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Need Mechanic's Advice

  • Raw Dawgin' it
    vdubb96;1469808 wrote:I wish I had a dollar for every vehicle that comes in to our dealership that was at Autozone/Advanced etc for "free" diag and it ends up being totally wrong. Take it to someone who knows what they are doing.
    Spoken like a true car salesman.
  • GoChiefs
    vdubb96;1469808 wrote:I wish I had a dollar for every vehicle that comes in to our dealership that was at Autozone/Advanced etc for "free" diag and it ends up being totally wrong. Take it to someone who knows what they are doing.

    Its a scanner that pulls the codes. How can it be wrong?
  • vdubb96
    Not saying the code is wrong. They usually will then try and sell you something to fix the problem, that is normally wrong.
  • vdubb96
    Raw Dawgin' it;1469813 wrote:Spoken like a true car salesman.
    Not a car salesman.
  • hilliardfan
    The check engine light has not come on at any time. Last night I checked the air filter to see if it needed replacement and when I opened up there were about 20 dime-sized pebbles in the space for the air filter. I've removed those but have no idea where they came from. I park in a garage but my daughter didn't when she had the car. I think I need to take apart the rest of the air intake to see if anything else has gotten in there.

    Zwick, you are correct which is why this is so puzzling. I knew you'd understand.
  • Raw Dawgin' it
    GoChiefs;1469816 wrote:Its a scanner that pulls the codes. How can it be wrong?
    this
    vdubb96;1469826 wrote:Not saying the code is wrong. They usually will then try and sell you something to fix the problem, that is normally wrong.
    I'd rather them try and sell me the wrong part than pay $70 for a dealer to tell you what the right one is and then grossly overcharge on the install. Unless you can install the part yourself, you're most likely not going to buy it on the spot.
  • vdubb96
    Raw Dawgin' it;1469866 wrote:this



    I'd rather them try and sell me the wrong part than pay $70 for a dealer to tell you what the right one is and then grossly overcharge on the install. Unless you can install the part yourself, you're most likely not going to buy it on the spot.
  • vdubb96
    Raw Dawgin' it;1469866 wrote:this



    I'd rather them try and sell me the wrong part than pay $70 for a dealer to tell you what the right one is and then grossly overcharge on the install. Unless you can install the part yourself, you're most likely not going to buy it on the spot.
    I wouldn't want to get it fixed right the first time either. Good call!
  • Raw Dawgin' it
    vdubb96;1469879 wrote:I wouldn't want to get it fixed right the first time either. Good call!
    I think you missed what I'm saying. The diagnostic is going to be the same and most likely I'm not going to be fixing it myself, so there is no point in paying a dealer $70 to give you the same information. If you're fixing it yourself you'll know what part to get and won't need their advice and if you're not, it doesn't matter because you're just going to tell your mechanic what the problem is anyways. Paying for a diagnostic is just dumb.
  • said_aouita
    vdubb96;1469808 wrote:I wish I had a dollar for every vehicle that comes in to our dealership that was at Autozone/Advanced etc for "free" diag and it ends up being totally wrong. Take it to someone who knows what they are doing.
    vdubb96;1469826 wrote:Not saying the code is wrong. They usually will then try and sell you something to fix the problem, that is normally wrong.
    Guess I'm lucky to have only dealt with honest people at the Auto Zone near me.

    Raw Dawgin' it;1469881 wrote:I think you missed what I'm saying. ... Paying for a diagnostic is just dumb.
    This.

    I've met more honest people at Auto Zone than I've met at most car dealerships.
    I'm sure dealers never try to upsell repairs that are not really needed.
  • vdubb96
    Raw Dawgin' it;1469881 wrote:I think you missed what I'm saying. The diagnostic is going to be the same and most likely I'm not going to be fixing it myself, so there is no point in paying a dealer $70 to give you the same information. If you're fixing it yourself you'll know what part to get and won't need their advice and if you're not, it doesn't matter because you're just going to tell your mechanic what the problem is anyways. Paying for a diagnostic is just dumb.
    I waive diag fee's if the vehicle is then serviced at our shop.
  • vdubb96
    Congrats! Not saying their not honest. I deal with them every day, have a great relationship with them. However they are not professionally trained nor did they (at least the ones I know) go to any kind of Tech school or college. I just know from many years of experience we get a lot of "Hey I went to Advanced/Autozone/Napa etc to have my check engine light read and they told me it was the egr valve, so I bought one and the check engine light is still on." Can you help me.
  • said_aouita
    vdubb96;1469888 wrote:I waive diag fee's if the vehicle is then serviced at our shop.
    But if a person does not get their car fixed at the dealership you feel the $70 is a valid cost for customers to pay?

    Generally how long does it take the dealership to get the codes? Less than 5 minutes?
  • vdubb96
    said_aouita;1469897 wrote:But if a person does not get their car fixed at the dealership you feel the $70 is a valid cost for customers to pay?

