Dealer Repairs

[Anonymous]

My car is almost 10 years old and I have taken it to dealer for maintenance and minor repairs such as brakes or new tires the entire time I have owned it. Last visit I was told I needed a $4,000 oil leak repair. Interestingly, the usual technician I work with was out that day and this was a new/different person who told me I needed this repair. A few days ago I took the car to a non-dealer repair shop for oil change and they told me nothing more was needed.

Why do dealers expect to get away with defrauding people like this? It's criminal.

[Anonymous]

OP again. I should add I did NOT ok the dealer recommended repair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My car is almost 10 years old and I have taken it to dealer for maintenance and minor repairs such as brakes or new tires the entire time I have owned it. Last visit I was told I needed a $4,000 oil leak repair. Interestingly, the usual technician I work with was out that day and this was a new/different person who told me I needed this repair. A few days ago I took the car to a non-dealer repair shop for oil change and they told me nothing more was needed.

Why do dealers expect to get away with defrauding people like this? It's criminal.

What were the symptoms? If you are actually losing oil, then the results can be really bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do dealers expect to get away with defrauding people like this? It's criminal.

Two reasons - Many service departments have their advisors on commission, and most people don't know any better.

Folks, find a reputable independent repair shop that works on your type of vehicle and stay away from the dealerships.

[Anonymous]

And don't take your car to the quick oil change places. Get your oil changed by that independent repair shop so that you get to know them and they get to know your car. Then when you DO have something that needs more attention, you'll have more confidence in what they tell you. Oil changes may cost a little more than your coupon shop, but in the end, you will come out ahead by establishing a relationship with that shop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do dealers expect to get away with defrauding people like this? It's criminal.

Two reasons - Many service departments have their advisors on commission, and most people don't know any better.

Folks, find a reputable independent repair shop that works on your type of vehicle and stay away from the dealerships.

The newer the car, the more you are forced into dealerships for repairs. Most brands have proprietary diagnostic tools now. Generic OBD readers still work, but the give a fraction of the information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do dealers expect to get away with defrauding people like this? It's criminal.

Two reasons - Many service departments have their advisors on commission, and most people don't know any better.

Folks, find a reputable independent repair shop that works on your type of vehicle and stay away from the dealerships.

The newer the car, the more you are forced into dealerships for repairs. Most brands have proprietary diagnostic tools now. Generic OBD readers still work, but the give a fraction of the information.

Yet another reason why I flatly refuse to buy cars made after the late teens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And don't take your car to the quick oil change places. Get your oil changed by that independent repair shop so that you get to know them and they get to know your car. Then when you DO have something that needs more attention, you'll have more confidence in what they tell you. Oil changes may cost a little more than your coupon shop, but in the end, you will come out ahead by establishing a relationship with that shop.

+1

Or get your oil changes at the dealership. With coupons that they send me in the mail or that I find online it's usually around the same price as my local repair shop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do dealers expect to get away with defrauding people like this? It's criminal.

Two reasons - Many service departments have their advisors on commission, and most people don't know any better.

Folks, find a reputable independent repair shop that works on your type of vehicle and stay away from the dealerships.

The newer the car, the more you are forced into dealerships for repairs. Most brands have proprietary diagnostic tools now. Generic OBD readers still work, but the give a fraction of the information.

My independent shop is still great at this. I've been going to the same place for about 15 years with both older and late model cars. They've only sent me to the dealer for one repair during that time for a problem that they could diagnose but could not repair due to the specialized tools that were required. Not saying Gomer down at the filling station is going to be able to work on your Tesla, but for most brands, you can find an independent shop that can perform most repairs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And don't take your car to the quick oil change places. Get your oil changed by that independent repair shop so that you get to know them and they get to know your car. Then when you DO have something that needs more attention, you'll have more confidence in what they tell you. Oil changes may cost a little more than your coupon shop, but in the end, you will come out ahead by establishing a relationship with that shop.

+1

Or get your oil changes at the dealership. With coupons that they send me in the mail or that I find online it's usually around the same price as my local repair shop.

I think the point of this thread is how to avoid dealers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My car is almost 10 years old and I have taken it to dealer for maintenance and minor repairs such as brakes or new tires the entire time I have owned it. Last visit I was told I needed a $4,000 oil leak repair. Interestingly, the usual technician I work with was out that day and this was a new/different person who told me I needed this repair. A few days ago I took the car to a non-dealer repair shop for oil change and they told me nothing more was needed.

Why do dealers expect to get away with defrauding people like this? It's criminal.

What were the symptoms? If you are actually losing oil, then the results can be really bad.

No symptoms and I haven't noticed an oil leak, no pooling under my parked car, etc

[Anonymous]

I’m not familiar with a “oil leak repair” much less one that costs as much as a replacement engine from a salvage yard. I assume that you were provided with an itemized estimate? What did it say?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not familiar with a “oil leak repair” much less one that costs as much as a replacement engine from a salvage yard. I assume that you were provided with an itemized estimate? What did it say?

You've never heard of a blown gasket?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not familiar with a “oil leak repair” much less one that costs as much as a replacement engine from a salvage yard. I assume that you were provided with an itemized estimate? What did it say?

You've never heard of a blown gasket?

Of course. But there are much more serious issues if the head gasket is “blown,” as opposed to leaking. I’ll stand by my point that “oil leak repair” is neither a specific diagnosis nor repair. A leaking head gasket would manifest itself in one of several ways, such as low oil idiot light, overheating, coolant in the oil, oil in the coolant, white smoke from the exhaust, oil leak under the vehicle, a rough idle/missing cylinder from low compression or even a thrown rod and siezed engine if oil level was too low. An oil leak also could be an issue with the drain pan, timing cover seal, valve cover gasket or crankshaft seal or even a pressure switch (or any combination ghereof). Either way I don’t know of any head gasket replacement that’s going to cost $4000, even if you’re driving a Porsche. And a dealer is going to try to put the fear of Jesus into you about grenadine your engine if you decline a repair and drive off.
With a head gasket leak.

[Anonymous]

OP needs to call and speak with the Service Manager. I wouldn’t necessarily put blame on the Service Advisor, as most of them are glorified data entry clerks who input “customer says … “