DealersEdge Professional Forums

I don't know about other dealerships but it took us a long time to the IDL up and running. I am interested to know weather other dealers are having good or bad experiences with this training method. Also if you have any good hints on making it work better. Thanks all....

We hav'nt had any trouble getting IDL to work. However, my technicians do not like this training method at all. They don't feel like you get enough information and that they only hit on certain topics. I have had several of them attempt to call in and ask questions, to no avail. We have been training on IDL since January and according to my technicians, the training has'nt improved any at all.

Installation by the GM crew was awful. Only recently were we finally complete. The instruction for sales and service is poor at best.

We have had numerous problems with enrollment. After enrolling techs through stc their ssn never seems to be in the system and we have to call to have them added on the day of training. I can't believe that we are paying a premium price for poor training. None of the techs like it. There is absolutely no comparison to hands on training. How are the rural dealers supposed to develope young techs? GM dropped the ball on this one!!!!!

I JUST REGISTERED 4 TECHS TODAY [4-11-00],IT WAS EASY AFTER TALKING TO THE HELP CENTER.OUR FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH IDL WILL BE MAY 2, SO I CAN'T TELL WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. THE TECHS DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF THE TRAINING CENTERS CLOSING, BUT THIS THE "WAY OF THE FUTURE", WHERE THE "GRASS IS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE". WELL I HOPE FOR THE TECHS THAT IT IS.AFTER READING THE OTHER COMMENTS THAT THE DEALERS ARE SENDING IN, I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT GM HAS MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE ON HOW BETTER TO TRAIN THEIR TECHS ON THE PRODUCTS THAT THEY MAKE. THE THING THAT SCARES ME IS THAT GM "SOMETIMES" DOESN'T KNOW THEMSELVES HOW TO REPAIR THEIR VEHICLES. I GUESS THAT'S ALL FOR NOW, I WILL KNOW MORE ON HOW GOOD THE IDL SYSTEM WORKS WHEN MAY 2 ROLLS AROUND. OH,ONE THING IDON'T LIKE IS THAT THE COMMON TRAINING BOOK HAS CLASSES LISTED IN IT THAT ARE NOT ACTUALLY OFFERED WHEN YOU SUBMIT REGISTER,EVEN THE NEW ACR 2000 CLASS WHICH SAID WAS CARRIED INTO MAY-IT ISN'T AVAILABLE! SIGNED TOAST...

We have used IDL in January enrolling 10 technicians in various classes throughout the month. Almost without exception, all of the techs were dissatisfied with the format and the content. Some of the shortcomings: a lack of knowledge as to the depth of the course content prior to attending, boring instructors, little time to ask questions, registration difficulties, etc. From our standpoint, this method of training does not meet our needs. Remains to be seen if this will change in the future

My feelings on IDL are mixed. From a manager standpoint, we don't lose a tech for the entire day or 2. From a tech standpoint, it is always nice to have hands on learning rather than watching a tv. As for the technical problems, (ID not in data base, course materials not arriving on time,etc.) I'm sure all the bugs will be worked out. I honestly believe there is a better way to train a tech on some of the highly technical systems they have to diagnos and repair.

We at Scott Motors have had a lot of problem with the new training system,the enrollment part, the equipment breakdowns,the high cost of it all and ect. You have too many contacts to try and keep up with and when you do get someone on the phone they will tell you to call another #. The system was to make the training system better for everyone but sofar the only one to benefit that we can see is GM. The training (90%) of it is in 3 parts,1. CD training 2. IDL training and then 3. you will still have to send your people to a center to get the hands on part of it. Maybe we need to get the ones that came up with this system to read all the posted replys here? Good luck to all of you. No one here likes the new training system.

Well folks I just took my first class and what a mess it turned out to be. I had registered a month in advance,recieved my confermation over access and got the participants guide. When I sat down to take the class the keyboard wouldn't reconize my ssn. Our site cordinator tried for over an hour on the phone to get someone to care and help but he just got refered from one phone number to another. In the end no one helped. I took the class anyway even though I couldn't talk to the instructor. I passed with a 90% but with no ssn, no credit. I ended up calling into the enrollment center after the class was over and after 2 days of speaking to them and a fax signed by the site cordinator the say that they will give me credit. I will just have to wait and see where it all lands. What a mess... On top of all that the instructor says at the end of the class to fax any problems into him and he will personally read and respond to all. He did not... This system needs help from people that care...