I once had my car at a dealership for a 4 wheel brake job. The salesman told me it was time for a tire rotation and tried to get me to pay for it. I asked "Don't you already have all the tires off to do the brakes? Then why do you want to charge me for rolling them 5 feet and putting them back on which you have to do anyway?" I instead demanded they do the rotation for free. The salesman had no valid argument and agreed.

At the end of the day, a good mechanic is not expensive it’s priceless.

My Toyota dealer now have the technicians make a relatively short video where they explain what they did and why. They show the defective parts, etc. Then this video is shared with us, the customer. It's not a face to face interaction. And again, it's not a super long presentation. But it is nice to see the technician's face and hear them talk. It's surprising how much you can pick up from these videos. Not just about the car repairs that were done but also about the technician and how much they care about the work they are doing.

My favorite was when the Subaru dealership in Caldwell Idaho told me that it would cost $85 to change my Outback cabin air filter, because it was under the center console. I declined, and went home and changed it my self. It was behind the glove box, and it took me 2 1/2 minutes. SMDH.

I don’t think you realize how rare you have become. I wish there was a way to find more like you. Going to get my car serviced has caused borderline PTSD from the headaches.

A funny story; We own a 2019 Subaru Outback 'Touring'. My wife took it in for an oil change and tire rotation. After dropping it off she sat down in the waiting room. A few minutes later the Service Advisor came in and sat next to her and began to explain all of the other services that the car needed and why they were needed.. My wife sat there listening for a few minutes and it dawned on her that the SA wasn't even describing 'our' car - she was talking about someone else's car! After the 'hard sell' we stopped taking the car to the dealership for service and found an independent mechanic to do further work on the Subaru. I taught auto mechanics in school and have always been disgusted at the 'up sales' at dealerships and the way, especially, that they 'conned' their female customers. (I know that the 'troll's will ask why, if I'm qualified to do the work myself I no longer do it - I haven't got a lift and in my mid-70's I no longer enjoy working on my back in an unheated garage.)

First and only time I went to a dealership (Toyota) to have a complementary oil change, after waiting 3 hours, I got home, opened the hood, to find that the oil cap was dusty, no signs of work. Got under the car and there it was also the filter, dusty and dirty, no signs of work done. Never again.

As an enthusiast/hobbyist I really like talking directly to technicians. I know just enough to understand what they're talking about and also to tell them exactly what I need done. It saves so much time and money if you don't have to talk to a slimy salesman.

I was a technician,service advisor and service manager. Honestly most of these bad practices start at the top. Dealer principles like to lean heavily on the service department when the sales department are low on sales. I have seen the service manager make up a bonus sheet for technicians who push flushes,alignments and other quick hit items. I had no problem taking a customer out to their vehicle and show them what is wrong with it. I’m so glad I’m retired😂

Finding an independent mechanic is easier said than done. I bought a 2007 LS460 and I could smell burning oil and when I left it in my garage over night there was a very small drip of oil. I brought it to a very well known local Toyota/Lexus independent mechanic. I PAID $95 for an evaluation/diagnosis. They spent about 5 minutes with the car, said nothing is wrong, they said whomever did the last oil change probably spilled some in the plastic below the engine, all is good and sent me on my way. I got home and I was naturally pissed, I had put almost 2,000 miles since the last oil change, certainly anything that was spilled would have gone away by now. So I rolled up my sleeves and took a dive under the hood. I removed all the plastics up top, and first thing I noticed is the valve cover gasket seal around the high pressure fuel pump was crying oil pretty badly and then as I removed each spark plug coil each spark plug well was FULL of oil and as I drove it was weeping out down the side of the engine and onto the exhaust and slowly working its way down to the bottom of the engine. If I kept driving like that I certainly at minimum would have had to buy new coils. It’s Eastman Independent Lexus Toyota in Temecula California. Then I had a 1998 Toyota Camry that had a check engine light on, I plugged my scanner in to it and it had a catalyst code. The front catalytic converter had failed. I brought it to a place called Tokyo Automotive Repair, again, a really highly rated independent shop. I drop it off knowing what it needed but wanted them to do the diagnostic, they of course told me I needed a new front catalytic converter, I agreed, they offered to smog it for me. I agreed, they said “it failed smog because the transmission is bad it needs a new transmission”. I told them give me car back and take your cat off. They did, I went to a Toyota dealer, bought a new front cat and drove it to work, and on my way home from work I took it for a smog and it passed, I was able to get the car registered. TWO independent mechanics were worthless. I’m NOT saying all independent mechanics are bad. I’m saying people who just blindly say that you MUST go to an independent mechanic and then judge people for not doing so, have no reality that there CAN also be bad independent mechanics.

