Angry

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch) 03/20/2019 at 13:02 • Filed to: Rant

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Left my Cruiser at the dealer last thursday morning, with VERY detailed and explicit instructions on what needed to be done.

Figured they would have no problem following my directions and getting it done on time. I was wrong.

Things they were supposed to do

1. replace the exhaust gasket on the header to y-pipe on the back header .

2. find t he 2 frayed (melted) injector wires (#1 and #3) in the bundle EXACTLY where I showed the service writer and fix them and wrap the bundle in insulating material

3. flush the power steering

4. replace the transmission mount.

I hadn’t heard from them all week so I called yesterday afternoon and they said they were just finishing it up but they it didn’t need exhaust work (it does).

I go in this morning expecting everything to be fine minus the exhaust work. This is what I found.

1. nothing done on the exhaust

2. nothing done on the wiring harness

3. Power steering pump whines like a super charger now and there is fluid all over my cap and res (and it still smells old).

4. transmission mount is done. So that’ s nice.

The tech said he didn’t see the exhaust leak so I showed him “oh yeah, I see it now.”

The tech said that the service writer told him that “something with the wires” needed to be done. and so he kinda looked it over and did nothing.

I don’t know WHAT they did to my power steering but its loud on turning and in straight running now. REALLY loud.

I asked if they could have it done today because I need it tonight and, well, kinda expected 5 business days would have been enough time.

“ooh, my schedule is really busy today, can you leave it with me?”

Part of the problem was the dipshit service writer which I kinda should have expected, I’ve been massively unimpressed with this guy, never calls back like he says, never answers my messages, is always gone when I am supposed to be there to pick it up.  Im sympathetic with the tech, he seems to want to do it right and also seems to blame the tech for poor communications but holy hell.  how is this so hard?  And what the hell did they do to my power steering?!

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > HammerheadFistpunch 03/20/2019 at 13:18

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Might have failed to keep the pump topped off while flushing => pump sucking air, damaging itself.

Sovande > HammerheadFistpunch 03/20/2019 at 13:20

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I don’t have any patience for getting work done at the dealership.  I copy the service manager with any and all requests I have.  What a pain in the ass.

deekster_caddy > HammerheadFistpunch 03/20/2019 at 13:36

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arghghghgh. I feel your pain. I had to leave my Volt at the dealer last week for a ‘service high voltage system’ error. I called to schedule an appointment on Wednesday. I said specifically “When is your Volt technician available” knowing they only have one guy trained for Volts and he is usually busy. Service dude - Tomorrow, can you bring it by tomorrow morning? (Thursday) . Me - N o, what about Friday? Them - Friday is fine too. Me - Are you sure the Volt tech is available Friday? Them (quickly) - Oh definitely. No problem.

So I drop it off Thursday night with a long note describing my exact issue, what it takes to recreate the issue, one other thing I’d like them to look at and in really big letters at the bottom of the note “PLEASE COMMUNICATE” underlined several times, and put it with my keys in their drop box . I made a copy of the note and tucked it on the dash behind the steering wheel so the technician would get his own copy. I get a call early on Friday morning “We are just pulling your car in, we got your note (uncomfortable chuckle). I’ll let you know when he looks at it.” True to his word I guess... they never called. All day. I tried to call several times and left several voicemails for someone in service... finally got someone to answer the phone 10 minutes before they closed. “Oh, the tech didn’t have time to look at your car today, and isn’t in on Saturdays.” steam started coming out of my ears ...

I picked up my car Saturday morning and they service guy was very apologetic and helpful, I was ready to completely tear into him. But he was able to diffuse me somehow and I gave them another shot, dropped it back off Sunday night and they actually did look at it on Monday. But this is my last service at this dealer, communication is like this every single time.

Chariotoflove > HammerheadFistpunch 03/20/2019 at 13:46

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... with VERY detailed and explicit instructions...

I think I’ve found your problem.

Kidding aside, the service rep is the crucial link. I am lucky that I have one who is pretty on top of things. Stuff does fall through the cracks, but really he takes care of me. Sounds like you drew a short straw and should consider going elsewhere.

Just Jeepin' > HammerheadFistpunch 03/20/2019 at 13:46

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I’ve started writing up and printing out what I want done. Throw some photos in there and you’re golden...or at least probably less screwed than before.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Chariotoflove 03/20/2019 at 13:51

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I have found, in part design, that the odds of something being put together properly are in inverse relation to the detail and accuracy of instructions I provide. We’re talking pictures. Diagrams. Exploded views. Multi-paragraph instructions.

Chariotoflove > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 03/20/2019 at 13:57

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I completely believe that. Many people don’t like to focus on detail for too long. They give up and decide to “wi ng it”.

Ash78, voting early and often > HammerheadFistpunch 03/20/2019 at 13:58

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The times I’ve gone into places with a short list of written instructions, it always has to be rehashed through the service writer. My current guy is in his 60s and a lifelong enthusiast who I’ve known for a decade. I don’t trust anyone else that much except maybe my indy mechanic.

Normally it’s like this:

You write :

1. replace the exhaust gasket on the header to y-pipe on the back header.

2. find the 2 frayed (melted) injector wires (#1 and #3) in the bundle EXACTLY where I showed the service writer and fix them and wrap the bundle in insulating material

3. flush the power steering

4. replace the transmission mount.

