If anyone knows that quote, I love ya! Took my 2000 (Euro) 360 Spider in to the Dealer the other day to have the convertible top investigated, as it would not open fully. I had the microswitches, synchronizers, hydraulic rams, fluid level, etc. all checked by my own mechanic but it appeared to be something else. 1/2 hour later, the Dealer tells me there appears to be something out of alignment with the top frame. I was pleasantly surprised to see that they left it in the fully seated top down position. I had not been able to do that to date. He pointed out that my left side retractable side flap (also called Capote flap) did not close like it should. The Right passenger side one looked fine. The Dealer referred me to a Body Shop. I took the car there this morning, to their only & only recommended body shop, hadn't touched my top at all. The Manager and Tech both come out, ask me to show them the problem of the top not closing. I press the switch to 1st close the top. Within seconds, I hear a cracking noise and look over to see the right side fiberglass flap being crushed. They calmly said, looks like you need a new flap, which will also need to be painted. They did not diagnose anything about the other top issue. I realize that the Dealer did not damage my flap in their possession, and that I was the one who operated the top. But, based on the circumstances, do you feel there should be any liability from the Dealer? I followed the Dealer & Body Shop's instruction from the beginning, and am left with this mess.
I would say that this one is on you but I can see why it would be frustrating. With the work I have received from our local dealer I would check that kind of thing before driving off the lot. Sorry for the problems.
Well I would start by gathering the dealer people together, the ones you talked to, and ask them, "How did we get into this mess guys? Did this really have to happen?" Then the rest is up to you. Now I doubt they will compensate you directly...Could happen, but maybe they will help make you whole again another way. When stuff like this happens, sometimes the best you can do is to start to build a bridge to where they will take care of you down the road if possible and you start to get a relationship going. If this is important to you, it's worth the effort. It has worked for me in the past to be the guy sharing the story and have all the players in the performance reading from the same script. There is a problem to solve and "we" created it so "we" will need to fix it. Let's help Marty!
Hold it... You think that even for a moment that this could be their fault? You believe they have liability & that you are entitled to a free repair for them asking you to cycle your top to confirm your issue? I will gather my two Sons now, read this to them, make sure that they clearly comprehend what you are personally saying - and then explain that THIS is not the appropriate way to act.
I see it as this one is 100% on you. Believe me I'm not a fan of dealers, but fair is fair. On the other hand, if they know what happened to you, they may feel sorry for you, and give you a discount on stuff and/or repairs in the future. Sorry this happened to you, it really stinks. Hopefully it can get fixed up pretty quickly and economically.
However frustrating to have this additional expense, I don't see how you can possibly hold anyone but yourself responsible. It sucks, but... Best of luck getting it sorted ASAP. Jes
I read the OP carefully and I think we're being a bit harsh suggesting automatically the OP should bear all costs for this. From his description, it's unclear if the dealer made any adjustments to the top or simply operated the switch and it opened fully. It is reasonable to expect that if someone works on your car, they do the job properly without making the situation worse. The top didn't fully open before, and maybe the dealer "adjusted" it so that it would come to the full open position. Then, the very next cycle (from the OP's point of view), the top mechanism crushed the right flap, which previously had been fine. There is thus at least some possibility adjustments were made and done improperly, which caused the right flap to get crushed. On the other hand, maybe the dealer did nothing but operate the switch to get the top fully open, so it's not clearly the dealer's fault, either. I think the appropriate thing to do is return to the dealer, explain what happened the very first time the OP cycled the top after the dealer visit, see what they say and go from there. It's possible they explain satisfactorily that whatever they did could not possibly have caused the damage, or that they didn't do anything but operate the switch. It's also possible they admit they erred and offer some compensation. I don't think the OP ought to feel ashamed to talk to the dealer and just automatically absorb the full cost without talking to the dealer. Finally, capote flap breakage due to microswitch or other maladjustment or malfunction isn't exactly rare. I had the same thing happen, and got it fixed (on my nickel).
I appreciate the thoughtful and non-biased replies. I am not out to blame the Dealer for something they didn't purposefully cause to occur. It's frustrating though, as the top did function, though never fully closing, at least a dozen times without any damage prior to when the Dealer touched it. I paid only for a diagnostic, which ended in the Referral to their body shop. It would have been nice during a diagnostic on the top to be informed that there was a problem with the motor for the flap. I don't know what they did to get the top fully open. What would have happened if the Dealer's tech cycles the top & broke it instead of me? Different outcome I believe. I will certainly take the great suggestions provided here & e-mail the Dealer & body shop & see if they'll work with me in some capacity. I need to have my rollover valves replaced & I'm sure they'd like to do the work. Thanks again for the insightful replies.
If you found out after you'd been at a restaurant that a Valet smoked your clutch, you'd be all over the Valet company to make things right. Same difference here. It worked without breakage, albeit, not fully engaging - - BEFORE Dealership touched it, giving it a cosmetic "fix" in name only to LEFT side. Per instructions from Dealership endorsed Bodyshop - - In full view of Bodyshop Staff, and per their request, it broke not only cosmetically, but mechanically - on the previously undamaged RIGHT side.
Was the technician told by the service manager "the customer says the hood won't come down, find out why and get it down" and did he thus get it down but wasn't instructed to get it back up or test subsequent operation (perhaps from what he had seen this might imply further work and charges that would need authorisation)? The important questions seem to be, what exactly did they do to get the top down and did they know the flap would break when it was subsequently operated (did the tech even disconnect or alter something that led to the flap breaking)? Did they test its operation, as their recommended bodyshop immediately required this to be done? If it had been a car dealer with an in-house bodyshop you wouldn't have been the middleman at the unfortunate stage. Obviously from your complaint, they must not have advised you not to operate the hood or that (perhaps) it had been left in some kind of diagnosed but faulty state for the bodyshop to address. Although at first glance it can appear a challenge to place responsibility on them for what happened, they worked on the car and after that the flap, which you have stated did work prior to that, didn't work and that led to the damage occurring. I think you should pursue the matter with them.