I was a dealership mechanic for 27 years (Porsche, Audi, Volvo, VW). I agree with everything that CCN says. My biggest problem was service managers that didn't have a clue. They were just over paid BS artists. And, they expect you to work for free! The manufactures don't want to pay you to fix their engineers mistakes (warranty repairs)! So you work 8 to 10 hours and get paid 5. You complain and the service manager says "If you don't like it, QUIT!" Well, I did. Went to work in R&D for a computer chip manufacturer. Best decision I ever made. Better pay, better benefits, cleaner environment. Whenever I hear any young kid say he wants to be a mechanic, I say "Don't, you'll regret it"! You put out some great vids CCN. The public needs to hear more from you.

My first job after high school was a "car jockey" (now porter?) at a Cadillac dealer in 1969. Loved it. Made extra money delivering new cars to customers, some out of state. After helping with an annual parts inventory, I accepted a parts counterman apprentice position. Loved it. I knew nothing about cars. GM sent me to an apprenticeship course. Mechanics (now called technicians) shared great information about their specialty which helped me do my job better. No computers or internet. All we had were parts manuals in 3-ring binders. Salesmen took care of their customers. Everything inside the dealership was about building and maintaining good relationships not only with our customers, but amongst ourselves as employees and how we treated each another. The service manager who took a chance on me and the parts manager who saw my potential treated me wonderfully with their patient manner. I've carried those foundational life lessons everywhere I worked. It helped me be a better customer, too. I deeply appreciate your channel. Thanks.

I had a brake fluid “flush” performed at a local Chicagoland Honda dealer. When I got the car back, I thought the pedal was slowly sinking at the stop light. I drove back and spoke to the Service advisor, and he brought out the Service Manager. The manager pulled me aside and told me that it was impossible for air to get into the lines because they don’t crack the bleeders and only suck out the fluid from the reservoir. After he told me that, I immediately stopped going to them.

Having worked at huge organizations, I avoid them if at all possible. They are full of people who can't, or won't, communicate. Full of disgruntled employees who are happy to see customers screwed. Full of people who are incentivized to sell you things you don't need. Incompetence is everywhere, and often rewarded and promoted.

About a year ago, I found a certified Toyota/Lexus mechanic in my area who opened his own shop after working for dealerships for 20+ years. He is like you--knowledgeable, experienced and honest. You guys are worth your weight in gold. God bless.

I'm a retired Lexus/Toyota Master Diagnostic Specialist with 35 years of service and have seen many dishonest practices over the years. One that I still encounter when I recently had my wife's new Toyota Venza serviced at 30k which still had a free oil change and tire rotation which was covered by the Toyo Guard maintenance package that was slapped on to the purchase price for $700.00 which I argued to get removed but couldn't, is the "flush and clean the fuel injectors and add fuel cleaner, throttle body service." This is a service that the technician always makes extra money on through the chemical supplier. They typically have a color plastic disc in the containers of these products that the tech saves and gets money for when the supplier vendors come by the shops every couple of weeks. Back in the day at a Toyota dealership I was working at, I overheard a service advisor telling a female customer that their engine could catch on fire if they didn't get their throttle body and injector service done! I went to the GM and told him this and they had a talk with this advisor.

Thank you for this. The worst experience I had was at a tire-focused regional chain in Ohio. I had bought tires and gotten service for a while. But one time they told me I needed new brakes when I knew I didn't. So I took a deep breath and said, "Okay. Replace them under warranty." Then I told him they had replaced the brakes a few months earlier. He looked concerned, typed on the computer, ran back into the shop, and came back looking sheepish telling me their mistake, my brakes were fine. I didn't yell, I just calmly asked why he told me otherwise. He just said they got confused. I think we both knew I'd never return.