    Generally how long does it take the dealership to get the codes? Less than 5 minutes?
    You would be correct, doesn't take long. I honestly can say most people, at least in our area trust our dealership. Hell we wouldn't have been around as long as we have if we were ripping people off. It's not my thing. I know larger dealers upsell anything and everything to make a buck, again not my thing. I know the hours and hours of B.S. training my techs have to go through a year, it's a ton. I also know how much Chrysler charges me to send my techs to the classes every month, usually at least $250 a pop times 6 techs. That adds up quick. Thats why I believe the $70 diag charge is warranted. Take it for what you want. Everyone has different opinions of dealers, I understand that.
  • Fred Flintstone
    I had a similar issue - ended up being the O2 sensor.
  • Ironman92
    Fred Flintstone;1469911 wrote:I had a similar issue - ended up being the O2 sensor.

    I have had 3 separate 02 sensors go bad....none of them really did what you explained though. Autozone can definitely diagnose that....but the check engine light should be on.
  • said_aouita
    I think this needs cleaned.



  • said_aouita


    "The EGR valve, or Exhaust Gas Recirculation valve, is a vacuum controlled valve which allows a specific amount of your exhaust back into the intake manifold. This exhaust mixes with the intake air and actually cools the combustion process. Cooler is always better inside your engine. The exhaust your EGR valve recirculates also prevents the formation of Nitrogen related gases. These are referred to as NOX emissions, and are a common cause for failing emissions testing. Unfortunately, your EGR valve can get stuck, causing NOX gases to build up. You'll know if your EGR valve is stuck or malfunctioning because your car will experience symptoms like rough idle and bucking on acceleration."
  • GoChiefs
    vdubb96;1469906 wrote:You would be correct, doesn't take long. I honestly can say most people, at least in our area trust our dealership. Hell we wouldn't have been around as long as we have if we were ripping people off. It's not my thing. I know larger dealers upsell anything and everything to make a buck, again not my thing. I know the hours and hours of B.S. training my techs have to go through a year, it's a ton. I also know how much Chrysler charges me to send my techs to the classes every month, usually at least $250 a pop times 6 techs. That adds up quick. Thats why I believe the $70 diag charge is warranted. Take it for what you want. Everyone has different opinions of dealers, I understand that.

    Most dealerships fucking suck. They don't call them stealerships for nothing. Example, car broke down, took it to our local Chrysler dealer. $950 to fix it. I already knew the problem, so I said fuck you and took it to my normal mechanic. $65 out the door. That's fucking ridiculous. A lot of these dealership "techs" don't know anymore than the people working at Autozone.
  • said_aouita
    GoChiefs;1469969 wrote:Most dealerships fucking suck. They don't call them stealerships for nothing. Example, car broke down, took it to our local Chrysler dealer. $950 to fix it. I already knew the problem, so I said fuck you and took it to my normal mechanic. $65 out the door. That's fucking ridiculous. A lot of these dealership "techs" don't know anymore than the people working at Autozone.
    I had a fuel pump break about 60+ miles from home years ago. The quote at the Goodwrench in Dublin was over double what it ended up costing me.
    Some places must have a lot higher profit margin.....
  • LJ
    GoChiefs;1469969 wrote: A lot of these dealership "techs" don't know anymore than the people working at Autozone.

    Everyone I know that works at a branded dealership as a tech has a degree, ASE certified and went to brand specific training for 6 months to a year before starting
  • GoChiefs
    LJ;1469984 wrote:Everyone I know that works at a branded dealership as a tech has a degree, ASE certified and went to brand specific training for 6 months to a year before starting

    That doesn't make them any smarter. Hell, I was ASE certified through Toyota in 2001 and all I had to do was take a 2 hour course with an open book written test at the end. Obviously I'm not saying all dealership techs are retards, but there are still quite a few that are complete idiots that don't know shit.
  • LJ
    GoChiefs;1469988 wrote:That doesn't make them any smarter. Hell, I was ASE certified through Toyota in 2001 and all I had to do was take a 2 hour course with an open book written test at the end. Obviously I'm not saying all dealership techs are retards, but there are still quite a few that are complete idiots that don't know shit.

    A lot has changed through Toyota since 2001 then. My bil had to do an apprenticeship, 9 months at Toyota and had to take 12 ASE tests
  • vdubb96
    My techs would do backflips to be able to take a 2hr class to get certified! Its way more in depth than you realize. Again not all dealerships are bad. Are there some, hell yes. I however refuse to run a shady shop.
  • mcburg93
    vdubb96;1470101 wrote:My techs would do backflips to be able to take a 2hr class to get certified! Its way more in depth than you realize. Again not all dealerships are bad. Are there some, hell yes. I however refuse to run a shady shop.
    Not all dealerships are bad is right, but all dealerships overcharge and that is ridiculous.