Community Chat

[Plaid Pants2]

Soooooo, you want $75 refunded for service that was done........three years ago.

Yeah, good luck with that.

My bet is, it aint gonna happen.

If anything, they'll be laughing at you after you leave....empty handed.

[Kachina624]

I've had a dashboard light on most of the time I've owned my 2003 Saturn.  The code on the mechanics' computers refers to the gas cap.  They replace the gas cap, after 2-3 weeks and little driving, the light come back on.  I've learned to love and live with it.  How could a stupid gas cap be so important?

[Kalli]

I had no idea about this. Over the years we've had 3 Priuses(?). Loved the car but found their customer service to be lacking. Whenever I took my car for a scheduled tune-up they'd take my rubber mat out and stick it in the back, then leave me a note that said I'm not allowed to put the rubber mat over the carpet one. The first time it was raining and I got in the car with wet shoes not realizing the rubber mat wasn't there until I got home. The whole reason for the rubber mat was because I didn't want to get the carpet dirty. 

yeah, it's small potatoes but over the years I asked several times that they not remove it and they never respected my request, no matter who I spoke with.  Traded for a Honda. 

[nun ya]

The code readers at auto parts stores are okay for general diagnostics. The dash light has to be on to pull the code. The readers at the dealerships are much more detailed. They can pull up why any light has ever came on and why.

[151949]

I once had a Chev. Equinox that the check engine light kept coming on. Took it back to the dealer each time and they kept saying it was the gas cap.Fortunately it was on warranty.I finally took it to a different garage and they said it was some emmisions valve and replaced that which solved the problem, but  cost me $200. I then had to fight the dealer & go to the GM service rep to get a refund.

[DJs mom]

There is a difference between an auto parts store reading the code from your "check engine" light and getting an engine diagnostics done. The former is performed free at the auto parts store, the latter is more in-depth and costs around $100 in my area. These are also done by mechanics, either at a garage or a dealer. My check engine light came on about 2 months ago. I had just gotten gas and thought it was a gas cap issue, but after not going off for a few days I took it to the Nissan dealer and found out there was a recall. The dealer had to re-program something in the engine. OP needs to make sure O'Reilly's didn't just re-set her engine light b/c if there really is a problem you may not know until it is too late.

[SilleeMee]

Interestingly gas caps do play an important role in diagnostics checks. If there is a leak around the gasket or any other erosion on the cap, this can cause a fume pressure release from inside the gas tank which will register as a faulty cap. Some gas caps are manufactured with a tiny hole in them so they will release gas fume pressure usually associated with hot weather conditions. In any event, it is important to have the proper type cap on your vehicle. Diagnostic computers vary greatly and some may not detect any faults in the emissions areas, including gas lines.

[patbz]

I went to my local Toyota dealer today, pulled into the Bay and said my service light is on, what do I need to do?  Service rep said "make an appointment, get a diagnostic done", I asked "is that my only option?" , he said yes and I asked to speak to General Manager.  GM and I spoke for half an hour.  At first he said if it's gas cap they'd let me know and there's be no charge.  When I shared, word for word what I was told, at first "he didn't understand".  I pulled out some internet pages (some, not the 105 pgs we had found under "mechanics dirty little secret".  Further told him that his service department had misled me three times in as many years (including correctly identifying that I needed 4 new tires, when I said "I'll buy them at Costco", he said "Costco tires are seconds"...).  I told him that after buying two Prui s totalling $55,000 I expected better treatment and wondered if part of it was that I came in alone, an elderly woman.  I told him that we would never buy another car from them and that I thought they needed to do some additional training.  I did not ask for any money.

[Kalli]

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@patbz wrote:

I went to my local Toyota dealer today, pulled into the Bay and said my service light is on, what do I need to do?  Service rep said "make an appointment, get a diagnostic done", I asked "is that my only option?" , he said yes and I asked to speak to General Manager.  GO and I spoke for half an hour.  At first he said if it's gas cap they'd let me know and there's be no charge.  When I shared, word for word what I was told, at first "he didn't understand".  I pulled out some internet pages (some, not the 105 pgs we had found under "mechanics dirty little secret".  Further told him that his service department had misled me three times in as many years (including correctly identifying that I needed 4 new tires, when I said "I'll buy them at Costco", he said "Costco tires are seconds"...).  I told him that after buying two Prui s totalling $55,000 I expected better treatment and wondered if part of it was that I came in alone, an elderly woman.  I told him that we would never buy another car from them and that I thought they needed to do some additional training.  I did not ask for any money.

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@patbz I completely understand your frustration. And even though you told them you wouldn't be buying from them again don't be surprised if they call you after a while and ask if you want to trade up. We found no matter who we voiced our concerns to, no one ever seemed to communicate with anyone else there about our complaints.  After complaining to one of the "higher ups" they still called a few days later to ask me to rate their tune-up service! And after a month or so someone else working there called to see if we wanted to trade in for a newer Prius. We'd already traded at the Honda dealership. 

You hit hit the nail on the head. They need additional customer service training. 😉  

[AmericanBulldogMom]

@patbz If you are an “elderly’ woman as you said in your post, then threatening to never buy another car from them probably didn’t phase him. I say this bc if you are “elderly” they figure the likelihood of you buying another car is slim to none. I would find a new place to take your car for service if you are not satisfied with how they handled things.