View Full Version : Auto dealership ethics and a question
encorehunter
08-18-2013, 12:38
Last year I purchased a packet of coupons for 8 oil changes for $125. I took my truck in for the first one and they changed the oil and called me when it was ready. I went to pick it up, and the guy behind the counter told me the front end needed a complete rebuild and it was unsafe to drive. This was a shock to me as the truck is older, but it only has 48K miles on it. I told him I would take it to my normal mechanic and let him do the work. He does the front end work on all of my vehicles. The guy at the dealership told me I could not drive MY truck off the lot or he would call the police on me. I called a friend, went and got my car hauler and my big truck, went and picked up my truck and went straight to my mechanic. He looked at it, told me one of the ball joints had a torn boot, he could order the parts and have it fixed in a day after getting the parts. I asked him if it was safe to drive, and he told it should be fine to drive for months. Everything else was fine except for the one torn boot. When I mentioned why I brought it on a trailer, he said he has had several people come in from the same dealership.
Is it legal for them to threaten to call the police or even keep you keys? I have already paid them for their service. I have to take it in for another service soon, and I am wondering if I should call the police if they try and keep my truck again. I was thinking about reporting it stolen if they refuse to give it back.
That's messed up.
its your property and they have no right to tell you what to do with it.
i think I would ask to speak the the general manager or owner of the dealership.
i had a salesman try to keep the keys to my vehicle once. I test drove a vehicle and when I came back I told him I wasn't interested and he didn't want to give me my keys until we had a chance to discuss a deal. I told him, in no uncertain terms, that he had twenty seconds to get my keys before I drove his new car right into and through the showroom.
needless to say, I had my keys in hand in about ten seconds and I left.
tmleadr03
08-18-2013, 12:53
Not legal.
It amazes me the horror stories coming from dealerships. I wonder if they have ever actually called the cops and what proof they had to show? Sounds like a good way to kill repeat business.
My parents only deal with dealerships. They were charged over $300 to change the spark plugs and plug wires on a 15k motor. I told them that I would fly in and do their maintenance if that is what they would pay me.
You should mention the name of this dealer so we all know what place to avoid like the plague.
The guy at the stealership probably tore the boot.
encorehunter
08-18-2013, 13:26
I normally change my own oil, but the deal they had going, I couldn't even buy the oil for the price. Now I wouldn't go back, but I have already paid for the package, so I don't want to give them $125 for one oil change. I don't want to name the dealership yet, as it may have only been a bad worker. If it happens again, I will name the dealership. I have a feeling that I will be naming it, as I have heard several horror stories from some of the other local mechanics. I am going to take a good look at it and check the underside before I take it in.
tmleadr03
08-18-2013, 13:44
I have seen at least 10 cars come straight from the dealerships in the area to my shop with an estimate that they wanted to get done with me in the multiple of thousands of dollars for work. They had already said they wanted it done since the dealerships had sold them on it, just not on the price at the dealership. They show up and I sadly have to down grade the repairs or just send them on their way with out making any money. One in particular was a 2300 dollar job. Showed up, 150 bucks later they left. Damn. It would have helped quite a bit.
I would name them. That is shady.
if its in Trinidad, you probably wont be using it anyway.
I'm going to be spending quite a bit of time in Trinidad over the next 18 months due to several operations that I am having. :)
sellersm
08-18-2013, 15:40
Can you transfer the "coupons"? Sell them on CL and be done.
Sent from my fat fingers using Tapatalk
encorehunter
08-18-2013, 15:41
Can you transfer the "coupons"? Sell them on CL and be done.
Sent from my fat fingers using Tapatalk
I don't believe so. They took down the info on my truck and I am pretty sure they are for that vehicle only.
StagLefty
08-18-2013, 16:23
Had a recent experience at one of our better known dealerships up north. Went in for a regular "Works Package" and was told that the lower ball joints were shot and it was indeed a safety issue. Considering my truck is 12 years old I had a friend replace them even though he said he didn't think it was needed. After the job was done and he had the old parts in hand he told me the same thing again. I probably will not return to them again. I am vehicle maintenance impaired by the way.
streetglideok
08-18-2013, 16:36
Not legal.
