2005 Dodge Caravan "drifts" to the right

"same axle shows a wear pattern then it has a
problem and should be very easy to see· eit her the camber is out or a
worn/bent suspension part"

Perhaps that is the problem (that is what I am afraid of that they are not looking at it in the proper form) but they claim they checked the brakes and the wheels and there is no prob. The last dealer (was in for service bec the airbag sensor was on-recall item) wouldn't even look at the front end unless I paid for an alignment ($150/ Prob bec they saw the wearing on the one tire-front passenger) of which I refused bec 30 days prior I had it at a diff Dodge Dealer (for an oil change) and they told me they put it on the "rack" and the alignment is right on spec. My brother is a service director at a non-Dodge Dealer and his alignment specialist got the specs from Dodge and he also agreed that the vehicle is right on.

The warranty company wants me to pay for an alignment even tho my brothers dealer plus the Dodge Dealer prior to this last one claim it doesn't need it. Then if that doesn't correct the problem then submit a claim to the warranty company. That is ridiculous why would I pay for an alignment by a Dodge Dealer or any other company when I don't need it and also be out another tire?

Yes I know the tires are Warranted by the manufacturer of the tires not the dealer and pro-rated. That is what irks me that they have dragged their feet in this issue to get to the bottom of the prob so that the dealer didn't have to cover the damage.

What is even more frustrating is that this is my 3rd vehicle in 4 yrs from this particular dealer not to mention the maintenance service.


--
Gabriella02

------------------------------------------------------------------------
View this thread: http://www.carstalk.net/viewtopic-399856.html

Send from http://www.carstalk.net

--

"Gabriella02" > wrote in message
...
>
> "same axle shows a wear pattern then it has a
> problem and should be very easy to see· eit her the camber is out or
a
> worn/bent suspension part"
>
> Perhaps that is the problem (that is what I am afraid of that they are not
looking at it in the proper form) but they claim they checked the brakes and
the wheels and there is no prob. The last dealer (was in for service bec the
airbag sensor was on-recall item) wouldn't even look at the front end unless
I paid for an alignment ($150/ Prob bec they saw the wearing on the one
tire-front passenger) of which I refused bec 30 days prior I had it at a
diff Dodge Dealer (for an oil change) and they told me they put it on the
"rack" and the alignment is right on spec. My brother is a service director
at a non-Dodge Dealer and his alignment specialist got the specs from Dodge
and he also agreed that the vehicle is right on.
>

Ok then, what are you expecting to hear then??? if it is right on thats the
end to it.
If the alingment is on, all parts have been checked for wera and trueness,
no bent parts.


> The warranty company wants me to pay for an alignment even tho my brothers
dealer plus the Dodge Dealer prior to this last one claim it doesn't need
it. Then if that doesn't correct the problem then submit a claim to the
warranty company. That is ridiculous why would I pay for an alignment by a
Dodge Dealer or any other company when I don't need it and also be out
another tire?

Chrysler allows one alignment per warranty period, that would be one
alignment per 3/36
>
> Yes I know the tires are Warranted by the manufacturer of the tires not
the dealer and pro-rated. That is what irks me that they have dragged their
feet in this issue to get to the bottom of the prob so that the dealer
didn't have to cover the damage.

What damage??? everything is aligned???
>
> What is even more frustrating is that this is my 3rd vehicle in 4 yrs from
this particular dealer not to mention the maintenance service.
>

why is that frustrating?
>
> --
> Gabriella02
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> View this thread: http://www.carstalk.net/viewtopic-399856.html
>
> Send from http://www.carstalk.net
>

--

> wrote in message
...
> Sounds like a real mess!
> I really hope it's been resolved by now!
>
> The van obviously has some sort of issue but there are a lot of
> variables here.
>
> And hey Max: I really hope you're not a service witer cuz your
> cavalier attitude would get my boot up your backside if you laid that
> rap on me. That's the sort of thing that really frustrates people
> when they go in for service, especially on a still-new vehicle.

No service writer here....And you cant fix something that isnt broke, get a
life !!
>
> I think what Gabbie is missing in this whole experience is someone
> from her Dodge dealer to "grab the bull by the horns" and figure out
> WTF is going on. I would expect nothing less after so much effort by
> the customer.

"" My brother is a service director
at a non-Dodge Dealer and his alignment specialist got the specs from Dodge
and he also agreed that the vehicle is right on.""
WHAT PART OF THIS DONT YOU UNDERSTAND?. Her brother said there was nothing
wrong, 3 dealers said there was nothing wrong and how many independents said
there was nothing wrong. 2+2 is still 4 , use alittle common sense


>
> As for the multiple purchases: In a perfect world, it shouldn't matter
> how often you buy from a dealer - EVERY CUSTOMER should get the same,
> top-notch service. But since Perfection has not yet been acheived,
> Gabs should get the kid-glove treatment from this dealer!

Your just to funny!!
>
> Having said all that, I have no idea what's going on with the van. It
> really is not normal for 1 tire to wear excessively.

Have you seen the tires? what is excessive? is it due to a lack of rotation?
and once again, what did her brother say?


