2 Questions: UHF Receiver Installation & ACT Holden Dealerships for Services

[d1mebag]

Hey guys,

I'm looking to fit a Uniden UHF receiver into my Series 2 SSV Redline ute. Any recommendations of where to take the ute to get this fitted? I'm from Brisbane, but moved to Canberra for work a month and a bit ago (looking forward to Summernats!!), so I've got no idea regarding reputations of eg. Wow Sight & Sound and similar shops in the ACT..

Has anyone else fitted one to their Series II? I'm thinking of mounting it on the underside of the dash, below and left of the steering wheel. Looks like it would still leave plenty space below my left knee. If anyone has any comments or suggestions they'd be greatly appreciated.

Also, I'll be due for my 15K service in about a month. I know there aren't many Holden dealers to choose from in the ACT, but has anyone had any particularly good (or bad) dealings with the different Service departments here?

Thanks for your comments.

Cheers,

d1mebag

[Malus]

in regards to the Dealers they are both pretty much the same. Gerald Slaven Holden is in Belconnen and Commonwealth motors is in both Woden and Tuggeranong.
Its up to you, but Commonwealth motors have been really good with warranty work with my Maloo, where Gerald Slaven wouldn't give me the time of day with my old SS.
What area's do you live/work?

[d1mebag]

Hey Malus, living at Watson and work out of the Anzac Park West building on Constitution Ave. Belconnen would probably be closer for me but if you haven't had great service from Gerald Slaven looks like I'll take it to Woden.

Cheers mate!

[Troy711]

The guys at Slavens have given me shit service over the years, I'll never go back. It took them 3 separate occasions to replace a plastic strip on my roof which they still didn't get right. Commonwealth were much better for warranty work but by the time I took my car there I realised there was much better options for servicing out there so I can't comment on them in regards to that aspect.

Honestly, DO NOT go to a dealer for servicing. They are a rip off and don't give a shit about customer service and repeat business like a smaller mechanic would.

[EraserHead]

I'd definitely find a local radio installation shop rather than take it to Holden and pay $120 per hour for labour. The radio guys would be much better equipped and more familiar with the issues than Holden ever would.

Not taking the piss out of Holden service, but they simply would not fit many UHF's so would not have the experience. Whereas radio shop guys eat and sleep this stuff. So go to the specialists is my advice. Maybe ask at your local Dick Smith store as they are Uniden dealers and would have people they use for installs... otherwise Google it.

[UFO]

Honestly, DO NOT go to a dealer for servicing. They are a rip off and don't give a shit about customer service and repeat business like a smaller mechanic would.

Bingo!

I've done the ring around, I've done the "go back to the dealer you bought it from for the best service pricing" (Gerald Slaven in Belco was great when I bought it from them, but service costs are through the roof since they've renovated their dealership), but seriously... your best bet is to go to someone like Goodyear Autoservice. Logbook servicing for less than half the price.

I've used Goodyear in Philip (good service good pricing), but for convenience I now go to Goodyear at Erindale (closer to home).

Mind you, because it's your first service... as much as it pains me to say it, go to a dealer and let them screw you over just once. You'll get 12 months roadside assistance 'for free', and since your car hasnt had a full service yet at least they'll plug it in to their tech software and update anything that needs updating. But after that, say goodbye mate!

Just pick the dealer that's most convenient for you and suck it up. Get them to change oil AND filter, get them to do any software updates that needs doing, and then when you hand over the cash give them a nice fake smile like you are happy to be put in a cell with a big black guy who's lonely, bare down and take it like a man.

[HEXEM]

As for servicing that's been covered pretty well. Just be careful with warranty issues as the new 2011 commodores should be running a DEXOS1 approved engine oil. Failure to use it which results in an engine issue could impact on the warranty. Before anyone bits my head off, this is just something to consider as the DEXOS spec oil is the factory fill for all holden vehicles.

You could alway buy a DEXOS approved oil and supply it to whom ever does your servicing. Make sure you keep the receipts.

I've got an Amateur VHF/UHF in my SSV. I do all my own installations for radios. The best place to go to would be WATTS Communications in Fyshwick. I've known the owner and installers for years now and they do alot of the emergency services (Ambulance, Rural Fire) and ACT Taxi's.

Give them a call and ask for John. Or if you want I could give you a hand to do the install. Its pretty straight forward and depending on the output power, you better off taking a direct power feed straight from the battery as opposed to an accessory.

Cheers
Phil

[RayLamp]

On the servicing front, there seems to be a line of thinking which says that you don't get your car serviced by the selling dealer. There could be some merit in that, because the servicing that I had (mainly warranty fixes) from my selling dealer was nothing short of pathetic. They tried to blame the VE flat battery issue on me not closing my boot lid. They supposedly replaced the water bottle three times (it still leaks and I couldn't be bothered any more). They supposedly replaced my stereo facia 4 times (still stuffs up like it did brand new), I'm now an expert on resolving that one! When my car wouldn't respond to any of the buttons on the remote, they blamed everything but a flat battery in the remote (which I replaced, and I know they didn't coz I marked the original battery). My simple fix solved that one. Oh yeah, and they scraped the side of one of my wheels in a way which you simply cant do when driving it. I can't prove it because I didn't think to take before and after shots.

I then had an airbag fault. I got fed up with the selling dealer, so I took it to the other one. They diagnosed, communicated, and fixed it efficiently. They also didn't keep you waiting half an hour to be served at the service desk.

I do think, like others, that if you can avoid it, get your car serviced somewhere other than the dealer. Places like goodyear, ultratune etc.

[SV6.07]

i agree with the others. don't go to dealer for service.. ask the members here for help on one. most will do log book servicing . i added this uhf into my wife series II SV6 didn't want to have the radio visible so got this one to have the main unit hidden and just the mic. looks much neater in the car. but its up to ur personal choice. i got a twin glass mount antenna as its fine for what i want and still keeps the car neat. and not looking like some sort of 4x4.