Does the warranty cover....

[powrtrippin]

Warped rotors and "boiled brake and clutch fluid?"


Took the bike in Saturday for it's first service interval. It has 5500 miles. Guy calls me yesterday and says that the front tire is cupped and won't pass inspection. I expected this. But, he follows that with "Your clutch fluid and brake fluid are boiled and need to be replaced. You need a coolant flush. There's a slight wobble under light braking being caused by your rotors. They're still within Kawasaki specs but we can rotate one 180 degrees to remove the harmonic vibration. That'll be $850 including the $180 for your service."

Is this guy yanking my chain? Seriously?

[jqram35]

Wobble may be from tire replace it first.....very likely. Fluid flush should be no big deal.

[powrtrippin]

Wobble may be from tire replace it first.....very likely. Fluid flush should be no big deal.

Yeah, I don't mind doing the fluids myself but at 5500 miles? No way.

[jqram35]

No way on coolant flush with just 5500 miles, unless your bike is several years old.

[VirginiaJim]

It would help when asking a question to the group that you post the year of the bike, how long you've had it,  and the dealer name.  The more information yo provide the better we can help you.

If the rotors are warped it's a warranty item.  They should have tools (dial indicator) to prove that.  How can the tech tell that the fluid is 'boiled"?  Is it totally black?  I flush my brake fluid every year.  Coolant should be changed every two years.  Flushing the coolant and brake fluid is no biggie and someone, assuming you tell us your location, might be willing to help you with that.

You may want to think about changing your tire brand as well.

[jqram35]

What I do every other oil change is suck the fluid out of the brake and clutch reservoirs and replace it. I think it helps keep the fluid fresh, a total flush should not be needed that soon like you said.

[Conrad]

Warped rotors and "boiled brake and clutch fluid?"


Took the bike in Saturday for it's first service interval. It has 5500 miles. Guy calls me yesterday and says that the front tire is cupped and won't pass inspection. I expected this. But, he follows that with "Your clutch fluid and brake fluid are boiled and need to be replaced. You need a coolant flush. There's a slight wobble under light braking being caused by your rotors. They're still within Kawasaki specs but we can rotate one 180 degrees to remove the harmonic vibration. That'll be $850 including the $180 for your service."

Is this guy yanking my chain? Seriously?

I hope that you at least get kissed after a screwing like that!

Does that price include a new tire? Even if it did, it's WAY high for what you've listed.

[CRocker]

Is this the only Kawasaki dealer in your area?

[powrtrippin]

It would help when asking a question to the group that you post the year of the bike, how long you've had it,  and the dealer name.  The more information yo provide the better we can help you.

If the rotors are warped it's a warranty item.  They should have tools (dial indicator) to prove that.  How can the tech tell that the fluid is 'boiled"?  Is it totally black?  I flush my brake fluid every year.  Coolant should be changed every two years.  Flushing the coolant and brake fluid is no biggie and someone, assuming you tell us your location, might be willing to help you with that.

You may want to think about changing your tire brand as well.

LOL, I apologize. I completely meant to do that when I started but accidentally omitted it.

It's a 2009. I bought it new exactly 1 year ago from Manassas Honda Kawasaki. They are the one's doing the service.

Sorry again.

[jqram35]

Id say wait another year for coolant service. I doubt your brake fluid is really boiled. Flushing them may not be a bad idea as they are hydroscopic and may have accumulated some moisture over that long a period of time but probably not needed.

[VirginiaJim]

Ok, a Virginia boy.  There's plenty of us around that can help you in the Old Dominion.  You bought it new last year but it's probably been sitting since sometime in 09.  It wouldn't hurt to change the fluids and it's not that big of a deal.  Are you going to get the tire from them and are they going to fix the 'wobble' under warranty?  Tell them to call the Kwak warranty people and get your rotors replaced.  I don't see how shifting the rotors will cure a wobble.  Brake fluid and coolant condition are not part of the VA Insp. items.  The tire, I can see.  The other stuff, not so much.

[powrtrippin]

I'm going to get a PR3 from Motorcycle-superstore.com and have it mounted locally somewhere. Not sure where to get that done near Stafford, though. I can replace the fluids myself.

On the rotors, he said they're still within specs and that there's just a very slight warping that's causing some very light wobbling in the front end on initial braking. His plan is to rotate one of the rotors. I have no idea what that would do, either.

[VirginiaJim]

I'm in King George so if you need any assistance pm me and let me know. 

[gPink]

I'm going to get a PR3 from Motorcycle-superstore.com and have it mounted locally somewhere. Not sure where to get that done near Stafford, though. I can replace the fluids myself.

On the rotors, he said they're still within specs and that there's just a very slight warping that's causing some very light wobbling in the front end on initial braking. His plan is to rotate one of the rotors. I have no idea what that would do, either.

If they are warped they are out of spec and should be warranteed as a safety item as per Mama Kaw.

[OregonLAN]

Did you flush your blinker fluid?

[DenverC-14]

I got mine changed out under warranty, not even a question asked after they ran their gauge on it. I have a really cool dealer out here in CO though, so seems like it's area/dealer dependent.

[maxtog]

I am no expert in service, but I will add my 2 cents too...

I think "flushing" the coolant is a total waste of time for a bike that has only been ridden a year.  Even changing it might not be necessary, but since it is probably 3 years old, it can't hurt and should be CHEAP.

If it were my bike, I would not let them touch the rotors if the tire were bad.  Replace the tire first.  If you didn't notice this "slight wobble", then don't worry about it.  And if the rotors are bad, that should be a warranty issue, plain and simple.

"Boiled" brake and clutch fluid?  Really?  Hmm.... that, combined with the coolant FLUSH recommendation makes it sound like you are being gouged.

[W14]

Purchased my 09 from the same dealer in February of last year, got what I thought was a good deal from waht appeared to be a good dealership. My bike now has over 15k miles and I have not had the problems with brakes, etc. that the dealer's mechanic says you are having. You need to find out what the $180 service fee covers and also ask if there is a discount since you purchased the bike from them. I also would not get anything done that is not needed.

Regarding the tire, I also purchased my tire from motorcycle superstore but had the local Kawasaki dealer (Richmond VA) install the new tire because not everyone is familiar with the workings of the tire pressure sensor device. 

[stlheadake]

I don't want to hijack this thread, but there is much similarity to what I was going to ask in a 'new' thread.  I DON'T have the dealer issues that the OP does.  But I DID have warped rotors replaced on my 08 about 5k or so miles ago.  I have previously posted about my front brakes 'dragging' and not completely releasing.  This I believe is what has caused my warped rotors in the first place. 

My brake fluid was VERY black, when I flushed it about 4k or so.  I was hoping that this would resolve my dragging issue.  It didn't.  Not all the time, but a lot of the time.  My front wheel won't free spin more than about 1/2 turn when on the center stand.  At first I thought it might be the warped rotors.  But it still does it.  Of course when I had it at the dealer, they didn't experience anything like that. 

So I'm wondering about the 'boiled' fluid.  I feel VERY certain that the warped rotors AND the calipers failing to release completely are directly related.  Is anyone else noticing anything like this...?

[VirginiaJim]

Did you flush your blinker fluid?

That should be directed at the dealer and not the OP....