They write:

CUST COMPLAIN EXHAUST X-PIPE BAD AND WIRE FORAYED MAY NEED FUEL INJECTOR FLUSH ALSO PS NOISE, TOP OFF FLUID; REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION MOUNT.

HammerheadFistpunch > Ash78, voting early and often 03/20/2019 at 14:02

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so true

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > HammerheadFistpunch 03/20/2019 at 14:06

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There's a Land Cruiser specialist about a mile from my house. Ironic. You have no specialist, and I have no Land Cruiser....

bshappy > HammerheadFistpunch 03/20/2019 at 14:07

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Why get service at the dealer are you under warranty ?

Here’s a link to MUDs cruiser mechanic map. Might be helpful if you’re looking for a new shop.  https://fusiontables.googleusercontent.com/embedviz?q=select+col12+from+1_HHlKKazkfpyuWMRL5EwdVayuENHvsah6QXkqymd&viz=MAP&h=false&lat=34.0197093729885&lng=-117.00862826035154&t=1&z=11&l=col12&y=3&tmplt=5&hml=ONE_COL_LAT_LNG

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > HammerheadFistpunch 03/20/2019 at 14:09

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Time for a not shitty shop. If they can’t follow directions to the problem, what makes you think they follow directions on anything else? May as well take it to Walmart and have ‘em brrt-gun your caliper bolts and your lug nuts both.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Chariotoflove 03/20/2019 at 14:11

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Then there’s the electrical door I wanted to be welded on, which because of reasons had to be attached differently... so it got attached with screws which had heads too big for the hinge gap, and in an act of genius the hinge was sprung to allow the door to close. “The door isn’t lining up right for the latch.”

So I pointed out that the door could be mounted with the hinge on the outside face of the box without springing the hinge. Or, in exasperation, ‘you could mount the door with rivets’, said I.

Last I heard of it for a while. Plan to completely change the door once we run out of this series of boxes. No hinge, because DIE DIE DIE

So, today, it happens again. “THE DOOR IS TOO BIG AND THE LATCH DOESN’T FIT”.

Me: we’ve been over this

Him: You were going to make the box bigger, right?

Me: No. Because make hinge bendy bad. No running changes, the next unit isn’t going to be *this, but “ fixed” *.

Him: Whuh

Me: Last time I said that we’d need to put the hinge on the face of the box or something. You sprung the hinge. WHY WOULD YOU SPRING THE HINGE

Him: Uh, it doesn’t fit and I don’t remember and stuff. Blargh. Hammer.

Other Him, in Inventory Management/Production: Now that you mention it, we ordered some rivets for this exact purpose.

Him: Whuh.

Me:

HammerheadFistpunch > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/20/2019 at 14:21

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i have a specialist but his rates have gone up past his benefit. at least with the dealer i can cus them out without running relationships. the guy that owns this dealer is the same family that owns and runs the world only Land cruiser museum so they have good people here. mostly the issue as i see it is the service writer.

HammerheadFistpunch > bshappy 03/20/2019 at 14:25

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this dealer has good people too. same family that owns the Land cruiser heritage museum. they probably sell and service more than cruiser than any other dealer in the country. i usually go to my specialist but i have haven't been happy to their work to rates ratio lately. work is a little sloppy for dealer rates. good ownership but lazy techs.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > HammerheadFistpunch 03/20/2019 at 14:29

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I’d make doubly sure the power steering isn’t running dry. My Jag’s tcase grenaded because they didn’t refill it properly after servicing it after a dealer visit. 

Chariotoflove > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 03/20/2019 at 14:46

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That was a riveting story, but if the whole thing hinges on these guys figuring it out, I’d bolt and never c ome back.

HammerheadFistpunch > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. 03/20/2019 at 14:47

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there’s fluid it the res and it’s stopped making noise on a second dive but i feel some light vibes like cavitation through the wheel still on initial turn in. very light though. I’m going to dive it a little more then drop it off again if it hasn’t gone away. steering is nice and light though

Hey Julie > HammerheadFistpunch 03/20/2019 at 14:54

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Sounds like whoever did the flush really screwed it up, the machine has a lever that switches it from draining the  resivior to filling it and you are supposed to cycle the lever while you turn the wheel so that all the old fluid is removed and replaced with new without letting any Air into the system. If you don’t cycle the lever right you can overflow the resivior or suck it too dry and then let air into the system it sounds like the tech did both 

bshappy > HammerheadFistpunch 03/20/2019 at 14:56

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Ahh, so you ought to be in good hands. I wouldn’t let my local yota dealer anywhere near my 40. I’m still in search of a local wrench that I can trust. My LC specailist is in CT which makes it a project to get to and cruiser mechanics seem to be in short supply in New York.

HammerheadFistpunch > Hey Julie 03/20/2019 at 15:01

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cause for concern if the noise is gone?  I checked and it looks like fluid is flowing as it should.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Ash78, voting early and often 03/20/2019 at 15:53

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Good service advisors are harder to find than good techs.

Hey Julie > HammerheadFistpunch 03/21/2019 at 00:47

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If the noise is gone I would assume that all the air in the system escaped and it’s functioning normally