Another Holden service rant

[macca]

Late last year had my Rodeo in for 90,000 km service before the warranty expired, went to pick it up and was told they had to keep it overnite because of a squeal in the front hubs, they had repacked the wheel bearings, "righto just fix it and ring me" they ring the next day and say its right to go, "what did you find?" i ask, oh nothing it was just a dry seal. Now being a Holden factory trained motor mechanic myself,( out of it for thirty years though) i say to them that if the seal was dry enough to cause a squeal then it will be stuffed, no they say she'll be right, reluctantly I take it home and it seems to be driving OK.

Was up the Licola area last weekend and get a loud squeal in the front end that comes and goes, so I pull it apart today to have a look. Both circlips on the axles have been forced out of the grooves from very, very loose wheel bearings I suspect, axle floating in and out about 10mm causing the slinger on the axle to rub, hence the squeal. Both inner races on the outer bearings have been turning, I have to bring micrometers home from work to check if the hub spindles are buggered

Should have mentioned that when i got home from the service I opened up the aircleaner (something i learnt to do years ago after a service) and found leaves in the aircleaner box and a dirty aircleaner, complained at the time and got a couldnt care less response

Have had other guys that I work with that have had trouble with our favourite Holden dealer in Dandenong, guess I should have known better, good thing it is out of warranty and I can now look after it myself. Beware

[outtahere]

applys to most dealerships of any makes these days,the days of pride in there work have gone.

[outback jack]

most of the big dealers don't give a rats anymore, all there after is your $

my ute's only done 60k's and i go to a local bloke, he does a top job at half the price (and i know the jobs done right)

[Paul (SA)]

Sadly, I would suspect the Holden employees who work on your car are not even qualified mechanics, but rather service people trained in house to do particular work. Our coal one charges an arm and a leg and is always looking to sell extra 'flushes' and treatments that are really unnecessary. I suspect they are keen to make money like every other business? I changed to a local qualified mechanic for my VZ and haven't looked back (helps when they also are an agent for a camper trailer company as well).....

[Crockett]

Nothing different over here. I learnt the aircleaner trick to, though now I do it while they give you back the keys and are standing there at the car. During this type of hand over, they have had to at other times "whip it back into the workshop" for , fuel filter, fan belt, brake pads and one time when i followed them in I asked, "would that be my bash plate laying on the floor" Oh yes sorry about that he just started,,,,,,,,,,,,
Hence it doesn't get serviced at the dealer any more

[jwb]

pray tell this "air cleaner trick" please !

cheers

[Chippy76]

quite simply after a service, check the aircleaner box. if it is full of leaves, bugs or other detritus, it is unlikely it was changed. it is easy to tell an old filter from a new one .... The other thing I use to do is discretely mark stuff with a paint pen or nikko. That way you know it fuel, oil and air filters have been changed. Or tyres rotated etc. I got my car back from a service once and the oil hadnt been changed. When I phoned them to complain they told me it had, it was on the service record. I had marked the drain plug and filler cap, and could tell them that it DEFINATLY hadnt been changed (even tho they HAD changed the oil filter) They were very apologetic, however offered no solution. I took my business elsewhere.

Cheers Chippy

[time]

Having worked in a dealership in my teens I know exactly how good and bad they can be, hence the only time I have ever used them is for warranty work.  (i.e. GU IV recall for egt tube replacement and pimply dash replacement).

I guess I'm lucky, we have found two top mechanics in Canberra to look after the car and 4WD, one guy works out of his back yard and does a great job looking after the Mrs car, the other runs his own shop and has looked after my 4wds for years, picks up all the little things that I don't and has gone into bat on a number of warranty issues with ARB and the tyre shop for me, winning on each occasion.

So, I guess I'm saying if you can find a mechanic you like and can trust you should nurture that relationship it will stand you and your vehicle in good stead.

