What to do about car dealer ? (*** see Post 27 *** )

[mm93]

Had a similar experience with a local repair shop. They sent flyers for lube/oil/filter for $39.95 so I sent my wife over to have her car done, and told her to make an appointment for me also. She came home with a repair sheet for over $500 estimated for things they said she needed done. Her car had 8500 miles on it and they said she needed "new injectors". Total BS.
So I took my old car with 130,000 miles in for my change and when I went to pick it up they told me it was $60, and I asked what happened to the $40 special? They said I didn't tell them that when I dropped it off, and I said my wife told them when she made the appointment. They wouldn't honor it.
Then the kicker. The guy tells me my car needs a lot of work! Needs a new water pump, new valve cover gaskets, new pan gasket, and the estimate is $2100 and I shouldn't drive it until this is fixed. I told them to give me the car and left.
Drove one block away to a shop I trust and asked him to look at everything on the estimate. He told me the bottom of my engine was bone dry, no oil leaks! The water pump was seeping, and should be replaced. Nothing else needed. He did the water pump for under $400 and changed both of my belts, and upper and lower radiator hoses too. Those weren't in the other shop's estimate, and betting they'd charge extra for those hoses.
I worked for the local Cadillac dealer right out of high school as an apprentice mechanic, and have built cars all my life, so I know when somebody is pulling my leg or cheating me. I rarely work on our modern cars now as I hate new cars, but I still keep my three old hotrods maintained and working. I'm sure the jerks at the repair shop thought they'd pull a fast one on an old guy and bend me over for unneeded repairs, and overcharge for the one needed water pump.

 

[Autonomous]

Buy a vacuum engine oil pump and never pull the drain plug again. It may take some fiddling around to get most of the oil out but is worth it.
Both of my vehicles have access to the oil filter from the top so oil changes are clean and easy.

We had a good dealer I could trust and when we moved, I took the pickup into the dealer in the new town to figure why the electric trailer brakes weren't working. It was two fuses that were in the glove box rather than fuse box, vehicle was bought new. As I towed a trailer, I said OK when the corrupt service writer said it was due for a transmission oil change.
My guard was down, I was suckered. It was not due.

 

[chief38]

I am not a fan of CAR DEALERS - sales or service! I think (with a rare exception) all go to the same school.

 

[H Richard]

Took my Buick SUV to the Toyota dealer where I b ought it with only 33,500 miles on it for an oil change about 3 months after buying it. They came out wit "Pre-Printed" diagram of brake pad's with only 1 mm pad remaining telling me it needs changing. Told them I'll wait. That was 2 1/2 years ago, and it has been back to my independent repair shop several times for oil change, and I ask them to check the pads. Finally my local shop recommended the front (only) pads be changed. Did a nice job for less than $300 (including another oil change).

 

[gmarshall99]

Why are you going to the Stealer, I mean the Dealer? The only time my vehicles see dealer is on warranty items. They are all crooks. Ford dealer tried to charge me $795 for computer module. I said no and went home and read the manual. Went back and questioned the rep. Oh, it is a warranty item. No apology, no nothing.

 

[steelslaver]

As I stick to easy to service vehicles and do most of my own work I don't get ripped off. I have my own tire machine, ramps, floor jacks and lots of tools and a heated shop. I also get a business discount at the parts house.

 

[Narragansett]

Dad was an auto mechanic. As a young man he started out in dealer shops and quickly got disgusted with their lack of ethics. So he started his own independent shop. Dad's ethics were impeccable. Yeah, I know he was Dad and I had him on a pedestal. Still, he taught me those same ethics and what to look for in the dealer shops; for that matter life in general.

Service writers in most shops are on commission. See a conflict of interest there? One time in a tire shop, the service writer told me my GTI had a leaking differential. I guess I looked perplexed while thinking I hadn't seen drips on the garage floor. He jumped in and said, "You know, the differential, the big pumpkin between the rear wheels." I just looked at him and said "busted! You (beep beep) it's a front wheel drive car." Of course he did the tap dance. Misspoke, he said. Uh huh.

I do not change my oil, because I no longer have the equipment to do it.

My car has always been serviced by # 2 son who has a BS degree with honors from New England Tech. He is a master mechanic, but we both moved so now I have to find a place.

Son refused to work for a dealership. Too much unethical baloney to deal with.

Usually dealers come out with you need brakes, coolant flush etc, but this guy was at a loss to do that. Why?? I take old white bleach bottles , rinse them out, and cut into 2" X 4" strips and write last services dates for coolant, belt, brakes, and on and on. There is nothing for them to come after me for. 20K miles ago, I had the brakes done, belt, every fluid changed filters etc.

BTW, the drain plug has a separate crush washer.

I want them to buy me a new drain plug. What do you think?

 

[AugieTN]

Bought a new Ford Ranger at a Ford dealer about 40 miles from my house. Reason being I've dealt with the salesperson before and he was pretty honest, telling me to wait a week for a price drop. I bought it a week later.

I went to a local Ford Dealer for the first oil change and they charge 3 or 4% more if you use a credit card. I haven't seen a business use that in a long time. I won't be going back to that dealer.

I've tried a few quick oil change places by me, and I get some 16 year old kid trying to rip my air filter apart and doesn't put it back together right, or they tell me my serpentine belt needs replacing. So I prefer a dealer for an oil change.

 

[Golddollar]

I put Bat-Signal valve stem caps on all my tires. If those end up in anyone's pocket there will be a conversation at the local magistrate's office.

