Paranoid 2010 California Owner - Is My Mechanic Messing With Me? | FerrariChat
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Paranoid 2010 California Owner - Is My Mechanic Messing With Me?

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by 2010Cali, Jul 7, 2016.

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  1. 2010Cali

    2010Cali Rookie

    Jul 7, 2016
    5
    #1 2010Cali, Jul 7, 2016
    I'm probably one of the younger Ferrari owners out there at 23 years old. I think this makes me seem ripe for being taken advantage of. At 18 when I had an older Porsche Boxster I definitely was conned several times by mechanics who knew I had no experience or recourse (they would add miscellaneous fees for things that I'm almost certain they didn't actually repair, quote costs for parts that were not actually replaced, new issues would show up after each visit, etc.) this wasn't the Porsche mechanic though so of course I was asking for it.

    When I first bought my 2010 California August of 2015 from an official Lamborghini dealership, they failed to disclose that the car had a check engine light issue.

    Basically they reset it before selling it to me, and every week it would turn back on, and the dealer would just reset it every time I came back. After 6-7 visits back to the dealer they still had not fixed it, and still refused to let Ferrari look at it as they wanted to fix it without spending any money.

    I just had this resolved a month ago by a Ferrari dealer in a new city. 9 months and 12 trips to the shop later! At least it wasn't a real issue and was fixed cheaply. The Lambo dealership did pay for it but they were unwilling to communicate further if the small amount they had paid failed to fix the issue. Just very lucky to have resolved it cheaply with one small repair and a software update which Ferrari didn't charge me for.

    Between the several trips back I got a random manettino failure light which I had never seen before. This only happened after I brought it to the new dealer a couple of times.

    Strange thing is, as soon as I get the car back, I notice my carpet clips are missing. Kid you not, the carpet clips! Isn't that weird? Simultaneously my car also says there's low tire pressure in just one tire. It has dropped 2 psi and hasn't lost any additional air. It's the only tire that has lost pressure and the psi stabilized. Been weeks and no change. I can't think of anything that would cause this. It's enough to trigger an alert when I turn the car on but not enough to trigger the actual tire pressure light. Also I got the low windshield wiper fluid light at the same time. It has turned off for now but really strange all three of these happened the morning after I got the car back. Part of me thinks they messed with just enough small things to get me to come back so they can turn some other light on that I'll have to come back in for again.

    What are the odds my mechanic is messing with me so I'll have to come back in for additional repairs? It seems no matter how many times I bring the car in there is something new I have to fix. Since I'm not a mechanic there's no way I know if they were the ones that caused the issue or if they're quoting me something unreasonable. I think I'm paranoid due to really bad past experiences. Since I've owned this car there hasn't been a week where everything was good to go. Always some new issue to fix or old issue that won't get resolved...

    Thanks in advance for any advice.
     
  2. 2010Cali

    2010Cali Rookie

    Jul 7, 2016
    5
    #2 2010Cali, Jul 11, 2016
    Bump
     
  3. El Wayne

    El Wayne F1 World Champ
    Staff Member Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Aug 1, 2002
    18,069
    San Marino, CA
    Full Name:
    L. Wayne Ausbrooks
    #3 El Wayne, Jul 11, 2016
    I don't know about all of the rest of it, but my first suggestion is to put air in the tire and add wiper fluid.
     
  4. tbakowsky

    tbakowsky Two Time F1 World Champ
    Consultant Professional Ferrari Technician

    Sep 18, 2002
    20,037
    The Cold North
    Full Name:
    Tom
    #4 tbakowsky, Jul 11, 2016
    Well that was beer straight out my nose. Hope the iPad survives. Thanks Wayne..;)
     
  5. cf355

    cf355 F1 Rookie

    Feb 28, 2005
    4,208
    Full Name:
    chris
    #5 cf355, Jul 11, 2016
    LOL
     
  6. cf355

    cf355 F1 Rookie

    Feb 28, 2005
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    chris
    #6 cf355, Jul 11, 2016
    just coincidence.
    its a ferrari and there will be annoying issues that will not happen on a honda.
    enjoy the car.
     
  7. mello

    mello F1 Veteran
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    Jul 12, 2013
    5,529
    CA Bay Area
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    Steve
    #7 mello, Jul 11, 2016
    On the tire with low air, you might want to check that the valve stem is tight. When owning a Ferrari, people sees you as being well heeled or come from a wealthy family. It comes with the territory. More so when you're in your early 20s.
     
  8. Caeruleus11

    Caeruleus11 F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jun 11, 2013
    11,707
    #8 Caeruleus11, Jul 11, 2016
    I don't think your mechanic is messing with you. To what end? Fixing carpet clips or wiper fluid, or even a tire or two isn't going to put a lot of money in their pocket. I think if all of a sudden your car needed a major engine overhaul with lots of parts that they could markup and labor they could charge then you could be more worried. As it is, I think you are (fairly) sensitive and some weird things happened- I say its coincidence. The carpet clips could be simply due to someone being maybe lazy if they took out the carpet and the clips came off and they missed it or forgot to put them back.

    Check all the tires with a real gauge. Just thinking out loud- when was your car built? It could be 6-7 years old now... thats right about the time where the stock batteries will go bad and also the batteries in the tire pressure sensors. You might want to do some preventative maintenance and replace the battery with a new one and also think about replacing the tire pressure sensors. Its a pain on those as the tires have to come off, so maybe wait and see whats going on with this tire. But when the battery begins to fail it can manifest itself with weird electrical annoyances...
     