If the alignment
> truly is "in spec" I would ask what they had to do to get it that way.
> I would also ask if they did a 4-wheel (thrust) alignment. It is
> possible to spec the front and still be wrong if it's not aligned to
> the rear. And even then it may not be 'true' if somehow the frame is
> not perfectly aligned. But all this detective work takes time - and
> money - and it sounds as though no one at Dodge has had a fire lit
> under him/her to make the investment.

Your right, maybe someone should lite a fire under her brothers ass that
says nothing is wrong.
>
> My suggestion to Gabs would be this:
> Speak with the Service Manager and the Sales Manager, possibly even
> the owner of the dealership. Maintain calm throughout but make sure
> they understand you are not satisfied! Document the living daylights
> out of the process. You should be able to negotioate a better price
> for the alignment than $150. Go ahead and have them align it to their
> heart's content. Replace the bad tire - the manufacturer should
> pro-rate the price as was mentioned. You should be able to accomplish
> that part thru' your Dodge dealer - you should not have to deal with
> the tire maker. Aslo, brush-up on Lemon Laws in your state...

Rules are Rules, read the owners manual before you shoot off your mouth.
Tires are warranted by the tire manufacture. Just curious, what kind of
problem did you have in the past that you werent satisfied by because there
was nothing wrong?
>
> If at any point during the repair process you think you're not being
> treated professionally, call Dodge at their national number and ask to
> get in touch with the Regional Rep. He/she has the power to make a
> lot of things happen.
>
> In my own experience with un-resolved service issues, it has always
> taken perseverence to get it right. Breifly:
>
> My '01 GC had a stalling issue. The dealer 'claimed' they could not
> reproduce it. I took the Service Writer for a ride and it happened
> pulling off the lot! When they still could not locate the problem, I
> asked my bro-in-law to look at it. He's an ace Ford mechanic and it
> took him about a minute to find a plug wire that was cracked and
> arcing to ground. When I returned to the dealer and told them how to
> fix it I asked if they still used Sun Scopes and had they used the
> modern-day version. They all hung their heads and said No... They
> installed a new set of plug wires and the problem never came back!


ok here it is.I new it was something .

GC kept losing the A/C. Three times in for service and it
> worked fine when I left but died shortly there after. On the 4th visit
> I grabbed the Service Manager and he took personal charge of the van.
> They pretty much dissamantled the interior and rear undercarriage to
> repair a leak somewhere but as with the plug wires, the probelm was
> fixed.
>
> In both cases the work was under warranty but I'm sure the dealer lost
> money from all the hours needed. And they really don't like that. Auto
> manufacturers will only reimburse for Book Hours, that is the number
> of hours the book says it should take to repair something. And that is
> based on an average number of techs doing the same job several times.
> If the book says 4 hours but your tech takes 6 becasue it's something
> he's only done once before, the dealler still only gets 4 hours. And
> BTW, the tech will usually only get paid for 4 hours....
>
> Hang in there Gabs! They'll get it right - eventually.
> As for me, I'm finshed with my Dodge dealer for purchases. Several
> reasons including: Dodge dropped the Auto Headlight feature my '01 had
> and I really miss it in my '05. Chrysler still has it so my next van
> will be a loaded Chrysler TC.

Why not buy a Ford?

ave
>
> Thread quoted below...
>
> On Sun, 2 Apr 2006 14:45:07 -0400, "maxpower" >
> wrote:
>
> "Gabriella02" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > "same axle shows a wear pattern then it has a
> > problem and should be very easy to see· eit her the camber is out
or
> a
> > worn/bent suspension part"
> >
> > Perhaps that is the problem (that is what I am afraid of that they are
not
> looking at it in the proper form) but they claim they checked the
> brakes and
> the wheels and there is no prob. The last dealer (was in for service
> bec the
> airbag sensor was on-recall item) wouldn't even look at the front end
> unless
> I paid for an alignment ($150/ Prob bec they saw the wearing on the
> one
> tire-front passenger) of which I refused bec 30 days prior I had it at
> a
> diff Dodge Dealer (for an oil change) and they told me they put it on
> the
> "rack" and the alignment is right on spec. My brother is a service
> director
> at a non-Dodge Dealer and his alignment specialist got the specs from
> Dodge
> and he also agreed that the vehicle is right on.
> >
>
> Ok then, what are you expecting to hear then??? if it is right on
> thats the
> end to it.
> If the alingment is on, all parts have been checked for wera and
> trueness,
> no bent parts.
>
>
> > The warranty company wants me to pay for an alignment even tho my
brothers
> dealer plus the Dodge Dealer prior to this last one claim it doesn't
> need
> it. Then if that doesn't correct the problem then submit a claim to
> the
> warranty company. That is ridiculous why would I pay for an alignment
> by a
> Dodge Dealer or any other company when I don't need it and also be out
> another tire?
>
> Chrysler allows one alignment per warranty period, that would be one
> alignment per 3/36
> >
> > Yes I know the tires are Warranted by the manufacturer of the tires not
> the dealer and pro-rated. That is what irks me that they have dragged
> their
> feet in this issue to get to the bottom of the prob so that the dealer
> didn't have to cover the damage.
>
> What damage??? everything is aligned???
> >
> > What is even more frustrating is that this is my 3rd vehicle in 4 yrs
from
> this particular dealer not to mention the maintenance service.
> >
>
> why is that frustrating?
> >
> > --
> > Gabriella02
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > View this thread: http://www.carstalk.net/viewtopic-399856.html
> >
> > Send from http://www.carstalk.net
> >
>
>
> --
> NewsGuy.Com 30Gb $9.95 Carry Forward and On Demand Bandwidth

