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Posted: 6/15/2007 6:15:01 AM EDT
[#1]
viral coke commercial.
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Posted: 6/15/2007 6:17:34 AM EDT
[#2]
Last week I took my rough running VW to the dealership (2001 Jetta). They wanted $1200 from me to clean the injectors and tune it. No way I'm paying $1200 for a glorified tune up so I took it to my neighbor who is an Autonation Tech.
Told me it needed a spark-plug wire for cylinder six. $98 (had to buy all six wires) and one hour later the car runs like a champ. |
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Posted: 6/15/2007 6:23:14 AM EDT
[#3]
Hope you went back the dealer and stuck their nose in it. S.O. |
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Posted: 6/15/2007 6:32:08 AM EDT
[#4]
Not uncommon…
My mother’s car stopped running and the dealer told her the fuel pump needed replacing and wanted to charge her almost $800 to replace the fuel pump. I had the car towed to my mechanic he crawls under the car and takes a look comes back out and says try it and it starts… the electrical connection had worked loose it had probably not been completely seated from day one and finally just backed out to a point the pump no longer worked. My mechanic did not charge me anything to plug in the connection and I wanted to pay him something. If I had trused the dealer it would have been $800 up in smoke. |
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Posted: 6/15/2007 6:38:07 AM EDT
[#5]
What was it doing that made it "rough running". I am having a problem with my 2001 Passat that I would say the same about. |
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Posted: 6/15/2007 6:42:21 AM EDT
[#6]
And then since that $800 "fix" didn't fix it, they would have GUESSED at another solution, costing you more $. S.O. |
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Posted: 6/15/2007 6:44:58 AM EDT
[#7]
So why did he go back to the dealership? So he could prove that he was right and they were wrong
 , vote with your feet and dollars. If your really sore over it write a letter to MB USA & tell a couple of friends not to shop there. Not like there isn't another dealer within 50 miles.-JTP |
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Posted: 6/15/2007 6:46:32 AM EDT
[#8]
To make them know that he was onto their shit and screwing people...and that he would make this known to others. Still vote with your feet and $ but that won't keep them from trying to do it to others...
S.O. |
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Posted: 6/15/2007 6:48:55 AM EDT
[#9]
come on man.. you dont expect them to light them up with ones do you .. ? 
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Posted: 6/15/2007 6:49:51 AM EDT
[#10]
 When I saw them bring duct tape toward my car I stopped them asking WTF are you doing?  Then saw the punk ripped it clean off my engine!). I talked with the dealership, and they said, "Yeah, the parts will cost you $120 plus labor - About $230 total"...  I told them where TF to stick it, and took the car to my mechanic buddy... It took $7 in parts, a little RPV Sealer, and 15 minutes!!! Car was back together & running like new. F(_)CK THE STEALERSHIPS!!!
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Posted: 6/15/2007 6:56:47 AM EDT
[#11]
Took my Honda to a "reputable" Honda tech (Check Engine light) he told me I needed a new catalytic converter.......$1200.00.
I knew it was BS and took it to a friend of my wife's who works at a brake place....he says it is the oxygen sensor.....$100 for the part and a 12 pack of Heineken the Check Engine light goes off, never to return..... Always get a second opinion. |
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Posted: 6/15/2007 7:01:08 AM EDT
[#12]
Reminds me of the time I took my truck to the local MIDAS for an inspection. They came out and told me it needed some parts in the steering mech to pass (they showed me, it did). They gave me a written estimate for $1400, without asking, and I told them I would "have to think about it". Went to AutoZone and got the parts for $120 OTD, took it to a buddy who did auto work on the side and who had a car lift. Long story short, took him 1.5 hours to do a job MIDAS said would go 6 hours. His bill $100. MIDAS was going to charge me an extra $1180 for them to have their way with me. Not surprisingly, they went out of business a few years later because the MIDAS HQ pulled their franchise due to not paying bills. S.O. |
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Posted: 6/15/2007 7:01:13 AM EDT
[#13]
You think they are paying for lights and heat by cutting you a good deal on parts and service? If that guy had sent me an email two days before he took it in, I could have saved him a lot of time and effort. If ones takes it to a dealership, you might as well lube up your cornhole because they have a doser that will tickle your belly button... from the inside. -JTP |
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Posted: 6/15/2007 7:01:32 AM EDT
[#14]
I love this thread.
I have an old Land Rover that everyone bags on and it over heated on the way over a pass in Oregon. Had a new radiator, was low on oil, wife had not checked it before leaving. No big deal as two kids and a dog can be distracting. MECH in Bend oregon says new engine, I say pull check and reinstall oil pump, externally mounted and can loose prime when run Very low on oil. 5 weeks later, it is 4 hours from my house, he has changed the spark plugs and said he needs more time and new engine. I go, pour three quarts of ATF in it and a couple quarts of oil in it, drive it 10 mins to oil change shop, drain oil clean oil pick up strainer, 90% obstructed, fill with oil, BAM, runs like a top. 186,000 and still running great. Kent |
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Posted: 6/15/2007 7:03:36 AM EDT
[#15]
Did you watch the video at all? Apparently they pay for that stuff by CHEATING their customers. S.O. |
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Posted: 6/15/2007 7:23:41 AM EDT
[#16]
I'm with you brother. They do it everyday, all day. It's SOP for most shops. Video synops: Guy take MB to dealership w/ sunroof issue. MB tech says Roof is fux'd, gotta be replaced MB estimate is almost $7k Guy takes it to shop B Shop B finds "magic" rock in sunroof slide, charges the guy for some labor. MB owner goes back to the MB shop, gets in the service managers face about how they missed the problem and wanted to screw him out of 7k. -JTP |
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Posted: 6/15/2007 7:26:27 AM EDT
[#17]
I do most of my own work on my car. My brakes were pulsating so I replaced 3 of my 4 brake rotors when I ran out of time and had to put everything back together. The problem went away, so I never got around to replacing the last rotor. Subsequently, I took my car to the dealership for a recall on the intake manifold and the dealer did a "courtesy check" of the car (I was pissed because I wasn't told they were going to take the time to do such a check and I needed to get back to work ASAP). Anyway, the service manager mentions to me that the back right rotor needs to be replaced (it doesn't - it's got plenty of thickness to it but it looked a lot older and rustier than the other three). I casually ask him how much that would run. He replies that the rotor is $250 and labor would run about $100. I asked him why the rotor was so expensive and he explains that because it's a rear wheel, the parking brake mechanism is built into the rotor. I give him a
look, tell him "no it isn't" and leave.
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Posted: 6/15/2007 7:30:32 AM EDT
[#18]
It's not cheating, it's just complete apathy. The technicians have no stake in doing a repair as cheaply as possible. The only time they get hassled is when something comes back as rework. You have a sunroof that's not working? What's the guaranteed way to make sure you fixed it properly and it won't come back in a week for sliding rough, or squeaking, etc? Put a whole new one in. If the tech would have pulled the rock out and said "I think it's working now" and the dude comes back in a week saying "It sounds like there's an air leak now" or something like that - a ding on his performance review. He doesn't care about whether some "rich dude" pays for an unnecessary.
Not defending, just explaining. The techs are almost ALWAYS going to want completely fix the problem and cover their ass, costs be damned. |
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Posted: 6/15/2007 7:40:54 AM EDT
[#19]
So the guy is receiving an estimate for a complete replacement, that is not the same as clocked labor time for a minor repair.
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Posted: 6/15/2007 7:43:54 AM EDT
[#20]
Huh? Haha... just got to the end... ya think? 
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Posted: 6/15/2007 7:46:20 AM EDT
[#21]
This explains it pretty well. |
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Posted: 6/15/2007 7:50:21 AM EDT
[#22]
I think it is a good thing that the guy brought it back to the dealer and make them accountable for their lies... in CA we have the Dept of Consumer Affairs (B.A.R) that goes after cheats. Now as to WHY he went back... Hey, dealers need to be held accountable for misdiagnosis issues.. They should have given him back the 143 dollars for the estimate charge.
Now as far as the tech goes, who knows why he misdiagnosed. Maybe the "Jammed up real bad and the cables messed up" is a common problem and the guy was busy so he just assumed it was the same thing (I've seen it in my business) Unfortunately, I hate to admit it... We have an issue with one of the manufacturers where as a common problem has a certain symptom. I go into the customer's home and 99.99% of the time... it is that troublesome part. HOWEVER... there is that small percentage of the time that it is a rare issue that happens to be very inexpensive to fix. Now I have told a customer that the repair is a 500.00 repair, order the part, come out and WHAT DO YOU KNOW.. it IS the cheap 180.00 repair that the customer is looking at. Now my conscience wont let me charge the 500.00 because I believe in Karma so I fix the cheaper issue (obviously) Now who knows, maybe the tech would have found the rock when he started to fix it and been honest... Maybe I have too much faith in the repair industry and human nature. i would sure hope so. |
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Posted: 6/15/2007 7:51:35 AM EDT
[#23]
The nissan dealership service dept i dealt with bitched that nissan looked over every part returned due to "defect". Supposedly questioning the reason for the part replacement. They used that argument to deny warranty work or stonewall on warranty work.
Have actually had better service from the current pontiac dealership. 
