holden service query. Not impressed!

[al99]

Hi guys,
i have a 2006 astra and had its 15000km service done on tuesday.
I havent driven it since coming from the service with a total distance of 16km travelled from holden dealership to home.
Tonight i noticed there was half a dozen closely scattered oil spots dropped on the ground. Also noticed was a oil spray on the inside on the bonnet and underneath the car.
I then looked at the paper work and they claim to have checked the front and rear brakes aswell. Is this a visual inspection or do they take the rims off? I query this because there is a film of brake dust on all 4 rims and there wasnt any finger or hand marks at all after this "inspection". I assume there would be small contact with the actual rim when taking it on and off. They claim to have checked the tyre pressures aswell. I have all four at 36psi. 7psi up on rear recommended and 3 psi up on the front recommended. I havent checked the pressures yet. How should i approach the holden dealership about this?

ps, sorry to bring this up in a commodore forum. Couldnt find a astra one.

[Troy711]

through my experience, holden dealers are good for two things. buying a new car and getting that new car fixed under warrenty. and even then they dont do the second one very well.

i avoid dealers like the plague as they over charge, do a crap job and jerk you around.

[Holden2gether]

I imagine the consumer laws are the same in Aussie as they are in NZ so I'll give my answer as if it was here,if it isn't then my apologies and maybe somebody can correct me.
If you've paid for the service(or even if it's under warranty you've paid for servicing in the purchase price) and aren't happy with the results then you have every right to return the car to the dealer.Point out the reasons you've outlined here to the service forman and ask that they are either rectified (the oil leak at least) or explained to you as to what was actually done(as in the case of the brakes you can ask him/her how the brakes are normally checked).Just because they are a Holden dealer doesn't always stand that they employ the best mechanics.
Just my 2 cents worth anyways.

[minux]

through my experience, holden dealers are good for two things. buying a new car and getting that new car fixed under warrenty. and even then they dont do the second one very well.

i avoid dealers like the plague as they over charge, do a crap job and jerk you around.

Unfortunatley its holden dealers like this one that give people opinions like yours. Down here i know quite a few really good holden dealers.

[Huthy]

Holden Servicing is a joke...

Who services on a Saturday, but doesn't do warranty work on a Saturday?
Who else would want to spend 45 minutes to fit a replacement soft tonneau cover?
Who tries to charge to adjust a handbrake?
Who overfills clutch reservoir's, to the point of spilling fluid through the engine bay?
Who doesn't clean up the spilt fluid? And now has to order a replacement engine cover?
Who looses screvit's and doesn't replace them until it's pointed out, and then replace them with incompatible ones?
Who never seems to have stock of warranty items? Idler Pulleys? Fuel Pumps? Tonneau covers? Screvits?
Who drives the car for 30km in a service, but can't explain why?
Who drives the car to feather edges on the tyres?
Who puts fuel filters in backwards?
Who overfills, and spills brake fluid in reservoirs?
Who overfills automatic transmissions?
Who says brake pads need replacing, and I get another 25,000 from them?
Who says tyres need replacing, and I get another 15,000 from them?
Who charges $75 for 6 litres of magnatec oil?
Who can never seem to find the faults I have been listening to for the last 5,000 kms and will for the next 5,000?

Two Words... Holden Service...

[fabz]

Holden Servicing is a joke...

Who services on a Saturday, but doesn't do warranty work on a Saturday?
Who else would want to spend 45 minutes to fit a replacement soft tonneau cover?
Who tries to charge to adjust a handbrake?
Who overfills clutch reservoir's, to the point of spilling fluid through the engine bay?
Who doesn't clean up the spilt fluid? And now has to order a replacement engine cover?
Who looses screvit's and doesn't replace them until it's pointed out, and then replace them with incompatible ones?
Who never seems to have stock of warranty items? Idler Pulleys? Fuel Pumps? Tonneau covers? Screvits?
Who drives the car for 30km in a service, but can't explain why?
Who drives the car to feather edges on the tyres?
Who puts fuel filters in backwards?
Who overfills, and spills brake fluid in reservoirs?
Who overfills automatic transmissions?
Who says brake pads need replacing, and I get another 25,000 from them?
Who says tyres need replacing, and I get another 15,000 from them?
Who charges $75 for 6 litres of magnatec oil?
Who can never seem to find the faults I have been listening to for the last 5,000 kms and will for the next 5,000?

Two Words... Holden Service...

hahahaha so true!! I scored $9k worth of warrenty and that was after over 15 trips to the dealer. Holder Service can get stuffed. Kids could do a better job IMO!!

[Bravotwozero]

I had my car booked in for 70k service today. I've also got some warranty issues I want addressed. Broken button for steering wheel mounted audio controls, loose trim around steering column and an intermittent central looking problem where driver's door doesn't always unlock. Was told none of that stuff covered under warranty. Not worth the pretty paper it is written on.

Then was told a driver's license wasn't enough I.D to take the loan car I'd booked, I needed 2 forms of I.D. So basically I've lost an hour's wage to get the car there only to not be able to service it. I mean yeah I'm going to steal the clapped out VR they were going to give me and leave my SS behind!
$250 for an oil and filter change? Talking about being bent over and given it!