> wrote in message
...
> Sounds like a real mess!
> I really hope it's been resolved by now!
>
> The van obviously has some sort of issue but there are a lot of
> variables here.
>
> And hey Max: I really hope you're not a service witer cuz your
> cavalier attitude would get my boot up your backside if you laid that
> rap on me. That's the sort of thing that really frustrates people
> when they go in for service, especially on a still-new vehicle.

No service writer here, obviously you dont read to well....And you cant fix
something that isn't broke, get a
life !!
>
> I think what Gabbie is missing in this whole experience is someone
> from her Dodge dealer to "grab the bull by the horns" and figure out
> WTF is going on. I would expect nothing less after so much effort by
> the customer.

"" My brother is a service director
at a non-Dodge Dealer and his alignment specialist got the specs from Dodge
and he also agreed that the vehicle is right on.""
WHAT PART OF THIS DONT YOU UNDERSTAND?. Her brother said there was nothing
wrong, 3 dealers said there was nothing wrong and how many independents said
there was nothing wrong. 2+2 is still 4 , use alittle common sense


>
> As for the multiple purchases: In a perfect world, it shouldn't matter
> how often you buy from a dealer - EVERY CUSTOMER should get the same,
> top-notch service. But since Perfection has not yet been acheived,
> Gabs should get the kid-glove treatment from this dealer!

Your just to funny!!
>
> Having said all that, I have no idea what's going on with the van. It
> really is not normal for 1 tire to wear excessively.

Have you seen the tires? what is excessive? is it due to a lack of rotation?
and once again, what did her brother say?


If the alignment
> truly is "in spec" I would ask what they had to do to get it that way.
> I would also ask if they did a 4-wheel (thrust) alignment. It is
> possible to spec the front and still be wrong if it's not aligned to
> the rear. And even then it may not be 'true' if somehow the frame is
> not perfectly aligned. But all this detective work takes time - and
> money - and it sounds as though no one at Dodge has had a fire lit
> under him/her to make the investment.

Your right, maybe someone should lite a fire under her brothers ass that
says nothing is wrong.
>
> My suggestion to Gabs would be this:
> Speak with the Service Manager and the Sales Manager, possibly even
> the owner of the dealership. Maintain calm throughout but make sure
> they understand you are not satisfied! Document the living daylights
> out of the process. You should be able to negotioate a better price
> for the alignment than $150. Go ahead and have them align it to their
> heart's content. Replace the bad tire - the manufacturer should
> pro-rate the price as was mentioned. You should be able to accomplish
> that part thru' your Dodge dealer - you should not have to deal with
> the tire maker. Aslo, brush-up on Lemon Laws in your state...

Rules are Rules, read the owners manual before you shoot off your mouth.
Tires are warranted by the tire manufacture. Just curious, what kind of
problem did you have in the past that you werent satisfied by because there
was nothing wrong?
>
> If at any point during the repair process you think you're not being
> treated professionally, call Dodge at their national number and ask to
> get in touch with the Regional Rep. He/she has the power to make a
> lot of things happen.
>
> In my own experience with un-resolved service issues, it has always
> taken perseverence to get it right. Breifly:
>
> My '01 GC had a stalling issue. The dealer 'claimed' they could not
> reproduce it. I took the Service Writer for a ride and it happened
> pulling off the lot! When they still could not locate the problem, I
> asked my bro-in-law to look at it. He's an ace Ford mechanic and it
> took him about a minute to find a plug wire that was cracked and
> arcing to ground. When I returned to the dealer and told them how to
> fix it I asked if they still used Sun Scopes and had they used the
> modern-day version. They all hung their heads and said No... They
> installed a new set of plug wires and the problem never came back!


ok here it is.I new it was something .

GC kept losing the A/C. Three times in for service and it
> worked fine when I left but died shortly there after. On the 4th visit
> I grabbed the Service Manager and he took personal charge of the van.
> They pretty much dissamantled the interior and rear undercarriage to
> repair a leak somewhere but as with the plug wires, the probelm was
> fixed.
>
> In both cases the work was under warranty but I'm sure the dealer lost
> money from all the hours needed. And they really don't like that. Auto
> manufacturers will only reimburse for Book Hours, that is the number
> of hours the book says it should take to repair something. And that is
> based on an average number of techs doing the same job several times.
> If the book says 4 hours but your tech takes 6 becasue it's something
> he's only done once before, the dealler still only gets 4 hours. And
> BTW, the tech will usually only get paid for 4 hours....
>
> Hang in there Gabs! They'll get it right - eventually.
> As for me, I'm finshed with my Dodge dealer for purchases. Several
> reasons including: Dodge dropped the Auto Headlight feature my '01 had
> and I really miss it in my '05. Chrysler still has it so my next van
> will be a loaded Chrysler TC.

