Pete

So I’m at the mazda dealership getting the new "brake fix" done on the RX8 and the rear light replaced (condensation build up).

I saw that there was an 18-year-old kid working on the car. I asked if I could come into the back just to see the tire tread while the car was up on the hoist. As I’m checking all this out... I hear the kid say "****". Shortly after the brake pad and attachments fall onto the floor and go everywhere. Another senior mechanic went up to the kid and told him to take it apart slowly.

I kept my cool and stayed calm. As we were looking for the brake parts I noticed that the car wasn’t up on the hoist properly. The kid raised the car up from the skirt package !!!

The side skirt was completely punched in. I said to the kid "what the F#@k is this" I told him to be careful.....

Very relaxed... He told me not to worry and that the package with pop out once the car is let down from off the hoist. I told him that I wasn’t born yesterday, and pretty much walked away before I kicked the living ..... ( you know the rest )

I spoke the service manager and told him how I'm really tired about how uneducated these mechanics are about the car. I brought my car there for service and I end up leaving with more problems then when I went in with.

Apparently they installed the rear light that I pre-ordered and waited 2 weeks for on another RX8. I needed to come back again and get this rear light installed, and fix my skirt package.

In the end I told the manager that a kid.... straight out of a high school mechanics course shouldn't be working on a 40, 000 (CDN) dollar car. He told me that the brakes on a RX8 are the same as every other car out there. I laughed and then asked him if the brakes on a Ferrari are the same as the brakes on a ford focus. He was speechless. In the end I told him the service really stinks and that I'm very dissatisfied with the service of his department. He gave me a free oil change.

The next day I'm driving on the HWY and the oil light comes on. I went to the gas station to check the oil in the engine and it was EMPTY. He forgot to fill it up.

I called back the dealership and let the Service manager have it. I told him too hire and train his staff properly. He said that it wasn’t his fault. I told him it was because it's his staff. He's responsible for all errors made on behalf of them. He can take it out with them when he's off the phone with me.

He’s wants me to come back next week to finish the rest of the work …….. I think I’ll be heading to another dealership from now on .


Thanks for reading ... just had to vent.....

Grabitquick

Is the service manager's idea of a free oil change to not fill it at all? Is he willing to spring for a new engine? Almost too many goof-ups to even comment upon. Hope that your car comes out of it all right.

moyica

That is outrageous. I,v heard some bad service stories and have had some myself but yours takes the cake. Sorry man.

havyn

You MUST contact your local MNA rep on this one...that is just ridiculous service. Even if you don't get anything from it, at least letting your local rep know about your experience will keep him 'in the know' if problems arise with your engine or brakes down the road. It could also serve as a kick in the *** for that service dept. (esp. if you make sure they know you are reporting them).

I wouldn't take that kind of crap from anyone I pay (services, purchases, or otherwise) without reporting it to a higher-up. And there are ALWAYS higher-ups...

BlueEyes

Wow, that is pretty incredible. I would contact MNA too. I would also post a negative review of this dealership in the appropriate forum.

Hope everything works out

rotten42

Please name this dealership so that others no to avoid it!

MrJynx

Pete,

I know your pain! The dealership I goto the service people are really really uneducated. I haven't had any serious problems, just minor annoyances (when I bring my thru a touchless wash I get soap and liquid in the front passenger footwell, as in lots of liquid inside the car!) Of course they couldn't fix that problem..

and a similar thing happend to a friend of mine with his s2000. They changed his oil, forgot to put the plug on properly so the car spewed oil all over the road for about 1km before we realized the car was smoking. I think the mechanic was 18 as well. Im' not saying all 18 year olds are incompentant (i'm sure there are plenty out there that know cars inside out) but regardless, inexperienced people should not be servicing this car.

Oh and which dealer in toronto did you bring it to?

MrJynx

Pete

Thanks everyone, Appreciate all your feed back.

I'm going to be complain to the MNA. I don't want to realease the name of the dealership as of yet on the main forum. I'm waiting for the final comments by the service manager until I do so. If you're getting your car serviced in the toronto area. PM me and I'll tell you the dealership.

