Oil change

And don't let them charge you $75 for an oil change, tire rotation, and an "inspection." They got my GF with that one yesterday, despite my profuse warnings not to let them do whatever they felt like. I can't wait to have my own house and my own driveway in which to take care of these things myself...

 

Has anyone tried going to a Goodyear dealer to see if they do free tire rotations?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(alg @ Sep 11 2007, 02:12 PM) [snapback]510853[/snapback]</div>

I've learned not to trust Goodyear dealers. I left my car at one once, and next thing I know, they are calling me to tell me the air filter is "really dirty" and offering to install a new one. It didn't occur to me until later to wonder why, if they were changing tires, they were even opening the hood!

I think I can trust Wheel Works (so far...)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(gupchurch1349 @ Sep 11 2007, 05:48 PM) [snapback]510833[/snapback]</div>

As Fox Mulder said, "Trust no one." My friend took his 2007 Prius to Sears for an oil change. He was quite surprised when the dash lit up like a Christmas tree and he was stuck on the NJ Turnpike. After an expensive tow to the dealer and a loaner the diagnosis was too much oil. He went back to Sears and to their credit refunded all of his expenses without a hassle.

Yes, check the level & ask to see the empty oil bottles. How do you know you got 5W30?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(gupchurch1349 @ Sep 11 2007, 05:48 PM) [snapback]510833[/snapback]</div>

As Fox Mulder said, "Trust no one." My friend took his 2007 Prius to Sears for an oil change. He was quite surprised when the dash lit up like a Christmas tree and he was stuck on the NJ Turnpike. After an expensive tow to the dealer and a loaner the diagnosis was too much oil. He went back to Sears and to their credit refunded all of his expenses without a hassle.

Yes, check the level & ask to see the empty oil bottles. How do you know you got 5W30?

 

Sears is the worst. You roll down your window to tell the mechanic what's wrong, get out of the car, and they'll say, "Look! Your window is only halfway up! We'll need to replace the entire transmission to fix that!"

 

Sears is the worst. You roll down your window to tell the mechanic what's wrong, get out of the car, and they'll say, "Look! Your window is only halfway up! We'll need to replace the entire transmission to fix that!"

 

Years ago Sears did the brakes on our 66 Mustang and put the drums (or something like that) on BACKWARDS! I would not have known except that a friend of ours did some work on it about 6 months later and told us.

 

Years ago Sears did the brakes on our 66 Mustang and put the drums (or something like that) on BACKWARDS! I would not have known except that a friend of ours did some work on it about 6 months later and told us.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(gupchurch1349 @ Sep 11 2007, 02:48 PM) [snapback]510833[/snapback]</div>

You just now figured this out? One reason why I do my own oil changes and because it is a very simple procedure to do while saving me money.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(gupchurch1349 @ Sep 11 2007, 02:48 PM) [snapback]510833[/snapback]</div>

You just now figured this out? One reason why I do my own oil changes and because it is a very simple procedure to do while saving me money.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kimgh @ Sep 12 2007, 08:05 AM) [snapback]510867[/snapback]</div>

Is it possible they do a free check for you while they have your car? Did you see the air filter? Was it dirty? If it was then why not trust them?

As a mechanic (no longer working in the trade) I get a bit sick of this constant mechanic bashing. You go to the cheapest lube place to have a near new high tech car you say you love serviced and when the kid doing the work does what he thinks is the right thing and puts oil in a little over the full line you all squeal! Yet they charge you for UP TO 5 litres of oil so a little extra cost you nothing. Get a dymo labeler and put a label under the bonnet not to fill over 3/4 up to full from add.

When you're not happy do you politely ask for rectification or do you walk in "guns blazing"? Manners will go a long way.

Take your car to a Toyota dealer, expect to pay enough for the mechanic to be able to live on his income, take the service book into the service manager, Show him the service you want done, maybe put a postit note on the right page, write on the page any additional work you want done, Ask for your old parts back when you drop the car off, ask the price of the service when you drop the car off and after you explain the extra stuff you want done, write the price on the page of the service book. Ask to be told if there is any extra work needed, you still want to see old parts for extra work If you're not happy with one dealer find another but allow them the chance to rectify faults.

I'm happy that most Prius drivers never make mistakes, I do sometimes, sorry.

My wife's tax accountant failed to claim $400 worth of deductions the first time I used him, now I do my own tax.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kimgh @ Sep 12 2007, 08:05 AM) [snapback]510867[/snapback]</div>

Is it possible they do a free check for you while they have your car? Did you see the air filter? Was it dirty? If it was then why not trust them?

As a mechanic (no longer working in the trade) I get a bit sick of this constant mechanic bashing. You go to the cheapest lube place to have a near new high tech car you say you love serviced and when the kid doing the work does what he thinks is the right thing and puts oil in a little over the full line you all squeal! Yet they charge you for UP TO 5 litres of oil so a little extra cost you nothing. Get a dymo labeler and put a label under the bonnet not to fill over 3/4 up to full from add.

When you're not happy do you politely ask for rectification or do you walk in "guns blazing"? Manners will go a long way.

Take your car to a Toyota dealer, expect to pay enough for the mechanic to be able to live on his income, take the service book into the service manager, Show him the service you want done, maybe put a postit note on the right page, write on the page any additional work you want done, Ask for your old parts back when you drop the car off, ask the price of the service when you drop the car off and after you explain the extra stuff you want done, write the price on the page of the service book. Ask to be told if there is any extra work needed, you still want to see old parts for extra work If you're not happy with one dealer find another but allow them the chance to rectify faults.

I'm happy that most Prius drivers never make mistakes, I do sometimes, sorry.

My wife's tax accountant failed to claim $400 worth of deductions the first time I used him, now I do my own tax.

 

There's good dealers and bad dealers. As patsparks says, don't expect good service from someone who receives less than a living wage for his work, and that will be the case at discount service places, and maybe (I don't know) at some dealers.

Trusting nobody is a depressing way to live. Taking reasonable precautions makes sense.

 

There's good dealers and bad dealers. As patsparks says, don't expect good service from someone who receives less than a living wage for his work, and that will be the case at discount service places, and maybe (I don't know) at some dealers.

Trusting nobody is a depressing way to live. Taking reasonable precautions makes sense.

 

Wouldn't asking for the old parts imply some level of distrust,
unless it's clear that some level of fault-analysis will be done?
Is that a subtler form of "guns a-blazin'" in some peoples' minds?
.
Still, people shouldn't be faulted for calling BS where BS exists.
.
_H*

 

Wouldn't asking for the old parts imply some level of distrust,
unless it's clear that some level of fault-analysis will be done?
Is that a subtler form of "guns a-blazin'" in some peoples' minds?
.
Still, people shouldn't be faulted for calling BS where BS exists.
.
_H*

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Sep 12 2007, 09:09 AM) [snapback]511194[/snapback]</div>

When you get on the road, you are trusting everyone.....but I do not expect this to remove any depression.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Sep 12 2007, 09:09 AM) [snapback]511194[/snapback]</div>

When you get on the road, you are trusting everyone.....but I do not expect this to remove any depression.