Does our dealer's service suck?

[Kyle Tucker]

Hi all,
Why wife bought a new 2003 Legacy Outback wagon from a
dealer in Exeter, NH. I was suspicious that their service dept
may be a bit suspect when after $300+ 30K checkup, they didn't
even note the bad wipers and mis-pointed washer fluid nozzle.
So for her 60K check, we went to a independent shop. He
found that the dealer had put a "Y" connector in the coolant
plumbing and this is commonly to recycle the coolant. The
dealer admitted to recycling the cooland rather than use new.
This seems rather lame. Anyway, also found by the independent
was that a head gasket was leaking. We're told this was common
for 2001-2002, but not 2003.
Well the car was under extended warranty and the dealer
just did all the work. But they made no mention to my wife to
come back to have the head bolts re-torqued after some miles.
Isn't this always done after removing a head?
And could not changing the fluid with new have been
the cause - or contributed to - the head gasket failure?

Thanks

 

[B a r r y]

Hi all,
Why wife bought a new 2003 Legacy Outback wagon from a
dealer in Exeter, NH. I was suspicious that their service dept
may be a bit suspect when after $300+ 30K checkup,

Some CT dealerships charge $450 for that "service". <G>

 

[bigjim]

I found paying $300 is not bad when you consider what they do at my
dealer in NJ
Compared to what these would cost at an independent:
oil change --$25
air filter- $25
Spark plugs- $40
Coolant flush and fill- $40
Tranny fluid change- $69
F/R diff fluid change- $60

Compared to some of the jerkoffs working at independent shops I;d
rather pay the dealer who I'm happy with

 

[Pinehollow]

I found paying $300 is not bad when you consider what they do at my
dealer in NJ
Compared to what these would cost at an independent:
oil change --$25
air filter- $25
Spark plugs- $40
Coolant flush and fill- $40
Tranny fluid change- $69
F/R diff fluid change- $60

Compared to some of the jerkoffs working at independent shops I;d
rather pay the dealer who I'm happy with

Several years ago, I took a car in for required 30,000 mile service. The
charge was quite high and I wondered what they did to warrant that. I
checked the manual and it required removing the valve cover and adjusting
the valves as one of the steps. I checked and found that the valve covers
were not removed. There was still dust on the nuts and it was obvious that
they hadn't been disturbed. I took it back to the dealer and talked to the
service manager and he insisted that all of the items on the list were done.

As I was leaving, I talked to one of the mechanics about the 30K service and
he said that they couldn't possibly do all the things on the check list
because of time limitations. He explained how much time was allotted for
the job and how long it would really take to do it all..

I went back to the service manager and told him about this and he went
ballistic, running through the shop screaming, "who told this guy that we
couldn't do the service", or something like that. He was really out of
control and got in my face, insisting that I tell him who I talked to.
Naturally, I didn't tell him and left. After some correspondence with
Nissan, I was told to go to another dealer and get the service with no
charge.

The point is, you don't always get what you pay for. The service
departments cut corners and only do the obvious things, ignoring things that
the normal customer wouldn't see. Caveat emptor!

Don

 

[Jim Stewart]

The point is, you don't always get what you pay for. The service
departments cut corners and only do the obvious things, ignoring things that
the normal customer wouldn't see. Caveat emptor!

But it's funny how they always have time and
money to send out the little reminder cards...

 

[bigjim]

Yes there are good delaers and bad ones. I found a good one. What did
you pay for to have done at the 30 k service? If valve adjustment is
listed you have a great case for fraud and an opportunity to make some
money. Did you ask? Did you check manual before and make sure price
included everything?

 

[Pinehollow]

Yes there are good delaers and bad ones. I found a good one. What did
you pay for to have done at the 30 k service? If valve adjustment is
listed you have a great case for fraud and an opportunity to make some
money. Did you ask? Did you check manual before and make sure price
included everything?

Yes, valve adjustment was listed in the Service Manual as being required at
30K, It happened quite a while ago so I have written it off to experience.
I now always figure that they don't do what they say they do and don't get
upset about anything like that anymore. Life is too short to stay focused
on things such as that.

Don

 

[DG]

Your Y connector (how about a T connector) was likely for a flush of
coolant, not a recycle. What is a recycle of coolant anyway? Take it out
and put the same stuff back in again? Huh?

