Look what happened when I was at the dealer the other day.... :(
08-25-2002, 05:10 AM
#1
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Look what happened when I was at the dealer the other day.... :(
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Last night I looked down and saw that my right side rocker panel under the rear door had a fresh scrape from.....let's see...what could it be from....a vertical scratch ruining the rubber coating on the rocker panel.....oh yea, it was just up on a lift two days before.....last time I brought it to them I found similiar scrapes of the coating too, but at the bottom of the rocker.
Doesn't make me happy, will be bringing it by to show them. I can assure you it wasn't from the H&R install, I didn't jack it anywhere close (jacked from bottom) and I have all sorts of pictures from when I did the job six days ago and it wasn't there then.....
How come I always feel like dealers are so incompetent? I bet whoever did this knew that they did it, why not just tell me? Maybe then didn't know.....but you would think since they work on cars EVERY DAY they would have figured out how not to scratch them when they go up on a lift.....
Oh, I guess that's why tire places seem to always scratch your wheels when removing/installing them, they only do it for a living!
Last night I looked down and saw that my right side rocker panel under the rear door had a fresh scrape from.....let's see...what could it be from....a vertical scratch ruining the rubber coating on the rocker panel.....oh yea, it was just up on a lift two days before.....last time I brought it to them I found similiar scrapes of the coating too, but at the bottom of the rocker.
Doesn't make me happy, will be bringing it by to show them. I can assure you it wasn't from the H&R install, I didn't jack it anywhere close (jacked from bottom) and I have all sorts of pictures from when I did the job six days ago and it wasn't there then.....
How come I always feel like dealers are so incompetent? I bet whoever did this knew that they did it, why not just tell me? Maybe then didn't know.....but you would think since they work on cars EVERY DAY they would have figured out how not to scratch them when they go up on a lift.....
Oh, I guess that's why tire places seem to always scratch your wheels when removing/installing them, they only do it for a living!
08-25-2002, 07:10 AM
#2
What's up with the TOTAL incompetence of dealers lately- first ryoung, now this :(
All I can say Paul is make them (really) fix it. The only way to get these guys attention is to hit them in the wallet- if it costs them enough, then MAYBE they will be more careful in the future. If they get away with it, then nothing will change. It's not like they can't afford to hire competent mechanics at $150 an hour shop rates! Now I know why I do most of my work myself- If you want it done right.........
08-25-2002, 07:38 AM
#3
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I think this put me over the edge, I will be doing the Timing Belt myself
I just don't think I can trust the dealer with a job of such importance. They could break a stud, bend a cover, screw up a seal face and I would never know. Not to mention that I would save something like $1200 labor.
FYI, Skiracer and myself are planning to do a little wrenching at his place in a month or so to do his timing belt. Then we will uncover all "secrets" hopefully and put together a procedure for others and their independent mechanics to use (maybe the dealer could learn something too).
For what it's worth, the dealer did treat me right, but that's the service guys, I would of rather been treated like *hit and not have my rocker panel scraped down to bare alluminum. And I live in the salt belt!
FYI, Skiracer and myself are planning to do a little wrenching at his place in a month or so to do his timing belt. Then we will uncover all "secrets" hopefully and put together a procedure for others and their independent mechanics to use (maybe the dealer could learn something too).
For what it's worth, the dealer did treat me right, but that's the service guys, I would of rather been treated like *hit and not have my rocker panel scraped down to bare alluminum. And I live in the salt belt!
08-25-2002, 07:43 AM
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Re: "why not just tell me?" ...
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Not telling you does say a lot about the mechanic's ethics (or lack of ethics).
In the case with my HRE's, I got out into the shop as they were rinsing off the car, just a few minutes too late. Since I was told later that they saw the anodizing running off the wheels in black streaks, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that I would have been told what happened.
Everyone makes mistakes, but it should be obvious to Audi that the reaction of the customer is going to be MUCH worse when he finds these things for himself.
Sorry that you're going thru this grief and aggravation.
Not telling you does say a lot about the mechanic's ethics (or lack of ethics).
