It’s your responsibility to be educated on your cars warranty everything is there for you to call them on BS diagnostics fees. If you bring your vehicle in be cause something isn’t legitimately wrong. You shouldn’t be suprised about paying for the techs time. Some of us work hard and spend years refining our craft and spend big money on tools. That’s what the 1-2hrs of diag pays for.
I agree that workmanship has degraded over the years. A lot of blame for that is the coming generations that have made their way into this field and lack of ownership or pride. I deal with a lot of come backs in the field sadly from my own dealership and others. It’s typically things that are over looked due to lack of attention to detail. Battery dead after a service cause the tech didn’t test it. Oil filters leaking on new engine installs cause they assumed it was good. Stupid stuff. Mis diagnosed misfires. Replaced a coil and plug and overlooked the chewed up wire. Not all techs at our shop are bad however I don’t wanna name people. If someone does wanna reach out they can I am not on here to chase work down. However I can show up in my mobile service truck and the dealership has given me permission to operate Buisness out of my home garage. I am paid hourly not commission based what so ever.I mean... not for nothing, but these stories are straight from FRF- you are free to search for them yourself. Sadly, a good tech and the dealership is the exception now, and not the norm. The number of ’17-early ’18 oil pan repairs that went south because the techs just couldn’t or wouldn’t follow the repair procedure are LEGION - again, searchable, right here on FRF.
Are we painting stealerships with a broad brush?
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Have stealership service departments across the USA earned this bad rap?
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Are we bitter?
yeah... a bit.
It’s like the pride in workmanship has degraded. In the late 90’s, I lived 3 houses from a Ford stealership - bought my ’01 Lightning there. but before that they worked on 2 of my Mustangs. 2 techs were regulars at Budd’s Creek and regularly wrenched for other drag racers and they helped me out on many a mod. They were a small, independent dealer and got bought by a bigger one but the techs remained and I eventually moved out. I definitely missed them and never found as solid a relationship.
I’ve had mixed results and have been lowering my expectations since. STILL WAY better than tire shops and fly by night, quickie maintenance places though.
Where were you 5 years ago... I mean I wasn’t too awful far from Ourisman, but who knew there was mobile service?
You should make a post, lots of southern MD and NoVA FRF and I’d bet they’d rather work with another FRF.