Took the Vette to a Corvette Club sponsoring dealership...
12-21-2010, 04:26 PM
#1
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Took the Vette to a Corvette Club sponsoring dealership...
I have been scrolling the forums for going on five years in hopes that I one could possibly own one of these amazing machines luckily that day came a little over a month ago and I was finally able to get my dream car, picked up an 05 black m6 30k miles! The first week was great, minus dreaded rear end chatter then the little annoying stuff begins. First, CEL comes on, run the code and do some research and it has to do with the clutch switch positioning. Next, service active handling pops up as I am cruising down the road. Finally, the service tire sensor pops up as well. After searching and reading through many posts on the forum, none of the problems seems to be anything major, most can be found through TSB's.
I was quite skeptical about taking it to a dealer knowing I didn't purchase the extended warranty due to future modifications etc and I don't trust dealer service techs with my dream car, but many people in the Houston area highly recomended a service center located at one of our corvette club sponsoring dealerships so I gave in and dropped it off there yesterday. I tell the guy everything wrong and even tell them what they need to do to fix the 4 issues from all the information available on this forum. Well I get the call today and for them to run a diagnostic on it was $315, this gives them all the information I had already told them to do with the CEL, service active handling, tire sensor. Okay nice to know I just burned $315, wish I could have spent that on a Varam intake on sale lol. Next he proceeds to tell me it will be near $700 to replace the tire sensor and near $200 to get the CEL off and be assured that service active handling won't pop up again. Next he tells me that they still haven't looked at the rear end, but it will be about $150 to look at it and near $200 to swap fluid. At this point I say whats the point of trying to diagnose the rear end when you know that it has the wrong fluid in there. Long story short I ended up telling to leave the CEL and tire sensor on and just swap the differential fluid without "looking at it" and give me my car back. When I pick up my car the check tire sensor will still be there along with the CEL. For the dealer to tell me what I already knew and the rear fluid swap = over $500. Last time it will be going to the dealer to say the least.
Is there a better way for us out of warranty guys to get little problems like these taken care of in a more efficient manner??
I was quite skeptical about taking it to a dealer knowing I didn't purchase the extended warranty due to future modifications etc and I don't trust dealer service techs with my dream car, but many people in the Houston area highly recomended a service center located at one of our corvette club sponsoring dealerships so I gave in and dropped it off there yesterday. I tell the guy everything wrong and even tell them what they need to do to fix the 4 issues from all the information available on this forum. Well I get the call today and for them to run a diagnostic on it was $315, this gives them all the information I had already told them to do with the CEL, service active handling, tire sensor. Okay nice to know I just burned $315, wish I could have spent that on a Varam intake on sale lol. Next he proceeds to tell me it will be near $700 to replace the tire sensor and near $200 to get the CEL off and be assured that service active handling won't pop up again. Next he tells me that they still haven't looked at the rear end, but it will be about $150 to look at it and near $200 to swap fluid. At this point I say whats the point of trying to diagnose the rear end when you know that it has the wrong fluid in there. Long story short I ended up telling to leave the CEL and tire sensor on and just swap the differential fluid without "looking at it" and give me my car back. When I pick up my car the check tire sensor will still be there along with the CEL. For the dealer to tell me what I already knew and the rear fluid swap = over $500. Last time it will be going to the dealer to say the least.
Is there a better way for us out of warranty guys to get little problems like these taken care of in a more efficient manner??
12-21-2010, 04:33 PM
#2
Melting Slicks
The dealer technicians work on book time and gotta get paid. You have a six year old Vette and they're not taking your word for it when it comes to diagnosing a problem.
Don't see any way around it.
Don't see any way around it.
12-21-2010, 04:43 PM
#3
Melting Slicks
I have been scrolling the forums for going on five years in hopes that I one could possibly own one of these amazing machines luckily that day came a little over a month ago and I was finally able to get my dream car, picked up an 05 black M 30k miles! The first week was great, minus dreaded rear end chatter then the little annoying stuff begins. First, CEL comes on, run the code and do some research and it has to do with the clutch switch positioning. Next, service active handling pops up as I am cruising down the road. Finally, the service tire sensor pops up as well. After searching and reading through many posts on the forum, none of the problems seems to be anything major, most can be found through TSB's.
