Meeocky

...to a dealership when after bringing my car there twice and it's STILL broken?

It all started In November. I had a slight grind when I shifted into 4th. I was assuming it was just a syncro, so I brought it to the dealership to get replaced before it got worse. After a week of having my car, the Dealership replaced the syncro and found that my shift fork was slightly cracked. So they replaced that as well. I got the car back it drives just fine.

A few days later, I hear a whining noise. It’s the same whining as when you drive in reverse, but it would whine all through my gears in forward. It would also occasionally have a loud grinding noise coming from the transmission when I slow down to a stop. It would also lock up in reverse when I was backing up into traffic. So I called the dealership and they said to bring it back in and see what’s the problem.

When I brought it the dealership, the Subaru tech, got into my car and tried to drive it into the garage and it locked up in reverse, so they experienced it first hand. After having it for over a month, they said apparently they forgot to put a pin in a bearing, causing the bearing to shift up to a ¼ inch in the tranny. So that time I was driving it, it screwed up so much in the tranny. When asking the tech what was wrong with it, he briefly said...

”Man, all kinds of stuff were messed up. It seemed like every time we thought we fixed the problem, we would find another part that needed to be replaced. I had to replace numerous parts in the transmission, the drive shaft, rack and pin etc. But we fixed everything and you’re all good to go”

I was already annoyed by this whole ordeal, I just took the car home. It drove home just fine.

A week later (yesterday) I back out of my driveway to go to work and it wouldn’t go into 1st. After fighting with it, it eventually went into gear and I went to work. All day it drove fine. Later last night, I’m leaving a parking lot and discovered my car is all screwed up again. I try to put it into reverse, the reverse lights came on and everything, but it goes forward. Here’s how my car is…..

1st, 2nd, 3rd, & 4th = don’t go into gear
5th = 5th
Reverse = 3rd (I think)
Neutral = 1st

So yeah, my car is screwed up. And since I can’t put it into neutral, I can’t pull it home. The dealership is closed until Tuesday. So I’m stuck without a car. It’s not driver error because I never had this problem until the, “Certified Subaru Technicians” at the dealership touched it.

So that brings me up to my original question. Is there anything I can do to this dealership so I can get my car actually working like normal again?


Maybe I should buy a tricycle,
Meeocky

imporacer

Ask for a new transmission, since it will be a fourth time repairing it. If you go to another dealer, they'll send you back to the original dealer that work on it and couldn't get it right. Keep your receipts, and fight for new tranmission since it's pretty much screwed up from the way you're discribing it. Just pray that they don't blame you on your transmission problem because of racing issues. Eventhough you don't race, some dealers will make up some stuff to get out of that warranty work. Good luck man.

Meeocky

Yeah, I was planning on asking for a whole new transmisson when I get in touch with them. I don't race it, and it's still under warantee. I'll see what i can do

meilers

If ANY shop had my car for more than two weeks, I would SUE them -- you are far too patient with these idiots. I'm not kidding. They are costing you time, money, convenience and blood pressure, and the obligation is on them to stick to the legal contract that is your warranty. Talk to a lawyer before you go back, some states give car owners very solid rights in these matters to keep bad shops from unofficially "impounding" a car.

Brfatal

Heh, Subaru of Dallas had my car for 2 1/2 months because they couldn't find what was wrong.

Meeocky

So today, I got a tow truck to bring my car to the dealership (at the dealership's expense). I finally get to the dealership and while I was waiting for them to check out the problem, I had to take a phone call outside. My girlfriend stayed inside just in case if they had a question. The tech came back inside and my girlfriend overheard the tech tell the head tech, "It's all messed up. It's locked in a gear. This guy must not know how to drive a manual. This is the 2nd time he brought it in." When my girlfriend told me what he said I was very pissed. He was lucky I didn't hear him say it first hand. I didn't say anything right away, but when I was leaving I turned back and said to the head tech, "Oh, and I know how to drive a standard. This is not my first vehicle with a 5 speed. It's just kinda funny, my car was just fine besides the syncro until your tech put his fingers on my car. Oh, and I would like a brand new transmission, please." and he replied with, "Yes, Mr. Landry. I was planning on getting a new tranny and not trying to repair the original one again." I replied with thanks." and I left.

I'm so pissed that the tech makes it seem like it's my fault my car is broken. I think he's just trying to put the blame on me because it's making him look bad. As soon as I get my car back, I'm going trade it in ASAP before it breaks again. I'm so pissed!

imporacer

I have a bad feeling about this . . . before you leave the dealership the next time you pick up your car, MAKE sure it is a new transmission. I just hope you can tell your old tranny from the new one. Also, before you leave the dealership, ask the service manager to go with you on a test drive. If he doesn't want too, you might wanna take the car for a spin and test the NEW tranny out; make sure you mix your driving from stop and go, to freeway speeds to make sure your tranny is in good working order. If you find something wrong, this will save you the trip on going back to the dealership before heading home. Keep us posted.

Spo172

Now, I don't know of any dealer that would tell a customer that they are going to replace his transmission and not do so. If you have encounter this, I suggest you find another dealership to go to.

imporacer

I've seen it twice and it was done to my friend's '04 Ford Expedition. Dealers sometimes will play you for a sucka if you're not careful. That's why sometimes, it's a good idea to ask for the old parts back after repairs. Also, all of my 4 cars I repair and maintain; if you want the job done right, do it yourself.