Problem is you have to be prepared to take their word for it, or have them prove it. You’re usually dealing with a service writer and between the duplicity and the ignorance I’ve learned the easiest path is to bring my own or do it myself.

quote:

Originally posted by jigray3:
Problem is you have to be prepared to take their word for it, or have them prove it. You’re usually dealing with a service writer and between the duplicity and the ignorance I’ve learned the easiest path is to bring my own or do it myself.

I have to agree. The more I deal with the dealership the less impressed I am.

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:

quote:

Originally posted by jigray3:
Problem is you have to be prepared to take their word for it, or have them prove it. You’re usually dealing with a service writer and between the duplicity and the ignorance I’ve learned the easiest path is to bring my own or do it myself.

I have to agree. The more I deal with the dealership the less impressed I am.

At least a couple of service writers at my local Toyota dealer are deceptive at best and more likely outright liars.

I'm done with them. If I ever need to go to a dealership again, there's one another twenty miles away that has a better reputation.

Many years ago I had a '94 Camry XLE and the brake light came on the dash. Went out at night and checked all the brake lights and they were working. I was dumbfounded. The local Toyota dealership, which was notorious for having a service writer who tried to milk people, suggested me bring the car in for a diagnostic with a $90 charge. I balked at that and called the Toyota dealership a few towns over. He said to me, "check the third brake light first before bringing it in." Sure enough that was it.

quote:

Originally posted by jljones:
I don’t *think* so? I think they just rotate the tires and turn off the service light.

That's interesting. If I recall correctly with new vehicle purchases, Toyota "provides" the first 3 services or something like that. Not really free as I'm sure they just build the cost of service into the sale of the vehicle.

I have gone 10k intervals on some oils but it really depends on driving conditions. If it's cruising the interstate, no problem or paranoia but for local driving, I won't push 10k intervals.

I've been using two different Nissan dealers for oil changes on my truck . I've finally bought a set of ramps that will allow me the necessary room under the front end to get that damn skid plate out of the way so I can change my own oil .
Anyway , both dealers try the usual upsell on additional maintenance items every time I go in and I usually just politely decline and that's the end of it . I don't begrudge them for trying to make money . As long as they take NO for an answer we're good .

The straw that broke the camel's back for me was
1. Bought a battery on sale from dealer in 2018
2. About 27 months later during routine oil change was told battery needed to be replaced.
3. When asked to honor warranty, they refused.
4. Got nothing but double talk.
5. Went home and ran multi-meter tests on battery; it passed every test.

So now I do my own oil changes.

Oh, by the way, that battery (which will be 6 years old shortly) is still in the truck working fine.

Two of my last encounters with dealerships namely Jeep.
First one, bought my Jeep through one of the group’s stores quite a distance away. Went to another dealer closer, different owner as I was going to retire soon and I wanted to have a closer place to go when needed. I asked for assistance as the door hinges were corroding, just out of base warranty by mileage but not time. Dealer refused, FCA said dealer had to initiate the request. Got it handled through one of the dealerships in the group I worked for. But they could certainly hound me to trade mine and buy one from them. Uhhh, you won’t help me I I have a problem but want me to buy a new one from you? Think not.

Second dealer screwed up three out of four oil changes. Twice put wrong weight oil in mine, both times an argument to straighten it out, used 5W-20 instead of 5W-30. Then trying to B.S. me with “It’s fine” and that that point I said “Where’s the Technical Service Bulletin that documents that? Unless you show me that now you’re correcting this before I leave.” Both times it got changed again. On my wife’s Liberty they put on a leaking oil filter and said it was fine. Small drip but still a drip.Again an argument. At that point I let it go and took it elsewhere to have it corrected, scratch dealership two off my list.

I have enough friends and ex customers that own independent shops, I’ll just use them from this time forward.