It was raining very slightly the other day and when I gingerly applied the accelerator while pulling away from a stop sign the front wheels spun so much that the traction control engaged. I thought maybe to need new tires, especially going into the winter.
When I got home, I placed a penny between the treads to gauge tread depth. It looked like I had some remaining useful tread, but I wasn’t sure so I took my car to my Chevrolet dealer where they do sell new tires.
The Service Writer turned the steering wheel to show me the tires’ wear bars–I had quite a bit of tread left as it turns out. At this point the Dealer Principal walks by and asks the Service Writer rather accusingly whether the Service Writer is trying to sell me new tires. I mentioned that the Service Writer was actually trying to talk me out of buying a new set of tires and the Dealer Principal’s face lit up and said “good job” to the Service Writer.
Next the Service Writer actually measured the tire tread depth and estimated I have at least 10,000 miles left on these original tires. What a savings. He hypothesised that the real problem was low tire pressure.
A Tech measured the tire pressure, found all tires 4 pounds low each and corrected the pressure, no charge. Driving away from the dealership I could feel the difference.
I really do need to get back to checking my tire pressures at every fill-up. :smack:
Anywho, do you have any stories of a dealership trying to talk you out of buying something that you did not need?
Well yes, they were honest in this case. I believe everyone except the disabled and sometimes them should be able to check the pressure on their own tires. Gas stations of today often do not offer service and this leaves the driver more responsible. You can visually check your tires without even a penny and make a consumer decision as to whether the tread is acceptable. I hate to go all the way to the wear bars when there could be snow on the ground.
I think by and large that dealers are as honest as the average or better. The only knock I have on them is the prices they charge. They represent the manufacturer so they have original parts and tons of expensive equipment and training. Their costs are much higher going in. I generally look for the cheapest way out, which is never the dealer.
I have lots of stories about honest dealerships, but then again I am a service manager at a large dealership.
My favorite used to be on a towin
“the tow driver says I need X replaced”
“No actually you just need this hose put back on and the clamp tightened, no charge.”
“But the tow driver said…”
::: sigh:::
“Look I don’t make any money when I fix your car for free like right now, so do you think I have your best interests in mind or am I being selfish here? Think about it.”
“Oh”
I think most disabled people could check their own tire pressure. The standard for being disabled is quite broad and includes people who may not be able to walk long distances and such. They could easily check. I was making allowances for those severely disabled and say using a lift chair who might need to “farm out” such chores.
The wear bar is supposed to indicate 2/32 tread left. I get uncomfortable with anything less than 1/4" and certainly will not drive on snow with less than 5/32 or so. I don’t need no stinking gauge either because I change a tire out before any need for precise measuring. That’s just me. Others can drive baloney skins all they want.
The Service Writer said I was between 6 and 8/32nds on all tires, so 10,000 miles of tread life remaining sounds wildly optimistic, no?
Maybe I should get a gauge and swap them all out when they approach 5/32nds or would you not mess around and get them all swapped out now before the first snow (today?)
Along a similar line, I once took my car to a Jiffy Lube to get the oil changed. Now, obviously they don’t make their money by doing cheap oil changes, they make money by scouring your car for an excuse to sell you anything else you could possibly need and usually come out with a mildly dirty air filter insisting you should change it, etc.
So anyway I’m in the waiting area and sure enough the mechanic comes out and asks if I’ve ever had my power steering fluid changed (or something - this was 15 years ago), because it’s suggested it be changed at (whatever) xxxxxx miles. I never had so I figure it wouldn’t hurt to be on the safe side and ok the flush. He comes back after the oil is changed and said “I looked at your fluid and it looks fine actually. I didn’t have to change it after all.” I was floored - how easy would it have been for him to do nothing and charge me for it anyway? How would I have known?
My owner’s manual recommends the replacement of my transmission fluid at the 60,000 mile checkup. I trust my local Midas guy to do all my work and he did the rest of the tune-up, but he said he’d feel more comfortable if I took my car to the dealer down the road to replace the tranny fluid. My car has a CVT and the fluid is expensive, and if you do it wrong you can screw up the whole tranny. He said he has the same car and takes it to the dealer rather than doing it himself.
So I called the dealer to schedule a visit. The guy asked why I wanted it replaced; I told him it’s on the list for the 60,000 mile tune-up. He said that he has only seen one car that actually needed the CVT fluid replaced at that mileage; usually they’re good until between 90,000 to 100,000. He’d do it if I wanted, but unless I drive in a way that puts the transmission through hell, I should save myself the money and bring it in at 90k.
Sweet! An honest dealer mechanic.
Also- I really don’t think it’s necessary to check tire pressure with every fill-up. Fifty years ago tires sucked compared to what we drive on today, and so it was part of every fill-up, along with checking your oil (cars used to burn more oil) and washing your windows. Nowadays, tires can roll much longer while retaining full pressure. I get mine checked with every oil change (every 5,000 - 6,000 miles) and they usually only have to top off a couple of pounds, if at all.
ETA: The other thing about checking your own pressure- if your car has TPMS, the stem on the valve is very brittle and will easily snap off if you’re not exceedingly careful, thereby rendering the TPMS useless. The valve probably won’t leak, but the indicator on your dash that tells you the tire is low will just remain on all the time, even though the tire has full pressure. They are $200 - $300 per valve stem to replace, so I always leave it to the professionals.
