Need some input-Work Truck Issue - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

rselectric1 · 10-13-2009, 05:11 PM

This is half rant and half seeking ideas from the gallery.

About 5 weeks ago I took my 2001 Savana to the dealer for a check engine light. I paid about $450, picked it up and a few miles down the road the light came back on.

I took it back a few days later and they "re-diagnosed" it and said it would need more work. (About $1200) OK what choice did I have?

They ended up keeping it for just shy of a month. I called every day and was told that they still couldn't fix it. Finally they told me that I would need to pay even more so they could start tearing the engine apart to investigate further. I told them no and I needed the truck back. They said it is running fine, but the light is still on. So I paid them the approximately $1400 I had agreed to.

I took it to an independant, family owned and well referred mechanic who told me he had never seen anything quite this bad. One example is that the distributor was cracked and being held together with a zip tie. (Oh it gets worse but this is getting long enough already)

Bottom line, I paid the dealer the almost 2K on a credit card. Once I have all the info from the mechanic, I will demand some type of settlement from the dealer. Should I call them first? Write a letter First?, or just dispute the credit card charge?

Any advice from anyone who has been down this path would be appreciated.

angus242 · 10-13-2009, 05:35 PM

In a former life I worked at a dealership (for about 12 years). My advice is to call the GM of the store. General mangers HATE dealing with service related stuff. Be polite but stern with your issue and have your receipts ready when you call. Ask for resolution within one day. If you don't get an acceptable reply by then, call back and tell them you're going to dispute the charges with the CC co.

CookeCarpentry · 10-13-2009, 06:08 PM

How much did the local, independent guy estimate it would cost to fix?

Can he verify if any of the service items the dealer "claims" they did, were actually done? If not, right there you have a good bargaining piece.

rselectric1 · 10-13-2009, 06:18 PM

Cooke, they are estimating about 1K between undoing the damage and repairing the original problem.
They are documenting and photographing everything for me.

One of the items the dealer said they did was to replace the main computer to see if that was the problem. My current mechanic says that is impossible because the new computer burns the VIN into the unit therefore rendering it useless. He seems to be on top of things, but I am leery still.

mikeswoods · 10-13-2009, 06:21 PM

Next time you need an honest mechanic,Call me(or IM)

I've got a good fair and will trained guy ,I'll introduce you.MIKE

rselectric1 · 10-13-2009, 06:27 PM

Thanks Mike-Let's see what this guy can do.

This might be a good experience after all is said and done. Now I know what some of our clients must feel like when relying on some of the people in our trade. (Present company and posters on this site excluded)

It kind of blows to be in the dark. I haven't been able to figure out how to work on a car since fuel injection showed up

It's tough figuring out who to trust.

CookeCarpentry · 10-13-2009, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rselectric1

Cooke, they are estimating about 1K between undoing the damage and repairing the original problem.
They are documenting and photographing everything for me.

One of the items the dealer said they did was to replace the main computer to see if that was the problem. My current mechanic says that is impossible because the new computer burns the VIN into the unit therefore rendering it useless. He seems to be on top of things, but I am leery still.

Documenting and photoing is a good thing in this case. I definitely would take issue with the dealer on this. In my opinion, they need to credit you for all charges, and then (of course) you pay the private mechanic for his work.