That figures!

[zari]

Maybe I'm just getting old and crabby...



Just had my 7500 mile service done at the dealership where I bought the truck. They gave me a nice little pamphlet this morning that said, in big bold letters "Diesel Total Price ... $74. 53" Right below they claimed "Additional $6. 38 for Rotella oil" and further down, under "(*)" for 'tire rotation', "Add $12. 00 for Dually".



So far so good - $92. 91 plus tax doesn't seem too outrageous.



I get there this evening to pick her up - and they present me with a bill of $102. 02. Wow, that's a lot of tax, I think to myself, until I see this little category "SHOP SUPPLIES - $6. 06"...



So, I ask what that's all about. Well, 'that's the cleaning supplies, rags, etc. " - Oh great, you gave me cleaning supplies, rags, etc?! Well, no. That's what we 'used up' servicing your truck. - Huh? Does that include the mechanic's toilet paper? Oh well.



So I check the truck, and something seems off. I get in and start driving away. Then it hits me - my tires looked wrong. The white "Good Year ... " is gone. I stop, get out to make sure - and, yep, it's gone. Hmmm... They did rotate the tires (after all, I had to shell out $12 extra for the dually). So, I check the book to see why the tires come out this way and - according to the 'by the book' recommended rotation schema - they shouldn't. So I drive back, and ask them to please "fix" my tires by putting them on according to the book. They tell me that 'their' way to rotate tires (I believe they switched inner and outer duallies) is better than the book. I say, that might be, but I'd like them rotated according to the owners manual... and I'm being told I'm unreasonable!



Yeah, I guess I must be; or maybe I'm just old and crabby.

 

[SSage]

Sounds like my dealer, thats why I do all the regular service work myself. Takes less time.

 

[tcb]

no, you are no unreasonable just picky, and i agree. make them do it your way or get some money back. they are too lazy to remount tires. but be careful, they may charge more to remount and balance per book.

 

[DPKetchum]

Its amazing that service folks use NO COMMON sense! If you have outline RWL tires NOBODY would want them returned to them black after a tire rotation. NUM SKULLS!

 

[zari]

Yeah...

I guess I probably <em>should</em> try to do some of the easier stuff myself; guess I'm just too lazy, and I wouldn't know what do do with the spent oil etc.



---



Yep, I guess I am picky. But honestly, I s'pose I should be able to expect an authorized Dodge dealership/service center to adhere to the Dodge Owners Manual; and if they don't, I'd like to know about it <em>up front</em>.



What are they going to decide they know better than the Owners Manual next? Oil viscosities?



---



Well, the 'all black' thing was what tipped me off that something was "wrong. " After looking at the book, I guess I expected the front tires to be "black" and the back tires to be "white". In principle, it's not a big deal to me whether the tires have the nice white lettering or not - after all, I use this truck primarily for towing our 5er, not for aesthetics (although I must admit I liked the white lettering on all visible tires). What really ticked me off was the manager's comments: he asked what I based my concern on, whether I had as much experience as a "service manager" as his, and then told me that I was "unreasonable" - because I wanted my service (including my tire rotation) done according to the Owners Manual...



---



I did send an email to DC to complain, and will follow up tomorrow with a phone call. Don't know if it'll make a difference (probably not), but right now (admittidly, I'm still mad) I wouldn't mind them losing (at least ) one of their 5 stars.

 

[DPKetchum]

Well let someone to that to HIS!He would be the hard ass to handle. Call His dealer owner. That whole situation was uncalled for!

 

[Shooter]

I asked our local dealer what oil they used in the trucks. The service writer said Dodge oil. I asked what that was and he said they only have one oil ( 55gal drum ) for all vehicles..... #@$%!



They never see my truck.



You dont know what they put in it, they can tell you anything but The only person that really know ( or doesnt know any better ) is the lot boy that changes oil between washing the cars on the lot.

 

[dan_gilson]

OK, this sounds like a good time to rant about dealers... . Please pardon me as I will now go off.



My first thought is please broadcast the dealer's name (so the rest of us can avoid them).



It really sucks when a dealer forgets that you ARE the paying customer.



It seems a little strange for a dealer to charge extra for work that is supposed to be done at a service to maintain your warrenty. It would be OK if you wanted extra things done to be charged more.



Here is a simple rule: Rotate the tires when you change the oil. You can never go wrong with that. And your tires will last a few thousand miles extra for it.



The book does have a slight problem with the rotation. They do not explain how to rotate in the spare. Why is this important? If you do not roll a tire it drys out. Nothing like having to swap an inside dual only to find the spare is flat. Or worse to get it on and it blows out a few miles later.



I don't know about your year truck but my with my '98 a 7500 mile service is an oil change, filter, tire rotation and inspect. My local tire shop will rotate tires for $25. $10 for the filter at Cummins and say $18 for oil. A $100+ for the service seems like a lot.



$6+ for rags and such on a brand new clean truck! Give me a break.



So, maybe I am getting cheap in my old age. For the time it takes me to drive to and from the dealer and for them to do a service, I can do the service myself in 1/2 the time. I know it is done my way (hopefully the "right" way).



Another thing that I have found out. The couple of times that I had it in to a dealer for service and they were supposed to inspect it, they missed (ignored) some oil leaks.



Be careful when someone else changes your fuel filter. The dealer did not clean off the diesel and it took the paint off the bottom of the pan.



The 30K interval service is not too bad either. It just takes a while. The fluids and stuff typically cost $300+. Which is about 1/2 of the $700+ service. It can be done with simple hand tools.



Let me tell you about the number of times that I had to go back because they did not tighten something. It finally got to the point where I would throw the coveralls in the back and put them on when I picked up the truck. One time, after being "ready" it failed the visual, mechanical, then the road test. In that order This stated around 4pm when it was said to the "ready". I finally left around 6:30pm after sending it back 3 times.



