Dealership diagnostic skills??

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 9:17 pm

I was always under the impression (fool me) that new car dealerships workshops had diagnostic equipment to diagnose faults in their own brand.

Got a big problem no one can solve ? give in and take it to the dealer....and expect a big bill when they finally get it sorted.

I have met a few Bitsamissin dealer mechanics who have told me otherwise- that the fixes are generally either down to model specific experience or simply having running models in stock to swap some components over with to find fault.

I recently got talking to an older bird with a turbo Forester who claimed to have complained of a problem for several months to her local subie dealer, and nearly given up ( I think she neearly took up the offer to swap the GT for me Brumby !!) None of the workshop dockets mentioned the complaint or a diagnostic charge either for that matter. She was verbally quoted some thousands to replace the cat converter-in case it was the cause. I saw it after the new after market cat was fitted and old one was partially 'gone' but no fix the problem.

Looking at the original leads, 30,000 k old $22.50 spark plugs (ea), and a coil pack _ I'd start to interchange these with another going model if I had the access ( Like someone at a dealership !!) Aftermarket lead set $160 would you risk buying them ? genuine or otherwise

Car would start but die under various loads and got much worse the instant new cat went in, gasses flowing more efficiently

She has resolved to take it up with her dealer when she got back home

I hope she made it back to where ever it was!!!.

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 9:20 pm

all the while brain is a-thinking coil pack with a problem that does not show up on a basic coil test coz it still sparks - but maybe not so well under load

Chris_Rogers · Post by **Chris_Rogers** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 10:00 pm

sounds VERY familar. I had a suzi dealership try to blame be for a computer dying after I put an alarm in a new suzi swift. they CBF tracing it down.

jzk25 · Post by **jzk25** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 3:55 pm

Sounds like Mass Air Flow sensor failure to me. Uber common on 99-00 Turbos.

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 10:17 am

sounds like.....was !! after wording the girl up on who might have better access to parts to interchange...(the dealership) ....she got results after talking to the workshop boys...and me and me mate scored a box of Crownies (or something very similar, I carried the box, put it down and then it disappeared- I am calling the cops very soon )!

well done jzk for thinking out loud

Wilbur · Post by **Wilbur** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 2:46 pm

Jono, dealerships are only as good as their staff.

mattw · Post by **mattw** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 6:12 pm

yeah, had a poor experience with a suby dealer over here, (won't name but they aren't the one in the city....) they had my dads 01 wrx for several days and failed to find a faulty coil pack (there is only four!!!!!!) which took my friendly auto elec/mechanic 10 minutes to identify. And its dropped an obviously worn fan belt straight after its 100k service. If it isn't changed automatically at 100k, a routine inspection would have shown the fatigue cracks........ And we were 300kms from home, 38 degree day and no A/C.
unimpressed, going to the city dealer from now on....

Subyroo · Post by **Subyroo** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 3:05 pm

mattw never be ashamed or shy to name a bad dealership if it could save another Suby owner from being stung also.

mattw · Post by **mattw** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 4:58 pm

not ashamed, there is only two Suby dealers left in Adelaide, and as I said it isn't the one in the city. I was a bit suprised, as I haven't had any issues before.

subabooba · Post by **subabooba** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 7:05 pm

Basically every time the sell a car they have a new sucker who will get it serviced there so they don't really give a sh!t.

It's funny the emphasis people put on 'dealer' service history. Personally I'd rather hear it was serviced by a local mechanic who the owner knew....

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 2:00 pm

...who could stamp the book without even seeing the vehicle :666

subabooba · Post by **subabooba** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 7:26 pm

Yeah true, but you could say the same about some dealers - just that they still charge people

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 1:02 pm

at least they probably change the oil, yeah , you are so right