Holden dealers can kiss my a$$!

[MikesVT]

I paid $1045 for my last service... and my car drove better before I baught it in.

The adjustment they made to my handbreak wasnt necissary as it WASNT rubbing, drove it out the roller door and it WAS rubbing.

My breaks were still and are still squeaking like anything. And I really couldn't feel ANY difference at all driving it, that is, any difference in the right direction!

My next service comes up in maybe a month or so, if that, and I am DEFINATLY NOT taking it back to MY holden service center to get it done.

SOME are consistantly good I have noticed, while others are consistantly poor. If your one falls into the second category, don't waste your money.

[Troy711]

Unfortunatley its holden dealers like this one that give people opinions like yours. Down here i know quite a few really good holden dealers.

there is 3 dealers in canberra. used to be 4 but one closed.

i bought my car from the one that closed (braddon), the sales guy was awesome. he was calling me all the time making sure i knew what was happening and how the whole process was going. unfortunatly the after sales service was pathetic. one of the guys was telling me that i am imagining my fuel gauge problem. 'no mate... despite what you think you have read its 100% fine, there has never been an issue'. i havent been back since.

the dealer in belconnen was just as bad. i had to get the turret mould replaced under warrenty (cos it flew off for the 3rd time). they said they would replace it at no charge as soon as the part came in. i waited 3 weeks and never got a call. when i called they didnt know what i was talking about and to call back in 2 weeks when the guy i dealt with came back. i called back and they said they needed the car for a whole day. it was (no joke) a 30 second job. we argued a bit (he says he couldnt spare a 'mechanic' to come out to my car and put it on) so in the end i told him to get f*cked, bought the 20 dollar part myself and put it on. it took me longer to get it out of the plastic then it did to put on.

as for the dealer in phillip i (again) had my car in for several warrenty issues. when i picked up my car at the end of the day the guy said 'yea we only did 1 of the 4 things you asked us to, we didnt have time' even though i booked the car in 2 weeks prior and informed them EXACTLY what needed looking it.

the 4th dealer is in tuggeranong. i havent been there cos not only are they too far out of my way but they are owned by the same idiots who own phillip.


im sure there are some awesome dealers out there, i just havent found one yet. canberra is a small place so we dont have the number of dealers as say, melbourne and sydney do. you are kinda stuck as to who you go to, you just have to choose the least retarded.

[Bravotwozero]

there is 3 dealers in canberra. used to be 4 but one closed.

i bought my car from the one that closed (braddon), the sales guy was awesome. he was calling me all the time making sure i knew what was happening and how the whole process was going. unfortunatly the after sales service was pathetic. one of the guys was telling me that i am imagining my fuel gauge problem. 'no mate... despite what you think you have read its 100% fine, there has never been an issue'. i havent been back since.

the dealer in belconnen was just as bad. i had to get the turret mould replaced under warrenty (cos it flew off for the 3rd time). they said they would replace it at no charge as soon as the part came in. i waited 3 weeks and never got a call. when i called they didnt know what i was talking about and to call back in 2 weeks when the guy i dealt with came back. i called back and they said they needed the car for a whole day. it was (no joke) a 30 second job. we argued a bit (he says he couldnt spare a 'mechanic' to come out to my car and put it on) so in the end i told him to get f*cked, bought the 20 dollar part myself and put it on. it took me longer to get it out of the plastic then it did to put on.

as for the dealer in phillip i (again) had my car in for several warrenty issues. when i picked up my car at the end of the day the guy said 'yea we only did 1 of the 4 things you asked us to, we didnt have time' even though i booked the car in 2 weeks prior and informed them EXACTLY what needed looking it.

the 4th dealer is in tuggeranong. i havent been there cos not only are they too far out of my way but they are owned by the same idiots who own phillip.


im sure there are some awesome dealers out there, i just havent found one yet. canberra is a small place so we dont have the number of dealers as say, melbourne and sydney do. you are kinda stuck as to who you go to, you just have to choose the least retarded.

I've dealt with 2 Holden dealers and both times it has been crap. Bought a VS Acclaim from Ferntree Gully Holden in 1998. Wouldn't replace stuffed driveshaft or very bad leak in rear main seal under what was then Network Q. Sold the thing not long after that and swore I'd never ever buy another Commodore. The whole experience with them was crap right from the start but I was young and dumb.

Thankfully the issues I'm having with my VY are pretty minor, but what point is a warranty if they never cough up? I won't mention what dealer this one is but Doctor Bob works there. My car will never see another Holden dealer for as long as I have it. Guess I'll have to get the Wife's SV6 from Patterson Cheney. Kind of running out of Holden Dealers. That too will not be serviced by a Holden dear. In fact might skip Holden altogether and have a look at an XR6....

[calais_304]

In fact might skip Holden altogether and have a look at an XR6....

hehehe now your on the right track

[Hillerus]

The reason you wont get warranty work done on a Saturday is that a Dealer is paid a certain hourly rate for all warranty work. If they are paying mechanics OT on a Sat, the rate for warranty will not change just becuase the mechanics rate does. The dealer will lose money, as warranty will still pay the same ****ty rate. Its not viable for a dealer to do warranty work during OT hours.