Why not buy a Ford?

ave
>
> Thread quoted below...
>
> On Sun, 2 Apr 2006 14:45:07 -0400, "maxpower" >
> wrote:
>
> "Gabriella02" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > "same axle shows a wear pattern then it has a
> > problem and should be very easy to see· eit her the camber is out
or
> a
> > worn/bent suspension part"
> >
> > Perhaps that is the problem (that is what I am afraid of that they are
not
> looking at it in the proper form) but they claim they checked the
> brakes and
> the wheels and there is no prob. The last dealer (was in for service
> bec the
> airbag sensor was on-recall item) wouldn't even look at the front end
> unless
> I paid for an alignment ($150/ Prob bec they saw the wearing on the
> one
> tire-front passenger) of which I refused bec 30 days prior I had it at
> a
> diff Dodge Dealer (for an oil change) and they told me they put it on
> the
> "rack" and the alignment is right on spec. My brother is a service
> director
> at a non-Dodge Dealer and his alignment specialist got the specs from
> Dodge
> and he also agreed that the vehicle is right on.
> >
>
> Ok then, what are you expecting to hear then??? if it is right on
> thats the
> end to it.
> If the alingment is on, all parts have been checked for wera and
> trueness,
> no bent parts.
>
>
> > The warranty company wants me to pay for an alignment even tho my
brothers
> dealer plus the Dodge Dealer prior to this last one claim it doesn't
> need
> it. Then if that doesn't correct the problem then submit a claim to
> the
> warranty company. That is ridiculous why would I pay for an alignment
> by a
> Dodge Dealer or any other company when I don't need it and also be out
> another tire?
>
> Chrysler allows one alignment per warranty period, that would be one
> alignment per 3/36
> >
> > Yes I know the tires are Warranted by the manufacturer of the tires not
> the dealer and pro-rated. That is what irks me that they have dragged
> their
> feet in this issue to get to the bottom of the prob so that the dealer
> didn't have to cover the damage.
>
> What damage??? everything is aligned???
> >
> > What is even more frustrating is that this is my 3rd vehicle in 4 yrs
from
> this particular dealer not to mention the maintenance service.
> >
>
> why is that frustrating?
> >
> > --
> > Gabriella02
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > View this thread: http://www.carstalk.net/viewtopic-399856.html
> >
> > Send from http://www.carstalk.net
> >
>
>
> --
> NewsGuy.Com 30Gb $9.95 Carry Forward and On Demand Bandwidth

Wow, Max... Talk about the Angry White Male!

I always love the "get a life" response. It shows such a level of
maturity

Since neither of us has seen the van & tire we really can't get too
specific. I will bow to your knowledge and experience BUT if the van
drifts to the right then something is wrong. Just because 3 different
techs (or whatever the body count was) couldn't find something to fix
doesn't meant nothing is wrong. And don't tell me about road crowns
and bad pavement. Like I said: it's that sort of plattitude that gives
mechanics - both dealers & independents - a bad rep. Gabs'
description of her "problem" made it pretty clear that it happened on
various road conditions. A simple test drive with either the tech or
the service manager would have easily proved this out. For all we
know, she's full of it and just wants a bunch of free service.
(GASP!) Maybe she just had a bad tire. Maybe she only drives with the
wind on her left. But maybe not and she should not be condecended to
by you or anyone else.

Are all the customers at your dealership treated the same? I would
bet they aren't. Repeat customers will always get better treatment
and I challenge you to show me otherwise. I would bet the guy who
just bought a Viper gets more personalized attention than the kid with
the stripped-down Neon. And quite frankly, I don't have a problem with
that. Haven't you ever been in a situation where you thought Hey - I
paid a lot of money for this (random item) I think I deserve better
treatment! With a loaded GC in the $35k and up range I expect a LOT
of service after the sale.

You wanna know why I didn't buy a Ford van in '01? Dodge was the only
company to offer 4-wheel disc brakes. Not Ford - with whom we had a
good relationship nor Chevy. And I don't buy foreign cars. Dodge also
had the power side & rear doors which have become invaluable. Overall
we've been very satisfied with the 2 Dodge vans. They could - and
should - be much better built than they are (don't get me started on
the cheap, plate brake rotors that tend to warp around 12k miles...).
And it should never take 3 or 4 'tries' to fix a problem. But ****
happens and while I'm not thrilled by the thought of being on a
1st-name basis with the writers and techs and my Dodge dealer, at
least they know to fix it right the 1st time.

BTW: is your shop a 5-Star Dealer? Mine is and they are always doing
follow-up calls after service. And if I'm not satisfied I tell them.
That call is then followed-up by the service manager to find out why I
wasn't happy with the repair. I don't know if this sort of survey is
the norm for Dodge but neither Ford nor Chevy ever cared that much.

And once again, thanks for the TSB number over in the Sebring group.
1st thing in the morning I'll call my dealer and ask them to fax it
over.

Please don't take any of this too seriously.
It's only life, afterall.

