Does anyone know if you have to have the regular scheduled maintainance service work done at a Dodge dealership? At a ASE certified garage? Or can you do it yourself, with proper documentation? I just had my 15,000 mile service work done at my local dealership, got charged $422, called another dealership 115 miles away, and was quoted a price for the same service at $50 cheaper without them knowing that I already had had it done. I complained to the dealership which had done the work; and was told that all dealerships were independently owned; and they didn't know what others charged. So much for trying to keep the money home and helping the local economy!!

 

As far as I know if you do it yourself and document everything you should be good. I know the guys that change oil at this dealership aren't ASE certified nor should they to change oil. After spending $72 for an oil change and $25 of that just being labor, I'll take care of it myself. If the mechanic doing the labor was a highly trained diesel tech and pocketed most of that labor charge I don't think I'd have to much of a problem paying it. Of course that's not the case. It's usually some kid out of high school making $7-8 an hour and the dealer pockets the rest.

 

I do all my own service work...It`s a load of B/S that you need to have your service work done @ the dealer. They will tell you anything to keep you paying for over priced service.
I use a log book and keep all my receipts. It is not required to have the work done by a licenced dealer/shop. As long as it`s serviced..It also needs to be properly performed with the correct parts/lubricants.

 

Even grocery stores have differant prices in differant areas.They all have a differant fixed operating exspense.Same as you and someone else in the next neighborhood.If YOU owned a business would you give the majority of YOUR money to the employee.I think not.

 

Thank you, took the words right out of my mouth.

 

To answer your question, no you do not have to take your truck to the dealership for servicing. You can take it anywhere or do it yourself. I do all of my own servicing. I have a log book that I keep all my info in, is easy to know everything with the log book. I keep my receipts. It would be easy to look anything up that would be needed if there were a problem.

CD

 

I have the dealer do it simply for the convience.
Plus I dont have the hassle of the mess and disposal from the maintenance.
Just MHO

 

This reminds me of the joke about the doctor complaining about the plumber charging to much to fix his leaking faucet. Cant remember exactly how it goes,but Id bet the owner of that dealership complains about how much a plumber,carpenter ,etc charges

 

Be sure you do keep good records. If DC ever wants proof of maintenance for a warranty claim

 

That's funny The reason I don't take my truck to a dealer is the lack of confidence. I have had more things screwed up at dealers than anyware else. I'm sure there are some good ones out there, but unfortunately, not many. I either do it myself, or take it to a local garage where I can talk to the mechanic that is going to be doing the work.

 

Ever asked to talk to the mechanic at the a dealership? You can if you ask in most of them. Take the sales dept away,take used car dept away.Whats left? More then likley a parts and service dept equiped and manned better then many many independents for miles.Not defending al dealers but EVERYONE on this forum and many other forums have lots more to judge a dealer by then they do independents.Hollor at a Old Joes garage to GIVE you something to drive,what do you mean you don't have parts on hand much less a PARTS manager and so on.See how far you get.I'm amazed LUKE S even reads these forums.There ARE dealers that have customers that wouldn't THINK of going any where else for vehicle repair or maintance.

 

I did not say POOR dealer.What you just described to me is the way most business/citys/ is run these days.I'm not fond of it eaither but thats life.

 

I avoid the dealers shops simply because they over charge and treat their workers like crap. Not to mention they can get the vehicle at 7am and when you call at 430 pm it still isnt finished for a simple servicing

 

Overcharge? Compared to what.A tire store/quick lube or doing it yourself? Treat wotrkers like crap? Have YOU worked in a dealerships? I know dealers that the majoritory of their employees are long term like 5 plus years is considered a newbie.Ive worked a dealer that had employees retiring and had THEIR sons(few daughters) working in them that were in their mid fortys and NOT realitives or connected to the owners.Last there are lots of days that there is so much service work in some and much to some folks shock not all warranty work that getting done vehicles that come in at 7:30 A.M. and having them done same day is a feat.My wife writes service in a Caddy,Isuzu,Mazda store and have some techs and personal that have been there 10 to 15 years and they are over whelmed with the amout of work coming in.They go in most days with enough work already sitting their waiting on them to keep them busy for two to three days with nothing new driving in that morning.The past two weeks have been hair rasing for her as vehicle after vehicle needing service/repair show up/towed in every hour their open non stop.Short lunch breaks and some tired legs,feet and headaches is the norm for the shop she is on right now.Says the whole auto row of dealers are slammed the same way as the weather/temp dropped low.Kinda been that way since mid December.In another words just plain DARN BUSY.Maybe its a lack of communication.Buts its NOT because they do a bad job.Just plain busy.Warranty work makes up about 15% of total work coming in.Rest is customer pay.The little D.C. dealer near me is slamed every day right now.Their appointment sheet for a the next week is full by the middle of the previous week not counting what vehicles that just HAPPEN to break or need service and just pop up.Some would have a real eye opener if YOU had a couple days to go to a well run dealer in a high denisity population area and just hang out from opening to closing for a couple of days.Did you know that SERVICE dept in dealers are considered as stressful as a air traffic controller job or a cop in a busy metro area? YOUR NOT the ONLY one needing work done in most busy well run shops.

 

Yes I have. For 30 years. They over charge and are slow to get work done because they treat employee`s poorly. All the advisers are mad and don`t care what happens after they write the veh up. Slow to follow up on work and if parts need to be ordered. They drag there feet on everything. This is the majority, not all. The dealers have become corporate owned and they squeeze the life out of everything and everyone and demand more, more, more without regard to employee moral or welfare. They don`t care about them like they use to. Your a number and you need to keep your numbers up to par...Oh and by the way, all flat rate shops do shody work....