Dipstick not fitted after first service = now oil all over new engine

[Woodchukka]

Yeah I'd talk to the dealer about it and express concern that the dipstick was either not seated correctly or pressure in the crankcase has pushed it out. Either way if you are polite they might ask you to bring it in for a clean and check. Worth a call.

[katlad]

I guess you shouldn't have to but it always pays to have a bit of a look.

A mate just had his VF SSV Redline in for its 1st service at Holden & they left the brake fluid reservoir cap off, that would have been messy getting all over the firewall.

No apology or explanation, couldn't drive the car till they ordered a new cap, typical Holden dealer.

[Woodchukka]

I checked and found the small shop that had changed the engine in my dads car had not bolted down an engine mount. This sort of s#!t happens. Yep it isn't a good thing but it comes down to how the shop that did the work manages the fall out as to whether they are worth going to again.

[Ratsmow]

Just discovered my daughters vx lumina didn't have the air box lid fastened down with any of the clips, they were all undone. We had just had a few things done at the local mechanic and I'd say he removed the air filter prior to cleaning the engine bay so perhaps it wouldn't get wet. He's refitted the air filter but forgot to clip up the air box. Been driving around like that for a few weeks now, oh well another lesson learned.
This is why I'm reluctant to take my Monaro to anyone for anything, hard to get good help these days.

[cashie]

I wonder if bluejam is going to come back and let us know what happened?

[Blown Monaro]

I wouldnt be asking the dealer to clean it up, work shop TA who doesnt give a f*^k hits it with degreaser then smashes into it with a bit of pressure cleaning followed by a couple of hot laps around the test track while picking up the donuts for smoko.

[planetdavo]

I checked and found the small shop that had changed the engine in my dads car had not bolted down an engine mount. This sort of s#!t happens. Yep it isn't a good thing but it comes down to how the shop that did the work manages the fall out as to whether they are worth going to again.

Yep.
Whilst subjects like this tend to turn into a convenient excuse for a dose of the good ol' "dealer bashing" by certain types, stuff can- and does- happen in life.
People are human, and humans make mistakes. One day, maybe robots will be invented that can do the job without ever causing an issue.
In relation to the original question posted, I seriously doubt that a dipstick tube would start spraying out oil a whole 3 months later if it hadn't been pushed down properly at the time of service.
No matter where it gets serviced.

[Ausmartin1]

Don't go getting too upset at them. I've had apprentices leave oil caps off and dipsticks out, etc. I guarantee you would have experienced issues prior to 3 months later.

This is why I stopped servicing the Commodore under Warranty = best decision ever.

Where is the shop supervisor / service manager check after the service?

Pathetic that's what it is..... neighbours explorer at local Knox Ford harder to pick faults the apprentice caused .... eg:
Overfilled trans that boiled over starting a fire on hot exhaust while they were on Holidays in the country, country mechanic could not believe the stupidity of the dealership personnel.
Recently he went to fit new tyres and found stripped wheel studs with oversized nuts pretending to hold on - WTF?

Let me get this straight - were supposed to pay top hourly rate for a professional to work on our cars, while someone actually learns on it and does NOT have their work checked?

Past and Present comparison:
Years back .... I remember my fathers vehicles always had the service manager go over the vehicle personally at service hand over, go for test drive with us in it on many occasions even one where we had to get out where it was returned back to the shop for a quick tweak of something another test drive and then we good to go.....
Note: His mechanics were very good and compared to the majority of apprentices you find in large dealerships would not be worthy to hold a candle for any member of that crew.

Guess these days the managers time is too costly and dealerships too greedy to make a margin, liability test driving cars and with customers in them, so guess what customer screw you when we stuff up hey!

Hence I like what I see in the US where one manufacture owns the whole process, direct sale, minor service they come to YOU, major at their garage.
No middle men, No crap up selling or doing unnecessary work, 1 company to contact that stands behind that brand.
That company is "Tesla".
Wonder why the Dealerships in the USA are up in arms ? Things in the whole Selling / servicing model just have to start changing for the better!
Cause the lucrative Jig is UP.

A win for the consumer and win for the manufacture.
Just a loss for that waste of space and money in between.

[Micks]

This is why I stopped servicing the Commodore under Warranty = best decision ever.

Where is the shop supervisor / service manager check after the service?

Pathetic that's what it is..... neighbours explorer at local Knox Ford harder to pick faults the apprentice caused .... eg:
Overfilled trans that boiled over starting a fire on hot exhaust while they were on Holidays in the country, country mechanic could not believe the stupidity of the dealership personnel.
Recently he went to fit new tyres and found stripped wheel studs with oversized nuts pretending to hold on - WTF?

Let me get this straight - were supposed to pay top hourly rate for a professional to work on our cars, while someone actually learns on it and does NOT have their work checked?

Past and Present comparison:
Years back .... I remember my fathers vehicles always had the service manager go over the vehicle personally at service hand over, go for test drive with us in it on many occasions even one where we had to get out where it was returned back to the shop for a quick tweak of something another test drive and then we good to go.....
Note: His mechanics were very good and compared to the majority of apprentices you find in large dealerships would not be worthy to hold a candle for any member of that crew.

Guess these days the managers time is too costly and dealerships too greedy to make a margin, liability test driving cars and with customers in them, so guess what customer screw you when we stuff up hey!

