Kestas
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I doubt they changed the filter or cleaned the pan during this critical first-time maintenance.
Stealership strikes again!
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Don't know about PA, but here in WI the service writer has to quote at least an estimate on the work order before the customer signs, and notify customer if the price is going over that estimate before further work can be done.
Originally Posted By: cousincletus
A GM master mechanic once told me that if you're going to keep the car a long time, at least do the first change @30K. You can blow off the maintenance after that if you want, but the important one if the first one. I guess there are more particles after the first 30K than any other time in the life of the transmission. Was told by a transmission mechanic a long time ago that the GM FWD automatics are the best of any manufacturer, regardless of price.
I don't know if the previous owner of my Park Avenue had the transmission fluid replaced at 30K miles. (Maybe if I see him at the barbershop again, I'll ask if he remembers.) But for my own peace of mind I had the fluid done at 50K miles, even though the owner's manual says the stuff is good to 100K.
One-sixty for preventative maintenance on something as crucial as the transmission doesn't sound too bad . . . but they should have cleared it with her first.
A GM master mechanic once told me that if you're going to keep the car a long time, at least do the first change @30K. You can blow off the maintenance after that if you want, but the important one if the first one. I guess there are more particles after the first 30K than any other time in the life of the transmission. Was told by a transmission mechanic a long time ago that the GM FWD automatics are the best of any manufacturer, regardless of price.
I don't know if the previous owner of my Park Avenue had the transmission fluid replaced at 30K miles. (Maybe if I see him at the barbershop again, I'll ask if he remembers.) But for my own peace of mind I had the fluid done at 50K miles, even though the owner's manual says the stuff is good to 100K.
One-sixty for preventative maintenance on something as crucial as the transmission doesn't sound too bad . . . but they should have cleared it with her first.
One hopes they realy did flush the transmission.
Originally Posted By: AzFireGuy79
I would agree that a 30K flush is only going to be beneficial for this car. I dont see the DEX VI lasting 100K without some type of ultra fine filtration. I would have flushed it myself at 30K just to be on the safe side. You live and you learn.
X2.
I do not buy into the 100K/Lifetime transmission fluid claims from mfg's. Every 30K my fluid gets changed. Cheap insurance for one of the most failure prone areas on any vehicle.
I don't think the dealership ripped anyone off here.
If the lady is capable of buying and driving a car she is capable of deciding what maintenance she wants done and when. She could have said NO could she not?
The "ONLY" issue I have is the BG additive. Unless they told her about it to start with or at least included it in the quote price that is a rip off. Unless it was added without consent, or a price quote for adding it was not done previous to the work, you have no gripe. If they did it without approval send her back for her $30 as it was unauthorized.
I would agree that a 30K flush is only going to be beneficial for this car. I dont see the DEX VI lasting 100K without some type of ultra fine filtration. I would have flushed it myself at 30K just to be on the safe side. You live and you learn.
X2.
I do not buy into the 100K/Lifetime transmission fluid claims from mfg's. Every 30K my fluid gets changed. Cheap insurance for one of the most failure prone areas on any vehicle.
I don't think the dealership ripped anyone off here.
The "ONLY" issue I have is the BG additive. Unless they told her about it to start with or at least included it in the quote price that is a rip off. Unless it was added without consent, or a price quote for adding it was not done previous to the work, you have no gripe. If they did it without approval send her back for her $30 as it was unauthorized.
Originally Posted By: The Critic
Your mom agreed to the work, so I don't see it as "robbery."
$160 is cheap for a transmission flush, especially with Dexron-VI. Does it shift any better now?
hey critic,
didn't you have a similar post a few years ago about how your dad got overcharged for a tune up? This is the same thing to me.
Your mom agreed to the work, so I don't see it as "robbery."
$160 is cheap for a transmission flush, especially with Dexron-VI. Does it shift any better now?
hey critic,
didn't you have a similar post a few years ago about how your dad got overcharged for a tune up? This is the same thing to me.