+1
Should have dared them to call the police. If they did, they would likely find out they were in the wrong for trying to detain your vehicle once your bill has been paid. What kind of vehicle is it? There are a small number of vehicles with rather cheap OE front end parts prone to failure at an early age. Torn grease boots do not constitute a safety hazard or out of service order. With non-greaseable joints, it usually means the joint will fail sooner than later, as moisture will collect in it.
Haha, I would have called his bluff in a heartbeat. I had a brake place tell me that the car was done and it was going to be $600. I asked wtf for, and the guy told me that they replaced some other stuff. I told him that I don't remember telling him to do any of that stuff and I'm not paying for it when I get down to get my car. He actually said, "Well all the stuff is already on the car, you really want me to take it all off?" I knew he was bullshitting me. No one installs parts then charges for them.
tmleadr03
08-18-2013, 16:40
Haha, I would have called his bluff in a heartbeat. I had a brake place tell me that the car was done and it was going to be $600. I asked wtf for, and the guy told me that they replaced some other stuff. I told him that I don't remember telling him to do any of that stuff and I'm not paying for it when I get down to get my car. He actually said, "Well all the stuff is already on the car, you really want me to take it all off?" I knew he was bullshitting me. No one installs parts then charges for them.
There are quite a few shysters giving the rest of us mechanics a bad name.
142-9-111. Prohibited acts.
(1) No motor vehicle repair fac
ility or any employee or contract
laborer of such facility shall:
(a) Charge for repairs which have not been consen
ted to by the customer
or charge for repairs
in excess of amounts allowed by this article;
(b) Represent that repairs are nece
ssary when such is not a fact;
(c) Represent that repairs have been
performed when such is not a fact;
(d) Represent that a mo
tor vehicle or motor ve
hicle part being diagnosed is in dangerous
condition when such is not a fact....
any motor vehicle repair
facility or any employee of such facility who violates section 42-9-111 is guilty of a
misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a
fine of not less than fivehundred dollars nor more than
one thousand dollars per violation. No portion of the
minimum fine for repeat offenders shall be suspended...
42-9-113. Civil penalties.
In any civil action for the enforcement of
this article, the court may award reasonable
attorney fees and costs to the prevailing pa
rty, and a customer sha
ll be entitled to treble
damages for failure of any moto
r vehicle repair facility or an
y employee of such facility to
comply with this article, except for clerical
errors or omissions; but in no event shall such
damages be less than two hundred fifty dollars
. The customer shall first make written
demand for the customer's dama
ges from the motor ve
hicle repair facility
by certified mail at
least ten days prior to the f
iling of any such action, exclusiv
e of Saturday, Sunday, and any
legal holiday. Such action shall
be brought within the time peri
od prescribed in section 13-
80-103, C.R.S
http://www.ahaautomotive.com/documents/Colorado_Motor_Vehicle_Repair_Act.pdf
GilpinGuy
08-18-2013, 16:45
Name the dealership and the technicians name. That way folks can go there but say "I don't want Joe Blow anywhere near my vehicle...he's got a bad reputation".
A few of those types of conversations and a smart dealership will can his shady ass.
I would've called the cops for them. Bet your keys would be in your hand before you hit "call". I understand the "deal" you got for the oil changes, but I spend 4x doing it myself, to my standards, using ultra premium filters and oil. Peace of mind. Besides, I'm protective of my property, you should too.
encorehunter
08-18-2013, 17:16
http://www.ahaautomotive.com/documents/Colorado_Motor_Vehicle_Repair_Act.pdf
Thank you for that. I printed it off to have on hand when I take it in next. The truck is a 1989 Ford F-150 I purchased from the original owner. I do not remember the techs name as it was almost a year ago I got my oil changed. I normally do most of the maintenance on my vehicles, but when they were willing to do the work and provide supplies for almost half of what I can purchase the supplies for, I jumped on it.
