Z06Vette.com - Corvette Z06 Forum

Cobra#3747 · 06-25-2004, 09:13 PM

So I take my 02 Z to the dealer on Thursday, I pull up, park the car and walk into the service department. From there it was all down hill, I walked over to the time clock and punched in, changed into my work uniform and started wrenching.

Anyway, that was all true, but thats not why I was making this post.

After reading all these threads on how much people hate the dealer, I decided to post a few tips for you, maybe so you can see it from the other side a little too.

1. Your car is only going to get fixed as well as you describe the problem, as well as the service writer comprehends what you are saying and is able to get it all down on the repair order for the tech to go off of. Comes down to that 3rd hand information.

2. If its something you think is going to be a problem to fix, ask to have a tech go out to the car with you to show them. You may hear one squeak or rattle, while the tech may hear another one, he fixes that one, you are mad cause the car didn't get fixed for the reason you brought it in, the tech thinks he did fix it

3. Once you find a tech that fixes your car to your satisfaction, here is a clue, always ask for him to work on the car. Talk to him, learn the guys first name, talk to him when you are dropping off the car. Makes the repair and care for the car a little more personal, you can explain things to him, he can explain things to you and you may understand whats going on a little more.

4. Service writers really don't have a lot of mechanical knowledge, unless they were a tech before. So I refer you back to suggestion #3

So to sum it up, make it a personal thing with the tech, don't come off as being above them by any means, and think about this, how many wires, bolts, computers, moving parts, joints and so on make that car. So when you have a rattle, electrical short, drive-ability problem or whatever, take all the parts that make up your car, multiply that by 3-7 cars on average a day for that tech to work on. Then add the fact that 90% of the techs out there are flat rate. They don't fix it, they don't get paid. Generally a tech wont get paid for having to work on a car for a second or third time for the same problem. So over all, unless you get a tech that just doesn't care about money, he wants to fix you car.

Hope some of this helps and help support a good tech once you find him.

sujimo · 06-25-2004, 09:27 PM

absolutely agree. there is only one tech who works on my car at my dealership. i ask for him. in fact, i call and talk to him before i take the car in. i happen to have a very good dealership. they installed my headers, exhaust and vararam (before i got the halltech) AND no warrenty issues. it pays to know you favorite tech person.

jack

gilyZ06 · 06-25-2004, 09:34 PM

Good advise!

gsjack · 06-25-2004, 09:48 PM

Thanks for sharing and how very true, i know the 2 techs who work on my Vettes. I ask for them only when i make an appointment and make sure i speak to them before they work on the car. Glad you posted this thread, gives a different perspective from the other side.

MrKool · 06-25-2004, 09:52 PM

well i dunno about sticking with the same tech there are certain jobs that a tech can do but a Z is a very complex car i dont think any one man can fix all the stuff on a Z well so far none of the dealers in the VA area know how to fix a Z. They screwed up during install of a brand new clutch

well and they had the nerve to say that it was normal

. Well any way i figuered out the exact steps after many many trips to dealers it is real good advice for newbies.

ZO6 AL-X · 06-25-2004, 10:06 PM

Nice to hear the other side.

**Jim Lembo** · 06-25-2004, 10:54 PM

Good thread! The tech at the local dealer that works on my Z
is the only one that they let touch Corvettes. I have had a few minor warranty issues and every one has been fixed
promptly and done right. (column lock, rear axle seals, and they even did a 4 wheel alignment for me under warranty because I complained about the car tramlining)
I always talk to Trent (the tech) when I bring the car in, and tell him to make sure he test drives it after he is finished,
(he loves that!) The service writer I deal with is my friends
son, so I kind of have an inside track on the whole service department there. It also helps to buy lunch once in a while,
LOL. I guess I have been pretty lucky after hearing some of the horror stories about other dealers. Probably helps that I have bought a dozen or so vehicles from these guys for my business and personal use over the years.
Mr. Goodwrench has been good to me so far!

Anyone else have any similar experience? or am I one of the lucky few?

Backlash · 06-26-2004, 05:00 AM

I drive close to 60 miles to go to a dealership that has excellent service writers and techs. The advise you give is right on the mark. Everyone wants to feel their work is valued!

george · 06-26-2004, 05:19 AM

My 02 hasn't seen any shop time but my other cars have and I type out a work order detailing the problem/s.

The service writer attaches it to the work order and this helps the tech. and makes me feel better the guy has a handle on what the problem or repair.

