This is why I do my own maintenance.

[Skinhead]

So, for the first time in my 65 years, (against my better judgement), I took my Buick Enclave to a Valvoline oil change place as I didn't feel like crawling around under the car in the cold weather.  I knew things were not going well when it took 3 different guys over an hour to take the old filter off.  They removed it from the top, which is something I never did.  They also did a Free battery test included with the change.  I was sitting in the vehicle the whole time.  The first guy used a strap type filter wrench and I believe crushed the filter, then they used a plier type wrench that I'm sure only made things worse, and then used a universal expanding wrench.  At no time did they use the right tool, which to me, is a cup type wrench that fits that particular filter.  The manager finally got the filter off after much struggling and I'm sure a few choice words.  He said the filter had been improperly installed (over tightened and no oil on the O ring).  I told him bullshit, I installed the filter, according to the directions on the box, light oil on the O ring, hand tighten until the O ring contacts the housing then an additional 3/4 of a turn.  And that I have done all my oil changes on every vehicle I have ever owned, and never had a problem.  I also never tried to remove a filter from the top of the engine bay.  I told him the problem was the universal type wrenches they used.

So I paid and pulled out of the bay and as I pulled out on the street, the service battery charging system message appeared in the driver information center, and the battery light illuminated on the dash.  So I turned around and got the manager and said your battery test must have screwed something up as my charging system was showing a fault.  He said "Our battery tester should not have caused it."  I told him, the light and message weren't on when I pulled into his shop, but it came on as soon as I left.  He said to take it to a full service auto shop and have them check it out, but to call him before making any repairs.  

I thought the battery test may have screwed up a module or something that was causing the problem, so I disconnected the battery for a minute and reconnected it.  Upon starting the vehicle the light and message were no longer present, so I shut it off and thought it was good. The next trip, the and message returned.  So I started looking on youtube for more info, not much help.  I Then out and removed the beauty cover from the engine to check things out.  Turns out the manager was right, his battery tester didn't cause the problem, him and his techs were responsible.  While struggling to remove the filter, they broke a connector off of the alternator.  So I drove to the shop and showed him the problem.  He said they would cover it, and I just got back from getting an estimate, $1130.00!!!   It's a good thing these guys have insurance.

I guess I'm back to doing my own work again, I'll just have to wait until the weather is cooperating.

[Valker]

I have a repair shop nearby that will lift my vehicles and let me change oil inside. He charges me $20 for use of the lift and drain bucket.

[Jess from VA]

They should change their name to the Moe, Larry & Curly Oil Change Center. 

[Oss]

I know those guys

[Skinhead]

I know those guys

I thought you were a partner...

[sandy]

I know those guys

Johnny Carson use to say these were his lawyers.

[LTD]

very scary

[Oss]

Bombastic Bushkin was
Look him up.

[Rams]

Last week I took my Ram 3500 to the dealer for an oil change and tire rotation.   This is something that I never did prior to buying this truck but, they gave me a very good deal on a five year, 100K mile service agreement and since I no longer have a lift, it seemed like a good deal.   Financially, it is.

The service agreement offered was just barely more than what I could do my own oil change for with filters for the same time frame/mileages.   Of course, this gives the dealership an opportunity to look at my truck and find other things for me to spend money on.  (I'm not clueless.)

The first time event occurred when I took it in and the service department told me they don't rotate tires on duallies.   I let them know that they do on this one.   Had to get the dealership manager involved but, they rotated my tires.   This has come back to haunt me.

The oil change and tire rotation has occurred three times now, each time a different "flunky" has done the deed.   This last visit, the service pin head told me that I had a messed up wheel stud and asked what I wanted to do about.   I said fix it (of course), called my wife to come pick me up and went home.   About two hours later, she calls me and says they don't have and can't get the stud from Ram but, they can get one from another aftermarket source.   Told them I didn't care, it had to be fixed.

