Just Want to Piss & Moan

[RonZwanson]

Hey Everyone,

Yesterday, I finally got an opportunity to do some maintenance I've been waiting to get to for a few weeks, due to weather or being too busy, or some other reason. All I needed to do yesterday was change my oil, block off my oil cooler for winter, and I wanted to pop my wheels off to check the tread depth and brake pad status.

I do as much work on my car as I can myself. However, there are a few things I CAN'T do myself, such as state safety inspections. Back in the end of August, I had that done at a local Nissan dealership. (I just moved, so I don't really know the reputations of the independent garages around here...) I'd taken my Z to this dealership in the past for warranty services, and I'd never had a complaint before. They always seemed to do solid work, from what I could tell.

Now I do have a complaint, and I'm seriously considering contacting them. The first issue that cropped up was a horribly stripped lug nut. Whatever high school flunkie did my inspection stripped a lug nut on my rear wheel to a perfect cylinder. And this was on a factory lug nut. It's not like I had some oddball size on there. I've attached the result. It took me over an hour just to get one lug off. I didn't notice it last time I changed my oil because I didn't do anything with the wheels.

I considered contacting them about it and having them get it off/replace it, but when it comes down to it I have no proof that it was actually them. So, I moved on.

As I continued my work, I decided to check my tread depth, because when I had my inspection done the service rep told me all my tires were at 4/32, and I should think about replacing them around November. So, here we are, in November. Since that inspection in August, I've driven the car about 5,000 miles. Check out the photo of my tread depth. It's at about 7/32. So, in August it could only have been higher. This was the one that REALLY pissed me off. The lug nut was just a stupid mistake - someone not paying attention or doing something stupid. The tread depth was just blatant dishonesty. I am seriously considering emailing the service manager the pictures I attached here, and a scan of the service report noting that my tires were at 4/32 tread depth.

So, something that I was projecting would take maybe 2-3 hours took me ALL DAY. Maybe next year I'll apply for my own PA Inspection license...

(Note - I don't know why the tread depth pic is showing up sideways. It's oriented correctly on my computer. Sorry. Annoying.)

[VCuomo]

Originally Posted by RonZwanson

... The lug nut was just a stupid mistake - someone not paying attention or doing something stupid. ...

IMO it was someone being lazy (which I guess you could say is doing something stupid) and not starting the lug nut by hand before using the air gun on it.

[danegrey]

Contact the dealer and Nissan, Nissan does ding them $$$$, if they have a complaint...
it's just bad service

[RonRizz]

No way they gave you the car back with that balled up lug nut.......I'd take the lug nut back and throw it at the service manager........

[nis350]

Originally Posted by VCuomo

IMO it was someone being lazy (which I guess you could say is doing something stupid) and not starting the lug nut by hand before using the air gun on it.

being lazy, lack of common sense, indifference..... most of these mechanics really don't care, it is just another car for them to work on. their goal is to spend minimum time and get paid the factory set rate and move on to the next car. these guys would try to get in 15-16 hrs work on a 8 hrs day.

i've heard horrible stories about dealerships charging stuffs that were not done. However, it is normally not the dealers' faults, but the individual mechanic own doing. I read someone took an M3 in for an $2k inspection service and they didn't even change the air filter.

[DOOMMONKEY777]

A coworker of mine told me his story how he went to the dealer and they did the same thing to him on 2 nuts. He only found out when his tire got a nail in it, about 3-4 month after service, he was soo freaking pissed about it cuz it took him through hell to take that tire off.

He went back to the service manager and complained, good thing he kept the receipt, so they fixed it for him.

To this day he never went to the dealer only local shops where he can monitor work.

[Dreadnaught]

I hate to hear stories of this stuff happening to people. I'm a mechanic at a Ford dealership and it irks me to see and hear about this unprofessional workmanship and dishonesty. This is the kind of crap that gives myself and the other good Technicians a bad name.

[Montez]

What are they doing taking your lug nuts/wheels off for an inspection, what are they checking for......In Cali or Tx they don't do that and they have some of the strictest inspections in the U.S....

[Dreadnaught]

I'm thinking the Tech checked the thickness of the brake pads so he had to take the wheels off.

[grandpawmoses]

There are raised places in your tread grooves (about 3/32). When your tire wears down to these places it's considered "worn out". The proper depth check is from the top of one of those raised places. Did you check it there?

[ayrton88]

A Nissan dealer in their "Multi Point Inspection" said my front tires measured in the red zone. 6 months later I went to another dealer for my oil change and in their "Multi Point Inspection" my front tires were in the green zone. Go figure.

[kenchan]

for the tread depth, i usually take a few measurements across the tread and take the average.

[nismo9132]

Wow.. sorry to hear about the aggravation they caused. I know exactly how it feels. Just 8-10 weeks after I got my Z, the dealer dinged the side skirt on their lift while troubleshooting a tapping in the clutch pedal (turned out to be a defective flywheel), but I know exactly how it feels. Was so frustrated that at first I told them they just bought my Z back.

I'd definitely mention it to them though because through the many issues I've had with the service department at my local dealership, they now know to be careful with my cars because they know I'll pick up on them.

[RonZwanson]

Originally Posted by Montez

What are they doing taking your lug nuts/wheels off for an inspection, what are they checking for......In Cali or Tx they don't do that and they have some of the strictest inspections in the U.S....

Yeah, in PA they check your brakes (I believe both rotor -or drums- and pad life). They do check your tires, but I'm guessing any dolt could do that without taking off the wheels.

As for the tread depth, I checked it in multiple locations on all the tires. I think I got one reading that was around a 6/32 mark. I'm going to replace them soon anyway, but still, like I said, the lug nut was frustrating because someone did something douchey, but the lying was what really pissed me off.

And it is unfortunate, because there are many good, honest mechanics. As we know, it's the morons like these people that make everyone leery of taking their car in for work, especially when a mechanic recommends a repair that's unexpected.

Who knows...if I get a few spare minutes this weekend maybe I will fire off a message to Nissan and/or the dealership.

[Limeybastard]

Originally Posted by nis350

being lazy, lack of common sense, indifference..... most of these mechanics really don't care, it is just another car for them to work on. their goal is to spend minimum time and get paid the factory set rate and move on to the next car. these guys would try to get in 15-16 hrs work on a 8 hrs day.

i've heard horrible stories about dealerships charging stuffs that were not done. However, it is normally not the dealers' faults, but the individual mechanic own doing. I read someone took an M3 in for an $2k inspection service and they didn't even change the air filter.

I was kinda agreeing with your comments until the last paragraph. I actually believe it is the other way around. The dealer puts the pressure on the mech to do the work quickly else it affects the mechs bonus.

In regards to BMW's inspection, it is exactly that primarily, they just inspect. If alright, dont change part.