http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=2116075

I went to Falls Auto Tech in Menomonee Falls for AC work. Basically, I wanted them to run their sniffer over my AC system since they said it was about $40 plus freon. This system was converted to R134 and was leaky. I just about had a heart attack when I saw the estimate. The high side and low side were leaking. About $600 to fix it.

Here is where it got rediculous:

$41 for the new valves ($12 at Napa)
$99 to clear the code the BCM set (disconnect battery using MY quick disconnect)
$196 to screw out the old R134 adaptors and screw new ones in (I think I was the one getting screwed)

Hell, they didn't even offer me any lube to make it easier.

I bought my own adapters and screwed them in. Well, I made a mistake and left the old schraeder valves in. Went to the Midas in the Falls and they tried to fill it up. Didn't work so they removed the new adapters I put on, took out the schraeder valves and screwed back new adapters. Now it works like a charm. I have AC. All for the cost of $130. In fact, with the valves now FUBARed, we had to extract them carefully and they kept the charge as quoted when I told them initially that they had to leak test and fill.

 

I've been with Americas Tires for 11+ years

 

So why do some of these places try to screw vet owners?

 

Because they know you take pride in your car and won't let it sit like some piece of junk that others might.

 

All I can say is: "Belle Tire" I now live a 4 hour drive from the closest one but it's worth it. I got the best price anywhere for the tires on my 87 and they installed them while I waited. I also went back with my dad's 2000 for new tires....not only was the price amazing but they even put on better counter weights because as the guy told me "you've got a real fly ride and the cheap ones look like sh&t."

Great service and great prices! Run from the Firestone shop and go to Belle Tire. They can get you any brand that you want. Tell them what you want and that's what they sell you.

 

Truth be told, I dont trust ANY corporate shop/gargage or whatever. I take my car only to local Vette specialists. My story didnt have anything to do with tires or wheels. But Midas for instance cut through a support bracket on my exhaust and did not even bother to weld it back when they were done doing my flywheel.

Vettes should only be worked on by Vette freaks. Period. There is always a good GM specialist somewhere.

 

I've had really good luck at my local Precision Tune. The two time when I couldn't figure out what was wrong they did. 1. A grounded out injector wire. 2. My new coil was bad. 1. cost $40 2. cost $23.

 

That use to be me. Allot of the Vette guys would even ask for me specifically but you don't know both sides of the story. Service managers at GM dealerships, or at least the ones I have seen in the past 18 years, get pissed off if you take your time on Vettes and look at those cars as opportunities to make even more money. They just don't get it.

The last Vette I worked on was told (by another Tech) he needed a tranny rebuild because it wasn't shifting smoothly anymore prior to me seeing it. I took his shifter apart, lubed it since I felt it binding as well flushed his clutch fluid and removed some air he had in there and the car was mint. Yes I DID get in trouble for doing the following, and I quote: "not up-selling aggressively enough". He was ready to drop thousands and I turned it into hundreds....LOL

I call it as I see it not as the manager sees it and that's why I have chosen not to work for them anymore.

As far as the Op's concern goes, yes 17s are harder to change than big floppy 15s BUT, IMHO I think they're better off just charging a flat install price for all cars and all types of tires. You win over a customers trust he'll be back and in the end it's the shop that has a steady flow of work that makes the most money, not the one that trys to pay off their mortgage every time a Corvette comes in.

Besides, on "normal" cars we always do it faster than the time allowed so big whoop if once in a while we don't, especially if it means a return customer or a new customer.

 

I agree. However, there is a problem. There is a GM specialist somewhere that is good. HOWEVER, you might not always be able to get to him or it might not be practical. I would love to take my car to LPE for everything but I doubt that it would be practical. As such, we have to go with some bozo but guide them.

 

I guess they think we are as ignorant/stupid as the majority of their customers.

 

I used to have a really good tire guy friend who worked at the local walmart. I would call and ask when he was working and bring in my wheels (not the whole car) and have him and only him change and balance my tires. (running drag radials, you get to change tires a lot) Last tire change, he didn't work there anymore so I don't use walmart anymore. Now I have to go to a tire specialty shop and pay them the going rate. Still carry my wheels in though, I won't let a shop put my car on the lift unless I have to. Heard too many horror stories about bent body panels, stripped or broken lugs, smashed exhaust, crushed tranny pan, cut wires, and even one guy's car fell off.

 

one time I took a brand new set of of painted rims there for a car, and they used a screw driver and a rag to get the tire on then they inflated and it did not work. They said tire rack sent me junk yokohamas. LOL ( I can sell you these! NOPE! then I had another place put them on and they were fine FIRESTONE for me either!

 

I bring my wheels loose whenever possible. Honestly, I think the shop appreciates not having to deal with the rest of the car; vette or not.

 

I went to have a new set of tires (not theirs) installed on a new set of wheels I had just repainted.....I gave them specific instructions NOT to change the chrome valve stems & caps I went on and explained that I had just (1 hour prior) installed the new chrome valve stems myself so they wouldn't scratch the new rim paint and made them write on the ticket "do NOT change valve stems". 3 hours later, I returned to pick up my rims and tires......and they frickin' changed the chrome valve stems out on me and scratched 2 of the rims while doing it. They "couldn't find my brand new chrome valve stems" either...there's a big surprise. I blew up at the sales guy/service manager and made him go get the service guy out of the back who did the actual "work" then screamed and yelled at the top of my lungs at the both of them over their collective incompetence. They finally asked how they could "make it right" I told them get me some "new chrome valve stems & caps" from the store across town, where I got the other ones from, dismount the wheels from the tires, install the chrome valve stems and caps like I had them, then do the job I asked them to do in the first place....all this work was done while I waited in the lobby chasing off any potential customers they might have gotten. Finally several hours later, I got my tires, wheels & "new new" chrome valve stems and caps out of there and went to another tire store and had the balance re-checked.....guess what they weren't balanced properly by the 'ol Firestone guys -again-big surprise there - not! I've never been back to a Firestone store since and never will again.

 

Stay away from Firestone, last time I was there they wanted $1000.00 for some part in the ABS system to be able to flush my brakes when everything was working fine when I went in. I went to another shop and they flushed the brakes no problem for $50. Find another shop, I'll never step into another Firestone again.

 

Stay as far away from Firestone as you can manage. Last Spring I had them change on set of wheels from winter to my summer tires and not only did they put them on backwards after I told them they were directional, they scratched the heil out of my wheels and then acted like they couldn't see anything wrong with the wheel.

 

I did recv a call from the corp office they said they were going to forward it on to the district manager that will be in contact with me in the next 48 hours...Ill keep you updated.

 

I've always had good luck at Big-O or Michel Tires.

 

Go find a tire shop that has been in business for ever. Just inform them on how to properly jack a corvette. Otherwise, you will doing the Flintstones through the floorboards.

There are many family-owned tire shops that are associated with Tirerack.com. Mostly local shops with good quality and reputations. Close to me is Joe's Tire and Battery in Allentown Pa. Highly respected family business that knows wtf it is doing. They won't rip you off and they will make you be a customer for life.

 

OMG These people have *****! I hust got a call from the jack *** that quoted me yesterday and Guess what...the price went up again!!! He said Oh I am sorry but custom wheels take sticky weighjts so theier is a $40.00 charge... I asked about My alingment he claims it was done to fire stone specs in thier books ....At this point i call him a jack *** and hung up on him....