dishonest automechanics/service departments

[jill jackson]

Sure I can alot of the time. I can also tell when someone is being argumentative just for the sake of being argumentative. Have a good night. :thumbup:

No I have never seen an engine that dirty. No argument, just what I've seen.

 

[SkinnyJoe]

Thanks to all for encouraging words and constructive advice.

I am going to start by asking people at work about an honest mechanic (one which would have access to Honda parts) in the form of an online ad (workplace classifieds) referencing the existence of that online review and implying who the offender is without explicitly mentioning names.

If that doesn't work, I will have to start looking at reviews for Honda dealerships in a major city near me and take a day off from work to go and watch them work (if they allow that).

P.S. i like how Sears has a huge window by the service area where a person can watch.

 

[Cougar Allen]

I can also tell when someone is being argumentative just for the sake of being argumentative.

It's Crissy the Hippo!

 

[CARRERA50]

I do not trust dealerships. Their service department is extremely overpriced and I have been screwed by them a few times, Nissan dealership. I would find a local shop that you trust. For me it would be a garage attached to a shell station up the street. Their prices is 1/3 of the dealership and I can give them my own parts that I get off of the internet which is sometimes cheaper. I just got a service that the dealer wanted $1800 for done at my local shop with me supplying the parts for around $550.

The advantage to dealerships is OE parts, factory training and an
escalation process if something goes wrong. Most dealerships are
extremely CSI conscious these days and will do anything to avoid a
bad survey; is costs them bucks from the manufacturer.

Bringing your own parts can bite you in the ass as most mechanics
will not warranty the job they're doing unless they sell you the parts.
If you buy a cheap-shit set of brake pads from Pep-Boys and they
squeak like hell you can't reasonably expect the mechanic who installed
them to take any responsibility for their performance. Screwing the
shop out of a reasonable profit on parts is rarely a good idea.

That being said, do watch out for unwarranted upsells at dealerships.
The service writers are paid on commission and will sometimes try
to sell things that are on a maintenence schedule, like belts and hoses,
that may not be worn out at all.

 

[dougo83]

No I have never seen an engine that dirty. No argument, just what I've seen.

Yea...it's an old pos I picked up 3rd hand as a work truck. It runs alright, but seems to have a ton of build-up in the engine. Looks almost like some of the diesels I have worked on.

 

[cj65]

I do my spark plugs, brakes, air and oil filters. I replace my belts, water pumps, fuel pumps etc. Oxygen sensing units also go out around that time, making the idle irregular, or stall. My friends say cars are too hard to work on now, I think in some ways they are easier, if the engine compartment is not so crowded. I have found one place that I know I can trust, so I at least have one place where I know they will not do unnecessary work. It is always good to ask for the bad parts back if they want to do work, you are not aware of. It will make them walk the line.