[cruisindub]

Catch 22
they have you over a barrel.
You have to have of dealer serviced, to keep warranty, yet you get no service.
Why must you have to 'check up' after, why must you have to use tell tale signs to confirm, sadly, why must you put up with the ignorance and arrogance and poor service.
Because we do.
She'll be right mate!

[Mallory Black]

Most dealer service staff are on a target and incentive scheme.
the guys out front will get extra $ for every flush/can of additive/ wheel alignment, in fact thinkof something they can upsell and they get extra $$

The guys on the floor get points for-
Completing the service under the allotted time that is charged
And getting extra work

So the incentive to make shortcuts on your car service and then get upsold for work that is often un-neccessary is driven by the need for big profit from the management (who also get a cut of the whole show) that in my opinion also turn a blind eye to the $$ temptation given to the guys on the floor, who mostly would like to just turn up and do a good job, but pressure about targets etc drives the quality focused mechanics away because he sees incompetent greedy workers making more $$ than him.

some might get the parts for your car from the service counter and then pocket them and sell them off on home jobs for mates

It's been a while since I was in that system but from the looks of this thread nothing had changed in that world for some dealerships

[Mallory Black]

Hi crusindub
as long as a car is serviced by a qualified mechanic in accordance to the schedule and with appropriate qhailty parts a manufacturer must honor their waranty deal.
where having a loyalty to service with a dealer helps is where there are cases of a problem that might not really be warranty but the manufacturer (rarely the greedy dealer) decides to cover the cost under goodwill

[Bird]

You have to have of dealer serviced, to keep warranty

Rubbish..
That rule changed 15+ years ago.

[D4D]

The only reason my Prado gets a dealer service is because the Service Manager at the dealership is a mate and I also know the mechanic who does the work

[fuji]

Brand new Mazda, 1st service at 10k was done by my mechanic. I trust him to do a great job! for a pittance. My 2 cents
Wayne

[bobnrob]

That's right Lost

As long as your vehicle is serviced by a quailified mechanic (& signs/stamps your book), per the manufacturers guide lines, your vehicle is always covered by warrenty

[macca]

Yeah Lost is right you dont have to go to them, the only reason I went back for the last service was because I had a couple of small warranty issues that i wanted fixed and decided I may as well get them to do the last service while it was there. My bad. I would have been happier if they changed the air cleaner and left the front bearings alone, usually they just change the oil and throw an oil filter on
Chippy is spot on with the aircleaner and drive it down a dusty road before the service and check the wheel nuts for finger prints,

[MDS69]

The only reason my Prado gets a dealer service is because the Service Manager at the dealership is a mate and I also know the mechanic who does the work

Same here and he picks it up from home the night before leaving his company car for our use then drops it back the next day.

[cruisindub]

Rubbish..
That rule changed 15+ years ago.

Stand corrected.

But then I didnt live in Australia for about 15 years, and i dont own a new car, so guess I must be rubbish

Standing corrected and head held low. Sorry for speaking rubbish on my swag. No further input.

Thanks Mallory Black for informing me and the polite education. Appreciate thetime to reply fully.

[Mallory Black]

too easy crusindub, anytime

[UTE 701]

Thumbs down from me for Holden Dealer Service Departments too !

Took my Rodeo to them for the first 3 services , and on the way home from the third pulled in to get fuel and had to put it on full lock to fit in . Then while refuelling , noticed the wear on the inside of the front tyre . Same both sides . Massive toe out I suspect . Check the log book and it says they inspect and rotate if necessary , Did  a u turn and went back .

Service Manager has a quick look , goes and pulls out my file , and says " Oh that's your fault ... you never requested a wheel alignment as part of your pre delivery " ... WTF ! 

I did my nut , and he says " come back Saturday and we'll do a free alignment "

I stormed out and then rang in to book a wheel alignment and the service lady says " we don't do wheel alignments on a Saturday "  & 

I was quick to tell the owner of the business when I saw him competing at the next Drag Race , that I wish I had bought another make of ute .... And how I had thrown away two tyres thanks to his great team ....