About the only thing that stinks here is the additive. But, your mom may have agreed to it without realizing it was seperate to a transmission flush.
dealers LOVE to BG addditives. they sell it like it is CRUCIAL. the saturn store I worked at scared people into a strict maintenance cycle , making it sound like saturn required the BG addititve.
an uninformed customer will tend to agree if it is presented that way.
an uninformed customer will tend to agree if it is presented that way.
years ago my better 1/2 worked briefly at the counter for a well known muffler / brake chain .Wonder who that could be ? ;- ). Reason she left was because of them taking advantage of its customers and wanted no part of it . Would hear them joking about the clients they hi-jacked .
had a flush done of the coolant and the sealer they used plugged up the heater core . Had to reverse the hoses to get some heat . Stay away from most / all additives for transmission or cooling system . As for power steering leak , an sealant worked wonders after second application .
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Yeah, this is total [censored]. In Pa, yearly inspections are required and they say things like, "You should get 4 tires and brakes done." People like my wife figure it is required at that point. Before she met me she had $400-500 bills every inspection. Just thought that was the expense of a car- meanwhile, she lived in a one bedroom apartment with her daughter and they barely could pay bills. She did authorize the work, so I guess it is OK- not. It is taking advantage of people. I never pay more than the Inspection charges. I make sure everything would pass and if they recommend something to me, I simply tell them it passes, put on the stickers and let me leave. However, this current dealership I go to has yet to try the game- love them and recommend them to everyone. Plus, I get free inspection since I bought one of my cars from them.
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Upselling to the uninformed is one of my biggest complaints agains stealerships and chain operations.
I went to Tire Kingdom last week to have some tires mounted that I bought from Tire Rack. The guy asked me if I wanted a free '32 point inspection' of my car.
I said no thanks.
He asked why not since its free.
I said its a Civic and these cars don't need any inspection at 60K miles.
The guy looked at me like I was crazy.
Then I POLITELY told him that I don't need any services such as:
Carb adjustment, fuel injector cleaning, trans flush, lube my door hinges, Oil change, add cooolant to overflow tank, muffler grease, regap my spark plugs, a bottle of Z-MAX.....etc, etc.
Upselling to the uninformed is one of my biggest complaints agains stealerships and chain operations.
I went to Tire Kingdom last week to have some tires mounted that I bought from Tire Rack. The guy asked me if I wanted a free '32 point inspection' of my car.
I said no thanks.
He asked why not since its free.
I said its a Civic and these cars don't need any inspection at 60K miles.
The guy looked at me like I was crazy.
Then I POLITELY told him that I don't need any services such as:
Carb adjustment, fuel injector cleaning, trans flush, lube my door hinges, Oil change, add cooolant to overflow tank, muffler grease, regap my spark plugs, a bottle of Z-MAX.....etc, etc.
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Did you guys miss the oil change as well? They changed it at 50% of the OLM. They talked my mom in to 2 maintenance items that were not called for per the maintenance schedule in the owners manual.
That's a little shoddy if you ask me.
That's a little shoddy if you ask me.
Originally Posted By: NHHEMI
If the lady is capable of buying and driving a car she is capable of deciding what maintenance she wants done and when. She could have said NO could she not?
"The Lady"
"The Lady" is my mother.
And yes, she could have said no. But like most women, she doesn't know anything about cars, and when you have some pushy assclown service writer telling her the fluid looks black and burned when it wasn't, 99% of women will cave in.
The oil change was totally not warranted.
If the lady is capable of buying and driving a car she is capable of deciding what maintenance she wants done and when. She could have said NO could she not?
"The Lady"
"The Lady" is my mother.
And yes, she could have said no. But like most women, she doesn't know anything about cars, and when you have some pushy assclown service writer telling her the fluid looks black and burned when it wasn't, 99% of women will cave in.
The oil change was totally not warranted.
Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
Did you call the dealership and talk to her service writer ?
I'm going to when I get a chance today.
Did you call the dealership and talk to her service writer ?
I'm going to when I get a chance today.
Unless I am wrong, I believe these service writers get paid by the amount of work they generate, meaning they get a commision of the total bill or something to that affect.
I do not think these guys are on a straight salary, the more work they generate, the more they get paid.
I do not think these guys are on a straight salary, the more work they generate, the more they get paid.
My wife took her car to Discount Tire once for an oil change, they tried to sell her a timing belt because the car had 100k on it.
Cavaliers use a chain.
Cavaliers use a chain.
Drew, was that Al Serra or Daniels?
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