A great dealership to get yuor car serviced at would Avante Mazda in Richmond Hill. Wonderful service department opposed to the other one I took my car too.

Thanks Again
Cheers.
Pete

Battousai

Just no work eithic in people these days...

I recently had a run in with a dealership I used to get my Protege serviced at, but this time I went there and it seemed to be all new people, the old service manager was good, so I asked about him and they were like or he's here but busy now, the next day I had to change my appointment and I called again asking for the old service Manager and now they say he left months ago, so if they're going to lie about a little thing like that I'm not geting anything serviced there again, and I didn't!

I'll say this it wasn't Avante

maxrx8

"It's not my fault"

That is the last thing anybody wants to hear when something that moronic happens to their 40,000 CDN car.

Those people need to get another job. One that has nothing to do with talking to the public.

May I ask what other car companies are at that dealer? I think that has alot to do with the attitude. My service is joint with Lincoln. I get "We'll take care of that Mr. Moore." Or, "We will see what we can do."

Not, "It's not my fault."

Finding out whos fault it was doesn't solve your problem. He might not be the person to actually turn the wrench, but if he is the service manager they pay him the bucks to hear the wrath of the customer that just got screwed. Then it's trickle down theory.

MNA em and write a big fat letter to the Owner.

Bill

SpinninAgain!

You absolutely need to complain to MNA, in writing. You need to get these errors recorded and in their file, so that if you have any problems down the road you'll have evidence they can't deny as to probable causation.

- Jacked the car up by the sheetmetal?
- All brakes are the same??
- Forgot to refill the oil???
- Not my fault????

What a catalog of horrors. I feel for you.

Wankeler

I'd definitely complain to the owner of the Franchise as well as sending a letter to Mazda NA, with a CC'd letter to the dealership. A CC: to a legal firm will also let them (the dealership) know that you aren't going to take their crap.

Pete

Thanks again , I've taken all these opinions and comments into consideration . I'll keep you posted.

Gord96BRG

Pete, all good advice above, except the parts about complaining to Mazda North America. Strangely enough, Mazda North American Operations has nothing to do with Mazda Canada - they are completely separate organizations, MNAO is US only! Call and document your complaints to Mazda Canada and you'll be far better off!

Regards,
Gordon

snap-on

Mz Canada


1-905-787-7000

Griffin

I'm a member of the dealer damaging my 8 club. Brought it in for oil change and warranty work early Aug. I went to pick it up after hours before the cashier cage closed. I waited and waited for them to bring it around front. Then one of the sales men comes out to tell me he was going to ruin my day. Well he did. Turns out the dealership gopher broadsided 2 other new cars (not good with a clutch I guess). Over 5k in damage and 3 weeks to repair. By the way those headlights run just short of 1K to replace. The good new is that their body shop manager made it as right as he could. Unfortunately the dealership manager was not of the same caliber of a man.

rx8pilot

i had both of my rears replaced for condensation.....is this a common problem???? seems some quality issues in Mazda need attention

quack_p

Oh my god, that is OUTRAGEOUS. With no oil in the car, I would think the engine would be fried before you ever got the car home from the dealership.

Pete

Hey Quack,

I drove about 6 KM (appox 3 miles) after the light went on. I pulled into a gas station. Didn't want to take any chances. Did a few tests on the engine (ie: accereration, high revs ...etc) and it seems to be fine. I even opened the hood and listened for any sounds that would be out of the ordinary.

Thanks for the extended information guys. Much appreciated.

bagman

Oh brother! AHHH! I feel your pain!!

Ninja

This is EXACTLY why I will learn to do as much maintenance as I can on my 8. It's worth it to me to know that I'll have only myself to blame if there are any issues. My wife already knows I can be highly **** retentive when it comes to doing some precision task.

Before my 8, I would take my car and the wifes truck to Jiffy Lube to do my oil changes, and I didn't even sweat it. A few weeks ago, I had to take the 8 to the dealership for something, and I literally cringed when the gopher drove my car out to me!

I decided then and there to do as much as I can so I don't take any more risks than I have to again.