Next time just grab his phone and dial 911 for him! Let him explain it himself.
Total B.S. on there part.
All they can do is advise you not to drive it.By no means is it legal to withhold it from you.
A torn boot does not fail the part,it's just noted as a recommendation.
A few dealers I worked at use to insist that you tell the customer that it's unsafe-needles to say I don't work at those places anymore.
streetglideok
08-18-2013, 17:47
Thank you for that. I printed it off to have on hand when I take it in next. The truck is a 1989 Ford F-150 I purchased from the original owner. I do not remember the techs name as it was almost a year ago I got my oil changed. I normally do most of the maintenance on my vehicles, but when they were willing to do the work and provide supplies for almost half of what I can purchase the supplies for, I jumped on it.
Those older fords do often need balljoints, etc with due mileage on them. With the low miles you stated, I doubt it would need them due to wear. I've seen too many service writers, or techs, or both at the stealerships that auto-write stuff on estimates of vehicles, for common problems whether it needs them or not. Case in point would be a Chevy Blazer comes in with the 4.3L engine. Either the tech or service writer puts down that intake gaskets are leaking, because it has 105k miles on it, and they are always leaking by then. They never popped the hood to see the customer had it done the last visit to an independent shop. Another one I saw a lot, they would automatically assume it needs brakes after 60k miles, and never bother to actually confirm this. Seen plenty of what tmleader has seen, customers wanting a second opinion or a better estimate with wads of cash in hand, only to find out it needs nothing.
Must be one of those mom/pop dealership.
Those franchise dealership are less crazy due to survey now.
I would call Department of Rev Motors div in Lakewood, and tell them what happened.
Haha, I would have called his bluff in a heartbeat. I had a brake place tell me that the car was done and it was going to be $600. I asked wtf for, and the guy told me that they replaced some other stuff. I told him that I don't remember telling him to do any of that stuff and I'm not paying for it when I get down to get my car. He actually said, "Well all the stuff is already on the car, you really want me to take it all off?" I knew he was bullshitting me. No one installs parts then charges for them.
Had this happen to me with my first car. I wasn't as smart then and but still did talk them down to about half of what they were saying. I know I still got screwed over looking back. Wish I knew what I know now. But it was also the driving force for me to learn all that stuff and do it myself.
centrarchidae
08-18-2013, 20:27
Threaten to call the police? Sure, I guess. They're not quite threatening you with a breach of the peace.
Refusing to give back the keys? F*** them. If they don't give me back the keys I'll call the police my own damn self, since I'm too old and fat to go diving over the service counter Full Farva Five at them.
Auto dealership and ethics? ROFL. Good one...
brokenscout
08-19-2013, 10:14
Is it Phil Long down here:) or Big O , or pretty much any other one down here:)
I have NEVER had a good experience at a dealer for ANY type of service. Hell, My wife just got a brand new RAV4 that included 25k miles worth of free oil changes and tire rotations, and I refuse to let the dealer do it any longer. As I predicted, they royally screwed up the first 5k oil change. I am done with Ehrlich Toyota in Greeley. Like the saying goes, if you want it done right, do it yourself!
Zundfolge
08-19-2013, 12:01
Ages ago I worked for a small shop in Wichita, KS that specialized in European cars (German cars in particular).
A big chunk of our business was repairing the damage done to Mercedes by one of the big Merc dealers (at that time we were the only Bosch certified shop in the area so we could even do some warranty work).
The problem is that dealerships seem to hire one good mechanic as a supervisor and then a bunch of inexperienced kids to do the actual wrench turning. So you end up with a bunch of shade-tree mechs that know how to work on the carbureted GM 350 in their jalopy and that's about it. And the one good, trained and competent mechanic is too busy to check the work done by all his underlings.
I've always found that smaller, specialty mechanics are the way to go. Even if they cost more they're usually worth it. That and I prefer changing my own oil as I like to get under the car and check things out on my own.
As for the OP, the instant I was threatened with the police I'd be demanding the General Manager write me out a refund for the remaining oil changes or he's going to have to deal with the police and the local "...On Your Side" media costing him lots of other business.
encorehunter
08-19-2013, 13:33
I just got my truck back. They gave me a sheet saying I needed $1565 worth of work, including the front end I all ready had rebuilt. The girl at the front desk did not say anything other than this is what we found, and that was it. I asked if it was safe to drive, and she looked at me funny. I told her my experience last time, she said there were a lot of changes since then. The head mechanic, 3 other mechanics and two techs no longer work there. Apparently someone solved the problem before I went back.
I just got my truck back. They gave me a sheet saying I needed $1565 worth of work, including the front end I all ready had rebuilt. The girl at the front desk did not say anything other than this is what we found, and that was it. I asked if it was safe to drive, and she looked at me funny. I told her my experience last time, she said there were a lot of changes since then. The head mechanic, 3 other mechanics and two techs no longer work there. Apparently someone solved the problem before I went back.
Sounds like they still have an issue if they gave you a quote for $1565 worth of work you don't need.
streetglideok
08-19-2013, 18:33
Sounds like they still have an issue if they gave you a quote for $1565 worth of work you don't need.
Didn't read whether anyone else had actually checked the front end, or just glanced under the vehicle. So, cant rule out that he needs other work or not till a reputable source lifts the front end and shakes it down.
JMBD2112
08-19-2013, 21:05
The problem is that dealerships seem to hire one good mechanic as a supervisor and then a bunch of inexperienced kids to do the actual wrench turning. So you end up with a bunch of shade-tree mechs that know how to work on the carbureted GM 350 in their jalopy and that's about it. And the one good, trained and competent mechanic is too busy to check the work done by all his underlings.
The actual problem is most dealers nowadays have gone to what's called "A-B-C" pay scales......basically, from my past experiences, C labor, which consists of oil changes, rotates, etc, pays say $14/hr. You get .3hrs for an oil change or rotate, which equates to $4. B labor pays say $22 an hour which consists of general line repair. Then A labor which is heavy (engine work, trans overhauls, etc.) pays $27/hr. Warranty pays a flat rate of say $25, no matter what the job is. The problem is the seasoned mechanics that had been there for 20+ years making a lot more than $27/hr were forced to take a pay cut, and to add insult to injury, the young punk fresh out of Lincoln tech that doesn't know a damn thing is making the same amount as you. They've driven out the veterans and the few guys that did stay, are having to babysit, without any extra pay, nothing. And if you have an apprentice, they want you to pay part of his wages. The dealerships have changed a lot over the past ten years, I'm glad I got out and went to an independent when I did.
tmleadr03
08-19-2013, 21:13
The actual problem is most dealers nowadays have gone to what's called "A-B-C" pay scales......basically, from my past experiences, C labor, which consists of oil changes, rotates, etc, pays say $14/hr. You get .3hrs for an oil change or rotate, which equates to $4. B labor pays say $22 an hour which consists of general line repair. Then A labor which is heavy (engine work, trans overhauls, etc.) pays $27/hr. Warranty pays a flat rate of say $25, no matter what the job is. The problem is the seasoned mechanics that had been there for 20+ years making a lot more than $27/hr were forced to take a pay cut, and to add insult to injury, the young punk fresh out of Lincoln tech that doesn't know a damn thing is making the same amount as you. They've driven out the veterans and the few guys that did stay, are having to babysit, without any extra pay, nothing. And if you have an apprentice, they want you to pay part of his wages. The dealerships have changed a lot over the past ten years, I'm glad I got out and went to an independent when I did.
I would disagree, the actual problem in flat rate. Worst system ever.
JMBD2112
08-19-2013, 21:17
I would disagree, the actual problem in flat rate. Worst system ever.
I kind of agree, but then again a 200 hr pay period is always nice[Tooth]
streetglideok
08-19-2013, 22:12
I would disagree, the actual problem in flat rate. Worst system ever.
Yeah I've had my fill of flat rate. I'm still on it now, only because there isn't a lot of good options out there. What originally started out with perhaps the best of intentions, has turned into a tool, no a crutch for poorly managed shops to overstaff to the gills, and when a car comes in it becomes a feeding frenzy. Seems to be really common in the chain stores with elevated pay rates to sucker you in. I once was in the $34/hr range, but with 4-5 guys in a shop you did good to make 20hrs a week being legit. The chumps that cranked out work of questionable quality were spoon fed jobs, while the guys who cared were stuck cleaning up the other guy's messes. I did have an ex-employer try to steal me back with more pay, no weekends and return of vacation time. I added... and 40hrs a week guaranteed, to which no response yet.
dirtrulz
08-20-2013, 08:25
I went to school for automotive, worked in the industry for a little while and said that was enough. Flat rate sucks, you have to kiss ass of whoever assigns the jobs to get the ones that pay. If you are good at working out the tough problems you are screwed because you get a lousy half hour of pay for diagnosis no matter how long it takes you. Then you have to deal with the jackoffs in the office and the stupid customers, nothing worse then people and their cars. I went over to the construction/farming side and will never go back. The pay can be a little less than the top automotive guys are making but it is a much happier place to be. Dealers around denver are paying upward of thirty an hour and no flat rate or getting screwed on warranty work.
You can also go work for some of the smaller construction crew like I am now. You run your own show, your the only one there, nobody really bugs you, as long as you get stuff fixed. Make your own schedule. I dont know if I could go back to a dealer setting again, and I still get over 30 an hour.
The tooling for construction/farm is generally cheaper. Not as much specialty tools needed and things are much more standardized. You do need much bigger tools though. The customers are generally more understanding on the time involved in repairs. If you want you can even get into field work, which is nice for getting out of the shop and being your own man a little.
Great-Kazoo
08-20-2013, 08:41
Didn't read whether anyone else had actually checked the front end, or just glanced under the vehicle. So, cant rule out that he needs other work or not till a reputable source lifts the front end and shakes it down.
I called a friend, went and got my car hauler and my big truck, went and picked up my truck and went straight to my mechanic. He looked at it, told me one of the ball joints had a torn boot, he could order the parts and have it fixed in a day after getting the parts. I asked him if it was safe to drive, and he told it should be fine to drive for months. Everything else was fine except for the one torn boot. When I mentioned why I brought it on a trailer, he said he has had several people come in from the same dealership.
tmleadr03
08-20-2013, 10:04
I kind of agree, but then again a 200 hr pay period is always nice[Tooth]
Flat rate is basically incentavising short cuts and outright larceny. That is what I have seen 99% of the time in the shop. Is it slow? Up sell crap that doesn't really need to be done. Base pay on how fast someone does a job and they will cut corners to get the job done faster and the job will be only done "Ok". When I finally hire someone they will be hourly. Decent pay, but hourly. I would rather a slower tech who does the entire job then one who is going to rush and up sell crap that isn't needed. And that last thing I want is to find parts that were supposed to be hung on a car that are tucked behind a tool box.
And I have seen that. Lead tech in a shop who turns 60-70 hours a week leaves for some reason and when he moves his box they find piles new parts behind his box. And those are the ones he stuck back there because he didn't want to try to use them in side jobs or sell online...
JMBD2112
08-20-2013, 11:06
Flat rate is basically incentavising short cuts and outright larceny. That is what I have seen 99% of the time in the shop. Is it slow? Up sell crap that doesn't really need to be done. Base pay on how fast someone does a job and they will cut corners to get the job done faster and the job will be only done "Ok". When I finally hire someone they will be hourly. Decent pay, but hourly. I would rather a slower tech who does the entire job then one who is going to rush and up sell crap that isn't needed. And that last thing I want is to find parts that were supposed to be hung on a car that are tucked behind a tool box.
