Grounding Issue

L

lsintamp

Member
Location
Tampa, FL
2004 FX35, replacement battery 18 months ago....

No power anywhere... radio, lights, nothing.... Died in a mall parking lot...

I took the battery out and had it tested - tested OK. When I put it back, noticed the ground cable did not tighten up snug on the battery post. Couldn't tighten it any more, but I was still able to turn the ground cable on the post...

Made a good ground while my wife tired to start the car.. still no power.

Tow ($75) to local dealer. They called me later and said it's bad ground points and they need to fix them all (including the battery terminal)... all this for $600.00

Told me it's a common issue with the FX35 and a reall pain in the ass to fix.

I'm having a hard time believing that fixing grounds is going to run me $600....

UGH

Anybody have any insights to share???

:mad:

Len
 
Probably the same response I'd have.......never heard of bad grounding issues with FX's, some of us have stepped up to grounding systems for advantages outside the OEM system but it sounds like the dealership might have had their way with you OR they explained what had to be done badly. Is the repair a done deal and did you pay? Did they physically show you the problem?
 
I can comment on the the ground post on the the battery....
the metal on the clamp that goes to the battery is a softer metal and can loose its grip if it way over tighten. you can try to pry it open more and try to retighten.

I cant see $600 for fixing grounds.... what are they really going to do.
Im sure they checked the main fuses, right?! also you trust this mechanic ?
 
I think I'm going to have it towed home and deal with it myself. They would really have to show / tell me something more than bad ground points - common as sliced bread.

---------- Post added at 05:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:53 PM ----------
StuLax18 said:
Common issue with the FX to have failing grounding points? Interesting...
Click to expand...


I guess I mis-understood your comment. Sorry about that, Stu.
 
so where exactly are the ground points? Now they say it will cost me $120 to get it out of the dealer - plus towing back, which will be another $50/75 ... they say that's to cover the techs time to run diags.
 
OK, they claim that the Dash needs to be removed and that is the bulk of the labor... so I authorized the repair and asked that they allow me to inspect the car when the dash is out - so I can verify they are doing the work they claim needs to be done.

They agreed to call me when the dash is out... so we'll see
 
there are no grounding points that the dash needs to be removed for far as I've seen... sounds crazy to me... & to suggest that this is common is rediculous... I'm curious now as to what there going to point at & say that was the problem...
 
It's official... but also the last time that FX sees a dealer.

Link to photos (2) of stupid work:

picasaweb.google.com/lsintampa/FX35?feat=directlink


BTW - For sale, 2004 FX35 - very well kept, under 45K miles! Seriously (both the mileage and the for sale).... any reasonable offer will be accepted. Car is in Tampa, FL. If you are intereted - or know someone - I can put more pictures up.

Thanks all for your comments. Once the dealer got the car, there was little I could do. Option one, pay $120 plus towing again to get it out - or pay the ransom.
 
Umm...from what the picture looks like that is NOT removing the dash! The dash would be the top part with the passenger air bag. They just removed the bottom panels and the center control panel.
Any case good luck with the FX getting properly fixed.
 
while it may look totally torn apart, it takes all of 15 minutes to remove what they have removed there... don't make any sense... if they know where this ground problem is since it's so "common" then why'd they need to take both sides & the center down... that looks like a typical smoke & mirrors type "setup" done for the customers sake to make you think they actually did something... unbelieveable from a dealership, you'd expect this from a local ripoff type garage where your at there mercy cause your stuck... & yeah, that's far from removing the dash...
 
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