an abortive MS river trip has me back in vegas early ... i roll over 132,000 just as i cross the city limit ... god's way of saying that it's time for, yet another, oil change.
my dealer recommends a "major service" due to dirty fluids (their term and descriptions, not mine). i pass because it's not in the owner's manual for this time/mileage.
(saw a line item for the amount the oil change is supposed to cost me: $78 out the door. with my coupon for a $25 oil change [$29 OTD], this is a $53 savings ... still at $25, that oil change is a bit pricey ... i've had packages that have averaged $18, so it could be that the coupons are going up in price ... i may look more aggressively at buying packages.)
Showing posts with label standard service. Show all posts
Showing posts with label standard service. Show all posts
2014-08-18
2014-07-24
128,089 mile service
driving my boat to the top of the MS river ... unfortunately, while we're in denver on the way out (and i'm in WY fly fishing) the car starts showing unusual behavior ... when you first start it in the morning, it acts like it doesn't want to stop. the brake pedal goes all the way to the floor without the expected amount of coincident braking.
the boulder shop can't reproduce the problem, but my brother's in town so i pop the hood and he takes a look when we get back from the great wild.
in less than 60 seconds, he spots a missing PCV valve (and line). odd that the shop didn't even bother to look under the hood for it.
as long as it's in the shop, i'll change my oil too, although it's due in another 1,000 miles ... it's easier to change here/now than in MN. it also means that my car shuttler won't have to do it on the MN/LA run.
the oil change is already paid for as part of my package (last one!). the PCV valve and line run me $62.
the boulder shop can't reproduce the problem, but my brother's in town so i pop the hood and he takes a look when we get back from the great wild.
in less than 60 seconds, he spots a missing PCV valve (and line). odd that the shop didn't even bother to look under the hood for it.
as long as it's in the shop, i'll change my oil too, although it's due in another 1,000 miles ... it's easier to change here/now than in MN. it also means that my car shuttler won't have to do it on the MN/LA run.
the oil change is already paid for as part of my package (last one!). the PCV valve and line run me $62.
2014-07-03
126,069 mile service
lots of driving has brought me to another oil change. this time at larry h. miller chrysler dodge jeep ram in denver -- which i'm pretty sure used to be known as PRO. able to sneak it in just a few minutes before close.
a couple things of note:
a couple things of note:
- i had 35 miles of stop and go driving in 110 degree heat to get here ... my water gauge was creeping ever-so-slightly up ... i haven't had any trouble with my car overheating, but i wasn't going to start, so i did the stop-and-go part with the AC off ... i also noticed a small gauge climb when i was towing my kayak uphill in 109 degree heat ... i asked them to top off the coolant, which i'm pretty sure they did ... i hope that's "enough," and this isn't signs of things to come.
- the inspection showed the left rear strut seaping (sic) ... first time that's ever been mentioned ... not surprising since i notice seepage in the trunk lifts (and that's essentially exactly the same mechanism) ... i'm pretty sure struts are covered by my service contract (although when look at it, i only see the front struts mentioned by name).
used another of my oil change package coupons.
2014-05-27
123,003 mile service
through a series of unusual circumstances, i've been racking up the miles. in just two and half weeks i have 3000 miles and another oil change.
back at valley chrysler in boulder ... this one's already paid for in the package i bought last time. aside from (again) telling me that my tires are shot, there are no problems.
$0 TVC
back at valley chrysler in boulder ... this one's already paid for in the package i bought last time. aside from (again) telling me that my tires are shot, there are no problems.
$0 TVC
2014-05-09
119,596 mile service
drove back to CO for mother's day ... even though i'm 400 miles early on the change, i wanted to get it done before i drove back to LV.
oil change now. bought an air filter yesterday.
unfortunately t i'm having trouble finding make-up filters in stock at auto parts stores and the dealer -- which means i may have to hoard a few when i finally DO run across them.
a recent service means i don't have to have to change the plugs and wires now.
bought a four-service oil change package for $70, that makes 'em $17.50 apiece which is a good deal.
new dealer for this car, valley chrysler dodge, inc. in boulder. they were fine.
