Chevy Garage Maintenance Ripoff

mljenkins · December 29, 2008

Took the truck to the garage last week to get the oil changed. While I walk back in with the service guy after he checks the mileage, another younger boy checks the fluids. The boy comes back in and they show me a tube with all 5 balls at the top, and tell me that is bad, the coolant needs changed or the engine could freeze up. They tell me it will cost $100 (or somewhere around there) to flush the cooling system. I'm thinking "wow, I used to do that on my older cars in half an hour by installing one of those $5 flush kits" so I tell them no thanks, not really thinking about it.

Today I had some free time and I tested the fluid with one of those Prestone testers that has the floating needle and it reveals everything is fine. Suddenly I have a revelation like the V8 juice commercials. This was, of course, after my mind recalls science class and the lectures on specific gravity. Now you're probably thinking "what sort of an idiot didn't realize that at the time?" because that's what I was thinking. But when you're in a hurry and just wanting to get in and out of there, apparently science class from decades ago is the last thing on your mind.

So, bottom line, the service guy and the boy that tested my fluids lied to me. Hence why I absoutely despise taking my vehicles to the garage anymore. But reality is, they can change the oil cheaper than I can at home. I no longer let them rotate my tires (they, the Chevy garage that is, managed to strip the threads off the studs on my wife's HHR and I've got now got a stud to replace) or anything else I can possibly do on my own. I would rather give my business to the garage, as these mundane tasks are time consuming and I don't have the proper garage or tools to perform these tasks easily. Heck, last time I had my new tires mounted I took my truck to wal-mart and took the wheels off in the parking lot myself. Am I being too paranoid? Should I just accept the risk of my vehicles getting damaged and costing me more in the longrun?

Sorry for the rant, but seriously how do you all handle events such as these? The antifreeze ordeal really angers me as I will never trust that service guy again (ps: I keep saying guy but I assume he was some sort of manager as he was not a technican). Should I bother saying anything to the dealer about it? It worries me they would do something to sabtoage my vehicles next time I take them in. I can't afford to be without my truck as a man's got to make a living somehow.

L29er · December 30, 2008

Yeah i agree its really hard to find any trust taking it in anywere, i have friends that work at a private shop, i take stuff there and there are still mistakes made, sometimes, although they are more forgiving on the bill if so, and as for dealers they pay kids to do stuff only a journeyman should do, happens all the time, and they are usualy reporting to a service manager that used to sell televisions or something, thing of the times maybe....

last time i took my F*rd superduty in for a couple of problems, the two problems were not fixed and $3800 in other "problems" were repaired, NEVER AGAIN, i may purchase parts from them due to their location, but warranty stuff will go to another dealer across town.

Bmart · December 30, 2008

thats so dishonest its disgusting.. i would go back there and rip them a new one.. but then they might make a note of that and really f*ck you next time you need to use their services...

mljenkins · December 30, 2008

thats so dishonest its disgusting.. i would go back there and rip them a new one.. but then they might make a note of that and really f*ck you next time you need to use their services...

Yeah that's what I was afraid of.

mljenkins · December 30, 2008

Yeah i agree its really hard to find any trust taking it in anywere, i have friends that work at a private shop, i take stuff there and there are still mistakes made, sometimes, although they are more forgiving on the bill if so, and as for dealers they pay kids to do stuff only a journeyman should do, happens all the time, and they are usualy reporting to a service manager that used to sell televisions or something, thing of the times maybe....

last time i took my F*rd superduty in for a couple of problems, the two problems were not fixed and $3800 in other "problems" were repaired, NEVER AGAIN, i may purchase parts from them due to their location, but warranty stuff will go to another dealer across town.

What sucks is I like the dealer, definitely like the brand, and want to continue to do business there. The managers have been there as long as I have been doing business with them (few years now) so it's not like they are new to vehicles. I've never had them not fix something I paid to have fixed (yet), although I've had that happen at other garages.

tobias · December 30, 2008

Don is soooooooooo gonna love this thread.

JoshRDavis.84 · December 31, 2008

That sucks that you had another bad experience at a dealer. It really pays off to know what your going in for, and also to know what kind of shape your truck is in to avoid being taken for a ride.

I do knot know as much as I would like but I found a place that I feel I can trust. I was referred there by some friends of mine who take care of their vehicles and know the garage owner.

So if you can find someone new that you trust I would suggest that, or if you prefer to go to a dealer maybe you could try a new one.

mljenkins · December 31, 2008

That sucks that you had another bad experience at a dealer. It really pays off to know what your going in for, and also to know what kind of shape your truck is in to avoid being taken for a ride.

I do knot know as much as I would like but I found a place that I feel I can trust. I was referred there by some friends of mine who take care of their vehicles and know the garage owner.

So if you can find someone new that you trust I would suggest that, or if you prefer to go to a dealer maybe you could try a new one.

Well, typically I do know and that's why I luckily questioned myself at the time. What erks me is they are probably getting the people that really don't know (like my wife) that get taken. My wife knows to call me if they want to do something else. Unfortunately as far as GM we just have the chevy dealer and a GM dealer within 50 miles of us. There is a dealer near where I work but unfortunately I don't trust them either from taking my wife's S10 there a few years ago. <sigh> The guys at work tell me to find a general shop I can trust and just have them do the work.