I used to live in Chicago (45 years) and you and the food are the only reasons I wish I lived there now. I’d bring my vehicle to you all the time. Keep up the good work and never stop caring.

Sorry but every single dealership service department I have ever seen was beyond corrupt. I can't even find the words for how beneath contempt I have for these people. I will NEVER EVER take one of my cars to dealer service again.

I rate my local BMW Dealership in three categories: Sales: CRIMINALS! . They belong in prison. Service: INCOMPETENT. Parts: EXCELLENT!

I knew the head mechanic at a Honda dealer quite well so when I would need work on my Prelude,I would request him to do it and I wouldn’t get ripped off. He died a few years ago,every time I bring my car or my wife’s Acura in now,I get a big list of what it might need because of the mileage or age. I swear they don’t even look at things now,they just hope you don’t question them. Everything has gone downhill in the last 10 years.

Took my 2010 Nissan to dealer for oil change because I had a coupon a year ago. The "free 56 point inspection" recommended $7k in repairs and fluid changes, flushes, etc. I didn't do any of it since the car is only worth about $2k. Still runs and drives just fine, no leaks.

When I sold cars the best service department I ever saw was at Mitchell Mazda Lincoln Mercury in Enterprise, AL, 1998. It was run by a man named Mitch. It was spotless and ran like a top. At the end of the day everyone cleaned up and even buffed the floors. No vehicle left the service department without being washed first.

I took my wife's car to her dealership waiting to get ripped off... I was impressed. The mechanic sent us a video from the car bay. He explained and showed what had to be done and level of importance. I see a lot of shops doing this now with side by side pictures of good/bad fluids and "proof" of what needs to be fixed. This isn't the norm. I've also had the 18 y.o. kid with Jordans and sagging his work pants explain a mechanics notes.

I’ve worked for the dealerships for over 35 years you give some of the best information on the Internet … Right on point!! Thank you for the service you provide!

The mercedes dealer wanted to replace the oil cap for 36$ because apparently it leaks oil. I told them no and went to the parts department and bought it for 15$ and saved the 20$ of labour for having them do it.

One of my biggest complaints with the dealership business model is the service advisor. I hate that buffer between me and the technician. When I go to my local independent shop, I get to discuss my car with the technician himself.

I worked at a dealership right after I graduated from trade school in the 1970's. It was an eye opening experience for sure. It was a 12 man shop I was amazed at some of the "short cuts" some of the more seasoned techs used to beat the book time. Book being the factory flat rate time allowed for a given repair, the faster they could knock out a job the more money earned at the end of the week. Guys kept things like broken bolts and worn suspension bushings in their tool boxes to send back to the service advisors to explain why there was more labor hours than was expected by the customers. One of the guys told me "kid they don't put those wheels on the bottom of those roll a way tool boxes for nothing". Once every month or so on a Friday right after the checks were handed out, a tech would be rolling his box out to his pickup to look for greener pastures. I left that part of the trade and went back to school to learn a more specialized trade, and got out of that dog eat dog world.

Some red flags for me: "the transmission fluid is lifetime fluid." "we don't stock those nuts/bolts/gaskets, have to special order them (mandatory replacement parts for regular maintenance)". My dealership told me my oil pressure sensor was faulty after an oil change and they would put me in a loaner and replace it. They drained the oil with the ignition on. I had to tell them how to reset it. "We didn't overfill your oil, sir. It's reading high because it's hot" (as he holds his hand on the block). I could go on, and on, there are no more professionals, at least, not many like you.

This is why I prefer to buy an older car out of warranty that I can learn how to do maintenance myself on. Its also why I'm a subscriber to the Car Care Nut Channel. Thanks for this video!

I work at a truck dealership as a technician. I HATE writing "cannot replicate complaint" in my story, because the service advisor did not get enough information at the start. Usually when I write it THEN they will call the customer for more info. Very stressful, the truck is down longer, my repair times are slower. Communication is key.

