[Fabulist]

Thanks for the kinds words everyone. This was all due to a kinked coolant hose leading to one of the inverters (missed by Valmet, and the symptom - slow acceleration/limited power - missed by all the QA gates), which blew out the coolant pump and apparently damaged some other part of the motor assembly. Unfortunately as they peel the onion they keep finding more and more (heavy) components that need to be replaced, which need to be shipped in, so it's like receiving the car again one part at a time. I guess this should be expected as Fisker doesn't have a network of warehouses with spare parts sitting all around the country, but it will make me REALLY reticent to bring the car in again for any mechanical issues in the future.

IMHO (I know others have had different experiences, which is great to hear) the dealer has clammed up and communicated poorly and infrequently, which makes me question whether fixing my car and returning it to me is really a priority. It feels like a science project right now, the service center has no incentive to stop pulling the thing apart for curiosity's sake, and no incentive to stop running down the clock on my warranty and to return the car. They have plenty of service bays available, are still getting paid, so there is nothing pushing them to get the car out of there and back on the road.

This really sucks and I hope your problems are resolved very soon. My sense, based on my own experience, is that the dealers just don't yet have the knowledge base to diagnose and fix serious problems and have to go back to the mother ship each time there is a new issue and wait for confirmation and permission to implement a particular fix. This tends to drag out the process a lot longer than it needs to. The process is rational from Fisker's point of view since they would not want eager and helpful, but inexperienced, mechanics just guessing about which parts to replace and they are also collecting a centralized data base of common problems that would help other owners, but not so pleasant for the person who wants their car back. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide if you have had enough. I hope that you can hang in there and be reunited with your car soon.

 

[Sigurd]

Can't the dealer at least give you a demo Karma to drive while they're wrenching on yours?

 

[Fabulist]

Can't the dealer at least give you a demo Karma to drive while they're wrenching on yours?

Or a McLaren?

 

[siliconkiwi]

Short update: There was some unusual wearing of the shaft/gears connecting the motors to the wheels. They need to replace the entire differential on my car, eta is unknown, guesstimate is 1-2 weeks, I'm not hopeful given the experience to date. I had ~1k miles on the car.

I'm am unhappy.

More commentary will be on www.myfiskerkarma.com later tonight.

 

[SoCalGuy]

Short update: There was some unusual wearing of the shaft/gears connecting the motors to the wheels. They need to replace the entire differential on my car, eta is unknown, guesstimate is 1-2 weeks, I'm not hopeful given the experience to date. I had ~1k miles on the car.

I'm am unhappy.

More commentary will be on www.myfiskerkarma.com later tonight.

Time to push for getting a new Karma off the lin. Plus some other compensation for the "pain" and suffering. Seems reasonable to me.

 

[Nimisys]

If it helps Siliconkiwi, I have replaced the entire center differential before as well as an electric motor, it only took 2 days for us to get the parts, and the actual repair took about a full working day. We were originally told 1-2 weeks as well. Fisker sent someone out to help document the process at the time. There is a specific serial number range they are looking for on the electric motors where the shafts weren't hardened properly and causing noise concerns.

The coolant line that got pinched off, is actually part of a current campaign to make sure wasn't routed incorrectlty and being pinched off by the subframe. I can't make any excuses for it not being caught, since we have been addressing them during the PDI since early december.

for those that are interested, heres the whole assembly out of a car, and the space it occupies (poor car only had 100 miles on it, pulled for leak at one of the shaft seals)
Pic 1
Pic 2
Pic 3

 

[SoCalGuy]

If it helps Siliconkiwi, I have replaced the entire center differential before as well as an electric motor, it only took 2 days for us to get the parts, and the actual repair took about a full working day. We were originally told 1-2 weeks as well. Fisker sent someone out to help document the process at the time. There is a specific serial number range they are looking for on the electric motors where the shafts weren't hardened properly and causing noise concerns.

The coolant line that got pinched off, is actually part of a current campaign to make sure wasn't routed incorrectlty and being pinched off by the subframe. I can't make any excuses for it not being caught, since we have been addressing them during the PDI since early december.

for those that are interested, heres the whole assembly out of a car, and the space it occupies (poor car only had 100 miles on it, pulled for leak at one of the shaft seals)
Pic 1
Pic 2
Pic 3

Wow - how was the problem caught? Does the faulty electric motor assembly correspond to certain VIN numbers?

 

[siliconkiwi]

Thanks Nimsys! That gives me a ray of hope, I really appreciate the info.

 

[Nimisys]

Wow - how was the problem caught? Does the faulty electric motor assembly correspond to certain VIN numbers?

it is specific to the serial number of the electric motor, i would hazard a guess most have been isolated at this point. i know there was a run of them early November, all low miles.

 

[SoCalGuy]

Wow - how was the problem caught? Does the faulty electric motor assembly correspond to certain VIN numbers?

it is specific to the serial number of the electric motor, i would hazard a guess most have been isolated at this point. i know there was a run of them early November, all low miles.

Not to be hypochondriatic, but did Fisker proactively reach out to those with defective electric motors? I presume those that have the issue that kiwi had wouldn't necessarily be aware of it, if, for example, the acceleration even from day 1 was slower than it should be (ie they'll have no other frame of reference with which to compare). Ditto on all the other issues, like Fab's warped pizza box (how do all these components get damaged in transit - seems a little fishy or at the very least, points to poor durability!)

 

[Nimisys]

I don't think there is a database of VIN:Electric Motor S/N, or it could be done as a pro-active thing, i also suspect the number they are looking for is very small say 10 out 4500 produced.

Transport drivers are fairly careless, we have had to do a number of paint repairs and mirror, tire, wheel replacments because of them.

 

[SoCalGuy]

I don't think there is a database of VIN:Electric Motor S/N, or it could be done as a pro-active thing, i also suspect the number they are looking for is very small say 10 out 4500 produced.

Transport drivers are fairly careless, we have had to do a number of paint repairs and mirror, tire, wheel replacments because of them.

Ah, helpful to know.

 

[doug]

I don't think there is a database of VIN:Electric Motor S/N, or it could be done as a pro-active thing, i also suspect the number they are looking for is very small say 10 out 4500 produced.

I'd hope there would be, given it's such a key component. Who makes the motors.

 

[Nimisys]

Jing-Jin Electric

 

[doug]

Jing-Jin Electric

Are there toque and/or power curves (versus speed/RPM) available? Where is the red line?

 

[Nimisys]

I am sorry, that i do not know

 

[doug]

I am sorry, that i do not know

I appreciate your informative posts. Do we know what type of motors these are?

 

[Nimisys]

I appreciate your informative posts. Do we know what type of motors these are?

From the tag:

Front bumper skin removed:

Right side radiator after bumper skin and wheel liner removed (this one took a rock hit and was punctutred, in the process of being replaced)

Inside the right front wheel well (liner removed) looking towards the rear of the car

 

[dennis]

These photos make me appreciate the packaging challenge of fitting all of the components of a PHEV under that beautiful skin.

 

[doug]

I appreciate your informative posts. Do we know what type of motors these are?

From the tag:

So I guess that's this motor here: http://www.jjecn.com/en/ProductShow.asp?ClsID=189&ID=44

Wonder why they switched from UQM.