not pull one of those "oh we did it" meanwhile they didn't.
 
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