I _HATE_ dealerships (especially their service departments)
 

When my 1995 honda civic started getting a little tired, the wife and I decided it was time for a newer daily driver. We knew that we couldn't afford something *NEW* but we figured something in the 05+ range with reasonable mileage would probably fit the bill. After a little bit of shopping around, we found a nice 2006 corolla with 60k on it at the local hyundai dealership, and we ended up getting it for a pretty good price with a 3 year/ 36000 mile warranty....or so we thought.

We had decided to opt for the warranty because, to be honest, I hate working on my daily driver. It is a pain in the ass and I'd rather just have someone else do it, plus if they fuck something up I can't be held liable.So when the car lit up a CEL the other day (less than a month after we bought it), I was like "whew, good thing I got a warranty!"

The wife dropped it off at the dealership this morning, and sent me a text about an hour ago that read: "They want to charge $95 for diagnostics, and they need to replace the intake manifold gasket, which is $100, also they say we only ahve a 90 day warranty" I was like, wait, what? I thought we had a 3 year warranty, so I called the dealership to figure it out, which is when I started getting pissed off.

I got in touch with the Service manager, and inquired as to why they were replacing the gasket. The conversation went something like this:

Me:"I'm just curious as to how you came to that conclusion, and also why I need to pay. Having a deductible is more like insurance than a warranty"

Him:"The check engine light was still on, and this is what the Toyota TSB says to do for that code. Also, the warranty covers anything after $100"

Me:" That still sounds more like an insurance policy to me, but whatever, apparently I didn't read the fine print well enough. Are you positive that it is a leak in the intake tract? How did you come to that conclusion? Did you pressure test the intake?"

Him:"No, but we are going to do what the TSB says"

Me: "No offense, but I'd rather you were sure, because I'm about to pay $200 for you to replace a $3.50 gasket"

Him: "Well to be fair, it costs a bit more than $3.50"

And here is where he really pissed me off:

Me:"Oh, really?"

Him: "Yeah, its $5.00" (I can hear him stifle a snicker, thinking he was being a smartass)

I told him to hold it and I would call back. I'm just going to replace it myself, which sucks that it will take up an hour of my weekend, but I would rather just suck it up and fix it than pay that asshole anything. I'm also probably going to call him back in the next few minutes to inform him that he is a retarded arrogant piece of shit, which won't solve anything, but it will make me feel better.

Just needed to get that out.

All after market warranties are worthless. Extended warranties offered by the manufacturer for their own product are worth only slightly more. Watch for a "wear & tear/abuse" clause. That company will claim that everything is "wear & tear" or abuse and cover NOTHING. Not to gloat, but this makes me feel even better about finally finding a local shop that I can trust. Even though I am paying for everything, that trust (deserved) is worht more than all the warranties in the world.

After a timing belt and water pump on my wifes Honda the dealership wanted 99$ for a cam cap, it fits in the head costs 5$ and takes 5 seconds to change if your retarted, 99$ for the cam cover gasket although it was already off the car for the timing belt, and 500 and something to replace the oil pan gasket. I looked at the oil pan and there was a bolt missing, 12 cents. Loosened and re-tightened all the bolts no leaks. I emailed both the general and service manager, the service manager told me theres a labor charge for everything, My point was you have already gained access for the TB the cam cover is already off the car your charging labor hours twice. They dont fucking care. In fact its time for an oil pan update email, hey assholes 6 months later still no leak.

After the horse shit that I went through with the TT couple and the Jetta I will never, ever own another car which I cannot repair in my garage nor will I own a car that costs more than 2-months net salary.

My 350z is at the dealer right now for a CEL. They had a nerve to call me few hours ago telling me that I will need to pay $395 for them to do all the tests. Here is our conversation:

Dealer: So we will need you to pay $395 because we need to run a lot of tests.
Me: Why in the hell would I pay that when car is still under warranty for another 2 years?
Dealer: Computer showed 2 codes. One of them is for air/fuel mixture sens...
Me: WHAT? You want me to pay $395 for you to tell me that my O2 sensor is bad?!
Dealer: No no no! Mechanic says that it might be MAF sensor.
Me: Dude, it's an 07 350Z. It has 2 IAT sensors and no MAF.
Dealer: Here, talk to the mechanic
*** hands over the phone to mechanic ***
Mechanic: Hi, so I looked at your car and you have an aftermarket intake...
Me: Yeah, it's a Nissan-approved item that also comes as a dealer-upgrade item on certain dealerships
Mechanic: But vibrations from that intake might have damaged the MAF sensor!
Me: There is no MAF sensor and intake mounts onto OEM location.
Mechanic: Oh.
Me: What's the code that it's throwing?
Mechanic: P******
*** I quickly looked up the code on Google ***
Me: Code says that it's an oxygen sensor on bank 1. That's driver side before catalytic.
Mechanic: Yeah, but it might also be MAF sensor.
Me: There is no MAF sensor and even if IAT sensor would be bad, car would sputter and run like shit.
Mechanic: Here, talk to my manager.
*** Hands over the phone to manager ***
Manager: Hi sir, how are you?
Me: Replace the O2 sensor.
Manager: Ok, we will call you back after we run more test.


Amazing, right? That's Universal City Nissan for those who is interested.

I've had good luck with some dealerships, but every Hyundai dealership I have been in has been a nightmare.

fixed

I had to deal with the Lexus dealer because of my mother's oil leak on her $70k SUV...the tech for some reason overtorqued the drain bolt so much that it cracked the aluminum pan.

This also brings back a story of the time the $44,000 TT coupe was overheating because the fans wouldn't turn on. AFter my 2nd trip to the dealer the service manager recommended that "next time it overheats, just turn on the AC." He suggested this during blisteringly cold Texas winter (cold enough for a puffer coat).

Yep, I used to be a service writer. Aftermarket warranties are the devil.

I work for a dealership. And I am proud to say we do NOT sell aftermarket warranties. Pure 100% bull, even the factory extended warranties that you buy are iffy at best.

Correct me if I am wrong, the factory warranties are iffy as to wether or not they are cost effective, but they are way better at actually covering anything than aftermarket.

You had a TT? I have a pathological hatred of those cars; my mother has one. At 45k miles, new wiring harness, at 50k miles, new transmission. And there's over 9,000 more things that I'm too lazy to write up. What version did you have?

They're completely overpriced shitboxes.

Fuck dealerships. End.

2001 tt225. It was the worst car experience I've heard of anyone enduring.

'05 3.2 Quattro. Biggest and the baddest, and it's still slower than a pig.

Funny thing is that TTs aren't real Quattros, they don't use the typical torsen middle diff to lock the rears and the fronts, it's just a typical, electronically controlled AWD system with a Quattro badge stuck on the front.

I dont even want to get started about my Genesis Coupe 2.oT Track. What a piece of shit.

Really?

Ditto, I've heard good things about those.

please, do tell.

That, sir, is partially because the engine is mounted transversely in those instead of longitudinally like the true 'Quattros'... there is seriously no space for anything. Although quattro refers to all Audi AWD systems... the difference in the TT is it uses a different diff (Holdex) so all power goes to the Front wheels until slippage and is adjusted reward. (Former certified, audi academy, etc etc Audi tech here :o)

I own 4 vehicles, the only time ive ever let someone else work on anything mechanical was when I had my oil changed on a road trip 2,000 miles from home - even then, I eyed those bastards like a fucking hawk.

A good repair manual costs less than 1/2 hour of "professional" labor, and "professionals" work for companies that get paid more money to work faster, take less time, and be less "professional"

"Professionals" that work for themselves, get paid more to work faster too...