6 Months In… Getting some poor “support”

[Batterycap]

Yes, at least in my area also, the dealers have the Express Oil Change thing. I have been turned away once or twice and asked to come the next day by coming in too "late" around 3PM when they are supposed to be open until 5PM. But other than that, oil changes are pretty quick (if they are actually changing the oil).

Here's my $.02. Everybody has to start somewhere. If you are a kid out of high school and want to be a mechanic, you find a dealership that will take you on for minimum wage, and you are promptly assigned to car wash duties. You might be looking up at minimum wage. Health insurance - in your dreams. A few months into this gig, you might get bumped up to oil changes - because the previous oil change dude hasn't shown up for the last 10 days. You don't know much about oil changes, except for righty tighty, lefty loosie. You also know that that drain plug must be tightened so hard that Godzilla will have trouble getting it loose. To sum up, I sympathize with these young fellows, but there ain't a snowball's chance they get to touch my drain plug.

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[Mr Miami]

Interesting about these dealer type of extended warranties. To the point, we have a mega-dealer here in South Florida with a dozen or more dealerships of various brands (Rick Case). They advertise that they double the manufacturers warranty (powertrain). When advertising Hyundai, they even mention that it comes with a 20 year / 200,000 mile warranty since the factory warranty is 10 year / 100,000 miles. It is fairly common knowledge that they purchase a warranty up front for like $2,000 and plan on getting some or all of it back when the buyer sells or trades the car.

Does it cost them a bundle to do it? No. If the warranty is unused or even prorated for a year or so more, they still get most of the money back. Plus, the real kicker. You must do the extended service at an authorized dealership. In many cases the brand may not be as popular and less choice in other dealerships exist (i.e Fiat, Maserati, Volvo). I'm not trying to be a skeptic, but I can only imagine what "service" items, fluids and other items will need replacing by the dealership, of course, at the dealer parts and labor rates.

So just be careful on the real value of these dealer type of warranties.

 

[Deleted member 66831]

There is no dispute. You must present the vehicle to them for scheduled maintenance. That is my fine print. Walker Jones Waycross GA is also the home of The LifeTime warranty. I inquired about my CP4 pump that is not covered on the 3/36 powertrain coverage but only 12/12. I asked if the lifetime warranty covers it. They showed me that I no long have an eligible vehicle because I never brought the vehicle in for service. That is a requirement in the fine print.

That’s BS on their part. Just saying.

 

[Deleted member 66831]

Interesting about these dealer type of extended warranties. To the point, we have a mega-dealer here in South Florida with a dozen or more dealerships of various brands (Rick Case). They advertise that they double the manufacturers warranty (powertrain). When advertising Hyundai, the even mention that it comes with a 20 year / 200,000 mile warranty since the factory warranty is 10 year / 100,000 miles. It is fairly common knowledge that they purchase a warranty up front for like $2,000 and plan on getting some or all of it back when the buyer sells or trades the car.

Does it cost them a bundle to do it? No. If the warranty is unused or even prorated for a year or so more, they still get most of the money back. Plus, the real kicker. You must do the extended service at an authorized dealership. In many cases the brand may not be as popular and less choice in other dealerships exist (i.e Fiat, Maserati, Volvo). I'm not trying to be a skeptic, but I can only imagine what "service" items, fluids and other items will need replacing by the dealership, of course, at the dealer parts and labor rates.

So just be careful on the real value of these dealer type of warranties.

Helpful perspective. Thanks.

 

[Lost1wing]

That’s BS on their part. Just saying.

Did you look at the fine print, see dealer for further details, or refer to your contract for details? You need to see the contract. Aftermarket parts are allowed used parts are allowed, it crazy. I'm sure yours is the same. I hope I'm wrong.

 

[Lost1wing]

Here's my $.02. Everybody has to start somewhere. If you are a kid out of high school and want to be a mechanic, you find a dealership that will take you on for minimum wage, and you are promptly assigned to car wash duties. You might be looking up at minimum wage. Health insurance - in your dreams. A few months into this gig, you might get bumped up to oil changes - because the previous oil change dude hasn't shown up for the last 10 days. You don't know much about oil changes, except for righty tighty, lefty loosie. You also know that that drain plug must be tightened so hard that Godzilla will have trouble getting it loose. To sum up, I sympathize with these young fellows, but there ain't a snowball's chance they get to touch my drain plug.

You forgot the porter/ vallet guy. He is the one before the oil changes and after the carwasher.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

That’s BS on their part. Just saying.

it's a CONTRACT, not a warranty. By agreeing to it, you agreed to abide by the requirements.

I had "tires for life" on a Chevy truck (via the dealership) until I missed a tire rotation by about 4,000 miles. That was it.
It's a contract - dealership agrees to do xxx and you agree to do yyy.
There's no warranty to it. Only the original manufacturer can actually provide a warranty.

It is what it is. It's not a free something for nothing. They make the money back and likely that "warranty" is backed by some insurance company or similar.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

You forgot the porter/ vallet guy. He is the one before the oil changes and after the carwasher.

