Bad rear shock. Service tech hooning in my car
 

Well I went to the dealer for the first time ever for a warranty problem ended the experience unhappy.
Long story kinda short my car has been making a clunking sound from the drivers side rear over slight bumps at pretty much any speed. So after checking everything and not finding anything loose I figured it was a problem with the rear shock. (My car is stock) so I went to my local dealership. I won't name them but I'm sure with my location you can find the one closest to me if you must know.
Anyway I was due for my 7500 service( which is too long I think) and they were going to check out the problem. I told them to get me and I'll ride with the tech I even told them you can just pull out of the lot and hear the noise right away.
So I watch my car pull out after the oil change through the window and about five minutes later my little brother who was at lexus driving a new fsport is 350 calls me and asks who is driving my car.
I told him where I was and why and he proceeds to tell me how the car went flying by him and was trying to get sideways around the turns. The speed limit in the whole automall is only 25. He followed my car all the way back to the dealership and came in while I was confronting the tech and talking to the manager. Of course the tech denied it. I talked to 3 managers they said they will address the situation. And I'm not quite sure the reason for a 5 mile test drive in an industrial area when the automall loop is 9/10 of a mile he never left the area. Plus he was back in the area people always test the acceleration of new cars.
Really the noise is easy to replicate with any slight tiny bump it didn't need a 5 mile joy ride to hear it. It will make it over every bump.
And really if your out testing a car for a suspension problem I don't think you should be driving it like a race car especially when it's not yours to abuse and something could happen.
Anyway I get a new shock next thur and he will not be the one working on it.

Oh and service techs out there remember you never know who's watching.

P.s
Do any of you think I should take more action on this?

You have no proof of anything, so what are you expecting to happen? The guy already denied it so unless you got a video or something, you're SOL

I don't want anything I just brought it to their attention. My brother really had no reason to make it up. He just happened to be up there at the same time. The tech was a younger guy that kinda looks like a overweight justin beiber pre haircut. He wouldn't even look at me or the manager when we calmly asked about it

Sounds like a dashcam would be a nice option for next time

I'd take my business elsewhere... NO ONE should mess with another person's car, even more so when it is their job to help you take care of it!

That's horrible :(

Yup, but still, get a dashcam

They assured me that tech would not be working on my car when it goes back

You bringing it back there means you condone what they are doing or failing to do.

If that's the case, I have no advice for you. You vote with your money and since you still want them to work on your car, you are saying you like them.

Should I request the part be sent to another dealer? I'm ok with that it's under warranty. I'm not paying for anything

Oh, I reckon that's about all you can do. If that's the only dealer in the area, the next time you go back, I'd request that you be allowed to ride along on any other "test drives".

humfrz

Since warranty work is being requested then you have no choice but to stick with them.

I suggest in the future, bring it to another dealer for work and get a dash cam.

I never sent my 'fun' car (MR2) to the dealer. Was always either myself or a mechanic whom I trust (because he was part of the MR2 club and I've seen his work personally).

You aren't, but the dealership service department gets paid by Toyota to do the work (based on the estimated time it takes to do the repair). So, you aren't paying them, but they are paid to do the work on your car.

This should be SOP if you need to describe a sound your car is making. Even better, get the service manager to ride along with you.

Don't go back if you can help it. If they contact you I would refuse to go back unless they assured me that the guy's employment was terminated. Avoid until they fix their issue: the tech.
@HunterGreene said it: They get paid by Toyota to do the work so they are losing business at that point.

This is the first time and the first car I have not taken my car to a dealer yet and I am at almost 11k. It's because of this and the fact that the 86 is just so tempting to drive hard. Plus so far I've been doing all the regular maintenance.

BTW, I try to fix most of the maladies but I get the clunking noise as well. Initially I thought it was because the lock for the folding rear seat wasn't secure so I slammed it back hard. No dice. Next I may try removing my stuff from the trunk, then next would be the jack, spare tire e.g. I did read a thread about the rear parcel shelf welding rubbing together or something.

Your brother was test driving a car but was able to call you, end the test drive, get back in his personal vehicle and follow the tech to Scion? Unless I misunderstood your story it sounds like there are a few holes in it.

