How do you stop mechanics from joyriding when your cars at the shop

[jloshotz]

Couldn’t you just have an extra fob and program it as a “my key?” You can limit speed, stereo volume, and a few other things i believe, and leave them with that fob? Or, as mentioned a few times……do the work yourself. It really is half the fun!

Sponsored

 

[ihasnostang]

Couldn’t you just have an extra fob and program it as a “my key?” You can limit speed, stereo volume, and a few other things i believe, and leave them with that fob? Or, as mentioned a few times……do the work yourself. It really is half the fun!

lowest you can go is 60 and prevent advance trac from being turned off

 

[ApplesAndOranges]

Guys, the S550 has valet mode from the factory.

 

[ShadesOfBloo]

Personally i feel like can't get around taking to the dealership for warranty work.

I take it to a raceshop I trust for alignments.
never to a firestone type place - cannot trust these places.

I don't think a Firestone or other such place has taken my cars for a "test drive" (I wonder if my manual transmissions put a damper on that) but I can't trust their mechanics.

Each Firestone I've been to has one good mechanic, and less than a 50% chance my car will go to him. The rest are the type you can't trust to torque lug nuts properly, because they won't take the 3 steps to the toolbox and pick up the "torque stick".

Also, one Firestone started using the headlight part of the inspection to extort money out of me for "headlight restoration". One year I actually paid for that. The next year, the desk guy brought it up again, and I told him how it was: "Last year I paid you for that, and you just took my money and didn't do the work. There was no difference in my headlights." He seemed astonished that I wanted the car back, even after they failed it for inspection. He said to keep the receipt for when I came back and I was like
"You think I'm coming back?!? "
The next place I went to for inspection said my headlights were fine.

There was a "Tire Choice" place that I liked for a while, but their manager got replaced with a complete bozo. One night while my Mustang was there, someone went around breaking a window on every other car, including mine. The previous manager would have picked up the phone and told me. (Actually, he would have called me and said the inspection was finished, and I'd have picked up my car sooner.) The new manager didn't tell me until I came to pick up my car. The new manager also gave me some BS about how his company's insurance would pay for my window, and gave me some customer service phone number which turned out to waste hours of my time. My window could have been fixed a week sooner if he was honest and said "Sorry, there's nothing we can do."

...So, my cars mostly go to shops where I have to make an appointment 2 weeks out.

 

[mindo389]

I asked my tech how fast he took my car out on a test drive, after he put new tires on it. He laughed and said he took a certain curve at 75 mph. I expected that, because his mother and I raised him....

 

[skinnyb]

I don't worry about it.

A test drive will never be as hard on the car as I am, and that's the best scenario for having something break. Better than when I'm driving it.

Same here My mechanic has a supercharged S550 and has installed more headers and superchargers than can be counted. He definitely knows how to drive one way better than I can....

My thing on test drives now a days are hardly anybody can drive a manual anymore worth a flip, I don't want to get my clutch torched...

 

[Sparky1337]

Guys, the S550 has valet mode from the factory.

Valet mode only does so much. You can still do burnouts with it enabled.

Besides, there’s a master unlock number for it that’s easily accessible if anyone knows valet mode is enabled.

 

[Sparky1337]

I only take my car in for tires, inspection, and alignments. Every place I’ve taken it there’s usually another 4-5 miles on it. The only places that haven’t joyrided it is Discount Tire and my new local Ford dealer because none of them seem to be able to drive standard.

 

[CrackedHorn]

Laughed when you said “Romping on it” VERY NY/NJ…

Apparently a Minnesota thing too because I heard that term a lot growing up

 

[Oakley]

1. track mileage
2. only use shops that aren't shit
3. fix your own stuff (my preferred approach)

 

[MachNroll]

What's your recommendation for curtailing the mechanic from taking your car out and "punching it" (using paddle shifters, etc) while at the shop? I have a dash cam, but the last time I had my car at the Ford Dealership in Denton, they disconnected my camera so I couldn't see what they were up to.

I have my car serviced at a dealership. I bring the car in when it's clean. I wait for the service when possible. I walk around it with the service advisor. I explain that the car is important to me and ask that the after service/repair test drive is performed by the shop foreman or service manager. I say please and thank you and I make myself rememberable by being polite and appreciative. This all being said; If a tech is careless or hell-bent on going on a joyride then deal with it after the fact.

 

[Schuvwj]

ALL test drives MUSt be conducted with my ass in the seat next to the technician!

 

[fmc_smt]

Looks like a tech , which I am , can't test drive and verify my repair . Come on guys it is a car . I own one , with way more horsepower then most . If you have an issue it might need driven . If it is an issue that doesn't need driven I understand.

 

[Sparky1337]

Looks like a tech , which I am , can't test drive and verify my repair . Come on guys it is a car . I own one , with way more horsepower then most . If you have an issue it might need driven . If it is an issue that doesn't need driven I understand.

Right. My whole thing is they’re not going to do anything I haven’t already done. If things break…..they get fixed.

 

[CrazyHippie]

Inform them that you have this for anyone who drives the car out of their parking lot:

Sponsored