  9. Enzojr

    Enzojr F1 World Champ

    Dec 12, 2013
    14,001
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    Tomy
    #9 Enzojr, Jul 11, 2016
    Where in the world are you located ?
    Or did I miss that.
    Also post in the California sub forum ......down below.
    If you post your location there may be a good Indy shop close by.
    Remember it is a Ferrari, excellent on the performance part......
    sometimes not so much on the details ;)
     
  10. 2010Cali

    2010Cali Rookie

    Jul 7, 2016
    5
    #10 2010Cali, Jul 11, 2016
    The original dealer replaced the battery for me already in an attempt to fix some of the original issues that manifested right after I made the purchase.

    And, I know that I sound extremely paranoid and generally am a little bit too cautious about things but previous experiences definitely factor into that. Thanks to everyone for the support!
     
  11. 2010Cali

    2010Cali Rookie

    Jul 7, 2016
    5
    #11 2010Cali, Jul 11, 2016
    The worry would be that they created small issues in order to get access to the car again and "find" additional issues. After being in the shop so many times and always having additional problems I am concerned that more and more will continue to show up. Potentially large ones like the one you describe.

    I know these cars are not perfect, but I haven't had a week without an issue yet. Sometimes it makes me feel like I should stop owning cars and use uber for everything lol.

     
  12. JPA

    JPA Karting

    Feb 3, 2016
    97
    Southern California
    #12 JPA, Jul 11, 2016
    Do you have your car on a battery charger?
     
  13. desmomini

    desmomini F1 Rookie
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Nov 18, 2003
    4,111
    Upstate SC
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    Jeff
    #13 desmomini, Jul 12, 2016
    "Just because you know you're paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get you."

    I like that you label yourself "paranoid" and you include various caveats, but you still are asking a forum of informed members for a second opinion about the general case.

    And it goes without saying that the Internet is no place to definitively diagnose anything, but you are relying on a commonality of experience, or lack thereof, to determine whether things really are fishy, or whether you're projecting out of fear of being taken advantage of.

    Good thinking.

    "Trust, but verify."
     
  14. 2010Cali

    2010Cali Rookie

    Jul 7, 2016
    5
    #14 2010Cali, Jul 14, 2016
    My philosophy exactly.

    Just brought it into the shop, they installed new carpet clips, topped off fluid, and filled up tire pressure

    There was no leak or anything in the tank or valve stems or etc. and no punctures

    They kept saying that the clips must have broken off but that doesn't make any sense. The pieces were completely missing, not broken, and it wouldn't break simultaneously on both sides in the same day.

    Whole experience was just strange. Weird body language and etc.

    I got home and got an electrical system failure warning after cycling the car on and off. A couple more cycles and it went away though...

    Since they know I'm going to file some complaints, reviews, and a suit against the original dealer I doubt the new dealer will mess with my car

     
  15. vrsurgeon

    vrsurgeon F1 World Champ
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    Dec 13, 2009
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    Charleston, SC
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    Curt
    #15 vrsurgeon, Jul 14, 2016
    1. Where are you? We might be able to know someone who WE trust that we can guide you to.

    2. Learn about your car. Read the manual if you haven't. You don't have to be a mechanical whiz, but knowing the basics of how your car works will prevent you from being walked all over.

    3. It could be that the early cars had issues that keep popping up. If you come off as an "ignorant kid" (I know.. I hate that term) then they're going to blow you off and fix the issue but not solve the problem. Not familiar enough with the systems in the Cali to wager a guess as to the root cause. Was it ever in a flood?
     
  16. Alden

    Alden F1 Rookie
    Rossa Subscribed

    Apr 25, 2010
    3,716
    Central Florida
    #16 Alden, Jul 15, 2016
    "Weird body language?" What is that? Where they doing yoga poses while servicing your car? Or maybe they had tattoos in obscure languages?

    Complaints, (bad?) reviews and a lawsuit against the original dealer? The new service guys may not want to see you ever again.

    Most of us found a few small things wrong with our cars when we purchased them. In fact, I can't remember the last used car, Ferrari or not, I bought that did not need something done to it.

    I doubt anyone is "messing" with you.

    If you want perfection, buy new.

    Seriously, just relax, and try to enjoy your new Ferrari ownership experience.
    Alden
     
  17. 400iGuy

    400iGuy Formula 3
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Aug 26, 2004
    1,080
    Central Florida
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    Al
    #17 400iGuy, Jul 18, 2016
    "...I know that I sound extremely paranoid and generally am a little bit too cautious about things but previous experiences definitely factor into that. ..."

    For your next purchase ask Ferrari Chatters who in your area can perform a thorough Pre Purchase Inspection and DO IT! I'm assuming you didn't have one done on the Ferrari. If you did please let us know by whom so we know not to go there.

    A PPI could have saved you a lot of grief.

    The voice of experience.....
    Al
     
  18. 166&456

    166&456 Formula 3

    Jul 13, 2010
    1,723
    Amsterdam
    #18 166&456, Jul 19, 2016
    A PPI could have saved you from low wiper fluid and low air pressure in one of the tires...
    Sorry to say, my opinion is that if you make yourself this dependent on dealers/garages/indys you deserve everything you get.
     
  19. It's Ross

    It's Ross Formula 3

    Jul 30, 2007
    2,028
    Barrington, Ill. USA
    Full Name:
    Ross
    #19 It's Ross, Aug 5, 2016
    Perhaps your mats were removed in order to prevent soiling them and they forgot to re-install the clips?
    Unless you are going to perform your own work you'll need to have some trust in those who do it for you. Talking about filing complaints and law suits will not endear you to any mechanic.
    If they want to mess with you they do it on a much grander scale and it seems you are sort of asking for it. Don't be "that guy".
    Other members here in your area will be able to suggest a trustworthy shop for you.
     

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