Dave


On Sun, 16 Apr 2006 14:14:50 -0400, "maxpower"
> wrote:

> wrote in message
.. .
>> Sounds like a real mess!
>> I really hope it's been resolved by now!
>>
>> The van obviously has some sort of issue but there are a lot of
>> variables here.
>>
>> And hey Max: I really hope you're not a service witer cuz your
>> cavalier attitude would get my boot up your backside if you laid that
>> rap on me. That's the sort of thing that really frustrates people
>> when they go in for service, especially on a still-new vehicle.
>
>No service writer here, obviously you dont read to well....And you cant fix
>something that isn't broke, get a
>life !!
>>
>> I think what Gabbie is missing in this whole experience is someone
>> from her Dodge dealer to "grab the bull by the horns" and figure out
>> WTF is going on. I would expect nothing less after so much effort by
>> the customer.
>
>"" My brother is a service director
>at a non-Dodge Dealer and his alignment specialist got the specs from Dodge
>and he also agreed that the vehicle is right on.""
>WHAT PART OF THIS DONT YOU UNDERSTAND?. Her brother said there was nothing
>wrong, 3 dealers said there was nothing wrong and how many independents said
>there was nothing wrong. 2+2 is still 4 , use alittle common sense
>
>
>>
>> As for the multiple purchases: In a perfect world, it shouldn't matter
>> how often you buy from a dealer - EVERY CUSTOMER should get the same,
>> top-notch service. But since Perfection has not yet been acheived,
>> Gabs should get the kid-glove treatment from this dealer!
>
>Your just to funny!!
>>
>> Having said all that, I have no idea what's going on with the van. It
>> really is not normal for 1 tire to wear excessively.
>
>Have you seen the tires? what is excessive? is it due to a lack of rotation?
>and once again, what did her brother say?
>
>
> If the alignment
>> truly is "in spec" I would ask what they had to do to get it that way.
>> I would also ask if they did a 4-wheel (thrust) alignment. It is
>> possible to spec the front and still be wrong if it's not aligned to
>> the rear. And even then it may not be 'true' if somehow the frame is
>> not perfectly aligned. But all this detective work takes time - and
>> money - and it sounds as though no one at Dodge has had a fire lit
>> under him/her to make the investment.
>
>Your right, maybe someone should lite a fire under her brothers ass that
>says nothing is wrong.
>>
>> My suggestion to Gabs would be this:
>> Speak with the Service Manager and the Sales Manager, possibly even
>> the owner of the dealership. Maintain calm throughout but make sure
>> they understand you are not satisfied! Document the living daylights
>> out of the process. You should be able to negotioate a better price
>> for the alignment than $150. Go ahead and have them align it to their
>> heart's content. Replace the bad tire - the manufacturer should
>> pro-rate the price as was mentioned. You should be able to accomplish
>> that part thru' your Dodge dealer - you should not have to deal with
>> the tire maker. Aslo, brush-up on Lemon Laws in your state...
>
>Rules are Rules, read the owners manual before you shoot off your mouth.
>Tires are warranted by the tire manufacture. Just curious, what kind of
>problem did you have in the past that you werent satisfied by because there
>was nothing wrong?
>>
>> If at any point during the repair process you think you're not being
>> treated professionally, call Dodge at their national number and ask to
>> get in touch with the Regional Rep. He/she has the power to make a
>> lot of things happen.
>>
>> In my own experience with un-resolved service issues, it has always
>> taken perseverence to get it right. Breifly:
>>
>> My '01 GC had a stalling issue. The dealer 'claimed' they could not
>> reproduce it. I took the Service Writer for a ride and it happened
>> pulling off the lot! When they still could not locate the problem, I
>> asked my bro-in-law to look at it. He's an ace Ford mechanic and it
>> took him about a minute to find a plug wire that was cracked and
>> arcing to ground. When I returned to the dealer and told them how to
>> fix it I asked if they still used Sun Scopes and had they used the
>> modern-day version. They all hung their heads and said No... They
>> installed a new set of plug wires and the problem never came back!
>
>
>ok here it is.I new it was something .
>
> GC kept losing the A/C. Three times in for service and it
>> worked fine when I left but died shortly there after. On the 4th visit
>> I grabbed the Service Manager and he took personal charge of the van.
>> They pretty much dissamantled the interior and rear undercarriage to
>> repair a leak somewhere but as with the plug wires, the probelm was
>> fixed.
>>
>> In both cases the work was under warranty but I'm sure the dealer lost
>> money from all the hours needed. And they really don't like that. Auto
>> manufacturers will only reimburse for Book Hours, that is the number
>> of hours the book says it should take to repair something. And that is
>> based on an average number of techs doing the same job several times.
>> If the book says 4 hours but your tech takes 6 becasue it's something
>> he's only done once before, the dealler still only gets 4 hours. And
>> BTW, the tech will usually only get paid for 4 hours....
>>
>> Hang in there Gabs! They'll get it right - eventually.
>> As for me, I'm finshed with my Dodge dealer for purchases. Several
>> reasons including: Dodge dropped the Auto Headlight feature my '01 had
>> and I really miss it in my '05. Chrysler still has it so my next van
>> will be a loaded Chrysler TC.
>
>Why not buy a Ford?
>
>ave
>>
>> Thread quoted below...
>>
>> On Sun, 2 Apr 2006 14:45:07 -0400, "maxpower" >
>> wrote:
>>
>> "Gabriella02" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> >
>> > "same axle shows a wear pattern then it has a
>> > problem and should be very easy to see· eit her the camber is out
>or
>> a
>> > worn/bent suspension part"
>> >
>> > Perhaps that is the problem (that is what I am afraid of that they are
>not
>> looking at it in the proper form) but they claim they checked the
>> brakes and
>> the wheels and there is no prob. The last dealer (was in for service
>> bec the
>> airbag sensor was on-recall item) wouldn't even look at the front end
>> unless
>> I paid for an alignment ($150/ Prob bec they saw the wearing on the
>> one
>> tire-front passenger) of which I refused bec 30 days prior I had it at
>> a
>> diff Dodge Dealer (for an oil change) and they told me they put it on
>> the
>> "rack" and the alignment is right on spec. My brother is a service
>> director
>> at a non-Dodge Dealer and his alignment specialist got the specs from
>> Dodge
>> and he also agreed that the vehicle is right on.
>> >
>>
>> Ok then, what are you expecting to hear then??? if it is right on
>> thats the
>> end to it.
>> If the alingment is on, all parts have been checked for wera and
>> trueness,
>> no bent parts.
>>
>>
>> > The warranty company wants me to pay for an alignment even tho my
>brothers
>> dealer plus the Dodge Dealer prior to this last one claim it doesn't
>> need
>> it. Then if that doesn't correct the problem then submit a claim to
>> the
>> warranty company. That is ridiculous why would I pay for an alignment
>> by a
>> Dodge Dealer or any other company when I don't need it and also be out
>> another tire?
>>
>> Chrysler allows one alignment per warranty period, that would be one
>> alignment per 3/36
>> >
>> > Yes I know the tires are Warranted by the manufacturer of the tires not
>> the dealer and pro-rated. That is what irks me that they have dragged
>> their
>> feet in this issue to get to the bottom of the prob so that the dealer
>> didn't have to cover the damage.
>>
>> What damage??? everything is aligned???
>> >
>> > What is even more frustrating is that this is my 3rd vehicle in 4 yrs
>from
>> this particular dealer not to mention the maintenance service.
>> >
>>
>> why is that frustrating?
>> >
>> > --
>> > Gabriella02
>> >
>> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> > View this thread: http://www.carstalk.net/viewtopic-399856.html
>> >
>> > Send from http://www.carstalk.net
>> >
>>
>>
>> --
>> NewsGuy.Com 30Gb $9.95 Carry Forward and On Demand Bandwidth
>
>

