Help me diagnose my valet-wrecked car

TR675 · 05-28-2010, 06:39 PM

Gents, thanks in advance for your help - I'm a noob to Z-cars and high speed auto driving in general (my thing is bikes), and not real mechanically inclined so please excuse my ignorance.

I have an '09 370z with the sport/syncro-rev package. I dropped it off at a valet stand last night. When I picked it up two hours later, there was a god-awful smell coming from the car - it filled the parking lot and could be smelled 20 feet away. If you ever set a GI Joe on fire when you were a kid, you know the smell I mean. I've never smelled anything like that before coming from an auto and just assumed one of the valets was doing burnouts with my car. Today, 18 hours later, after driving the car I can still smell it.

When I got into the car I saw a warning light on the dash telling me the Synchro-rev was malfunctioning. I also noticed extra miles on my car and a decrease of 12 miles in my estimated range.

Today driving into work I noticed that when I accelerate in first gear from a standstill, and sometimes when shifting into second the car will lurch forward and I hear a "clunk" coming from, I assume, the transmission.

I'll be taking the car into the dealership for a workup and will pull the ECM data to see what the hell the valets were doing while I was having fun. In the meantime, if any of you have any thoughts about what could be the issue with my car, please chime in.

So far, I'm guessing that they were either doing burnouts and fricassing the tires, or the driver had no idea what he was doing and burned my clutch out. I did spend about 25 minutes cussing the valet attendant up and down the street and filed a report with their company. They're blowing me off for now, but since I know a good lawyer (me), I'm going to ream their butts out if I have to.

Again, I appreciate your help.

Zsteve · 05-28-2010, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TR675

Gents, thanks in advance for your help - I'm a noob to Z-cars and high speed auto driving in general (my thing is bikes), and not real mechanically inclined so please excuse my ignorance.

I have an '09 370z with the sport/syncro-rev package. I dropped it off at a valet stand last night. When I picked it up two hours later, there was a god-awful smell coming from the car - it filled the parking lot and could be smelled 20 feet away. If you ever set a GI Joe on fire when you were a kid, you know the smell I mean. I've never smelled anything like that before coming from an auto and just assumed one of the valets was doing burnouts with my car. Today, 18 hours later, after driving the car I can still smell it.

When I got into the car I saw a warning light on the dash telling me the Synchro-rev was malfunctioning. I also noticed extra miles on my car and a decrease of 12 miles in my estimated range.

Today driving into work I noticed that when I accelerate in first gear from a standstill, and sometimes when shifting into second the car will lurch forward and I hear a "clunk" coming from, I assume, the transmission.

I'll be taking the car into the dealership for a workup and will pull the ECM data to see what the hell the valets were doing while I was having fun. In the meantime, if any of you have any thoughts about what could be the issue with my car, please chime in.

So far, I'm guessing that they were either doing burnouts and fricassing the tires, or the driver had no idea what he was doing and burned my clutch out. I did spend about 25 minutes cussing the valet attendant up and down the street and filed a report with their company. They're blowing me off for now, but since I know a good lawyer (me), I'm going to ream their butts out if I have to.

Again, I appreciate your help.

Sounds like they were having fun too. You do realize alot of places abuse your car, the valets are bums off the street making crap money and dont care if they get fired for Fing your car up. I would never let a valet have my car. And since you are a lawyer, take em for all they got plus pain and suffering.

Ztoon · 05-28-2010, 07:52 PM

You might want to consider an UpRev tune. One of the maps is a valet setting, limiting rpm's to 2,500, with a maximum speed of 40 mph.

Zsteve · 05-28-2010, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ztoon

You might want to consider an UpRev tune. One of the maps is a valet setting, limiting rpm's to 2,500, with a maximum speed of 40 mph.

I would just not let a valet park the car ever again. You dont know what they are doing to or with the car.

shadoquad · 05-28-2010, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zsteve

I would just not let a valet park the car ever again. You dont know what they are doing to or with the car.

A friend of mine worked as a valet in high school. The second he was around the first bend and out of site from the restaurant, he tested everything about a car: speed, braking, hard turns... He tortured those cars.

Edit: The burning smell could be tires or clutch. You should probably take it in either way.

m4a1mustang · 05-28-2010, 09:44 PM

Sounds like they were out trashing the car. Unfortunately they do this alot.

I knew a guy out in Houston who used to valet cars and all he'd do is tell me about what he did in [insert car here]. Pretty lame.

theDreamer · 05-28-2010, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

Sounds like they were out trashing the car. Unfortunately they do this alot.

I knew a guy out in Houston who used to valet cars and all he'd do is tell me about what he did in [insert car here]. Pretty lame.

I should clearly let this guy you know valet my car one night.

