Name Ways We Can Prevent Dealers & Mechanics

[2001ragtop]

The best prevention is indeed to do your own oil changes. Or have oil changes done where you watch everything that happens so you can verify your car is okay during the process.

Also if a car is "so messed up" that you have to keep bringing it back to the dealer, you should be returning it or selling it.

I have two different 2008 Chevy trucks. Neither one has been to the dealer since the day they were purchased. If I had to keep taking it back, I would get it fixed then immediately trade it in for something else.

Once you get a new car, you should never have to go back to the dealership again for any reason. (Except to buy factory parts and install them yourself at home, using your own tools, your own torque wrenches, etc.)

Edit: I have changed these things by myself: brakes, clutch, shocks, rear axle, oil, coolant, R134 a/c fluid, oil in tranny and differential, replaced intake manifold, water pump. everything but remove a cylinder head or any internal engine component. If I had to replace struts, I would just go to something like NTB or pep boys and let them do it.

Like someone else said, Camaro5 has a DIY section which will help you if you do not mind getting dirty and using a torque wrench and reading a book with torque specs and instructions.

[Renegade]

Anyone do their own oil change and brakes?

[Rhyder]

Originally Posted by CHEV400

Service departments do fall under GM guidelines....they do put the power in the service managers/advisors to solve issues. Sounds like you dealt with a dealership who didn't want to help you. Not all of us are run that way.

that would be more believable if when you had an issue and contacted GM about it, thier response wasnt, "thats between you and the dealership"........

[got adrenalin?]

When you drop your Camaro off for service ... arrange for a FLASH MOB of all GM friends to attend the drop off ... and than call the dealer up right after you leave the car.... tell them that you think you may have forgot to turn off the car nanny cam but not to worry .. that they are of most trusted dealers around so you know it will be safe... and that your car has GPS tracker (like Lo-Jack) that can be monitered from your smart phone ...=))

[firestone_ss]

hey guys just for the record.there is a huge difference between a auto mechanic and an auto technician.Its very ignorant to call everyone who repairs cars a mechanic.Mechanics are the self taught always dirty parts changing low lifes that really dont have a clue how the inner workings are your vehicle work.Technicians typically have some sort of professional training and most have college degrees are very professional and have job integrity to do a job right and then stand by there work.When you toss that word mechanic around it insults me and every other tech out there that takes alot of pride in how well we do our jobs.Most of us have more education than behind us than you would think and ill even throw this out there..we make six figures..Were not mechanics were technicians/engineer/mathmatician/computer programmer/social worker all put into one job so enough with the bashing ok

[CHMSC]

Originally Posted by Renegade

Anyone do their own oil change and brakes?

I do all of my own work unless it's under warranty.

[Mysteek]

I have a really close friend (13 yrs now) that happens to work at the dealership I take my car too. Every time she needs to go in or my hubby's truck needs to go in, I just shoot him a text letting him know to keep an eye. He makes sure to check up on them often if he can't work on them, but I usually request him for any and all work on my vehicles. He is a Camaro freak, more so than I, so I know he is trustworth. He treats them like babies!! Great guy!!

[TSSUNAMI]

We have about 3-5 club members who use the same service department. If they do one of us wrong, they likely will lose all of us.

I always take time to get to know the service writer, make sure that I'm not just some number they are dealing with. I also come into contact with a TON of people due to the nature of my work, the fact that I'm a member of one of the largest 5th gen clubs in the country, and also that I'm very outgoing. I always send good buisneses new customers. The people know that I can be a very squeaky wheel when I'm unhappy, and that I can be an endless source of praise when I am pleased.

I always write to GM and fill out surveys, I give specific names and locations. I also let the people working on my car know that I do this. I let my writer know just yesterday that I gave him, and the techs who worked on my car a GREAT review with GM.

A little preventative damage control goes a long way. Not being a dick doesn't hurt either.

[ShowSStopper]

Originally Posted by J-ROD-210

Just don't go to the dealer and instead go to the camaro5.com DIY forums.

[WheelmanSS]

Answer = Build relationships

I've been involved in the car industry for long enough to know good people, work with the right individuals, and know who I can count on.

Educate yourselves. It isn't hard. Spend less time worrying about this kind of stuff and more time researching and you would be surprised what you can learn.

[Heaven_is_inferno_orange]

Do your research before chosing a shop. Dont be afraid to ask if the techs are ASE certified or ASE master certified. Trust me those tests are the hardest thing us techs can take and many do not pass. We have to know the subject extremely well to pass them. usually a tech with an ASE cares about there profession. It also costs us alot of money to take those tests. Dont be afraid to insist on going on the test drive with the tech. In fact its easier for us if you take us on the test drive because you know exactly how you were driving when the problem occured. If you have time stay at the shop with the car while its being diagnosed or worked on and watch. Alot of shops Ive worked at or been to have a place you can view us while we work. Before you sign off any paperwork once the job is done, go over the car. Look it over carefully, look at the dash and make sure no MIL's were on and that the car is in good condition. Many times after we repair your car we will take it on another test drive to make sure its running properly. Ask to go along on these test drives as well. Hope some these tips are helpful. Please remember not all of us are bad.

[Avenging Orange]

Firing squad? public hangings?

[CHMSC]

https://www.dynaspy.com/car-camera-v...ir-nightvision

Can you really trust the people you let into your car? You may not even realize how many people actually have access to your car on a regular basis.

Valets, students, employees - even your children likely are all in your car more often than you think. You want to be able to trust that what they are doing in there is honorable, but can you really?

With the Car Camera Voyager you can!

What makes this system work so well is that it is making no attempt to hide whatsoever. Only the world's most oblivious person could get in your car with the Voyager installed and not realize it was there.

Studies have shown that knowing you are being watched is one of the best motivators for good behavior.

Imagine -- no more need to eye the valet up and down before handing over your keys. No more awkward situations with your students explaining the rules of having access to your car. No more lecturing your kids before they take the family car out for a drive.

That big ol' camera just hanging there in the windshield is deterrent enough for just about anyone's bad intentions. Anyone brave enough to ignore it will be caught red-handed on tape.

Round the clock coverage, now with night vision!

Everyone knows that night time is prime time for trouble. Thanks to our IR night vision, you can capture any event regardless of whether it is day time or night time.

With the included cable to charge in your car's cigarette lighter, not only is the camera much more obvious, it is always on.

[PQ]

Originally Posted by firestone_ss

hey guys just for the record.there is a huge difference between a auto mechanic and an auto technician.Its very ignorant to call everyone who repairs cars a mechanic.Mechanics are the self taught always dirty parts changing low lifes that really dont have a clue how the inner workings are your vehicle work.Technicians typically have some sort of professional training and most have college degrees are very professional and have job integrity to do a job right and then stand by there work.When you toss that word mechanic around it insults me and every other tech out there that takes alot of pride in how well we do our jobs.Most of us have more education than behind us than you would think and ill even throw this out there..we make six figures..Were not mechanics were technicians/engineer/mathmatician/computer programmer/social worker all put into one job so enough with the bashing ok

All I've heard is people slam mechanics. So you should be fine with that.

I haven't seen anyone slam 'Technicians'.

Of course I didn't know the difference and don't care. I don't trust either with my car. I can't find any good mechanics OR technicians here. So I have done all of my work myself. Except the tuning.