dipstick

[dpm68]

So here's a gripe: I went to change my girlfriend's oil in her '83 benz 380SL (vert) and in the meantime, looked over the records of its last change at Firestone. I happened to notice that the "tecnician" added five quarts of oil when she had it changed there last fall. Hmmm...a Benz 3.8 liter holds 8.5 quarts plus nearly one in the filter, thus making a total of nearly 9.5 quarts. Hmmm. It's a god thing that she doesn't drive this car much, but has put several hundred miles on it just the same. If one does the math and realizes how many quarts it was shy, it tends to befuddle one. Firestone touts "complete care" on its tickets but this seems more like "incomplete care" to me. Couldn't you just check the dipstick, like anyone else would do? What a dipstick. Needless to say, she will not be going there anymore. I am thinking about going to have a nice chat with their tech who performed this "complete care". Gripe gripe gripe...

[andy74]

when you hire minimum wage techs,you get minimum wage service,thats why walmart,quick lubes etc dont get any of my bizz,nothing against any entry level guys,but they dont usually care about the customers,just earning enough for the next 12 pack or bag of dope

[Brock Samson]

I have heard a half dozen horror stories from different folks using firestone shops for routine servicing and no good testimonials.
I would never use nor reccomend them. 

[andy74]

there is a goodyear service center across the street from my employer,and i watch the guys over there getting high intheir cars at lunch time,and beating the crap out of customers cars as they"service"them,then at the end of the day its a drag race to the bar,or gas station for beers-its sad but true,most of those guys either shouldnt work on cars,or have been fired from real places and thats all they can get

[Kevin68N71]

I took my car to Firestone to have the air conditioner topped off.  It lasts about two years, I bring it into a local guy and he tops it off and I am cold again for two years.  It has a super slow leak and I really don't want to purge the system, etc, and pay someone to find the leak and do expensive repairs.

One weekend he could not do it and I really wanted it done, so I went to a Firestone.  The guy told me that even if I wanted a charge, there was a $50 inspection fee.  I said what the heck and ok (I think this was the last time I ever had anyone touch any of my cars).  I came back and the guy had a $1200 estimate...just about everything needed to be replaced, even the DRIER... and he started giving me BS that a leak would cause contamination and ruin the whole system and everything would need to be replaced.

I was so pissed off.  The next weekend I got it recharged at the old place.  Two years later it was still cold.  I was going to go back and show my receipt of BS and my cold air to the manager, but when I went there, everyone had changed.  No surprise.

[1969chargerrtse]

Definitely go back and show them.  I replaced a Honda engine one time because the quick lube place didn't put the filter on tight enough and the guy lost the motor.

[twenty mike mike]

Did she take it in for one of those $19.95 oil changes, where in the small print it says, "Includes 5 quarts of oil"?

And the tech doesn't "need" to check the dipstick, cuz the boss says, "$19.95 Special!" and he pours in 5 quarts.   

Just hope the drain plug isn't cross threaded.

[greatwn73]

  Sorry guys but having managed shops on both sides of the fence (corporate, independant tire shops and oe dealers) the quality of techs is very similar. You can find good techs and lousy wrench twisters in either venue. It comes down to management, training and having the right tools. My job involves me calling on all types of repair shops and I can usually tell which ones know what their doing and the ones that will close in the near future.

  I had a guy(tech??) tell me this week that his impact gun was set at the proper torque to tighten the axle nut on a hub bearing.
             Impact on bearing = failure
 

[greatwn73]

   Kevin, Here in Canada you cannot legally simply top off a known leaking A\C system. Not knowing which component failed but have you checked the cost of condensors or evaporators lately plus the labour to install. The receiver drier must be replaced to do the job correctly on any open system and maintain the warranty on any new  parts. The $50. fee would be to evac the system and leak test, nobody should be expected to invest time in your car and not get paid for it.
            You can do what you want but you shouldn't slam people for trying to do the job right.

[dpm68]

Did she take it in for one of those $19.95 oil changes, where in the small print it says, "Includes 5 quarts of oil"?

No, she paid $45 for it, and thought it was a good deal considering she paid $70 the previous season for the same thing at another Firestone. It just so happens she keeps records on everything, so I was able to see that the first place actually used Alldata or something similar, and found it to be an 8.5 quart car. Smart (except you should top up the filter as well). The last "tech" did not use such data-retriving info and probably figured that most stock small blocks hold about five quarts. As we know, this is not so with the Benzos. So it goes.