Today's trip to the Dealership

[stevej37]

Garage floor is wet...lift has a car on it with the garage door blocked. Decided to take the Civic to the Dealership for an oil change.
It's been over 30 years since I've not done it myself.

Car is driven out, with a wash, about 30 minutes after I brought it in. I had a coupon and it only came to $60 which included synthetic 0-20 and filter.

My interior is black carpet and a mile down the road I hear something when slowing down. I look closer and my glove box and all the stuff in it has rolled across the carpet spilling everything. Apparently when checking the cabin filter, they had forgot to re-attach the glove box properly.
I first thought I would just continue home and fix it....but then I thought 'what if they removed a clip or something and it was still in the shop?'
I returned to the Dealer and the greeter said it would be a few minutes because all the techs were in a meeting.
The meeting turned into almost a half hour. The tech finally came out and fastened it correctly and I was gone.

Future oil changes will be done at home again.

[cabmandone]

Checked your cabin air filter while doing the oil change?

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by cabmandone

Checked your cabin air filter while doing the oil change?

Yes, and didn't attach it right when done. The sales receipt noted that the cabin and engine air filters both should be changed. I have 40k on it...I'll take care of it myself.

They also wrote that the oil in my 6 speed tranny is due to be changed...for $251
40k seems early for the tranny oil...esp in a manual.

[cabmandone]

I swear the cabin and engine air filters ALWAYS need changed when you go to a dealership. That and tires always need balanced.

And yeah, since it's most likely synthetic, I'd be surprised if it REALLY needs changed.

[stevej37]

I'll check out the tranny oil change procedure on Youtube one of these days.
$251 sounds like something will need to be removed.

Whatever...I would think it will last until at least 60K or more.

[ramonesfreak]

In 2001 I took my new VW to dealer for an oil change. When I drove away, the steering wheel was off center by about 30 degrees. Turned around and dealer was closed. Came back next morning and they blamed it on me. 24 years later I am still wondering how and why this could happen…

Another time in for something, a week later I opened hood and found a nice 12” pair of pliers sitting on engine cover….still have em

Last week had and issue with my truck. Dealer couldn’t diagnose and said compared to another model on lot and confirmed sound is normal. But, they only have one other of my model on the lot and I had my eye on it the entire time and it was never moved, fresh 6 inches of snow on windshield as I pulled out of there….

I could go on but you know the deal

[Tobra]

I had them not put bolts back on a truck's skidplates, one time,they left a filter wrench in the engine compartment and it shorted out the battery

[stevej37]

This is the same dealer that I brought my Prelude into a couple years ago for the timing belt replacement.
Talked to the tech and got to know him...they did an excellent job for a low price and loaned me a new Honda for two days. (free)

So, I had great trust in them, but I saw completely new faces there yesterday. Even the sales staff are all new....bad sign.

[fastfredracing]

Im not excusing any shoddy repair work, but you guys simply cannot imagine how much of a pain in the arse modern cars are to work on anymore .
The simplest jobs, I end up fidgeting for twice the time it would normally take me, just trying to line up cheap plastic bits, and fragile one time use fasteners etc. Then, you have all the bells and whistles, re sets, etc. Its maddening at times . No wonder why people are not getting into this biz anymore .
I still love it , but I hate it at the same time .
My new motto has been to try to slow down, and really pay attention to the details , and do the best job I can .
I hustled like a flat rate jockey for 25 years just to survive ,keep the bills paid, and the lights on. Now its time to rise to the top again
I have not worked at a dealership in 30+ years now. I knew that environment was not for me early on in my career .

[stevej37]

^^^ I hear you on that....the old cars were so much easier.


The first five oil changes on my Civic...I did myself and there are two steps that I don't like doing.
First one is the underbody pan that needs removing...it has to be lined up perfect or no go back on.
The other one is resetting the maintenance minder when done. (have to get the manual out every time to get the right sequence)

Reading my work order. It says..."Reset reminder system, install sticker, add premium engine conditioner."
They did the sticker, but not the reset. (I just now did that)
The prem engine conditioner...I have no idea what that is and if it was added or not? lol

But I did get the free Courtesy Vehicle Wash.

[ryans65]

^ what he said...

The dealer emphasizes turning hours, not quality. They expect you to do a quality repair but do not pay you enough to take your time so most dealer techs shortcut every possible thing to get the job done as fast as possible to make a paycheck. It's not uncommon to work 80/90/100 hours in a pay period and make 50 hours. It's just the way it is.

To the OP-

The dealers would ask us to check the engine air filters and cabin air filters to see if they are actually dirty and not just suggest them based on their replacement schedule. The filters paid us .1 hours to replace.... checking them forced us to do the job twice. At my hourly pay rate x .1 I used to get paid $2.80 after taxes to do an air filter or cabin filter.... twice. I just stopped recommending them altogether.

[GH85Carrera]

We bought my wife's Macan from our local dealership. She had it serviced the first few times when the dash said it was time. I have changed the oil a few times and that is all.

