Re: What does the Mechanic get
Jerry,
I'm a mechanic by trade that hasn't worked in the field for some 17 years. I worked for independants, never in a dealership. In recent years I've been standing on the other side of the service counter and I can tell you without question that here in my parts, Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada, the quality of workmanship and level of knowledge in the dealerships that I've had contact with is pathetic. I have a 96 Aurora and have a litany of stories with the dealers that would absolutely curl your toes. The original selling dealer had the car almost 2 months for the trans, had the trans and out several times, broke the shift indicater in the console ($1400) when the put the indicater lite harness back wrong while replacing the lighter, put the dash bezel back on with 2 way tape when the broke the tabs removing it to replace the speeedo, picked it up after thr trans job (they finally got a factory reman) and had antifreeze pouring on the ground from a loose hose when I drove it away, wanted to sell me a new a/c compressor when the clutch brg packed up ($1900, I had just the clutch repaired instead for $200 and still going strong 120,000 km later), and on and on. I decided to go to another dealer where my father-in law had been service manager for years when it lost 1 cylinder. Had a $600 tune-up. Drove fine for a week and another cylinder was out. Took it back and they replaced a plug wire. A couple of weeks later same thing again, different cyl. They wanted to replace the entire set at a cost of $360 for the wire set. Something didn't seem right, the car had less than 60,000miles (100,000 km) and the plug wires had been replaced once while the car was under warranty. I didn't want to pay $360 for a set of wires so I bought a quality set of aftermarket wires for $60. After a couple of weeks, same problem. This time I pulled the plugs, (they're deep inside tubes in the head) . Discovered that when the mechanic? changed the plugs at my $600 tune-up he used the same antiseize grease that's supposed to be used on the threads to coat the inside of the plug wire boots, in place of the dielectric silicone grease that is supposed to be used there. The grease was shorting the wires down the side of the plugs. I now do my own work on my vehicles again. Going to a dealership is no assurance of quality repairs. Whenever I took it back and things elevated to the service manager level they defended their technicians and tried to feed me more bull. That really frosted me. I knew better, but what about the average consumer that doesn't? Sorry, I rant. I get so burned eveerytime I start thinking of all these stories. At one point I had the original selling dealer pull every warranty repair they had ever done on the car. I hadn't owned it from new, but it was still under warranty when I bought it. Every subsequent problem that I had could be tied to a previous work order. My discovery of the dash rattle and the broken bezel, matched the speedo head replacement, broken shifter indicater, matched the cigar lighter replacement work order, cut up and bared wires in the engine side wiring harness, matched their search for the problem with the low oil level indicater. Eventually I pulled the engine myself to repair the seal between the crankcase halves (northstar) and discovered missing and loose bolts related to the trans work, the engine wiring harness not routed properly and fried against the exhaust manifold. These are just the tip. I've got a dozen more. Steve "Jerry Newton" <figatmcttelecom.com> wrote in message news:4004a4f7_1@newspeer2.tds.net... > They don't "do it because they can", Nathan. The overhead of my particular > service department, before paying the tech, is about $42 an hour. This > isn't a gas station, this is a 23 bay repair facility, with every special > tool and piece of equipment necessary to fix anything on the cars we work > on. We don't have the luxury of telling an owner "you will have to take it > somewhere else, we don't do that here." > > Refrigerant recovery machines are about $5000. A brake lathe that is > capable of turning out rotors with less that .001 lateral runout while > turning 50 rotors per day is about $10,000. A handheld scan tool with which > to diagnose and reprogram your car is about $3000. These are just three > examples of shop equipment. We need two recovery machines, four brake > lathes, and five scan tools. You do the math. This is just the tip of the > iceberg. > > Factory training isn't free. It also isn't voluntary. If you want to work > at the dealership level, you have to attend training, as the manufacturers > make changes every year to major components and electrical/electronic > systems. We can't be five years behind the curve like the gas station guys, > then learn it as we go. > > For all of the complaining about the cost of dealership labor, there are > still cars lined up out to the street, waiting to be serviced. It defies > logic. You would think that a shop that supposedly gouges customers > "because we can" wouldn't be in business for 50+ years. > > Seems there was a thread on this topic just a month or so ago. Perhaps Lon > can refresh our memories. > > Jerry > > > > "Nathan Collier" <JeepMail@7SlotGrille.com> wrote in message > news:dfWMb.221803$Vu5.16486442@twister.southeast.r r.com... > > a typical dealership mechanic averages around $15-$17 an hour. the > > dealership has to pay for all the shop expenses including insurance and > > match the mechanics ss deductions but its still a rip to charge $75 an > hour. > > they do it because they can. > > > > -- > > Nathan W. Collier > > http://7SlotGrille.com > > http://UtilityOffRoad.com > > > > > > > > |