I was quite skeptical about taking it to a dealer knowing I didn't purchase the extended warranty due to future modifications etc and I don't trust dealer service techs with my dream car, but many people in the Houston area highly recommended a service center located at one of our corvette club sponsoring dealerships so I gave in and dropped it off there yesterday. I tell the guy everything wrong and even tell them what they need to do to fix the 4 issues from all the information available on this forum. Well I get the call today and for them to run a diagnostic on it was $315, this gives them all the information I had already told them to do with the CEL, service active handling, tire sensor. Okay nice to know I just burned $315, wish I could have spent that on a Varam intake on sale lol. Next he proceeds to tell me it will be near $700 to replace the tire sensor and near $200 to get the CEL off and be assured that service active handling won't pop up again. Next he tells me that they still haven't looked at the rear end, but it will be about $150 to look at it and near $200 to swap fluid. At this point I say whats the point of trying to diagnose the rear end when you know that it has the wrong fluid in there. Long story short I ended up telling to leave the CEL and tire sensor on and just swap the differential fluid without "looking at it" and give me my car back. When I pick up my car the check tire sensor will still be there along with the CEL. For the dealer to tell me what I already knew and the rear fluid swap = over $500. Last time it will be going to the dealer to say the least.
Is there a better way for us out of warranty guys to get little problems like these taken care of in a more efficient manner??
I was quite skeptical about taking it to a dealer knowing I didn't purchase the extended warranty due to future modifications etc and I don't trust dealer service techs with my dream car, but many people in the Houston area highly recommended a service center located at one of our corvette club sponsoring dealerships so I gave in and dropped it off there yesterday. I tell the guy everything wrong and even tell them what they need to do to fix the 4 issues from all the information available on this forum. Well I get the call today and for them to run a diagnostic on it was $315, this gives them all the information I had already told them to do with the CEL, service active handling, tire sensor. Okay nice to know I just burned $315, wish I could have spent that on a Varam intake on sale lol. Next he proceeds to tell me it will be near $700 to replace the tire sensor and near $200 to get the CEL off and be assured that service active handling won't pop up again. Next he tells me that they still haven't looked at the rear end, but it will be about $150 to look at it and near $200 to swap fluid. At this point I say whats the point of trying to diagnose the rear end when you know that it has the wrong fluid in there. Long story short I ended up telling to leave the CEL and tire sensor on and just swap the differential fluid without "looking at it" and give me my car back. When I pick up my car the check tire sensor will still be there along with the CEL. For the dealer to tell me what I already knew and the rear fluid swap = over $500. Last time it will be going to the dealer to say the least.
Is there a better way for us out of warranty guys to get little problems like these taken care of in a more efficient manner??
If you search here you can find a link describing how you can reset the sensors. Sorry, I knew how to do it on a C5 but not the C6.
Maybe the sensor is not bad and the reset will correct the issue. It seems to me that I have seen that the sensor is about $100. I think some tire service centers (like Firestone) can replace them but I am not sure about that. There are many highly proficient members here and I imagine someone will chime in with help. Good luck and welcome.
12-21-2010, 04:44 PM
#4
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When I bought my 06 base a couple of years ago, it also had over 30k miles but I bought a 3-yr GMPP simply because of all the eletronics and the fact that it had that many miles. It has turned out to be a good investment for me.
12-21-2010, 04:52 PM
#5
Intermediate
Thread Starter
I have received the service tire sensor message twice. It went away the first time after the dealer reset the sensor. It went away on its own the second time.
If you search here you can find a link describing how you can reset the sensors. Sorry, I knew how to do it on a C5 but not the C6.
Maybe the sensor is not bad and the reset will correct the issue. It seems to me that I have seen that the sensor is about $100. I think some tire service centers (like Firestone) can replace them but I am not sure about that. There are many highly proficient members here and I imagine someone will chime in with help. Good luck and welcome.
If you search here you can find a link describing how you can reset the sensors. Sorry, I knew how to do it on a C5 but not the C6.