Here, the ones doing oil changes seem to know at least as much as some of them working under the hood in the shop.

 

[Deleted member 66831]

it's a CONTRACT, not a warranty. By agreeing to it, you agreed to abide by the requirements.

I had "tires for life" on a Chevy truck (via the dealership) until I missed a tire rotation by about 4,000 miles. That was it.
It's a contract - dealership agrees to do xxx and you agree to do yyy.
There's no warranty to it. Only the original manufacturer can actually provide a warranty.

It is what it is. It's not a free something for nothing. They make the money back and likely that "warranty" is backed by some insurance company or similar.

 

[Deleted member 66831]

I see your point. No free lunch. Ever.

 

[Mr Miami]

it's a CONTRACT, not a warranty. By agreeing to it, you agreed to abide by the requirements.

I had "tires for life" on a Chevy truck (via the dealership) until I missed a tire rotation by about 4,000 miles. That was it.
It's a contract - dealership agrees to do xxx and you agree to do yyy.
There's no warranty to it. Only the original manufacturer can actually provide a warranty.

It is what it is. It's not a free something for nothing. They make the money back and likely that "warranty" is backed by some insurance company or similar.

You are certainly correct on the definition of warranty. These terms (warranty, service contract, guarantee) often get interchanged and technically used improperly. Even the dealerships use these terms incorrectly when they say that they can extend the warranty through a third party company.

 

[Hootbro]

What is it with Florida dealerships and their little games? See it more often than not when compared to other areas of the country with maybe California a close second.

 

[professorkx]

I’ve posted this before, but my 2014 Jeep Rubicon had a 1 million mile, zero deductible Jeep factory warranty. I thought I would have that Jeep forever!

However, a few years into the warranty, my rear locker failed, so off to the dealer I went to use my 1 million mile warranty at less than 50,000 miles. Well, I got nothing but hassles from the dealer, and later found that the dealer had been sold a year after I bought my Jeep, and was now owned by a large national company…so much for local dealer service.

after a lot of hassle, the dealer submitted the
Warranty claim. Two months later, Jeep sent out an inspector to assess the claim. Over a month later, the claim was approved to replace the rear end.

SIX MONTHS LATER, I finally got my jeep back. Had I known it would take this long, I would have pulled my jeep into my shop onto the lift, and replaced the locker myself since I do this kind of work.

fast forward to 2025 and my new Gladiator. Do you think I bought the Max Care warranty?

 

[Mr Miami]

What is it with Florida dealerships and their little games? See it more often than not when compared to other areas of the country with maybe California a close second.

You are correct. When I moved here from NJ over 30 years ago, I found it was a lot different buying a car here. Part of it dates back many years ago when you had to pay effectively a penalty ($500 or more) to get a tag on a vehicle that came from out of state (it finally ended when it was ruled illegal or unconstitutional or something).

Anyway, dealers come up with all sorts of "requirements" that they claim they have to pay in addition to the obvious new or transferred tag plus sales tax. They have some registration fee with the state they say, some fee to pay for registration to Stellantis (manufacturer) to get it into their system, some fee to activate the warranty or something, transfer the title to the new owner and whatever else they can think up. It all depends on the dealer.

But I have bought my share of vehicles here in Florida but if you ask me what the real, actual, required amount is to get the tag on the car I really could not tell you. I just mentally add the sales tax (6%) and $500 for all the "stuff", tell the dealer that is all I am paying above the negotiated price. I get my price, add the tax and 500 and tell them that is the number I want to see on the bottom of the sales order. How they want to play games with dealer prep and all the other stuff is up to them. That way, when they say that "have to" add dealer prep and other fees, I tell them fine, list anything you wish or need to show and simply take it off the price at the top, the offer.

Personally, I fell that is the only way to purchase a vehicle here in Florida or else you will drive yourself crazy.

 

[Stan H]

I’ve posted this before, but my 2014 Jeep Rubicon had a 1 million mile, zero deductible Jeep factory warranty. I thought I would have that Jeep forever!

However, a few years into the warranty, my rear locker failed, so off to the dealer I went to use my 1 million mile warranty at less than 50,000 miles. Well, I got nothing but hassles from the dealer, and later found that the dealer had been sold a year after I bought my Jeep, and was now owned by a large national company…so much for local dealer service.

after a lot of hassle, the dealer submitted the
Warranty claim. Two months later, Jeep sent out an inspector to assess the claim. Over a month later, the claim was approved to replace the rear end.

SIX MONTHS LATER, I finally got my jeep back. Had I known it would take this long, I would have pulled my jeep into my shop onto the lift, and replaced the locker myself since I do this kind of work.

fast forward to 2025 and my new Gladiator. Do you think I bought the Max Care warranty?

Uh Nope cause I have had similar situations arise . Mine may be even more egregious. I paid the extra money for the drivetrain warranty . The dealer did NOT register the vehicle as having it. When it came time to use it I was told all I had was basic and it had ran OUT !!

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