[auschwito]

This is a long story, so please bear with me...

I bought a brand new '06 STi three weeks ago. The car didn't come with a turbo gauge, so I decided that I would have it installed as soon as I could muster up some additional money. Well, last week I sold my Eclipse and decided to put that money towards parts for my STi. I decided to be safe and just get a stock turbo gauge from the Subaru dealer. I called up my dealer and had him set-up a service appointment for Saturday at 9:30.

The Subaru dealership in San Antonio is owned by a Lincoln/Mercury dealership (where Subarus are serviced), but I was assured that they had a guy over there who only worked on Subarus, so it was all good. I dropped my STi off at 9:00 AM yesterday morning and turned out that the Subaru dude was off that day. But the Lincoln folks assured me that they had it taken care of and that I would be able to pick-up my car in about three hours.

3 1/2 hours go by and I still hadn't heard anything. So I called the service dept. and they tell me that it won't be ready until 2:00 (they close at 3:00). So at 2:00 I hitched a ride down there and they tell me that it won't be ready until 2:45 and to wait until they call me. At this point I'm a little concerned, because how long can it possibly take to put in a stock turbo gauge?

Anyway, not having heard from them by 2:30, I decided to go back. We pulled up at 2:50 and the service dept lady sees me and immediately picks up the phone to call me. I answer my phone and look right at her; knowing that she's busted, she decides to step outside her office and speak to me face to face.

The lady then told me that they had the wrong gauge and that they needed to keep my car until they could get the right one. At this point I'm pissed and asking why they didn't tell me this to begin with. She assured me not to worry and that they would give me a "loaner" vehicle to drive in the meantime. I explained that it wouldn't be possible because I'm in the Air Force and that I had to have decals in order to drive her turd loaner vehicle to work. I told her that I wasn't leaving without my STi. So she said "why don't we go back and see what we can do."

So back into the garage we go. My car was the scene of a horror movie... a bloodbath of engine components They had my engine strewn everywhere; wires dangling, parts of my turbocharger removed, my intercooler resting half-way off on-top of a barrel (just waiting to be bumped onto the ground), etc, etc, etc.

The service woman asks the two mechanics who look like teenagers if they can put my car back together. They told me that since they had already cut the wires, they would have to "jimmy-rig it with some bolts or something." Livid, I asked them why the hell they tore the car apart and cut the wires in the first place if they had the wrong gauge. The mechanic, looking confused (not knowing the service lady had lied to me for them), proceeded to explain that it wasn't the wrong part, but that they had drilled the steering mount cover in the wrong spot. They had installed the gauge and realized that it was sitting so low on the column that the blinker wouldn't work. So the reason that they had to keep the car was because they needed to order me a replacement steering mount cover.

So I left the service dept infuriated, with a loaner Outback that I won't be able to get to work with. Being more pissed off than I've ever been in my life, I called the Subaru dealership when I got home. First, I asked for my salesperson, who I was told didn't work there anymore. Then I asked for the General Manager, who refused to believe my story. He told me that the people over at Lincoln/Mercury were highly trained to work on Subarus and that he would have to look into it. I told him that I had paid a lot of money for this brand new car and that if there was anything wrong with it, I would be taking it back to him rather than the service dept. He tried to assure my that it wouldn't be necessary.

Anyway, here I am today. Without my STi. Without a means to get to work for God knows how long. Worried as hell about my new car.

My question is, what kind of leverage do I have here?
Should I threaten to get my lawyer involved?
Should I even be paying labor on this job?
What would you do in this situation?

[BillFromTR]

Wow that sux. I put in an autometer boost gauge by myself. It took about 20 minutes, the hardest part was fishing the hose through the firewall and up into the clock area. There was no removing of the intercooler or anything, just a cut of the bpv hose, slipping the t-fitting into hose and running the hose through a grommet in the firewall. It sounds like these "mechanics" are a couple @sshats.

[Insane06STi]

I`d say, let SOA know about your experience and never ever go back to that dealer again. Dont bother suing,it`s just not worth your time.

[520]

Wow dude, get a lawyer or atelast threaten to and you should not pay a SINGLE DIME. that is ridiculous. Dont go there ever again and give SOA a call and tell them whats up.

I would be afraid to drive knowing some teenager kids took apart my engine and "jimmy rigged" it. You never know when something might fail when your driving.

Sorry to hear this bro, but make sure you take some serious action.

[viperguy]

Originally Posted by auschwito

This is a long story, so please bear with me...

I bought a brand new '06 STi three weeks ago. The car didn't come with a turbo gauge, so I decided that I would have it installed as soon as I could muster up some additional money. Well, last week I sold my Eclipse and decided to put that money towards parts for my STi. I decided to be safe and just get a stock turbo gauge from the Subaru dealer. I called up my dealer and had him set-up a service appointment for Saturday at 9:30.

The Subaru dealership in San Antonio is owned by a Lincoln/Mercury dealership (where Subarus are serviced), but I was assured that they had a guy over there who only worked on Subarus, so it was all good. I dropped my STi off at 9:00 AM yesterday morning and turned out that the Subaru dude was off that day. But the Lincoln folks assured me that they had it taken care of and that I would be able to pick-up my car in about three hours.

3 1/2 hours go by and I still hadn't heard anything. So I called the service dept. and they tell me that it won't be ready until 2:00 (they close at 3:00). So at 2:00 I hitched a ride down there and they tell me that it won't be ready until 2:45 and to wait until they call me. At this point I'm a little concerned, because how long can it possibly take to put in a stock turbo gauge?

Anyway, not having heard from them by 2:30, I decided to go back. We pulled up at 2:50 and the service dept lady sees me and immediately picks up the phone to call me. I answer my phone and look right at her; knowing that she's busted, she decides to step outside her office and speak to me face to face.