Maybe the sensor is not bad and the reset will correct the issue. It seems to me that I have seen that the sensor is about $100. I think some tire service centers (like Firestone) can replace them but I am not sure about that. There are many highly proficient members here and I imagine someone will chime in with help. Good luck and welcome.
12-21-2010, 04:56 PM
#6
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Very smart investment as I am now learning with these little electronic problems. The car only had 29k miles when I got it and now has 30.5k, didn't see it as a high mileage car, but when the previous own had none of the TSB's taken care of it can definately put a dent in the wallet.
12-21-2010, 05:07 PM
#7
Drifting
Member Since: Oct 2007
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Don't be intimidated by the C6 electronics and mechanical. There's nothing exceptional about these cars and they are really fairly easy to work on. My 05 has never been to a dealership for service or repairs, I have managed on my own to take care of the few problems as they arise, with the help of this great forum.
Diagnosing is the most difficult part and you have already done that. I would classify your annoyances and minor, something you could easily take care of yourself or use a trusted private shop for the repairs.
Diagnosing is the most difficult part and you have already done that. I would classify your annoyances and minor, something you could easily take care of yourself or use a trusted private shop for the repairs.
12-21-2010, 05:17 PM
#8
Team Owner
Sorry you're having issues. I suggest you go into the Southwest Regional Forum and just ask for independent Vette shop recommendations. I know we have a handful here in the Northwest that we recommend to new members. Good luck, keep smilin' and enjoy the car.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/southwest-44/
12-21-2010, 05:18 PM
#9
Account suspended by request 6 Oct 2017
Don't be intimidated by the C6 electronics and mechanical. There's nothing exceptional about these cars and they are really fairly easy to work on. My 05 has never been to a dealership for service or repairs, I have managed on my own to take care of the few problems as they arise, with the help of this great forum.
Diagnosing is the most difficult part and you have already done that. I would classify your annoyances and minor, something you could easily take care of yourself or use a trusted private shop for the repairs.
Diagnosing is the most difficult part and you have already done that. I would classify your annoyances and minor, something you could easily take care of yourself or use a trusted private shop for the repairs.
Most of the problems you can easily fix yourself. You can get all of the DIY info and even youtube videos right here on the forum.
12-21-2010, 07:21 PM
#11
Racer
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I found it amusing that you got all bent up because the dealer wouldn't just take your word for what was wrong and wanted to run their own diagnostics. Next time you get sick, go on the internet and diagnose yourself, then go to the doctor, tell him what is wrong with you and then tell him to just go ahead and give you the pills. I'm sure he'll think that's a good idea.
I'm a Finance Manager for a dealership, and I have also worked as a Service Writer. And, I can tell you, there is nothing worse than some yahoo coming in and telling you he has a check engine light on and he got the code pulled at Autozone or something and he knows what needs to be done, so just go ahead and do that.
There's more to fixing a problem than that. For example, does an O2 sensor code mean that the O2 sensor is bad, or that something is happening upstream that is causing it to fail? Is a misfire code due to a bad plug, or is there an electrical problem or a fuel problem, or a clogged injector. Without performing guided fault finding diagnostics you don't really know what is going on.
If the shop just does what you say and it doesn't solve the problem are you going to be OK with wasting your money? Or, are you going to go online and start trashing them for being incompetent and not knowing what they are doing?
I had a customer once who insisted that we change his themostat because his engine was running hot. I told him that may not be the problem, but he thought charging him a 1/2 hour diagnostic fee was just one more dealer rip-off. So, I wrote it up, and put on the repair order that the repair was done at the customer's request without diagnostics, and that we accepted no responsibility for continued overheating and that the repair was non-refundable. He gladly signed it and went on his way. Some time later one of our techs that knows some guys at another dealership in town told me that the guy was in there having a faulty fan motor replaced and ripping us all kinds of sideways.
I just leaned back in my chair.. and smiled.
I'm a Finance Manager for a dealership, and I have also worked as a Service Writer. And, I can tell you, there is nothing worse than some yahoo coming in and telling you he has a check engine light on and he got the code pulled at Autozone or something and he knows what needs to be done, so just go ahead and do that.
