Protecting your money at the car shop

[Minou]

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!

[miztia]

My neighbor marked his oil filter and a few other things before he went to the dealer to get some work done. Sure enough they said they changed those parts and when he looked, they were still the same parts he marked, so he went back and had a fit on them!
I have a fleet card, so I dont pay for repairs at the dealer, but twice in a span of 6 months they changed all three wipers at 50 each, saying they were unsafe. Last inspection I had him write in the work order to not touch the wipers. Every repair bill is in the neighborhood of $1800. Even though I dont pay, it doesnt matter, they are robbers!!

[Darth Penguin]

I use a local garage for all my car related stuff.

The owner is great..I've been under all of our cars to be shown what work needed to be done, old parts are given to me to show what went wrong, heck he even showed Penginette 1(14) the underside of my van and told her the names of various parts and whta they did.

I would never use a dealership except for recall issues.

[BrokeandBlended]

I would reccomend going to the dealership. It's unfortunate that this happened to you. When you purchase a vehicle they provide you with a maintance menu which is basically a breakdown of suggested service by mileage. Your dealership totally tried to screw, they absolutely have a service history. If your car is under any type of extended warranty a dealership is the only place you should go in order to maintain that warranty.Their mechanics are specifically trained to deal with your vechile. Should your vechile have a recall the dealership is also well prepared to deal with it.

Dealerships make money with repeat customer who in turn purchase new vehicles. I would be more wary of a independent mechanic who is not kept in the loop about warranties and recalls, not speciffically trained, and has less to lose in terms of sales business. Furthermore you can contact Honda Canada, the dealership can be held accountable for mistreating you. A lone mechanic can not.

Best of luck with your car, let us know how it goes.

[marstec]

My sister took her Honda in for routine maintenance and she was quoted a long list too. She called my husband in shock and asked whether she should get all that work done. My husband went through each point and told her what was necessary and what could wait. They really try to scare people, especially women, who don't know much about cars.

We took our van into a shop that was highly recommended by one of DH's co-workers and this guy bilked us to the tune of $4500, the van was only worth about $7K at the time! We paid it, but lesson learned...make sure you know what is being repaired and what really needs to be repaired. This guy had the van up on the hoist and called DH in to inform him of other things that needed doing.

Btw, I called him personally and tore a strip off him...told him that I felt like he ripped us off and would tell everyone I knew to avoid his place. My husband was mortified but I felt better.

[Minou]

I'm looking forward to sharing the story with my brother... he was a Honda mechanic who worked at this shop up until about a year ago -- in fact, he's examined the vehicle lately, and he's so impressed with the condition of my car that he's thinking about buying it when I sell. He says that the year and model I have is incredibly reliable.

I'm really considering writing a letter to the service manager and sending a copy to Honda Canada. There's something seriously wrong with their system.

[Natalka]

Very good reminder for others!

[matrix82]

I agree with the above posters about putting a complaint into Honda Canada. They should have a record of your service that has been done.

I've only owned a car for three years, but in going to different dealerships they have been able to access my records as they keep a record of work that has been done.

I wouldn't go back to that dealership, they sound sketchy. I've had a good experience with Honda so far. Going to four different dealerships, one in ontario, one in nova scotia and two in New Brunswick. They've all been good. The rural NB dealership was the best though, lower prices for services, and quicker service than the metro shops.

[Shwa Girl]

Like Darth Penguin, we don't go to the dealer for our service. We use a reputable licensed mechanic.
We learned a long time ago. The dealer said we needed new brakes. But the brakes were fine, we thought.

We went to a brake shop and they said there was no problems with the brakes and that we had at least 8 months left on them. The brake shop did not charge us.

We complained to the car company head office and never went back to any dealership for service after that.

Our car runs fine - for years.

[Minou]

So, in my e-mail inbox this morning, there's an e-mail about a "30-second Satisfaction Survey" from the Honda dealership.

[newb]

Reminds me of the time right after warranty when DW brings the truck in for an oil change .. they tell her she needs tie rod ends and now!! She tells them that she`s brought the vehicle in for 3 years of maintenance and paid for the "piece of mind" service and now 5k after warranty they notice?? Then she tells them that it`s a "truck with 4x4" capable of off roading and NOW you notice a problem .. well you get the idea, she went on and on and on ... all I could do was laugh as she recounted what she put them through .. even people on the sales floor were looking in ... finally the salesman (owner`s son) that we know personnally went and talked to the service manager and all was taken care of under warranty. Yeah we still go there, but you should see the way we`re treated now. I still chuckle when I think of it.
I usually go to the dealer till the warranty is done, then its a reliable and trusted shop, but he`s getting ready to retire, so I dunno aftr that.
sry to hear what happened tho

[anisa]

how sad that a dealership would risk ruining their rep. by misleading a customer.

they don't sound much better than canadian tire shops, eek.

i had an experience at a Mr. lube where i kept saying no to various liquid fillups on my car. i just wanted my oil change, we have everything else at home and either i or hubby can do all that stuff. well, in a huff he comes over to show me my transmission fluid stick (he hadn't even mentioned tran fluid yet) and says aggressivly "well you've been saying no, no, no to everything, look at your transmission fluid, it's low"

well, i went home, googled and learned how to properly check it and then did so myself. i found nothing wrong. in fact the next oil change hubby took it to the private mechanic and he said everything was fine.

i have a feeling these franchise type places are just too money hungry. in fact my brother worked at a mr lube years ago on vancouver and he said they were expected to sell the customers all sorts of stuff they didn't need.

i have taken my car to the dealership a couple of times, only when i knew what i specificly needed done. at that time the mechanic we were going to was a bit of a flake and unreliable.

now we have a very nice, reliable and honest mechanic. thank God!

[tjthemanto]

They are called Stealerships for a reason .

[cath007]

You know my dear beloved mother had in the time a Mazda Protegé 2001...and one time she had a job to do and the mecanician did things she as not asked for..and put the bill up without consulting her..and its not the first time I heard those things...her college who had a mazda had the same problems....so ...said what you want to be done and stick to that with the compagny...those compagnies abuse and put the price higher and do more things that you ask...later when I will have a car and drive licence..I will go to my father mecanician...very cheap one and professionnal..not charging incredible time price...and explain everything...compare to compagny who think we are idiot and believe everything...same thing with canadian tire...crazy piece and time price to make profit.....

[cath007]

Go to a mecanician you trust and they can order pieces too OR better a friend mecanician ...hope I will have this chance later