My first Toyota in 1990: I was assigned a service advisor and mechanic. I loved the concept. Got to know both of them by name and it worked very well until they did away with it. I currently do not know any of the service advisors at my Lexus dealership even after 4 years 😢

I wish we had another you here up in Edmonton, Alberta. I learn something new, anytime I watch your videos. Your honesty, expertise and professionalism have made you a true king among the mechanics. May the Lord bless you and your family.

I got to work as a technician for a Lexus Dealership & a Toyota Dealership, culminating in 12 years of experience. The Lexus Dealer was great to its staff and guests (customers). The Toyota dealer failed to take care of both. The difference was LEADERSHIP & CULTURE.... AMD definitely made a lot of great points! Especially developing a personal relationship with your advisor and technician. Stick with that pair every time if they are doing right by you.

Very good advice. You gave your viewers the real deal about dealerships. I especially like the explanation of good techs working at bad dealerships, and bad techs working at good dealerships. You are 100% correct! I worked at a dealership for a few months & got a bird's-eye view of what goes on in the service department.

I am going another way on this. I feel lucky that I found a great local Toyota dealership with a great mechanic that can help on some of the fixes I cannot do myself. On my last visit, he came out personally and showed me the broken part. We made a decision together as if my truck was his. He kept me in the loop all along the repair. Service technician backed him up but let him run the conversation. Even the little things like mats out and seat back into my position were done so it was almost as if I wasn’t there. This dude is an absolute gem, even with my older modified 4R. He has even kept me from making other mistakes by over tackling repairs. After reading and listening, I realize sadly that while this should be the gold standard, it is a rarity.

This hits home. I took my 2015 1794 Tundra to Toyota dealer near me and told them I want to service the transfer case as it was not engaging as smoothly as it should and the service adviser told me that I was switching from 4*4 to. 4*4 low incorrectly. I told him that from 2w to 4*4 high -rolling while on D and from 4*4 high to 4*4 low on N at a complete stop. The “I’m the expert” service advisor told me that I’m suppose do both on D while rolling. Took him for a drive and proved him wrong. His mechanic end up recommending servicing the transfer case as I have diagnosed myself and it is now working as it should. After that I started doing my oil change myself and both my cars ( Tundra and 4Runner) sound better than when I was taking both to the dealership.

I have a friend that worked at a dealership for several years. He finally quit and went into a different line of work. The dealership was in my opinion was stupid in letting this man go. He was so good at the job they continuously stuck him with trouble shooting and not giving him the quick easy work so he could make money. This was back in the 90's when he won the Southeast Toyota mechanics competition. They sent him to San Francisco where he came in 3rd place for the national competition. Not long after that he quit Toyota and started his own construction business. Dumb move on Toyota.

Another excellent video, sir. The biggest annoyance in my book is when (say) I KNOW that an engine's rear main seal needs to be replaced and you book it in to be DONE. You come in, at day's end. They LOOKED AT IT and say "your engine needs a new rear main seal, let's book it in". GRRRRR another trip in, FOR NOTHING.

Excellent video. I am very happy with the service dept of my dealership. The advisor is very professional and, I feel, very open and honest. One thing that really helps is that the actual technician sends me, the customer, a video with detailed information of his pre-service inspection with his findings and advice.

Now here's a dealership. I drive a Tacoma and recently had to have the tires rotated. As simple as that. So since the nearest Toyota dealership is 60 miles away I took it to a local Ford dealership. Pulled up and parked the vehicle in the waiting area and took a walk around the lot. Came back just in time to see my Tacoma way in back of the shop with a mechanic attaching something to the wheels. Which really peaked my interest. So I found the shop dude and asked what was going on. And he then began a long list of things they were going to "check" including wheel alignment. When I said I just wanted tire rotation he explained they do all of those other things for the $20 tire rotation. What are the odds they would have NOT found something that needed immediate repair?

you said it. the advisor SHOULDN'T be a salesman, but guess what? the service manager is always pushing some b.s..... like BG-products, and if you dont do upsells and other b.s. the service manager is coming down on you with that and slapping the survey in your face too. the culture in the service department needs an entire revamp, its pathetic. and a person like me who just genuinely wants to help people and do the right thing and not let you waste all your money with me, and ppl like me just get pushed out the door by management. its a shame but guess what can you do? 🙃😩

Our family has been blessed in that we've found a wonderful dealership who've been nothing but the best in how they look after our car needs. My kids, grandkids, and friends have done business with this dealership because of how they take care of their customers.

