Dealership mechanic stories

[ravenofpoe]

Had a pretty annoying trip to the dealership a couple days ago. I’d scheduled a week in advance to have two things done. I wanted the brake fluid changed and to have the backup camera checked. It works most of the time but shutting the trunk can cause it to stop working. I figure it’s a loose connection and so do they. Again I scheduled this a week in advance. I arrive on time,11 am, and wait 30 minutes while they figure out paperwork to be told the car should be ready by Friday or possibly Monday. Wait what? He says they don’t have anyone to deal with the back up camera right now. Ok then for today just deal with the brake fluid. Guy says he should be able to have that done before closing time... I say ok I’ll just take it to the quick lane since I know they won’t take that long. He offers to have it moved over there and get the work done. Ok great. Hour later I’m standing not far from the quick lane when my car gets pulled out and driven to the other side of the dealer where the mechanics shop is. I walk back over to that side to to see a shop guy run back out and move my car again. It took them an additional hour to finish paperwork and paying. Eventually without anyone telling me I found my car buried in the back of the car lot. All in all a bunch of minor annoyances but combined are a much bigger issue. they failed to respect my time, to schedule the work properly and then showed no regard for where my vehicle was. Also noticed I didn’t get one of those how was my service texts this time. How bout the rest of you, got any fun stories?

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[lacanteen]

My dealer takes great care of me and my car. Courtesy Ford in Breaux Bridge, LA. In fact, I was there yesterday for 15,000 mile maintenance. My service writer pointed out that there was still 800 miles to go on the oil, which I knew and explained that I have a 2500 mile road trip starting next week. While waiting, I was chatting with my salesman who is also the internet manager (Dwayne Hebert) and mentioned another big road trip he smiled and told me to keep track of my key fobs since my girlfriend lost one in New Mexico last May. When I mentioned she was looking forward to earning some more state pins for her Route 66 hat, Dwayne handed me a Mustang tri-bar hat pin for my one year anniversary which was April 18 and said to put it on her hat. It doesn't get much better.

 

[Shifting_Gears]

I bought my Focus ST from a local GM dealership. Salesguy was nice, but could definitely tell he’s been in the business a long time.. doing the same old tricks.

About a year later, I see him at work one day in our sales division. I’m like hey, you sold me a car about a year ago. He’s like yeah, I remember you - didn’t I sell you a Subaru STI? I’m like no, Focus ST.. traded my Jeep blah blah blah. Anyway, he lasted for a bit - it was funny how it came around.

Also brought my Focus ST in to have the battery replaced under warranty. I left the battery cover in the car as I had to jump it to arrive. Not only did they try to short me 1 month of the warranty, they told me it would be covered after I corrected them and then upon checkout, told me I owed them $180 something. On SECOND correction, I left with it covered under warranty. Get back in the car and on the passenger floorboard is my battery cover. Jerkoffs.

 

[ice445]

Most dealers struggle with more than the basics, lol. Just depends on how green the techs are. In general I find it hard to trust taking my car in unless I absolutely have to. But I'm no stranger to wrench turning.

 

[Zathras]

Many dealers don't really have a strong enough service department (either in staffing or facilities) to handle the volume of cars they need to. Sometimes it seems like "making an appointment" makes no difference as they still can't do the work in a timely way. It doesn't help that modern cars require specialized diagnostic/repair procedures, and correspondingly well-trained techs.

 

[Balr14]

I found the more expensive the car brand, the better the service. But regardless of brand, they usually replace stuff. Damned few places actually fix things.

 

[I Bleed Ford Blue]

I found the more expensive the car brand, the better the service. But regardless of brand, they usually replace stuff. Damned few places actually fix things.

That's because most dealers now employ very few actual techs, most who work in the service dept are just parts changers. It's cheaper for the dealer to do it that way, to just pay a couple of guys top dollar and the parts changers half that.

i saw it coming thirty years ago, that's why I got out of the business.

 

[ORRadtech]

That's because most dealers now employ very few actual techs, most who work in the service dept are just parts changers. It's cheaper for the dealer to do it that way, to just pay a couple of guys top dollar and the parts changers half that.

i saw it coming thirty years ago, that's why I got out of the business.

To be fair, more and more, cars (and everything else for that matter) are being designed for parts replacement rather than repair. They are designed to hook to a computer program and replace the module or sensor or whatever. Gone are the days of adjusting a carb or finding a bad plug wire. Now it's all about reading a code and replacing a part. Yes, that's over simplified but not by much.

 

[ModularKid21]

To be fair, more and more, cars (and everything else for that matter) are being designed for parts replacement rather than repair. They are designed to hook to a computer program and replace the module or sensor or whatever. Gone are the days of adjusting a carb or finding a bad plug wire. Now it's all about reading a code and replacing a part. Yes, that's over simplified but not by much.