Re: What does the Mechanic get
Jerry,
I'm a mechanic by trade that hasn't worked in the field for some 17 years. I worked for independants, never in a dealership. In recent years I've been standing on the other side of the service counter and I can tell you without question that here in my parts, Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada, the quality of workmanship and level of knowledge in the dealerships that I've had contact with is pathetic. I have a 96 Aurora and have a litany of stories with the dealers that would absolutely curl your toes. The original selling dealer had the car almost 2 months for the trans, had the trans and out several times, broke the shift indicater in the console ($1400) when the put the indicater lite harness back wrong while replacing the lighter, put the dash bezel back on with 2 way tape when the broke the tabs removing it to replace the speeedo, picked it up after thr trans job (they finally got a factory reman) and had antifreeze pouring on the ground from a loose hose when I drove it away, wanted to sell me a new a/c compressor when the clutch brg packed up ($1900, I had just the clutch repaired instead for $200 and still going strong 120,000 km later), and on and on. I decided to go to another dealer where my father-in law had been service manager for years when it lost 1 cylinder. Had a $600 tune-up. Drove fine for a week and another cylinder was out. Took it back and they replaced a plug wire. A couple of weeks later same thing again, different cyl. They wanted to replace the entire set at a cost of $360 for the wire set. Something didn't seem right, the car had less than 60,000miles (100,000 km) and the plug wires had been replaced once while the car was under warranty. I didn't want to pay $360 for a set of wires so I bought a quality set of aftermarket wires for $60. After a couple of weeks, same problem. This time I pulled the plugs, (they're deep inside tubes in the head) . Discovered that when the mechanic? changed the plugs at my $600 tune-up he used the same antiseize grease that's supposed to be used on the threads to coat the inside of the plug wire boots, in place of the dielectric silicone grease that is supposed to be used there. The grease was shorting the wires down the side of the plugs. I now do my own work on my vehicles again. Going to a dealership is no assurance of quality repairs. Whenever I took it back and things elevated to the service manager level they defended their technicians and tried to feed me more bull. That really frosted me. I knew better, but what about the average consumer that doesn't? Sorry, I rant. I get so burned eveerytime I start thinking of all these stories. At one point I had the original selling dealer pull every warranty repair they had ever done on the car. I hadn't owned it from new, but it was still under warranty when I bought it. Every subsequent problem that I had could be tied to a previous work order. My discovery of the dash rattle and the broken bezel, matched the speedo head replacement, broken shifter indicater, matched the cigar lighter replacement work order, cut up and bared wires in the engine side wiring harness, matched their search for the problem with the low oil level indicater. Eventually I pulled the engine myself to repair the seal between the crankcase halves (northstar) and discovered missing and loose bolts related to the trans work, the engine wiring harness not routed properly and fried against the exhaust manifold. These are just the tip. I've got a dozen more. Steve "Jerry Newton" <figatmcttelecom.com> wrote in message news:4004a4f7_1@newspeer2.tds.net... > They don't "do it because they can", Nathan. The overhead of my particular > service department, before paying the tech, is about $42 an hour. This > isn't a gas station, this is a 23 bay repair facility, with every special > tool and piece of equipment necessary to fix anything on the cars we work > on. We don't have the luxury of telling an owner "you will have to take it > somewhere else, we don't do that here." > > Refrigerant recovery machines are about $5000. A brake lathe that is > capable of turning out rotors with less that .001 lateral runout while > turning 50 rotors per day is about $10,000. A handheld scan tool with which > to diagnose and reprogram your car is about $3000. These are just three > examples of shop equipment. We need two recovery machines, four brake > lathes, and five scan tools. You do the math. This is just the tip of the > iceberg. > > Factory training isn't free. It also isn't voluntary. If you want to work > at the dealership level, you have to attend training, as the manufacturers > make changes every year to major components and electrical/electronic > systems. We can't be five years behind the curve like the gas station guys, > then learn it as we go. > > For all of the complaining about the cost of dealership labor, there are > still cars lined up out to the street, waiting to be serviced. It defies > logic. You would think that a shop that supposedly gouges customers > "because we can" wouldn't be in business for 50+ years. > > Seems there was a thread on this topic just a month or so ago. Perhaps Lon > can refresh our memories. > > Jerry > > > > "Nathan Collier" <JeepMail@7SlotGrille.com> wrote in message > news:dfWMb.221803$Vu5.16486442@twister.southeast.r r.com... > > a typical dealership mechanic averages around $15-$17 an hour. the > > dealership has to pay for all the shop expenses including insurance and > > match the mechanics ss deductions but its still a rip to charge $75 an > hour. > > they do it because they can. > > > > -- > > Nathan W. Collier > > http://7SlotGrille.com > > http://UtilityOffRoad.com > > > > > > > > |
Re: What does the Mechanic get
Jerry,
I'm a mechanic by trade that hasn't worked in the field for some 17 years. I worked for independants, never in a dealership. In recent years I've been standing on the other side of the service counter and I can tell you without question that here in my parts, Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada, the quality of workmanship and level of knowledge in the dealerships that I've had contact with is pathetic. I have a 96 Aurora and have a litany of stories with the dealers that would absolutely curl your toes. The original selling dealer had the car almost 2 months for the trans, had the trans and out several times, broke the shift indicater in the console ($1400) when the put the indicater lite harness back wrong while replacing the lighter, put the dash bezel back on with 2 way tape when the broke the tabs removing it to replace the speeedo, picked it up after thr trans job (they finally got a factory reman) and had antifreeze pouring on the ground from a loose hose when I drove it away, wanted to sell me a new a/c compressor when the clutch brg packed up ($1900, I had just the clutch repaired instead for $200 and still going strong 120,000 km later), and on and on. I decided to go to another dealer where my father-in law had been service manager for years when it lost 1 cylinder. Had a $600 tune-up. Drove fine for a week and another cylinder was out. Took it back and they replaced a plug wire. A couple of weeks later same thing again, different cyl. They wanted to replace the entire set at a cost of $360 for the wire set. Something didn't seem right, the car had less than 60,000miles (100,000 km) and the plug wires had been replaced once while the car was under warranty. I didn't want to pay $360 for a set of wires so I bought a quality set of aftermarket wires for $60. After a couple of weeks, same problem. This time I pulled the plugs, (they're deep inside tubes in the head) . Discovered that when the mechanic? changed the plugs at my $600 tune-up he used the same antiseize grease that's supposed to be used on the threads to coat the inside of the plug wire boots, in place of the dielectric silicone grease that is supposed to be used there. The grease was shorting the wires down the side of the plugs. I now do my own work on my vehicles again. Going to a dealership is no assurance of quality repairs. Whenever I took it back and things elevated to the service manager level they defended their technicians and tried to feed me more bull. That really frosted me. I knew better, but what about the average consumer that doesn't? Sorry, I rant. I get so burned eveerytime I start thinking of all these stories. At one point I had the original selling dealer pull every warranty repair they had ever done on the car. I hadn't owned it from new, but it was still under warranty when I bought it. Every subsequent problem that I had could be tied to a previous work order. My discovery of the dash rattle and the broken bezel, matched the speedo head replacement, broken shifter indicater, matched the cigar lighter replacement work order, cut up and bared wires in the engine side wiring harness, matched their search for the problem with the low oil level indicater. Eventually I pulled the engine myself to repair the seal between the crankcase halves (northstar) and discovered missing and loose bolts related to the trans work, the engine wiring harness not routed properly and fried against the exhaust manifold. These are just the tip. I've got a dozen more. Steve "Jerry Newton" <figatmcttelecom.com> wrote in message news:4004a4f7_1@newspeer2.tds.net... > They don't "do it because they can", Nathan. The overhead of my particular > service department, before paying the tech, is about $42 