An hour goes by and I get another call, it's going to cost me a tad bit over $500.00 to get this done.....    Obviously, I'm not excited to learn this.   So, I ask the Service Pin Head Lady why it's costing me anything, I've never touched those wheels, never had a flat, never rotated the tires, if I have a bad stud, it was either damaged during assembly or at this dealership during tire rotation.   I am very certain that since this is just now being brought to my attention, someone (at the dealership) had damaged it, most likely cross threaded.

About an hour later, she calls me back and tells me they were able to "fix" the damaged stud.   This really set me off.   As I told the Service Manager the next day (made a special trip there, I was still pissed off), his folks cross threaded the lug nut on my truck's wheel stud and then tried to get me to pay for a repair and don't document on the invoice anything other than the oil change and tire rotation......

So, next time I have something done, new tires, axle seals, tire rotation, anything that requires the wheels to come off, I could be responsible for getting that bad stud replaced.   And, that aftermarket replacement stud would not be covered I'm told.

The Service Manager knew I was prepared to take this as high as I needed to go in order to be certain I was covered and the dealership be responsible.   Although it did take a second trip (30 miles each way) to get this resolved, it was worth it.   I got an amended invoice with a written warranty on the work performed and a commitment to get that stud replaced when there is one available.   What drove this stud shortage is a recall for inspection of all Ram 3500 trucks for over torquing at the factory.   Apparently, the factory installers were not following prescribed procedures on these trucks.

The moral to this story is, it's all about the money and not keeping a satisfied customer.
Sorry for the long rant, I guess I'm still pissed.  

Rams

[..]

I've learnt after an oil change when you get home get under your vehicle and check.

Any oil drips and back we go to the oil changer.

[hubcapsc]

I don't work on my cars anymore. I never do anything to my 213,000 mile Mini
other than check the oil and put gas in it. I've always had great luck at
the Mini dealer in Charleston SC and in Greenville SC... until the last visit.

They're still nice and the same reliable mechanic works on my car. But... the
current world situation has left them with no cars to sell, no cars to loan, and parts
don't come right away. At the Greenville Mini dealer I think they're going to shut
down the Mini-specific side of the shop and do everything over at the BMW side...

-Mike

[hubcapsc]

I've learnt after an oil change when you get home get under your vehicle and check.

Any oil drips and back we go to the oil changer.

I've only gone to the dealer since I got my Mini in 2005... one of
the last times I took whatever used truck I was driving at the time
to one of those oil change places, they put two gaskets on - or
left the old one on - whatever - there were two gaskets. The oil
filter came off as I was about  a mile from home. I guess I heard
it or something, because I looked in the mirror and saw the line of
oil (all my oil) I was leaving.

I'm not sure what to think of those oil change places, or the brake pad
places either.

I'm glad I do all the work on my Valkyries and glad to have a good dealer
for the Mini who knows me and wants me to come back.

-Mike

[Rams]

I've learnt after an oil change when you get home get under your vehicle and check.

Any oil drips and back we go to the oil changer.

Oh, that's a given....... 

Heck, I do that even when I change the oil on all my other vehicles.   

Rams

[Skinhead]

My son Eric bought a brand new 4dr Jeep. not sure of the year, but I told him I thought Jeeps were junk.  At the time they offered him a lifetime warranty for a couple thousand dollars.  Initially I advised against the warranty, but it being a jeep and all, it turned out to be one of the decisions he's made.  He has had 10s of thousands of dollars of work done to the jeep, which now has over 250,000 miles on it.  One dealer has refused to do anymore work for him after they tried to say the warranty didn't cover some repairs that were caused by their failure to fix a previous problem he had with a cracked exhaust manifold.  After fighting with Chrysler Corp and the dealer, he called me and told me the line of BS they gave him on why it wasn't their responsibility.  I told him his CATs had been damaged due to them welding and not replacing the cracked manifolds that resulted in excess O2 getting to the O2 sensors and causing the improper amount of fuel to be delivered to the engine.  I actually had him write down what to tell them word for word why it happened.  They ended up covering it, but want to buy him out of his vehicle, he said not unless I can get the same warranty on a new one.  They refused.