And I have seen that. Lead tech in a shop who turns 60-70 hours a week leaves for some reason and when he moves his box they find piles new parts behind his box. And those are the ones he stuck back there because he didn't want to try to use them in side jobs or sell online...
Yep I've seen it too, we had a guy at a former shop that kept having axle seals, oil pan gaskets, etc coming back leaking, come to find out he was just spraying off the leaks and when the vehicle came back leaking "again" he was warrantying the gasket / seal. The boss caught him on it eventually and he got fired.....good luck explaining that at your next job. The best month I ever had was back last May, pulled off over 350 hrs. I was working from 7am to when they would kick me out around 9pm, Monday - Saturday. All I did then was heavy too, so it wasn't flushes and brakes, and you can't take shortcuts at that point, if you do, you're asking for something to come back and bite you in the ass. My body hated me for it, but I was able to pay cash for my wife's engagement ring.....but I'll never do it again.
redneck122
08-20-2013, 19:46
If you want you can even get into field work, which is nice for getting out of the shop and being your own man a little.
That's what i do. And it sucks.
streetglideok
08-20-2013, 21:59
Flat rate is basically incentavising short cuts and outright larceny. That is what I have seen 99% of the time in the shop. Is it slow? Up sell crap that doesn't really need to be done. Base pay on how fast someone does a job and they will cut corners to get the job done faster and the job will be only done "Ok". When I finally hire someone they will be hourly. Decent pay, but hourly. I would rather a slower tech who does the entire job then one who is going to rush and up sell crap that isn't needed. And that last thing I want is to find parts that were supposed to be hung on a car that are tucked behind a tool box.
And I have seen that. Lead tech in a shop who turns 60-70 hours a week leaves for some reason and when he moves his box they find piles new parts behind his box. And those are the ones he stuck back there because he didn't want to try to use them in side jobs or sell online...
Yep, been there, done that. Those of us who've been in the business a while have seen the greed and scamming from flat rate. There is a local 2 shop business that pays salary, though I don't know how well they pay. Hoping one day I'll land a cozy gig like that. I just don't have the capital to open my own shop, and I frankly don't know if I have the patience for it now. Wish I could get into a little less physical line of work that would bank as good or better money.
tmleadr03
08-20-2013, 22:18
Yep, been there, done that. Those of us who've been in the business a while have seen the greed and scamming from flat rate. There is a local 2 shop business that pays salary, though I don't know how well they pay. Hoping one day I'll land a cozy gig like that. I just don't have the capital to open my own shop, and I frankly don't know if I have the patience for it now. Wish I could get into a little less physical line of work that would bank as good or better money.
I could tell you what I would do it if I started again. Capital would be easier then what I did and I would be pulling a paycheck by now.
streetglideok
08-21-2013, 10:04
I could tell you what I would do it if I started again. Capital would be easier then what I did and I would be pulling a paycheck by now.
I'll bite... do tell? Here or PMs, doesn't matter. Other than approaching burnout at the moment....
dirtrulz
08-21-2013, 11:58
That's what i do. And it sucks.
To each their own, I didnt mind it, it takes a different way of thinking to be a field mechanic. There is nobody to help you figure things out. The only part that sucked for me was the heat and having to deal with large parts and not enough truck.
If my body didnt start falling apart I would likely still be doing it on farm equipment.
colorider
08-21-2013, 12:09
Years ago I took my Yukon to elway gmc in Lakewood for warranty work. Driveshaft noise. $1200 in parts and labor covered under warranty. A month later the problem came back. Went to century Chevy in broomfield. Told me the exact same parts need replacing. Showed them my Elway paperwork. Elway did NONE of the work they billed gmc for ! Not one part was replaced. They simpleycovered the problem area in grease. The shtf at Elway.
