Is this a acceptable $750 service, did they even change the air filter???

[joshcloud9]

Hi all,

2004, G35 Sedan, 63,800 miles -- Car has a zero deductible Infiniti extended warranty until Nov 2010 / 100k (cost the original owner $2104.00!!!)

Just took my "new" G35 for my 1st service...



I picked the car up last week from Florida and when I got back noticed a lot sand in the engine campartment, the above pic is AFTER the air filter has suposedly been changed back here in Atlanta. The green arrows point to where I wiped the sand/dirt.

Did they even change the filter, what do you think? Edit: If they did change the filter, I hope sand did not drop in the inlet

Should I complain...would you?

I had the following services performed:

Oil and Filter (Penzoil Synthetic Blend oil) - must be what they usually use.Chk/Adj Ignition timingChk/Adj Idle speedRepalce Air FilterReplace A/C filtersWiper blades

Induction Service/FlushTransmission FlushCooland Flush

This came to $802, I got a $50 discount, it took them around an hour and half after the initial standard service/inspection

Edit; This was at Nalley Infiniti, Decatur GA.
Modified by joshcloud9 at 6:29 PM 11/16/2007

[1unar3clipse]

probably didn't even change it

[telcoman]

Hi all,

2004, G35 Sedan, 63,800 miles

Just took my "new" G35 for my 1st service...



I picked the car up last week from Florida and when I got back noticed a lot sand in the engine campartment, the above pic is AFTER the air filter has suposedly been changed back here in Atlanta. The green arrows point to where I wiped the sand/dirt.

Did they even change the filter, what do you think?Should I complain...would you?

I had the following services performed:

Oil and Filter (Penzoil Synthetic Blend oil) - must be what they usually use.Chk/Adj Ignition timingChk/Adj Idle speedRepalce Air FilterReplace A/C filtersWiper blades

Induction Service/FlushTransmission FlushCooland Flush

This came to $802, I got a $50 discount, it took them around an hour and half after the initial standard service/inspection

Edit; This was at Nalley Infiniti, Decatur GA.

It sure sounds like you got #*$ked. However make an appointment to meet with the service manager to calmly express your concerns.You may end up receiving a letter from Infiniti asking you to rate the service. If you have read many of the posts on this site most of what you had done you could have done yourself. Changing oil, oil filters, air, cabin filters and wiper blades are very easy to do and instructions are on this site. I'm not sure what an induction flush is.

Next time ask for an itemized list of charges prior to having the work done.Automobile dealers usually have their hourly rates posted. Keep in mind that the top computer trained diagnostic technicians may very well be earning over $100k per year. The technecians that change oil, filters wiper blades etc do not earn that much but unfortunately you are billed the same hourly rate. This is why you may want to learn how to do the simple tasks yourself.

Good luck

Telcoman

[joshcloud9]

Thanks, BTW I know I had a few things on there that were not really needed but the car has a zero deductable Infiniti extended warranty until Nov 2010. I wanted to make sure that that was going to be valid (I transfered it to my name at the same time). So I could have only dropped the A/C filter, wiper blades as they recommended the Transmission flush as it had not ever been done on the car. The induction flush was recommended too and I just said go ahead and do it. I did not however go for the tire rotate ($50) or the Alignment ($89) as these are definitely not going to affect the warranty it seems to me!

It sure sounds like you got #*$ked. However make an appointment to meet with the service manager to calmly express your concerns.You may end up receiving a letter from Infiniti asking you to rate the service. If you have read many of the posts on this site most of what you had done you could have done yourself. Changing oil, oil filters, air, cabin filters and wiper blades are very easy to do and instructions are on this site. I'm not sure what an induction flush is.

Next time ask for an itemized list of charges prior to having the work done.Automobile dealers usually have their hourly rates posted. Keep in mind that the top computer trained diagnostic technicians may very well be earning over $100k per year. The technecians that change oil, filters wiper blades etc do not earn that much but unfortunately you are billed the same hourly rate. This is why you may want to learn how to do the simple tasks yourself.

Good luck

Telcoman

[gwoods]

I think its certainly possible they did all the service. I may be wrong but the induction flush is plugging a bottle of sea foam into the vacume line from the intake manifold and holding the gas pedal at 3000 rpm for a couple min.

The word 'flush' means they didn't break any seals. They run a hose into the transmission and suck the old fluid out and then just refil it. The coolant is pretty quick too, open the petcock (seriously) and drain the coolant on a hot engine. Fill with warm water and flush run for 10 min fill back with 50/50 coolant.

Timing and idle speed are on the scan tool so that is 5 seconds.

What I would complain about and would not have accept the car back is the dirt. Did you tell them you were in a hurry? Otherwise for $800 the engine should have been at the least wiped. The car should have been washed and interior vacumed. Even DODGE gives you back a clean car when you go in for service. At the price level of Infiniti they should be giving you excellent service. I would write a letter to the dealership expressing your concerns and at the bottom write CC Infiniti North America

I bet your next oil change is comped and if its not don't go back that dealership.