I guess my point in all this is that people that don't understand how their vehicle systems work are at the dealers mercy when it comes to service.  Upselling is the norm, and service writers try to load up and over charge for unnecessary repairs.  I will not use them unless it is warranty work, or I don't have the tools/knowledge on how to make the repairs.  I feel sorry for the folks that they prey on.  Unfortunately, I'm getting too old to crawl around on the ground under a vehicle, and don't  have room for a lift.  Fortunately I have met a lot of good mechanics that do side work during my career.

[cookiedough]

sounds like we all have had our fair share of dealerships do subpar work from oil changes to tire rotations.  I still vaguely remember when under 3/36K warranty I asked them to fix or replace a poor fitting trim panel inside my Toyota vehicle and the actual mechanic came out in front of the service mgr. stating who says this has to be done?  I yelled at him saying, me, have a problem with that?.   

I cringe the very few times at the dealership when they come out to older folks or younger females telling them that will be 50 bucks for a cabin air filter change.  After service advisor leaves I tell them it cost 10-12 bucks for the cabin air filter and 10 minutes of your time to remove glove box hinge and snap out the plastic cover holding the cabin air filter in place, anyone can do it.    Wife pissed me off once when our kid ran the vehicle off the road and I somewhat crawled around not seeing any damage, etc.  She never told me she took it to an independent shop WASTING 80 bucks one hour labor to visually inspect undercarriage, engine, etc. to see any visible issues.   They did point out an oil leak but uncertain of where coming from needing more time to figure it out.  I figured it out fixing it myself was the oil filter sensor thingy I easily replaced myself above and in front of the oil filter, cheap fix.  Yet the shop could NOT figure it out where the minor oil leak was coming from????    Then they said on inspection report the cabin air filter needed changing.  I called them back chewing their butt out saying your mechanic is an idiot was NOT dirty just changed it 1 month ago and the gray coloring was the charcoal activation they put in the cabin air filter nowadays was NOT dirt.   They apologized and I never went back since.

[Bigwolf]

Skinhead,
At least you became aware of the problems right away and it was clear they were responsible.  That is often not the case.  I am glad that you are getting it resolved.

All of my life, I have usually done my own mechanical work.  But there have been times that I tried to have others do it because I didn’t have time to do it myself.  Mostly times when I was working 12 hour days 7 days a week for 45 to 50 weeks straight.  With very few exceptions, that has been a costly mistake.  Even simple maintenance chores like lubrication seldom get done correctly at commercial places.  

One year of 12 hours every day for months on end working,  I tried a few places for oil changes and lubrication.  That destroyed the transmission in my truck and I was not able to prove it.  I have since learned that modern day quick lube businesses do not and will not service a manual transmission.

Dealerships often have problems too.  In 1986 I bought a brand new Chevy van.  The transmission exploded at 700 miles!  That was due to a mistake at the factory that was then compounded by crappy work at the dealership.  It took almost two years, but they did give my money back and take the van back.

It happened to me again right after I bought my Valkyrie!

Now there are very few people that I will allow with a wrench anywhere near any of my mechanical items.  Most of those people are members of the VRCC.

Bigwolf

[Patrick]

The last major career I had was overseeing the auto repair business's in my state. The fast oil change places were always a problem. We caught them numerous times using the wrong oil, the companies used recycled oil and whatever the drum has written on it didn't mean a thing. They contained recycled crap in the 10w-30 range. We had them in court constantly. And thats not all they were screwing up.

Last year a friend with a new Ford went to one of these places and engine came out rattling. He stopped by to let me listen to it. I just told him to get 2 filters and enough Mobil 1 in the correct weight. I changed the oil twice during that week and his rattle disappeared.  Engines today need the proper oil in the correct weight.

[Wizzard]

unless its a major overhaul I do all my own work.
Been that way since a teenager.
I actually enjoy it. 

