| Author | Message | ||
     Scott0827 |
Took my CR in this morning for the break-in. mechanic changes oil, checks everything out, backs the bike off the lift and starts it. I notice fluid draining from underneath. Mechanic forgot to tighten the bolts on the filter cover!! He then puts bike back on the lift fixes problem and takes bike for test ride. Comes back says all is good. I check bike and notice that he did not put crush rings in either of the drain bolts!! I then complain and they fix problem. Then when its time to pay they try to charge me for the extra oil!!!!! I did not pay for it! Whole thing took five hours!! | ||
| Hogluvr |
Wow, glad that's not MY dealer!! | ||
| Socalmoe |
Moral of the story: Wrench on your own rigs. | ||
| Superdavetfft |
That's exactly why I always do my own work... admittedly I've always been a gearhead so it comes naturally but I follow the factory service manuals to the letter. It might take me a bit longer but it obviously saves a ton of cash and I KNOW it was done correctly and completely. Mechanics are human and mistakes just like anybody so I'm not running them down at all. I used to be one and it's a punishing job. Do your job right 99.999% of the time and nobody says a word, put a cat hair size scratch on a fender and it's like you just shot the guy! If you do get your bike serviced at a dealer get to know the service manager and your mechanic. dave | ||
| Hogluvr |
Amen brother!!  | ||
| Freezerburn840 |
At the bare minimum learn how to change the oil and check the air filter. | ||
| Slypiranna |
This dealer should have not charged a dime and even thrown in something to boot. Bull$hit, in my opinion... "Mechanic" and/or "human error" should not be an excuse. Nor should any owner have to learn anything relevant when he or she is paying for a dealership service that should be routine. This all is assuming that the info herein is factual...time will tell. | ||
| Moosestang |
I change the oil on all my vehicles. I can see how some people can't do that because of where they live. I love living out in the country! I'm not surprised. My father took his subaru to a quicky lube place and instead of draining the oil, they drained the transmission fluid and added 5 quarts of motor oil to the engine. So the thing had no tranny fluid and 10 quarts of oil in the motor. Needless to say they knew something wasn't right when they started it and check the oil level. Idiots are everywhere. | ||
| Freezerburn840 |
Yep. I agree Slypiranna I just wanted to say I have been there and done that and I do my own oil changes and air filter changes on all my vehicles for this reason. Washers missing. Oil cap not put back. A flipping idiot even forgetting to put the drain bolt back and oil spilling everywhere! (Yes its happened). Tranny fluid drained instead of the oil. All that crap. Other maintenance items I just hold my breath and hope they put everything back and nothing is loose and they fix the issue I have it in there for and not create another one after the bike or car get backs to me. (Message edited by freezerburn840 on November 04, 2009) | ||
| Justa4banger |
WOw , i hope my dealer isn't that bad.. i have no idea, its my first warranty work (leaking rocker cover). well see how it goes... Anyone ever use a MityVac to suck the oil out? i use one on my diesel jeep, works great and NO MESS... then you don;t have to mess with the drain plugs or those crush washers... | ||
| Scott0827 |
I just wanted to get the first service done so its on record!! I do intend to do most things myself. | ||
| Freezerburn840 |
My dealer that I use now has been great. All those experiences I've had where all past issues. Now when I do take my bike in for warranty or a scheduled service. I say minus the oil and air filter. | ||
| Iamarchangel |
Bought a used Saturn from a dealer. Always got oil done at a quick oil place. Found a good mechanic, got him to do oil. He showed me original Saturn filter. In 2 -3 of quick oil, the filter had not been changed. Check their work. Easier to check out work on a bike. | ||
| Froggy |
Moosestang, I am guilty of doing similar at my dad's shop. Only drained out about a quart before I realized it was red not black! At least I didn't put 5 extra quarts in the oil hole.  | ||
| Xodot |
Scott that was good of you to catch the missing crush rings. I don't know if I would have. | ||
| Whynot |
Wow -- rotten experience. The dealer I went to quoted $280 for the first service and a two-week wait to get in. Forget about that one. Buy the parts book and shop manual and go exploring. | ||
| Doctorneon |
