Why this customer thinks the auto shop rocks

This particular person — me — thinks the auto shop rocks.  I don’t care if you’re an independent, a dealer, or whatever.  You have saved me from many a jam in the 10+ years I’ve owned a car, and it’s overdue that I say thank you for it. 

My first car was a 1987 Buick LeSabre my parents handed down to me and my sister when my parents — who bought it new — moved and didn’t need a car anymore.  The guy at Meinike helped me with my choices when (a) the brakes were almost shot when (b) it failed inspection and (c) I was lucky to have two dimes to rub together.  

Oh, and there was the time that I had to have the fuel injection repaired when the lines to two cylinders when kablooey.  But that car was solid, the only reason we got rid of it was when the master brake cylinder blew at 160,000 miles and it was pretty much a no-brainer to just get rid of it…oh and besides that my sister was getting married and I had just bought a new car.

Said new car was a 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix.  Hey my first new car!  VROOM!  Well I had an occasional water problem with the sunroof, but hey that was an aftermarket roof and the installers tried to fix that small water leak that happened whenever I parked downhill in my neighborhood.  Oh well, I can deal with that with a towel, no biggie.  

Now, the time that the big transmission repair had to be done — some solenoid failed in the transmission — well the DEALER’S SHOP found that one and it was fixed under warranty.  Let’s see, they did the brakes too, good thing because I was going on my honeymoon like 2 weeks later and my wife and I had 2 pennies to rub on that one.  Oh yeah and Merchants saw how much of my tires were ripping apart and were wondering how I got 36K out of 30K tires.  How I wish I still had it, I mean I brought my first child home in that car… 

And since then I have a 2005 Dodge Magnum SLT.  Yes I would rather have a Hemi in it, but the V6 is fine for me, thank you very much, since I have two babies to worry about now.  If you need a good shop, call Fitzgerald on Rockville Pike in Maryland, I mean they found a really atypical lube problem in the right front of the AWD system when I perceived something and replaced the whole right front under warranty. Maybe the TSB on that, if there is one, has my name all over that.

So those are my shout-outs to the techs.

I think I am blessed in some way to have encountered mechanics and techs out there who have put time, energy and skill into fixing my cars as well as they have.  Probably it’s because I’ve always been careful to tell the service writers about what issues I do have, or at least perceive to be happening, when I go in — communication is key you know, and having been on the receiving end of the customer service line for 5+ years, you can bet I learned quick about how clear, rational communication is what evey rep wants, not overly-emotional and panic-driven screaming.

Personally I wish every moron out there that screams at you guys for no reason should get their cars and drivers license taken away and have to take the bus.

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The Chrysler lifetime warranty

Out of nowhere, Chrysler has suddenly established a lifetime powertrain warranty, the likes of which has never been seen before in the industry. This will almost certainly boost sales among those who like what Chrysler makes, but have been afraid of its transmissions and, perhaps, its four cylinder or 2.7 liter engines. The aftermarket may not be as happy, as repair parts will become mostly the province of the dealer (or Mopar, at the supplier level), and go-fast parts may not be as popular when people realize it will void their warranty. Of course none of this applies to those who drive used cars, and since the average car appears to be sold within five or six years anyway, chances are that the lifetime warranty will end up simply matching just about everyone else’s seven-year warranties.

Chrysler might just get a reputation boost from this – what company would start up a lifetime warranty, if they didn’t have darned good quality to begin with?

Here are some details from Chrysler:

At the expiration of the 3 year/36,000 mile Basic Limited Warranty, the original purchaser or retail lessee of each 2006 model year, 2007 model year and 2008 model year Chrysler, Dodge, or Jeep vehicle sold and delivered on or after July 26, 2007 will get a limited powertrain warranty for the lifetime of that original purchaser or retail lessee. Subsequent owners or lessees, even if they are within the same family or business, are not covered. Successor business entities or persons to whom the vehicle is transferred by operation of law are also not covered.

The Lifetime Powertrain Limited Warranty covers the cost of all parts and labor needed to repair a covered powertrain component that is defective in workmanship and materials. There is no coverage for towing.

SRT vehicles, Sprinters, diesel vehicles, Ram Cab/Chassis trucks, rental vehicles, and government vehicles are not covered. Vehicles used as a police vehicle, taxi, limousine, postal delivery vehicle or ambulance are not covered.

To maintain the Lifetime Powertrain Limited Warranty, the person or entity covered by this Powertrain Limited Warranty must have a powertrain inspection performed by an authorized dealer once every 5 years. This inspection will be performed at no charge. The inspection must be made within sixty days of each 5 year anniversary of the in-service date of the vehicle.

Covered parts include:

(Gas engine) cylinder block and all internal parts; cylinder head assemblies; timing case, timing chain, timing belt, gears and sprockets; vibration damper; oil pump; water pump and housing; intake and exhaust manifolds; flywheel with starter ring gear; core plugs; valve covers; oil pan; turbocharger housing and internal parts; turbocharger wastegate actuator; supercharger; serpentine belt tensioner; seals and gaskets for listed components only.

Transmission: transmission case and all internal parts; torque converter; drive/flex plate; transmission range switch; transmission control module; bell housing; oil pan; seals and gaskets for listed components only. Manual transmission clutch parts are NEVER covered.

Front Wheel Drive: transaxle case and all internal parts; axle shaft assemblies; constant velocity joints and boots; differential cover; oil pan; transaxle speed sensors; transaxle solenoid assembly; PRNDL position switch; transaxle electronic controller; torque converter; seals and gaskets for listed components only. Again, manual transmission clutch parts are NOT covered.

All Wheel Drive (AWD): power transfer unit and all internal parts; viscous coupler; axle housing and all internal parts; constant velocity joints and boots; driveshaft and axle shaft assemblies; differential carrier assembly and all internal parts; output ball bearing; output flange; end cover; overrunning clutch; vacuum motor; torque tube; pinion spacer and shim, seals and gaskets for listed components only.

Rear Wheel Drive: rear axle housing and all internal parts; axle shafts; axle shaft bearings; drive shaft assemblies; drive shaft center bearings; universal joints and yokes; seals and gaskets for listed components only.

Four-Wheel Drive (4X4): transfer case and all internal parts; transfer case control module and shift mode motor assembly; axle housing and all internal parts; axle shafts; axle shaft bearings; drive shafts assemblies (front and rear); drive shaft center bearings; universal joints and yokes; disconnect housing assembly; seals and gaskets for the listed components only.

Canada is not covered due to laws in some provinces, according to Chrysler. Mexico is covered but may have different terms.