A little POed with dealership..

[Jrscherer]

Small little rant but oh well need to get it out somehow.

So today, well technically yestaurday, I went to get my oil change from the dealer and they do all there joyous stuff along with making sure the tires are filled to the correct PSI. Well I drove home, then to work then get to move my car to a closer spot(dumb second shift thing they don't like people parked far), then the big part....I start to drive home and the TPMS light comes on within feet of leaving my spot, right away I'm thinking, crap tire somehow got screwed up. Went to check the tires and all were fine so grabed the tire gauge, all my tires were down to 25-26PSI instead of the 33PSI it is supposed to be. What would be your guys first reaction? I am going there tomorrow to complain and get the tires filled correctly, along with maybe something else if lucky.

[matt_a]

That would tick me off, but that has always been a pet peeve of mine. I don't like people messin' with my tire pressure. Many mechanics will just whip out a $1 pencil-type gauge and adjust to what the door badge says. For one thing, those cheapo tire gauges can be very inaccurate. I have a dial gauge that is much more precise. Secondly, the door badge is meant for the OEM tires that came on the car. If you have changed to a different tire and rim size, that info no longer applies. And even if you do still have the factory tires, I have always preferred to run my tires at a little higher pressure than the door says. Most of the time you will notice that the door badge pressure is a lot less than what the tires themselves list as the max. You can change my oil, top off my fluids, and check my air filter...but keep your paws off my tires!

[FrancesTheMute]

Personally, I'd just fill up your tires and next time you go in ask them to leave the tires alone. I'm one of those people that gets pissed if/when a mechanic screws up my car *long Honda story involved*, but blowing up at them rarely helps. They could care less about you or your car.

[07Vsdn]

an annoyance, but not something i'd complain about. i'd mention it to them next time, even bring a gauge yourself to check it when they are done.

[matt_a]

Yeah, I agree. Like I said above, I don't like anyone adjusting my tires, but it's not something to "go off" on somebody about. I usually just tell them when I take my car in that they don't need to check my tire pressure. They are more than happy to have a step they can skip.

[jfanaselle]

When I purchased my car, I checked the tire pressure the very next day and every single tire had at least 45 PSI in them. One of them actually had over 50 PSI. I was really mad and even called the dealership to complain. The sales person used the excuse that the factory filled them up that much and the dealership didn't even check them. Now, when I go in for service, I tell them not to touch my tire pressure and I check it myself once I get home.

[srellim234]

I check the pressure every other weekend, anyway.

I wouldn't make a big thing out of it or the inept mechanic might do something to your car intentionally next time just to spite you and get even for your complaint. Just tell them not to bother with the air pressure check or just know that you'll have to check the pressure yourself immediately after every service at that dealer.

[Jrscherer]

Well I didn't go off on anyone, I usually don't, I pulled up and the same guy that is one of the main service"sales" type guys right away remembered me and took care of it, in and out within 10 minutes. He figured the guy that worked on it just wasn't all there. Well I usually am one that would rather have the dealership take care of as much as possible so that they have records and can't say that something wasn't done or what not. Just one of them things to make them happy. Oh well everything better now .

[Rockhound]

Although this might not have much bearing in this case, keep in mind that the pressure rating on your sidewall is a cold pressure rating.

So if you drive more than a mile or so before filling up your tires to said PSI, they'll be warm. Once the car sits a while and the tires cool, the pressure will drop. So unless they waited a while at the dealership, they probably filled your tires while they were still warm. It does make a difference.

[NewToVersa]

+1 do yourself a favor. Buy a small air compressor and inflate your tires at home.

[Jrscherer]

This isn't really something that I think was the issue, I live less then a mile from my dealership and then it was sitting a bit before they actually got to it. I know that when it gets cold the air in the tire goes down more. But oh well it's done and over.

I would get an air compressor but yeah no room at the apartment to store one of them, and well I figure, screw it they need to take care of what their job is.

[KimberKenobi]

but blowing up at them rarely helps. They could care less about you or your car.

;oP Getting pissed (and having a long conversation with the dealership owner) that the workers at the dealership where you bought the car don't seem to be taking your car seriously because it is themed after a WWI biplane, while the workers at the other dealership (owned by same person) do and complaining that you can get good service at the latter, but not the former... THAT sometimes works to one's advantage... ;oD especially after you prove beyond a reasonable doubt that YES, they did indeed place the front license plate bracket on crooked. ;oP

as for the purpose of the thread... 33 is stated as the 'winter' PSI at the local place... I don't remember, but isn't 25-26ish the 'factory' PSI level for the standard wheel/tire package? IF so, the TPMS light should not have come on... or, I should correct, mine didn't come on when my tires were at the summer pressure but flat-looking because the temperature change had compressed the air... (wording problem with that one, hope it is understood)...

No, I'm going back to write another PSI (pre-sentence investigation... hehehe, when I opened this thread I tried to understand how the tire pressure could be at 25 pre-sentence investigation... ;oP I'm so spazzed...)

[srellim234]

I picked up one of those really small air compressors, the kind that comes in that little Slime brand flat tire repair kit at Pep Boys. The compressor plugs into the car's power adapter and fits in the space on top of the spare tire rim and under the floor of the cargo area. That way the compressor is always with me in the car and storage space in an apartment is not an issue.

[matt_a]

I picked up one of those really small air compressors, the kind that comes in that little Slime brand flat tire repair kit at Pep Boys. The compressor plugs into the car's power adapter and fits in the space on top of the spare tire rim and under the floor of the cargo area. That way the compressor is always with me in the car and storage space in an apartment is not an issue.