Just stumbled across this and ws impressed. I was in the car business for over 30 years and this man is speaking the truth. The hardest part these days is in finding an honest shop with good technicians. It's harder and harder to find both. And, having been a service manager at 4 shops, he hit the nail on the head about sketchy (honesty or skill) techs infecting the entire business.

Good advice as always. Regarding scheduled maintenance; always review your vehicle's schedule maintenance guide so you know what services are actually required. This will help you avoid the dealership upsell efforts. I've been in a dealership listening to an advisor upsell an older woman. Her lack on knowledge and "trust" in the dealership allowed them to extract money from her pocket. This was a high end "luxury" brand dealership.

Good video. Regarding communication....I ensure that the Tech gets the full story of what is going on with the car and what it is I want done by typing up a summary with that info. I give one to the service advisor and I leave one on the dashboard labeled "To the Technician" with a "thanks for taking care of my car" note at the bottom. Works for me!

You are very down to earth with an enormous amount of integrity and desire to inform the you tube community about the automotive industry. You are very correct in the statement there are good dealerships and bad just as there are good and bad independent shops. The sad part is and you said it. There are good people at bad shops and there are bad people at good shops. Thank you for another great video.

Except for one warranty service on a truck some 21 years ago, I have the experience of being lied to, insulted, stolen from and disgusted at every dealership I have been to ( a very long time ago). I recommend finding a good local shop with certified mechanics (not just parts changers) and stick with them.

My Honda Dealer where I bought my 04 Honda back in 04 is awesome. Have a very good relationship with the service manager. He even delivered and installed a free battery as the mechanic had forgotten to connect the ground wire while working on my car. Oh I always show my appreciation during the holidays.

Excellent video! i was in charge of maintenance for an entire Army Division and ran into a lot of the same issues you cite. I've had great experiences with a very few dealership service departments, but most were not very competent. I bought a new car in December 2022 and the first oil change was free. I added a tire rotation to the order. Even with a reservation, it took them 2 hours to accomplish those tasks. Later that day, I lost a lug nut in a parking garage and discovered the technician did not tighten all the lug nuts on one of the tires! I contacted the service advisor, the service manager, and the dealership's general manager and never got a response from any of them. That is a good indication of a poorly run service department. That same dealership's car wash ripped a part of my door trim that same day. i will not be returning to them for any maintenance on my car.

And then the parts department at some dealers where the guy sitting behind the counter is unable to say hello, or how are you today, what can we help you with. Rather they have poor attitudes, they ignore customers while looking at the computer screen, when asked a part related question they act as though you're being a bother. And what's worse is that when management is made aware nothing is done to take care of the issue.

You are the most knowledgeable automotive technician on the internet that I’ve seen. I used to do all my own mechanical repair on the vehicles in my company. I’ve never found a dealership as good as a small private shop. If your shop was near me you would be the only mechanic I would take my vehicles to. Knowledgeable, intelligent and honest. You are a rare breed in this era.

Even my local shop went downhill and got really shady. It used to be great, but the service advisors I had gotten to know and trust were suddenly not there, and every state inspection was padded out to $400. Final nail in the coffin was EVAP issues on one of my vehicles. This shop wanted to replace the canister for $1300. I took it to another mechanic who found a rusted fuel filler neck and a bad solenoid. I had him fix that, and no more check engine light for now.

A lot of these can also apply to bad regular shops or chain shops. I know dealer shops get the worse reps, but nowadays chain and regular shops are starting to catch up with that rep.

You should have at least as many subscribers as Kilmer. You are far more in depth and informative…without the “click bait” too is nice! Appreciate your videos! New Sub here👍🏼

I have seen techs at dealerships do oil changes without changing the filter. They toss the new filters in their tool box and whipe the old filter off with a shop rag. Wish all techs are honest like you. Love your channrl.

