Do you work on your own car or do you take it to the stealership?
- Thread starter chippy
- Start date
oaklandopen
Member
courtesy checks are mainly for them to find something else for you to pay for, and sometimes they might make it sound worse than it really is.
one time i took my tacoma in for a recall on clutch squeeking and they told me i only had a few thousand left on my brake pads and shoes (i was around 45k miles). i said thanks and bought pads and shoes myself, took it to school to use the lift, took the tires off and looked at the pads and shoes, and there was like 6/32 all around, which should last a lot more than a few thousand. since i had already gotten what i needed and the truck was in the air anyway, i just put the new ones on for experience.
one time i took my tacoma in for a recall on clutch squeeking and they told me i only had a few thousand left on my brake pads and shoes (i was around 45k miles). i said thanks and bought pads and shoes myself, took it to school to use the lift, took the tires off and looked at the pads and shoes, and there was like 6/32 all around, which should last a lot more than a few thousand. since i had already gotten what i needed and the truck was in the air anyway, i just put the new ones on for experience.
Sounds like you need another dealer, lol. A good one will tell you the hard numbers straight from the factory service manual. For example, my service manager would tell me, "you have 2.5mm left until you hit the service limit" as opposed to just, "time to change you brake pads." Not that I need anyone to tell me that.
I'm not dogging anyone who does their own work. It's like zen to us automotive geeks that have the time & space to do it. But for anyone to openly brand businesses as "stealerships," well that's not always an accurate statement.
In my 300,000+ miles of driving, I have never had a single issue with warranty claims or bad service calls. And I believe that comes from having a good relationship with the Service Managers at the dealerships I do occasional business with.
tiagotiago
Member
- :
- 2008.5 Mazdaspeed 3
So far my car has needed only 1 routine service (6k miles or 10,000 Kilometeres) and it was done at my local mazda dealership. It was a very pleasant experience, the staff was friendly and helpul (and they were exited to see a Mazdaspeed3, last time I talked to them mine was still the only one in town). They did all the inspections upon arrival, and promised the car would be ready by 5; at 4 they called me up to tell me my car was ready to go, the car was clean all over, even the engine bay was nicely cleaned up. I feel I got my moneys worth and I will give them more business.
ThreeEdgedSword
Member
- :
- 07 Mazdaspeed 3 GT Cosmic Blue
+1
Some of my coworkers are great techs and I would trust to work on my car, some of them however... I wouldn't trust them to put air in my tires.
smakdown61
Member
Theres a reason the service guys will act like your best friend. They want your money. The second you need a huge warranty repair like a blown motor or turbo they will turn on you.
i disagree. mine were quite nice when my turbo went out. it only took them 2 days to get it fixed too. i would like to think it is because i let them change my oil and i got to know them a little bit.
smakdown61
Member
Noted. Let us know what happens with a blown motor though.
RUMBLEFISH
Member
Im 49 and once I bought the speed3 I started working on my cars again. Granted I have all the right tools ie compressor air tools ramps you name it I got it. and that helps plus a heated garage to work in. No way would I be laying out in a parking lot on my back doing s*** to my car. Soon spring is coming then I have to work on the boat again. It never stops but the funny thing is I enjoy it.