Yep. GO Nissan on Wadsworth fisted me hard on a used GMC Jimmy they sold me. That thing was one giant POS. They did the absolute bare minimum to fix the vehicle (which I ended up still paying for) and that lasted just long enough to get past the warranty I paid for. No more dealerships for me. I had bought cars in the past from Enterprise and had nothing but great results. I was a fool to break the habit. Lesson learned.
JMBD2112
08-21-2013, 20:27
I had bought cars in the past from Enterprise and had nothing but great results. I was a fool to break the habit. Lesson learned.
Be careful with that nowadays, when I worked at lyall, we had all the fleet accounts with the rental companies from the airport since we were the closest dealer. I'll say this, if the concern wasn't under warranty, it didn't get fixed. Now if they took it somewhere else and got the repairs done, I don't know. If you buy another one, go get an inspection done to be sure. Hell if you want, PM me and you can bring it over to the shop and we'll throw it on the lift and look it over.
JMBD2112
08-21-2013, 20:32
Years ago I took my Yukon to elway gmc in Lakewood for warranty work. Driveshaft noise. $1200 in parts and labor covered under warranty. A month later the problem came back. Went to century Chevy in broomfield. Told me the exact same parts need replacing. Showed them my Elway paperwork. Elway did NONE of the work they billed gmc for ! Not one part was replaced. They simpleycovered the problem area in grease. The shtf at Elway.
Yep that's warranty fraud. I'm sure the District warranty rep found out and Elway had to eat the repair....bet somebody got the axe too.
tmleadr03
08-21-2013, 20:54
Be careful with that nowadays, when I worked at lyall, we had all the fleet accounts with the rental companies from the airport since we were the closest dealer. I'll say this, if the concern wasn't under warranty, it didn't get fixed. Now if they took it somewhere else and got the repairs done, I don't know. If you buy another one, go get an inspection done to be sure. Hell if you want, PM me and you can bring it over to the shop and we'll throw it on the lift and look it over.
I worked for a time for Dollar Thrifty as a tech. We actually did warranty work and Dollar Thrifty got a check from the manufacture. It was kinda suck since we didn't get the training to go with it.
JMBD2112
08-21-2013, 21:20
I worked for a time for Dollar Thrifty as a tech. We actually did warranty work and Dollar Thrifty got a check from the manufacture. It was kinda suck since we didn't get the training to go with it.
That makes sense then, no wonder they would never buy anything. I'd seen what was some sort of "customer reimbursement" on some labor times, I bet that was how you guys got paid then.
tmleadr03
08-21-2013, 21:42
That makes sense then, no wonder they would never buy anything. I'd seen what was some sort of "customer reimbursement" on some labor times, I bet that was how you guys got paid then.
Hourly plus commission on all warranty jobs. But I got fucked on some nice work. Out of our H3 fleet of about 30 hummers I found 12 that needed to have the heads rebuilt. They let me do 3 then sent back the rest of the parts I had ordered to do the job. They would rather rent them with a check engine light then get them fixed. Oh and GM quality is the suck.
Be careful with that nowadays, when I worked at lyall, we had all the fleet accounts with the rental companies from the airport since we were the closest dealer. I'll say this, if the concern wasn't under warranty, it didn't get fixed. Now if they took it somewhere else and got the repairs done, I don't know. If you buy another one, go get an inspection done to be sure. Hell if you want, PM me and you can bring it over to the shop and we'll throw it on the lift and look it over.
Thank you JMBD2112. I will certainly take you up on that when we decide to buy a second car. Hey, that being said, could you please PM me with your contact info? I have a car that will be needing some extensive repair and I need someone I can trust to look at it and give me a fair assessment of what does & does not need to be done. Thank you. [Beer]
JMBD2112
08-22-2013, 06:27
Hourly plus commission on all warranty jobs. But I got fucked on some nice work. Out of our H3 fleet of about 30 hummers I found 12 that needed to have the heads rebuilt. They let me do 3 then sent back the rest of the parts I had ordered to do the job. They would rather rent them with a check engine light then get them fixed. Oh and GM quality is the suck.