I walked into a toyota dealership 10 min ago for my first oil change on my 2023 taco. I sat down and turned on this video and it switched into my truck as they drive it into the bay. Perfect timing.

I trust you man I wish you’d work at my dealership! Your videos and to the point perspective is perfect ! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences with us !!!

I love your analysis of all aspects of motoring. Gentle quiet delivery, impressive

Our 2017 Chevy Cruze has a gas vapor issue within the vehicle cabin. Service Advisor said the mechanic couldn't replicate the issue. All I had to do was start the vehicle and let it idle for 3 mins. Service Advisor said she could smell gas. Gets the tech to take it again... Needless to say it was sent back could not replicate the issue, took it back there probably 4-5 times. Needless to say vehicle still smells of gas when driven and the Dealership didn't fix anything because they waited out the warranty by saying "can't replicate issue" and I was to young and dumb to know about lemon laws... TLDR dealerships will take all the advantage they can.

This video hits so hard. Just had my Honda dealer who I've bought 3 cars from fail my inspection and claim I needed all brakes and rotors replaced for $1250. Declined. Had my trusted mechanic look the car over and was told there was no issue with the front brakes, rear would probably need to be replaced in 6 months, but there was no safety issue that would fail inspection. Honda mechanic also hit me with brake \ coolant \ trans flush \ fuel system cleaning required for another $760, and tried to tell me my new tires would probably need to be replaced soon, AND I needed an alignment for $160 less than a year after the last one bc their automated check said it was "out of spec". Again, ran all these past the trusted mechanic and he was like "???, your car is fine, and your tires still look brand new". Thank you for your channel and for videos like these. I might not understand automotive mechanics, but you are helping me understand enough to not get taken for a ride. I work in information technology and see the same type of dishonesty and betrayal of trust in my industry when it comes to people taking advantage of what others do not know because their lives and career are different.

Part of the reason why I’ve never gone to a mechanic I just learnt how to fix my car not a mechanic but can take my car apart and put it all back together

This maybe your best video yet ! a lot of good advice . By nature I am not blessed with your patience , and I dislike (like most people) people who try to fob you off , and pull the wool over your eyes , and worst of all - when you ask a question and get a pre prepared answer which doesn't answer your question . I had an issue with a Skoda Yeti , I went to my local dealer , basically I paid £40 pound to get my car washed and I never asked for it , and they told me they couldn't find the problem . I contacted Skoda UK who were a bit more helpful . I ended up going to another garage (Victoria garage Maud) albeit a 300 mile round trip. It was well worth it , two issues fixed under warranty , and they gave me a courtesy car , I would recommend Victoria garage Maud if you live in the Highlands of Scotland !

Spot on! F-150 w/230 miles dealership service. Excellent - a little out of way but worth it. New car (Subaru) - 6k and 12 k service they are 0-2. Attention to detail - 6K flat not fixed yet paperwork shows flat fixed (leaky valve stem - I changed it myself) - 12K wrong oil used. Contacted them, and passed the buck to the technician not inputing correct data in computer and failed to reset 12k service on car computer not fully. Thank you for this segment. Continued success kind sir!

You nailed it with Looking at the car and not selling service based on mileage. I had a brake fluid change done at my local dealer, and 5000 miles later I went in for an oil change. Their computers were down that day, and the service advisor told me that I needed a brake fluid change. Nope. Clearly no one bothered to actually check the fluid.

Yeah, I had a guy at a Toyota dealer. Tell me I need to get rid of the car. Because he thought it needed spark plugs. He didn't know that they had just been changed less than a month prior. And we're just fine stating. I have no check engine light on. These guys are beyond dishonest. They just try to sell you anything and everything they possibly can because that's how they get paid. They don't get paid to be honest they get paid to sell stuff

An hour before watching this, I got a call one of the service advisors at my Ford dealership. I’ve been taking my truck to them for years, deal with this one guy more often than not, and he’s earned my trust for all the reasons you’ve cited. He’s always been straight with me and knows that I know some stuff. I can challenge the stuff that doesn’t make sense and he’ll deal with it. And he just returned my call over an hour after they closed. My Toyota dealer has also earned my trust in how they responded to issues. And for one other thing: many of their service advisors used to be their technicians.

