Dealership Really Did It Wrong

[Bonnell]

Last year about this time, I had my '88 tuned up by a dealership in Little Rock. I was surprised that it did not run much better than it did when I took it in.

It had a rough idle and seemed to miss some during acceleration. Over the past year this has gotten worse. Recently I was concerned because I heard a loud groan or creaking noise from the area of my rear driver's side wheel. I posted it here and several people thought that it might be a u-joint and one thought that my ebrake might have stuck.

I have recently found a mechanic that is well known in the area for working on Corvettes. The noise doesn't occur anymore but I thought that this would be a good time to check the guy out by letting him check the car out.

What a great experience. I had a tune up, transmission service, oil change, tire rotation, fuel filter change, a list made of items to be corrected or serviced over the summer (simple things that would need parts ordered like something called a speed sensor and the steering rack boot), and he even changed a backup light that I had not noticed was out. He completely checked out the car and took a great deal of time explaining to me everything about things that I asked. The u-joints were fine - it may have been a ebrake issue. It cost me $442.59. What a great place.

The tune up that I got from the Chevy dealer last year cost me $350 and they didn't even change the fuel filter. What we did find was this:

NONE of the spark plus were seated - NONE. The one on the passenger side rear was cross-threaded. The vette mechanic had to take panels off of my car to get to it, get it out, and re-thread the place where the plug goes in. The plug wires were changed on the distributor cap in such a way as to bend the metal posts that the wire plugs into. The screws that screw down into the cap were tighened too much so that the screw tip was inside the cap. You could see where there was arcing from on of the contacts over to the screw tip.

Now, this occurred after they broke my hood release - I know, the cables break on their own sometimes but the mechanic pulled so hard he broke the plastic cover that surrounds the hood release. I had to bring it home (they couldn't get it open). I ordered a tool that was recommended by a member here. I got it open then they said they would fix the cable. They did the 'tuneup' that I have described above and didn't fix the hood release.

It is hard to belive that a large Chevy dealer could have someone that inept working there.

Anyone else out there ever have this kind of experience?

 

[ErnieN85]

All the time! for the most part i'd just as soon shoot myself in the foot as take my car to the dealer

 

[drags1998]

Most of the time the dealers do a decent job. Face it, Its no different in any service business,Rarely does anyone talk about the GOOD JOBS that are done.The only jobs you here about,ARE THE BAD ONES. Yes, some dealers hire anyone they can, GREAT Techs are HARD to find!!!! I wouldnt leave my car alone at the dealer for any reason!!!!!!!! Bottom line, Find a tech you like,and make sure HE or SHE knows how important your car is to you!!!!!

 

[mainelaker]

Well, I know I'm stepping into the fire here but... As a service manager in a dealership I can at least speak for myself when I say that sometimes we don't know a person like that is working on your car unless you tell us. I don't enjoy getting phone calls like that but if it clues me in to one of my guys not doing proper work & actually earning his pay, I want to know. I understand that there are plenty of dealerships who may not care but please understand that some of us do & work very hard to provide the best possible service. Realize that we pay our technicians a fair amount sometimes & expect the best possible work from them. If they are not performing I want to know. I feel just as cheated as you at the end of the day if I am paying a premium for an employee that represents my reputation & he fails to service your vehicle properly. I'm glad you found a great technician, unfortunately they are getting harder & harder to find.

 

[Ken]

... found a mechanic that is well known in the area for working on Corvettes.

Always a top priority when one owns something other than a "jelly bean" car that most people drive nowadays.

The dealer should have a competent mechanic on board, but the money is in the jelly beans, and a caring "technician" at the dealership will be far and few between. The dealer can't afford to pay someone to take their time and fix it right the first time; he'd rather take a chance on not seeing you again with your old car. Not unless you want to buy a new one.

 

[ErnieN85]

I have to add here that I really believe that most of us here would be glad to have a dealer with a good service dept. However........ there is a lot of money in easy repairs and it seem's that working on a flat rate insures the push! In my case. I was told that 85 mph ont the track at Watins Glenn was as fast as my car should go. and the dealer darned sure wan't going to turn my car into a race car! Now what Vette won't go faster than that? especially with a new engine. and 1 985 had a top end of 150 stock! would you expect that after a rebuilt engine and an additional $2300 work to get it running right?

 

[Bob_K]

I think I've finally found a mechanic that I trust, but at the rates they're charging these days I'd rather do it myself if I can. Besides, that way I know the job is done right!

 

[Vette_Newb]

I had one I liked real well, did an excellent job for me on my trucks and personal cars. Then I bought the Vette, took it in for an oil change and suddenly these guys had serious attitude problems (same guys I spent ALOT of money with over the previous year) the car was spotless when I got there. When I left it had greasy hand prints on the hood, door, steering wheel and the spilled oil on the valve cover.

I own 6 vehicles and they did all the service work and repair work on each one. I have not been back since last October and will NOT go back again.

 

[WNH]

-------$350 and they didn't even change the fuel filter--------

Ineptitude is one thing, but not changing the fuel filter is an outright rip-off for the money you paid.

A mechanic should work on your car like its his car.

You are lucky to find the mechanic that finally undid the damage.
Nothing beats experience and honesty.