[USAF_G35_Guy]

Dunno if they changed your air filter? Take two seconds and pop the box and look inside. Even my Girlfriend can do that Not hatin on ya I promise If you can't tell if it's dirty hold it up to the light or use a flashlight and check it out.

Its just that the time it takes to get a camera, wipe some sand, take some pics and post online you could of looked at the filter and drank a beer.

[joshcloud9]

Thanks guys,

I am just a little miffed that the air filter box has obviously not been cleaned , let alone wiped before opening it up. Something I would think was page one stuff before opening up an internal engine inlet area! There is a "drought" here in Atlanta so the exterior wash was not expected. It was posted up all over the place that due to water shoetage no comp washes...

I left a message at the dealership and emailed the "service consultant" with that picture too...Not heard back yet...

[infinititech1]

I think its certainly possible they did all the service. I may be wrong but the induction flush is plugging a bottle of sea foam into the vacume line from the intake manifold and holding the gas pedal at 3000 rpm for a couple min.

The word 'flush' means they didn't break any seals. They run a hose into the transmission and suck the old fluid out and then just refil it. The coolant is pretty quick too, open the petcock (seriously) and drain the coolant on a hot engine. Fill with warm water and flush run for 10 min fill back with 50/50 coolant.

Timing and idle speed are on the scan tool so that is 5 seconds.

What I would complain about and would not have accept the car back is the dirt. Did you tell them you were in a hurry? Otherwise for $800 the engine should have been at the least wiped. The car should have been washed and interior vacumed. Even DODGE gives you back a clean car when you go in for service. At the price level of Infiniti they should be giving you excellent service. I would write a letter to the dealership expressing your concerns and at the bottom write CC Infiniti North America

I bet your next oil change is comped and if its not don't go back that dealership.

wrong...first off...it takes like 30 min to do a trans flush. most dealerships have the machine that actually flushes 15 quarts through the transmission. i never drained and filled it because that does nothing. for the airfilter, the reason the outside looks dirty is because you don't have to take any of that off to get the filter out. i'll admit timing and idle adjustment is nothing...can't really do anything with those.

[joshcloud9]

How is it possible to change the air filter without separating those spring clips?

wrong...first off...it takes like 30 min to do a trans flush. most dealerships have the machine that actually flushes 15 quarts through the transmission. i never drained and filled it because that does nothing. for the airfilter, the reason the outside looks dirty is because you don't have to take any of that off to get the filter out. i'll admit timing and idle adjustment is nothing...can't really do anything with those.

[gwoods]

I didn't say how long it would take I just said it was quick suck fluid out put it back in.... with a machine! Doh if only I would have said with a machine.

Do you think they did the service?? I think they did.

I wouldn't really be pissed at the techs I'd be pissed at the service manager for not making sure the car looked good leaving.

Do you think the dealership will comp him an oil change?

[G35goddess]

they should give you more then just an oil change

[infinititech1]

i didn't say the springs... but honestly...i'm not wiping down a motor unless i made it dirty. i only get paid for the jobs i do and not to clean cars. an oil change pays .3 of an hour and take about half an hour so thats money out of my pocket already. yes i made sure the seats and everywhere i worked was clean but i can't take the time to clean up other things...maybe the people at the car wash for the dealer. tech get screwed out of time way to much to clean things..... /rant

lol...not trying to be a d!ck, just make a point

[zozoka1212]

i didn't say the springs... but honestly...i'm not wiping down a motor unless i made it dirty. i only get paid for the jobs i do and not to clean cars. an oil change pays .3 of an hour and take about half an hour so thats money out of my pocket already. yes i made sure the seats and everywhere i worked was clean but i can't take the time to clean up other things...maybe the people at the car wash for the dealer. tech get screwed out of time way to much to clean things..... /rant

lol...not trying to be a d!ck, just make a point

You are right Drew.

That should be the dealers job. You get paid too much to clean the car. They have the person who makes less money to clean.

The dealer should of make sure it is clean not the tech guy.

zozo

[infinititech1]

i get paid too much? ****...i didn't get paid jack ****...there wasn't enough work to go around for all the techs...so if makin 25 hours a weeks and working 50 is ok for everyone in here let me know

[zozoka1212]

Drew you misunderstand me. You making too much to clean the cars. You should be fixing cars not cleaning. If you don't have enough work that means your manager doesn't do his job. That's one of the basic principal in the business. If the tech guy cleans the car that's not good. They pay you more you should be fixing cars not cleaning them. That's just not right. Your manager should find more work.

zozo

[gwoods]

"

I wouldn't really be pissed at the techs I'd be pissed at the service manager for not making sure the car looked good leaving.