Head gasket failure on a 2002 is not uncommon. We just had ours done. It
is due to gasket material, not coolant issues. The heads do not need
re-torquing beyond what was done at the gasket replacement. During that
procedure they are repeatedly torqued and loosened up at various torques to
achieve the final values and crush the new metallic gasket.

 

[::Glen Doll::]

Your Y connector (how about a T connector) was likely for a flush of
coolant, not a recycle. What is a recycle of coolant anyway? Take it out
and put the same stuff back in again? Huh?

Actually yes, after the fluid has been filtered. Recycling radiator
coolant is a very common practice.

www.hazardouswaste.utah.gov/ADOBE/p2factsheets/AntifreezeRecyclingFactSheet.pdf
http://www.eetcorp.com/lts/faq.htm

 

[DG]

Actually yes, after the fluid has been filtered. Recycling radiator
coolant is a very common practice.

www.hazardouswaste.utah.gov/ADOBE/p2factsheets/AntifreezeRecyclingFactSheet.
pdf
http://www.eetcorp.com/lts/faq.htm

Hmm. Learn something new everyday. I didn't know that dealerships did
their own purifying. They must also be adding additive packages to the
recycled solution to bring it up to standards.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Hmm. Learn something new everyday. I didn't know that dealerships did
their own purifying. They must also be adding additive packages to the
recycled solution to bring it up to standards.

I doubt it. Unlikely your dealership is gonna give up 200 or more square
feet of floorspace and screw with keepin fresh packages of additives
around. maybe some kinda fleet service center or something. Your coolant
will be replaced with 'fresh' coolant and your old coolant will be
treated like used oil. Either collected to be 're-made' into fresh
anti-freeze or safely discarded somehow.

Carl

 

[M. Butkus]

I had a 2001 OB. Never brought it back except for warranty work. Trans
problem and the infamous "cold tapping". I did all the "checks" myself and
at 42K the trans had a light go on. They replaced an expensive part I'm
sure, something inside the trans. At 45K I got tired of the "cold tapping"
that my wife could hear as I drove down the street. They replace the timing
belt tensioner (I paid for a new belt while it was off) and then replace all
4 pistons (3 days and I got a free rental).
NEVER had the car back there for anything. Did my own oil and
"inspections".
At 58K I traded it in and was starting to get some "cold tapping" again.
NOTHING like before, but got a good trade. I got a Saturn Vue with the 3.5
Honda engine and trans. Oh so nice and fast and 22mpg to boot with regular
gas.
Wife picked up a Tribeca in June. It will never go back (excpet for the 3K
$20 discounted first oil change and free inspection) to the dealer for the
30K or 40K or whatever over priced "inspections". I do my own. I must say
they are a very good dealer and that was why I looked at the Tribeca. Wife
had an Audi for 3 years and now loves 4WD. But the new Audi's start at
$42K. So $32K was a deal to me... Power stinks but I have seen more Porsche
Cheyenne then Tribecas in New Jersey... So this is truely a RARE car.
Pluse looking like a clone to an Infinity 4WD it looks like we paid $42K ! !

 

[bigjim]

The terleta is rare cuz its uglay and named after a gay enclave in
NY!!!!!

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

The terleta is rare cuz its uglay and named after a gay enclave in
NY!!!!!

chemical recreation much?

 

[John Santos]

I doubt it. Unlikely your dealership is gonna give up 200 or more square
feet of floorspace and screw with keepin fresh packages of additives
around. maybe some kinda fleet service center or something. Your coolant
will be replaced with 'fresh' coolant and your old coolant will be
treated like used oil. Either collected to be 're-made' into fresh
anti-freeze or safely discarded somehow.

Carl

There was an article in yesterday's Boston Globe about recycling
various car-related items (batteries, used motor oil, paint, etc.)

It said that recycling coolant was very common, and there is a
machine that does the filtering and separating the glycol from the
excess water, any oil that might have leaked in, etc. It said most
shops run the used anti-freeze through the machine and then add a
packet of additives.

This is a *Good Thing*, much better for the environment than pouring
it down the drain, which is now illegal most places.

The article also said that many shops will take your used coolant
(in small quantities), if you change your own.

 

[Bonehenge]

This is a *Good Thing*, much better for the environment than pouring
it down the drain, which is now illegal most places.

Shops *don't* pour it down the drain, and haven't done that for a long
time. Fluids are usually stored until the contracted used fluid truck
hauls it away.