Auto Service: What Would You Do?

ernest_t_bass 12th Son of the Lama

26,698 posts 204 reps Joined Nov 2009

Wed, Aug 1, 2018 9:44 PM

For the record, I am not a mechanic. I'll start this story off with some facts:

Dumb

Me
I take my truck to a local Ford and/or Chevy dealer b/c I know the service manager
Bought my truck with 75K on it, 3.5 years ago. I've put 40k on it (Maths = 115k)
I've never had to do anything serious to my truck, ever
Last service they suggested new spark plugs, transmission flush... I said no
Been working a summer job (I'm a teacher), so I now have extra cash to take care of #5
Take it to dealer...

The saga...

Take the truck to dealer for 1) oil change/service 2) Spark plugs 3) transmission flush. They also suggested 4) coolant flush. Total bill before coupon discount comes to $650. I said to go ahead and do it, I have the cash to cover it. This was last Thursday.

Thursday

"Not done with truck. Started late. Here is a loaner."

Friday

T - "Coil #2 is going bad. Want us to replace it? Here is cost. Gotta warn you, that when you change one, usually others go back pretty quickly. Want us to do all for $900?"

M - "NO! Just do the one."

T - "We were right. Now #4 bad... Now #6 bad."

M - "FFS, just do them all."

T - "Not done with truck. Here is a loaner. It's the shittiest fucking car we have on the lot that is 1.5k overdue for oil change, and it is out of line.

Monday

Done - $1400 bill. 15 miles and check engine light comes on, and one of cylinders misfiring. Take it back Tuesday.

Tuesday

T - "Got it fixed. 3rd cylinder was misfiring, so we changed the harness, blah, blah, blah. Test drove it, and you should be good.

M - Drive it 3 miles and check engine light back on, however not misfiring. Back to dealer Wednesday.

Wednesday

T - They are not done by 3:30 when I told them I needed it. "We can't figure out what's up, and why the light is one. We think it has to do with catalytic converter with new plugs/coils. I think it will go away in a few days."

- They are still not done with truck

M - I have to go get my daughter.

T - Here is a loaner. I'll call you and let you know.

M - "I'm not happy. This is day #5, I have a $1400 bill, and this thing still isn't fixed."

T - Derp, herp, slurp, sturp, sherp ... "We'll let you know."

T - Ring, ring - "Hey ETB, got your truck back. You just want to drive it and see if the check engine light goes off?"

M - "NO. TOMORROW IS DAY 6, I'M WITHOUT MY TRUCK STILL. I WANT IT FIXED!"

The question - What do I do about this bill? They have not charged me a dime on top of the original bill. Should I pay the full $1400 b/c it is for services rendered that were agreed upon? We're looking at $400 labor, $1000 parts.

What would YOU do?

Ironman92 Administrator

56,729 posts 168 reps Joined Nov 2009

Wed, Aug 1, 2018 9:54 PM

posted by ernest_t_bass
For the record, I am not a mechanic. I'll start this story off with some facts:

Dumb

Me

I take my truck to a local Ford and/or Chevy dealer b/c I know the service manager

Bought my truck with 75K on it, 3.5 years ago. I've put 40k on it (Maths = 115k)

I've never had to do anything serious to my truck, ever

Last service they suggested new spark plugs, transmission flush... I said no

Been working a summer job (I'm a teacher), so I now have extra cash to take care of #5

Take it to dealer...

The saga...

The question - What do I do about this bill? They have not charged me a dime on top of the original bill. Should I pay the full $1400 b/c it is for services rendered that were agreed upon? We're looking at $400 labor, $1000 parts.

What would YOU do?

Fuck that’s awful. I’d want to burn the fucking place down.

I never ever ever go to the dealerships unless I absolutely have to. Their prices are insane and I can’t say over ever trusted any I’ve been to. These are places that make you wait forever on a fucking car monthly price and come back at like $549/month when you’ve done the fucking math and know it should be about $450...then they miraculously find a way to get it down to about $460 once they see you are pissed.

in your situation...I’m not sure what I’d pay but I would insist on talking to whoever I could to make all of it right. They recommended shit you had no intentions of getting and then they assed up and inconvenienced you a good bit.

Good Luck

Iliketurtles Senior Member

8,507 posts 37 reps Joined Aug 2010

Wed, Aug 1, 2018 10:32 PM

I wouldnt have bought a Ford.

But Id just pay the 1400. That sucks man hopefully you get your truck back soon.

