I hate car dealerships

[DaveB]

Are service writers really this dumb?

Kipp Scott GM: my 2010 GM 1/2 ton. Problem: I have a suspicion that the 5.3 is a bit noisier than it needs to be on cold start-ups. (my 06 was the same and never changed in 270,000km...but) I figure I better at least get it on paper before the warranty goes out that I think it's rattly. Anyways, I drop it off the night before, get rides both ways, then a ride to work the next day. I get a call from the service writer that she brought the truck in, then the tech couldn't find a noise. WHAAAA? I say, "so I go through the trouble of telling you EXACTLY what it's doing, THEN I get rides all over the country so I can drop it off and you can have it cold. THEN you fire it up first thing and bring it inside for the tech to work on it?"
She now realizes she's been an idiot, so asks, "can you leave it over night tonight?"
Yes...I lost my $h!t. I get a ride down, service manager involved, etc ,etc. In the end, nothing done, engine is fine according to them.

Gord Scott Nissan: wife's 2011 Murano. Problem: been losing coolant and you can smell antifreeze since vehicle was new. Level in overflow bottle drops a couple inches every oil change. Last time I dropped it off (last summer) was the THIRD time in for this issue. And the THIRD time they said they checked it and can't find a problem. I get the runarround story about how the level in the bottle goes up and down with temperature, they pressured it up and can't find anything, bla, bla, bla. I point out the pink felt-pen line THEY drew on the hot-full level and how it now (hot) is 2" below that line. Anyways...get service manager involved, and he seems pretty understanding and sympathetic, but nothing done. Drop it off today for same issue...booked in 3 weeks ago...strong smell of AF, and level is down again. Service writer "prepares me" for the news that "they will check it, but if they find anything you will have to re-book it in".......
I ask her if she bothered to look up the 3 previous work orders...? I get my ride to work. This afternoon, I will be losing my $h!t....

 

[brutematt750]

Haha , good times at the dealerships !
I'm just glad my stuff is all old and therefore had no warranty , smaller shops seem better to deal with to me .
When we had warranty on the corolla it seemed like it was the same bulls**t dealing with the stealership


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk while working extremely hard

 

[Rbrduk]

I feel your pain.

Early 2000ish, my truck needed a steering box. I was working up north and booked it in over a month in advance ( tell them it needs steering box)to coincide with days off. 2 weeks to go and get a reminder call from dealership, and again tell them about steering box. Am assured that its on the work order. The big day has arrived, drop off truck and again tell them that its there for a steering box. I get a phone call at 3pm friday with the service manager telling me " Do you know that your truck needs a steering box?" and that my truck wouldn't be ready until Monday.

After I calmed down, and told the manager that if my truck was not ready that night, they were going to pay for my lost wages at 500$ a day until I had my truck back. Picked up my truck at 10 am the next day and was asked to leave northwest motors because the service manager didn't think I had the right to be mad.

Never been back since and will never buy another dodge because of it.

 

[imdoo'n]

Are service writers really this dumb?

Kipp Scott GM: my 2010 GM 1/2 ton. Problem: I have a suspicion that the 5.3 is a bit noisier than it needs to be on cold start-ups. (my 06 was the same and never changed in 270,000km...but) I figure I better at least get it on paper before the warranty goes out that I think it's rattly. Anyways, I drop it off the night before, get rides both ways, then a ride to work the next day. I get a call from the service writer that she brought the truck in, then the tech couldn't find a noise. WHAAAA? I say, "so I go through the trouble of telling you EXACTLY what it's doing, THEN I get rides all over the country so I can drop it off and you can have it cold. THEN you fire it up first thing and bring it inside for the tech to work on it?"
She now realizes she's been an idiot, so asks, "can you leave it over night tonight?"
Yes...I lost my $h!t. I get a ride down, service manager involved, etc ,etc. In the end, nothing done, engine is fine according to them.

Gord Scott Nissan: wife's 2011 Murano. Problem: been losing coolant and you can smell antifreeze since vehicle was new. Level in overflow bottle drops a couple inches every oil change. Last time I dropped it off (last summer) was the THIRD time in for this issue. And the THIRD time they said they checked it and can't find a problem. I get the runarround story about how the level in the bottle goes up and down with temperature, they pressured it up and can't find anything, bla, bla, bla. I point out the pink felt-pen line THEY drew on the hot-full level and how it now (hot) is 2" below that line. Anyways...get service manager involved, and he seems pretty understanding and sympathetic, but nothing done. Drop it off today for same issue...booked in 3 weeks ago...strong smell of AF, and level is down again. Service writer "prepares me" for the news that "they will check it, but if they find anything you will have to re-book it in".......
I ask her if she bothered to look up the 3 previous work orders...? I get my ride to work. This afternoon, I will be losing my $h!t....

sounds about right dave, seems to be a deny, deny attitude out there till it is off warranty, then they will fix it.

 

[Braddock54]

Hey Dave is a clicking sort of sound? I have Same truck, and I get it on cold starts too. I'm close to 100k on mine.