I work for a Truck dealership and this is how we operate. I definately agree dealerships are nowhere near perfect, but unless you make a song and dance about it, it wont change. The customers that are looked after, are the ones that make the most noise..........

[Huthy]

I understand the work on a Saturday, but why then is an apprentice doing the work... For the same charge as a certified mechanic?

And as for the song and dance, how much noise is it worth making... Before you are seen as a whinger, and before your car get trashed on the test drive?

[holdensupporter2005]

Haven't had any problems with my local holden dealer service department. They treat me with respect like they treat my car, they bend over backwards to make sure they do a good job. Always get nice discounts too. They have most parts in stock, otherwise next day delivery. They don't charge me for getting small things done, like getting police mode enabled, etc.

I think it really depends on wether it is a sloppy trainee mechanic on the job or a fully quallified mechanic. These days you get trainees that are the least bit interested in doing a good job and want to get things over and done with by taking shortcuts and are only there for the money.

[Doctor Bob]

I had a bad customer once.
all customers are mongrels........

Rob

[minux]

I had a bad customer once.
all customers are mongrels........

Rob

hahahaha

Nice one Rob, it seems like everyone is a dealership owner and mechanic on this place who seem to know what is the best way to do things.

[Troy711]

I had a bad customer once.
all customers are mongrels........

Rob

reminds me of the neon sign in the pub from 'desperado' which reads 'the customer is always wrong'

[holdensupporter2005]

well just got my car back from having it serviced, read the report and it said
"Inspected Sunroof drain holes for blockage"
WTF I haven't got a sunroof.

[sv9946]

holden surporter

either they meant that they inspected the air conditioner drain holes for blockage or the person doing writing the report at the front counter simply
f%^ked up and meant to write that on someone elses report, or the mechanic f%$ed up and was thinking about another car

dunno which one, either one is just as likely as the other. or you may have a sunroof that you haven't yet discovered, lol.

cheers mate
catch ya later

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Hi guys,
i have a 2006 astra and had its 15000km service done on tuesday.
I havent driven it since coming from the service with a total distance of 16km travelled from holden dealership to home.
Tonight i noticed there was half a dozen closely scattered oil spots dropped on the ground. Also noticed was a oil spray on the inside on the bonnet and underneath the car.
I then looked at the paper work and they claim to have checked the front and rear brakes aswell. Is this a visual inspection or do they take the rims off? I query this because there is a film of brake dust on all 4 rims and there wasnt any finger or hand marks at all after this "inspection". I assume there would be small contact with the actual rim when taking it on and off. They claim to have checked the tyre pressures aswell. I have all four at 36psi. 7psi up on rear recommended and 3 psi up on the front recommended. I havent checked the pressures yet. How should i approach the holden dealership about this?

ps, sorry to bring this up in a commodore forum. Couldnt find a astra one.

Back to the original post.....The oil you see could be just spilled oil that wasn't cleaned off your engine and was sprayed around by your belts and then ran down to drip on your floor .
The rims don't need to be touched to take the wheels off, they can hold them by the tyres. If it has 4 wheel disc then it is quite probable that the wheels were not removed as you can see the condition of the brake pads with a torch. Check the tyre pressures yourself before you complain.
The 'service' may not have been perfect but if they have done everything listed in the service book for 15000k then it is deemed to be adequate.

[Huge]

Hi, I drive a 04 VYII wagon for work, Rep, 60,000kms year. I have had std warranty issues, pwr steer hoses, audio controls, AC comp, front pads rattling and rear brake shoes rubbing. The later was the last time I’ve let Holden touch my car, I now don’t trust them. I had a simple fix/replace rear brake rubbing, rubbing at low speed, new parts were fitted, problem solved no issues. 10,000kms later (2 months) same problem, no probs I’ll take it back to that helpful chap at Holden and he can fix it. Waited 2-3 weeks made time at Holden and dropped it off only to be told by the same bloke that it will cost me $90.00, WHAT! So I argued, same prob blah, blah, blah and it fell on deaf ears, spoke to management, same deal. Told them and their crappy attitudes to shove it. I have never had any of cars serviced at dealerships because of this bad attitude; it’s not just Holden either. My best friend from school is a mechanic with his own busy workshop and the only workshop I will trust with any of my cars.
I feel much better having got that off my chest, I have no answers just a few crappy stories of bad service. I’m not a demanding customer I just think I deserve a fair go. I’ve worked in sales for years in both retail and wholesale, I know what good service is and the service I’ve had from many dealerships is crap. Maybe there is no incentive from management? Maybe the older dealership mechanics are passing on their bad practises to the apprentices.
The service depts from these dealerships ring me to ask when my next service is, I don't let them know I have it serviced elsewhere just let them know the bad service I had last time.
I do love my Holden it has the looks for me and makes my job on the road enjoyable, I even liked the sales team that sold it to me, then the wheels fell off.