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Message
re: Car dealership service centers have officially jumped the shark
Posted on 12/21/23 at 10:32 am to BilbeauTBaggins
Posted on 12/21/23 at 10:32 am to BilbeauTBaggins
quote:
Save yourself headaches for the rest of your life by getting a car scanner. AutoZone/Advanced Auto Parts/O'Reilly's will all scan for free as well. They're much more reliable if you are able to DIY the fixes yourself.
This. I finally bought one for our ancient Toyota. The last code was an O2 sensor attached to the catalytic converter. It was a PAIN to get off, took like 3 hours of on-and-off trying but cost me less than $100 (tools and the part) and I learned some things.
Even if you don’t want to do the work yourself (most of the time I don’t) at least you’ll have an idea of what’s wrong if you scan it yourself.
1
Posted on 12/21/23 at 10:32 am to shel311
What was the code? Makes no sense. I would call and ask them.
Posted on 12/21/23 at 10:32 am to BigApple
You could have ordered a code reader from Walmart or Amazon.
Posted on 12/21/23 at 10:37 am to BigApple
I will say when my wife had the Mercedes GLS, that dealership service department was great. All warranty work and regular maintenance but she looked forward to going there 
Posted on 12/21/23 at 10:38 am to BigApple
I bought my truck to All Star Ford at 100K miles and asked them to make me a list of what needed to be done (I already knew what needed to be done - just wanted to troll the service writers while getting my oil changed and tires rotated).
You wouldn't believe the shite they put on there. All shite that should be done at 150K + a ton of bonus material. I called the service writer and said "hey man, I see you told me I need a transfer case flush." He goes on to explain how one of their lead mechanics looked at my truck and told him that was first order of business (LOL)
I said "oh yeah? That's funny because my truck is a 2WD."
He's silent for a few seconds then comes back with "Well 2WD vehicles still need it done at 100k."
I tell him that 2WDs do not have transfer cases. There's a solid 10 seconds of silence before he gets bugle lips and starts trying to get words out. I laughed and told him to charge me for the oil change and that I'd be there in an hour.
I was told by another mechanic a couple years ago that he hired a guy that used to be a service writer for a dealership. He said they would write people up for power steering fluid flushes even if they had electric power steering. People would just agree to it. Crazy
Unless whatever you're having done is under warranty - DO NOT EVER go to a dealership for anything service-related.
You wouldn't believe the shite they put on there. All shite that should be done at 150K + a ton of bonus material. I called the service writer and said "hey man, I see you told me I need a transfer case flush." He goes on to explain how one of their lead mechanics looked at my truck and told him that was first order of business (LOL)
I said "oh yeah? That's funny because my truck is a 2WD."
He's silent for a few seconds then comes back with "Well 2WD vehicles still need it done at 100k."
I tell him that 2WDs do not have transfer cases. There's a solid 10 seconds of silence before he gets bugle lips and starts trying to get words out. I laughed and told him to charge me for the oil change and that I'd be there in an hour.
I was told by another mechanic a couple years ago that he hired a guy that used to be a service writer for a dealership. He said they would write people up for power steering fluid flushes even if they had electric power steering. People would just agree to it. Crazy
Unless whatever you're having done is under warranty - DO NOT EVER go to a dealership for anything service-related.
Posted on 12/21/23 at 10:41 am to shel311
quote:
Don't they just hook that shite up to a computer that tells them exactly why the light is on? It's not like they have to go digging, it should tell them.
Yeah. I can see how a third party shop might not be able to tell you what the code is, but the dealership should absolutely be able to tell you.
Posted on 12/21/23 at 10:45 am to BigApple
quote:
Car dealership service centers have officially jumped the shark
The only reason to bring your car to a dealership for service if it is under warranty or for a recall. They charge the most and do shitty work. You are best served finding a mom and pop shop with someone you can trust not to screw you over.
Posted on 12/21/23 at 11:08 am to back9Tiger
quote:
Lakeside Toyota wanted to charge me $240.00 to change the headlight bulb on my Tundra. The only reason I even entertained going there is because they are right by work and I didn't want to drive across the causeway at night going home and get a ticket.
Told them to go pound sand. I'll roll the dice and change it this weekend.
(for not, you have to disassemble the front end of the truck to get to the damn bulb.
Honestly, if it was all that trouble, that you had to disassemble the front end to get to the bulb, is the $240 charge outrageous?
I'm being serious. That is a lot of money. I hear all the time about people would rather pay money to other people to free up their own time.
I'm the kind of guy that I would rather spend 3 hours changing a bulb than pay somebody else $240 to do it.
Posted on 12/21/23 at 11:11 am to shel311
quote:
Don't they just hook that shite up to a computer that tells them exactly why the light is on? It's not like they have to go digging, it should tell them.
