So my timing jumped for whatever reason and my Balts at the dealer for a timing kit and possible valve replacement. Been at the dealer six days and they haven't even looked at my car. Should I get it towed to another shop or do it myself??? I can't afford 140 a week on gas in my truck. And this is getting ridiculous

 

Uh take it somewhere else then....

If you are capable do it yourself.
Snag a complete head from here (mays well do a ported one since its off) and a OEM timing kit

Itll pry come out cheaper than the dealers and youll end up with better head.

 

Hmm ported head sounds alright it's a tvs car. And the timing kit from autozone is 160

 

I would not put parts store timing kits on a car. That's one item I always do OEM on.

 

The oem timing kits are made by cloyes, same as you can get in a parts store. The "OEM" is better philosophy always makes me laugh, because OEM parts are made by aftermarket companies. Gates and Denso are probably two of the biggest suppliers of OEM parts on the planet.

 

This!

But I will state that there are some parts at the parts store that are shoddy and truly not OEM.

In this case if the OEM failed then it will fail again so your looking at replacing an OEM and paying more or the parts shop OEM and paying a little less.

Think of it like brake pads. 190 for the front at the dealer and the same pads at most parts stores are 50-70 lol.

 

Keyword: SOMETIMES.

You have to know who made what if you don't want to end up with cheap **** in your car. I said OEM, I did not say do to the dealership: there is a difference there.

 

Thanks for the replies you guys. I have decided to just get the dealer timing kit. Just a few big problems. . . .
Ok so they had my car ten days before they finally pulled it in to look at it. Took the mechanic three days to tell me I had dropped a valve. . . .
Takes my head off to find that he just mistook the valve reliefs on the pistons as actually valves sitting in there. Apparently my car has LNF pistons??? Anyway they said they would send my head off to be checked on wednesday and they haven't yet. The mechanic told me he could have my head back and be putting it back on the car next week. So now they promise it will be monday

So now my car has been at the dealer 16 days and sitting outside with no head on it while they. . . .don't work on finishing it? This is ridiculous you guys. Three weeks to check my head and replace my timing kit. Meanwhile im spending 140 a week on gas in my truck.

What should I do at this point? I don't want to be mean I know they are busy but seriously? When they tell me my head is being sent off I expect them to do just that. Not five days later

 

I feel ya, but ya it's time to be a d***. List off everything they have done and ask them how they are going to make up for it. I've had an entire engine replaced in less than a week at a dealership in my rx8 under warranty. You've been more than reasonable, and you got to tell them what they've done wrong and give that awkward silence after you ask them how they are going to make up for it haha

 

I'm going up their first thing in the morning. I'm going to list everything they've told me they'd do and didn't and explain that i'll be back on Wednesday to pick up my car. If they can't find a way to make up for it then i'll call corporate and complain.

 

I wouldnt go in there guns ablaze. being a dick is the first thing that would make me not want to work with you even if i was in the wrong. There is a professional way to handle things. So do it like that. Being a d will get you absolutely no where.

Anyways as far as the timing kit stuff goes. ALWAYS buy the oem on that stuff. Sure gates cloyes and a few others are major suppliers of the oem but their aftermarket stuff sometimes does not yield to oem standards and is of a lesser grade. Even if made by the same company. There is a reason the stuff is cheap and its not 100% purely because the oem wants to screw you over and make more money.

 

Easy saying that when you don't work in the corporate world haha.

Customer service is tough work these days, and you are trained to take it like a b****. Most retail policies favor the people who complain the most, and nice guys finish last. In fairness, the professional way is always the most honorable route, but then you have to fight through any excuses and stay stern. If you go in there not wanting to hear any excuses from the start, you normally have better success especially if they have been in the wrong.

Let us know how it goes!

 

Your right I don't work in the corperate world but I do know how to deal with customers without taking it in the ass especially when I'm not in the wrong. The customers always right is a the most bs line I have ever heard in automotive. It goes both ways though as sometimes the supplier or shop in the wrong

 

Even if the hold up is somewhere else, the dealership is still being shitty for not calling up the owner and keeping him in the loop.

I do not get pissed over unforeseen delays. I get pissed as **** when I am told I will have something, dont, and then have to spend my time finding out why when they should call and tell me. Not being told is like a slap in the face.

 

Exactly. Took the head off Monday and informed me that it needed repair. I gave them the ok on Monday, still expecting to have it back and being put together today, but it hasn't been fixed yet because of a communication issue(THEM NEVER CALLING THE MACHINIST BACK). I started explaining how having my car 3 weeks is really an inconvenience and no one took me seriously. Again I went to their manager and explained that I shouldn't have to drop in and check on them everyday to get the work done. Then I called and complained to the GM service line.

The manager calls me back upset and angry asking me why I called the number. He pretty much said that he can't speed up the process and If I want the work done I can either 1. wait for them to do the job "next week" like they always say. or 2. Come get my car towed go pick up my head and take all the pieces to another dealer.

I thought that calling corporate would get something done? instead it just really pissed of these guys and i'm in a worse place then before.

As a GM owner I am very upset with this reaction to me filing a complaint that I have every right to make. I haven't raised my voice at anyone yet. But it's getting hard.

 

If they are that busy maybe it should go to one that's not so busy

 

call gm again, and have the dealer that can't do the work tow it to another dealer. The dealership should never have taken the job if they can't do it in a timely manner.

 

It seems a lot of GM dealerships are busy with all the recalls

 

Yes, your best option is to call customer service again, he's really ballsy to get upset with you after a call from corporate. Your good man, they shouldn't of taken the job if they couldn't do it properly. Just do a timeline of what has happened and call again prepared. I'd mention what he said on the phone after your first call too.

 

This and don't forget to plan before you call, make sure you got all the facts, dates of communication with dealership, names of people you spoke with, what kind of work is being done, find time estimates on how long the work should take and put that on the table as well, explain the situation that you are paying more than expected because you have to drive a car that uses too much fuel.
if your only option is that dealer then try to make the dealer pick up the tab on a 4cyl rental car for the time they have your car.
And the most important, sound like you mean business but stay polite and somewhat calm.

 

They are NOT willing to get it towed to another dealer 20 miles away. I'm freaking sick of my car sitting outside for a week now taken apart without the head or coolant in the block. The tech working on my car has spent 4 hours on it in the past 20 days and has finished probably 6-10 other repairs.

I was also told that my means of transportation in the mean time is"not our problem"

I'll call corporate again in the morning

 

I'd let them know that if things cannot get going with your vehicle that you will be seeking representation of counsel and that they would be hearing from him or her soon if your car is not fixed. Be sure to document your conversations like they have said above and be specific on date and times of calls and whom you spoke with. Because in my opinion they are not being very professional and sound like they are very rude. Definitely not meeting customer satisfaction by any Means.

 

I hadn't heard from the dealer since the angry call I got from the manager yesterday so I called to check on my head. Should be in tomorrow and should be able to pick up my cobalt "no later than Monday."

So hopefully now things are going in the right direction. Or they could be lying to me again. . . Damn I miss my car but I sure dont wanna pay these guys 2 grand to keep my car for nearly a month

 

Overall sounds like a very bad experience.. you would think a dealership would be run a little better than that