 

[lihpster]

I remember a trip we took once when I was about 8. Me, my mom and my brother who was 14. About 11:30PM we pulled off the freeway to take the 2-lane across the mountains. Mom pulled into the station to gas up before we left town. Apparently, the attendant really needed to up his extra sales. He tried to sell us everything and every time my brother would shoot him down. Need wipers? They're fine. You need an oil change. Why? Full of clean oil. Your air filter needs replaced. No, it doesn't. It's only slightly dirty. Your tires are bald. Got more than a 1/4 inch of tread left. He even tried to tell us that our turn signals were "blinking slow" and we needed the bulbs replaced.
Everything that he tried to sell us was an emergency. "You won't make it more than 10 miles." At one point, my 14 year old brother told this 20 something attendant that not only was he an idiot, but a thief as well. We left having purchased gas. And nothing else. Made it a lot farther than 10 miles.

 

[Golddollar]

I've tried a few quick oil change places by me, and I get some 16 year old kid trying to rip my air filter apart and doesn't put it back together right, or they tell me my serpentine belt needs replacing. So I prefer a dealer for an oil change.

I've been having pretty much all of my work done at a multi-generational Lincoln dealership. My aunt and uncle and I have bought several cars there and the crew has always seemed to look after me even when I was driving 20 year old cars. The current generation in charge is younger than me so I think I'll probably be dealing with them the rest of my life. We had a running gag that when I was commuting 90 miles a day on my job that they had a dedicated oil tanker for me because I was getting an oil change about every six weeks.

They know me pretty well. One Sunday I was on the lot looking at a black Ford Taurus. Car dealerships are closed on Sunday in PA. Somebody must have recognized me from surveillance films because later I received an email from the dealership that started out "Dear Batman".

 

[LVSteve]

I've taken to removing the tire valve dust caps before any work gets done at a tire shop because they are incapable of putting the ones that came with the car back on. Still waiting for somebody to try and sell me a set.

I was a little concerned that the Mercedes dealer was selling me a line when he told me my engine and transmission mounts were done. A quick online search revealed that this is not uncommon on the diesel version (lots of torque) and the desert environment can hasten the deterioration. After the work was done, I could really tell the difference, the truck is much smoother.

 

[Breakaway500]

Ouch! Stories like this must be why my customers will NEVER allow me to retire.

That truly is poor service and questionable behavior for any service facility.

Cracked control arms..I'll have to remember that line. (not really..I don't play those games)

 

[Golddollar]

I've taken to removing the tire valve dust caps before any work gets done at a tire shop because they are incapable of putting the ones that came with the car back on. Still waiting for somebody to try and sell me a set.

Get a set of Bat-Signal valve stem caps like I did .

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I had one of the national oil change companies try to rip me off years ago.

They told me my drain plug was stripped. Said there would be an extra charge. I said no thanks. I went home and retrieved past receipts for the last three years. Went back and showed them that THEY were the only place that changed my oil.

They then offered to drop the repair cost. I declined and fixed it myself. Never went back.

As for changing your own oil, it’s no brainer to have someone else do it. It’s not worth my time.

The local GMC dealer has a “quick lube” place that does it for $40 if I bring my own oil and filter. I don’t have to drag out the floor jack, jack stands and creeper. Better yet, I don’t have to worry about disposing the oil.

Once they got to know me, they don’t try to upsell me anymore.[/QUOTE

A cheap set of drive on ramps eliminates all your stuff above. The used oil works great as bar lube in a chainsaw.

 

[whitestang]

I do take mine to a dealer but my brother is a Master Service Tech and has worked there for 40 years. When he retires I'll be in the same boat,trying to find someone to do the work.

 

[Kanewpadle]

I had one of the national oil change companies try to rip me off years ago.

They told me my drain plug was stripped. Said there would be an extra charge. I said no thanks. I went home and retrieved past receipts for the last three years. Went back and showed them that THEY were the only place that changed my oil.

They then offered to drop the repair cost. I declined and fixed it myself. Never went back.

As for changing your own oil, it’s no brainer to have someone else do it. It’s not worth my time.

The local GMC dealer has a “quick lube” place that does it for $40 if I bring my own oil and filter. I don’t have to drag out the floor jack, jack stands and creeper. Better yet, I don’t have to worry about disposing the oil.

Once they got to know me, they don’t try to upsell me anymore.[/QUOTE

A cheap set of drive on ramps eliminates all your stuff above. The used oil works great as bar lube in a chainsaw.

I will never trust those. Especially a “cheap” set. What an oxymoron.

 

[smoothshooter]

I would never, ever take a vehicle to a dealership for any kind of work unless it was warranty work at zero cost to me.
Some people seem to think dealerships are the only places that do good work.
Some of them are the same people that think that no vehicle more than 3 years old can be called “reliable transportation”.

 

[444 Magnum]

I want them to buy me a new drain plug. What do you think?

Pete,
I think if you haven't changed the timing belt on that 2015 Jetta, you should focus on that before it breaks and destroys your engine. An engine replacement will be more than the value of the car.

 

[Tom S.]

I still change my own oil, though it gets more difficult due to my age. Not only does it save me money, but take the opportunity to look around for other potential problems while I'm under there. Using 6 quarts or Mobil 1 full synthetic and a Mobil 1 oil filter, it costs me around $45, but I've never tried to up-sell myself anything!