The Oldsmobile Connection

[88 Coupe]

IntrigueErin wrote: ........ Chevy is a GM model so would it be safe to assume they could do work on an Oldsmobile ........
All GM dealers are qualified to work on Oldsmobiles.

How good they are, depends on the skill level of the individual employees, not which Brand they are working on.

Norm

[IntrigueErin]

88 Coupe wrote: IntrigueErin wrote: ........ Chevy is a GM model so would it be safe to assume they could do work on an Oldsmobile ........
All GM dealers are qualified to work on Oldsmobiles.

How good they are, depends on the skill level of the individual employees, not which Brand they are working on.

Norm

I figured as much but I wanted to be sure given that it has been a few years since the brand was discontinued.

[strokercutlass]

Erin, a COMPETENT Chevy dealer should have no problem looking at your car....

BUT>>>>

Don't rule out a (again) competent independent repair shop as well.

Why, you may ask? Please allow me to explain......(while this may sound like an advertising attempt in some ways, remember that I have no gain by saying anything here, so take it with a grain of salt.........)

While a dealership tends to stick to one particular line of car (GM to GM cars, Ford to Ford cars, you get my drift), a quality independent repair facility must make itself familiar with several types of automobiles to survive.....they must actually instill MORE training into the techs, invest in MORE types of diagnostics equipment, and spend MORE of their own $$$ to be able to repair a wider variety of vehicles (remember, the dealers equipment and training tends to be partially or fully paid by the brand itself, and not the dealer)

While a GM dealer "MIGHT" have more experience in one particular type of car, an independent may also have the same experience and more, as many people choose not to oblige the dealers sometime overzealous labor charges and the misc. that goes with....an independent shop will often forego all the tiny misc. charges a dealer will not, and sometimes try to help out a bit on the labor, especially something that may turn out to be a diagnostics nightmare. An independent shop will often see more of that same type of car unless it's under warranty.

Not saying that all dealers are bad by ANY means.....just that there needs to also be some consideration for the GOOD independent shops that are out there.

I worked as a tech, service writer, and store manager for ALOT of years before opening my own business.......I had bought alot of the specialty tools in advance before making the leap into my own establishment, planning in advance so I didn't have such a big investment when I opened the doors. I worked a block and a half from my shops current location for 9 years, having to buy equipment when the owner wouldn't, watching dissatisfied customers leave and being able to do nothing about it......so I said screw it, quit, and opened my own shop.

September will be one year that I've been opened, and all the things my former boss said were a waste of time to invest in for business are paying dividends like crazy for me.....we got into working on foreign cars, only one other place in town wants to deal with them, especially Volkswagens. Now that's nearly half our customer base. We deal in custom wheels and tires, performance parts and accessories, and diesel performance. Businesses come to US to have their work done...we don't chase them down.

As of right now I've been here everyday this week from 6 am-9:30 PM, but it's paid off. I've picked up another 7 new customers this week, bringing the total to 376 customers since Sept. of last year. I'm currently booked into Weds. of next week. We carry ALLData repair software online so it's updated daily, as well as Identifix and IATN subscriptions for tech databases and common fix issues. We've invested in two new diagnostics scanners this year for foreign and domestic ($4000 and 3700) a new lab scope ($1200) , fuel injection cleaning machine ($1800) If I have to tell a customer "Sorry, we don't have the equipment to fix your car" we'll have that equipment in the shop by the next week......

Sorry for the rant, but just wanted to get across that there are many good, honest, and competent shops out there, just so you don't have to feel the need to get raped by the dealer.....

[88 Coupe]

Stroker: Glad you found some time to visit us.

strokercutlass wrote: ........ Sorry for the rant ........
It's a pleasure to read through your "rants" as the contents are always informative.

Norm

[IntrigueErin]

strokercutlass-

Thank you for your reply. It is greatly appreciated. I have actually never taken any of my cars for service at a dealership for just the reasons you stated. The only reason I was entertaining the idea this time was to ensure that they have the proper equipment to do the work needed.

Additionally, I have been burned by three independent shops. I trusted them and in return they told me they had no idea what was causing my running issues. I asked them to check my battery and they told me it was not needed because the car's 'check battery' light had not come on. Come to find out that I had been running on a dying battery for who knows how long and the only reason I found out was because the car died and the battery when checked was bad. At some point I may end up with alternator issues because of this.

The kicker for me was when my car was taken in on a twice a year basis for a regular tune-up and never in eleven years did anyone bother to notice the fuel filter that had, in that time, actually rusted to the car and had to be cut off in order to be replaced. Now I have to be more wary of my fuel pump malfunctioning.

Add to those things the fact that my transmission pan, filter, and fuel were filthy and had probably never been checked (even though it only took checked the dipstick and I was the one who caught it only by doing research online to find how to check it) and having my car sit for a week at a mechanics and they never ONCE moved it from the place I parked it and then had the audacity to say they couldn't find anything wrong with it and you have a very annoyed car owner (sorry about that horrible run-on sentence).

The car had regular maintenance but the job was only half done each time culminating in one heck of a headache for me now that everything has started breaking. I know most mechanics aren't like this and I'm sorry if I offended you but my experience has been a less than stellar one. I wish I had someone like you around that I could trust to do the job. I thought I did two times over but ended up being very wrong.

Sorry to rant on and on but I thought I should explain myself. Thankfully, since taking the car to the transmission specialist I have found out that while the specialist got the car to mess up once he doesn't think it's the transmission. However, I had the fluid, filter, and gasket changed and pan cleaned out. There were no surprises when they dropped the pan- just a dirty pan and dirty fluid.

The car is running much better now with a new battery, a new fuel filter, and service done to the transmission but these are all things that should have been caught long before now. It is very disappointing. However, I will keep what you have said in mind and continue my search for a good mechanic in the area. Thank you again.