Denied service...
 

So I took my car in for its first service today... Right after I dropped the car off I get a call from the dealership saying they can't work on the car... I asked why. They said its because I have after market parts on the car. I immediately asked to speak with a manager and he persisted in saying the same thing. I insisted they serviced it. They ended up doing it. I understand if it came up as a warrenty thing, but that had nothing to do with it... The dealer had no other customers on the lot... I feel like they were just being lazy. what gives? Anybody else have issues?

I have had issues with every dealership I have taken the car to in the greater Tacoma area. However, I haven't had an issue with aftermarket parts thus far. Have you tried another dealer?

I seem to recall some sort of form that states they recognize the car has aftermarket parts but will work on the car as long as you agree to some terms that relives them of any fault.

I had a few aftermarket parts on mine and Wilsonville Toyota did not give me any grief. In fact they complimented me on the exhaust.

Which aftermarket parts did they have the issue with?

Unfortunately the next closest dealer is about 45 min away.

They didn't state pacifically. They just didn't want to work on it. I didn't had issues with cel or crickets. First time I've brought the car in to that dealer actually

questions, @Chen...how do you make them to do the service for your car. I havn't bring my car to the dealership to done any service since the intake was installed...I afraid I will end up stock in the same situation as you had today.

any advice.

Same here. They didnt say anything about my mods except that my exhaust was way too loud...

I have taken mine in the dealership here in Gresham and they loved the mods that i have done and didn't think twice about the service.

No issues here and I've brought it to Puyallup Subaru and Olympia Subaru for service.
Maybe just jealousy issues of your ride =P

if this happens you should just tell him thats fine but you are going to call Scion USA and see if process and treatment is normal.


They should change their tune considering you are asking them to do something that doesnt include any of the aftermarket parts you have

Tonkin on 122nd gave me a good quizzing about where I bought my exhaust. Several of the tech's gathered around to listen to it. No problems with service. Agree with Mr Jay. I am guessing they would not like to have a black mark on their service record.

Hit em with a bad survey, mention names. They'll play nice next time.

Maybe it's a Toyota/Scion thing. My Subaru dealer will gladly service aftermarket cars.

Some WRX's and STI's and modded and they still service them. I haven't done much to my BRZ, but I'm sure they'll service it. Bring your FR-S to a Subaru dealer and see if they'll service it, hehehe.

Same car after all.

Weird, what dealership?

Do your own service. It's cheaper and you know what you did unlike a dealer. I'll even do it for you for cheaper if you'd like. :)

Call toyota and make a complaint. Get a claim number and they will never bug you again after they get reemed by corporate. That's what i had to do at least. @stockysnail we FRS dudes get our first 25k of service free including 5 oil changes free.

Scion is BASED on personalization! I would definitely complain to Scion USA about this. Just reading it pisses me off.

SO FAR, my experience with my local shop has been pretty good. I took it to the body shop that owns the dealership and they didn't care about after market parts then to the actual dealership repair shop for some warranty work. The service writer said he didn't give a shit what I put on my car as long as it doesn't get in their way of the service they are trying to perform.

Both of these cars were meant to be customized so I don't see why they would get uppity about having aftermarket. Just go poking around on the car and you will see lots of little gems left behind so it is easier to install aftermarket parts.

We should convince Darren to organize "Service Day" every few months at the shop ;)

Who needs dealerships? Blah. Blah.

FTFY

Why don't you direct them to this page on their website:

http://www.tunerchallenge.ca/en

Then ask them exactly what the f*cking problem is?

I would assume if it's ok to promote their cars to the tuner crowd, they know exactly what they are going to do to their cars. And, they aren't shy about using customer rides (tuned) and various events to promote the FRS in the first place. I would take the attitude that they are inept in reason and service and I would definitely relay that sentiment to Scion!

It doesn't matter what they promote, that is different from warranty. STI's and EVO's get promoted for tracking/auto-x all the time, and the selling point is that they are "track" ready from the factory.

If they find out you track/auto-x with SCCA or whom ever, your warranty is pretty much shot.

I don't really get why people want a dealer service history. 9/10 they do a crap job compared to a specialist. The primary value in having a full dealer service history is TO THE DEALER ONLY when they take your car back after the lease period ends and they have to re-sell it on.

In the event of me selling my car private, I would prefer to have printed evidence of dealers fucking up in my service book and a list of receipts from a specialist who will take some care and pride in your car.

Of course i'm just talking routine service work, not warranty replacement stuff. That's just tough shit and you have to try and find a half decent dealership.

It has been tough finding the specialist in Oregon's Mid-Willamette valley. Has anyone had a GOOD experience somewhere between Eugene and Salem?

I laid out what I would be doing to my car and the service manager at Toyota said it wouldn't matter, they would service the car and it wouldn't fuck with my warranty.

I told him exhaust, intake, crank pulley (already done), suspension.

Hey, I've seen you around. Is the Dealership in Eugene crap for the FR-S? What have they said about mods? That's if you've actually dealt with them...

Went to Lithia in springfield, as we bought the car at lithia in medford. went in on a Saturday... Parts guys weren't around. Oil changes were in a minute lube kinda place. Talked with the manager a bit, but didn't get that good of a feeling about it all.

I've since taken it in to Lassen in Albany for the first maint. Talked to the service manager about being lowered and the modded and he said it would be okay. Pick up the car only to find the drivers side skirt starting to gap, and they hadn't changed settings in techstream that I had requested. They then claimed there would be a charge for the changes, which led to a longer, less friendly conversation.... Most likely wont be returning there.

Which is why I'm looking for a shop that can help with mods and maintenance in the area. I've heard of garage 808 in Eugene, but haven't been in there... Any good subie shops down there?

FTW Tuning is in Eugene as well, they cater to the Subaru crowd, so maybe a bit better than Garage 808.

^ There you go. I would take my car to FTW if I needed a local shop. I'd rather head up to Perrin though, depending on what I'm looking to have done.

Seconded! My dealership services all kinds of mods, and actually encouraged me modding and autocrossing my BRZ, they seemed excited. I haven't needed much from them yet, but what I have needed and with purchasing, they've been pretty decent throughout. Show up to your local Subaru and just bluff it out, you never know :D

Perrin doesn't actually perform the mods themselves. They are a performance market manufacturer. They are happy to recommend some local shops though.

At least this was my experience.

Sorry, just realized this was thread was last updated in June. My apologies for the late comment.

What was being serviced? I'm only asking to gauge just how wacky their claim was for my own entertainment.

I love dealership stories. Somebody should take the initiative to start a Shit My Dealership Says website. (In reference to Shit My Dad Says, for those that don't get it.)

Just a standard first service. Basically... Must an oil change and rotation of wheels and tires...

Nice.

"I'm sorry sir, but we can't change your oil because you have an aftermarket shift knob."

Subaru, at least my local dealership, pretty much said don't slap a turbo on it or play with the ECU. Told me that he would recommend Perrin for exhausts, and possibly intake, if they made one. I have a feeling they see a lot of modded STi's and the like around here.

I have standard bolt ons. Didn't effect anything. Should of been ok.

Should of... as in wasn't? I'm in mid-exhaust install right now.

Sometimes, the reason people want to go to dealerships for service instead of a specialist is because OTHER people aren't knowledgeable like enthusiasts like us. What I mean is, let's say I want to sell my car 5 years from now. Most buyers are going to look into the car's past, and if they see the car was serviced at a 3rd party shop instead of a dealership, they'll probably turn the other way and just walk. The general public isn't aware of what's out there beyond the dealerships, and see 3rd party servicing as a bad thing.