Admittedly, many perhaps even most service departments are of excellent quality and have a high caliber of employee. But to me that is an unknown that I'm unwilling to take unnecessary risks with. This will hopefully help mitigate the risks I will take when I DO have to take it in for something.

If I can do it myself, I will. In fact, I changed my own oil last weekend and spent a good amount of time under the car and with my head under the hood checking out things. I'm by no means an expert, but I have my shop manual, a bunch of new tools, and I'm confident I can learn as I go!

Anyway, dude, I can only imagine how pissed and frustrated you are feeling right now. In my mind the biggest issue is the oil thing. I know there is still oil in the system after they drain it, but I can't imagine it is enough to keep all the bearings and other friction surfaces FULLY lubricated. Without pulling the engine, is there any way to check to see what damage was done... I don't think so. It might be hard to justify a new motor out of this, but I would certainly make sure this was documented in case of future difficulties.

Good luck,
-Dennis

irish8

Pete..

Sorry bro!! Good job on maintaining your composure with the punk!! I think I would have gotten myself into a wee bit of trouble.

- Irish

Mr M

Pete, you gotta be kidding? Right?

What's wrong with a 'kid' changing the brake pads on your car? He has to start somewhere, and even the lead technician or foreman could drop a few springs and bits on the floor. Brakes can be fiddly. The reason the kid is doing the brakes is because that is all they will let him do. Do you think he is allowed to do engine overhauls or high-level diagnostic jobs? No way! Because there is a heirarchy in dealers, the young guys do the dirty work and the experienced guys do the difficult stuff, that's how a dealer makes money (the young guys get paid less), and gets your car fixed quickly when you really need it!

Honestly, you shouldn't watch when people are working on your car. When you watch, you look for things to criticize (it is human nature!), and frankly, a working technician does not need a customer's criticizim when he is just trying to get a job done. For example, do you know how tight the nut is holding the eccentric shaft pulley is on your engine? Around 200 ft/lbs! Just as a comparison your wheel nuts are about 75 ft/lbs. You have to swing really hard on a really long bar to get that nut off, sometimes the bar slips. Is that bad training too? It takes experience to reduce the probability of the bar slipping, and more to do it in a way so you don't break all your knuckles when it does slip, but you cannot gaurantee that bar is not going to slip.

My request to you is not to criticize the way the technicians work, or the way they are trained, but to criticize the results they produce. If the brakes work worse after the repair than before, then complain to the Service Manager. If your bodywork was damaged at the workshop, then complain. Likewise for your oil level, I agree with you on that one. But going into the workshop and criticizing the way the technicians work is not going to achieve anything.

Try speaking to the Service Manager again. I think you caught him in defensive mode when he said "Not my fault". If he doesn't attempt to understand your concern, then maybe you need to consider further action.

Keep cool, man, keep cool. :D

Wankeler

Yeah, good idea. BTW... when did Canada become it's own continent? :p

Wankeler

Mr. M,

I've worked as a mechanic/technician for over 14 years with 3 different dealerships. Nothing worng with a "kid" working on your car if he knows what he's doing. You're right, everyone has to start somewhere. BUTT! if he's an inexperienced mechanic (notice I didn't say technician), then I would not have him work on brakes. I'd much rather; not be able to go, than not be able to STOP. Our new guys (who were fresh out of school - no matter how good their grades were), always started out preforming PDIs (Pre-Delivery Inspections) on new cars or on the oil rack (no hoists for them till they got their own bays) changing oil which this 'kid' obviously also couldn't handle.

Dropping a brake pad from 4-5 feet above the ground can damage the friction material. If any of the lining was damaged, I'd hope that they would replace the pad.

Speaking of watching your car being "worked on", one of the dealerships I worked at (10 year stretch) had the lobby/customer write up/waiting area on the other side of a GLASS WALL which exposed the entire shop. Working in a fishbowl is intimidating... customers and their kids pressing their faces against the glass watching what you were doing to their baby. On more than one occasion our service manager had meetings asking the technicians to stop "scratching" themselves while in view of the lobby. :D