Trips · 05-28-2010, 09:47 PM

Sorry to heard about this but like it has already been mentioned a Cobb Ap or Uprev with a valet mode would have prevented this Abuse on your Z, I personally would have never left my keys with a valet.

nogoodname · 05-29-2010, 09:31 AM

Burning clutch smells like shit. Make the valent pay for a new one?

tbonesteak · 05-29-2010, 12:59 PM

That is why i never valet my car either, especially here in LA where there are bars and clubs everywhere and the client does not return for the car for 4-5 hours at a time. Ive heard of valet guys giving the keys to their friends to go on dates and what not. Crazy stuff.

SoCal 370Z · 05-29-2010, 01:01 PM

Typically, my first door ding comes when I have to valet.

Lloydy · 05-29-2010, 01:07 PM

That really sucks!
Was this in Dallas? If so, where abouts so I can avoid ever going there.
Thanks

05-28-2010, 06:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
TR675 Base Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Dallas Posts: 1 Drives: 09 370Z CY M6 Rep Power: 15	Help me diagnose my valet-wrecked car Gents, thanks in advance for your help - I'm a noob to Z-cars and high speed auto driving in general (my thing is bikes), and not real mechanically inclined so please excuse my ignorance. I have an '09 370z with the sport/syncro-rev package. I dropped it off at a valet stand last night. When I picked it up two hours later, there was a god-awful smell coming from the car - it filled the parking lot and could be smelled 20 feet away. If you ever set a GI Joe on fire when you were a kid, you know the smell I mean. I've never smelled anything like that before coming from an auto and just assumed one of the valets was doing burnouts with my car. Today, 18 hours later, after driving the car I can still smell it. When I got into the car I saw a warning light on the dash telling me the Synchro-rev was malfunctioning. I also noticed extra miles on my car and a decrease of 12 miles in my estimated range. Today driving into work I noticed that when I accelerate in first gear from a standstill, and sometimes when shifting into second the car will lurch forward and I hear a "clunk" coming from, I assume, the transmission. I'll be taking the car into the dealership for a workup and will pull the ECM data to see what the hell the valets were doing while I was having fun. In the meantime, if any of you have any thoughts about what could be the issue with my car, please chime in. So far, I'm guessing that they were either doing burnouts and fricassing the tires, or the driver had no idea what he was doing and burned my clutch out. I did spend about 25 minutes cussing the valet attendant up and down the street and filed a report with their company. They're blowing me off for now, but since I know a good lawyer (me), I'm going to ream their butts out if I have to. Again, I appreciate your help.

05-28-2010, 07:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
Ztoon Track Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: B.C. Posts: 578 Drives: '09 370a7 Rep Power: 25	You might want to consider an UpRev tune. One of the maps is a valet setting, limiting rpm's to 2,500, with a maximum speed of 40 mph. __________________ Stillen G3\|CBE\|ground kit, F.I. H.F.C., C.F. fangs\|mirrors\|pillars, Hotchkis, SSR Type-F, RE-11, UpRev, BC BR coilovers 15% tint, LED black hdlts, color match handles, Dynamat, tail lt. tint, Mines C.F. frt. lip\|rear spoiler, Amuse rear,skirts, vented fenders, c.f. vented hood, gloss blk. roof

05-28-2010, 09:44 PM	#6 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	Sounds like they were out trashing the car. Unfortunately they do this alot. I knew a guy out in Houston who used to valet cars and all he'd do is tell me about what he did in [insert car here]. Pretty lame. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

05-28-2010, 09:47 PM	#8 (permalink)
Trips Administrator Join Date: May 2009 Location: Disneyland, Ca Posts: 8,730 Drives: 🔰 Rep Power: 10	Sorry to heard about this but like it has already been mentioned a Cobb Ap or Uprev with a valet mode would have prevented this Abuse on your Z, I personally would have never left my keys with a valet. __________________

05-29-2010, 01:01 PM	#11 (permalink)
SoCal 370Z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: US of A Posts: 2,842 Drives: Answers Rep Power: 33	Typically, my first door ding comes when I have to valet. __________________ ( Click to show/hide ) Why I NEVER say NO to the Panda Lou Fusz!!!

05-29-2010, 09:31 AM	#9 (permalink)
nogoodname Lifetime Premium Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Montreal Posts: 22,357 Drives: E46 M3 Rep Power: 1765	Burning clutch smells like shit. Make the valent pay for a new one?

05-29-2010, 12:59 PM	#10 (permalink)
tbonesteak Track Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 914 Drives: MY09 MB 6MT Rep Power: 375	That is why i never valet my car either, especially here in LA where there are bars and clubs everywhere and the client does not return for the car for 4-5 hours at a time. Ive heard of valet guys giving the keys to their friends to go on dates and what not. Crazy stuff.

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