Get the name of the mechanic,and at the very least report him to H-D (as if they would care). I'd be looking for another place to waist your money. | ||
| Redscuell |
For a change I agree with carbon; we shouldn't have to learn to do our own servicing to overcome incompetency at dealerships. Though I had to, anyway; and then changed dealerships. New one (Harley Heaven, Dandenong) has been very good so far; vs Harley City, Brunswick, which is incompetent. I also agree with doctorneon, though, when stating "as if they (H-D customer service) would care". | ||
| Scott0827 |
At least now if something happens to my bike they cant say it happen because I did not do the break-in!!!! At least they did fix everything... | ||
| Court |
Hahahaha . . . my best one was in about 1970 when I was working as a heavy equipment mechanic. We'd been out going at it pretty hard unitl the wee hours one night . . . the next morning . . . I bring in a D8 Caterpillar for service... I drain the 10 gallons or whatever wild amount of oil out of the crankcase . . . get distracted . . . return a bit later and toss a couple cases of gallon cans of Delvac up on the track, crawl up and start opening and dumping as fast as I could. After about 5 or 6 minutes I hear all sort of laughter and turn around to see the machine is sitting in a sea of oil and the huge drain plug is sitting on the grouzer next to me. Ooooooops . . . can you say 30 bags of Oil-Dri??? | ||
| Bobbuell1961 |
Court, i've done a couple of qts and it makes a huge mess! Gallons! no thanks | ||
| Buzzie |
I do not believe any respectable technician has never made a mistake like that. thats how we learn in some cases..to never do that again. | ||
| Scott0827 |
The technician finger tightened the two bolts, and forgot to tighten them down!!! | ||
| Fmaxwell |
I see both sides. On the one hand, I do all of my wrenching because it saves me time, money, and I think that I do a better, more conscientious job. On the other, someone who does not want to, or is not able to, should be able to get the work done at a dealer an not have it be totally botched. If the filter housing screws are supposed to be torqued to 97 in-lbs, then, damn it, the dealer should be doing that. It's obvious that this dealer had no intention of paying attention to factory torque specs. Otherwise, he'd have noticed that he had a torque wrench out set to 97 in-lbs and hadn't used it. And what's the chance that the drain plugs were torqued to spec? (answer: zero) One missing or reused crush washer is human error. Two missing crush washers is total and utter incompetence and/or apathy. I examined each of my drain plugs before putting it back in to assure that the sealing surfaces were clean. If the crush washer had not been there on either drain plug, I would have seen it. | ||
| Danxb9r |
The dealer lost all creditability when they tried to charge him more (extra oil) for their mistake. I would be pissed too! | ||
| Scott0827 |
Dan, you hit the nail on the head!!!! | ||
| Averagejoe |
I am with you guys, i learned this years ago with my first bike. It comes down to the fact that most of these mechanics don't take the pride and attention to details you would yourself. I have said for years, if you cant work on it yourself of have a buddy that can, don't ride a sportbike. Its like racing and paying a guy at the track to wrench on it. | ||
| Danxb9r |
If the dealer would have handled it more like this... Oh Sorry we forgot to tighten such and such. We re-filled it with oil and gave you 10% off for the trouble. I'm sure he would have been much happier with this scenario. Sure people make mistakes no big deal but its how the dealer fixes those mistakes that leaves the customer leaving happy or angry. | ||
| Danxb9r |
What dealer was it? | ||
| Freezerburn840 |
Correct Dan. I work in the parts industry so I know about making it right at least. The dealer needed to do something other than charging for more oil that is hillarious to me! Make mistakes then charge me for more when they should have done it right the first time! They needed to do something to please the customer period. I will tell you one thing if that dealer gets mentioned they get thrown right under the bus and for good reason. I wouldnt get caught allowing them to touch anything on my bike. Its not 100% becasue they were incompetent its because of 50% incompetence and 50% customer service which I know a lot about. Bottom line is you just do something and not let it get to what could possibly happen which is what is happening right now. Getting your name dragged through the mud! (Message edited by freezerburn840 on November 05, 2009) (Message edited by freezerburn840 on November 05, 2009) |