Hence I like what I see in the US where one manufacture owns the whole process, direct sale, minor service they come to YOU, major at their garage.
No middle men, No crap up selling or doing unnecessary work, 1 company to contact that stands behind that brand.
That company is "Tesla".
Wonder why the Dealerships in the USA are up in arms ? Things in the whole Selling / servicing model just have to start changing for the better!
Cause the lucrative Jig is UP.

A win for the consumer and win for the manufacture.
Just a loss for that waste of space and money in between.

Excellent post & unfortunately too true!!

[Smashfist]

This is why I stopped servicing the Commodore under Warranty = best decision ever.

Where is the shop supervisor / service manager check after the service?

Pathetic that's what it is..... neighbours explorer at local Knox Ford harder to pick faults the apprentice caused .... eg:
Overfilled trans that boiled over starting a fire on hot exhaust while they were on Holidays in the country, country mechanic could not believe the stupidity of the dealership personnel.
Recently he went to fit new tyres and found stripped wheel studs with oversized nuts pretending to hold on - WTF?

Let me get this straight - were supposed to pay top hourly rate for a professional to work on our cars, while someone actually learns on it and does NOT have their work checked?

Past and Present comparison:
Years back .... I remember my fathers vehicles always had the service manager go over the vehicle personally at service hand over, go for test drive with us in it on many occasions even one where we had to get out where it was returned back to the shop for a quick tweak of something another test drive and then we good to go.....
Note: His mechanics were very good and compared to the majority of apprentices you find in large dealerships would not be worthy to hold a candle for any member of that crew.

Guess these days the managers time is too costly and dealerships too greedy to make a margin, liability test driving cars and with customers in them, so guess what customer screw you when we stuff up hey!

Hence I like what I see in the US where one manufacture owns the whole process, direct sale, minor service they come to YOU, major at their garage.
No middle men, No crap up selling or doing unnecessary work, 1 company to contact that stands behind that brand.
That company is "Tesla".
Wonder why the Dealerships in the USA are up in arms ? Things in the whole Selling / servicing model just have to start changing for the better!
Cause the lucrative Jig is UP.

A win for the consumer and win for the manufacture.
Just a loss for that waste of space and money in between.

Please, you think the independants don't have apprentices **** up on customer's cars? I've seen it happen often - usually said car gets towed in to a DEALERSHIP to fix because not only did someone **** up, but someone with no idea has ****ed up.

I don't know how many country "mechanics" have called asking me how to adjust timing on a coilpack ignition engine, or how to diagnose basic engine faults like a misfire. Incompetent people are rife in the profession but it's seen as "in" or "trendy" to bash dealers just because they charge more. Guess what, Einstein? It COSTS more to run a dealership as opposed to some backyard joint in an industrial shed with a snap-on scan tool and some shit tools that have been picked up at Supercheap on sale.

[Micks]

Please, you think the independants don't have apprentices **** up on customer's cars? I've seen it happen often - usually said car gets towed in to a DEALERSHIP to fix because not only did someone **** up, but someone with no idea has ****ed up.

True though more so @ dealerships!!

[Smashfist]

True though more so @ dealerships!!

When the dealerships have more staff, more cars in and much higher turnover. Stands to reason that you would hear of it more often at dealerships. I see 40-60 cars a day, what Joe Bloggs joint has that sort of volume? Going by those figures, if a little joint sees 10 cars a day, they **** up 1 car a week and the dealership ****s up 5, who's in front? Neither - they're probably fairly even.

[Micks]

When the dealerships have more staff, more cars in and much higher turnover. Stands to reason that you would hear of it more often at dealerships. I see 40-60 cars a day, what Joe Bloggs joint has that sort of volume? Going by those figures, if a little joint sees 10 cars a day, they **** up 1 car a week and the dealership ****s up 5, who's in front? Neither - they're probably fairly even.

True more turnover less care more fukups!!

[Ausmartin1]

Please, you think the independants don't have apprentices **** up on customer's cars? I've seen it happen often - usually said car gets towed in to a DEALERSHIP to fix because not only did someone **** up, but someone with no idea has ****ed up.

I don't know how many country "mechanics" have called asking me how to adjust timing on a coilpack ignition engine, or how to diagnose basic engine faults like a misfire. Incompetent people are rife in the profession but it's seen as "in" or "trendy" to bash dealers just because they charge more. Guess what, Einstein? It COSTS more to run a dealership as opposed to some backyard joint in an industrial shed with a snap-on scan tool and some shit tools that have been picked up at Supercheap on sale.

Too True, I've got no problem paying top dollar at dealer with tools / knowledge on hand and GETTING IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME!
What I resent is paying top dollar and having issues like some redneck garage on a binge day did the work!
That ticks me off & gets my hair rubbed up all the wrong way.

[Ausmartin1]

True more turnover less care more fukups!!

Yes ...., While in the country even at dealership if they do something wrong the whole town knows about and mechanic concerned won't have job long with too many screw ups.
That's why My first service was at a country dealership, young guy - perfect job- everything spot on treated my car with respect and knew what he was doing.
It took a city dealership to do multiple F....... up's till I got tired of it.

Small town word spreads good or bad, Big smoke - no drama there is another sucker for the taking ... and screwed up (who cares they say).