Small auto mechanics vs. dealers

[cclngthr]

I was watching the news and this news report (http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?channel=i_video&clip=/media/2005/01/21/video668533&sec=3420&vidId=3420&title=Small$@$Mechanics$@$Squawk&hitboxMLC=eveningnews) came on. Apparently auto manufacturers are refusing to give software updates to smaller shops. For my shop, it is a pain in the *** to even get the reader for most cars. I was lucky to get a reader for Hyundai, but it does not allow me to change the parameters.

Only if smaller shops had the software; we would see aftermarket parts that worked.

[joeypasta]

When making my next car purchase I will now check to see which automaker cooperates on this. Also, If I know better the Government will step in on this.

[cclngthr]

I heard that some small businesses are asking congress to step in. As a shop owner, I don't have access to many updates only available to the dealers. It appears automakers are trying to force car buyers to use the dealer service instead of going elsewhere. Dealers also charge twice the labor rate most smaller shops charge (I charge 25 an hour which is even less than the normal 45 an hour small shops charge).

If automakers were forced to give out the info, we sure wouldn't have the hassle in getting aftermarket and performance parts either.

[mrhoaf]

Power to the people, and screw the big companies out to screw us....

On a more serious note, I'd much rather go to a smaller shop that knows who I am when I walk in, and has the same people working there all the time... A place I feel like I can trust to not try and take advantage of me... and being cheaper doesn't hurt either.., :)

[Jmontigny]

A good dealership can sometimes save money over a small shop since they know the cars far better. A small shop may try 3 or 4 things before they get it right where a good dealer can fix it first try since they have seen the problems before and know how to fix them. I am not saying this is always the case but in several situations it is. If the small shop get s it right the first time then yes you do save money but if they get it wrong 3 or 4 times which way was cheaper?

[slvrsleeper]

I think Jay makes an excellent point, I have experienced both sides of the coin with two diffferent Hyundai's. My first car, an Excel had the tranny replaced under warranty by the dealer no problems of any kind. A private shop did the timing belt replacement on the same car and the plethora of problems that resulted from their slipshod work resulted in my eventually selling the car before it could bankrupt me. By the same token I have taken my XD to a private shop owned by a good customer and close friend of mine and he has always been second to none. All my mods have been installed by himand so far my car runs like a champ! (Now at 77,000 miles and still trouble free.)

[mrhoaf]

A good dealership can sometimes save money over a small shop since they know the cars far better. A small shop may try 3 or 4 things before they get it right where a good dealer can fix it first try since they have seen the problems before and know how to fix them.

You're exactly right. The key words though are "A good dealership". My dealership in Charleston was a 50/50.... half of the time I took it in, they gave me great service. The other times I swore I would never take anything back there again.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not the type, who only goes to the dealer for warranty work. There are things that I'll trust just about anyone to do, while there are repairs that I would take it straight to the dealer. I had my timing belt changed by a dealership because I knew how critical it was not only to keeping the warranty but to the general well-being of the car. But the first dealership let the car sit for 2 days and still had no plans to work on it the day I picked it up. I took it to another dealership an hour away, and they did take care of me.

I guess the biggest thing is that I feel like I get my money's worth out of a small shop more often that from the dealer. In my experience, the dealership charges more, takes longer, and doesn't give me personal service. II hope there are dealerships like that out there.... if the guys Jay works with are like him I'm sure that's a great place to get your service done.

But I also think every owner, and therefore any shop, should have access to ALL repair information for their vehicles. And don't say that it will reveal trade secrets, because it Hyundai wants to find out what makes a Honda tick, they'll buy one and examine it to get the same info.... I applaud Hyundai for the free webtech resource...

I will have to give the dealership in town a try to be fair... but I'm not holding my breath....

[cclngthr]

You're exactly right. The key words though are "A good dealership". My dealership in Charleston was a 50/50.... half of the time I took it in, they gave me great service. The other times I swore I would never take anything back there again.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not the type, who only goes to the dealer for warranty work. There are things that I'll trust just about anyone to do, while there are repairs that I would take it straight to the dealer. I had my timing belt changed by a dealership because I knew how critical it was not only to keeping the warranty but to the general well-being of the car. But the first dealership let the car sit for 2 days and still had no plans to work on it the day I picked it up. I took it to another dealership an hour away, and they did take care of me.

I guess the biggest thing is that I feel like I get my money's worth out of a small shop more often that from the dealer. In my experience, the dealership charges more, takes longer, and doesn't give me personal service. II hope there are dealerships like that out there.... if the guys Jay works with are like him I'm sure that's a great place to get your service done.

But I also think every owner, and therefore any shop, should have access to ALL repair information for their vehicles. And don't say that it will reveal trade secrets, because it Hyundai wants to find out what makes a Honda tick, they'll buy one and examine it to get the same info.... I applaud Hyundai for the free webtech resource...

I will have to give the dealership in town a try to be fair... but I'm not holding my breath....

That is the point in the report. The smaller shops typically do not have access to the critical information that the dealer has easy and free access to. I think that any repair shop should be able to access the information needed to diagnose a problem that a car has. If I am working on a BMW with a CEL and I don't have the code information, how can I attempt to make a accurate diagnosis to fix the problem? I am fairly accurate in my diagnosis with my XD, the dealer I go to and I discuss my findings (thanks to webtech) and they also diagnose the problem and we come up with the same findings.

Sure, automakers want us to go to the dealer for every repair issue. They have their hand out when we pay for service. An independent shop with the same information should be able to find out what is wrong.