 

[DaveB]

When is Honda going to make a truck? My ol Lady's Accord Coupe never spent a day getting anything fixed. Oil changes, tires, gas.

 

[DaveB]

Hey Dave is a clicking sort of sound? I have Same truck, and I get it on cold starts too. I'm close to 100k on mine.

Tick-ticking on cold start-up at idle. I've read (and confirmed by Tex) that GM had some issues with camshafts in these motors. (didn't GM learn about camshaft hardening in the 70's? Frick, every second small-block had the back two lobes rounded off)

On the other hand...it may be light piston-slap...hard to tell. But my 06 5.3 did the same thing and never had an issue.

 

[arff]

Dodge dealer same issue. Vals SUV 28000 km. Rattle in the front end. Make the appointment. Drop it off. Tell them we are away for a week and e mail questions or result. I call mid week and say hey what's going on. It was oh your SUV is here?? What a joke. Answer was no problem found.

 

[moyiesledhead]

Gotta lose you $hit once in a while Dave. Not good to bottle that stuff up!

 

[SavageCanuck]

I can't stand taking anything into my Chev dealer.One service writer is so old and crusty I won't pull into his spot.Last fall I dropped off my Duramax early 7:00am so they could have it all day to replace an exhaust sensor.Truck was parked right by door and is a big truck.I came back after work at about 4:30 and thought it odd that truck was in same spot.I quickly figured it had been forgotten after I had an appointment booked and keys in drop off.I was so pissed I went and saw my friend who happens to be the GM of the dealership.We came down to service managers office,reamed him then service writer.Still a hassle, service writer had to phone me next day and personally apologize .Since then they think they have a flag come up when I bring mu new 14 silverado in as they seem to jump when I show up,still hate going there.

 

[moyiesledhead]

When is Honda going to make a truck? My ol Lady's Accord Coupe never spent a day getting anything fixed. Oil changes, tires, gas.

Or VW. Were on our 4th VW diesel. My wife's Jetta is over 400,000kms now & still going strong. Never anything but oil changes........and of course timing belts.

 

[imdoo'n]

Dodge dealer same issue. Vals SUV 28000 km. Rattle in the front end. Make the appointment. Drop it off. Tell them we are away for a week and e mail questions or result. I call mid week and say hey what's going on. It was oh your SUV is here?? What a joke. Answer was no problem found.

,


well i'm thinking it has become the norm out there, deny, deny, deny, probably due to manufacturer not paying the bill.

 

[imdoo'n]

Dodge dealer same issue. Vals SUV 28000 km. Rattle in the front end. Make the appointment. Drop it off. Tell them we are away for a week and e mail questions or result. I call mid week and say hey what's going on. It was oh your SUV is here?? What a joke. Answer was no problem found.

dare the service manager to call her a pussy, make sure camera is rolling.

 

[Braddock54]

Tick-ticking on cold start-up at idle. I've read (and confirmed by Tex) that GM had some issues with camshafts in these motors. (didn't GM learn about camshaft hardening in the 70's? Frick, every second small-block had the back two lobes rounded off)

On the other hand...it may be light piston-slap...hard to tell. But my 06 5.3 did the same thing and never had an issue.

Yeah! Same here. Just the really cold starts for me too, but its kind of lingering thing. Thanks for the info, I may get mine into the geniuses at my closest (and only) GM dealer.

 

[plio7]

the Nissan I will just about guarantee the coolant is coming out of the rad cap.....my old titan has a mystery leak for ever. I had multiple people look and no one ever found the leak until one day I noticed a spray mark across the top of the engine in the dust.....its almost like they over pressure sometimes when you start them cold and let them idle and the leak out just enough to piss a guy off.....I even tried changing rad caps with no luck....just like you kept getting it topped up with oil changes.

Are service writers really this dumb?

Kipp Scott GM: my 2010 GM 1/2 ton. Problem: I have a suspicion that the 5.3 is a bit noisier than it needs to be on cold start-ups. (my 06 was the same and never changed in 270,000km...but) I figure I better at least get it on paper before the warranty goes out that I think it's rattly. Anyways, I drop it off the night before, get rides both ways, then a ride to work the next day. I get a call from the service writer that she brought the truck in, then the tech couldn't find a noise. WHAAAA? I say, "so I go through the trouble of telling you EXACTLY what it's doing, THEN I get rides all over the country so I can drop it off and you can have it cold. THEN you fire it up first thing and bring it inside for the tech to work on it?"
She now realizes she's been an idiot, so asks, "can you leave it over night tonight?"
Yes...I lost my $h!t. I get a ride down, service manager involved, etc ,etc. In the end, nothing done, engine is fine according to them.

