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I just called the chevy dealer to see what they got for a tune - up
on a 2002 chevy suburban. 1,100 dollers!!!
I already own it, I don't want to buy it again!
The thing runs great it's just comming up 100,000 miles and it's about time.
What could they do that cost 1,100 dollers when the thing runs good.
I guess they want me to pay for all thier problems. Kurt
Don't feel bad- Took my 2006 Dodge 4x4 3/4 ton Diesel into the local dealer (where I bought it) for an oil change. 12 qts + the filter, got a bill for $285 and change.
New service manager almost sh*t his pants when I pulled out my "lifetime FREE oil change" voucher. Then he tried to tell me my rear main was leaking and the charge to fix that would be over $600. Right then and there I slid under the truck and inspected it myself. Dry as a bone. Climbed out left the truck in the service island, went in and found the owner, who I've bought 4 new vehicles from in the last 5 years, and told him how his "new service mgr" was tryin to rip me off.
Well he sure didn't like that too much, grabbed the phone and had him, the service mgr, report to his office immediatly.
I said my good bye's to Fred and walked out.
I think the local Chrysler/ Dodge dealership is lookin for a "NEW SERVICE MANAGER"
Wow they try anything to get your money.
I asked what they replaced when they did a tune up?
He said normaly just the plugs and the wires.
Man the prices must have gone up since last year when
I did a tune up on my pick up.
I think the wires were 45 bucks and the plugs were under 20.
1100 hundred for plugs and wires, HUH wonder what they are made of?
What's up lately with service departments? My wife has a 2004 Mountaineer and we have had the local Ford dealer do the oil changes as I just don't want to do it and 6 quarts of oil, filter, top off the fluids and wash the car for $29.00 is okay by me..
Last time in, they indicated that the front brakes were down to 2mm and should be changed - for $193. Joanie thanked them - explaining that her husband (me) would look at them. Well, I stopped by NAPA on the way home and bought their best pads for 50 bucks, knowing that I had recently put lifetime guaranteed rotors from Performance Brakes on the front of this rig.
Well, pulled the wheels - measured the rotors at .00 run out and looking brand new - and pulled the calipers and imagine my surprise when I saw the pads and they looked like they had a lot of wear left on them. They measured at 5/6mm. I will say that when I called the service manager, he was very nice and wants to see the pads..
I dunno - They also told her that the rear differential seal was leaking and they want $500 for that..
Where have all the good, honest mechanics gone? Trust is everything and once lost, it's tough to regain (at least with me).
My wife's car is a Ford Escape.
Great little car. I took it in for NY State inspection and told them to dump the brake fluid, i.e. bleed the brakes completely as the car is 6 years old and it was a bit cloudy. Supposedly they broke the RR bleed screw and had to replace the wheel cylinder - for $181. Not happy - I've been working on cars for over 50 years including 30 years full or parttime for $$ and have broken a grand total of one - and on my own car. I blew my cork!! Since my truck was also due for NY inspection, it went in the next day - it took them less then 10 minutes - and it was free. BUTTTTTT - yesterday I inspected the rear brakes(drum) on the Escape , and if that's a new cylinder, I'll eat the @#$% thing.
Oil changes - too easy on that car to pay someone else. The plug and the filter are right out in plain sight. Now, my truck - what a PITA!! A V10, 7 quarts and usually ends up wetting down the LF tire as the drain plug aims right at it and the oil is hot.....:CRY:
My old F150 - quoted ball joints - all four - $1200 to $1500. I did them for less then $200
It's a sign of the times.....dealers sure arent paying the bills from profit on the sale of new cars so the bean counters put the squeeze on the service and parts department to sell more. At $100 per hour (or more) that most dealers charge, the bill goes up like a skyrocket. It's frustrating to go in for an oil change and get asked if you want nitrogen in your tires (no, the atmosphere that I breathe is good enough for the tires), an internal engine flush (with mineral oil? Isnt that laxative stuff?), brake jobs when you have 50% pads left, rear axle fluid flush and change, etc, etc.