(new tires coming ... i keep getting tire recommendations on my services ... the one thing i've learned over the years is you want to buy all your tires from costco ... cheaper, better warranty, and follow-up services are free.)
$83 for oil change package and filter.
oil change now. bought an air filter yesterday.
unfortunately t i'm having trouble finding make-up filters in stock at auto parts stores and the dealer -- which means i may have to hoard a few when i finally DO run across them.
a recent service means i don't have to have to change the plugs and wires now.
bought a four-service oil change package for $70, that makes 'em $17.50 apiece which is a good deal.
new dealer for this car, valley chrysler dodge, inc. in boulder. they were fine.
(new tires coming ... i keep getting tire recommendations on my services ... the one thing i've learned over the years is you want to buy all your tires from costco ... cheaper, better warranty, and follow-up services are free.)
$83 for oil change package and filter.
2014-04-04
117,316 mile service (and more, unfortunately)
took my car in for the standard oil change, but when the adviser came out to get me he had that surgical "i've got bad news for you, b1" look on his face.
the techs have found oil in the spark plug tubes. (that i believe, you could see very slight oil seepage around the tops of the plugs.) they've also found a problem with the control arms (not the first time this has happened).
the vast majority of these repairs are covered by my service contract, but the new spark plugs (and wires) are not.
(as long as they were doing everything else, they also replaced the engine mounts, again, which surprised me ... i would have expected them to last longer ... but who knows? that other work was sahara ... and anything is possible with those jokers.)
this now puts me well, well ahead of the game with my service contract. (it also has me wondering, a little, if maybe radioactive dave wasn't right with his $0 deductible comment.)
$319, including $100 of service contract deductible
$3570 of SCR
{what was odd is i was given a rental for two days as part of this repair ... i'm almost certain i'm not supposed to -it's certainly not what the contract says- but i took full advantage of it and put 400 miles on my loaned chrysler 200 [with satellite!] ... went to death valley one day, valley of fire the next.}
the techs have found oil in the spark plug tubes. (that i believe, you could see very slight oil seepage around the tops of the plugs.) they've also found a problem with the control arms (not the first time this has happened).
the vast majority of these repairs are covered by my service contract, but the new spark plugs (and wires) are not.
(as long as they were doing everything else, they also replaced the engine mounts, again, which surprised me ... i would have expected them to last longer ... but who knows? that other work was sahara ... and anything is possible with those jokers.)
this now puts me well, well ahead of the game with my service contract. (it also has me wondering, a little, if maybe radioactive dave wasn't right with his $0 deductible comment.)
$319, including $100 of service contract deductible
$3570 of SCR
{what was odd is i was given a rental for two days as part of this repair ... i'm almost certain i'm not supposed to -it's certainly not what the contract says- but i took full advantage of it and put 400 miles on my loaned chrysler 200 [with satellite!] ... went to death valley one day, valley of fire the next.}
2014-01-06
2013-11-20
110,938 mile service
back to my normal guys, prestige in LV, NV.
they once again take my chapman coupon. everyone's happy.
$24.
they once again take my chapman coupon. everyone's happy.
$24.
2013-06-24
107,986 mile service
oil change with a coupon off the chrysler web site (oddly, the prestige coupon didn't show a price, but the chapman one did, so i just used that).
the inspection that came back shows my tires at 3/32nds or less ... but that's clearly not right ... i'm not down to the warning bars on any tire yet.
the "engine air filter and cabin air filters" show up as "may require attention soon" which is almost certainly true due to the dirt roads, dust and forest fire soot that's been in the air lately.
love the after hours service ability.
$24. ($10 saved with coupon.)
the inspection that came back shows my tires at 3/32nds or less ... but that's clearly not right ... i'm not down to the warning bars on any tire yet.
the "engine air filter and cabin air filters" show up as "may require attention soon" which is almost certainly true due to the dirt roads, dust and forest fire soot that's been in the air lately.
love the after hours service ability.
$24. ($10 saved with coupon.)
2013-04-17
105,005 mile service
just this week prestige is starting to stay open to 21:00, so i set up my oil change for 19:00 and took in a chapman coupon from the chrysler website (and an older chapman coupon that said they'd match prices). everything went smoothly (with the minorly annoy wrinkle of having to deal with an upselling service writer ... i've dealt with this guy before). fortunately my service guy was from last time was standing right there (and he remembered me ... which is kind of amazing) and helped smooth things over.
oil change and tires rotated. i think my right front wheel bearing is starting to go, but i didn't say anything about it ... neither did they.