Right the tech isn't the one that runs the car through the car wash and vacumes it out. There a couple $7.50 an hour high school kids for that.

But the final blame lies with the service advisor. He should look over your car before it leaves. I take my wifes Sequoia in for everything. The service manager always pops the hood with me and checks the oil after they change it and walks around it. As much as I hate paying $100 for an oil change I do get a clean car back.

Jeff

[zozoka1212]

They ask 100 for the oil change?

wow. I am one lucky bustard. I've got 2 years free oilchange. But even that I think it is around 40-50 for the oil change.

I think Drew misunderstand what I was trying to say.

zozo

[joshcloud9]

Surely the point is that by not wiping the air housing before changing the filter. Dirt/sand can get in the engine. This is what bugs me! There is a water shortage here and I was not expecting the exterior to be cleaned...

[gday]

Dude your engine bay is SHlT Dirty.... Try cleaning it every now and then. Looks like it's been sitting in the salvage yard.

And yes, it "looks" like you got jipped. Unless you ran thru a sand storm on the way home.

[infinititech1]

[J-Owner]

Dude.....we all work too many hours for not enough pay. That doesn't mean we shouldn't go the extra mile from time to time.

Mediocrity is certainly not something the customer should be paying for.

[gwoods]

Yeah but its not the tech that should go the extra mile. He went the extra mile doing a service that the book probably has listed at 3-4 hours in an hour and a half. The tech has a stack of cars in the lot and the book says the first one takes 4 hours the next one takes 4. If he knows the 4 hour job can be done in 1.5 hour hes not going to waste the extra time hes going to do it in an hour and move onto the next 4 hour job that could take 6.

The service manager should always walk around the car with you after service. Anything that you don't like they should fix immediately! That includes wiping down the engine if you want them to. Especially after a $800 service. That service manager should have checked your car out before it came up front and if the kid running cars didn't clean it he should have done it himself or called the kid back and chewed his ***.

After spending $800 he is going to get a letter from the dealership and a survey from Infiniti. I would attach a typed signed complaint letter to the survey.

Jeff

[telcoman]

Surely the point is that by not wiping the air housing before changing the filter. Dirt/sand can get in the engine. This is what bugs me! There is a water shortage here and I was not expecting the exterior to be cleaned...

Here is a photo of mine with a few thousand miles on my air filter since I last changed it. Comparing mine to your picture they obviously did not change your air filter. The air filter is clearly visible when looking thru the housing. Take your vehicle back and demand that they allow you to not only watch the replacement but hand you the old one.



telcoman

[joshcloud9]

Thanks, I just checked and they DID change the air filter...

Allowing sand to get in the engine, this is worse than them not changing IMO..

Still waiting to hear back from the dealer...

Here is a photo of mine with a few thousand miles on my air filter since I last changed it. Comparing mine to your picture they obviously did not change your air filter. The air filter is clearly visible when looking thru the housing. Take your vehicle back and demand that they allow you to not only watch the replacement but hand you the old one.



telcoman

[J-Owner]

I hear you but the tech or anyone working on something could clean it as they go along.

You are absolutely correct that they have a line of cars to work on but like you said if it books at 4 hours and they do it in one that is $300 they make for three hours of time that they could have taken to wipe the damn car down.

My point is this.....how long does it take to wipe off an air filter box if you had to replace the thing anyway?? I see no reason why there should be sand all over it. My parents taught me to clean up after myself. Perhaps I am in the minority.

[gwoods]

J-owner, I understand your point too.

BTW it looks like Josh got a pretty good deal on the work anyway. My dealership wants $190 to just do the transmission flush and fill.

My engine compartment gets wiped down when I wash/wax the car every other week so.....

[infinititech1]

keep your own cars clean...car washes at dealerships are another sign of laziness...wash your own car...i do mine every saturday morning

keep it in good condition then you won't have to worry about it being dirty

[gwoods]

I only need a wash every other week.

I use those micro fiber towels to dry it. Then I use the damp towels to wipe down the wheels, motor, underside of the hood, door jams and trunk edges.

I use that Turtlewax ICE clear liquid wax too. That stuff is so easy to use. I can wax the entire car in about 10 min including the glass and wheels. It doesn't last as long as the conventional wax but it doesn't make black rubber trim look faded if I get some on it.

Jeff

[GObsessed]

We dealt with that dealer once, only then it was called Troncalli, shortly before it was taken over by Nalley.

My wife had an electrical problem with her G20 so she took it in for that & decided to get the oil changed & repair a slow tire leak & rotate the tires.

After she got the car back she called the service manager to ask if all the work had been done. He assured her it all the work had been performed. My wife said he sounded insulted that she would ask such a question but his attitude changed pretty quickly after she told him the leaking tire ( which was still leaking) was still on the passenger front side of the car. I should have checked to see if they even bothered changing the oil but at that time I was just too swamped with work.