[cookiedough]

am taking a chance now on independent guy on my 1997 honda 750cc 4 cylinder magna carbs are leaking gas when engine starts.  Not that mechanically inclined to do it all but have seen his work on older 1980s 1100 and 1200 goldwings of which he owns and has done several carbs from 80s and 90s cycles.  Was either that or further away a HONDA dealer who when I called the service dept. after saying 1997 honda magna he asked if was a 4 cylinder and what cc's.  GEE, if he is a certified honda mechanic or in charge of service (not sure?)  he should know for sure a 1997 honda magna is a 4 cylinder and 750cc size..   

I will take my chances with this guy he has done a few minor repairs on prior cycles I own.   NO rush,  am sure he will be cheaper or just as cheap as a certified HONDA shop labor rate 30 per hour vs. 120 per hour.  He does it out of his home and has all kinds of 1970s thru 1990's cycles he is working on just has to get done by April.   Also will be doing new fork seals and oil since has been leaking oil out of those fork seals past 2 years as well.

[h13man]

Usually 1/4 turn past hand tight is the norm but I use the "end socket" also on all my vehicles and I do go a wee past a 1/4 turn tight but 3/4, thats a tad too tight but they should have an assortment/set of the end cap sockets regardless.

[Binkie]

That alternator must be made out of “ unatanium”.

[cookiedough]

Usually 1/4 turn past hand tight is the norm but I use the "end socket" also on all my vehicles and I do go a wee past a 1/4 turn tight but 3/4, thats a tad too tight but they should have an assortment/set of the end cap sockets regardless.

depends on what 'hand tight' means to most.  My hand tight if using 2 hands trying my hardest I can see 1/4 turn more with a wrench/socket for an oil filter.  If I do 1 hand tight then 3/4 turn is reasonable.  Not sure a good idea, but sometimes when doing say 3/4 tight which I normally do,  I try backing off the oil filter with the wrench again to make sure the oil filter spins off easy still.  It seems like a lot of times, not always, I do an oil filter change though my wrench/socket is pretty darn hard to get off the oil filter fitting super snug.  I think over time,  the oil filter somehow tightens up a tad if I do near 1 full turn past hand tight.  Still,  not as bad as mfg. dealers doing an oil filter change.

I ONLY had a few times the dealer doing an oil filter change on my previous trucks,  and the very next time me doing the oil change I busted off/cracked the black plastic/resin housing of the oil filter cover was on so darn tight should NEVER happen.  Since under warranty 3/36K still,  dealer replaced it for for free as they should.  

same way with tire rotations or mounting tires.  The shop using impact wrenches NOT torque wrench to factory specs.  Once me using my 4 way lug wrench by hand putting my entire weight and muscles behind both hands could NOT budge the lug nuts free.  That really ticked me off since spring/fall with 3 cars doing snow tires to all season tires and vice versa,  very rarely do I have to use all my force to break the lug nuts loose.  I do have sometimes though issues with usually the rear snow tire rims sticking on the hub once lug nuts off unable to get the rim/tire off the car having to go under the car and kicking with my feet the tire loose (a rubber mallet would not work pounding all over from behind was stuck on so bad).  Not a very smart thing to do since the tire is jacked up and if kick too hard could knock the car off the jack with me somewhat under the back end of the car.

[Skinhead]

Usually 1/4 turn past hand tight is the norm but I use the "end socket" also on all my vehicles and I do go a wee past a 1/4 turn tight but 3/4, thats a tad too tight but they should have an assortment/set of the end cap sockets regardless.

Not hand tight, Until the O-ring contacts the flange, then 3/4 turn.  Big difference.

[Ramie]

I just found out a couple of weeks ago that my mechanic that I've known for over 40 years now is selling his business.  I knew him when he was working out of a single stall garage.  He was a stickler for doing things right and backing up his work and I trusted him completely.  If I needed advice on how to fix something myself I would just stop and talk with him and he'd freely help me no charge.  Hard to find people like that anymore.