--
NewsGuy.Com 30Gb $9.95 Carry Forward and On Demand Bandwidth

--

> wrote in message
...
> Wow, Max... Talk about the Angry White Male!
>
> I always love the "get a life" response. It shows such a level of
> maturity
>
> Since neither of us has seen the van & tire we really can't get too
> specific. I will bow to your knowledge and experience BUT if the van
> drifts to the right then something is wrong. Just because 3 different
> techs (or whatever the body count was) couldn't find something to fix
> doesn't meant nothing is wrong. And don't tell me about road crowns
> and bad pavement. Like I said: it's that sort of plattitude that gives
> mechanics - both dealers & independents - a bad rep. Gabs'
> description of her "problem" made it pretty clear that it happened on
> various road conditions.

once again I have no idea where she lives or what roads she mean are all
roads, maybe she lives in the moutians , whos know!! And you would be
surprised of how many road tests I do with our customers to prove a point
especially road crown drifts, they are very easy to point out. simply drive
on one side it drift right, change to the other side and it dosent drift or
it drifts the opposite direction.cut and dry.


A simple test drive with either the tech or
> the service manager would have easily proved this out. For all we
> know, she's full of it and just wants a bunch of free service.

Umm i thought that was checked out by the tire swap and all the ailgnments?
Including her Borthers dealer?


had a bad tire. Maybe she only drives with the
> wind on her left. But maybe not and she should not be condecended to
> by you or anyone else.
>
> Are all the customers at your dealership treated the same?

As a mater of fact they are, if a person that bought a neon had an alignment
problem we would check it on the machine if we thought there was a problem,
this would go the same as a person that bought any other vehicle. Chrysler
only pays us to repair broken vehicles , the first thing to do is verify the
problem. The OP already went so many steps further. once they couldnt verify
the problem they went a step further and put it on the machine to check. it
was set up properly, then they went another step and swapped out the tires,
how many did that for her? she was obviously wanting something for nothing.

I would
> bet they aren't. Repeat customers will always get better treatment
> and I challenge you to show me otherwise.

Not true

I would bet the guy who
> just bought a Viper gets more personalized attention than the kid with
> the stripped-down Neon. And quite frankly, I don't have a problem with
> that.

wrong again


Haven't you ever been in a situation where you thought Hey - I
> paid a lot of money for this (random item) I think I deserve better
> treatment! With a loaded GC in the $35k and up range I expect a LOT
> of service after the sale.

