how do i make my dealer listen to me
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,750
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From: Peoria IL
2003 MB C230 coupe
how do i make my dealer listen to me
okay, my car has this weird idle problem (i've already posted on this). the thing is that i'm pretty sure it's something to do with an oxygen sensor or the engine wiring harness which were both replaced right before my car started having this problem. another thing is that the car is not giving any fault codes so the dealer may not do what they should by really digging in and troubleshooting this problem when i take it in on monday. dealers have this tendency to be clueless if the car doesn't explicitly tell them what is wrong. i wish i knew this car inside and out, then i could just locate the problem myself or could just start replacing stuff until it was fixed. 
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,750
Likes: 0
From: Peoria IL
2003 MB C230 coupe
i left it with them for 6 days a week ago and they declared it fixed. i was never actually there to demostrate it but i figured any idiot could see it. it happens everytime on a cold start in the morning. i'm dropping it off on monday evening and i guess i will have to be present on tuesday morning when they start the car.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,012
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From: Abingdon, MD
For now just be nice.
The thing is you can go in on a Sat., and just ask if you could speak to a Service Team Lead. They are usually really cool. Just ask a few general questions, then lead into the questions about the problem. Around lunch time is usually when everyone is so scattered they'll just point you in the right direction.
It's called social engineering...
I got a free tool and shop manual out of doing this...
The thing is you can go in on a Sat., and just ask if you could speak to a Service Team Lead. They are usually really cool. Just ask a few general questions, then lead into the questions about the problem. Around lunch time is usually when everyone is so scattered they'll just point you in the right direction.
It's called social engineering...
I got a free tool and shop manual out of doing this...
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Originally posted by truelove
i left it with them for 6 days a week ago and they declared it fixed. i was never actually there to demostrate it but i figured any idiot could see it. it happens everytime on a cold start in the morning. i'm dropping it off on monday evening and i guess i will have to be present on tuesday morning when they start the car.
i left it with them for 6 days a week ago and they declared it fixed. i was never actually there to demostrate it but i figured any idiot could see it. it happens everytime on a cold start in the morning. i'm dropping it off on monday evening and i guess i will have to be present on tuesday morning when they start the car.
Almost a Member!
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 39
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From: Los Angeles, CA
C320 Sport
Hey, truelove, had that problem. For me, turned out to be some issue with the computer software/firmware (I don't remember exactly- it was right when I got it and was still somewhat clueless). They reflashed the computer and no problems. Mine wasn't giving any error codes either.
I always check in with my SA and then ask him to call up the shop foreman. (Don't know if that's what nukblazi means by Service Team Lead- probably.) Takes some waiting around, but every time I've done that, it's been fixed on the first try.
Good luck!
I always check in with my SA and then ask him to call up the shop foreman. (Don't know if that's what nukblazi means by Service Team Lead- probably.) Takes some waiting around, but every time I've done that, it's been fixed on the first try.
Good luck!
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 148
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From: San Francisco Bay Area
MB C230K
My dealership has a Quality Control guy. He supposedly checks all the fixes before they go out. So if you bring it back and say the problem wasn't fixed, he takes it personally. Basically, he's a tech that also knows how to talk to customers.
So if you're frustrated with a repeat problem, ask if you can demonstrate the issue to a tech (that's how I found out about this guy).
If the problem is so erratic that it can't be reliably demonstrated, I'd keep working with it before bringing it into the dealer. Over time, you might notice specific conditions that demonstrate the problem reliably. If the problem can't be easily demonstrated you run the risk of getting a bad reputation with the dealership.
--Steffen
So if you're frustrated with a repeat problem, ask if you can demonstrate the issue to a tech (that's how I found out about this guy).
If the problem is so erratic that it can't be reliably demonstrated, I'd keep working with it before bringing it into the dealer. Over time, you might notice specific conditions that demonstrate the problem reliably. If the problem can't be easily demonstrated you run the risk of getting a bad reputation with the dealership.
--Steffen
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