I just had my truck serviced because it had a "clicking sound" when
the engine was running. I took it to the chevy dealer I bought it
from. I have a 120000 mikes so no warranty. They said it was the
flywheel and it would be about 1200 to fix. They did that work and
just called me and said I still have the clicking sound and it is the
starter unit. This is a $500 dollar repair that they will do for the
cost of the starter, I think about $250 with no charge for labor.

What can I do about this? Can expect something off the repair of the
flywheel that wasn't broken?

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Clarification of Question by mxgary-ga on 22 Mar 2006 17:20 PST

Truck has 120000 miles so it is no longer under warranty.

---

Clarification of Question by mxgary-ga on 22 Mar 2006 17:55 PST

Dealer:
Poway Chevrolet
13742 Poway Rd
Poway CA 92064
858 748-9600

Repair contact: Casey

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 22 Mar 2006 18:19 PST

mxgary-ga,

From what it sounds like, they just goofed, and replaced a perfectly
good flywheel with another perfectly good flywheel.

Since they are in error, it's hard to see any valid justification why
you should pay for the "service" at all.

By offering the starter at-cost, they are more or less tacitly
admitting to their mistake.  I suppose the offer for the starting is
an attempt to make up for things, but it's way too little, in my
opinion.

Poway Chevrolet is a member (in good standing, by the way) of the
local Better Business Bureau.  As such, they have agreed to have
disputes mediated by the BBB if necessary.  You can see a bit about
this here:


http://www.sandiego.bbb.org/commonreport.html?compid=5000792


Note that the site gives the head honcho's name and number, if you
want to take things up with him.

My advice:  tell them you don't feel you owe anything for the
flywheel, and offer to pay regular price (get an estimate first!) for
the starter.

If they balk, tell them you'll take it to the BBB.  

If they still balk, then take it to the BBB...

Let me know if this is the sort of advice you were looking for.  

If not, what more would you like to know?


pafalafa-ga

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Clarification of Question by mxgary-ga on 22 Mar 2006 21:49 PST

I think there are two things I'd like to see if you can do:
1 - Maybe you call Poway Chevrolet and inquire about this by going
above Casey. I've seen this done in at least one case you folks did
for a guy with a Big O tire problem. This seemed to get there
attention.

2 - I was looking for a well known set of guidlines for dealing with
such a mistake. Your answer here was a pretty hard line, probably a
good place to start negotiating from.

I understand people being wrong and all. So I'm will to pay this:
cost of starter + installation of starter + cost of labor for flywheel
repair discounted to remove profits and no charge for the new flywheel
since it wasn't bad.

Do you think you can do #1 and I'll follow up with negotiating

mxgary-ga,

Thanks for getting back to us, and I'm glad to hear this worked out to
your satisfaction.

If, on reflection, you feel there is anything else I can do for you,
don't hesitate to let me know.  Just post a Request for Clarification,
and I'm at your service.

Happy motoring...

paf

Here is the BUREAU OF AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR has to say. Seems to be a good
compny, but with new ownership there may be presure to make more
sales. They would want to keep their record clean. I think they will
take your offer as stated above.


BUREAU OF AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR


Licensee Name: POWAY CHEVROLET 
License Type: Automobile Repair Dealer 
License Number: AJ241517 
License Status: Valid Definition 
Expiration Date: September 30, 2006 
Licensed Year: 2005 
Address: 13742 POWAY RD 
City: POWAY 
State: CA 
Zip: 92064-0000 
County: SAN DIEGO 
Actions: No 




Business Owners
DOIETORCIK THOMAS-DIR 
HENDERSON RUBY L-SEC 
SALAS MICHAEL A 



Related Licenses/Registrations/Permits
Number Name Type Status Actions 
RJ241517 POWAY CHEVROLET Test and Repair Station Valid No 



Disciplinary Actions

No records returned

They replaced a part instead diagnosing and finding out what the
problem was.  That was their fault.  They shouldn't charge you
anything for the first repair and charge you for the second.

I think pafalafa is dead on with his advice. I had a similar situation
once, it was a pulling to the left. I drove it in pulling to the left,
I said fix "X" per my mechanic. They said "X" is fine, you need "Y"
--I said I trust my mechanic, if you fix "Y" and it still pulls to the
left, then I won't pay for "Y"

They fixed "Y"

I drove out of the lot, car still pulled to the left, bad.

I drove around the corner, walked in, got on my cell phone and called
my ride to come back and get me.

They were NOT happy, but I never paid for "Y" --they threatened to put
"Y" back the way it was, I said go ahead, it's your dime and "Y" was
fine, put it back on. I have a lot of time.

They fixed "X" and never charged me for "Y"


Your suggestion should be accepted after negotiation, as a FINAL
offer, not a starting place. Pafalafa's suggestion was not a "hard
line" it was the logical way to handle the problem. You don't have to
be mean or rude, just state the facts, be politely persistent, and
incredibly stubborn.

Works every time.

Ok, I will take your advise and report back today with the conclusion.
We can close this request then, once I've updated the web site.

Thanks for the recommendations, this is what I needed. Some reasurance
of what options I had.

I happy with my results, please bill and close out the question.

The conclusion is I was working from bad data. The trucks flexplate or
often called flywheel was cracked and needed replacing. In addition
the starter was not disengaging. So both repairs were needed and I
paid for them. This was really just a communications problem.

Thanks for the help.