A P301 code is a misfire cylinder one. That could be caused by multiple things. A good mechanic can then diagnose what needs to be done to fix it instead of replacing multiple parts to fix it. You could end up spending $100s or more on unnecessary parts and labor if they are firing the parts cannon to see if the code will clear.
Posted on 12/21/23 at 11:15 am to AFtigerFan
quote:
told them the problems the truck is having is a typical problem when the back window leaks (extended service bulletin for that). The water travels down the back wall and into the RF Hub that is mounted there.
They probably left it inside with everything taken apart to just let it dry. It doesn’t take three weeks to diagnose, repair, or replace the back window and make sure water is moving freely to where it should drain. If something is clogged and water is pooling, that’s how you got your leak.
I just dealt with this exact issue. Not at the dealership though. A couple of drain points were clogged where the hood and windshield meet around the windshield wiper. Dash said no key. Had full compression,, battery is less than a month old, fresh batteries, in both fobs.
Once everything was clean and dry, The ECB was covered and closed up so that if it does leak again, water can’t come into contact with that little part of the car that just so happens to
control the entire f’n electronic system.
I’m sure dealerships lick their chops when they see this problem.
Posted on 12/21/23 at 11:16 am to AFtigerFan
quote:
"When we took out the RF Hub it was full of water. It was crazy."
Sad part is that’s been a known defect for years. The 3rd brake light leaks and fries the RF Hub. Same thing happened to my 2014 last year. But I already knew what the problem was.
This post was edited on 12/21/23 at 11:19 am
Posted on 12/21/23 at 11:16 am to BigApple
They really fricked up after Covid with those insane add on expenses. Forgot the biggest part of business, don't screw over everyone.
Posted on 12/21/23 at 11:21 am to BigApple
I think I was around 21 when a Honda dealership broke me from using dealership service centers. I took the first almost new car I ever bought in for the "25,000 mile checkup". The check engine light would come on for every recommended service window. $583 later, and nothing of substance actually done to the car, I decided I was done with dealership service centers.
Posted on 12/21/23 at 11:27 am to i am dan
It's less than an hour to change (around 45min). they were going to put two people on it for 1 hour. at 160 an hour.
It is a hassle, no doubt, to spend 240 on a headlight bulb replacement, obscene.
I'll be glad when dealerships are nothing more than a memory.
It is a hassle, no doubt, to spend 240 on a headlight bulb replacement, obscene.
I'll be glad when dealerships are nothing more than a memory.
Posted on 12/21/23 at 11:30 am to LegendInMyMind
Got a f250 work truck and my guy locked the keys in it and no one could remember the code so I got him to take it to dealer to get reprogrammed he gets the service writer on the phone with me and the guy tells me I need to have someone put a computer on it to reprogram the door code. I said yeah that’s why I had him bring it to you guys y’all are the ones with the computer. Silence. I told my guy get the hell out of there and just don’t lock the keys in there anymore. Frickin useless.
Posted on 12/21/23 at 11:37 am to BigApple
I hear this stuff all the time. You have to treat a dealership like the guys in Stepbrothers - they will take whatever you offer them and shoot for more.
If you need proprietary service done, it might be your only option if your local specialist can't do it. Then they will offer you $900 tires.
For warranty you don't have much choice, and lately I've heard a lot of people saying it takes three weeks to find a idiot light and turn it off.
If you need proprietary service done, it might be your only option if your local specialist can't do it. Then they will offer you $900 tires.
For warranty you don't have much choice, and lately I've heard a lot of people saying it takes three weeks to find a idiot light and turn it off.
Posted on 12/21/23 at 11:39 am to BigApple
I go to Team Toyota. They’ve never fricked me. And their oil changes cost less than Bennys.
Get you a tundra baw
Get you a tundra baw
Posted on 12/21/23 at 11:42 am to BigApple
The service advisors and mechanics all make a commission off repairs. That's why.
Posted on 12/21/23 at 11:43 am to BigApple
quote:
The best part, they quoted me $950 plus $275 for balance PER tire. WTF
Post the quote as a picture here.
That very much sounds like someone is reading it wrong. Maybe it’s $275 per tire all in, balance, mount, discard old etc. $1,100 for 4 tires is about right. Maybe even cheap depending on the car.
Posted on 12/21/23 at 11:45 am to BigApple
quote:dealerships are supremely scummy but even this is beyond what I would expect to see lmao
Brought the vehicle in to get a check engine light looked into. After a week in the shop, I get a call saying that they couldn’t find out why the check engine light has been on BUt my tires are under the recommended tread level. Mind you, the vehicle only has 10,500 miles on it. The best part, they quoted me $950 plus $275 for balance PER tire. WTF
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