Where NOT to go for Ferrari Service

Park Place in Bellevue.

Personal experience:

Went in with one problem (A) to fix, came out with two. (A + B)

Went back in again, came out with three problem now. (A + B + C)

No more .... no more .... no more

 

Don't they have ASE Certified Master Techs there? What was the original problem? I'd offer to fix it but I'm on the other side of the state =/

 

"Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice, shame on you."

While I've never had work done there, I always got a bad feeling from them on the sales floor.

 

Thanks for the offer. Below is the A. B and C in post #1.

Problem description:

A = Long cranking to start the engine (about 7 seconds)

B = RPM drops between gear change, sometime the engine just stops

C = At traffic stop, RPM vibrate between 700 to 1,500.

 

Did they check the throttle position sensor? Or the cold start fuel injection system? Oxygen sensors?

 

Flyngti, you are right. Shame on me. Weep ….

TechnicianX, It’s injected. 1988 328 GTS.

 

I don't have their work detail yet for the 2nd trip.

But was told the following were done:

- clean fuel injector
- replace fuel pump
- replace fuel accumulator
- replace fuel check valve

If I do go back (as if I have no brain), they want to:

- replace oxygen sensor
- rebuild warm up regulator

God know what else? Maybe an engine-out?

 

Sorry for the less than helpful comments. Have you posted your car woes in the 3x8 forum? Lots knowledgeable folks in there who can help you troubleshoot.

 

There is a term for this sort of auto repair method: "Diagnosis by parts replacement" Basically they keep replacing stuff until they get the "right one". A very expensive proposition as you are finding out...

 

I've heard it called the shotgun approach. Sounds like they've got a double barrel 12 gauge for your car. They should have hooked up a fuel pressure tester or shown you a bad waveform before replacing the fuel pump. Tell them to test the current oxygen sensor before replacing it. It's not hard to test with a multimeter. You should be entitled to some free diagnosis time after all this work and still not fixed let alone worse than when you brought it in.

Speaking to a manager usually gets a tech to figure things out more quickly. Funny how people straighten things out when their job is on the line.

 

One other thing to check for a hard start condition is the fuse in the safety relay or the relay itself. The CIS-L control unit gets no power supply and is unable to provide cold running or acceleration enrichment.

The safety relay is located next to the CIS electronic control unit in the right rear corner of the rear luggage compartment. Inspect the fuse located in the top of the relay for continuity. Also check the relay voltage drop. If it's greater than 0.1v replace the safety relay.

Hope that helps.

 

Oh sure everyone expects me to chime in just because I hate Park Place. Well not this time Im taking the high road. Just going to leave it alone, not even a peep.

 

TechnicianX, I really won’t go back to Park Place LTD again. My 2nd trip back was due to the manager promising me to let their “more experienced” technician who used to work at Ferrari of Seattle to work on my car. I trusted him and that was a bad decision.

Turned out this prior FoS technician is also using shotgun approach.

I am going to Alfa of Tacoma.

 

If I were you I'd be raising hell for that manager. I guess you're doing good work by making sure no one else goes there. Post up or PM me what the real fix was when you get it back in good working order from Alfa of Tacoma.

 

Good move! Carlo will get it figured for you. Carlo took care of a hot start issue I had with my 328GTS (he can work on these cars blindfolded, and probably in his sleep!). But seriously, it is Bosch K jetronic, mechanical fuel injection with a lamba feedback circuit...it doesn't necessarily take a Ferrari tech to figure it out...just a knowledgeable Bosch FI technician...and these cars are old, and younger guys don't know enough about them.

I'm sure Mark Glenwood at FoS could square you away too.

 

You won't be sorry for taking it to Carlo. Dave is right, he knows cars like yours (and mine too) like nobody's business. He will figure it out and not by throwing parts at it either!!

Great choice!

 

curious why you didn't take it to FoS or Alfa right away? Have you had bad experiences there?

 

No, I bought my car from FoS. Didn't go back to FoS due to too lazy to drive the miles (I live in Bellevue).

You can't fix stupid (me).

I now learned.

 

Done! Sent a letter to CEO of Park Place LTD yesterday.

I will PM you what the real fix is after Alfa of Tacoma does my car.

 

FoS has good mechanics, but they have the "You are driving a Ferrari so you must have extra cash" disease.

I had them change out the coolant on the 328 and asked them to swap out the thermostat, they quoted an hour and around a $150. (it was running a liitle cool like the stat was not closing all the way, from the records it appeared to be about 12 years old)

It did run at the correct temp after so it was the right decision to swap it out... But they presented me a bill for $600 as the thermostat was $300 and also let me hang around the lobby for 6 hours for coolant and a thermostat.

They did a full 30 minute plus test drive and went over the whole car so they could present me with the full list of "these are the things you should pay us to do to your car..."

If you are offering only diamond encrusted yellow boxed Ferrari parts, quote that in the price you give me up front.

If you are going to take 4 times longer than quoted you should really apologetic about it.

They have good peeps, they did good work... just be sure to get a detailed quote for both labor and parts before you set them off to work so you dont get surprised.

Carlo will probably get my next appointment even if I do have to drive down from Everett.

 

Hey lets stay on topic here, we are bashing Park Place not our fine local dealer of all things Ferrari. Im still staying out of it though.

 

So did you/they know you would be replacing the thermostat and all before you brought it to them? Or was the original $150 quote for a coolant flush?

 

My first post here, and will gladly stay on topic. I recently unloaded an AM Vantage Roadster I bought new at Park Place just so I wouldn't have to deal with their service dept. My favorite memory is the time I took my car in for an engine stalling problem, had them "fix" it, only to have it happen again while I waited to turn right to leave the dealership, had them re-"fix" it, only to have it happen again in stop-and-go traffic on 520. After 15 seconds of profound embarrassment while I blocked the left lane, I managed to get the engine restarted, drove the car home and had it towed back. The problem turned out to be a faulty potentiometer in the accelerator pedal.

And don't get me started on their consignment department. I wasn't successful in selling my car through them, but that didn't stop them from marking it "SOLD" on their website when I did sell it through F of Seattle.

 

Ken's right, this isnt the thread for FoS. To be clear, I would go back there even though they pissed me off. I would get a more detailed estimate so expectations are the same all around. nuf said

 

I started this thread.

I am not quite positive about what to do now.

Anyone in FChat who is an attorney? I need advice. PM me if you are willing to talk to me.

Thanks!