Great advices, just listen to him folks! I worked 9 years in a car dealership, 2.5years in a recreational vehicles dealership and now over 4 years in a truck dealership. You're absolutely 100% right on how it works and how it is in a dealership. Trying our best to control the chaos 😅

Thank you, I bought my Rav in 2022, my first Toyota. So new to this dealership service dept. wondered how to tell if the service dept was good. So far based on what you’ve said, they seem to check all the boxes. All I’ve needed is routine maintenance but service advisors seem good.

I have a New 2022 4runner. 1st oil change was a disaster at the dealership. Long story/short. I now stay with my 4runner while they do the work.

I worked as a porter at a dealer during college, lot of customers started asking me questions when I greeted them, I always pointed them towards the advisor. Also working there taught me a lot about cars and how to deal with going to a service center.

This man speaks the truth. I spent 13 years at a Toyota dealership as a Technician and I still have a hard time believing some of the things I saw first, second, and third hand.

Very good advice! I used to be a Mechanic many moons ago and the relationships you forge with your customers are what makes your business successful. Thanks again for another great piece of advice!

I took my truck for an oil change and tire rotation. I'm driving down the road afterward and notice a weird vibration from the front. Loose lug nuts. Fun times. Glad I pulled over to check them.

AMD, very informative content for the consumer. I picked up a few points that I will use the next time I visit the dealership. Thank you for honesty and professionalism!

I completely agree on all points. Thank you for explaining this so thoroughly. Too many people are under the impression the dealership is the only place to take their car after the warranty expires.

I made a big mistake buying a Lexus from one Chicago area dealership. It was compounded by how incompetent the service dept was. I was never happy with the car, a NX350 F Sport. Cramped, noisy and slow. Dumped it recently after a year of ownership.

I don't go to the stealerships unless I can't do the work myself. Also, having free refreshments is a must lol.

Thank you! I worked for a year in the garage of an Audi/Porsche/Landrover dealership. A learning experience, speak with the Master Mechanic. When looking to purchase a used car from the dealership, we got a great discount, it was the Master Mechanic who advised me which years and models to avoid and which particular car was a great deal. 96 A6 lasted 10year 350k few mechanical issues

I really love your honesty, makes me want to drive my car to your shop, and I live in California, but I still think it's so worth it to find honest mechanics.

Thank you AMD for your knowledge and advice!

I always take picture or video of my old oil before going to change my car oil. Good thing I did that, because I went to one dealership to change my oil and they never change my oil. Looks like they don’t even open my oil cap. I check my oil stick and the oil was so black. After that I never go back and I post online what I experience on that dealership. A few months later the dealership shut down.

it's professionals like you who give the Automotive industry hope!

I do all you said about liking your technician, I always use him straightforwardly on every visit. Guess what, he's a Toyota Technician and has always taken good and proper care of me and I reflect this in my survey after every visit there. Thanks for all your expert info.

I change all our engine air and cabin HVAC filters. When I do so, I write the date and mileage on a slip of write paper with a sharpie and shipping tape (protect) that paper to the top of the engine air filter cover. For the tech to see.

I’ve had both good and terrible experiences with service departments at dealers. One dealer in the Denver area had its service advisors automatically tell everyone (I overheard the same comment with another customer) that the brakes were worn down to 3mm and they needed to be replaced. My car only had 20,000 miles on it and I always used lower gears in the mountains and drove gently, so I smelled something fishy. So, I declined and the next time I had the car serviced the brakes magically recovered to 7mm and when I sold the car 140,000 miles later it still had 4mm, more than 5 years earlier.

Thank you for having integrity in your works and your words sir. I had learned so much from master technician and mechanic like yourself to do my own maintenance and repair works because I haven't yet can find anyone with honestly and integrity in their works and words. In return, I had gain another useful skills and knowledge while saving myself $$$ from having to take it to dealership or shop. Thank you again for sharing your value knowledge and experience for DIY folks like us.

