Chryslers grandson wants to save the brand

[Hay Dude]

Sounds like that's working for you, and you're lucky to have access to good tech's, maybe one of the benefits of having an HD diesel pickup instead of the ubiquitous half-ton.

My dealership does have some very good tech's, and I've met a few. The trouble is, those guys are doing engine diagnostics and major repairs, while Larry and his two brothers Daryl are doing all fluid changes. It makes sense, when they have to do their best to control shop labor rate, but the results aren't always what you would want. Hell, just search this forum for the countless posts on over-torqued and stripped out oil pan plugs, if you want to see how well this normally goes, and then consider what these same idiots will do to an expensive cast rear diff cover or a delicate transmission pan flange.

As to maintenance records, I used to be a fanatic about that, thinking anyone cared. But every vehicle now goes to trade-in or auction, and the person retrieving it always tells me to just throw that stuff in the trash, they don't even want it.

Just go treat yourself to a new Ram Cummins HO!
Problem solved!

All kidding aside the 2024’s are available super cheap.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Are you guys using dealer, independent mechanics, or DIY? I've always done all changes of all fluids myself, on every vehicle. But I'm reaching the point in life where I'm just getting tired of playing driveway mechanic, with a creeper on asphalt in all weather. I don't have a lift, or a great place to install one, so everything is done on ramps or jack stands.

I've been doing it myself, for a number of reasons.

Probably the most important one is that if something goes wrong I can blame myself and not be angry at somebody else. That is closely followed by that I know it get's done correctly (for the very most part) and with the correct fluids.

Although, lately my girlfriend has been buying Porsches and Audis, cars that I don't want to work on. Maybe even can't. Heck, apparently a battery replacement on a Porsche requires a dealer to reprogram the car accordingly. So she gets to take those to the dealer.

But like WinterDeere, I'm starting to get a bit tired of it. If it was only half as many vehicles, tractors, various machinery, generators, and such it'd be different.
As it is, it's a lot of work - but completely self inflicted.

Anyway, I'd start selling stuff before subjecting my vehicles to dealer service.

 

[WinterDeere]

Anyway, I'd start selling stuff before subjecting my vehicles to dealer service.

Back when I bought the SRT (2016), there was a ton of discussion on hellcatforum and elsewhere, that dealers were supposed to have one certified SRT tech, who was the only one allowed to work on these cars. I don't know if that was always BS, or if they just abandoned that program, but my dealer doesn't operate that way.

I'm pretty friendly with the sales manager at our local dealership, as his son and mine were friends. He once told me they sold more SRT's than every other dealership in PA combined, so it's not for lack of volume that they don't have dedicated tech's on these cars.

 

[BackRoad]

Anyway, I'd start selling stuff before subjecting my vehicles to dealer service.

Mr. TooMany, let me know when the Unimogs come up for sale!

 

[Hay Dude]

Believe it or not, some dealers have good, responsible service techs.

 

[WinterDeere]

Believe it or not, some dealers have good, responsible service techs.

I suspect every dealer has some good tech's, or almost every dealer, anyway. That was never my concern.

I'll also argue that very few dealers are going to put their best tech's on fluid change duty. That job is almost always going to the guy they can't trust to not screw up anything else.

You know that guy. We've all worked with that guy!

 

[Hay Dude]

I suspect every dealer has some good tech's, or almost every dealer, anyway. That was never my concern.

I'll also argue that very few dealers are going to put their best tech's on fluid change duty. That job is almost always going to the guy they can't trust to not screw up anything else.

Only once in 5 years did a different tech do work on my truck

 

[WinterDeere]

Only once in 5 years did a different tech do work on my truck

You're lucky. I'd guess my dealer has 40 mechanics, you get a different one almost every time. All levels, from the few guys with a half dozen certifications and degrees each, hanging on the wall of the waiting room, to the goofy cross-eyed guy they only let drive the parts truck or fill windshield washer fluid... and everything in-between.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Back when I bought the SRT (2016), there was a ton of discussion on hellcatforum and elsewhere, that dealers were supposed to have one certified SRT tech, who was the only one allowed to work on these cars. I don't know if that was always BS, or if they just abandoned that program, but my dealer doesn't operate that way.

I suspect that the plan was to have an SRT guy, but then there's real life.

Just think of the dealerships that had never seen, let alone sold, an SRT vehicle. Why would they need a dedicated employee - especially when those vehicles aren't all that different from the basic models.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Mr. TooMany, let me know when the Unimogs come up for sale!

It's your lucky day. The dozer/trencher is for sale now.

Just don't forget to sign up for attending Burning Man.