There is where your problem lies, you think becuase you spent lots of money
on someting you should get better treatment!!! when you bought your house,
if you own. after the first year of ownership do you think you would get the
treatment you get out of the dealer?
>
> You wanna know why I didn't buy a Ford van in '01? Dodge was the only
> company to offer 4-wheel disc brakes. Not Ford - with whom we had a
> good relationship nor Chevy. And I don't buy foreign cars. Dodge also
> had the power side & rear doors which have become invaluable. Overall
> we've been very satisfied with the 2 Dodge vans. They could - and
> should - be much better built than they are (don't get me started on
> the cheap, plate brake rotors that tend to warp around 12k miles...).

cheap rotors? havent seen that problem yet, maybe you should change your
driving habbits. high speed breaking?

> And it should never take 3 or 4 'tries' to fix a problem. But ****
> happens and while I'm not thrilled by the thought of being on a
> 1st-name basis with the writers and techs and my Dodge dealer, at
> least they know to fix it right the 1st time.
>
> BTW: is your shop a 5-Star Dealer?

Been a five star dealer for the past 7 years I have been there and are the
in the top 36

Mine is and they are always doing
> follow-up calls after service. And if I'm not satisfied I tell them.
> That call is then followed-up by the service manager to find out why I
> wasn't happy with the repair. I don't know if this sort of survey is
> the norm for Dodge but neither Ford nor Chevy ever cared that much.
>
> And once again, thanks for the TSB number over in the Sebring group.
> 1st thing in the morning I'll call my dealer and ask them to fax it
> over.

Just curious, why didnt you call the dealer to ask them about the TSB
>
> Please don't take any of this too seriously.
> It's only life, afterall.

Im not takin things seriously trust me. I just find it funny that some
people arent satisfied with things whether its a car, house or whatever. And
the people who service them, rent them out or whatever have to redesign it
because they arent happy with how it works.
I normally dont get into these debates so I will not repspond back.