Thank you for being so candid and honest about the truth of car dealerships. The information you provided was very informative and helpful. Thank you!!!

More great advice and information. I've been lucky, the only reason I've had to go to my local dealer has been for recalls. I did once change my wheels/tires and the supplier was unable to reset the TPMS, so I went to the dealer. They charged me for an hours labor and made me wait longer, when I knew it was a 10 min. job at most. I gave them an unsatisfactory rating and tried to change my mind. Sorry, that's not the service I expect.

as usual, TCCN is very informative and HONEST! Thank you!

Wow!!! What a great video…Like my dad giving me a talk about how life really is….Wish I lived close to your shop as you would have a customer for life. Thanks for a great talk on how a dealership operates, the good , the bad and the ugly. All the best of success to you…

I've had several bad experiences with a local Toyota dealership service department where I purchased the car, like oil change I paid for not being done, and repair that was not done correctly. And I'm not the only one who has had a bad experience with this (very large) dealership service department. Lots of excuses for these mistakes, but little change . I'd like to see a video on what to look for in a good privately owned specialist shop like you run, because I'd love to find one like yours. By the way, thank you for your wonderful video's which have been very helpful for so many.

My red flag last year was bringing in my new Toyota to the dealer where I had bought it for a simple oil change at 5k miles (it was still free). What I apparently got was it being shunted to an unsupervised trainee. Driving home, I could tell there was a problem. Checked the tire pressure and they had pumped them all to 60 psi. I had specifically told them to ignore the tires since I deal with that at home. I suspect he/she pumped up the spare and then didn't reset the gauge pressure when moving on. I dealt with it and called to let them know it had happened. Got a "I'll let the manager know". A simple thing, but important, and to me it called into question their entire QA/QC. And I'll bet many folks would have just kept driving like that.

I WISH I could meet and talk to my technician. But most dealerships, and even independent garages don't want the customers "bothering" the techs. They want to quickly review the service invoice, charge your credit card, and get you on your way.

Thank you for this information. I'm sending it to an elderly lady we know. She's getting a lot of up sales. You talk about talking to the technician. A few years ago in another city, I asked to talk to the technician in a Toyota dealership. I was told that due to insurance rules I was not allowed to go into the shop. I asked if he could come out to talk with me. They told me he was not working mornings and I should come back in the afternoon. I came back in the afternoon and was told that he was too busy. Eventually, I did talk with him but it was because I was persistent. What he told me was very helpful. I really don't think the service manager wanted me to talk with the technician.

Love your channel, very informative. I went with a used 2013 Toyota Prius C. Has 88k miles but it’s paid off!

I'm so afraid of taking my Tundra to the dealership. After purchasing it new & taking for service 2 separate times they have nicked my paint on doors...on passenger side it was so bad that they had to repaint the whole side for me. they also damaged center console lid and replaced that for me also ...but I have to put it on. Its a shame to purchase a 55K vehicle and they can't even drive it back to a rack and open the doors in a way that won't bang against the lift. They should at least put cushion/foam on their racks to alleviate this. Also they tightened my Oil filter housing so tight (over 49 ft lbs) that to get it off I had to use a breaker bar and it broke a little tab off of it leaving a small hole...so I informed them and they replaced that free of charge.(Keep in mind its only supposed to be torqued 18Ft lbs). I do all my maintenance myself but I wish I had a guy like the "Car Care Nut" that I could take it to whenever I wanted.

I never work at a dealership before but this is very true it happens at independent shops too

As a (long) retired technician, may I say you are absolutely right. The problem with many dealerships is there are too many people in the communications (like the old game of "telephone") and too much pressure to increase profits. Later on as a service advisor and then with my own shop, I considered it was my duty to do my very best to describe: 1. What we did to diagnose the problem 2. What cause we found, and 3. what we did to fix it. Most of my customers liked this approach.

Thanks for the informative video. As a new car owner that hasn’t had a new vehicle in 20 years your videos are greatly appreciated. If only your automotive shop were in Los Angeles and not 2k miles away 😢. It’s so hard to find a trust worthy mechanic here. I appreciate the work you do.