$25
oil change and tires rotated. i think my right front wheel bearing is starting to go, but i didn't say anything about it ... neither did they.
$25
2013-03-01
102,284 mile service
because it involves a timing belt, from a dollar point-of-view, this is the big one.
i called prestige last month, hoping to get a free rental on my belt change before i hit 100K miles, but ran out of time ... the price they quoted then was $1350 for the timing belt alone ... but it was clear in the conversation that the price had some flexibility to it ...
so before i went in, i negotiated ... according to the manual, i was supposed to change plugs back in august, but hadn't gotten around to it yet ... my brother and i did these at 60K miles and he was appalled by how hard the job was ... so maybe i can get that thrown in as well.
for $1400 they did my timing belt, replaced the spark plugs, did a radiator flush (first one! -- only needs it every 100K miles) and did an oil change. it's not cheap (especially considering that all my dealer services to this point have been $1750), but i feel good about the discount, remembering that i want to keep this work at a chrysler dealer and considering the alternatives.
i'm also completely caught up with my car now (and it'll be another five years before i have to hit this hard again).
my service advisor asked about the engine mounts ... when i told him they'd never been replaced, he was surprised, so he had the crew look them over as well (he wrote "CUST STATES THERE IS A VIBRATION WHEN IDLING," which i definitely did not, but they have to write something in order to look it over). yet, when they inspected it, it was fine.
"someone must have changed 'em sometime."
maybe. but i drive a car pretty soft. i don't excessively speed. i don't jackrabbit start. i don't corner hard anyway, but especially not in a cruiser (which has way more understeer than i'm comfortable with). i'm infamous for coasting to a stop ... so maybe it's just the way i drive.
$1413
this is by far the biggest charge i've ever had against this car ... it'd be nice to not beat that record.
(i asked for my used spark plugs back to examine the ignition characteristics on them. the replacement boxes they were in were Champion with a two year warranty -- regardless of mileage ... i'm using this as a green light to back off changing if i get more than 30K miles in the next two years.)
i called prestige last month, hoping to get a free rental on my belt change before i hit 100K miles, but ran out of time ... the price they quoted then was $1350 for the timing belt alone ... but it was clear in the conversation that the price had some flexibility to it ...
so before i went in, i negotiated ... according to the manual, i was supposed to change plugs back in august, but hadn't gotten around to it yet ... my brother and i did these at 60K miles and he was appalled by how hard the job was ... so maybe i can get that thrown in as well.
for $1400 they did my timing belt, replaced the spark plugs, did a radiator flush (first one! -- only needs it every 100K miles) and did an oil change. it's not cheap (especially considering that all my dealer services to this point have been $1750), but i feel good about the discount, remembering that i want to keep this work at a chrysler dealer and considering the alternatives.
i'm also completely caught up with my car now (and it'll be another five years before i have to hit this hard again).
my service advisor asked about the engine mounts ... when i told him they'd never been replaced, he was surprised, so he had the crew look them over as well (he wrote "CUST STATES THERE IS A VIBRATION WHEN IDLING," which i definitely did not, but they have to write something in order to look it over). yet, when they inspected it, it was fine.
"someone must have changed 'em sometime."
maybe. but i drive a car pretty soft. i don't excessively speed. i don't jackrabbit start. i don't corner hard anyway, but especially not in a cruiser (which has way more understeer than i'm comfortable with). i'm infamous for coasting to a stop ... so maybe it's just the way i drive.
$1413
this is by far the biggest charge i've ever had against this car ... it'd be nice to not beat that record.
(i asked for my used spark plugs back to examine the ignition characteristics on them. the replacement boxes they were in were Champion with a two year warranty -- regardless of mileage ... i'm using this as a green light to back off changing if i get more than 30K miles in the next two years.)
