maintenance myths

[robc]

Your homework ... go read: http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/auto/20041217b1.asp
Don't worry it isn't long. Then respond: do you agree or disagree with his "8 top auto maintenance myths"?

I personally do things to my vehicles that are above the maintenance requirements. Does that mean I am cheating myself?



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** Rob, Editor Dealersedge/WD&S **
Help is only a message post away!
robc@dealersedge.com

[bigfootlives]

if people really followed these recommendations i could have put a hot tub in with my new pool

[Mike Vogel]

I DISAGREE !
Education and showing the customer is the best way to make your point.
Of course the manufacturer's claim to be reducing maintenance requirements and in some cases that may hold true. However there are many cases where those recommendations do not hold true. All manufacturers want the customer to believe that their car is the cheapest to maintain, it makes good business sense for them.
I have always found that the proof is in showing the customer the condition of their fluids and filters to prove the value and necessity in doing them.

Maybe we should write a story about the banking/mortgage industry about all the extras they throw onto loans/mortgages that amount into thousands of dollars in cost to the customer as opposed to our $25 oil changes and $100 flushes. Funny how they don't talk about their own business the way they talk about ours !
At least we can show the value of what we are recommending, what kind of value can they show us for securing a loan for us ?
A few credit reports, a few phone calls, an appraisal. Sounds like about $200 worth of work not the thousands they charge that is in addition to the money they actually make on loans in interest.
The nerve of some people !

[bigfootlives]

my comment on the hot tub is, yes the big 3 are trying to push 7500 mile oil changes, works great in normal driving conditions,
the only one that benifits are them with the EPA, and us replacing there worn out engines, i would rather have a customer leave them spark plugs in for 100,000 miles we get more labor hours trying to get them out, and if luckey new cylinder heads.
it is our job to educate the customers that these are "suggested" with normal driving conditions. back to my first comment yes we do see a slight decrease in maintance work from this but if the vehicle owner really does what he reads in which we have seen alot of, the repairs are extremely high

[MBailey]

There is a wealth of information regarding vehicle maintenance to be found at www.carcarecouncil.org which is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating consumers about vehicle maintenance and repairs. While you probably won't agree with all of their recommendations, they overall tend to be more in line with the "real world" maintenance recommendations that most dealerships provide to clients. We refer to this website throughout our maintenance menus and encourage clients to visit it on their own. Take a look at it for yourself.

[This message has been edited by MBailey (edited 02-16-2005).]

[This message has been edited by MBailey (edited 02-16-2005).]

[tjsmith]

What a Oxymoron....I noticed on bankrate web site-There ia an article "15 ways to save money on gas", & the number one thing listed is Car Maintenance.hmmmmmmmm.

15 ways to save money on gas-Article

[tccollins]

Your conversation struck a nerve! I sold the Chilton books back in the late 80s and made a decision to move into marketing for auto dealers for 2 basic reasons:

There were less and less independent repair facilities every day. Remember when you could blow a hose or break a belt and drift or get a bumper push into a gas station on the next corner. (The good old days)

The second reason was the vehicle and the changing technology. The vehicles quality and dependability is better today than years ago but are much more complicated to work on.

The irony of the situation is back in the 70s & 80s the dealers were doing so much warranty work they didnt for the most part care about maintenance work.

At the end of the controversy bankrat.com has started if you work for an auto dealer the customer is yours to loose. You have the opportunity of demonstrating trust and knowledge in everything from oil changes to transmission overhauls if needed.

When a customer hears there mechanic say I can fix this but you need to go back to the dealer to fix that they will loose faith in there mechanic and give you the opportunity of doing all of the work.

I did get off track a bit so my opinion on PM schedules. You as a dealers repair facility need to offer the factory schedule but should be prepared to sell the benefits of a more aggressive maintenance schedule including additives and additional services such as flushes. It is your customers decision but it is your opportunity and obligation to sell them, not tell them the benefits!


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tccollins

[kcatdeejay]

I have the oil changed on my personal vehicles EVERY 3k miles. My demo gets an oil change when it comes out of service. My personal cars have always gone well into the 130-185k mile range with few problems. I don't endorse the practice of ramming unneccesary services down customer's throats. The bulletin from GM doesn't leave much doubt about their stand on this issue either, but then again, I'm sure our 'consultant', who so vehemently endorses these services, will stand behind us in the event of litigation-way behind. I'm not sure if 'detrimental reliance and fraudulent inducement' comes into play here, but I'm sure I wouldn't want to be a party to any such litigation.

[This message has been edited by kcatdeejay (edited 02-18-2005).]

[robc]

Since the focus of the article in pointing to the most abused nature is on the various flushes, maybe we should open discussion there.

I think of flushes like STP, Slick 50 or Wynns products. As long as cars have been around there has been some kind of added service designed to help customers protect their investiment. There are people that swear by them and others that say they aren't worth anything and can be dangerous.

When I had my first car I remember pouring in transmission fluid in the crank and driving around for ten miles or so before I changed the fluid. Misguided or not I found even in my shop half the techs thought I was a crackpot and the other half thought it helped.

I am still remain on the fence about flushes, but I will say that I would never tell a customer that it is necessary to maintain a vehicle.

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** Rob, Editor Dealersedge/WD&S **
Help is only a message post away!
robc@dealersedge.com

[Ed from B&I]

Wouldn't it be great if the people who own older vehicles were bringing those 7 yr.old cars back to the dealership service dept for maintenace & repairs? That's the time when these car owners are likely to trade in. A dealership's service manager or tech who is in contact with these owners of older cars,can act as sort of an ambassador for the dealership and car brand. If your getting his service work, you have a good chance of getting his trade in deal.