Here's How To Spot Bad Car Dealership's Service Departments and Good Ones

Comments · 2.6K

• NI

  @nickv4073 · 2 years ago

  I once had my car at a dealership for a 4 wheel brake job.  The salesman told me it was time for a tire rotation and tried to get me to pay for it.  I asked "Don't you already have all the tires off to do the brakes?  Then why do you want to charge me for rolling them 5 feet and putting them back on which you have to do anyway?"   I instead demanded they do the rotation for free.  The salesman had no valid argument and agreed.

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• SI

  @SignorLuigi · 2 years ago (edited)

  My Toyota dealer now have the technicians make a relatively  short video where they explain what they did and why. They show the defective parts, etc. Then this video is shared with us, the customer. It's not a face to face interaction. And again, it's not a super long presentation...usually one minute at most. But it is nice to see the technician's face and hear them talk. It's surprising how much you can pick up from these videos. Not just about the car repairs that were done but also about the technician and how much they care about the work they are doing.

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• 13

  @13chase2 · 2 years ago

  I don’t think you realize how rare you have become. I wish there was a way to find more like you. Going to get my car serviced has caused borderline PTSD from the headaches.

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• DO

  @Dolomite4518 · 2 years ago

  I just went to my local Audi dealer for them to tell me I needed new tires at 16k miles. I told them to just rotate them for $119, and they said no problem. A week later I noticed they didn’t even rotate my tires, and the only reason I knew they didn’t do it because I had a curb rash on one of the wheels. I called and demanded my money back. They said they did the service and that was that. Too bad I had documentation that the wheel already had a curb rash from the video the technician sent me. Nalley north Atlanta is full of crap. They gave me my money back and said sorry the technician balanced the tires instead. What a load of crap

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• SU

  @suzintru1 · 2 years ago

  I was a dealership mechanic for 27 years  (Porsche, Audi, Volvo, VW). I agree with everything that CCN says. My biggest problem was service managers that didn't have a clue. They were just over paid BS artists. And, they expect you to work for free! The manufactures don't want to pay you to fix their engineers mistakes (warranty repairs)! So you work 8 to 10 hours and get paid 5. You complain and the service manager says "If you don't like it, QUIT!" Well, I did. Went to work in R&D for a computer chip manufacturer. Best decision I ever made. Better pay, better benefits, cleaner environment. Whenever I hear any young kid say he wants to be a mechanic, I say "Don't, you'll regret it"!  You put out some great vids CCN.  The public needs to hear more from you.

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• AL

  @alexsystems2001 · 2 years ago

  Finding an independent mechanic is easier said than done. I bought a 2007 LS460 and I could smell burning oil and when I left it in my garage over night there was a very small drip of oil. I brought it to a very well known local Toyota/Lexus independent mechanic. I PAID $95 for an evaluation/diagnosis. They spent about 5 minutes with the car, said nothing is wrong, they said whomever did the last oil change probably spilled some in the plastic below the engine, all is good and sent me on my way. I got home and I was naturally pissed, I had put almost 2,000 miles since the last oil change, certainly anything that was spilled would have gone away by now. So I rolled up my sleeves and took a dive under the hood. I removed all the plastics up top, and first thing I noticed is the valve cover gasket seal around the high pressure fuel pump was crying oil pretty badly and then as I removed each spark plug coil each spark plug well was FULL of oil and as I drove it was weeping out down the side of the engine and onto the exhaust and slowly working its way down to the bottom of the engine. If I kept driving like that I certainly at minimum would have had to buy new coils. It’s Eastman Independent Lexus Toyota in Temecula California. Then I had a 1998 Toyota Camry that had a check engine light on, I plugged my scanner in to it and it had a catalyst code. The front catalytic converter had failed. I brought it to a place called Tokyo Automotive Repair, again, a really highly rated independent shop. I drop it off knowing what it needed but wanted them to do the diagnostic, they of course told me I needed a new front catalytic converter, I agreed, they offered to smog it for me. I agreed, they said “it failed smog because the transmission is bad it needs a new transmission”. I told them give me car back and take your cat off. They did, I went to a Toyota dealer, bought a new front cat and drove it to work, and on my way home from work I took it for a smog and it passed, I was able to get the car registered. TWO independent mechanics were worthless. I’m NOT saying all independent mechanics are bad. I’m saying people who just blindly say that you MUST go to an independent mechanic and then judge people for not doing so, have no reality that there CAN also be bad independent mechanics.

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• C6

  @c63amgblack · 2 years ago

  I work at a truck dealership as a technician. I HATE writing "cannot replicate complaint" in my story, because the service advisor did not get enough information at the start. Usually when I write it THEN they will call the customer for more info. Very stressful, the truck is down longer, my repair times are slower. Communication is key.

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• JO

  @josephnasiri · 2 years ago

  At the end of the day, a good mechanic is not expensive it’s priceless.

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• JI

  @jimlelan · 2 years ago

  My favorite was when the Subaru dealership in Caldwell Idaho told me that it would cost $85 to change my Outback cabin air filter, because it was under the center console. I declined, and went home and changed it my self. It was behind the glove box, and it took me 2 1/2 minutes. SMDH.

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• NE

  @neptune2854 · 2 years ago

  You are the most knowledgeable automotive technician on the internet that I’ve seen. I used to do all my own mechanical repair on the vehicles in my company. I’ve never found a dealership as good as a small private shop. If your shop was near me you would be the only mechanic I would take my vehicles to. Knowledgeable, intelligent and honest. You are a rare breed in this era.

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• MI

  @mikemaccracken3112 · 2 years ago

  I was a technician,service advisor and service manager. Honestly most of these bad practices start at the top. Dealer principles like to lean heavily on the service department when the sales department are low on sales. I have seen the service manager make up a bonus sheet for technicians who push flushes,alignments and other quick hit items. I had no problem taking a customer out to their vehicle and show them what is wrong with it. I’m so glad I’m retired😂

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• IA

  @ianbutler1983 · 2 years ago

  Having worked at huge organizations, I avoid them if at all possible. They are full of people who can't, or won't, communicate. Full of disgruntled employees who are happy to see customers screwed. Full of people who are incentivized to sell you things you don't need. Incompetence is everywhere, and often rewarded and promoted.

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