Trimmer36 Junior Member

25 posts 5 reps Joined Nov 2010

Wed, Aug 1, 2018 10:59 PM

You said you were not a mechanic. I'm beginning to question the skills of their mechanics.After each time they worked on it, I question if they drove it for a test run. I would try to do a bit of negotiating with the service manager and meet somewhere close to the original estimate. Your time and inconvenience should be worth a discount. Certainly worth negotiating.

gut Senior Member

18,369 posts 117 reps Joined Nov 2009

Wed, Aug 1, 2018 11:35 PM

posted by ernest_t_bass
Take the truck to dealer for 1) oil change/service 2) Spark plugs 3) transmission flush. They also suggested 4) coolant flush. Total bill before coupon discount comes to $650.

I'm also not a mechanic, and don't have a Ford truck. Realizing the dealer is more expensive, $650 for that sounds like it's double, if not triple, what it should cost....which is a red flag.

115k miles, new plugs sure. New coils? And then a new harness? That's a shitload of repairs for a truck with only 115k miles on it....and was running before coming into service.

I think I'd do some research and find out if they weren't taking you for a ride and recommending stuff that probably didn't need done. And if they are disreputable, I'd be looking for a discount not to complain to Ford service.

Belly35 Elderly Intellectual

10,015 posts 56 reps Joined Nov 2009

Thu, Aug 2, 2018 5:53 AM

find yourself a local mechanic and build a relationship with them take your truck in to get preventive repair maintenance on your vehicle. Check the oil and change it on a regular basis at some quick lube, they can flush your transmission, flush your radiator system 30 minutes.

Spark plugs coil kit and harness basically an hour and a half /two hours job at the max. Sounds like you were taken by the dealership service department I'd suggest that you get away from them as quickly as possible pay the money and move on the next thing they're going to hit you up with he'll be a timing belt. The fact that they brought up the converter is not a good sign that just leading you into replacing your exhaust system.. Hook Line & Sinker

jmog Senior Member

7,737 posts 52 reps Joined Nov 2009

Thu, Aug 2, 2018 9:21 AM

Never go to a dealership unless its still under warranty and therefore free.

Find a guy that owns his own mechanic shop or a very small one locally, those guys know their shit.

I have a new mechanic and he doesn't even really know it yet. I will go to this place for anything from here on out and its only 5 min from my house.

A month ago I had a low tire light come on while driving home from a customer's steel plant. I stopped at a gas station and not only was it low but really low (like 15 psi) so I filled it up and immediately looked up on google any tire repair/auto repair shop on my way home. Found a place, and sure enough the tire low pressure light had come back on before I even got there (5 min drive from where I was).

I had never knew about the place, 2 mechanics and a guy that manned the lobby/register.

They got me right in, plugged the tire, balanced it, etc. I had a nice conversation with the man in the lobby about their typical prices, etc (all seemed very reasonable).

I then asked him how much I owed them (typical for a plug tire service is $15-25 depending on place). He said "don't worry about, the guy other guy was bored anyway".

Next problem I have I will be down at their place.

jmog Senior Member

7,737 posts 52 reps Joined Nov 2009

Thu, Aug 2, 2018 9:23 AM

Also, no offense, but the dealerships KNOW they can get whatever they want because a ton of their work is the soccer moms that don't know anything about cars. The local mechanics typically get people who at least have a cursory knowledge about cars and can't get away with that crap the dealership pulled on you.

gut Senior Member

18,369 posts 117 reps Joined Nov 2009

Thu, Aug 2, 2018 11:09 AM

For years I've just gone to Valvoline or Jiffy Lube for oil changes, transmission, coolant, etc. Just know what the timing/maintenance on some of that stuff really should be for your car and avoid the upsells (I routinely tell them to just blow out the air filter, rather than replace it every visit).

Ironman92 Administrator

56,729 posts 168 reps Joined Nov 2009

Thu, Aug 2, 2018 11:57 AM

posted by gut
For years I've just gone to Valvoline or Jiffy Lube for oil changes, transmission, coolant, etc. Just know what the timing/maintenance on some of that stuff really should be for your car and avoid the upsells (I routinely tell them to just blow out the air filter, rather than replace it every visit).

Every place I’ve ever went....they ask if ok to replace air filter if needed, I always tell them yes. I’ve only had mine replaced twice in my 2005 Accord....they say it rarely needs it.

Ironman92 Administrator

56,729 posts 168 reps Joined Nov 2009

Thu, Aug 2, 2018 12:04 PM

My recalls go to the Dealership...that’s really it.

10 years back I bought a 2001 Civic but it came with just 1 key (key had a chip in it but key did not have auto lock, alarm, start or anything fancy. Dealership had to because of chip. Dealership told me $122. I dropped off car and they told me about an hour...so I went for a walk. 6 minutes down road they call me and tell me it’s done. I go back and the bill was for $191. I asked them about the $122 over the phone and they blah blah’d some bullshit. I paid the $191 gtfo.