2013-02-05
99,413 mile service
what i'd like to do is get a timing belt change before i lose my free-rental-on-service at 100K miles (the service itself is due at 102K) ... unfortunately i'm currently in CA and the prices out here are considerably higher than NV (as they are with everything ... and part of the reason i moved) ... and it's possible that by the time i get back home i will have turned over 100K miles.
so ... i was due for an oil change anyway and used one from my package at "my jeep chrysler dodge" in salinas (they said it was the last one in my pack, but i should have one more) ... i waited for an hour (switching the TV in the lobby to "goldfinger" while i waited, thank you very much) and they came back out to say that i had a wheel bearing going bad ... this doesn't surprise me much since my car has been sounding like small aircraft on liftoff for quite awhile now ... but i'd always assumed that was from a bad camber alignment on my wheels (from a local goodyear place where i got lifetime alignment, and they have summarily gone out of business) ... it was a nice catch by my chrysler (even though the form says "customer states wheel bearing noise," that's not true -- they just found it on their own).
$100 deductible for it? no problem. i even asked the enterprise rental guy to give me a FIAT sitting on the lot (further feeding my need) and after a tiny bit of back-and-forth ("we have to give you a chrysler, jeep or dodge." "um, chrysler is owned by FIAT ... see the 'C' in the FIAT VIN? that means 'chrysler'"), i got it.
when i got my car back, and the growl is gone ... it'll make my drive back to vegas much more pleasant.
thank you my jeep chrysler dodge ... even if you have a dopey name.
$100 deductible
$335 in SCR ($300 on the wheel bearing/hub wheel and service ... $35 for [what well may be my last on this contract] rental).
{this is a cross-over moment of sorts for my service contract ... i've now saved twice as much as my contract originally cost.}
so ... i was due for an oil change anyway and used one from my package at "my jeep chrysler dodge" in salinas (they said it was the last one in my pack, but i should have one more) ... i waited for an hour (switching the TV in the lobby to "goldfinger" while i waited, thank you very much) and they came back out to say that i had a wheel bearing going bad ... this doesn't surprise me much since my car has been sounding like small aircraft on liftoff for quite awhile now ... but i'd always assumed that was from a bad camber alignment on my wheels (from a local goodyear place where i got lifetime alignment, and they have summarily gone out of business) ... it was a nice catch by my chrysler (even though the form says "customer states wheel bearing noise," that's not true -- they just found it on their own).
$100 deductible for it? no problem. i even asked the enterprise rental guy to give me a FIAT sitting on the lot (further feeding my need) and after a tiny bit of back-and-forth ("we have to give you a chrysler, jeep or dodge." "um, chrysler is owned by FIAT ... see the 'C' in the FIAT VIN? that means 'chrysler'"), i got it.
when i got my car back, and the growl is gone ... it'll make my drive back to vegas much more pleasant.
thank you my jeep chrysler dodge ... even if you have a dopey name.
$100 deductible
$335 in SCR ($300 on the wheel bearing/hub wheel and service ... $35 for [what well may be my last on this contract] rental).
{this is a cross-over moment of sorts for my service contract ... i've now saved twice as much as my contract originally cost.}
2012-11-27
95,916 mile service and 5 year powertrain inspection
back in CA i went to normandin with another oil change coupon so i could get another pair of windshield wipers (the NV desert really chews up rubber) ... and again, not hitting against my oil change package.
i was going to ask about doing the powertrain inspection, since i was inside the 60 day window, but had to wait for awhile on the drive so i figured i'd not push the issue and instead ask on my next go 'round. much to my pleasant surprise, the normandin folks were quick to accept their coupon on my cell phone -- even though it's supposed to be printed out.
while i was talking to king feddy on the phone during the change, they upped the pleasure meter by one, calling to suggest they do the five year inspection ... naturally, i readily agreed. (i've read elsewhere that dealers get warnings about your time being up for the inspection, so it's not a huge surprise.)
the whole process took longer than i expected which had me wondering what might be going on (i was in the dealership for about three hours), but their poking and prodding turned up nothing (quite a bit different than those lying, cheating bastards [who looked at my car 65K miles ago] at chapman). which means my lifetime powertrain warranty is good to go for another five years.
as part of my over-all car inspection they also noticed that i had a reverse light out ... normandin was nice enough to replace it completely free of charge ... exactly the kind of thing that can make a rabidly loyal customer out of me -- it's a pity i don't live in CA anymore.
i'm due for a timing belt change at 102K miles, BUT i no longer get free rental cars as part of my lifetime service contract at 100K miles, so i'll get that swtich done at 99K.
