I Hate Taking it for service (rant)
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 721
Likes: 10
From: Irvine CA
I Hate Taking it for service (rant)
Fired up the old air conditioning last week and got warm air. Since my car has the automatic climate control, I ran the diagnostics. No codes, all parameters in correct range. Since any real fix has to go to a shop anyway, I took it to the shop across the street.
He starts to write it up and says, "that will be $70 for the diagnostics". I said that was OK as long as he didn't just run the computer diagnostics I had already run. He gave me a funny look and said, "OK if there's no codes we'll just recharge the system". I caught him. :smash:
Then he looks at the paperwork and says, "oh its a '95, It looks so good I thought it was new". This from a guy who works on cars for a living. :smash:
It happens to be a big shop that does a lot of work, and the work they have done for me has been good. I feel sorry for people who don't know their cars and just take them to a shop and don't ask questions. I guess that's why this forum is so good.
He starts to write it up and says, "that will be $70 for the diagnostics". I said that was OK as long as he didn't just run the computer diagnostics I had already run. He gave me a funny look and said, "OK if there's no codes we'll just recharge the system". I caught him. :smash:
Then he looks at the paperwork and says, "oh its a '95, It looks so good I thought it was new". This from a guy who works on cars for a living. :smash:
It happens to be a big shop that does a lot of work, and the work they have done for me has been good. I feel sorry for people who don't know their cars and just take them to a shop and don't ask questions. I guess that's why this forum is so good.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,842
Likes: 230
From: SANTA CRUZ CA
Re: I Hate Taking it for service (Yellow95)
....I ran the diagnostics. No codes, all parameters in correct range.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 721
Likes: 10
From: Irvine CA
Re: I Hate Taking it for service (Oldman)
....I ran the diagnostics. No codes, all parameters in correct range.
When there is a problem with the "air", the LED indicator above the mode button should flash for one minute at start-up. This indicates that a trouble code has been stored. Did you enter the diagnostic mode by depressing the fan "up" and fan "down" arrow at the same time for approx. 5 seconds? If so, the LCD would show "00". When you depress "AUTO FAN", the LCD should show any fault....09 = low freon...is the most common.
When there is a problem with the "air", the LED indicator above the mode button should flash for one minute at start-up. This indicates that a trouble code has been stored. Did you enter the diagnostic mode by depressing the fan "up" and fan "down" arrow at the same time for approx. 5 seconds? If so, the LCD would show "00". When you depress "AUTO FAN", the LCD should show any fault....09 = low freon...is the most common.
Instructor
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
Re: I Hate Taking it for service (96TorchRedCoupe)
Yeah, I took mine to have tires put on a couple of weeks ago, and they tried to pick the car up by the hood (the top of the wheelwell/fender is the hood) to get the arms for the lift in place! :banghead: WTF! I ran in there and aked them if they had a floor jack, and I grabbed it and jacked it up just a little to get the "arms" in position. I told them that just a few extra seconds would keep them from popping the latches on my hood, or worse. Would they want me to pick their cars up by the hood? :cuss
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,270
Likes: 26
From: Winchester VA
Cruise-In V Veteran
Re: I Hate Taking it for service (Yellow95)
Good for you, you caught him being straight up and honest about a diagnostic charge. :rolleyes: Only one question, if all the necessary diagnosis is done, why the hell don't you know exactly what the problem is? In order for me to make a correct and permament repair, I need to know what the cause of failure is. This is called the "diagnostic process". For this you pay money. What's your problem with that? Remember, you have NOT determined the cause of failure in this case. Why the hell shouldn't you pay???
Your the guy who will OK a simple recharge and come back in a month wondering why your AC isn't working again. And rant about why they can't fix it right the first time.
If it were me, I'd charge you the hour to "service" the AC, make a note on the work order that customer declined diagnostics and charge you twice as much when you come back. Call it an attitude surcharge.
BTW, I get a CSI bonus every month. The survey asks questions such as, "Was your vehicle fixed right the first time?", and "Was the repair completed in a timely manner". Not bad for a "worthless POS". :)
[Modified by Ski2Tee, 9:32 PM 3/15/2003]
Your the guy who will OK a simple recharge and come back in a month wondering why your AC isn't working again. And rant about why they can't fix it right the first time.
If it were me, I'd charge you the hour to "service" the AC, make a note on the work order that customer declined diagnostics and charge you twice as much when you come back. Call it an attitude surcharge.
BTW, I get a CSI bonus every month. The survey asks questions such as, "Was your vehicle fixed right the first time?", and "Was the repair completed in a timely manner". Not bad for a "worthless POS". :)
[Modified by Ski2Tee, 9:32 PM 3/15/2003]
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