It isnt always the service writers fault...they're being hammered to increase the revenue. I shudder to think what the dealers do when they get a car that has a warranty....they must really pile on the bill.
Not to hijack the thread, but today’s Automotive News reports:
“U.S. auto sales overall are expected to come in at a 9.2 million vehicle annualized rate and retail sales are forecast as the worst of the year, J.D. Power said. Its forecasts were based on sales through the first two-thirds of September.
The overall rate would about equal the result from February, the worst annualized sales rate of the year. J.D. Power maintained its full 2009 and 2010 sales outlooks.
U.S. auto sales in July and August were boosted sharply by the government's cash for clunkers program that provided incentives of up to $4,500 to consumers to turn in gas-guzzling vehicles and buy new more fuel-efficient vehicles.”
Several other notes that didn’t seem to “make the news” –
Few, if any, parts and distribution jobs in the automotive industry were restored as a result of the program as dealers drew down existing (excessive) stocks.
Most dealers of domestic automobiles are still “overstocked” (with some interesting exceptions – the Mustang GT, the new Camaro in V8 models and the Hemi Challenger are in short supply).
The news continues to indicate that this will be a “jobless recovery”. What that really means is that small businesses (including many affected by the automotive industry) that are able to survive will be very hesitant to rehire as margins have been drawn down and a lot of small businesses are running on much extended lines-of-credit. They will wait until such are paid off and significant profits are enjoyed before hiring again.
Large corporations (OEMs and those producing large ticket items) are also running lean and have experienced (probably needed in most cases) reorganizations and downsizing.
The only place where employment numbers have actually increased is the federal government.
Lord help us…..
I love the dealer stories, Makes me look like the good guy.:LOL::3dSMILE:
hay if you hated trickle down economics then you have to love trickle down poverty don't forget America wanted change......ted
Kurt, you're a taxpayer!!!! Go to them chebbie guys and tell them you're one of the new owners, and you ain't gonna put up with that crap!!!!!! Maybe some of them government accountants were down there training them guys on how to cook the books!!!!!!
nitrogen in my tires?
air is ~70% nitrogen already
You know Dave, Henry Ford made a good car cheap so everyone could afford them.
I think we need another Henry Ford today for these times here.
Affordable cars wow, there is a concept. Kurt
Obama and the unions would kill it.Quote:
Originally Posted by vara4
i believe that they are making the cars, trucks, and suv's to be disposable. my girlfriend needed new plugs in her 2000 expedition. i offered to do it for free but her hubby said that he would take it to the dealer. they can do a better job.:LOL: ended up costing him $800.00. they said that they had to take alot of the engine off to get to the plugs and some of the things were not meant to be removed and had to be replaced. he told me that next time he would get me to do it. i told him no thanks. sounds like the job was too hard for a little girl like me to do. enjoy the dealer prices.
Way to go Barb. A fool and money don't mix.
thanks ntf. by the way i really like your new avatar.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jyardgirl
That was a jacket many moons ago and thank you.
[QUOTE=jyardgirl;364180]i believe that they are making the cars, trucks, and suv's to be disposable. QUOTE]
I think that fairly well describes the state of the auto industry these days,,,,,run it till it breaks, then start making car payments on another one....:LOL::LOL::LOL: All the dang adds for nothing down and XXXXX per month...why worry about the repairablity of a car, just buy another new one.....
[QUOTE=Dave Severson;364195]These Days ?!?! Heck it's been like that since the end of WW2! Run'em into the ground - scrap it and get another. By the 70's it was only supposed to last 5 years!Quote:
Originally Posted by jyardgirl
Don't doubt your ability one bit but have ya ever replaced plugs in a 5.4 Ford truck ? Be glad they turned ya down.:LOL::D It takes a experienced wrench dang near a half day and would take some one with no experience a whole day or more, Those things are real stoooopid.:LOL::LOL::LOL::LOL::whacked:Quote:
Originally Posted by jyardgirl
Hworrell; Did You ever change the plug in a big block dodge charger? { 71 }.