I got a great deal on that car buying it from private seller. Had for 4 years and had to do nothing else too it besides a few oil changes and sold the damn thing for almost as much as I paid for it.

Ive had a ton of bullshit dealership stories buying cars but that’s for another time. I’ll buy them there but they aren’t fixing anything that isn’t free.

gut Senior Member

18,369 posts 117 reps Joined Nov 2009

Thu, Aug 2, 2018 12:15 PM

posted by Ironman92
Every place I’ve ever went....they ask if ok to replace air filter if needed, I always tell them yes. I’ve only had mine replaced twice in my 2005 Accord....they say it rarely needs it.

Interesting....they always ask, too, and usually if it's a little dirty I have them blow it out....but basically I replace it every other oil change or about 10k miles. They don't cost much, anyway.

vball10set paying it forward

26,788 posts 121 reps Joined Nov 2009

Thu, Aug 2, 2018 3:32 PM

I'd buy a horse, and when it broke down, I'd shoot it and buy another...hope this helps.

Verbal Kint Senior Member

1,062 posts 16 reps Joined Jul 2017

Thu, Aug 2, 2018 4:32 PM

posted by ernest_t_bass
Should I pay the full $1400 b/c it is for services rendered that were agreed upon? We're looking at $400 labor, $1000 parts.

What would YOU do?

I think you would owe it if agreed upon, but good luck.

ernest_t_bass 12th Son of the Lama

26,698 posts 204 reps Joined Nov 2009

Thu, Aug 2, 2018 9:06 PM

Business Day #6 (calendar day #8)

Really like to drive it a little later today and tomorrow. This morning Let sit n idle roughly 45 minutes to an hour to get the engine good and warmed. No engine light truck was running good and smooth. About 1-1:30 today

Test drive to [town 15 minutes away] and back, everything was good.

Let sit about 1/2-45 minutes test drive again, still running good, but engine light did come back on.

I was/am furious. I don't see how all of this shit falls under my (verbal) contractual agreement for services rendered. 9 calendar days was not agreed upon. I don't care if "they are fixing it" and "they gave me a loaner in the meantime." I'll never go back.

I've been suckered, and I feel like a complete fucking moron.

Ironman92 Administrator

56,729 posts 168 reps Joined Nov 2009

Thu, Aug 2, 2018 9:32 PM

posted by ernest_t_bass
Business Day #6 (calendar day #8)

I was/am furious. I don't see how all of this shit falls under my (verbal) contractual agreement for services rendered. 9 calendar days was not agreed upon. I don't care if "they are fixing it" and "they gave me a loaner in the meantime." I'll never go back.

I've been suckered, and I feel like a complete fucking moron.

Sorry man, it sucks

gut Senior Member

18,369 posts 117 reps Joined Nov 2009

Thu, Aug 2, 2018 9:51 PM

posted by ernest_t_bass
Business Day #6 (calendar day #8)

I was/am furious. I don't see how all of this shit falls under my (verbal) contractual agreement for services rendered. 9 calendar days was not agreed upon. I don't care if "they are fixing it" and "they gave me a loaner in the meantime." I'll never go back.

I've been suckered, and I feel like a complete fucking moron.

Tell the dealer you don't think the charges reflect honest, competent work....and that you will file a complaint with Ford customer service.

They will probably tell you to pound salt, but enough complaints can result in sanctions from Ford, up to losing their dealership. Maybe they knock-off a few hundred in labor for you.

ernest_t_bass 12th Son of the Lama

26,698 posts 204 reps Joined Nov 2009

Thu, Aug 2, 2018 9:56 PM

A question for you law folks. Isn't "reasonable amount of time" implied in a lot of situations?

Verbal Kint Senior Member

1,062 posts 16 reps Joined Jul 2017

Thu, Aug 2, 2018 9:59 PM

Did you sign a work authorization?

ernest_t_bass 12th Son of the Lama

26,698 posts 204 reps Joined Nov 2009

Thu, Aug 2, 2018 10:02 PM

posted by Verbal Kint
Did you sign a work authorization?

Everything is verbal.

ernest_t_bass 12th Son of the Lama

26,698 posts 204 reps Joined Nov 2009

Thu, Aug 2, 2018 10:06 PM

posted by gut
Tell the dealer you don't think the charges reflect honest, competent work....and that you will file a complaint with Ford customer service.

It's a Chevy dealer. But, before you bitch me out. They own a Ford dealership 1 mile down the road, and they are basically the same business entity. I used this particular dealership shop because it is next door to work. I just parked my car, gave them the keys, and walked into work. But I still may do the same.

Auto Service: What Would You Do?

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