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

[Cpcloud]

Personally i feel lile 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.

Everything else just do myself. Learned my lesson awhile ago after mechanic took one of my other cars joy riding

(1/4 tank of gas gone and rubber on the rear tire wells)

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[GJarrett]

Have your tuner write a valet tune for the car that doesn’t allow the techs to go over 4K rpm....

...This is the only method that I know of that will stop that nonsense. Just don’t leave the tuning device in the car and let the service adviser know not to flash the PCM under any circumstances. When you get the car back, reload your favorite tune and you’re good to go.

^This.^
I have a Cobb Accessport. If you buy a Cobb, it actually comes with a "Valet" tune already preloaded in it. Buy a Cobb and you are protected.

 

[volcanogod]

Never, ever take or leave any car/truck you care about at any Stealerships as it will end badly for some of you. The only instance the car required a visit is for a recall or very long repair times. I never let any car I care about leave my sight. I've personally been stung by this before on a 1999 Contour SVT as they blew the motor on a post repair "test" drive. They also failed to refill the MTX even though I took it back multiple times to complain about it. The worst thing is the backed out the damage done to the transmission from all records. Bear in mind this was a certified SVT deal as back then that was the only dealers we could visit.

 

[cerbomark]

Some good advise here, #1 avoid dealers, #2 specify no test rides (and decide by their reaction if you want to leave your car with them), #3, stay and wait with car. When I had Porsche s they would document the car upon arrival with pictures, then I always asked to speak to my tech and gave him something (at the time it was those police "get out of jail cards" if you know what they are,LOL). But most American car dealers I don t trust. IMO since COVID the trust and reailablity is just not there anymore. The other key is you have to be wise how you speak to them so as not to come as an a$$. Then again, there s no reasoning with some people. I m with @skinnyb , if and when I can t do something myself it will go to our trusted speed shop locally.

 

[GregR]

I've never even thought about this, it's a good question. I dropped off one of my previous cars at Firestone for some work, one of the shop employees backed another customer's car into the door while I was in the lobby checking in. I was leaving when another guy walking in said he saw the whole thing. I got lucky because the employee did not report it.

 

[cerbomark]

I've never even thought about this, it's a good question. I dropped off one of my previous cars at Firestone for some work, one of the shop employees backed another customer's car into the door while I was in the lobby checking in. I was leaving when another guy walking in said he saw the whole thing. I got lucky because the employee did not report it.

I d be more worried about this happening then a "romp".

 

[2morrow]

Some ideas:

1. own a piece of shit (if you absolutely must go to a dealership)

2. do the work yourself

3. develop a good relationship with your mechanic

For the first 6 years of ownership I did #2. But then the car became too complicated (more of a racecar now) and it required a more race centric mechanic mind so my buddy Trent Musser manages all the maintenance on it now.

Me, my back, and the car all all happier now lol.

 

[skinnyb]

I d be more worried about this happening then a "romp".

Me too . My local guy I expect him to give it the beans to make sure what he did works good .

 

[ihasnostang]

lockout tagout on gas pedal

 

[NGOT8R]

Something else I just thought of is a Soler Performance throttle controller. It has a valet mode on it. It can be set via Bluetooth too.

 

[volcanogod]

lockout tagout on gas pedal

Only nerds like us know this stuff! Retired Intel Corporation hardware engineer. Tech is my lifeblood.

 

[Zrussian13]

I'd do the work myself to avoid douches around my car.

Other option is using my key and limiting speed.

 

[K4fxd]

Like Mike said. Have your tuner write a tune that limits power to 75 HP or whatever you desire.

This will stop someone from beating on a car when the supercharged 5.0 won't even spin the tires in a water puddle.

 

[Rael]

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.

 

[2morrow]

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.

Amen lol

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