case in point: I took my mothers van to the dealership to have some work done. The most important thing to me was getting the air filter replaced.
When I came to get the van I paid for the work at the counter. Then I asked the person working I need to know how to change the air filter.
The mechanic who "signed off" on the work was called to come forward. I asked him to tell me how do you get to the air filter to change it?
He said, "oh was that on the list?" I said yeah, "I paid for it..."
It turned out you needed like a 2 foot long screw driver.. to reach way under the dash to either side of the "dog house".
Anyway the point is the air filter was totally grungy.. it had not been changed in ages.. had I not asked the mechanic how to do it.. it would not have been done.. yet I paid good money to have it done.
So does anyone have any relevant stories about dealership mechanics doing or not doing things that make it apparent they cannot be trusted?
Please explain?
2007-01-07 07:55:08 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
The request to have the air filter replaced was on the work order! And I paid for it!
The owners manual did not explain how to get the dog house open...
A Haynes manual also did not explain how to get the inside engine cover open...
2007-01-07 08:37:56 · update #1
the only mechanic i trust is me . but the only others would ASE certified mechanics
2007-01-07 07:58:13 · answer #1 · answered by toadyboy 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No you should never go to a dealership mechanic.heres a list of reasons why...
1. they never do what you ask
2. they are more expensive then any one else
3. if they know your not experienced they will rape you for everything your worth
4. the money you spend doesn't stay in your community or town,city whatever.
what you should do next time is go to a local shop, and ask them to show you what they did or at least explain it and see what you are payin for. the whole"only trust ASE mechanics" is b.s. my boyfriend is a lead mechanic at a local shop and doesn't have and ASE cert. and he is the only one i would trust to work on my vehicles. you also should know that if you go to any mechanic shop they will charge you more for the parts then what you would pay at the parts store, so if you can find a place that will let you buy your parts and they install that would be even cheaper. and not parts from the dealer cuz there even more expensive then the parts store.
2007-01-07 09:13:37 · answer #2 · answered by beshk 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well I to am a shop mechanic. If you paid for it , then it should have been done. If I were you I would say ok, look The air filter was to be changed and it was not. So take it back into the shop and do it.
Alot of times it was overlooked, but it is the job of the mechanic to do it. I to have missed things and when it was brought to my attation I corrected it. I tell the the person I am sorry and I will take care of it.
Yes it takes me more time and I am sorry i mist it.
But you paid for something you did not get and it is my job to fix that.
2007-01-07 08:06:53 · answer #3 · answered by goldwing127959 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It might been he just overlooked it,But it should not happen,He has a list what to do tho the car.I would NEVER take my car to the dealer,most tune up or preventive maintenance can be done by the owner.You can also ask around,your friends,or family,who do the take there car to.I would find a small town garage,and take your car to them first for something minor,like an oil change.You should be able to tell how they carry themselves if they are knowledgeable.hope this helps
2007-01-07 08:10:42 · answer #4 · answered by askingandanswering 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you use a dealership and maintain the records that every time your vehicle needed maintenance. If there becomes something wrong do to faulty maintenance, it could be their responsibility. That being said, get to know which mechanics are the trustworthy ones there and ask for them to be the ones to work on your vehicle. The people that work the counter should be able to tell you which ones are the better mechanics. Also, write a letter to the company about your complaint. That might also help not only you, but anyone else that takes their vehicles there.
2007-01-07 08:00:25 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
You cant blame the Tech, chances are the service writer never put change air filter on the repair order , this happens all the time and then the writer blames us .The writer was not listening to you.
2007-01-07 08:25:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, who can you trust these days? It seems to me every business is based on misleading or manipulating the customer. I would talk to the service manager and discuss the problem with them. Then I would go up the chain of responsibility with the Dealership Owner and the car manufacturer.
2007-01-07 08:00:33 · answer #7 · answered by rancho_villa 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
can't blame the mechanic.
you walk in the door and talk to a service consultant or a secretary.....that person is responsible for putting such info down on the paperwork. if not on the papers, then that person is at fault.
if it is on the list, then the mechanic could of over looked it, been called over to another job when he was bout to do it and then slipped his mind, etc.
mechanics don't set out to rip anyone off, that is an old wives tale. now if you end up in some small town, in a small mechanic shop, then you might get ripped off.
but at a dealership, no. they would risk their business license, franchise license, manufacturer license, etc.
so many think everyone in the car industry is a thief. I myself have worked in the industry for over 17 yrs and have owned my own business for the past 11 yrs. In all my years, I have seen maybe 2 thieves out over 10,000 services.
errors in life happen, at your job, at the mechanics job, at the fast food joint, etc. to blame one person and not another in another field is just wrong.
PS - to all those that got ripped off, and claim mechanics pushed other parts or services on them. if you were so smart to begin with, why didn't you just fix it? cause you don't know how, right? well to say just brakes need done or just this needs done when you have no experience in the item to begin with, doesn't work.
just cause you think brakes is the issue doesn't mean they are. or the only issue. just brakes going bad can cause rotors to go bad, brake lines to go bad, wheel bearings to go bad, calipers to go bad.
so for a person who drives their car till they hear screaching sounds, then claim they only need brakes and are told they need more and think they are getting ripped off.....grow up. your ignorance in driving in the first place is what caused all the extra damage and repairs past what you believe needs fixed.
Cars have THOUSANDS of moving parts, all parts wear out...DUH.
2007-01-07 08:10:44 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I took my car to be fixed, they wanted $400 just to look at the transmission, and $2000 to be fixed, I was dumb so I paid for it to be fixed, 1 week later it broke down again, I"m out of a car and money, they never did the work they told me they was going to do.
and when I take my other car to get breaks replaced, they told me I need to do all kind of other works, it end up costing $600
it was spose to be $99 only, when I ask my friends they told me I was scammed
so car repair shops always rip people off
2007-01-07 07:59:40 · answer #9 · answered by MiKe Drazen 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
most of the time they can be trusted but u will run in to some that can not. it sounds like u ran into one of those. i would look around untill i found one that i trusted and request they be the one to work on my vehicle from then on out.
2007-01-07 08:00:09 · answer #10 · answered by adam m 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
No, never trust someone who is interested in taking your money!
2007-01-07 08:05:22 · answer #11 · answered by oana g 1 · 2⤊ 2⤋