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Posted: 6/15/2007 7:53:30 AM EDT
[#24]
The OTHER issue at hand is the stupid remarks that the consumer added that I hear all the time "Oh, I bet the rock was a time released rock that Mercedes put in so when the warranty expires, it jams it in the sunroof and they charge me 6500.00"
I hear that garbage day in and day out from customers.. This guy had a great argument from the first minute.... adding stupidity didnt help his cause. |
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Posted: 6/15/2007 8:02:02 AM EDT
[#25]
I understand a cheating dealership.....but with all the trouble this guy went through filming this whole thing you figure he would be smart enough to take a flashlight and look at the rails for something blocking the way of it closing...
I do most of my own work, unless its too complicated then I get a good friend involved who can pretty much do anything to any car. I Blazer needed new brakes...The calipers were seized and I couldnt loosen them up with the hand tools I had. Couldnt get ahold of my friend so I took her to one of the BrakeMasters shops that advertise $99 brake pads specials, so I figured no big deal..Ill pay 99 bucks. dropped her off, right across from buddys place, and they called me back saying she needed all new rotors and calipers as well as pads all around for a grand total of over 900 bucks. Luckily, a few moments later buddy called me back...his cell phone was messed up, he walked across the street and took her to his place and put 2 new rotors on the front and new pads all around for 150 bucks total. |
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Posted: 6/15/2007 8:05:21 AM EDT
[#26]
I miss my old mechanic. He had a repair business in a residential neighborhood. Great guy.
Typical story: Took my Mazda MX6 Turbo to him for a major tune up, including all belts (timing belt included). He calls me and says, "Heya John, this timing belt you've got on here looks pretty new. No way it's got 80K+ miles on it. I'll change it for ya, but I really don't think you need it and it will save you the part & labor if I back out now." That's just one of many. I bought this guy a 12-pack of Heinie beer every year and dropped it off the week of Christmas. Always tipped him on the work as well. One day it paid off as my alternator crapped out the morning of the day before I was going to Florida. Called him and he said bring it in right then. He had planned to leave at noon as it was his birthday, but he did my alternator for me for an hour or two instead of closing shop. That, folks, is service that you usually won't find anywhere! Too bad he sold his shop & house and moved out to Arizona. Now, I'm getting hosed on a lot of repairs at the local dealership like so many of the rest of us. They sure can quickly get a bill of $800 doing some repairs, when my old mechanic could turn that engine inside out (or so it seemed) for $300. John |
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Posted: 6/15/2007 8:10:51 AM EDT
[#27]
That's why I say f^@# a specific NTB.
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Posted: 6/15/2007 8:13:21 AM EDT
[#28]
I know a guy that got told he needed new sparkies and sparky wires for his VW also. He said it is a diesel! BigDozer66 |
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Posted: 6/15/2007 8:14:12 AM EDT
[#29]
Reminds me back in Memphis when a TV station took a car that was 100% and loosened a spark plug wire. Then took it shop to shop. A couple found and fixed the problem for 20 or so bucks, the rest? Big $$$$$$ for stuff that was not necessary.
A good friend to have is a mechanic. Even if he can't do the work, they can usually help you smell a rat as well as educate you above the obvious sucker. |
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Posted: 6/15/2007 8:23:24 AM EDT
[#30]
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Posted: 6/15/2007 8:32:27 AM EDT
[#31]
When I bought my Boxster last December, the rear license plate lights weren't working. It was late in the evening, and the small used car dealer wanted to get me out of there. It was in a neighboring city, so I couldn't easily go home and come back after they fixed it.
So the manager said to drive it home, and take it to a dealer up in Austin and he'll pay for whatever it is. I take it to the Porsche dealer up here, not really afraid of what it will cost, since I'm not paying for it. They say they have to take off the bumper skin to check the connection. Service manager comes back and tells me the brake pads are worn down, almost to the sensor, and one of my rear tires is too worn to pass inspection. Total bill for everything (new pads, wear sensors, and a pair of tires for the rear, and labor) was about $1400. I got the pads for $110 and installed them myself. The wear sensors didn't need replacing. Got the tires for $425 installed. I am glad they informed me about the brake pads, and I already knew I needed new rubber on the rear. It's part of the reason I got the dealer I bought the car from to come down on the price a bit. |
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Posted: 6/15/2007 9:25:26 AM EDT
[#32]
College roommate had a mid 80's Escort that would die without warning after it warmed up. He took it to the local Ford dealership and they installed a new distributor for $300. It died again. I popped the air cleaner off, told him to crank it for a few seconds, and worked the throttle. No fuel from accellerator pump. $15 Autozone fuel pump later, car ran like a champ.
Dealership wouldn't refund his money. |
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Posted: 6/15/2007 10:24:50 AM EDT
[#33]
I hate Stealerships.. That is why I have taken upon myself to learn as much about mechanics as possible.
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Posted: 6/15/2007 12:38:37 PM EDT
[#34]
I always take my favorite mechanics beer. Good beer.
I have always gotten a fair shake when I deal with these guys. vmax84 |
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