The lady then told me that they had the wrong gauge and that they needed to keep my car until they could get the right one. At this point I'm pissed and asking why they didn't tell me this to begin with. She assured me not to worry and that they would give me a "loaner" vehicle to drive in the meantime. I explained that it wouldn't be possible because I'm in the Air Force and that I had to have decals in order to drive her turd loaner vehicle to work. I told her that I wasn't leaving without my STi. So she said "why don't we go back and see what we can do."

So back into the garage we go. My car was the scene of a horror movie... a bloodbath of engine components They had my engine strewn everywhere; wires dangling, parts of my turbocharger removed, my intercooler resting half-way off on-top of a barrel (just waiting to be bumped onto the ground), etc, etc, etc.

The service woman asks the two mechanics who look like teenagers if they can put my car back together. They told me that since they had already cut the wires, they would have to "jimmy-rig it with some bolts or something." Livid, I asked them why the hell they tore the car apart and cut the wires in the first place if they had the wrong gauge. The mechanic, looking confused (not knowing the service lady had lied to me for them), proceeded to explain that it wasn't the wrong part, but that they had drilled the steering mount cover in the wrong spot. They had installed the gauge and realized that it was sitting so low on the column that the blinker wouldn't work. So the reason that they had to keep the car was because they needed to order me a replacement steering mount cover.

So I left the service dept infuriated, with a loaner Outback that I won't be able to get to work with. Being more pissed off than I've ever been in my life, I called the Subaru dealership when I got home. First, I asked for my salesperson, who I was told didn't work there anymore. Then I asked for the General Manager, who refused to believe my story. He told me that the people over at Lincoln/Mercury were highly trained to work on Subarus and that he would have to look into it. I told him that I had paid a lot of money for this brand new car and that if there was anything wrong with it, I would be taking it back to him rather than the service dept. He tried to assure my that it wouldn't be necessary.

Anyway, here I am today. Without my STi. Without a means to get to work for God knows how long. Worried as hell about my new car.

My question is, what kind of leverage do I have here?
Should I threaten to get my lawyer involved?
Should I even be paying labor on this job?
What would you do in this situation?

your in the AF....ACT LIKE IT... take your ass up to the auto hobby shop ...find someone who is a CrewChief/Mechanic tell him you have BEER and watch it install itself in 30 mins.....

[auschwito]

Originally Posted by viperguy

your in the AF....ACT LIKE IT... take your ass up to the auto hobby shop ...find someone who is a CrewChief/Mechanic tell him you have BEER and watch it install itself in 30 mins.....

I have a friend/mechanic who worked on my Eclipse for years and that I trust. But I just assumed that the guys at Subaru would know best... apparently, I was wrong.

What makes me mad is that I paid for a warranty through these guys that's gonna go to waste now.

[polyol]

Report them to BBB. Write SOA. Threaten to sue...all that should get their attention. Hopefully you dont have to follow through..

[flytojungho]

Originally Posted by auschwito

I have a friend/mechanic who worked on my Eclipse for years and that I trust. But I just assumed that the guys at Subaru would know best... apparently, I was wrong.

What makes me mad is that I paid for a warrenty through these guys that's gonna go to waste now.

paying warrenty at certain dealer doesn't mean anything.. you can go to any suby dealer. btw, boost gauge seems pretty darn easy to install.. involving cutting one hose from BPV and hooking up + - wires.. oh, and auto hobby shop is awesome!!! i used to do everything there and it's CHEAP!!

[johnson81]

Dang that sucks. Sounds just like the dealership that I bought my car from. You look back into the service area and it looks like a high school auto shop class. It only took one look back there for me to realize that I'm doing my own routine maintenace.

If I were you, I'd just try to get my car back as soon as possible and tell them you're not paying for the labor charges. A call to SOA wouldn't hurt either. Good luck.

[MeoW71]

I remember that place. It took them almost an hour to find the rear diff fluid when I came to pick it up. I only take my car to the dealer for warranty work and general maintenance items if I don't feel like doing it myself. Parts install I do myself, or find a friend who knows how to do it. Why not post ahead of time, I'm sure somebody would have been willing to help out.

FYI. If they couldn't figure out how to drill the holes for the OEM boost gauge, they should not even be working in the garage. The instructions provide a template for drilling the holes. They still should have been able to get it right without the template.

[lal]

That sucks, in that they are going to make it right, let them make an effort to correct and replace the ruined part, if and until you are not satisfied with the end result that's when you gain leverage. I think the dealership owner has to be made aware of this and see if they offer you some recompense, plus if you have not filled out the new owners survey, let them know you're going to blast them. IMHO the biggest problem was the service writer not being truthful with you, then the techs not following the easy to follow instructions and using the templets. Let SOA know also

[Peleg]

Originally Posted by Insane06STi

I`d say, let SOA know about your experience and never ever go back to that dealer again. Dont bother suing,it`s just not worth your time.

+1 Don't sue, but file a complaint with SOA. The reason I say that is because STi owners can't afford to have rookie teenagers "experimenting" with their rides.

Removal of the Turbocharger, IC for a boost gauge? Good lord.....next they will swap the engine when it's time for an oil change.

And Defenitly don't go there again, ever. Find another dealership to work with.

[Titleist71]

If you want something done right....do it yourself.

[ayanami22]

something like this happened to me, make sure you have the manager, service manager's names, as well as a copy of the service order for the install, call SOA and tell them what happened and give them all of that information....they should get u some suby bucks or something out of it

[Mohammadov]

oh!what abad situation!
i hope ur problem will be solved as soon as possible.
my heart with you.