shop owners and expediters

Well maybe things are different elsewhere but any dealership with a 100 miles of me blames every problem on anything aftermarket accesories especially remote starts. And to answer your question if a deaelr did call me and ask that yes I would because I am not perfect and have unplugged things (etc..) as I am not perfect, and when it was something unrealted to the remote start I would have sent them to the dealer, can we say customer service. We build in a little for this exact thing, doodie happens when you work on cars. Again I beg to differ on a brand new vehicle and the cig lighter starts blowing fuses after the remote start is installed, hmm simple logic what changed? remote starter or is it because I washed the car or maybe a dog pee'd on the tire....

Thanks for all the replys on this topic. This is a dealeship that I'd like to keep a decent relationship with. I have been doing their work for a couple of years now. They sell Toyota, Honda, Vovlo, Scion and Hyundai. A good variety of cars. It took them a while to trust my work. This instance just seems to be a wierd circumstance. I got their bill already. They wanted to charge me for the liter socket too. I called them to mention that wasn't the problem and not my responsibility. They remove that from the charge so now it's only $106. I think I'm going to go up a bit more on my rates garages around here are getting $75 or so an hour to work on cars. I'm going to $55 an hour. They really didn't prove their case with me. Handing me the relay tab and a piece of wire alone didn't really prove anything. The wire by the way was a piece I stripped off and it worked itself into the open kick panel. I told them take a picture or something, you need to bear the burdon of proof. I think they found other problems and because the R/S was there they just made it my problem. I'm not usually that careless with my work. I tend to be overly cautious. For now I'm planning to just pay this one but include a letter about how this is going to be handled in the future. I also had this conversation with the service manager. If they think I need to pay for this than I need to see what is causing the problem personally or I will deny any claim of responsibility. I'm also taking tonyberg's advise on putting that line on the bottom of my receipts from now on. Thanks for all the replys Jon

Like I said that line is a great savior for the independents, as a dealer tech now I dont have to worry about it, but back then it saved me much headache time.  Id rather look at a minor problem that wasnt my fault, then not look at a major problem that was

We had a problem with a dealer.  We had installed a remote start in late model GM truck with LT1 motor.  It work for a week, then the truck had problems.  The back wiper stayed on and killed the battery.  The owner towed it back to the dealer and watched as the tech tried to jump start the truck.  The wiper happily kept waving as the dash caught fire.  The service advisor instantly blamed the remote starter.  The customer came to use explaining that the truck needed a new harness and part of the interior replaced because of smoke.   Curiouly, while installing the starter we had notice under the hood a sticker the said do not jump start as this will cause damage.   After listening to the service advisor carry on about incompetant installer, being blamed for every thing under the sun, I asked why they jumped started the truck.  He answered that it was easier than pushing into the shop, and thier tech did it all the time.  I asked if their service tech ever read service mannuals or warning stickers, he responed very loudly they were trained specialists.  I handed him the owners mannual opened to the page with the warning about jump starting, and then show him my license to install starter in viehicals (for once a useful government paper)  After looking at the burnt wiring, which happened to belong to the trailer towing packed they installed, I suggested he get some compentant help.  When I left, the customer was take a strip off the service manager, and the dealership owner.  They payed us to reistall the started after repairing the truck.

what truck was this that caught fire?

Nisma, pay the bill. I go down this road a couple times every month. We are a large Expeditor(30 installers) and have to deal with service advisors constantly. Remember, service and sales are two totally different parts of the dealership, until there's a problem(then everybody knows). Right or wrong, look at the big picture and pay the bill so you are known as the company that cares. The last thing you want to do is get tossed out of the dealership over a couple hundred bucks. When we get a few bills in a row from the same dealership we schedule a meeting with the service manager asking to please contact us when they have an issue and we'll come take a look.  Last month i think we set a record of bills paid to dealerships, had to be over $4k. Had to toss a few installers because of it....Mike M2

Tech Manager

CS Dealer Services