HERO

iTrader: (3)

Just got back from my first oil change... checked before i left the dealership and made them drain some oil cuz it was WAAAAAAAAAAAAAy overfull!

Anyway, i got around to asking how much they would charge to install the MS flywheel. They said... $90 an hour + roughly 8 hours for the job = $720!!! Does that sounds right to you guys?!?!?!

zoom44

8 hours doesnt sound correct

RUmble

THe dealer would actually install aftermarket products???

zoom44

it's a mazdaspeed flywheel. not considered aftermarket- any dealer would put it in but i for one would make sure they are a qualified MAZDASPEED dealer.

tpryor

I keep telling you guys to call a REAL dealer - Mazda South in Austin. This is where I go (even though I live in Houston), and I know they have quoted 3 hours at $75/Hour for a Mazdaspeed flywheel installation to a buddy who lives there.............

Let me guess - you went to Jeff Haas?

zoom44

^^^ what he said^^^

HERO

iTrader: (3)

... yes, I went to Jeff Haas! TPRYOR can you speak with your friend and let me know about that $75/hour with 3 hour total install!! I was starting to doubt i would do the flywheel swap after hearing that outrageous price!! So... it seems there are probs with Jeff Haas Mazda?

zoom44

not "problems" per se with jeff hass its just that Mazda South is just that much better

tpryor

I'll be happy to check with them about the price on Monday. I'll send you a PM.

As for Jeff Haas, I think they are the best dealer in Houston, but they are still not very good. I have had issues with them for years, but the latest is a typical example.

My car started to go crazy coming home from work one day. The tachometer would start alternating between whatever RPM I was traveling at and 0, the speedometer read 0 (I was going 80 or so), and EVERY light that was available was on. Keep in mind, the car ran fine (even though the steering seemed a little heavy). Since I wasn't willing to see if this behavior would last all the way to Austin, and I was close, I took it to Jeff Haas.

I also mentioned the A/C fix while it was in the shop, but they denied any knowledge of it, they even asked me who was paying for the rental car, etc.

I BRING them the printed TSB for the A/C fix the next morning. As I walk in the door and hand them the TSB, I get "Oh yeah, we know about that! Those are on Nationwide backorder"........

He calls five days later to say the car will be ready today, it was a steering angle sensor (they had to order one). When I inquired what time today should I come after the car, he replies "NO, it won't be today, the technician is troubleshooting another code"! SAME CONVERSATION.

The next day, I pick up the car, and the service advisor is gone. One of the other service advisors goes to retrieve the paperwork, see's that it hasn't been written up yet, and says "I'm not typing up an hour's paperwork, he can do it when he gets back". They go to find the car - I mention it's over by the service bays, and he says "No, that's not where we park them" (I can see it, by the way).

After he sends the local flunky to scour the lot (amazingly, he can't find it), I walk down to where it is, walk back, and say "isn't that it over there"? He gives me the "pissy" look and sends the flunky to get it. He says the paperwork will be mailed to me the next day - this was on July 13th - - - I HAVEN'T RECEIVED IT YET!

As SOON as I pulled out of the lot, I noticed my brakes were REALLY spongy (turns put they had to change the ABS module also), they hadn't bled the brakes!!!

I don't know if they ordered my A/C fix, why they didn't bleed the brakes, NOTHING! And, due to the fact they won't give me paperwork, I have no record of the transaction (even though Mazda does. They were on the phone a LOT with the National Service Advisors).

I BURIED them on the survey, and received a call from the Service Manager (he left a message). I have called him back and left a message with my work, home and cell numbers and he has not returned my call.

I took the car to Mazda South a couple of days later (I had bled the brakes already, and they were back to normal) to verify all the work that had been done. They also did the 15000 mile service while they were at it, but they were AMAZED that someone would let a car go out with brakes as bad as I described. Also, as I was removing the battery cover (which I have done a thousand times), it almost fell off in my hands - they had broken BOTH tabs off of it at Haas! Never mentioned it.............

And they are one of the better dealers in Houston?

Sorry, I feel better now.

HERO

iTrader: (3)

wow, thats not very nice of them. Honestly when i asked them the price the mechanic was in front. He was an oriental man who didnt speak english too well. They had to explain to him what the 8 was as well as what i wanted installed!!! Also(i didnt mention this either) but i left my car with them for a day. They changed my oil and supposedly "fixed" this electrical issue i had. When i went to pick up my car the next day, 1/4 of my gas was gone!!! i think they went joyriding!!! Anyway, can we go to any dealer and have them look at our problems, etc. That electrical issue i had hasnt gone away!!!

On another note, do you go to the 8 meets in houston? I havent been to any yet, but would like to meet more owners, i know ONE person with an 8 so far and thats me haha.