In the case with my HRE's, I got out into the shop as they were rinsing off the car, just a few minutes too late. Since I was told later that they saw the anodizing running off the wheels in black streaks, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that I would have been told what happened.
Everyone makes mistakes, but it should be obvious to Audi that the reaction of the customer is going to be MUCH worse when he finds these things for himself.
Sorry that you're going thru this grief and aggravation.
08-25-2002, 07:49 AM
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Re: "wrenching at his place in a month or so" ...
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Guys, if you can hold off to at least the first week of October, if you don't mind, I'll join you!
My familiy's in and around Chicago Heights, and I'll be making a visit in October.
Guys, if you can hold off to at least the first week of October, if you don't mind, I'll join you!
My familiy's in and around Chicago Heights, and I'll be making a visit in October.
08-25-2002, 08:14 AM
#6
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I'm going to Colorado for this....
....'ol Skiracer is getting a visit from me, he lives in the great state of CO. My GF will probably join me for the weekend, we'll take a few days off for the TB change.
I've joined the V8 list at Audifans.com to see if I can find a web site with pictures on the V8 change out, tools, procedures but haven't figured it out yet.
These guys are all looking to put the 32 valve v8 from the 97-99 A8's in their cars....cool! A 1990 V8 with the 300 HP motor, those old V8's are very cool looking cars. But they keep complaining of the same old problems with all the systems that had with my 91 200q (type 44).
I've joined the V8 list at Audifans.com to see if I can find a web site with pictures on the V8 change out, tools, procedures but haven't figured it out yet.
These guys are all looking to put the 32 valve v8 from the 97-99 A8's in their cars....cool! A 1990 V8 with the 300 HP motor, those old V8's are very cool looking cars. But they keep complaining of the same old problems with all the systems that had with my 91 200q (type 44).
08-25-2002, 09:38 AM
#7
Internal rates average $45 an hour after basic expenses. Basic customer rate averages $75.
I've given up on dealerships with my Alfas ( even when there were more around ). If I can't do it myself, I use a specialist who takes great pride in his work. He's ornery, opinionated, and expensive - but he rarely messes anything up, and always makes it right if he realizes he's done something wrong. It's taken years and great deal of beer and scotch to mellow him out to the point where he accepts the suggestions of a mere female as a possible starting point for a diagnosis ( sad but true - that is normal if you're female ).
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08-25-2002, 01:07 PM
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In a former life, ...
.
I owned a Saab Sonett, Saab 900, and a Range Rover.
Eventually the only competent mechanic at both the Saab and RR dealer left to start their own shops. Having only inexperienced mechanics (being generous here) left to work on the car while it's under warranty was a deciding factor in not buying either another Saab or Rover.
Toyota apparently took a different approach to the problem, Make the car so darn reliable that the need for trained mechanics is at a minimum.
I owned a Saab Sonett, Saab 900, and a Range Rover.
Eventually the only competent mechanic at both the Saab and RR dealer left to start their own shops. Having only inexperienced mechanics (being generous here) left to work on the car while it's under warranty was a deciding factor in not buying either another Saab or Rover.
Toyota apparently took a different approach to the problem, Make the car so darn reliable that the need for trained mechanics is at a minimum.
08-25-2002, 03:11 PM
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Re: I'm going to Colorado for this....
Paul,
I have enjoyed the posts you and Skiracer make on a regular basis. Several have been on point to issues I have experienced. I generally check this forum at least once a day. I live in Denver and have been meaning to contact Skiracer to lend a hand, If the two of you could use a third set of hands, I would enjoy meeting both of you.
Steve Wiseman
1998 Audi A8
stevewiseman@usa.net
I have enjoyed the posts you and Skiracer make on a regular basis. Several have been on point to issues I have experienced. I generally check this forum at least once a day. I live in Denver and have been meaning to contact Skiracer to lend a hand, If the two of you could use a third set of hands, I would enjoy meeting both of you.
Steve Wiseman
1998 Audi A8
stevewiseman@usa.net