Letting the service tech "roadtest" your car

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Mar 23, 2011 | 12:56 AM
  #1  
I took my car in for it's first oil change since I bought it($90...and will never do that again. I'll go back to taking my own oil to firestone and getting it done for half the price). But I wanted them to check my alignment..and wanted to ride with the tech. But the service manager comes back and says "he drove it and said the wheel is just a tad bit off". Now I'm paranoid that every little noise, sound, is something broken because the guy ragged on it and did neutral drops, burnouts, donuts, etc. in the 5 minutes he took it. It's an 05 that I bought from my brother..he babied it and did the maintenance by the book, and I hate that someone drove it. Although whenever he took it in for service in Texas he let them do alignments, roadtests, etc. Also anyone ever hear a click sound from the spedo/gauge cluster as the car turns over? Like something in the ignition?
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Mar 23, 2011 | 01:20 AM
  #2  
I never had the Tech drove my car yet. But when that day comes i would have a camera in there watching him and he won't know about it.
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Mar 23, 2011 | 02:53 AM
  #3  
i had a tech drive my car trying to find a clicking in the suspension, but he never got on it. i believe its just a certain few that will trash a good car because its not theirs. if you can show proof i think you can report the tech to the manager.
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Mar 23, 2011 | 03:15 AM
  #4  
Uh, you pretty much have to drive a car to see if everything's ok, especially after fixing something or changing alignment. The techs see tons of these cars every single day, why would they be abusing yours specifically? It's just another boring car to them
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Mar 23, 2011 | 03:23 AM
  #5  
Quote: Uh, you pretty much have to drive a car to see if everything's ok, especially after fixing something or changing alignment. The techs see tons of these cars every single day, why would they be abusing yours specifically? It's just another boring car to them


This^

That's what the company car is for. The car they use to do errands and etc.

Also.. you should be doing the oil change your lolol. That's like the basics. Either that or you buy your own oil and filter and take it to one of those cheap $15 places and watch them do it. $90 for an oil change...
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Mar 23, 2011 | 03:24 AM
  #6  
That's what I was thinking. I have no 6MT, navigation...it's not a new G37S. What about the clunk from reverse to drive, or drive to reverse? It doesn't do it if I let the tranny sit in neutral for a second.

The only reason I let them do it is cuz I thought they would take care of straightening my wheel while I was there. I usually get my cars done at Firestone with full synthetic for $40. If I had known they wouldn't fix it, wouldn't have gone
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Mar 23, 2011 | 03:31 AM
  #7  
Quote: That's what I was thinking. I have no 6MT, navigation...it's not a new G37S. What about the clunk from reverse to drive, or drive to reverse? It doesn't do it if I let the tranny sit in neutral for a second.

The only reason I let them do it is cuz I thought they would take care of straightening my wheel while I was there. I usually get my cars done at Firestone with full synthetic for $40. If I had known they wouldn't fix it, wouldn't have gone


Hmm thought there was always supposed to be some sort of clunk whenever you change gears.

And nah they wouldn't do an allignment for you. Not unless you paid for it lol.
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Mar 23, 2011 | 09:46 AM
  #8  
Kgh what you describe is paranoia, there not going to beat on your G35! Taking your G to the dealership was your first mistake unless you have warranty/recall work to be performed as you can tell by the cost of the oil change. Firestone would be on the bottom of my list too, we're seen some nightmare stories about their service. I have an independent brake/alignment shop where I take my coupe for alignment and I'm confident when I leave there it's perfect. Find a shop in your neighborhood for this kinda work and oil changes too. Our Infinitis do make a noise when you first start it in the morning, no worries!
Gary
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Mar 23, 2011 | 10:32 AM
  #9  
I went to the Nissan dealership about 5 months ago, test drove a G37s they had for sale... let them drive my car for "trade in purposes". Came back, I could smell the tires burning. I confront them about it, they tried to play it off. Brought manager over to my car, and scraped some rubber deposits off my rear bumper behind tire... he was embaressed. Gave me a free oil change/tire rotation and balance and gave me a coupon for another oil change and tire r&b... then he fired the guy on the spot. I laughed as the guy got into his little sentra and drove off.
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Mar 23, 2011 | 10:45 AM
  #10  
op, you are to paranoid

if you go to a decent shop you wont have to worry.

unless your car is heavily modded, I wouldn't worry about it.

ive let the tech drive my car and had no issues, most even put some plastic or paper in the car so it wont get the seats and floor dirty.

I dont see why everyone acts like everybody is out to rag on their stock cars
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Mar 23, 2011 | 12:13 PM
  #11  
I wouldn't necessarily think it's (just) techs, I'd be more worried about porters.
Then again I'm just lucky I know everyone at the infiniti dealership that I go to. I always do the work myself on the car but if in case I never know what to do- I can feel mostly assured that my car is taken care of at that dealership.
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Mar 23, 2011 | 02:03 PM
  #12  
Quote: I wouldn't necessarily think it's (just) techs, I'd be more worried about porters.
Then again I'm just lucky I know everyone at the infiniti dealership that I go to. I always do the work myself on the car but if in case I never know what to do- I can feel mostly assured that my car is taken care of at that dealership.
Dealerships....? I only take my coupe to the Infiniti dealership for warranty/recall work and every time I do they screw something up. If I need something I can't do myself there are several shops where I can get the answers including the Nissan dealership in my area. There quality of work and cost is way better than Infiniti.
Gary
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Mar 23, 2011 | 02:06 PM
  #13  
Ah yes I agree Gary. I meant like when I can't do the replacement motor that needed to be done.
I wasn't referring to as like a brake job, oil change, etc, those I can do myself.

The nissan dealership here that I used to work at doesn't do that great work and so far all I've ever done is bring my car to Infiniti for warranty work so..

No real cost so far.
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Mar 23, 2011 | 08:06 PM
  #14  
thats why yall need people like meeeee. trustworthy work FROM the dealer....not at the dealer cost
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Mar 23, 2011 | 08:06 PM
  #15  
I woulda done the oil change myself. And I DO have a guy I take my car to for belts, hoses, other work that I can't do myself. But I figured they would correct the steering wheel for free. My brother had his G37s pull to the right a bit, and his steering wheel was a little off center. The dealer in Austin did it all with no hassle. But this time they want me to pay for an alignment. The alignment is straight, my wheel is just a bit off. If I had known they wouldn't fix my wheel, I woulda passed on them..they're great for warranty work, but maintenance..not so much
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