Thanks for letting me vent!

 

[DPKetchum]

I totally agree with this post but let do say that having worked in dealers almost 25 years that there are some super techs in some of them if not one or two in each. I have worked with techs that were just plain SHARP and cared. Most of these in dealers get abused with the really HARD problems or fixing others mistakes. Its the general line newbie guys that seem to create a mess and yes so just don't care. But I've taken in many a auto that the owner spent anywhere from $1800 to $4000 in repairs and took off cross country hours later and it performed flawlessly and got letters stating such. The dealer I deal with myself cant fix the drone etc. but thats not the techs fault. I got to kinda know and size up a few of the techs and one lives near me. He's got 15 years Chrysler experience from auto trans to trim repair and diesel. I request HIM when I make a appointment and he appreciates it. Has done super work on three trucks I own. I've known others when I wrote service that sent chills up my spine if you know what I mean. There are pros in dealers as in any other business.

 

[dan_gilson]

DPKetchum,

Good points. And to be fair, when I find soneone good I recomend them. I value word of mouth above all other forms of advertising.



I really pisses me off to set an appointment 2 weeks ahead for the first thing in the morning and then watch the truck sit in the drive for the next 3 hours. And they know that I am waiting for it. Then the mechanic looks at it and says, we don't have the parts, you will have to come back.



I had an input shaft leak on the trans. It took the dealer 8 times to fix. They pulled the trans 3 times.



Not that I am still upset or anything. All this stuff happened between '96 and '99. On my '96 it only took and average of 3. 4 visits to fix any particular problem. The comment that I got back was: "It is under warrenty so that is not costing you anything. " I am sure glad that they feel my time is worth nothing.

 

[CATCRACKER]

when i had my truck in for them to replace the clutch at 11000 miles they change the oil without asking me. wow no big deal other than the oil in there only had 500 miles on it. now comes the kicker they put 10W 30 regular oil in it??????



Dodge, welcome to our five star service!

 

[DPKetchum]

It is shocking at the attitude of some of these folks. It starts at the top and goes down,same as any other business. I made mistakes,we all do but I told techs and service writers treat folks like you want to be treated. Some of these guys who do this would DO A LIP STAND if it was THEM in your shoes. It never mattered to me if warranty or not. IT WAS ALL GOOD MONEY. No one ever said it was easy to check parts first,call and inform owners and make it all more efficient. It takes EFFORT,INCENTIVE AND SOME SMARTS!I use to tell some techs that if you screw me over on this auto etc I'll be on you like WHITE ON RICE!I've told adviser's that I'll write a reference for you at K/MART and drive you over there if this happens again. One problem I ran into nobody seemed to appreciate the REAL pro in this business. Its geared toward the OTHER type because they dominate it. Ask a REAL good tech,he'll tell you same thing. Parts is a nother issue. They never see the CUSTOMER and some dont give a rats ass how many times some one comes back. I always thought on there screwups THEY needed to deal face to face with the customer. I never was successful with this idea,always over ruled by higher ups. Use to be a joking matter about what kind of photos or trash the parts manger had on the DEALER OWNER. Its like they could do no wrong. Maybe its that hard to replace them?But I thought they a least try to RE-direct them. It seems to have gotten worse last decade or so.

 

[Badunit]

Is it possible that the one oil some dealers use is API rated for both gas and diesel and therefore is not a problem? A number of motor oils are. It might not be the oil of choice but I'd at least expect the dealer to know enough to put the correct API rated oil in the crankcase.

 

[sag2]

At least here in California, it is not legal to charge for shop supplies as a percentage of the bill, as most are. If you are going to charge for items used, they have to be itemized on the invoice. Also, hazardous waste charges can not be more than your actual cost to dispose. Most dealers have to calculate the disposal cost divided by the number of oil and filter changes, to come up with a fee that represents actual cost. In other words, it is illegal to make a profit on it. That is why most disposal fees in CA will be an odd amount.

Actually might be two of the good laws here!

 

[Pit Bull]

You might do a search on dually rotation. Many owners of dually trucks never rotate their tires. Say they last as long either way. I think I would just watch the tire wear and only rotate based on what you see.

 

[DPKetchum]

I use to rotate tires in general on a mileage basis. I stopped that a number of years ago and do it on a as need basis now. Being careful not to let the as need be a WOW they need rotating.

 

[Dean Upson]

I quit rotating tires along time ago and seem to go just as far with them as ever. If I see signs of wear, I will make adjustments to this practice. I am not saying that I am right, but it seems to work for me.



Dean

 

[CATCRACKER]

had a set of mud tires on my 99 CTD srw but i never rotated got close to 40K out of them.

 

[gsbrockman]

Originally posted by Pit Bull

You might do a search on dually rotation. Many owners of dually trucks never rotate their tires. Say they last as long either way. I think I would just watch the tire wear and only rotate based on what you see.

Sorry, but I must respectfully disagree with you on this one. Just take a look at some Ford F-350's that have the OE alloy wheels. They chop like hell due to the lack of economical rotations, in addition to the Ford suspension up front, possibly coupled with a large amount of trailer weight. As you all know, the only way to rotate on a dually with alloy wheels is to dismount and re-mount, then balance. If I had a dually, I'd prefer any steel wheels with simulators just because of the ability to economically rotate. At the S&S Tire where I work, any dually customer requesting white letter tires gets the fronts mounted w/l out and both inside duals mounted w/l out. The inside duals are rotated to the front; the outside duals (w/l out also) aren't rotated. At least you can eliminate some uneven wear. Just my $. 02 worth. :-{}

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by Pit Bull



I think I would just watch the tire wear and only rotate based on what you see.