$22.
i was going to ask about doing the powertrain inspection, since i was inside the 60 day window, but had to wait for awhile on the drive so i figured i'd not push the issue and instead ask on my next go 'round. much to my pleasant surprise, the normandin folks were quick to accept their coupon on my cell phone -- even though it's supposed to be printed out.
while i was talking to king feddy on the phone during the change, they upped the pleasure meter by one, calling to suggest they do the five year inspection ... naturally, i readily agreed. (i've read elsewhere that dealers get warnings about your time being up for the inspection, so it's not a huge surprise.)
the whole process took longer than i expected which had me wondering what might be going on (i was in the dealership for about three hours), but their poking and prodding turned up nothing (quite a bit different than those lying, cheating bastards [who looked at my car 65K miles ago] at chapman). which means my lifetime powertrain warranty is good to go for another five years.
as part of my over-all car inspection they also noticed that i had a reverse light out ... normandin was nice enough to replace it completely free of charge ... exactly the kind of thing that can make a rabidly loyal customer out of me -- it's a pity i don't live in CA anymore.
i'm due for a timing belt change at 102K miles, BUT i no longer get free rental cars as part of my lifetime service contract at 100K miles, so i'll get that swtich done at 99K.
$22.
2012-10-22
94,008 mile service
using a TXT coupon from normandin in san jose i got an oil change and new wiper blades for $22. this doesn't go against my oil change package.
2012-08-21
90,600 mile service
visiting my mom in CO, so i stopped by PRO chrysler-jeep-dodge-ram.
super-good shop in that they were able to take me on a moment's notice (i don't know why this is so hard for the average dealership) and they honored my pre-paid oil changes.
the weird news is they have a windshield scam (of sorts) here. an assigned person swarmed in, looked at my windshield and informed me that three pits needed to be fixed -- the deductible would be waived and paid directly by the insurance company. all this is true, but really it's their chance to get extra money from the insurance company over a repair that is questionable at best (is a pit really a danger that could result in a windshield crack? no.). BUT, since it costs me no money, there's no reason for me to object. i've never seen this trick used before ...
the service guy said it would take 45 minutes and that's precisely what it was. their "world class 27 point inspection" showed two problems: decaying wiper blades (known) and tires out of camber (ditto).
and isn't it just SHOCKING that they showed none of the problems that lying, cheating, thieving Chapman did nearly 60,000 miles ago?
uh, no, it's not.
i'm supposed to change the plugs at 90K, but wanted to ensure that i could get my car ready for a vegas drive tomorrow so i held off. i'll be doing that soon.
super-good shop in that they were able to take me on a moment's notice (i don't know why this is so hard for the average dealership) and they honored my pre-paid oil changes.
the weird news is they have a windshield scam (of sorts) here. an assigned person swarmed in, looked at my windshield and informed me that three pits needed to be fixed -- the deductible would be waived and paid directly by the insurance company. all this is true, but really it's their chance to get extra money from the insurance company over a repair that is questionable at best (is a pit really a danger that could result in a windshield crack? no.). BUT, since it costs me no money, there's no reason for me to object. i've never seen this trick used before ...
the service guy said it would take 45 minutes and that's precisely what it was. their "world class 27 point inspection" showed two problems: decaying wiper blades (known) and tires out of camber (ditto).
and isn't it just SHOCKING that they showed none of the problems that lying, cheating, thieving Chapman did nearly 60,000 miles ago?
uh, no, it's not.
i'm supposed to change the plugs at 90K, but wanted to ensure that i could get my car ready for a vegas drive tomorrow so i held off. i'll be doing that soon.
2012-05-31
87,872 mile service
had a mail coupon for an oil change with an air filter ... i've been driving through quite a bit of dust and dirt roads lately, so i figured i'd go ahead and get the AF now instead of 90K miles. (this change does not count against the recent oil change package i bought.)
got the change at prestige chrysler and they're FINALLY not taking drive-in oil changes anymore ... everything has to be by appointment ... making my life much easier.
$25
got the change at prestige chrysler and they're FINALLY not taking drive-in oil changes anymore ... everything has to be by appointment ... making my life much easier.
$25
2012-04-16
83,667 mile service
i'm about 1K miles early on this oil change, but i've been slipping a bit back on the 3K service intervals and i'm about ready to drive into death valley, so i'd rather get this done sooner than later.
stevens creek chrysler. $0.00 since i paid four oil changes ahead last time.
stevens creek chrysler. $0.00 since i paid four oil changes ahead last time.
2012-03-23
81,779 mile service
oil change time again. bought a five for the price of four oil change coupon off the prestige website. i don't know if this ends up being a good deal or not ... the chrysler website currently has $18 for oil change and tire rotation ... $60 for 5 is $12 apiece (at a dealer, no less), BUT there's the "taxes and shop fees" part.
nevertheless, it's not a bad deal.
prestige doesn't let you set an appointment for an oil change so i had to badger them into getting me out faster than two hours.
$68.
nevertheless, it's not a bad deal.
prestige doesn't let you set an appointment for an oil change so i had to badger them into getting me out faster than two hours.
$68.
2012-01-25
78,883 mile service
in the bay area and needed an oil change so i printed a coupon off the chrysler web site. tried first to go to stevens creek chrysler, but they never returned my call (during business hours, no less), so i went to normandin.
turns out i didn't need the coupon. my oil change package still had one left and they honored that ... the coupons are good throughout the chrysler dealerships, not just at prestige.
as the tech was writing up my car, we got into a funny conversation ...
"have you ever been here before?"
"no. this is probably the only bay area dealer i've never been to. i moved to vegas, so i get most my work done out there now. i've seen a lot of dealers, but it's been strange." i knew i shouldn't have uttered that last word as i said it.
"strange?"
"yeah. like chapman told me my car needed brake fluid and transmission fluid at 35,000 miles. which, it didn't. that prompted a letter to the CEO of chrysler. they're just fraudulent."
if you say this to a service tech what they'll hear is. yeah. like chapman told me my car needed brake fluid and transmission fluid. the rest is something akin to a dial tone if it were made up entirely of the sound of cash registers opening.
i'm looking at the tech's computer screen. he starts opening the service manual for my car. this, my little money grubbing friend, will be a mistake. i'm probably the only person you've ever met or known that can recite the PT cruiser owner manual rote.
"would you say your car is schedule A or schedule B?"
"i say schedule B because that way there will never be a question as to whether or not i'm changing my oil frequently enough."
he spins the monitor around. "there! you need a transmission fluid change at 60,000 miles."
i don't even look at the screen. "look at the footnote. my car's not a taxi."
long long pause. "what! they expect the fluid to last forever?"
i say nothing. it doesn't matter what they think, only what they say. and they say -in writing- i don't have to change it.
one hour passes and i get my car back after watching japanese TV (my choice) in the waiting room.
when i get back my car, my $0.00 receipt says:
SUGGEST TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSH AND FILTER AS PREV MAINT DUE TO AGE/TIME - MILES $199 + $150.00
SUGGEST FUEL INJECTION/DECARB SERVICE TO CLEAN ANY CARBON THAT BUILDS UP INSIDE THE THROTTLE BODY AND COMBUSTION CHAMBER
NO SVC RECORDS ...
$185.00
what they don't say is neither of these are described as necessary in the owner's manual. don't take my word for it ... read my service contract ... "Your responsibility is to properly operate, care for and maintain the vehicle as prescribed in the owner's manual supplied by the manufacturer."
go me.
turns out i didn't need the coupon. my oil change package still had one left and they honored that ... the coupons are good throughout the chrysler dealerships, not just at prestige.
as the tech was writing up my car, we got into a funny conversation ...
"have you ever been here before?"
"no. this is probably the only bay area dealer i've never been to. i moved to vegas, so i get most my work done out there now. i've seen a lot of dealers, but it's been strange." i knew i shouldn't have uttered that last word as i said it.
"strange?"