You might want to try that out before you count on it. I've had 3 of those small compressors that plug in to the cig lighter, and not one of them had enough power to inflate a car tire. I ended up spending $130 for a good compressor with a reservoir from Sears. You can't carry it around in your car in case of emergency, but it will do car tires with no trouble at all. It'll also run really cool air tools.

[nissantech06]

That would tick me off, but that has always been a pet peeve of mine. I don't like people messin' with my tire pressure. Many mechanics will just whip out a $1 pencil-type gauge and adjust to what the door badge says. For one thing, those cheapo tire gauges can be very inaccurate. I have a dial gauge that is much more precise. Secondly, the door badge is meant for the OEM tires that came on the car. If you have changed to a different tire and rim size, that info no longer applies. And even if you do still have the factory tires, I have always preferred to run my tires at a little higher pressure than the door says. Most of the time you will notice that the door badge pressure is a lot less than what the tires themselves list as the max. You can change my oil, top off my fluids, and check my air filter...but keep your paws off my tires!

I paid $25 for my tire inflator...hmmm.

As far as filling the tires, I fill them to 2 psi higher than what the door says for two reasons:

1. It compensates for any major temperature drop, your TPMS light is more likely to go off when you're too LOW than too high (remember, for every drop in 10 degrees you lose 2 psi of air, give or take .5 psi).

2. The TPMS will go off if it sees more than a 20% deviation from the stock tire pressure. IE...one or more tires drops to 30psi or below (stock being around 33psi, right?)

And to the person above who says THEY don't give a crap about you OR your car...I know I can only speak for myself, but I've fixed many things nobody has asked me to because I know that the customer will appreciate it

[NewToVersa]

And to the person above who says THEY don't give a crap about you OR your car...I know I can only speak for myself, but I've fixed many things nobody has asked me to because I know that the customer will appreciate it

[srellim234]

Matt_a - I use that compressor all the time. I've used it for a long time on my cars and other cars as well, my bicycle, golf carts with inflatable tires and sports equipment. It's been great.

I also carry a combo jump starter/compressor in my Buick. I can't tell you how many times I've used it to aid other motorists. I've only had to use it once on my own vehicle, but it was worth it's weight in gold when I needed it.

I've carried that kind of stuff in my vehicles since the late 70s when I used to lower the air in the tires to deal with the sand at Pismo Beach in my 4x4s.

[07Vsdn]

actually, that is quite likely. to prevent flat spots on vehicles that sit for long periods of time the tires are often over-inflated.

When I purchased my car, I checked the tire pressure the very next day and every single tire had at least 45 PSI in them. One of them actually had over 50 PSI. I was really mad and even called the dealership to complain. The sales person used the excuse that the factory filled them up that much and the dealership didn't even check them. Now, when I go in for service, I tell them not to touch my tire pressure and I check it myself once I get home.

[matt_a]

Matt_a - I use that compressor all the time. I've used it for a long time on my cars and other cars as well, my bicycle, golf carts with inflatable tires and sports equipment. It's been great.

I also carry a combo jump starter/compressor in my Buick. I can't tell you how many times I've used it to aid other motorists. I've only had to use it once on my own vehicle, but it was worth it's weight in gold when I needed it.

Hmm...I must have just had really bad luck with mine. None of the ones I've owned had enough power for car or truck tires. They would get them to about 20 psi and then just run and run with no improvement. Oh well, I'm glad you have a good one!

[nissantech06]

actually, that is quite likely. to prevent flat spots on vehicles that sit for long periods of time the tires are often over-inflated.

Or the person who did the PDI didn't adjust the air pressure in the tires...I have seen it happen many times on dealer trades.

[FrancesTheMute]

And to the person above who says THEY don't give a crap about you OR your car...I know I can only speak for myself, but I've fixed many things nobody has asked me to because I know that the customer will appreciate it

Well you are a rare breed and I thank you. This is just my personal experience dealing with the dealership in Bakersfield. They didn't give a rats *** about my car till I spoke to the manager and informed him I worked for Nissan. That usually put a bug up their *** and made them clean up their act.

[nissantech06]

Well you are a rare breed and I thank you. This is just my personal experience dealing with the dealership in Bakersfield. They didn't give a rats *** about my car till I spoke to the manager and informed him I worked for Nissan. That usually put a bug up their *** and made them clean up their act.

I want to keep my job AND I enjoy actually fixing people's cars. I work with a few people who are like I am. Not everyone is the same way (not caring) but I have worked with a few people who are. Hell, I had to put a window regulator in a Murano, I made sure that the glass was squeaky clean when I was done, I've also had porters wash the cars I've worked on.

[matt_a]

I want to keep my job AND I enjoy actually fixing people's cars. I work with a few people who are like I am. Not everyone is the same way (not caring) but I have worked with a few people who are. Hell, I had to put a window regulator in a Murano, I made sure that the glass was squeaky clean when I was done, I've also had porters wash the cars I've worked on.

Hmmm...I wonder how practical it would be for me to drive to Bartlett, IL to have my car serviced.

[nissantech06]

Hmmm...I wonder how practical it would be for me to drive to Bartlett, IL to have my car serviced.

Well, technically, Elgin. I live 12 minutes from work

Like I've said above, I can only speak for me; however, I saw a tech hand washing a customer's car today because they bought so much work.