Happy Easter and good luck


>
> Dave
>
>
> On Sun, 16 Apr 2006 14:14:50 -0400, "maxpower"
> > wrote:
>
> > wrote in message
> .. .
> >> Sounds like a real mess!
> >> I really hope it's been resolved by now!
> >>
> >> The van obviously has some sort of issue but there are a lot of
> >> variables here.
> >>
> >> And hey Max: I really hope you're not a service witer cuz your
> >> cavalier attitude would get my boot up your backside if you laid that
> >> rap on me. That's the sort of thing that really frustrates people
> >> when they go in for service, especially on a still-new vehicle.
> >
> >No service writer here, obviously you dont read to well....And you cant
fix
> >something that isn't broke, get a
> >life !!
> >>
> >> I think what Gabbie is missing in this whole experience is someone
> >> from her Dodge dealer to "grab the bull by the horns" and figure out
> >> WTF is going on. I would expect nothing less after so much effort by
> >> the customer.
> >
> >"" My brother is a service director
> >at a non-Dodge Dealer and his alignment specialist got the specs from
Dodge
> >and he also agreed that the vehicle is right on.""
> >WHAT PART OF THIS DONT YOU UNDERSTAND?. Her brother said there was
nothing
> >wrong, 3 dealers said there was nothing wrong and how many independents
said
> >there was nothing wrong. 2+2 is still 4 , use alittle common sense
> >
> >
> >>
> >> As for the multiple purchases: In a perfect world, it shouldn't matter
> >> how often you buy from a dealer - EVERY CUSTOMER should get the same,
> >> top-notch service. But since Perfection has not yet been acheived,
> >> Gabs should get the kid-glove treatment from this dealer!
> >
> >Your just to funny!!
> >>
> >> Having said all that, I have no idea what's going on with the van. It
> >> really is not normal for 1 tire to wear excessively.
> >
> >Have you seen the tires? what is excessive? is it due to a lack of
rotation?
> >and once again, what did her brother say?
> >
> >
> > If the alignment
> >> truly is "in spec" I would ask what they had to do to get it that way.
> >> I would also ask if they did a 4-wheel (thrust) alignment. It is
> >> possible to spec the front and still be wrong if it's not aligned to
> >> the rear. And even then it may not be 'true' if somehow the frame is
> >> not perfectly aligned. But all this detective work takes time - and
> >> money - and it sounds as though no one at Dodge has had a fire lit
> >> under him/her to make the investment.
> >
> >Your right, maybe someone should lite a fire under her brothers ass that
> >says nothing is wrong.
> >>
> >> My suggestion to Gabs would be this:
> >> Speak with the Service Manager and the Sales Manager, possibly even
> >> the owner of the dealership. Maintain calm throughout but make sure
> >> they understand you are not satisfied! Document the living daylights
> >> out of the process. You should be able to negotioate a better price
> >> for the alignment than $150. Go ahead and have them align it to their
> >> heart's content. Replace the bad tire - the manufacturer should
> >> pro-rate the price as was mentioned. You should be able to accomplish
> >> that part thru' your Dodge dealer - you should not have to deal with
> >> the tire maker. Aslo, brush-up on Lemon Laws in your state...
> >
> >Rules are Rules, read the owners manual before you shoot off your mouth.
> >Tires are warranted by the tire manufacture. Just curious, what kind of
> >problem did you have in the past that you werent satisfied by because
there
> >was nothing wrong?
> >>
> >> If at any point during the repair process you think you're not being
> >> treated professionally, call Dodge at their national number and ask to
> >> get in touch with the Regional Rep. He/she has the power to make a
> >> lot of things happen.
> >>
> >> In my own experience with un-resolved service issues, it has always
> >> taken perseverence to get it right. Breifly:
> >>
> >> My '01 GC had a stalling issue. The dealer 'claimed' they could not
> >> reproduce it. I took the Service Writer for a ride and it happened
> >> pulling off the lot! When they still could not locate the problem, I
> >> asked my bro-in-law to look at it. He's an ace Ford mechanic and it
> >> took him about a minute to find a plug wire that was cracked and
> >> arcing to ground. When I returned to the dealer and told them how to
> >> fix it I asked if they still used Sun Scopes and had they used the
> >> modern-day version. They all hung their heads and said No... They
> >> installed a new set of plug wires and the problem never came back!
> >
> >
> >ok here it is.I new it was something .
> >
> > GC kept losing the A/C. Three times in for service and it
> >> worked fine when I left but died shortly there after. On the 4th visit
> >> I grabbed the Service Manager and he took personal charge of the van.
> >> They pretty much dissamantled the interior and rear undercarriage to
> >> repair a leak somewhere but as with the plug wires, the probelm was
> >> fixed.
> >>
> >> In both cases the work was under warranty but I'm sure the dealer lost
> >> money from all the hours needed. And they really don't like that. Auto
> >> manufacturers will only reimburse for Book Hours, that is the number
> >> of hours the book says it should take to repair something. And that is
> >> based on an average number of techs doing the same job several times.
> >> If the book says 4 hours but your tech takes 6 becasue it's something
> >> he's only done once before, the dealler still only gets 4 hours. And
> >> BTW, the tech will usually only get paid for 4 hours....
> >>
> >> Hang in there Gabs! They'll get it right - eventually.
> >> As for me, I'm finshed with my Dodge dealer for purchases. Several
> >> reasons including: Dodge dropped the Auto Headlight feature my '01 had
> >> and I really miss it in my '05. Chrysler still has it so my next van
> >> will be a loaded Chrysler TC.
> >
> >Why not buy a Ford?
> >
> >ave
> >>
> >> Thread quoted below...
> >>
> >> On Sun, 2 Apr 2006 14:45:07 -0400, "maxpower" >
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >> "Gabriella02" > wrote in message
> >> ...
> >> >
> >> > "same axle shows a wear pattern then it has a
> >> > problem and should be very easy to see· eit her the camber is
out
> >or
> >> a
> >> > worn/bent suspension part"
> >> >
> >> > Perhaps that is the problem (that is what I am afraid of that they
are
> >not
> >> looking at it in the proper form) but they claim they checked the
> >> brakes and
> >> the wheels and there is no prob. The last dealer (was in for service
> >> bec the
> >> airbag sensor was on-recall item) wouldn't even look at the front end
> >> unless
> >> I paid for an alignment ($150/ Prob bec they saw the wearing on the
> >> one
> >> tire-front passenger) of which I refused bec 30 days prior I had it at
> >> a
> >> diff Dodge Dealer (for an oil change) and they told me they put it on
> >> the
> >> "rack" and the alignment is right on spec. My brother is a service
> >> director
> >> at a non-Dodge Dealer and his alignment specialist got the specs from
> >> Dodge
> >> and he also agreed that the vehicle is right on.
> >> >
> >>
> >> Ok then, what are you expecting to hear then??? if it is right on
> >> thats the
> >> end to it.
> >> If the alingment is on, all parts have been checked for wera and
> >> trueness,
> >> no bent parts.
> >>
> >>
> >> > The warranty company wants me to pay for an alignment even tho my
> >brothers
> >> dealer plus the Dodge Dealer prior to this last one claim it doesn't
> >> need
> >> it. Then if that doesn't correct the problem then submit a claim to
> >> the
> >> warranty company. That is ridiculous why would I pay for an alignment
> >> by a
> >> Dodge Dealer or any other company when I don't need it and also be out
> >> another tire?
> >>
> >> Chrysler allows one alignment per warranty period, that would be one
> >> alignment per 3/36
> >> >
> >> > Yes I know the tires are Warranted by the manufacturer of the tires
not
> >> the dealer and pro-rated. That is what irks me that they have dragged
> >> their
> >> feet in this issue to get to the bottom of the prob so that the dealer
> >> didn't have to cover the damage.
> >>
> >> What damage??? everything is aligned???
> >> >
> >> > What is even more frustrating is that this is my 3rd vehicle in 4 yrs
> >from
> >> this particular dealer not to mention the maintenance service.
> >> >
> >>
> >> why is that frustrating?
> >> >
> >> > --
> >> > Gabriella02
> >> >
> >>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >> > View this thread: http://www.carstalk.net/viewtopic-399856.html
> >> >
> >> > Send from http://www.carstalk.net
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >> NewsGuy.Com 30Gb $9.95 Carry Forward and On Demand Bandwidth
> >
> >
>
> --
> NewsGuy.Com 30Gb $9.95 Carry Forward and On Demand Bandwidth