 

[vetteguy]

I wish that guy lived around here. Guy

 

[RedRagTop]

Glad I found a guy here who lets me under the hoist with him (most say they can't for insurance reasons) and points out future problems before they happen, cracks a cold one while we go over the car and service it and takes cash, thank you. I even drive it on/off the hoist, he never touches it.

 

[B17Crew]

I hate to say it, but I have lost all trust and respect for Mr.Goodwrench. I have never been more frustrated with a service provider than the GM service department. I live in a large city where there are plenty of Corvettes for the techs to gain experience on. I could go on and on about negative Chevy service department comments, but anyway.

If there is something I can’t handle, I go to Corvette Care Inc., a local Corvette only specialist.

I have never been more satisfied with the work performed than I am now. I would gladly pay this guy $100.00 over his invoice (I won’t tell him that though) because he gets things right the first time and he knows Corvettes, that’s all he works on, end of story. Have to mention that he is conscience of my time, the GM service dept. has no concept of this.

B17Crew

 

[RedRagTop]

Guys with smarts, concience and talent tend to work for themselves. A private shop has much more motivation in terms of keeping a reputation for quality work. A dealer can just rip off and screw up forever as people driving jelly beans will always return for more abuse.
I know nobody who brings their vette to a dealer. Too many horror stories of the burnt out kid who preps cars for deliveries taking someone's Z06 to McDick's for lunch and laying 100 feet of rubber in the lot...

 

[78SilvAnniv]

I have recently found a mechanic that is well known in the area for working on Corvettes.
What a great experience.
He completely checked out the car and took a great deal of time explaining to me everything about things that I asked.

I think this is great, finding a mechanic you trust is the best!
Heidi

 

[Lteez]

ad Yes the dealer would take your money with a smile some of the Techs can only diagnos if the computer or the engine light is on had that problem with my ecm one said module corvette specialist diagnosis was accurate and correct .......We just have to be careful just like a good doctor

 

[Bonnell]

I see that I am not the only one here who has discovered poor performance the hard way. I am taking a few things away from this:

1) I've found a good tech and I will make sure that he is the only one besides me who will touch my car.

BTW: As part of the work that he did for me, this tech did the Mobil 1 oil change. Chevy charges $50 and the local Jiffy Lube charges $40. He charged me $40 like Jiffy Lube but told me that he had to buy a box containing six quarts of oil. So, he put the left-over quart on my passenger seat so I would have it for topping off. Small things like this make a difference to me.

2) I will be notifying the Chevy dealship. I keep my receipts so I will provide the repair order number. They can then determine who worked on it - if they care.

3) Since there is so much willing help on this forum, I'm going to take advice received here and purchase a shop manual and start doing some of the servicing myself - starting with servicing my A/C control module following instructions found on this site.

I read a post recently regarding a driver who stated the he "didn't buy a vette to be part of some group". From my experience as a 21 year old with a vette (back in the 70s), I learned that the corvette community is something special. That is exactly why I bought another one.

Thanks for your replies and help.

 

[Black Bear]

Here's my little blurb about dealers - brought my Vette in for a fuel gauge problem; the car was damaged while in their possession; they did an awful job trying to fix their negligence. Now I'm stuck with a damaged car that was not repaired properly AND and fuel gauge that still does not work.

GM Canada has left a very sour taste in my mouth.

 

[Rogue]

I'll chime in with my Chevy Dealer Story.

I brought my '91 in to replace the fuel injectors. Got the car back and the engine temp gauge wasn't working. Took it back and they fixed it for free. Service Mgr said the tech forgot to "plug it back in". Okay no problems since it was fixed no questions asked.

Brought it back in for Oil/filter change, sparkplugs replaced, brakes RR'd. Got the car back after two days. I popped the hood to check and I see a fuse sitting loose next to the fusebox. Then, I noticed hood lights don't go on. When I tried to close the hood, it wouldn't shut! WTF! I discovered that someone had broken the fuse box BRACKET, which let the fuse box move out of alignment, which kept the hood from closing! Took the car back and told them about the problems and they fixed it all for free (they'd better! ). Service Mgr told me the tech forgot to put the fuse for the hood lights back on (hence the none working lights).

That's two and two. Twice in. Twice with problems coming out. Kudos to my Service Mgr for being very polite, honest, and of course, not questioning the problems they cleary caused. But still, he's not the one working on my 'Vette!

I live in Southern California, specifically in S. Orange County. If anybody here knows a good, reputable mechanic that works on Corvettes, PULEEZE tell me and will go there from now on!

 

[RedRagTop]

GM Canada has left a very sour taste in my mouth.

Are you sure you didn't...
Oh, the hell with it.

Seriously, you can document and write GM about your experiences. Customer satisfaction/complaints has its own budget and staff. I'd be surprised if you were snubbed.
Welcome, Canuck!

 

[hotmtrsports]

If I bring my car in and it's done right, I'll pay, say thanks and move on. If it's not I'll complain alot.

At 75 to 90 dollars an hour, it's EXPECTED to be done right. That is what's suppose to happen. No more, no less! There earn't any excuses why it should go any other way. That's what frustrates me the most. For that much money, it should be done by the best experts without mistakes or excuses.

The service writers and managers will usually only hear from the complainers and that's just the way it is. They won't hear from the customers that are satisfied because that's what we all expect. Excellent service should be the norm, not the surprise!

All a customer wants is for the car to be fixed right within a reasonable amount of time and for the money dealers charge, that's what the customer deserves!

Chuck