rags
Senior Member
i work on vehicles with a dozen control modules. i drive to work in a vehicle that has breaker points and a mechanical voltage regulator.
“Transmission PITA” or “Why I hate new(er) cars”
- Thread starter shooter65
- Start date
The Chrysler warranty document used to plainly state that ALL warranty repairs needed to be performed by the SELLING DEALER, if possible. Our local small-town dealer lived by that phrase. Being 30 minutes from larger dealers (and possibly lower prices), he didn't want his smaller service department over-run with problems from other dealers' sales. So he stood by that phrase, so he could take care of the cars HE sold (which kept them busy on their own). The larger dealers didn't pay attention to that phrase as they wanted any business they could get, having the capacity to deal with it.
His other deal was using Chrylser oil filters for oil filter changes, while the car was in warranty (5-50 at that time). No big deal, in reality. It ensured the engine had the same protection his service dept activities would provide, but done elsewhere.
In one of the old Usenet forums, a post turned up from a CA minivan owner (in the '90s). The guy had purchased a new Dodge Caravan for his family. He like to do his own oil changes, so he inquired with the dealership service department as to what oil they used. Plus he bought Chrysler filters from them, too. All was well until the engine (one of the old "sludge monsters" stopped while they were driving down the CA freeway. Had it towed to the dealership where they promptly declined any warranty coverage due to "non-maintenance" issues. He protested, BUT he could not provide ANY documentation that he'd done the oil changes. Not even a log of time/mileage entries. So, he had to pay for the repairs himself. Boils down to DOCUMENTATION.
The owner felt he was doing the right thing by using the same oil as the dealership, a Chrysler oil filter, just not at the 3K mile intervals they advocated. Also not being aware of "sludge issues" on certain Chrysler (and other) engines in that era. So he felt like he was "done wrong" in that deal, understandably so.
In that time frame era, dealers didn't always use OEM-supplied motor oil, but some other name brand. Usually had nothing to do with the goodness (or lack thereof) of the product, but which supplier could make them the best deal on pricing. No more, no less.
When GM came out with the own motor oil brand, I advocated that we ought to change from Pennzoil, for all of the right reasons. BUT the GM oil was not as "clean looking" as other oils, so when used car buyers would pull the dipstick, they'd claim the car needed an oil change, although we'd just done one. So, for that reason, we kept on with Pennzoil, plus a side issue or two. We did have a great Pennzoil rep though, with an extensive product knowledge (which I tested on Chrysler ATF issues, back then).
On the other end of the spectrum, we sold a new '90s Cadillac DeVille. We did all of the maintenance since new. At 40K, oil consumption issues arose. Did the prescribed oil consumption tests, which verified the issue. End result, as the oil change history was very documented at our GM dealership, a new NorthStar crate engine was installed, under full factory warranty, just prior to the end of the 50K mile factory warranty. Without that extensive maintenance documentation, it would not have happened that way.
As for the OEM warranties, it used to be that a claim for a repair could be declined (after it'd been done, but when submitted) if the same labor op had been recently done by a different dealer. No reason to warranty that repair TWICE, in their orientation. Understandably so.
Just as some components were "replacement only", rather than allegedly being repairable. Alternators, for example. For the '88 model year, GM started offering no new replacement alternators for their pickups. Only GM Reman units. NO repair parts listed in the parts book either. So we went that way. From the customer's perspective, it was better as the OEM could ensure what the customer was getting AND give it a good warranty should something happen. Turned more jobs that way, too. Better for everybody on many levels of things!
Enjoy!
CBODY67
In the "breaker point days", most dealerships had good techs who could do good rebuilds of components. If "rebuilt" parts were desired, they knew which auto supplies carried "the good stuff" as an alternative. OR which private specialty shops did the best work. Nobody wanted to deal with irate customers due to poor quality of work that didn't hold up.
As time progressed, the "good techs" went elsewhere and the specialty shops closed when the owners retired. Auto supply jubbers would change "lines" for something more "value oriented" rather than something "bullet proof" that cost more, by observation. End result was that a lot of the older networks dried up. Leaving things wide open for the larger rebuilders to go nationwide.
Ford seemed to jump into that mode before GM or Chrysler did, by observation. The issue of a "nation-wide warranty" became a bigger deal for the consumer's protection, too.
As with the older stuff, it still depends upon the specs to which the part is reman'd to. In some cases, the ONLY specs which can be trusted are in the OEM-brand replacement parts. Especially the emissions-related items. Past that, there are some good brands, but it irks me to no end when a dealership tech summarily dismisses a known-good aftermarket part (which I've used on other cars with good results!) as "defective" as it's not an OEM brand part. Guess he never has looked at the imprints on the hex area of a GM/Delco-boxed spark plug, for the NGK markings?
It can still be a jungle out there!
CBODY67
As time progressed, the "good techs" went elsewhere and the specialty shops closed when the owners retired. Auto supply jubbers would change "lines" for something more "value oriented" rather than something "bullet proof" that cost more, by observation. End result was that a lot of the older networks dried up. Leaving things wide open for the larger rebuilders to go nationwide.
Ford seemed to jump into that mode before GM or Chrysler did, by observation. The issue of a "nation-wide warranty" became a bigger deal for the consumer's protection, too.
As with the older stuff, it still depends upon the specs to which the part is reman'd to. In some cases, the ONLY specs which can be trusted are in the OEM-brand replacement parts. Especially the emissions-related items. Past that, there are some good brands, but it irks me to no end when a dealership tech summarily dismisses a known-good aftermarket part (which I've used on other cars with good results!) as "defective" as it's not an OEM brand part. Guess he never has looked at the imprints on the hex area of a GM/Delco-boxed spark plug, for the NGK markings?
It can still be a jungle out there!
CBODY67
rags
Senior Member
i don't want to work on cars anymore. that simple. the money is better than ever, but the stress is off the charts.
commando1
Old Man with a Hat
In 1,000% agreement. Never been happier.
I bet you have coworkers who are confused and scared when you do something crazy, like break out the timing light.
rags
Senior Member
i work on diesel vans. if i try to communicate with my coworkers using sentences containing s.c.r., d.p.f., adaptation, regen, coding, acceleration, c.a.n. lines, grams, all i get is a stunned bunny response as if i'm trying to explain the connection between gravity and time. why i drive an antique car and keep to myself.
Joseph James
Senior Member
Are new Challengers equipped with CVT transmission? Trying to talk my wife into one but I had a Ford Transit work van that cost a lot to have CVT rebuilt. No more CVT!
300rag
It's Not Going to Shift Itself
No CVT. 8 speed is what you will find in there. 6th is 1:1, and two ODs.
Dobalovr
Being on the Cbody diet SUCKS!
We dropped all CVT transmissions a few years ago. They were Jatco transmissions from the Nissan group. Not well received and reliability was an issue. Glad they were discontinued.
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