Driving Without Coolant Reservoir Cap

[kschachn]

Finally resolved. It took me going there in person as no one was getting back to me or answering the phone.

Service writer who let her drive off with no cap was there and gave the "I tolD heR iT woUld bE FinE bEcaUse it iSn't PreSSuriZEd". I brought the owner's manual in hand and had him read the section to me that states otherwise. He walked back to the shop, had a conversation with a tech and then apologized to me saying he was given false info from the tech. I told him fair enough, please grab me a cap and a bottle of coolant and I will be on my way.

I am going to seek another Hyundai dealership to do the maintenance with. I didn't like the vibe when she bought the car there from sales, I didn't like the vibe when I dropped it off for service once in the past and now this. Crummy dealership all around.

The service manager who never answered my calls or return them was there and didn't seem phased by any of this.

That is gross incompetence on the part of that dealership.

 

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

Finally resolved. It took me going there in person as no one was getting back to me or answering the phone.

Service writer who let her drive off with no cap was there and gave the "I tolD heR iT woUld bE FinE bEcaUse it iSn't PreSSuriZEd". I brought the owner's manual in hand and had him read the section to me that states otherwise. He walked back to the shop, had a conversation with a tech and then apologized to me saying he was given false info from the tech. I told him fair enough, please grab me a cap and a bottle of coolant and I will be on my way.

I am going to seek another Hyundai dealership to do the maintenance with. I didn't like the vibe when she bought the car there from sales, I didn't like the vibe when I dropped it off for service once in the past and now this. Crummy dealership all around.

The service manager who never answered my calls or return them was there and didn't seem phased by any of this.

Appears you have exposed them of either not needing or wanting your business. I would do what I have done in the past. I would call or write to the owner personally and tell him how badly you were treated.

 

[Hall]

My 08 and 11 Nissan have pressurized tank - in fact the pressure relief cap with the spring is on the tank, not the rad. I believe Nissan calls it a degas bottle? All the Nissan's I have seen are this way.

My '08 G35 (VQ35HR) engine has a non-pressurized overflow tank. If I lost it, I'd tape over it, use some Press-n-Seal with a rubber band, etc while a replacement cap showed up.

 

[John105]

He walked back to the shop, had a conversation with a tech and then apologized to me saying he was given false info from the tech. I told him fair enough, please grab me a cap and a bottle of coolant and I will be on my way.

I am going to seek another Hyundai dealership to do the maintenance with. I didn't like the vibe when she bought the car there from sales, I didn't like the vibe when I dropped it off for service once in the past and now this. Crummy dealership all around.

The service manager who never answered my calls or return them was there and didn't seem phased by any of this.

Off the top of my head I can think of 3 instances where a service advisor pulled that routine.

1. 2007 BMW with comfort access. SA told me if I don't start putting my fob in the dash to charge up the fob, the car will stall. I said how can that be? It's designed so you can keep the fob in your pocket or purse, and it has a 2032 coin cell inside? He told me if I don't want to listen to what he has to say then that's my business. I said hold on, I'm not disbelieving you, I am saying that's totally contrary to how I thought a fob works.

2.When my BMW was 5 years old, the SA told me I need a new muffler. I said wait a sec, I've never heard of a 5 y.o. BMW needing a new muffler, and not for $1,600, the left one. He told me it happens. So I said I'm coming down and I want to see the car on the lift and have you show it to me. He said fine. I get there, and customers are not allowed in the work area, and my car no longer needs a new muffler. That was 12.5 years ago. It still doesn't need a new muffler.

3. I caught the GMC dealer using Dexos when I paid for Mobil 1. They accidentally stapled the work order to my receipt. When I called them out, the SA blamed the tech like in this case. I didn't believe him for one minute, and never let a dealer change my oil again. How many other customers paid for Mobil 1 and got a blend?

end rant lol

 

[burbguy82]

My thought is that the dealer is dumb.

 

[Thebigm]

Question before I make contact with a local Hyundai dealership and give the service manager an earful…

My wife brought her 2024 Tucson Hybrid in for scheduled maintenance today. They said the coolant reservoir cap was missing and they have one on order. They told her the car is still safe to operate and sent her on her way.

Now, I never touch anything under the hood of this car. It goes to the dealer religiously for its scheduled services. 100% one of their techs lost that cap. Mistakes happen, I get it.

What I don’t like is they let her leave the shop without a cap… knowing it was missing. I popped the hood and noticed no obvious signs of coolant stains anywhere. The level is a tad low.

I believe they should have snagged one off a donor vehicle if available OR had her leave the car there and give her a loaner car in the meantime.

If I were a service manager at a dealership I would never let a customer drive off with a missing piece of a critical system such as a coolant system.

Thoughts?

You can buy just the cap at RockAuto

 

[garystaven88]

Appears you have exposed them of either not needing or wanting your business. I would do what I have done in the past. I would call or write to the owner personally and tell him how badly you were treated.

So this is where I am discovering more shadiness… their website lists NO Owner or President etc…. Only managers, sales people and techs. This is an “Auto Group”… they have a few locations in my state. When I tried doing some over the phone tactics I asked to speak to the dealership owner…. The lady told me she doesn’t even know who that is!! The dealership is running amuck.

I will be mentioning all of this to Hyundai Corporate…

 

[Hall]

So this is where I am discovering more shadiness…

Nothing shady about that. It's likely a corporation, LLC, etc and there is no sole 'owner', especially being an auto group like you say.

What dealership is it ?

 

[garystaven88]

Nothing shady about that. It's likely a corporation, LLC, etc and there is no sole 'owner', especially being an auto group like you say.

What dealership is it ?

Lesson learned.... better off buying from a family owned style of dealership. I'd rather not state the dealership here since I still want to "respectfully" notify Hyundai Corporate.

 

[The motor guy]

This is why many here, I suspect, started doing their own maintenance. Nobody cares about your vehicle like you do.

Yep, when I do the work myself, I know where the areas are that i may have half assed.

 

[eljefino]

Finally resolved. It took me going there in person as no one was getting back to me or answering the phone.


The service manager who never answered my calls or return them was there and didn't seem phased by any of this.

This is extremely typical for this sort of thing. Easier to blow someone off on the phone vs when they're standing in front of you.

Service writers also have to deal with know-it-all fathers who second guess work done on their daughers' cars, remotely.

It's an often awful business with the resultant bad customer service. Glad you straightened them out and are moving on.

 

[eljefino]

So I said I'm coming down and I want to see the car on the lift and have you show it to me. He said fine. I get there, and customers are not allowed in the work area, and my car no longer needs a new muffler. That was 12.5 years ago. It still doesn't need a new muffler.

They'll let you in the service bays if it's going to make them money. Sure, they say "our insurance doesn't allow it" but they'll play fast and loose with the "rules" if it fits them. If they're going to be absolute brats about it, have them pull your car out to the parking lot so you can check your (whatever) there. They'll see how stupid it is and just show you on the lift.

What do they use for PPE back there? 99% odds are it's just safety glasses. Bring your own pair, say you're prepared.

 

[eljefino]

Lesson learned.... better off buying from a family owned style of dealership. I'd rather not state the dealership here since I still want to "respectfully" notify Hyundai Corporate.

You're a gentleman. If someone rips off someone else they lose control over how that someone else reacts. It could even be detrimental to them!