One day her tire pressure monitor said a rear tire was low. I looked, and sure enough there was a nail in the tire. The dealership only replaces a tire, they don't patch them. OK, I put the Macan up in the on my scissor lift to get the tire off to take to a local tire shop. After two nuts, I came to the locking nut. I did not know it is locking lugs, I looked in the manual and it showed just where the key is supposed to be. I looked and it was an empty hole. Crap. So I called the dealership knowing one of their mechanics either forgot or on purpose kept it. They said to bring it over to get the right key socket. So put the two lugs I had removed back on, lower the car and drive to the dealership.

They pulled out a set of keys and there was one missing in the set. I said it will be the one that is missing. They tried every other one and of course it was the missing one from the set. They went back in the mechanics work area and came out with one that had been used many times, but still good. Likely the one that the Macan came with. They charged me $45 for my own lock socket and I left. I got the tire off, and to a local shop that fixes flats for free for customers.

Now when the car goes in for service, we remove that key from the factory spot, and put it in a cup holder. She knows to show it to the service manager, and tell him she wants it back in the cup holder when she picks it up.

That even showed me how hard it would be to use the tool kit to remove the 135 pound feet torqued nuts would be. I bought a long socket wrench, a nice socket and several pair of rubber gloves to put in the spare tire well. Also a Tyvec painters suit in case I ever had to wrestle that huge tire off the vehicle. If I am not there, she will have to get a tow, or AAA to change the tire. That tire is HEAVY.

[ramonesfreak]

Here is a new car vs old car issue I am now seeing/experiencing personally

On my truck I have offroad digital gauges- pitch and roll, steering angle, elevation etc...

When I pointed out to the sales guy that the steering wheel was off center, he said it seems fine...I gather now after talking to him that he used the steering angle gauge on the dash which says 0 degrees as the steering wheel sits....never actually drove it and saw it with his eyes (not that he would notice anyway)

It took me about 30 seconds after taking truck home to realize that the gauge is not precise. I can turn the steering wheel an inch or two to the left or right before that gauge moves off zero.....

So - a very poor way to diagnose or rule out an issue.

Interestingly, Of the 6 of these trucks that I test drove, only 1 had a perfectly centered steering wheel and nearly every POV youtube video of these show an off center steering wheel.

This leads me to believe that someone on the production line at Chevy is also using the steering angle gauge to set the steering wheel at the time of their shoddy alignment.

Unfortunately trying to convince a dealer to make a quick toe adjustment at the tie rods to center that wheel is futile and I will likely have to find an indy mechanic to do it unless I can find a smaller dealer that will let me discuss it with a seasoned mechanic, if there is such a thing now days

[stevej37]

^^^ Your steering wheel problems remind of my own, but different.
I had a 2004 Ranger and I slid it on ice into a bridge activating the drivers air bag.

I had it fixed at the Ford dealership and they drove it to me at work when done. When I got in it to go home I noticed right away in the parking lot that the steering was goofed up. The wheel had to be manhandled to return to straight on every turn. It was like manual steering doubled.

I drove it back to the dealer and complained. He talked to the tech who had drove it to me and the tech said "it steered as normal"

After finally getting the salesman to drive it, they kept the truck and returned it to me the next day and I was told they forgot to put the steering wheel shim/gasket back on. It steered perfect after that.

[onewhippedpuppy]

All great reminders why I do my own work, thanks guys!

[stevej37]

Does anyone know what the 'premium engine conditioner' is? It's listed separately from the syn engine oil.
I have no idea what it is....but I'd like to know.

It's listed on the invoice below the filter as 5050 Pro Guard at $13

[ryans65]

additive that your oil probably already had

"snake oil"

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by ryans65

additive that your oil probably already had
"snake oil"

Well, I hope it runs ok without it....because I'm not adding it next time.

[Scott Douglas]

This thread is getting me physic-ed up to do our yearly oil changes on our cars, rather than listen to my wife who'd have me take it somewhere.
Stevej37 - If your plate that gives you trouble when doing an oil change is anything like the one on our CRV, you need to get the shoulder bolts lined up correctly for them to seat properly. Our plate will sit in place without being held up as they have tabs that fit into slots to hold it in place without the screws.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

This thread is getting me physic-ed up to do our yearly oil changes on our cars, rather than listen to my wife who'd have me take it somewhere.
Stevej37 - If your plate that gives you trouble when doing an oil change is anything like the one on our CRV, you need to get the shoulder bolts lined up correctly for them to seat properly. Our plate will sit in place without being held up as they have tabs that fit into slots to hold it in place without the screws.

Thanks...I'll look for that next time.
I have a lift in my garage, but in the winter the 911 takes it's place up at the top. I have snow blown in piles in front of the door, so I can't get the 911 out anyways.

So, I use a pair of ramps that only raise the front end about 10 inches....making it hard to finagle the plate around. I have done it every time, but it's a chore.