Spent $600.00 on the Gladiator today and nothing to show for it.

[Chasm]

the motorcycle battery shitting itself

It reminds me more of the one in my little lawn tractor.

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[Sean3565]

I always included printouts of both battery tests when working in the dealership. For one thing, it showed that the batteries were actually tested and not just recharged and sent out as good to go. Also, when the batteries were defective, not just discharged, there was proof in print from the testing equipment we were using at the time. Pre-charging batteries is a big help to customer satisfaction as well. When I retired, I had 100% Fixed First Visit scores, which was based on customer reports, and I wasn't willing to gamble on improper battery service techniques putting that at risk.

I just wish all service departments were as dedicated to their jobs as you seem to be. But also keep in mind that I never got to talk to the person that was actually going to do the job. After the girl told me that the job would be $900.00, I said to her "You will be testing the batteries to make sure that they are actually bad before you replace them right?" She said testing them would be another $75.00. It just seems that these days a lot of shops just throw parts at a problem and if one thing doesn't fix it they will spend some more of your money on more parts. Granted, there are a lot of great shops and mechanics out there and I apologize for grouping the good with the bad. It just seems that so many people out there don't have pride in what they do anymore. I work for a company that produces tooling for that automotive industry, defense industry, SpaceX, but mostly the aerospace industry. I have to sign off 5 times a day that the product that I am producing is to the print and all specks are in tolerance. When I or a member of my family gets on a commercial airliner, I would definitely not want to have it on my back that the reason it went down was traced back to a part that my company or even I had produced. Thanks for taking pride in what you do and again my apologies for speaking like all mechanics (technicians) don't give a flip cause obviously that is not the case.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I always included printouts of both battery tests when working in the dealership. For one thing, it showed that the batteries were actually tested and not just recharged and sent out as good to go. Also, when the batteries were defective, not just discharged, there was proof in print from the testing equipment we were using at the time. Pre-charging batteries is a big help to customer satisfaction as well. When I retired, I had 100% Fixed First Visit scores, which was based on customer reports, and I wasn't willing to gamble on improper battery service techniques putting that at risk.

Been a few years, but I had a "zero come-back" number as well. That was my goal. It built trust and customers would come in and ask for me, especially if they were planning a trip.
It meant - you fixed it correctly, the first time, and they didn't have to return due to a problem, they returned because they wanted to and knew it would be fixed.
I've maintained that in the restorations I do - I even get stuff sent me that other people have worked on and messed up.

Anyway, the battery bit- if they don't give you a slip, request one and have them show you the results.

 

[Charles 236]

I just wish all service departments were as dedicated to their jobs as you seem to be. But also keep in mind that I never got to talk to the person that was actually going to do the job. After the girl told me that the job would be $900.00, I said to her "You will be testing the batteries to make sure that they are actually bad before you replace them right?" She said testing them would be another $75.00. It just seems that these days a lot of shops just throw parts at a problem and if one thing doesn't fix it they will spend some more of your money on more parts. Granted, there are a lot of great shops and mechanics out there and I apologize for grouping the good with the bad. It just seems that so many people out there don't have pride in what they do anymore. I work for a company that produces tooling for that automotive industry, defense industry, SpaceX, but mostly the aerospace industry. I have to sign off 5 times a day that the product that I am producing is to the print and all specks are in tolerance. When I or a member of my family gets on a commercial airliner, I would definitely not want to have it on my back that the reason it went down was traced back to a part that my company or even I had produced. Thanks for taking pride in what you do and again my apologies for speaking like all mechanics (technicians) don't give a flip cause obviously that is not the case.

Thanks for seeing the difference. Some, probably most, dealership techs do want to do a good job, but the small percentage that either don't care about the job ( rarer than most people think) and the percentage that aren't really competent (more common than the ones who don't care) give the rest of techs a bad name. It's sorta like the saying about lawyers: "Ninety-nine percent of lawyers give the rest a bad name." Except that the percentages are a bit different for techs.

One problem is shifting technology, nothing stays still long enough for many techs to master it. Every year brings not just technical changes, but diagnosis procedure changes, and not always for good.