Thisl eaves no room for any excuses and has made my stops at the dealerships easier and the techs happier for many decades in most cases.

LONGGONE · 06-26-2004, 05:56 AM

My car is going in for a new clutch and left half shaft (under warranty), I will make it a point to talk to the tech that will be doing the job.
Great advise.

thanks

Melsy · 06-26-2004, 07:18 AM

Great advice and trying to keep it personal is also very good. Just look at the 3 Volume 1000 page Shop Manual (you do have one I hope) for our cars and you begin to appreciate the complexity and the knowledge these Techs need.

atoyf · 06-26-2004, 10:19 AM

Good advise, but it doesn't work that way.

Dealers are assholes, they live out of it, they have to make money and it's understandable

They "troubleshoot" your car - charge you inspection fees, may found some "problem" that does not (soemthing like rusted electrical connections) realate to the main one that causes the car to malfunction (something like brakes!).

They fixed the rusted parts charge for Christ sake so much (to change a coil over pack and two O2 sensors = $1500). You go out, problem comes back and you come back to the same dealership, once again they charge you inspection fees and then find the main problem and that's another 400 bucks.

So, why the hell do someone need to pay twice for the inspection and unrelated "supposed" issues if dealer INSPECTS the car, isn't dealer supposed to find all the problems in the first placeand identify what problem actually causes the complains that come out of the customer mouth?

Also techs do not come out to where customers are, they habve their own ways around.

**Jim Lembo** · 06-26-2004, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atoyf

Good advise, but it doesn't work that way.

Dealers are assholes, they live out of it, they have to make money and it's understandable

They "troubleshoot" your car - charge you inspection fees, may found some "problem" that does not (soemthing like rusted electrical connections) realate to the main one that causes the car to malfunction (something like brakes!).

They fixed the rusted parts charge for Christ sake so much (to change a coil over pack and two O2 sensors = $1500). You go out, problem comes back and you come back to the same dealership, once again they charge you inspection fees and then find the main problem and that's another 400 bucks.

So, why the hell do someone need to pay twice for the inspection and unrelated "supposed" issues if dealer INSPECTS the car, isn't dealer supposed to find all the problems in the first placeand identify what problem actually causes the complains that come out of the customer mouth?

Also techs do not come out to where customers are, they habve their own ways around.

Anton,
Find another dealer, there are a FEW good ones around!
Good Luck, Jim

Resist · 06-26-2004, 10:26 AM

I wish all Dealerships were like yours. In my area we never get to see the techs, only the service reps at the desk. My problem with service departments has been how they don't treat my cars with care. It never fails, I get my cars back either with scratches or bolts/screws not tightened or missing. I always fill out those service survey cards they send me. It doesn't do any good though and I don't ever get a "I'm sorry for the problems", reply.

Cobra#3747 · 06-26-2004, 10:58 AM

atoyf, You are going to the wrong dealer. Where I work, if the car didnt get fixed right the first time, you would not have payed to have the car checked again. Now I am not saying that the whole repair would have been free the second time around, just that you wouldnt have been paying check out time again. Sometimes problems are not cut and dry to fix. A lot of times problem are intermittent, so when something looks suspicious we start there. Now had the service writer explained to you, that this was a starting point repair and not a 100% repair, then maybe things wouldnt have been as bad of an experience for you. There are dealers out there with trash working for them, we have some around here. Sounds like you got one of the trash ones.

As for techs not coming around were customers are, that is generally true, usually they are working. However, if you are at a dealer that cares about the customer, the tech can be called to the front and if he cares about working on your car, he will have no problem with a quick conversation.

Resist, thats why I say, you need to make it personal with the tech. I have a few people that realized that they got the best service always asking for me and talking to me. I always make sure to park their cars in the "safest" spots I can find on the lot. As for screws/bolts and such missing or loose, on occasion it happens, usually on a one that cant been seen real easy. I would say I average 4 cars a day, thats 20 cars a week and 80 a month, of those 80, maybe 1 will have a loose bolt or nut, maybe. Depends a lot on the size of the job and how much of a rush it is to get it done. I have had times when a customer really needs the car back that night with only 2 hours of time to get it done, but it pays 6. Just another thing to keep in mind when you are in a rush to get your car back.

Also just another note, we have some porter that is paid 7 dollars a hour to move cars around, see if there is a place you can park you car and to have it parked there by the tech when he is done so you can go over and pick it up. Cuts out the 7 dollar a hour guy