Gord Scott Nissan: wife's 2011 Murano. Problem: been losing coolant and you can smell antifreeze since vehicle was new. Level in overflow bottle drops a couple inches every oil change. Last time I dropped it off (last summer) was the THIRD time in for this issue. And the THIRD time they said they checked it and can't find a problem. I get the runarround story about how the level in the bottle goes up and down with temperature, they pressured it up and can't find anything, bla, bla, bla. I point out the pink felt-pen line THEY drew on the hot-full level and how it now (hot) is 2" below that line. Anyways...get service manager involved, and he seems pretty understanding and sympathetic, but nothing done. Drop it off today for same issue...booked in 3 weeks ago...strong smell of AF, and level is down again. Service writer "prepares me" for the news that "they will check it, but if they find anything you will have to re-book it in".......
I ask her if she bothered to look up the 3 previous work orders...? I get my ride to work. This afternoon, I will be losing my $h!t....

 

[Trukker]

Problem Dave is you're smarter than you're suppose to be ...................They don't have mechanics that actually fix chit these days . If they can't plug it in and get a code ..............No Fault found Sir!

 

[tex78]

Tick-ticking on cold start-up at idle. I've read (and confirmed by Tex) that GM had some issues with camshafts in these motors. (didn't GM learn about camshaft hardening in the 70's? Frick, every second small-block had the back two lobes rounded off)

On the other hand...it may be light piston-slap...hard to tell. But my 06 5.3 did the same thing and never had an issue.

Also if ur truck is a afm engine ( v4 mode) lifters don't pump up, of the oil psi part of the afm deactivate ect

Either way, cam gets new lifters, and hope they change the afm too cause it's in the way of the cam


Get it good and hot Dave, rev it up and listen, for ticks, squeals ect.... Cause the oil thins and can make noise then too


sent while I should be drinking tea's

 

[somethingnuw]

Tick-ticking on cold start-up at idle. I've read (and confirmed by Tex) that GM had some issues with camshafts in these motors. (didn't GM learn about camshaft hardening in the 70's? Frick, every second small-block had the back two lobes rounded off)

On the other hand...it may be light piston-slap...hard to tell. But my 06 5.3 did the same thing and never had an issue.

my 6.0 does the same thing and when i drive it feels like its stuck in 4x4 but its not...

the coolant thing... i had the same problem with my cummins... no one could find the issue finally a place in red deer... just off the strip behind bo's or the gold gym cant remember their name said last resort would be to change the heater core... i had to try something and it worked... but when the unit was tested when removed no leak found... weird but i don't care hated my baby boy smelling that toxic ch!t when i took them out... never noted any smoke or residue on the windshield...

 

[somethingnuw]

,


well i'm thinking it has become the norm out there, deny, deny, deny, probably due to manufacturer not paying the bill.

frick hearing that if its true makes me wish i spent the xtra 10k... for the tundra instead of my f150... buddy got his at same dealership i did... on cold days it blows in snow when the heat is one and doesn't produce heat... stealership said ill see you in three weeks... what a joke

 

[Braddock54]

I'll chip in here too. So last year, I brought my Silverado to the only GM dealer in the territory, for a recall on the transmission dip stick or something. Also, I had this nagging issue with a taillight. It would function as a brake light, turn signal, but not as a running light. Bulbs didn't fix it. I specifically mentioned this to them, and assured 'yeah we'll take care of it'. I made an appointment and picked it up later.

So I pick it up and I ask 'did you guys figure out the light'? 'Yeah should be taken care of!'. He hands me this LOVELY pencil whipped list of all the stuff they checked off. Yup, lights are functioning, working good? Check!

So we go out to the truck, do you think they fixed it? Nope. I don't think they even looked at it. So i question the guy on his 'inspection sheet' that is littered with check marks. I pose this to him; 'How I am supposed to be believe that any of this stuff was done, because clearly, the tails weren't checked at all, but yet, they are given the big a-ok on this list'. He didn't have too much to say and says, 'well you'll have to come back'. I didn't want to but made another appointment to deal with it.

I went back the next day, drop off the truck outside after the same guy tells me, they are going to deal with it right away. My truck sat in the same spot for half an hour before it moved. Some cheesey sales guy tries to sell me the same truck I am driving with a corny sales pitch....problem being, its an extended cab with cloth and some bigger tires. 55k!

So another hour goes by. The service guy says yup, should be all good now! I don't pay for this as I already did the previous day. I drive down the road. First turn, I get the really fast blinker indictator. I go right back to Chevy. Now NOTHING works on this light. No brake, signal anything. WORSE than what I started with.

I go back and basically lose it on this guy, and what a complete waste of time this has been. He says "well the tech says that the harness was screwed, and we don't have any in stock'. 'Sometimes when they are poking around with electronics, things happen. Not much I can do'.

So after a whole lot of complaining, he says well, the harness will take two weeks to get here. I say not good enough. I kind of sarcastically said to him, 'Where do you think we could find a harness for a half ton silverado, perhaps on one of these trucks on the lot, and then YOU can wait for the part'. It was a real light bulb moment for this guy and my super complicated solution fixed the problem.

People should really not have much faith in the 'big dealers'. A lot of the time filled with jokers for staff!