A major problem is that customers have to deal with service advisors instead of the techs themselves. For years I fought a running battle trying to get the service advisors to actually get details from the customer at the time of bringing in the vehicle instead of having to call later with questions that should've been asked at vehicle drop off.

It all adds up to enough to make me glad for retiring recently. I enjoyed the work when I could do it, and the management left me alone to sort things out, which suited me. Towards the end I could not really deal with the physical dimensions of the job, lifting, leaning, bending, etc., but started training other techs and troubleshooting. I just hope that people take the effort to find and work with good techs.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Thanks for seeing the difference. Some, probably most, dealership techs do want to do a good job, but the small percentage that either don't care about the job ( rarer than most people think) and the percentage that aren't really competent (more common than the ones who don't care) give the rest of techs a bad name. It's sorta like the saying about lawyers: "Ninety-nine percent of lawyers give the rest a bad name." Except that the percentages are a bit different for techs.

One problem is shifting technology, nothing stays still long enough for many techs to master it. Every year brings not just technical changes, but diagnosis procedure changes, and not always for good.

A major problem is that customers have to deal with service advisors instead of the techs themselves. For years I fought a running battle trying to get the service advisors to actually get details from the customer at the time of bringing in the vehicle instead of having to call later with questions that should've been asked at vehicle drop off.

It all adds up to enough to make me glad for retiring recently. I enjoyed the work when I could do it, and the management left me alone to sort things out, which suited me. Towards the end I could not really deal with the physical dimensions of the job, lifting, leaning, bending, etc., but started training other techs and troubleshooting. I just hope that people take the effort to find and work with good techs.

I worked with some of those who wanted to do a good job, but - just didn't have the ability. Heck, out of our college class of 30, only 18 actually graduated.
Troubleshooting is a skill in a very big way - some just can't figure out puzzles or see patterns emerging or make the right connections to events.
Even way back when, we went to training every so often - GM comes out with new battery technology, makes changes to the alternators or starters - and now you learn the new stuff.

I wish service advisors didn't exist as they do around here. The best ones - the ones who have hands-on experience and bother to ask questions don't stay long. Two of them where I go I refuse to even talk to - I'll wait for someone else. One is supposedly "respected" there, Tony, but he refuses to listen to any clues I bring with me. He brushes it all off like "we know what we are doing, we don't need any of that" - yes, you do, or you will never figure it out. I avoid Tony at all costs - it will never be right if it's very complex, or you'll play back and forth with a game of 20 questions.
Dan was a really good one - he knew his stuff, likely as much as many techs, and he'd ask detailed questions and even look things up before taking things any farther. But I suppose they got on him for spending too much time with customers and he left for some reason.

 

[Wsynewhi]

“J”ust “E”mpty “E”very “P”ocket . Not really sure who has it worse jeep owners, or Harley Davidson owners. But oh is the poor man who owns both….

That would be me 🥲. I know, I'm a glutton for punishment.

 

[Charles 236]

Just Empty Every Pocket. My attitude is it's just money, I will have or make more.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

it's just money, .............. or make more.

I hear that's illegal.
On the other hand - PM me with the paper stock and printer you are using.

 

[MPMB]

Batteries are odd... as far as continuity across brands. 3 years for the Jeep's batteries. Our 2012 Audi A4 we bought in 2016... one battery change in 9 years.

 

[Charles 236]

I hear that's illegal.
On the other hand - PM me with the paper stock and printer you are using.

As far as I know it is illegal, but I did have a cousin back in the '80s who printed a few dollars to put in dollar changers in a canteen. He got away with it few times, but did spend a far portion of his short life in prison. Dead now, but he tried his hand at "making" money.

 

[WestwallNF104A]

I charge mine through the tow connector once a month. Seems to avoid the commin issue of the motorcycle battery shitting itself and taking out the main. The alternator will NEVER charge the batteries to full, it cuts out too early.

Get a good AGM charger and maintain the batteries.

I have a 270ah house battery that keeps my truck batteries topped up.

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