Not a rant but free advice

It’s great when you find an honest service rep. I found one at the Toyota dealership where I used to take my Tundra. The guy was super nice and never charged me for tire rotations when getting an oil change. Never came back with a “to do” list. Unfortunately he moved up north so I never went back to that dealership. 

Now I have an honest trustworthy mechanic a couple of miles from the house. He even drops me off at the house when something is done to the my vehicles.

Last year I noticed red fluid by the transmission housing and feared the worse, a bad transmission leak. I took my Tundra to Jay who also owns a Tundra and said they never leak there.  He put it up on the lift and aftet 30 ish minutes he came back to tell me it was the Thermostat housing leaking the red coolant and working its way back and over the transmission. A new thermostat and almost an hour later the bill was $60. He could have taken my wallet out to the cleaners but he was honest. 

I wonder what they would have done if they replaced the rear differential ($2,400 plus labor) and it did not fix the thump, thump,thump (failed rear wheel bearing). Would they have given me a full refund on the differential?

 

JohnnyK

I wonder what they would have done if they replaced the rear differential ($2,400 plus labor) and it did not fix the thump, thump,thump (failed rear wheel bearing). Would they have given me a full refund on the differential?

 

 

Cases like this is best to be put on a credit card, preferably Amex. A while back I had the dealer replace a part in my son's car that was not broken and wasn't the issue cause the problem continued. After contacting the dealership I was told any additional repairs would be on me since they spent a day working (or rather figuring out what was wrong with the electrical system.) In either case they failed and I was stuck with the $800 bill. I contacted Amex, explained the issue and opened a dispute for a full refund which I got 60 days later. 

The real moral is don't get mechanical work done at a dealership. It's where car dealers make the bulk of their money and they are nefarious for finding things that need done, that don't really need done. Not to mention, they are ridiculously expensive. Do you really think all the recalls on small stuff are needed?  I get regular yearly recall notices and it's always small stuff like bolts on the seat or something ridiculous and they never fail to tell me something more expensive needs done. I just tell them thanks but no thanks just take care of the recall item. Dealerships are for buying cars not getting them worked on. Don't know what this has to do with models but I got to rant too.

Tickmagnet

 Dealerships are for buying cars not getting them worked on. 

 

Even that is pretty debatable.

Tickmagnet

Dealerships are for buying cars not getting them worked on. Don't know what this has to do with models but I got to rant too.

 

I worked for a used car dealership, left such a bad feeling that my wife and I are of the opinion we will never use them for purchasing our own vehicles. The problem with modern vehicles as some have pointed out is that they are too computer/electronic controlled. Not having the necessary equipment makes in impossible to do your own preventative maintenance (pm) on them. The last car where I was fully able to this was on my wife's '85 Pontiac. And don't start on the 'environmental' stuff like catalytic converters! Nothing like having a mandatory 'regulated' piece that needs to be on the vehicle when the vehicle would operate perfectly well without it.

‘79 Mercury Zephyr

Straight Six

Three Speed Auto Tranny

Rebuilt block, tranny by myself and sold in CA for $700.00 (Cherry).  Wished new owner the best.  Father OG owner.  Miss working on cars like that.  Simple!

Added Accel am plugs, wires, rotor, Coil, K&N Filter, and Mobile One synthetic oil (Unheard of fifteen twenty years ago). Great gas mileage and went as fast as most new cars back then and possibly now.  Lol.

Current ride: 2008 Kia Sedona.  Did brakes but that’s about it.  Great Ezra ride, lots of room 107,000.  Just had brakes, rotors, Coolant, Plugs, oil, and 4x tires 80,00 mi done.  A little over $1,000.00 local shop.  Bobs Car Care

Your Friend, Toshi

 

Toshi, are you aware of the fire issues with some KIAs ? We had about 3 or 4 reports in the local news. One lady had hers for years and parked it in the garage and almost burnt down her house. Just a heads up.

plasticjunkie

Toshi, are you aware of the fire issues with some KIAs ? We had about 3 or 4 reports in the local news. One lady had hers for years and parked it in the garage and almost burnt down her house. Just a heads up.

 

no, I was unaware.  Thanks for the heads up.  Need to get another old school car or even a station wagon.  Lol

Yes Toshi KIA is keeping it hush hush. Another is Mini Cooper. My nephew had a mini parked in his garage and caught fire which almost destroyed  his house. 

Update:

Checked the front seals in the wife’s car today while doing the oil change and again......no leaks after over  2 weeks . Still waiting for that satisfaction survey from the dealership. 

Our coach has been a coast rig since new and you can imagine the rust issues on all the hardware.  Once I got the steering knuckles off (hour and a half a side), found the ball joints were toast...$365.  And new brake hardlines are going to be 500 come spring, along with new exhaust while it's on the rack.  Can't get under it if not on a truck hoist.

 I'm very fortunate I have my own personal  mechanic, my oldest son. Only cost me parts  and he get to keep his project car in my garage. The work that needs to be done is broken down by what I can do, what I can't but he can in my garage and what we need a lift for, then it go's to the dealership he works at.

 

   Dave M