| Author |
Message |
    
Xb9
| | Posted on Monday, March 05, 2007 - 12:09 pm: | 
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I just shipped my old reflector housings to Buell today, after I had received the email letter from them. It's very good to see that Buell is responding to our concerns. I'm confident they will act accordingly when they see these housings first hand. |
Hkwan
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 06, 2007 - 03:58 pm: |
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...so, before shipping out the bad housing to BMC, I would need an email from them first. How do I get an email from them, by addressing the issue on their web site?
So I guess the bike would be down for the time being while the old/new housing is in transit? |
Damnut
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 06, 2007 - 07:37 pm: |
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Hkwan......... there are a few of us that received emails from Buell to send in our headlights. If you didn't get an email then don't send in your lights. They will not have your info. Buell wanted our lights so that they can look at them to determine if there is an actual issue with the XBR headlights. I don't know if they are looking for more people to send in lights for them to look at but you should call them to find out. If they are not then be patient until they come up with an answer to the issue. We will be keeping everyone that didn't send theirs in updated as we find out. |
Hkwan
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 06, 2007 - 07:43 pm: |
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Not a problem. I will just wait for updates then. I was just wondering if I need to do something in order to either let BMC get more data or get more actual failed parts, that's all.
If it is up to me I would rather not send in the part since I can still ride the bike right now. Without the headlights the bike isn't rideable, even in the day time due to DOT regulations. |
Cereal
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 06, 2007 - 08:16 pm: |
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Hey Hkwan, go to http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/17/ 258671.html?1172877244 ,PM Court your info, and he will forward it to Buell. That's how they had our contact info to begin with. |
Hkwan
| | Posted on Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 06:09 pm: |
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Update from anyone on this? |
Fdl3
| | Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 10:41 am: |
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I just shipped three(3) example units last week. Looks like they will arrive at Buell today. |
Xb9
| | Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 12:57 pm: |
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I spoke with Buell Customer service today, they received the housings I sent in and are going to ship the replacements to my local dealer for me to pick up. Only thing they told me is that they will be using the examples to work with the headlight vendor on a resolution. Looks like they are on top of it. We'll wait and see what happens. |
Hkwan
| | Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 01:13 pm: |
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That's nice, Xb9. Wondering if they will work on a solution for those who have the bike and have issues with the housing already.
No timeframe included in the feedback of when they will start working with the vendor? |
Xb9
| | Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 02:53 pm: |
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I got the impression they are already working with the vendor on it.
Only thing I can suggest if you have the problem and it needs immediate attention is to contact Buell Customer service |
Reepicheep
| | Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 09:11 pm: |
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I'd go out on a limb here and say that if they have already helped some number of people based on random internet postings, that when they get the problem worked out they will take care of everyone else.
Hey Toyota! My 2003 Sienna ate a top rear O2 sensor at only 50k miles. Where do I send that for a refund for my almost $240 sensor? |
Hkwan
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 01:27 am: |
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Ree, I don't know about random internet postings but I would think they did some research on their own and did discover that those powder coating they used on the housing isn't appropriate for headlights. You really think they would take care of number of people just from random postings?
I bet you if the issue with your Sienna O2 sensor is as big of a problem as the light housing issue at way less than 50k miles (may be 10% of 50Kmiles) Toyota would be doing something quickly. |
Reepicheep
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 10:29 am: |
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Agreed. They would have found the problem, but they probably would not have engaged individuals based on internet postings to resolve it. It would have been a normal dealer bulletin or recall.
I just think it's cool that Buell is being so aggressive in finding and resolving the issue, and willing to involve people that participate in an open public forum to do so. Its the fastest way a company will get to a solution, but there be dragons there. Were my company suggesting that approach, I would strongly suggest they are accepting significant risks doing so. But I would then be thrilled if they had the balls to actually do it.
This is kind of a "dragons be damned, lets fix the problem the fastest way possible" decision, and I respect the "corporate courage" it took to make it.
The Sienna O2 sensor is actually a fairly widespread problem and Toyota already sort of dealt with it once, but by doing as little as they could. Mine (heating element blown, but sensor actually OK) was supposedly a "after the fix" unit. The Tundra's and Camrys from a year earlier had some sort of "kind of fix it but sweep it under the covers" response. My impression was that they would not help you past the 04 cut off date when they "fixed" the part. A google search will show up all sorts of problems.
I know my Toyota dealer was less then helpful. They charged full retail for the part, and also told me the wrong location (Given by both the parts guy and the mechanic) based on the ECM error code that I gave them.
I was also pretty ticked that when my Toyota ECM detected the bad O2 sensor heating element, it just slapped the whole bank of cylinders (3 of the V6) into default map mode, meaning the thing was running insanely rich. The heating element in the sensor was bad, meaning that the sensor took 60 seconds to start reading correctly rather then 15 seconds, but after that it was presumably as good as any other sensor. But the engine just ignored it and went into "carbonize my engine and exhaust" mode.
But I digress  |
Hkwan
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 12:19 pm: |
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Would it be because the headlight issue from the XB-R's is closer to a safety issue in comparison to say an O2 sensor therefore Buell is paying some attention to it?
When the headlight fails the bike isn't rideable at all (at night at the least). Sounds like that Toyota O2 sensor is a PITA. |
Reepicheep
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 12:59 pm: |
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I still have scars on my right forearm.
You should see the holes they have in there to access that thing. And a special thanks to whoever put that little hose clamp with the razor sharp edge right where your forearm has to be wedged (and repeatedly turned). Turn, slice, turn, slice, turn, slice. |
Hkwan
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 27, 2007 - 12:07 pm: |
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Any update from BMC for those who have sent their housing in? |
Fdl3
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 27, 2007 - 01:10 pm: |
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Any update from BMC for those who have sent their housing in?
Negative. |
Court
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 27, 2007 - 01:47 pm: |
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>>>This is kind of a "dragons be damned, lets fix the problem the fastest way possible" decision, and I respect the "corporate courage" it took to make it.
You are correct. It's also difficult to explain to folks the time it takes to investigate, determine root cause, re-engineer, submit for approval, wait for govt, make requsted changes, approve, source material, ramp up and supply new parts.
Buell has done a fabulous job but these are not the types of things that run their course in weeks or months. . . I can see "quick" being better than 6 months.
One thing that is clear is that folks, now aware of the concerns of many, have reason to exercise caution.
I'm excited about how this is playing out. |
Hkwan
| | Posted on Friday, May 04, 2007 - 02:39 am: |
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any update / new housing replacement sent from BMC for anyone? anyone got some acknowledgement that BMC got a fix already? |
Fdl3
| | Posted on Friday, May 04, 2007 - 09:28 am: |
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any update / new housing replacement sent from BMC for anyone? anyone got some acknowledgement that BMC got a fix already?
Nothing. |
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