R All Service Writers Dumb? Wrong Fluid

[Nick1994]

Originally Posted By: Papa Bear
GM gave me a voucher for a free oil change on my old 2007 Uplander.

I took the Van to the local dealer and got the oil filter changed.
When I got the van home I was checking it over and found the oil WAY over full. Dealer told me to bring it back.
The service writer checked the oil and had one of the techs drain a Litre out.

I asked the service writer how something like this could happen -
He looked me right in the eye and said "We put 5 Litres in all our oil changes" (My Uplander took 4).

I shook my head and walked away. That writer had been there for years. Nothing I could have said would be of value.
In that case, they under fill Chevy Trailblazers, as they call for 7 quarts (6.6 liters).

 

[nthach]

Originally Posted By: GiveMeAVowel
Originally Posted By: dailydriver


bd, your dealership may be a BLATANT exception to the above, but this is what I've observed/experienced in most of my almost 50 years of dealing with various stores.


You're right on the mark...most $tealerships are not much better than a average independent shop but of course you pay high prices for middling service quality. The saving grace of using the dealer is that should there be a problem with their service you do have the ability to put their feet to the fire with the manufacturer if necessary and many times they will get things right...eventually.
Also nowadays the $tealerships offer longer warranties for work done that can be used at any same manufacturer store around the country.

The back of the house(service) supports the front of the house(sales).

There are many techs out there that do good work - but dealer service departments are a revenue center, and the service manager is under the gun from the GM to save costs and the OEM via CSR scores.

I used to work at a dealership, and I know we let two service writers go - they got low CSR scores. We also let a few techs go, one got a DUI and another for stealing parts. And I also remember when the GM sent the parts manager to spy on the service manager who was gambling at the casino up the street on the clock. He also stole the Reynolds customer database.

 

[GiveMeAVowel]

Originally Posted By: nthach


I used to work at a dealership, and I know we let two service writers go - they got low CSR scores. We also let a few techs go, one got a DUI and another for stealing parts. And I also remember when the GM sent the parts manager to spy on the service manager who was gambling at the casino up the street on the clock. He also stole the Reynolds customer database.

Told you......that's why they call them "$tealerships"

 

[Rockrz]

Originally Posted By: rickmeseke
We had a post here a few weeks or month back someone took their audi to dealer and the receipt said 15w40 the guy called and asked and the worker said thats what their computer automatically puts on the paper, assuring him his car received the proper oil.


LoL... that's just the CYA answer!

He actually got 15w40

 

[HM12460]

All service writers are not dumb, but most of them are.

 

[edyvw]

I take wife's Tiguan to VW, bluetooth module issue, under warranty. Anyway, I tell him how sometimes auto hold functions turn itself off for no reason. He is: wait, are you telling me this car holds itself when you make full stop and you do not have to keep brake pressed? I was like: W T F is this? I answered shocked: yeahhhh. He is like: cool man.
It just proves that saying: if you want to do it right, do it yourself.

 

[GiveMeAVowel]

Originally Posted By: HM12460
All service writers are not dumb, but most of them are.



and just as many are con artists....LOL

 

[dlundblad]

Itll be interesting to see how this plays out.

 

[super20dan]

Originally Posted By: Y_K
Went to my Lexus dealer yesterday for 60k miles service on my LX. Never had a reason to be unhappy with them in past. Today I recheck the paperwork and notice this

4 00279-000T4-01 ATF T-IV QUART $30.00

which is a big no-no, as this truck takes WS ATF. may be they scanned a wrong tag, I cannot imagine a certified mechanic could have put a wrong fluid there. But the guy should have picked this up, he is the first and the last line of defense. I am a moron too, this will teach me to be more attentive to the paperwork. I had an open heart surgery recently and cannot do PM on my truck, and it was time to change AHC fluid as well, along with the brake fluid and front wheel bearing and axle bushing repacks.

How to find a good service writer within a dealership. Who should I talk to? Not sure that their superiors are the right ones to ask, and their service bays are not public accessible.

WS is not compatible with anything says a few Toyota TSB bulletins. In fact, even the overflow from the fill procedure has to be discarded.

I think I need a full system flush for a piece of mind now.
what cars now have front wheel bearings that need repacking?

 

[Kestas]

Originally Posted By: mclasser
Originally Posted By: Eddie
O, we put in the correct fluid but, the computer did it, is all [censored] in my opinion. So they don't even know how to input values into their computer system? How dumb do they think customers are these days? Ed

I agree. The whole "that's just what the computer or system puts down" thing is a lame excuse. The RO should match what went into the car. Period. People pay a premium for dealership service because they expect the right parts & fluids to go in their car. There shouldn't be these sorts of discrepancies.

At the very least, this snafu casts a shadow of doubt as to whether the proper fluid was used. I mean, how can anyone REALLY know if the proper fluid was used?

If the service rep does give that story, then why even bother writing this information down in the receipt if it's essentially meaningless? The car should go back for a fluid exchange using the proper fluid at no cost to the consumer, and get a receipt that has the correct information.

 

[GiveMeAVowel]

Originally Posted By: Kestas


If the service rep does give that story, then why even bother writing this information down in the receipt if it's essentially meaningless? The car should go back for a fluid exchange using the proper fluid at no cost to the consumer, and get a receipt that has the correct information.


No excuse for a premium brand dealership like Lexus, I would go back and firmly insist that they show me the correct fluid, and then drain the fluid in question and replace with the correct product.
If they give you resistance I would call Lexus and see what they say, I promise they will force that shop to redo the job at no cost to the customer.