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Hyundai Santa Fe vs Toyota RAV4 vs Mazda CX7 vs Ford Edge

811 messages,  Last post on Sep 15, 2008 at 10:40 AM

You are in the Mazda CX-7 Forum.

What is this discussion about? Hyundai Santa Fe, Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-7, Ford Edge, Honda CR-V, SUV

Messages Page 76 of 82

#742 of 811 TPMS compatibility by vbbuilt

Oct 22, 2007 (4:39 am)

Thanks Calitos and ssfegy for your thoughts.
 
TPMS compatibility is a "must" for me and there are lots of rims that meet that standard. I'm upgrading to 20" rims/tires, so according to TireRack,com, the 245/45-20 is compatible with the CX-7. I'm looking for all-season tires, so tirerack has 6 recommended tires, so I'll problably go with the Kumho Ecsta ASX. As for the rims, tirerack has a cool feature, that allows you to display the rims on pic of the CX-7. Tire Rack also tells you if the rim is compatible with the TPMS.
 
A tire shop here in Leesburg warned me that while OEM TPMS is compatible with a wide range of after-market rims, I'll probably have to get the TPMS sensor reset/recalibrated. The Mazda dealer confirmed that, as well.
 
Catch y'all later! Vince.

#743 of 811 Re: TPMS compatibility [vbbuilt] by carlitos92

Oct 22, 2007 (9:21 am)

Replying to: vbbuilt (Oct 22, 2007 4:39 am)
Recalibrated? I would think 32 psi in an 18" rim would be the same as 32 psi in a 20" rim?
 
The sensors resetting is also supposed to be semi-automatic; there is a procedure in the manual for this for when you rotate the tires, etc. Worked fine for me last time - IIRC, you basically turn the key on and let the car sit for 10 minutes without driving so the radios can resync.
 
P.S. We'll want pictures of those installed dubs, Vince!

#744 of 811 Re: TPMS compatibility [carlitos92] by vbbuilt

Oct 23, 2007 (6:27 am)

Replying to: carlitos92 (Oct 22, 2007 9:21 am)
Maybe recalibrated is bad terminology. All I know is that Mazda said that once the onboard computer detects a change, the tire indicator light on the dash comes on. In order to extinguish the light, I have to bring the car into the dealer, so they can reset the system (their words).
 
I didn' realize that the manual had a procedure, so I'll look into that.
 
As for the pics, I'll definately post 'em when I get the new rims/tires.
 
Vince.

#745 of 811 Re: TPMS compatibility [vbbuilt] by somedai1

Nov 06, 2007 (11:47 am)

Replying to: vbbuilt (Oct 23, 2007 6:27 am)
i think there is also a problem with the materials used in constructing rims - they are different and in order for the sensors to work properly the rim must be made of certain materials?

#746 of 811 Re: CR [astegman] by somedai1

Nov 06, 2007 (12:17 pm)

Replying to: astegman (Oct 17, 2007 12:27 pm)
beware the new car dealer... reset the cel over and over to keep from handling a bigger problem under warranty... That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. The dealer gets paid by Mazda to do warranty work. Mazda does not tel their dealers "do not fix problems if they are under warranty" That statement was just really really dumb. My advise: Beware of the uneducated...
 
can't find the original post of this - but i'm a little late on the reply but whoa - somebody is really trusting - dealers always lose money when they have to honor warranties as well as the manufacturer so dealers are urged to be very "careful" when it comes to honoring warranties because it does cause a loss... so from dealer to dealer you will see differences- mostly it depends on the particular dealers' overall performance - some will quickly resolve warranty issues to retain customers and build customer satisfaction - others will refuse and deny as long as they can... they make more money on initial sales and non warranty services and for them it is all about making money - make no mistake. anytime they have to perform a warranty repair - they lose money on the retail priced service/repair they could have been working on in that service bay... like any other business - the bottom line is what counts... so hopefully your cel or service engine light problems are trivial... sometimes they are... but sometime you're getting the song and dance from the svc dept. good luck...