"yeah. like chapman told me my car needed brake fluid and transmission fluid at 35,000 miles. which, it didn't. that prompted a letter to the CEO of chrysler. they're just fraudulent."
if you say this to a service tech what they'll hear is. yeah. like chapman told me my car needed brake fluid and transmission fluid. the rest is something akin to a dial tone if it were made up entirely of the sound of cash registers opening.
i'm looking at the tech's computer screen. he starts opening the service manual for my car. this, my little money grubbing friend, will be a mistake. i'm probably the only person you've ever met or known that can recite the PT cruiser owner manual rote.
"would you say your car is schedule A or schedule B?"
"i say schedule B because that way there will never be a question as to whether or not i'm changing my oil frequently enough."
he spins the monitor around. "there! you need a transmission fluid change at 60,000 miles."
i don't even look at the screen. "look at the footnote. my car's not a taxi."
long long pause. "what! they expect the fluid to last forever?"
i say nothing. it doesn't matter what they think, only what they say. and they say -in writing- i don't have to change it.
one hour passes and i get my car back after watching japanese TV (my choice) in the waiting room.
when i get back my car, my $0.00 receipt says:
SUGGEST TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSH AND FILTER AS PREV MAINT DUE TO AGE/TIME - MILES $199 + $150.00
SUGGEST FUEL INJECTION/DECARB SERVICE TO CLEAN ANY CARBON THAT BUILDS UP INSIDE THE THROTTLE BODY AND COMBUSTION CHAMBER
NO SVC RECORDS ...
$185.00
what they don't say is neither of these are described as necessary in the owner's manual. don't take my word for it ... read my service contract ... "Your responsibility is to properly operate, care for and maintain the vehicle as prescribed in the owner's manual supplied by the manufacturer."
go me.
2011-12-16
74,765 mile service (& fourth service contract work?)
may well take the continual car to CO for xmas and wanted to get the oil changed beforehand. but that's not all i'm needing...
my washers have quit working (or more precisely, i hear the motor, but nothing sprays to the windshield) and, a couple nights ago, a valet was bringing my car out and i noticed the belly pan flapping on the passenger side.
and as i was driving home from my last oil change, the check engine light came on.
after three days in the shop, i get my car back, but here's what's weird ... i pay $100 deductible and $138 on top. but when i look at the receipts, i can't tell what the deductible is paying against and what it's not. it looks as though i'm paying a deductible and for all service? i talked to my service advisor for quite awhile about it, but it becomes ever-more-clear that he doesn't really know what's going on.
this isn't the first time i've been given receipts different than what i've paid, nor the second. i'm not exactly sure what to do here because if i call back, they'll probably end up connecting me with the same service advisor and it's clear that either:
* he doesn't know what's going on and is snowing me.
=or=
* he can't explain it to me in a way i can understand.
the timing on this is a little bad because i was going to write a glowing letter to mr. marchionne about prestige ... this to be the ying to my chapman-is-fraudulent yang letter ...
... but i can't do that yet.
$238
$205 in SCR ($105 for rental car, $100 saved from service i've been told about, but hold no receipt for.)
my washers have quit working (or more precisely, i hear the motor, but nothing sprays to the windshield) and, a couple nights ago, a valet was bringing my car out and i noticed the belly pan flapping on the passenger side.
and as i was driving home from my last oil change, the check engine light came on.
after three days in the shop, i get my car back, but here's what's weird ... i pay $100 deductible and $138 on top. but when i look at the receipts, i can't tell what the deductible is paying against and what it's not. it looks as though i'm paying a deductible and for all service? i talked to my service advisor for quite awhile about it, but it becomes ever-more-clear that he doesn't really know what's going on.
this isn't the first time i've been given receipts different than what i've paid, nor the second. i'm not exactly sure what to do here because if i call back, they'll probably end up connecting me with the same service advisor and it's clear that either:
* he doesn't know what's going on and is snowing me.
=or=
* he can't explain it to me in a way i can understand.
the timing on this is a little bad because i was going to write a glowing letter to mr. marchionne about prestige ... this to be the ying to my chapman-is-fraudulent yang letter ...
... but i can't do that yet.
$238
$205 in SCR ($105 for rental car, $100 saved from service i've been told about, but hold no receipt for.)
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