Well, I've only had the car for about a month, but it has one issue that needed to be fixed, and despite the horror stories I've been reading here, Saturday I took it in to the dealer to have it fixed.

The issue was the cigarette lighter and glove compartment light weren't working, and it wasn't the shared fuse.

The good news is they identified it fairly quickly and have the part on order. Apparently the lighter element was bad and was shorting out the fuse each time it was replaced.

The bad news is these guys left a bunch of grease (which I was able to remove) and some small scuffs (that I can't) on the center console. Apparently the way into this is via the stereo, which they pulled and then replaced. The grease was around the radio in the seams, which I cleaned as best I could. The scuffs, honestly, may have been there before - at the top of the console - but I sure don't remember them.

The light in the glove compartment works now, so I guess they wired past it or something like that.

Quick question: at night, when you have your console lights on, is there normally a bright white light shining from behind the seams where the ashtray/airbag warning light/lighter is? Because it wasn't there before, but when I went to fill up last night, the light caught me off guard. I'm thinking they have something loose in there, and this light goes somewhere in the console, and it will get tucked back into place when they replace the element. Anyone know for sure? Or what that light might be?

They had covers all over the rest of the car, but I'm going to be sure to mention the grease and smudges when I take it back, asking (politely of course) if they can watch the grease and a little more careful.

Sigh...I don't remember ever being this concerned about a car before.

 

If they went in thru the radio it probably wasn't grease it was the sticky from the friction tape they wrap the wires with for the radio. When I replaced the radio in my xfire I tried to be as careful as I could and I still got that sticky stuff on my console. Easy to clean with some DL hand cleaner on a soft rag but the dealer still should have cleaned it when they finished the work.

 

marklodi, It sounds like the Ashtray lamp was not plugged back into the ashtray housing. You do access the console stuff by pulling out the radio and there are 2 screws hidden there. That allows you to pull the panel off that runs from above the AC controls to below the switches for the seat heaters, etc. You can reach the Ashtray lamp through here, but that is not the suggested way from DC. It is much easier though.
The grease is probably adhesive from the friction tape that is on the wires for the radio or the switch panel. I almost @#$% when I saw this on mine. I thought I scratched the console up myself.

Good Luck,
Mike

 

Thanks guys. Now that you mention it, it was more sticky than greasy, so I'm sure you're right about the tape.

Also, I didn't realize the ashtray had a light (just like I didn't realize the glove compartment had one until I found out about the lighter socket not working), so again I'm sure you're right about the light not being plugged in there.

I'll be sure to mention both the cleanup and the unplugged light when I take in back in on the 5th.

Thanks again!

 

Yeah they are total baboons. I picked up my car from an oil change and on my door handle pull was the greasy finger prints. I still don't know how he didn't get that all over the steering wheel. as*holes.

 

I am experiencing a similar problem with my cigarette lighter and glove box, neither are working. I am pretty sure I blew the fuse with something I plugged into it, I don't want this to sound silly, but I have located the fuse under the hood I think it is 15A? How do I know if the fuse is blown or not, and how do I remove it just pull it out?

 

Make them repair the smudges!! I had a similar experience with my car. I spoke directly with the svc. manager and demanded they fix the interior. There is a matt coating on the interior plastics that is easily rubbed off. Looks terrible! Dealerships usually have someone they contract with that repairs interiors. The dealer I took mine to, has a guy that repairs interiors for BMWs, and other high end cars. He basically re-sprays the coating. It looks just like new!! Good luck!