GM-GMC: Bick retrofit, buick lasabre, honest mistake

Question
Dean,

I just bought a 2001 Buick Lasabre. The salesman told me that it had a memory seat function but I dsicovered that it doesn't.  The salesman said that it was an honest mistake; maybe it was. I asked him if it could be added; he said he'd check and get back to me.  So far, he hasn't.  I don't have a lot of confidence in him.

I went to Buick's web site and they referred me back to the local dealer. That doesn't help.  

Anyway, if I can find out if the memory can be retrofitted, it'd be useful in my discussions.

Thanks for any help you can give me.

Ray Gaietto


Answer
Hi Ray - Sorry to hear about your mishap.  I hope that it really was an honest mistake (as do you, I am sure), but on to your question.

I expect that you have a Custom or the option pack 1SD on the Limited.  See where I'm going here?  Typically, GM is grouping together a bunch of things, then they engineer them, test them, and this also makes the car Much easier to build because there are fewer variations of options and therefore less likelihood of defects creeping into production.

I would expect that the memory function is handled by the BCM (body control module).  So in order to add this feature, you would have to add the function to the BCM, but also all of the switches, wires, and relays as well.  I would think that this would turn out to be a nightmare and be more than either the dealer or yourself bargained for.

I'd say you cannot add the feature, but another phone call to the dealership may be in order.  Call the General Manager and ask for a sit down between yourself, the salesman and the GM to discuss this problem.  You could really go to town if you have the option list with the memory seat, in writing.  Otherwise, see what they have to say.  They could be willing to compensate you, or it may be a waste of time, but then you know for sure.  You won't be sitting around wondering and getting P****'ed off at those guys.

And lastly, probably the only way to really find out the answer to this question is to have TAC (Technical Assistance Center) call someone at the LeSabre plant engineering and ask them.  They are probably the ONLY ones who have a solid answer.  The dealership would have to call TAC and get the ball rolling.  Discuss that in your meeting.

Hope this helps, and if you have anything else, please feel free to drop me a line.

Happy Easter!

Dean