Protecting your money at the car shop
Wow. It seems that car dealerships are more intent on trying to separate customers from their money than ever.
Took my car in to the local Honda dealership to have the front end looked at (front wheels were out of alignment, causing a slight tire squeal when cornering). It's a 2001 Acura, it's in good shape, and I plan to sell it in the next 2-3 months (and I've told the service department this). I bought it new, and in 11 years, it's never had a mechanical breakdown. I do the regular required maintenance on it, so I couldn't believe the list of "recommendations" I was given today. I figure the work they wanted me to do today would be worth at least $2500 (and possibly significantly more). The car is only worth about $4000! At that rate, I'd recover more money by parting out a perfectly good car and selling the body for scrap metal!
Here's the list:
Replace center (third) brake light
bulb
Replace automatic transmission fluid and filter
Replace brake fluid
Replace power steering fluid
Perform cooling system service
Replace spark plugs
Replace air filter element
Replace cabin/HEPA micro filter
Inspect serpetine belt (drive belts) Found all drive belts
damaged/cracked
• Replace timing belt
• Replace all drive drive belts
Inspect suspension components Found front shock absorber(s)
weak
• Perform four wheel alignment
• Replace front shock absorbers
Inspect overall brake wear and condition Found front brakes require
service
• Perform rear brake serve (clean
and adjust)
• Perform front brake and caliper
service (clean and lubricate)
The weird thing is, many of these things have been done in the last couple of years (including the timing/serpentine belt), and I don't usually put more than 15,000 km on in a year. I asked the service advisor about that, and he said that he didn't have access to previous service information (Even though all the work is done at that particular dealership!) They suggest most things based on time/km without looking to see what's already been done, and don't actually check to see if fluids are dirty and in need of replacement. So, someone who doesn't know much about cars or the maintenance they've had done could be replacing their serpentine belt and having a transmission flush every time they go in for an oil change, as they don't seem to take the items off of the list once they've been done! I had a complete brake job done two years ago, and haven't had any indication of a problem with them.
Anyway, my husband was so shocked by the list that he went down there to ask them to show him the "damaged/cracked" drive belts and the "weak shocks", and they were unable to point out a problem with them. In the end, we paid a reduced inspection fee of $39.99 and brought the car home.
I'm taking the car to a small independent shop next week to have a safety done. We'll fix what they come back with as problems and have the alignment done.
Just wanted to warn people to be careful at dealerships -- make sure you know the service intervals at which things really need to be done (like timing belts), and keep copies of your service records so you know what's been done and when. Ask to be shown the problems with parts they're telling you to replace if you've never had any indication of a problem. It seems they're out to trick people into doing far more "maintenance" than they need to.
And to think I was planning on buying a brand-new (loaded) CRV from this dealership!