There's more to fixing a problem than that. For example, does an O2 sensor code mean that the O2 sensor is bad, or that something is happening upstream that is causing it to fail? Is a misfire code due to a bad plug, or is there an electrical problem or a fuel problem, or a clogged injector. Without performing guided fault finding diagnostics you don't really know what is going on.
If the shop just does what you say and it doesn't solve the problem are you going to be OK with wasting your money? Or, are you going to go online and start trashing them for being incompetent and not knowing what they are doing?
I had a customer once who insisted that we change his themostat because his engine was running hot. I told him that may not be the problem, but he thought charging him a 1/2 hour diagnostic fee was just one more dealer rip-off. So, I wrote it up, and put on the repair order that the repair was done at the customer's request without diagnostics, and that we accepted no responsibility for continued overheating and that the repair was non-refundable. He gladly signed it and went on his way. Some time later one of our techs that knows some guys at another dealership in town told me that the guy was in there having a faulty fan motor replaced and ripping us all kinds of sideways.
I just leaned back in my chair.. and smiled.
Last edited by snowman0920; 12-21-2010 at 07:24 PM.
12-21-2010, 08:27 PM
#12
Safety Car
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Snowman has a valid point. On the other hand many of us have experienced incompetancy from Chevrolet dealerships while our corvettes have been in for "repair or diagnostics", are unaware or wont share tsb or recall info and yes they do charge for unnescessary work occasionally.
This does not apply to all dealerships but my personal estimate is more dealerships than not. Many dealerships do not specialize in corvettes and do not have a full time corvette specialist. As a result, there are a number of forum members that know the corvette better than the dealer. Nuff said.
This does not apply to all dealerships but my personal estimate is more dealerships than not. Many dealerships do not specialize in corvettes and do not have a full time corvette specialist. As a result, there are a number of forum members that know the corvette better than the dealer. Nuff said.
12-22-2010, 12:42 AM
#13
Melting Slicks
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2023 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Sorry to hear about your bad experience. Auto repair shops (dealer and otherwise) are not all the same. While there are some bad ones there are also a lot of good ones, same as any retail business. Probably the best way to find a good one is to ask for recommendations right here on Corvette Forum. Lots of Houston guys here.
Personally, I've enjoyed very good service at Corvettes of Houston and at Parkway Chevrolet and recommend both of them without hesitation.
Good luck :
Personally, I've enjoyed very good service at Corvettes of Houston and at Parkway Chevrolet and recommend both of them without hesitation.
Good luck :
12-22-2010, 01:05 AM
#14
Melting Slicks
I found it amusing that you got all bent up because the dealer wouldn't just take your word for what was wrong and wanted to run their own diagnostics. Next time you get sick, go on the internet and diagnose yourself, then go to the doctor, tell him what is wrong with you and then tell him to just go ahead and give you the pills. I'm sure he'll think that's a good idea.
I'm a Finance Manager for a dealership, and I have also worked as a Service Writer. And, I can tell you, there is nothing worse than some yahoo coming in and telling you he has a check engine light on and he got the code pulled at Autozone or something and he knows what needs to be done, so just go ahead and do that.
There's more to fixing a problem than that. For example, does an O2 sensor code mean that the O2 sensor is bad, or that something is happening upstream that is causing it to fail? Is a misfire code due to a bad plug, or is there an electrical problem or a fuel problem, or a clogged injector. Without performing guided fault finding diagnostics you don't really know what is going on.
If the shop just does what you say and it doesn't solve the problem are you going to be OK with wasting your money? Or, are you going to go online and start trashing them for being incompetent and not knowing what they are doing?
I had a customer once who insisted that we change his themostat because his engine was running hot. I told him that may not be the problem, but he thought charging him a 1/2 hour diagnostic fee was just one more dealer rip-off. So, I wrote it up, and put on the repair order that the repair was done at the customer's request without diagnostics, and that we accepted no responsibility for continued overheating and that the repair was non-refundable. He gladly signed it and went on his way. Some time later one of our techs that knows some guys at another dealership in town told me that the guy was in there having a faulty fan motor replaced and ripping us all kinds of sideways.
