Tire Shop unable to do alignment?

[matthewmi]

I just took the LR3 to Belle Tire and they said they are unable to align it because it had to have special "OEM procedures"
Anyone else have this issue?

 

[nwoods]

I think that means your shop can't figure out what the settings are supposed to be. I had no problems at Big-O tires

 

[roverman]

I had mine done at Belle Tire. First time I went in they said same thing as yours. After finding out that my LR actually farms their alignments out to---you guessed it---Belle Tire, I went back a second time and they did it. Something like $80 instead of $200.

If the MI in your name means Michigan, I'm there too. Do you go to Lavery or Erhard?

 

[matthewmi]

LR or Grand Rapids. Which Belle tire did you have do it? Maybe i can have them call to figure it out

 

[matthewmi]

Oh, And i even brought the alignment specs... Go figure

 

[roverman]

Belle Tire in Novi. Belle Tire in Plymouth said they couldn't, then when I told them I'd just take it to Novi because LR Farmington Hills said that's where they would get it done, they 'magically' figured out how to do it.

 

[JohnKel]

Roverman when did you have the alignment done ? there is a revision to the align procedures and target toe settings as of 03 Oct 2006 (TB LA204-005 ), part of which states "all vehicles equipped with EAS sent for sublet MUST have been placed in "tight tolerance" geometry setting mode prior to delivery using IDS", this may explain their reluctance HTH

There is also a procedure mentioned for coil spring suspension vehicles.

Cheers
John

 

[roverman]

John, I believe it was before that. As I said though, my particular dealership has an arrangement with Belle Tire so I'm sure they would keep them up to speed on this. But you're right, other Belle Tires may not have the same arrangement with other dealerships. If I was Mathew I certainly would not force a tire shop to do a service that they say they don't know how to do. What exactly does that revision mean? It sounds like it is just talking about lifting the truck and taking care of the air susp?

 

[JohnKel]

. What exactly does that revision mean? It sounds like it is just talking about lifting the truck and taking care of the air susp?

Roverman, I'm not sure what it means, I just copied what was on the TB, but my SWAG would be that IDS refers to onboard diagnostic settings.

The revision also states that "this simple IDS process replaces and eliminates the requirement to perform a suspension calibration (1.1 hrs) in association with the alignment process" Greek to me !

VIN 5A000360 to 6A403382 are affected ( forgot to include in above post)

HTH
John

Edit: a search reveled IDS = Intergrated Diagnostic System, so they may have to lock the suspension at a specific height ?

 

[matthewmi]

I just am dropping it at the dealer while i am away on business this week. The windshield washer stopped working too so it all worked out. I'll see if i can find out from them what the big mystery is.