Lol tell that to a German car tech

 

[Sig556]

I've found over the years the best way to address service it to be up front with whoever you are dealing with. Explain the problem fully tell them what you expect, and have them contact you promptly when the job is finished. Also take extra care when servicing. Showing up the next day with a box of donuts for a job well done does wonders.

 

[Hi-PO Stang]

I feel sorry for auto mechanics. The engineers do not make it very easy for a mechanic to work on engines. The mechanic has to work in a confined area and may have to remove several parts to get to the cause of a problem part. I would like to see manufacturers design engine compartments that would be more mechanic friendly.

 

[Shifting_Gears]

I feel sorry for auto mechanics. The engineers do not make it very easy for a mechanic to work on engines. The mechanic has to work in a confined area and may have to remove several parts to get to the cause of a problem part. I would like to see manufacturers design engine compartments that would be more mechanic friendly.

Agreed with that.

 

[71Rcode]

Great perspectives above. Good one on the boxes of donuts.

My Ford dealership (Grapevine Ford / Grapevine TX) has been fantastic the two times I've used them (1) Power Pack 2 install and (2) replace rear LH hub under ESP warranty. Being a car guy who has turned the majority (95%) of the wrenches on our cars for decades, I take extra time up front with the service advisor to earn his trust.

I've found in life that it truly has helped me to find common ground with and empathize with folks serving or supporting me in any capacity. My buddy calls this thing I do (?) "common manning" everyone, which he observed many years ago when I struck up a conversation with the guy working on the toilets/sinks in our corporate work setting, talking shop and the project, and to say thanks.

I'll use the Ford dealer as an example. It's so easy (and enjoyable) to be friendly, appreciative, respectful, and understanding regarding the daily challenges that may be facing primary contact (service advisor), the downstream challenges for the mechanic doing the work (as I've often performed the work myself, or at least know what the challenges are). And when things don't work out with the experience and/or result, I don't get worked up. Mistakes happen and schedules get goofed up. Life is too short.

Reading the experience of the original poster is an interesting one. I'm not sure what you could've done to possibly prevent some or any of those things, other than back off your expectation of the urgency they would take care these two relatively minor projects for you. If the Mustang was your only ride, I can see how that would cause a problem.

For my two stellar experiences with my Ford dealer (first paragraph above), both jobs took one day longer than Ford expected. So I have no idea where my car was parked or moved during the staging. But I didn't get upset. They took incredible care of my car and delivered high quality work, which are my #1 and 2 goals. I was prepared for both jobs taking longer than the service advisor said so the delays were never an issue for me.

 

[dbegley]

I had my '17 Mustang GT in for an oil change last fall. I have the performance pack. The dealer service guy asked me if I wanted them to rotate the tires while they had it. I had to convince him that was not a good idea since my car has wider tires on the rear then on the front. Apparently he didn't know that and seemed surprised when I explained the performance pack gets different width of tires on the rear. Did not inspire confidence in me. I also told him NOT to give me the complementary car wash. Last time I had to rewash the car to get the water spots off it. So far the only service I have needed are some oil changes.

 

[ravenofpoe]

Reading the experience of the original poster is an interesting one. I'm not sure what you could've done to possibly prevent some or any of those things, other than back off your expectation of the urgency they would take care these two relatively minor projects for you. If the Mustang was your only ride, I can see how that would cause a problem.

My mustang is my only car. I also don’t live very close to the dealer. However I have a long standing and expensive relationship with their body shop. People keep hitting my cars, I may be cursed. I scheduled the appointment so that it would be streamlined and quick. I don’t think it unreasonable that if the requested service would require the car stay over night that I should be told in advance. Further I am friendly and polite. I’ve had great experiences with the body shop and the quick lane at this dealer. As for where they left my car, service was completed, the car should have been pulled up front and ready for me. They just dropped it randomly in the back of the lot, no one told me where it was.

This was my second encounter with the actual mechanic and they screwed up the first time as well. Though that time wasn’t such a bother. I’d gone in and told them I thought the LF wheel bearing was going and I wanted it diagnosed and repaired. They had my signature for the diagnostic but not repairs and did both. In that situation they got lucky, I’m an honest person and wanted the repair done so I payed them. But legally I didn’t have to. Realistically I don’t need the shop to do oil changes and other maintenance for me, I am both capable and knowledgeable with a wrench. I’m just lazy.

Point to all this is I agree about being kind and having a standing relationship with the mechanic but I find the disorganization and lack of respect for my time troubling. I’m probably going to go pay a visit to an electrical specialist I used to use years ago and have them fix the backup camera. It’s be free at the ford dealer but I’d rather pay for some one who has a brain in there head.

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