I just leaned back in my chair.. and smiled.
I'm a Finance Manager for a dealership, and I have also worked as a Service Writer. And, I can tell you, there is nothing worse than some yahoo coming in and telling you he has a check engine light on and he got the code pulled at Autozone or something and he knows what needs to be done, so just go ahead and do that.
There's more to fixing a problem than that. For example, does an O2 sensor code mean that the O2 sensor is bad, or that something is happening upstream that is causing it to fail? Is a misfire code due to a bad plug, or is there an electrical problem or a fuel problem, or a clogged injector. Without performing guided fault finding diagnostics you don't really know what is going on.
If the shop just does what you say and it doesn't solve the problem are you going to be OK with wasting your money? Or, are you going to go online and start trashing them for being incompetent and not knowing what they are doing?
I had a customer once who insisted that we change his themostat because his engine was running hot. I told him that may not be the problem, but he thought charging him a 1/2 hour diagnostic fee was just one more dealer rip-off. So, I wrote it up, and put on the repair order that the repair was done at the customer's request without diagnostics, and that we accepted no responsibility for continued overheating and that the repair was non-refundable. He gladly signed it and went on his way. Some time later one of our techs that knows some guys at another dealership in town told me that the guy was in there having a faulty fan motor replaced and ripping us all kinds of sideways.
I just leaned back in my chair.. and smiled.
A diag test will not be 100% dead on either so there is still some trial by error and just plain old know how, which we have here in the forum. I trust the forum and its many people with the same prob and fix then some yahoo diag runner guy.
Last edited by S'vette; 12-22-2010 at 01:09 AM.
12-22-2010, 01:25 AM
#15
Burning Brakes
Going to a dealer for service is almost always concerning to most owners knowing what can go wrong with just a simple oil change, 
At least you do have a choice of dealerships to choose from, here on an island we're stuck with just one, always a 50 -50 crap shoot, so far tho I have been lucky, not so for other vette owners here, 
Good luck,
At least you do have a choice of dealerships to choose from, here on an island we're stuck with just one, always a 50 -50 crap shoot, so far tho I have been lucky, not so for other vette owners here, Good luck,
12-22-2010, 02:22 AM
#16
Le Mans Master
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You can pick up aftermarket pressure sensors from pretty much any wheel vendor on the forum. Then just have a tire shop install it. That is no big deal.
For the active handling I would pay whatever it takes.
For the active handling I would pay whatever it takes.
12-22-2010, 09:01 AM
#17
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Thanks for all the positive responses. I was just a shocked that a dealership as well as two individual techs that came so highly recomended from the Houston guys on the forum would treat a customer who is knowledgable about his vehicle like an idiot, along with knowingly wasting my money. For any other minor problems I will surely be trying out other recomended shops.
12-22-2010, 09:17 AM
#18
Le Mans Master
"I'm a Finance Manager for a dealership, and I have also worked as a Service Writer".
Wow, the two most "important" jobs at a car store that are designed and utilized to seperate people from their money. your response it right in line with that SOP.
Wow, the two most "important" jobs at a car store that are designed and utilized to seperate people from their money. your response it right in line with that SOP.
12-22-2010, 09:19 AM
#19
Le Mans Master
"I'm a Finance Manager for a dealership, and I have also worked as a Service Writer".
Wow, the two most "important" jobs at a car store that are designed and utilized to seperate people from their money. that response it right in line with that SOP.
Wow, the two most "important" jobs at a car store that are designed and utilized to seperate people from their money. that response it right in line with that SOP.
12-22-2010, 09:31 AM
#20
Le Mans Master
If the car is not under warranty and the owner wants to diagnose their own problems and accept responsibility for that diagnosis, then what's the problem? That is unless the dealership specializes in routinely finding very expensive issues during the inspection. But that's why they almost all give the "527 point FREE!!! inspection". Never can tell what they might find. In the OP's case they wanted to make a lot of extra cash on the "free" inspection.And people wonder why many of us would rather have root canal than go to a GM dealer for service.