When these things happen it's best imho opinion to handle your business first (let them finish the present service, bill you) then calmly ask to speak with the manager. It makes it seem less like you are trying to avoid paying or handling the business transaction (which gives you strength in the argument) and it gives you time to calm down.

I wouldn't pursue it any further but I would definitely wait with the car during the repair and perhaps consider a different dealership in the future. If you insist on persuing it, ask to speak with the manager again at the end of your service, remind him of the situation, and see if you can negotiate an incentive to give them a second chance (maybe some kind of service not included in the plan, like tire swapping or accessory installation).

The best thing to do is to bring the situation to the manager's attention, which you have done. From your story, you have no proof so you can't expect the dealership to fire the guy accused. I know you trust your brother but the fact is there are several of this car, several in your color, and perception of eye witnesses aren't in reality very reliable. It will also be impossible to prove any damage to the car or its reliability due to one exuberant outing so if the situation bothers you, you can take your business elsewhere but don't do what some may suggest and make a mountain out of an ant hill by demanding discounts, services, etc.

This is just another reason I can't wait until I save enough $$$ to get an in car camera!

Remind the service manager and the general manager about the power of the internet. Worked for me once.

You are not really going to take it back there are you? :bonk:

Agreed with don't go back.

One tech thought he could get away with it, where do you think he learned it? Probably the 'senior' guy who's going to be doing the work on your next service.

Post up in your local subforum about the dealership, write a couple online reviews and take your business elsewhere, be glad your car came back in one piece.

Apologies for the jalopnik link but here is a relevant story that's recently gotten some attention:
http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/cam...-to-1498465416

This is the reason why I haven't rushed back to the dealership for the latest reflash since the TSB calls for a 'test drive'. 19k of my own service and I have no worries about my car, going to rotate the tires this weekend and check all the fluids. It ain't rocket science.

I'm going to speak up here and say that there may be reasons he's going back to this dealership.

1) next closest may be far away. The next closest toyota dealership is 30 minutes further away than the one I go to normally

2) with proximity being a factor, that is the closest place to get warranty work done.

3) The actions of one idiot tech doesn't necessarily reflect the attitude of the entire department. The rest of the staff in there may be saints. In contrast to strat's above post, he didnt necessarily learn it from someone else at the dealership.

4) Its still warranty work. Its still, at the end of the day, going to have to be fixed when it leaves the shop. It may take a while, but most of the time they will eventually get it right. Besides, if it takes too long, you now have a service log that can be referenced by corporate ;)

If you don't go in for the repair they have to send the part back they ordered. Then go to a different dealer and tell them to fuk off.

I did request a ride along they said they'd come get me from the waiting area and did not do so

Actually the lexus dealership is right down the circle from Toyota so he saw my car not knowing I was even at Toyota to ask who was driving my car. I didn't have to pay anything everything is warranty or part of scion boost. I don't want anything free I just want my property treated with respect that's all. I'm on break at work I'm going to call the Toyota dealer 30 min away and see if I can just go there

Oh, and OP, you may want to buy a cheapo dash/car cam and mount it up. Even if you don't get clear video, its still there and a reminder that their behavior is being monitored.

Who's going to misbehave with a camera staring them in the face? An audio recorder in the glove box or under the seat would be the way to go. IIRC, a Mustang owner BF-ed a dealership that way.

That guy had suspected hooning already. He would have never caught them doing it again if he had put an obvious camera in. I'd rather prevent my car being abused than catch people doing it, by which point the car may be damaged.

There's an article on the front page of Yahoo about a service tech stealing the keys to a customers ZR1 camero on a sunday, and wrapping it around a telephone pole. It's a total loss and the dealership is trying to give the guy a used car as a replacement.

Well, in that case, I'd settle out of court for free oil changes for life (with me watching); unlimited access to a rack (when ever I wanted) and free access to a warm, indoor area where I could wash my car ...... :eyebulge:

humfrz

I just posted the story of the Camaro over in the other automotive stories section.

HA no I don't need that I just wanted them to make sure it doesn't happen again. I even told them this is why I don't trust dealers and my first trip with this car that happens. I don't want them to abuse any bodies property yet alone mine.