#747 of 811 Re: CR [somedai1] by aviboy97

Nov 07, 2007 (10:48 am)

Replying to: somedai1 (Nov 06, 2007 12:17 pm)
dealers always lose money when they have to honor warranties as well as the manufacturer so dealers are urged to be very "careful" when it comes to honoring warranties because it does cause a loss
 
That is the most retarded thing I have ever heard. Dealer MAKE money on warranty claims, as long as Mazda does not reject the claim after they examine the defective part. I am a Mazda dealer, and I see the financial reports for the service department.
 
This is the way it works: John Q Customer come in with an issue with his CX-7. It's a CEL. The tech plugs the car into the computer, and the computer says what the code is. This case, it is a gas cap. The tech then tests the fuel filler area with a series of vacuum tests to ensure that the gas cap is properly sealed. If the test shows a leak in the gas cap, the cap is replaced, if the cap shows no leak, and there are no other signs of a leak, the code is reset. If there is nothing to show that there was a problem, the tech cannot fix anything. This CEL is reported to Mazda, and Mazda pays the Mazda dealer for the work. If the cap needed to be replaced, the dealer sends back the faulty gas cap, as well as the diagnostic test the showed a faulty gas cap, and the dealer then gets paid for the work.
 
One would be stupid to think Mazda dealers lose money to do warranty work. Every dealer gets paid by the manufacturer to do work. The only one who loses money is the manufacturer. Dealers are privately owned and operated, and do not operate under direct control of the manufacturer, Mazda North American Operations.
 
Service departments DO make more money on regular repairs that are no longer under warranty, because they get retail value, and full labor charges. Dealers would prefer to do that type of work, because it is more profitable, however, you need to keep your new car service customers happy, or else you will not see them in the future. As long as the service department does that, they will continue to be profitable.

#748 of 811 Re: CR [aviboy97] by carlitos92

Nov 07, 2007 (12:28 pm)

Replying to: aviboy97 (Nov 07, 2007 10:48 am)
If anything, the warranty work is also a way for the dealer to make MORE money by cheating Mazda, just the same way body shops cheat insurance companies by claiming reimbursement for work they didn't perform.
 
I'm pretty sure my dealer billed Mazda for a new gas cap when in reality all they did was try to file the threads down so it would work. As aviboy said, things like this affect how I will view this particular dealer's honesty if I ever go back their for other work, either under warranty or post-warranty...

#749 of 811 Re: CR [aviboy97] by somedai1

Nov 07, 2007 (5:19 pm)

Replying to: aviboy97 (Nov 07, 2007 10:48 am)
semantics - if you have 10 available bays and all the jobs are identical but they are all warranty jobs - do you make the same money you would if they were the same identical jobs not under warranty? NO! ergo you lose money! that is my point... as well as not all dealer service departments are equally honest - integrity is something that is always in question when dealing with auto service depts dealers or other... don't be so sensitive just because you are a dealer but you made my point for me... you make less on a warranty job when the manufacturer pays you... if you make less on the job - i beleive it is akin to losing money... something nobody likes to do - anyway your wisdom is refreshing... thanks!

#750 of 811 Re: CR [carlitos92] by somedai1

Nov 07, 2007 (5:28 pm)

Replying to: carlitos92 (Nov 07, 2007 12:28 pm)
also - if the tech is wrong - parts can be replaced all day under warranty - doesn't mean that the problem is fixed...

#751 of 811 Re: CR [somedai1] by carlitos92

Nov 07, 2007 (6:46 pm)

Replying to: somedai1 (Nov 07, 2007 5:19 pm)
Not semantics. Perhaps you missed his point: though the profit margin may be higher on non-warranty repairs, there is little benefit to the dealer in agitating a new owner who may come back for all that retail-priced service later on, after the warranty is up. The incentive to make that new owner think a service department is incapable or uncaring is non-existent, and any increased profits on retail work likely aren't worth the risk. And making less profit is NOT akin to losing money. Correct me if I'm wrong, aviboy - but having wheels in bays counts. Having empty bays isn't good for anything.
 
Yes, sucky service departments exist (I know - I've got one that I don't go to anymore) but as a rule, there is no motivation for most dealers to tick off their future livelihood.

Messages Page 76 of 82

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