Take the motor mount loose and jack up one side.
Or you could just cut some holes in the fire wall sides.
No fun either way, right. Kurt
Vara4, Probally have,Ain't many American makes or models that I haven't put a wrench on in the last 38 years. I used the 2 inch hole saw in the fender well trick for V8 Chevy Monzas.:whacked:Quote:
Originally Posted by vara4
I hear ya Hworrell, the ford Rangers are not any better then those other bad ones either.
Kurt
My all time favorite - 1969 Ford Torino 390. Either lift the engine (no joke) or cut slots through the inner fenders in the wheel wells....
I learned some new words on that one.
I have a 2002 5.4 Expedition - plug on coil. The original plugs were good for 100K miles but have had two coils go bad. Expensive, but under warranty. Have 170K on it now and purrs like a kitten (a thirsty kitten mind you at 13-18mpg!). Love the vehicle - Eddie Bauer Limited, black on black with tan leather, 6 cd player, dual air, etc.. Quiet comfortable, but did I mention, it it a bit of a gas guzzler?
Will change plugs again at 200K miles..
X2!!! You are exactly rightQuote:
Originally Posted by NTFDAY
Quote:
Originally Posted by vara4
You should have had them put it in writing. ;) maybe have them explain exactly what they would do for the 1100 bux.
At 90-100k your vehicle is due "tune-up" wise, spark plugs, fuel filter,air filter. Usually will need plug wires..as the ends break when removing them. Alot of times it wil need the throttle body cleaned as they get coked. If you were to purchase the parts at a Ac Delco dealer, or parts store you are looking at roughly175-200.00 in parts. The labor...in hours would be 3-5 hours.
Now at 90-100k your truck is due for, transmission service, if its 4WD a transfer case,front and rear diff service, coolant and brake fluid service.
I have worked for new car dealerships for 29 yrs and current 19 yrs at the
same place. Over the years I have seen about everything when it come to
an automobile. In my 29 yrs I have never really trusted the service depts.
I have had bad experiences. Once I had my oil and filter changed, and I marked the old filter, and when I paid the bill I looked and the old filter was
still on, I worked there and blue my top...Recently my wife's car stopped due
to a bad body control module and had to be towed in to our service dept..
They wanted some ridiculous price, and I said I would just have a wrecker
come pick it up, and take it to a friend of mine who owns a local garage.
My bill instantly went down $125.00..................It is really sad when your
fellow employees try and rip you off, but I guess it happens in a lot of different businesses....This is one reason I am letting one of our CHR members
build a BBC for me....I have never met him, but have studied him and his
decisions on this site since 2007 and I knew without a doubt he was a man
of integrity, and he has proven to be just that..I will not mention his name
but his initals are PM..................rdobbs
How about this 1-- Per FMC manual - On the 2009 F 450 pick up with diesel, ya have to lift the cab to change the rear injectors.
I'd hate to see the bill on that 1.:CRY::eek::CRY:
Your Right moter, The rads got to be done. The rear diff is allready done and the trany had to be rebuilt about 30,000 miles ago. Thanks Kurt
i don't he is very sexist. i get that alot when i go to get parts or talk with the guys about cars. i just let it roll off my back.
That's very true, a buddy of mine has his 2004 F-350 in the shop right now and fomoco gives 12 hours to pull the cab out of the way so they can work on the back of the cyl. head! In my mind that's just stupid! What idiot designed that mess? It's bad enough they got a terrible diesel motor, now you gotta remove the cab to service the engine! What a mess!Quote:
Originally Posted by DA34GUY
Detroit no longer higher designers and mechanical engineers, nor do they take advice from their service people...... They only hire bean counters these days....!!!!!!!! I like the new Mustangs, 'Maro's, and Challengers----the rest of them are just terribly boring yuppie mobiles with the main interest being the stereo and cup holders...............:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by 34_40
My Old Man who was one of the better wrenchs of his era always said they oughta make the designers work on cars a few years before they where allowed to design one. I bet he looks down on our shop,shaking his head at the stuff we work on now days.