Mechanics from hell!

The fact that we need to do homework on specific work that needs to be completed is very key (prior to bringing a car in for service). Your point about giving the impression that you are fairly well versed with the maintenance issues can go a long way. Excellent points here to keep us away from being the lambs lead to the slaughter house.

 

Here you go

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14782

 

Just bought a 1991 964 turbo with 25K miles and a Porsche dealership in TN ( not mentioning the name ) did a PPI along with Compression,leakdown and the plugs.
3 days later found out the following things.
1)-A/C didn't work ( $350 to fix it )
2)-Rear tires were totally bald,lucky for me to have spotted them and i was able to negotiate the price.
3)-Compression #s were 115 all across 6 cylinders.I was told by my friend that its nearly impossible to have same #'s even in the new engine and that he bet they didn't do the compression.
4)-One of the headlights had been replaced and looked newer but the mechanic apparently didn't pick that up either.
Up until that time i was fine however that compression thing kept bothering me so one day i asked them to give me the leakdown numbers and after getting a week of run around i was finally told the leakdown was never done.To say i was mad would be an understatement.
Well i brought the car back to my local Porsche dealership who re did the compression and the leakdown and lucky for me every thing came out fine.However can you imagine they had not change the sparkplugs either.
Though i was able to make them pay for all that but i still feel bad about the whole thing.I never expected such a highend dealership screwing their customers.So what do you all think about this?
Later, Yasir

 

Hell, if I do my post tomorrow, you will feel damn lucky for your own situation!

 

tic toc tic toc tic toc......

 

I took my truck in one time, they said they put plugs in and charged me for it. I took it, it still ran like sh@t, they looked at it again, then told me to take it to a dealer. dealer looked at it for two minutes and said it needs plugs. I said it just got them, so they pulled one out and low and behold it was an original plug. the other mechanic didn't do anything, but charged me. I showed the plugs to the garage manager and all he could say was "I'll talk to the mechanic." Saying that they did the work, have the truck come back because it doesn't work, and STILL not doing the job. What a dumb-azz.

 

Ken, thanks for your joyful responses!

But seriously, she has an oil cooler gasket problem, not a headgasket. We checked it several times, and I'm monitoring it. She normally doesn't go past the halfway bar.

And concerning Headgaskets, I am heading a class where we teach people to change headgasket on an early 944 N/A this Saturday. If anyone local would be interested in attending (Location is in Torrance), please let me go. We are going to over run the neighborhood in Porsches, BMWs and what not, lol.

Next month, I am holding the same class on a 951.

I think I'm such a glutton for punishment, I'll be ready for a 308 and/or Lotus over the next year, lol! I love Exotics too much for my own good.

That is ONE good thing about being a gal and learning something about these cars (been working on cars since I was 9); makes it harder to mess with me on repairs.

Oh, and on that 964, isn't the compression a bit low!? On my '83 944, she came back at: #1 - 153; #2 - 155; #3 - 155, and #4 157.

Oh, and concerning the roommate, he "claimed" he blew it in the fast lane, doing 80 MPH; I think we all KNOW he dumped the clutch at some point, and was trying to ditch the blame.

He hasn't been allowed to drive her ONCE since this all happened, and I'm looking for a new place that DOES NOT include a roommate - I need the room for the 308 - FINALLY a car my boyfriend DOES NOT object too, lol.

- Julie

 

It's...FRIDAY!!!

 

The topic was based on the fact that this is a Ferrari board, mechanics service Ferraris, and mechanics have been known to rip people off. This thread isn't about plumbers & landscapers because they don't work on Ferraris.

Did you actually READ his post? He wasn't attacking you personally.

Frankly I think this is an interesting topic.

 

All keep this brief. My car has been dealer serviced from day one. Recently I went to an idependent that is highly regarded in my area.

The result was: Cracked my trunk liner while tring to get at A/C box & one chipped rim and 2 scratched rims while intalling new tires.

The car is concours level - I had to return the car him and he agreed to fix the items. Items repaired and wheels repainted.

I kept thinking "This would never happen at the dealer"...especially Shelton.

The difference in hourly rate between the independent and the dealer is about $20 / Hr. After computing down time with the car and all the headaches I was penny wise and dollar foolish. I will always support my dealer.

 

When they re did the compression the car was cold and the numbers were 120,120,120,125,120 and 125 ( i was told within factory specs) with leakdown of 2%,2%,2%,4%,2% and 4% which every one thinks are great for a 91 Turbo.The mechanic had told me that since it would be a cold test that the numbers be lower but as long as they are not too far apart that it should be OK.
Later, Yasir

 

15 years in this as an independent, never advertised, always treated customers fairly. But, I still screw up occasionally. as Tom has said, my investments in tools and equipment are large and needing to be larger. I know you will all beat a path to my door if I front up the 35grr for an SD2. Then ***** when I have to charge $500 a pop to use it!
If you go to a flat rate shop, cheap oil change place or whatever, you should not be surprised if there is a cock up, you get what you pay for. Not to say that some places won't give exceptional service, the system sucks, not necessarily the people in it. That's why I went independent, sure don't get rich at it, but I sleep at night.
My problem? I need to say NO to more people with their cut rate expectation on their pride and joy.
Have a great day.
Brian

 

Hey LaFun2, I see you did it, but how?????


John