Back-ordered OEM parts

[nater]

I've got LSD in my 2000 Trooper LS 4x4. (Factory).

Nate

[WyldWeasel]

Hey, VehiGAZ I just found out something from my local dealer which may apply in your case. Because the hunny and I each have salvage vehicles which have both had the hoods replaced, I ordered two stickers (those ones that go under the hood that talk about emissions and tune ups and such). This was about 6 1/2 weeks ago, when I decided to go ahead and paint my Ebony (and at the time I was seriously considering buying the hunny's Proton, which I knew had no sticker cause the salesman told me over the phone).

They said it'd be in in a week, two tops. Two weeks later they said "Huh, we don't know what happened, call back tomorrow." Two weeks later, they said "Try next Thursday." Last week, they said the same. Finally, I walked into the Parts Department today, while I was waiting for the hunny's Proton to get the SDM module replaced prior to my CHP inspection tomorrow (Because the California DMV apparently doesn't believe any other state can perform reliable or accurate safety inspections).

Lo and Behold, they had ONE of the stickers I ordered (the other on b/o). The guy at the counter said that the delay was caused (due to GM pulling out of Isuzu) because the dealership had recently ceased being an Isuzu dealer (meaning, they no longer sell the new Azz-enders) but their Parts and Service Departments will continue to service Isuzu products. So the dealer got a new dealer number and all the old Isuzu parts orders went poofy-bye-bye into the ether, looking for the old dealer number. So they had to reorder it. With their new dealer number. After, of course, I pestered them enough to realize I was serious about getting my parts.

This may be the cause of some of your delays. Meaning that Merlin can certainly help, since St. Charles Isuzu probably isn't pulling out of selling Isuzu's any time soon.

[VehiGAZ]

Weasel,

Thanks for the info! Unfortunately, I don't think that's the problem underlying my situation. The dealer ordered a slew of diffy parts at the same time and got most of them - we're just waiting for the last one. The service manager had a "conversation" with the parts manager about this situation yesterday, so hopefully there will be some resolution coming out of it. Or at least some information! What's most frustrating for me is not knowing at all when the part will come in.

The service writer I deal with there said that the parts manager has access to the computerized inventory info for the whole country, so if another dealer has the parts, he will know and will be able to get them, but that either has not happened or they are not out there anywhere. Of course, maybe their fancy-pantsy computerized inventory system is not as well-connected as it sounds, but there's not much I can do about that.

I think the true base issue is that Isuzu is barely functioning as a US car company, keepign their staffing and inventory to a minimum, regardless of how many Isuzu vehicles are on the road right now. That's why you can't get parts and you can't get a phone call returned.

[VehiGAZ]

PS Weasel... me likey-likey your copper paint job!!! What color is that? Is it a stock color on another car?

[Locomigo]

Thats exactly why I sent you Jerry's way. he's somewhat off the isuzu grid, but somehow has oodles of parts. not to mention the singlemost knowledgable person that I know when it comes to Isuzu product.

Have you heard from him?

[VehiGAZ]

I just this very minute sent Jerry an e-mail with the part numbers I'm looking for. So who is the Jerry guy, anyway? Does he have his own shop?

I'll post them here, too:

8970629711 Cage Assembly (for rear differential)
8970752163 Coupling
8943762611 Nut
8944080851 Seal

I'm calling Merlin next. Apparently, the parts manager still had nothing more to offer.

Thanks for the help everyone!!

[Locomigo]

Dont remember exactly Jerry's story, but IIRC, he was the service trainer for the SouthEast area (Atlanta, GA) for Isuzu America for years.

He knows his stuff, and we have gotten more help from him, parts, advice, information, etc than any other person ever. He is genuinely HAPPY to assist.

[Moncha]

Thanks Keith.. It's great to have additional resources.
Is there more info than just the email addy for Jerry?.. If there is, can you forward it to me?
I posted what we have in the Web Links and Parts and Accessories sections for easy reference.

[VehiGAZ]

I can't hate on my dealer that much in this instance - they gave me a FREE LOANER for the entire time my VX was hanging in the shop with its pants pulled down. The loaner is a 2004 Suzuki Grand Vitara - which I used to take an old crapper to the dump. :-)

On the other hand, I actually checked under the hood and counted cylinders to confirm the "V6" claim on the back of it. It had a six alright - but only 2.5 liters. :-(

[WyldWeasel]

PS Weasel... me likey-likey your copper paint job!!! What color is that? Is it a stock color on another car?

That would be 1998 Isuzu Copper Orange Mica (838 code, iirc), a color that was seen on some Amigos and recommended by E Zoo Zoo One. I chose it because a) I like color, as opposed to white, black, or silver, and I was going to have to paint anyway; b) it works really well with the Ebony's red and black interior; and c) it was a stock Isuzu color, and I giggled every time I imagined some so called expert wandering over and saying I had a JDM model due to it being orange (The JDM color is a different color, I think it's called Sunburst Orange Mica code 766?). You can read the whole story in the VX Mod forum HERE

/end thread hijack

[VehiGAZ]

Well, Merlin is an amazing help!

I called him as suggested, and he was able to find 3 of the 4 parts through their "OE Connetction" part inventory service. In five minutes, he managed to do more than my dealer's parts manager has gotten done in 3 weeks. I'll give my dealer the benefit of the doubt on this point for the time being - maybe they do not subscribe to this service.

Secondly, he had me check to make sure that my dealer's part order was properly upgraded to "Customer Care" status with my VIN (meaning I'm waiting for it). I'm not sure that this was done, either.

Third, he had me call Isuzu Customer Service as an additional shake-the-tree measure. That's when things got confusing - the service rep said that he was showing those parts available, and he did not know why the dealerships were showing them unavailable.

I sent the part numbers to Jerry, but he hasn't gotten back to me yet. I'm still in need to the cage assembly, which doesn't seem to be available anywhere.

PS - Thanks for the info on the paint job, Weasel. I saw that thread a few weeks back but never read it, since I thought it was sacrilegious!! Now I see what great taste you have, and so all is forgiven. :-)

[VehiGAZ]

So get this...

After locating 3 of the 4 missing parts myself and calling Isuzu customer service and having them call my dealer directly, all of a sudden-like the missing parts are en route and should be there within 3 more days! Go figure...

Loco - Your man Jerry found ALL of the parts in one day (better than Merlin, indeed). Of course, I apparently don't need them now, bit still...

I'm trying not to think about this situation too much, because it's only going to get me pissed off - I should wait until I have my VX back before I analyze it any more. But from where I'm sitting, it certainly seems that the parts manager at my dealer was not doing his job, and only started to do it after I started looking for the parts myself. For me to be without my VX for FOUR WEEKS because he was being lazy about dealing with Isuzu just ain't right...