Man I couldn't tell you how many of those heads I replaced for burnt valve seats, and that stupid wedge to hold the timing chains, sheesh. When I first started I worked at a dealer in chattanooga, Kelly Cadillac Saab Subaru Mitsubishi Hummer and Gmc. I was the only "certified" hummer tech. Got to go up to south bend to the AMG proving grounds and plant and got to beat on HMMWV's (like I didn't do that in the army anyways Hahaha) and H2 and H3's. I was actually impressed with the H3 's off road capability, it did better than the H2.
Thank you JMBD2112. I will certainly take you up on that when we decide to buy a second car. Hey, that being said, could you please PM me with your contact info? I have a car that will be needing some extensive repair and I need someone I can trust to look at it and give me a fair assessment of what does & does not need to be done. Thank you. [Beer]
Not a problem Squeeze, pm inbound
tmleadr03
08-22-2013, 07:30
Man I couldn't tell you how many of those heads I replaced for burnt valve seats, and that stupid wedge to hold the timing chains, sheesh. When I first started I worked at a dealer in chattanooga, Kelly Cadillac Saab Subaru Mitsubishi Hummer and Gmc. I was the only "certified" hummer tech. Got to go up to south bend to the AMG proving grounds and plant and got to beat on HMMWV's (like I didn't do that in the army anyways Hahaha) and H2 and H3's. I was actually impressed with the H3 's off road capability, it did better than the H2.
Not a problem Squeeze, pm inbound
I have pics somewhere. I was pulling metal the size of Lincolns head on a penny out of brand new cylinder heads. The cam shafts looked like my 5 year old had put them together. Absolute junk.
tmleadr03
08-22-2013, 07:54
Found the pics. Absolute junk.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y69/tmleadr03/25-01-09_1332.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y69/tmleadr03/25-01-09_1333.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y69/tmleadr03/22-01-09_1036.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y69/tmleadr03/22-01-09_1209.jpg
Sorry for the crappy cell pics this was long before I owned a smart phone with a bajillion pixel camera.
JMBD2112
08-22-2013, 12:41
Found the pics. Absolute junk.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y69/tmleadr03/25-01-09_1332.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y69/tmleadr03/25-01-09_1333.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y69/tmleadr03/22-01-09_1036.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y69/tmleadr03/22-01-09_1209.jpg
Sorry for the crappy cell pics this was long before I owned a smart phone with a bajillion pixel camera.
Is that the Exhaust cam? I've seen some where the CMP actuator solenoid came apart and took out the cam and head, and the oil passage on the exhaust side was clogged with metal shavings.
tmleadr03
08-22-2013, 15:44
Is that the Exhaust cam? I've seen some where the CMP actuator solenoid came apart and took out the cam and head, and the oil passage on the exhaust side was clogged with metal shavings.
Those are all brand new parts from the dealership.
Brand new.
The cam pic, and it is hard to make out, is to show how the cam looks like two halfs put together that didn't quite line up. Most of the lobes had about a 1/8 inch on each side that didn't algn. Sort of like if you hold your hands together palms facing they align? But if you move one hand slightly and the mirror image is messed up.
tmleadr03
08-22-2013, 16:00
Those are all brand new parts from the dealership.
Brand new.
The cam pic, and it is hard to make out, is to show how the cam looks like two halfs put together that didn't quite line up. Most of the lobes had about a 1/8 inch on each side that didn't algn. Sort of like if you hold your hands together palms facing they align? But if you move one hand slightly and the mirror image is messed up.
To really explain how bad it was: I sent the first set of cam shafts back because I thought they were faulty and didn't want to put them in. The second set showed up looking exactly the same.
JMBD2112
08-22-2013, 16:34
To really explain how bad it was: I sent the first set of cam shafts back because I thought they were faulty and didn't want to put them in. The second set showed up looking exactly the same.
Wow that's almost as bad as FOMO parts [LOL]
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