an hour. This > isn't a gas station, this is a 23 bay repair facility, with every special > tool and piece of equipment necessary to fix anything on the cars we work > on. We don't have the luxury of telling an owner "you will have to take it > somewhere else, we don't do that here." > > Refrigerant recovery machines are about $5000. A brake lathe that is > capable of turning out rotors with less that .001 lateral runout while > turning 50 rotors per day is about $10,000. A handheld scan tool with which > to diagnose and reprogram your car is about $3000. These are just three > examples of shop equipment. We need two recovery machines, four brake > lathes, and five scan tools. You do the math. This is just the tip of the > iceberg. > > Factory training isn't free. It also isn't voluntary. If you want to work > at the dealership level, you have to attend training, as the manufacturers > make changes every year to major components and electrical/electronic > systems. We can't be five years behind the curve like the gas station guys, > then learn it as we go. > > For all of the complaining about the cost of dealership labor, there are > still cars lined up out to the street, waiting to be serviced. It defies > logic. You would think that a shop that supposedly gouges customers > "because we can" wouldn't be in business for 50+ years. > > Seems there was a thread on this topic just a month or so ago. Perhaps Lon > can refresh our memories. > > Jerry > > > > "Nathan Collier" <JeepMail@7SlotGrille.com> wrote in message > news:dfWMb.221803$Vu5.16486442@twister.southeast.r r.com... > > a typical dealership mechanic averages around $15-$17 an hour. the > > dealership has to pay for all the shop expenses including insurance and > > match the mechanics ss deductions but its still a rip to charge $75 an > hour. > > they do it because they can. > > > > -- > > Nathan W. Collier > > http://7SlotGrille.com > > http://UtilityOffRoad.com > > > > > > > > |
Re: What does the Mechanic get
"Paul Calman" <spam@trap.com> wrote in message news:bu42fq$deoei$1@ID-87669.news.uni-berlin.de... > Green River? Nice town, interesting cemetary. I spent 2 days there last > August > -- > Paul Calman, Hathaway Pines, California > > In the cemetary? Jerry |
Re: What does the Mechanic get
"Paul Calman" <spam@trap.com> wrote in message news:bu42fq$deoei$1@ID-87669.news.uni-berlin.de... > Green River? Nice town, interesting cemetary. I spent 2 days there last > August > -- > Paul Calman, Hathaway Pines, California > > In the cemetary? Jerry |
Re: What does the Mechanic get
"Paul Calman" <spam@trap.com> wrote in message news:bu42fq$deoei$1@ID-87669.news.uni-berlin.de... > Green River? Nice town, interesting cemetary. I spent 2 days there last > August > -- > Paul Calman, Hathaway Pines, California > > In the cemetary? Jerry |
Re: What does the Mechanic get
Ditto.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/ Paul Calman wrote: > > I have found the opposite to be true. A dealer can afford to loose > customers, but an independant's survival relies upon satified customers. > > -- > Paul Calman, Hathaway Pines, California |
Re: What does the Mechanic get
Ditto.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/ Paul Calman wrote: > > I have found the opposite to be true. A dealer can afford to loose > customers, but an independant's survival relies upon satified customers. > > -- > Paul Calman, Hathaway Pines, California |
Re: What does the Mechanic get
Ditto.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/ Paul Calman wrote: > > I have found the opposite to be true. A dealer can afford to loose > customers, but an independant's survival relies upon satified customers. > > -- > Paul Calman, Hathaway Pines, California |
Re: What does the Mechanic get
"Jerry Newton" <fig@mcttelecom.com> wrote in message
news:4005764b$1_2@newspeer2.tds.net... > if you don't want to pay someone to do, gear up and do it > yourself. i cant see how knowing how to do something justifies sticking it to those who dont. im lucky in two ways....i rarely keep a new vehicle much more than a year so im always under warranty, and there is no vehicular repair i cant do myself anyway. i feel sorry though for those who cant and must rely upon dealerships to repair their vehicles out of warranty. i feel sorry for everyone with the triton v10 head out of warranty that had to pay for an entire new head because the dealership was incapable of building up the head and tapping new plug threads or paying a machine shop to do it for them (v10 was bad for blowing plugs out of their holes taking the threads with them). it happened on my brothers but he had an extended warranty. i feel bad for everyone whos paid $200 in labor costs to have an alternator swapped when i know one person that got theirs swapped and installed at autozone for FREE (labor). i could go on but im bored with this now. -- Nathan W. Collier http://7SlotGrille.com http://UtilityOffRoad.com |
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:40 AM. |
© 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands