- #2950 of 3025
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Re: service schedule [newowner10]
by billward
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Aug 20, 2009 (7:21 am)
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Replying to: newowner10 (Aug 20, 2009 6:54 am)
In fairnesss to others, I was on a vacation a few years ago, and we were driving on Skyline Drive, in Virginia, in our 1996 Plymouth Voyager; we had had the brakes done, and an oil change, literally the week that we left, and we LIVE in Virginia, about 200 miles away from the area in question. So, we're going up and down hills, but we realize we need to go down a particularly steep grade, about 1200-1500 feet downward in four miles, with sharp cutbacks; I need to use the brakes heavily.
After a few minutes, for the first time EVER, I start to feel brake fade, and I'm worried (it's a steep drop off the sides; the actual point-point distance is only about a half mile or so, but it's four-five miles with the cutbacks); I shift the transmission to low, and use the brakes a bit harder to make up for the fade. By the time we get down, I've warped the rotors, ruined a caliper, and there's smoke coming from the brakes (well, duh!). Seems one of the calipers had seized in the heat of the steep descent, which caused the fade; clamping down saved our lives, but overheated the other brake caliper.
$900 in brake work to fix, but NOT at the original shop (which I only used very occsionally because my normal mechanic is 19 miles away (we moved after I'd been using him for years) and I needed to get it done quickly; this guy was a half mile away); I've never gone to them again, as they should have been able to see there might be a problem with the one caliper. The shop that had just done the work refused to warrenty anything.
So sometimes it doesn't matter that you have the vehichle worked on at the appropriate times for the appropriate services... things just HAPPEN sometimes.
Oh, and in VA our yearly inspections have shot up from $7 to $16 over the last decade.
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- #2951 of 3025
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Re: service schedule [fitzsish]
by targettuning
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Aug 20, 2009 (9:56 am)
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Replying to: fitzsish (Aug 20, 2009 7:14 am)
The clueless comment is not personal however unless one knows at least a little bit about the complex accumulation of the thousands of parts called an automobile then the many odd/unusual noises, smells, feelings, etc. pass under the radar for many (most?) people until a $10 fix becomes a $1000 one. At the very, very, least owners should read the owners manual...how many do? Anyhow, brakes are (should be) a basic inspection item for any mechanic especially as the miles accumulate and if yours did not inspect your brakes until they ruined your rotors then you should refer to him as "my ex-mechanic".
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- #2952 of 3025
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Was me ripped off by dealership for engine light on check?
by hongwu
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Aug 20, 2009 (6:56 pm)
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My wife went to Hyundai dealer at Sunnyvale to have 2006 Sonata check for "engine light on" issue today. The dealership found code "P0455" and it was caused due to Fuel cap loose. Then the dealer charged her $130 for the code scan and tight the fuel cap.
Please advise if $130 is a ripple off for this kind of service? I am also going to report to the Hyundai USA to see how they reply as well.
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- #2953 of 3025
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Re: Was me ripped off by dealership for engine light on check? [hongwu]
by newowner10
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Aug 21, 2009 (4:10 am)
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Replying to: hongwu (Aug 20, 2009 6:56 pm)
They scanned the car that is a normal charge. They could have checked the simple things like the gas cap but they would have charged you 1/2 hour of labor.
You could have checked the gas cap since it is in the owners manual that that would cause a check engine light. Some cars have a separate light for the gas cap.
Dealers do charge more than independents. As a quick example: I have free state inspection on my Hyundai Sonata. In PA we need emission inspection also. The dealer charges $50 for the emission test. I could get both state inspection and emission inspection for $29.95 at Midis (they have a sale at $24.95 this month). The dealer wants to get you in there so they can recommend services that are not in the maintance schedule. I trust the dealer the least of all service options.
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- #2954 of 3025
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Re: Was me ripped off by dealership for engine light on check? [newowner10]
by targettuning
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Aug 21, 2009 (4:46 am)
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Replying to: newowner10 (Aug 21, 2009 4:10 am)
I have mixed feelings about this quandry...dealer or independent..hmmmm! While you are correct that the dealer usually charges more and uses the opportunity to "recommend" unnessary maintenance I find that they know their product line much better than the average independent who has to know a little bit about every car and truck out there, especially since cars have evolved into rolling computer controlled transportation modules....25% mechanic, 75% electronics technician. Plus they have access to the latest and greatest (whether they know it or not) TSB's and recall information pertaining to your specific make/model, they invested in all the specific tools and equipment, sent their techs to training to be certified in certain processes and proceedures so more $$ up front (in the form of hourly labor cost) could be less for the customer. What??? Yeah, if the dealer knows what that obscure noise, smell, vibration is because since they have seen it on your make before they don't waste the time ($$$) to diagose it. Besides, if owners actually read their recommended service booklet they could by forearmed with knowledge when the dealer recommends unnessary service and just say no. In this specific case the dealer used a hand held code reader that they connected to the OBDII port (a 3 minute job) called up the program and found the failure code in 2 more minutes, walked around and tightened the gas cap in 45 seconds so..no a $115 fee was not called for BUT depending on the dealer i.e how much of a stickler for billing proccedure regardless of time/energy expended are they, and how much of a "loyal" customer you are this could have been a good-will fix. A freebee!!
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- #2955 of 3025
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Re: Was me ripped off by dealership for engine light on check? [targettuning]
by newowner10
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Aug 21, 2009 (7:23 am)
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Replying to: targettuning (Aug 21, 2009 4:46 am)
I agree that the dealer has more training and has to cover the overhead they have. If you need new brakes should you go to the dealer?. Normal pad replacement should not be a problem for the independent. Check engine lights probably would not be a problem for the independent who has access to the technical service bulletins. I just have the impression that the dealer is always trying to get every dime they can when you go in for your free oil change. I also get the impression that the dealers are trained to deny there is a problem with your car if they do not have a fix.
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- #2956 of 3025
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2002 hyundai sonata v6 2.7 starting problems
by dlovelong
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Aug 21, 2009 (7:43 am)
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Replaced the camshaft sensor now the car wont start had the timing belt done 2 years ago but not getting any fire to the plugs can anyone help
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- #2957 of 3025
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Re: Was me ripped off by dealership for engine light on check? [newowner10]
by james1982
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Aug 21, 2009 (9:30 am)
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Replying to: newowner10 (Aug 21, 2009 7:23 am)
The decision of whether to go to the dealer to have work done is always a difficult one. There are a few things you want to ask yourself:
1.) Do the parts you are replacing NEED to be genuine Hyundai parts? The dealers only use ‘genuine Hyundai’ parts, whereas another service shop won’t. So, if you need your oil changed, it won’t matter where you go – as long as the correct oil grade is used. However, if you are having transmission work done, it may be better to have Hyundai parts installed in your Hyundai by a Hyundai-trained technician.
2.) The other item you should consider is whether the work you need done should be performed by a Hyundai-trained technician. For example, just about anyone can change oil. There isn’t any specialized training needed to empty an oil pan, and replace a filter. However, if you are getting a tune-up, or transmission work, it may be better to have the work performed by someone who has been trained by the manufacture and who literally knows Hyundai vehicles inside and out.
I consider myself lucky – my dealer hasn’t charged me outrageous prices yet. My oil changes are $25. Not a bad deal. I’m sure a quick-lube place would do it for $20, but I’m willing to spend an extra $5 for the piece of mind of knowing it was done right.
However, when the day comes when I need to replace my breaks and the dealer charges $300 and a private shop only charges $200, I’ll probably go with the private shop. After all, I don’t need ‘genuine Hyundai’ breaks.
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- #2958 of 3025
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Re: Still Having AC Problems on My '06 Sonata GLS [pastorjim]
by jeff_ohio
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Aug 22, 2009 (8:13 am)
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Replying to: pastorjim (Jun 23, 2006 7:58 pm)
I don't know if this will help your problem, but I found a fix for my 04 Sonata AC. My AC was pulling a major drag on the engine in temps. above 80 degrees and would go in and out, below 80 it ran fine. I had the dealer check it out and they found nothing wrong. I finally drain the freon completely and then recharged system with new coolant. Car now runs great at any temperatures, even above 96 degrees with no drag on the engine performance. It seems that the lubrication in the freon was either low or bad and causing the compressor to run poorly and dragging on the belt. The dealer now believes that the system may has been over-charged not under-charged. Not sure what the answer is but a $40 investment at AutoZone for the recharge system and coolant was a lot cheaper than replacing the compressor. Hope this helps your problem.
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- #2959 of 3025
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Re: Was me ripped off by dealership for engine light on check? [targettuning]
by LASHAWN
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Aug 22, 2009 (8:17 am)
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Replying to: targettuning (Aug 21, 2009 4:46 am)
All dealers have a standard labor rate, our's is $89.00. Before you sign off on the work order I tell you up front what the diagnosis fee is and it's up to you if you want your vehicle diagnosed. Now when it comes to a check engine light on issue and it turns out to be a p0455 code, evap leak code, we test the evap system to find where the leak is coming from, which takes about 45 minutes.
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