As most people know, taking your car to the dealer for service practically means that you're asking to get screwed over. Over the last Christmas in 2002 we took two vehicles in for service, my mother's 2000 Chevy Impala and my brother's 1993 Ford Tempo (which broke down on the way to pick up the Impala).
We towed the car in and had it written up, then picked up my mom's car, which was brought in for a couple problems. 1) the a/c switch did not function in the "1" position, but functioned in 2-5.2) there is a strange vibration in the steering, especially in turns. 3) the rear window defogger was inoperable. 4) needed an alignment.
First, Fox charged $80 for the alignment when any other shop would charge $50 or so. Second, we were charged a $90 diagnostic fee for the a/c switch, just to find out that the ONE part at fault (a resistor in the control unit) was NOT covered by the $1000 extended warranty we bought there when we first got the car!
We have had problems with that switch since day one, and even had it repaired before while on the original warranty, but still they wouldn't cover the repair this time. What my mother was not told on the phone was that we would have to pay the diag fee regardless whether it was covered or not. I guess these scumbags automatically assume we should know that stuff. I did, but my mom didn't know any better! They also said there was nothing wrong with the steering or defogger that they could find.
This pissed me off to no end, so we paid and left in the Impala. I immediately noticed the steering problem JUST by pulling out of the parking space. Either their mechanics are friggin' idiots or just lazy. Also, I noticed that there was no evidence they were ever in the dashboard. Last time we had it fixed the mechanic left a wire hanging in front of the instruments that, guess what? Was STILL THERE! I doubt it was put back together that exact same way by another mechanic!
Next, the Tempo. The tow-truck dropped the car off in a parking space, and after getting the bad news from Fox Chevrolet (water pump - $600) we decided to take it somewhere else. We found the car in the EXACT same spot it was dropped off, the hood popped open, the doors unlocked, and the car was now blocked in with a vehicle from the body shop. They expected me to pay them $90 when they didn't even bring the car into the shop and put it up on a lift! The manager wasn't available so I paid and would handle it another day. My brother and I had to wait roughly 30 minutes for someone from the bodyshop to move the car outta the way.
This shop leaves a bad taste in my mouth. They charge you for diagnostic fees and don't even take the car into the shop!!! They don't actually do the work they're charging you for, such as not going into my dash for this a/c switch! I'm sure the resistor story is made up because warranty repairs don't pay as many hours and they can't gouge you for the cost of parts when the insurance companies are paying for it.
This service department is crooked through and through, their service writers lie to you about what is covered and what is not, they go back on their word and don't even treat you like a human being. I've worked in this business, and nothing pissed them off more than when I called them on their bullshit. These people are criminals and I highly recommend you NOT take your car to this dealership (or ANY Courtesy (their logo is a yellow circle with a white "play" icon in the middle like you would find on your VCR) or Fox Dealership) for service.
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