If you were ever toiling over doing your own maintenance versus going to Jiffy Lube..

[ltoolio]

Check this:
http://mfile.akamai.com/12924/wmv/vod.ibsys.com/2006/0503/9152183.200k.asx

Makes me appreciate the hard work and time I put into the "regular" maintenance of my XC :)

And, it gave me a bit of a laugh. With all this talk of failed tranny's and ECMs and electrical gremlins and windshield wipers and wheel bearings and turbo line leaks, I think we can all use a good laugh!

[philosophicaldreamer]

This incredible. I hope that Jiffy Lube goes the K-mart's or Dodo bird's way and disappears. This is digusting. The good news is that I would never take any of my volvos to Jiffy Lube or Pep Boys or any of those chain places; they do not inspire confidence.

Ta-ta, j.

[dr.tb.xc]

Sad, but I'm not surprised at all. Though there are honest shops out there, many are more than willing to take advantage of the ignorant.

Knowledge is power. Rolling up one's sleeves and crawling under the engine compartment to change the oil and filter is one very good way to keep tabs of what's going on with a vehicle. And, assuming that one has the minimal skills and tools required for such a task, is the only real way to know for sure that the job has been done correctly.

Being lazy and/or ignorant is begging to be victimized. It's too bad that that's the case, but I believe it's true where basic maintenance is concerned. Tire pressure, fluids, brake pads, etc. -- trust no one but yourself.

Of course, if you've got money to burn, you can always go to the Volvo dealership's service department and pay too much. At least it will probably be done correctly.

-Todd

[Pennhaven]

Of course, if you've got money to burn, you can always go to the Volvo dealership's service department and pay too much. At least it will probably be done correctly.
I would suggest underlining probably. The service you get is only as good as the tech doing the work and in my experience dealers have more than their share of mediocre technicians, especially considering the price you pay (which tends to go more to layers of advisors/managers, fancy décor, and the owner's pocket, than to competent technicians).

[01XC BEN]

Hi I'm new here, great site. now on with the reply.
That video doesn't suprise me in the least. And as it has been stated in many other posts. "If you don't have the tools or knowledge to do the work your self a trusted independent garage is your best choice". I think the dealerships do have there share of great technicians, but for every good technician there are 2 that are just OK. This reminds me of what happened to me just recently. I had noticed my 01 XC hitting hard when I pulled it into drive from park or reverse. Most people who have been around cars know this could be several things. low tranny fluid level, dirty or worn fluid, dirty filter or at worst a tranny problem. So first off I check the fluid level, it was fine. The fluid did look and smell like it should be changed. The 01 XC"s don't have a tranny filter. I don't live anywhere near a Volvo dealer. So I called the closet Volvo specialist (Kitchen Auto, in Barrie Ontario) they told me my fluid didn't have to be changed ever, because it was synthetic. I LOL at the person on the phone. I told them "I didn't care, I wanted the fluid flushed and changed." Then they gave me rant about how someone else had this done to there car buy a quick lube place and they used the wrong fluid, and it cost the person a new tranny. I replied "that is why I called, you are supposed to be the specialists." he told me "it would be expensive" I told him "I don't 'f'ing care". bottom line the service was completed properly and my problem went away. and the other poor guy who went to quicky lube learned his lesson.

[gibbons]

A guy I work with got the transmission lube changed in his manual transmission at Jiffy lube. He wasn't much of a nuts/bolts guy, and didn't really question why the trans started whinning and growling within miles of leaving the shop. They did half a change for him, forgetting to put new lube in. He ended up with an expensive transmission rebuild that he ended up paying for.

In 30 years of driving, I have: taken my 74 Duster in to have new ball joints in high school, taken our 95 Subaru in for a wheel bearing, and will take it in shortly for a timing belt. Other than for those and stuff like AC charging and alignments, I have always been fortunate to have the time and tools to do clutches, valve adjustments, brakes, fluids, etc myself. I can afford it, but I do it to save money anyway and to make sure it's done right.

I wish I had one of those cool new computerized tire balancers with road force rollers and all that groovy hi-tech stuff.... :)

[littlewaywelt]

Check this:
http://mfile.akamai.com/12924/wmv/vod.ibsys.com/2006/0503/9152183.200k.asx

Makes me appreciate the hard work and time I put into the "regular" maintenance of my XC :)

And, it gave me a bit of a laugh. With all this talk of failed tranny's and ECMs and electrical gremlins and windshield wipers and wheel bearings and turbo line leaks, I think we can all use a good laugh!
darn...now I have to buy a hidden camera to install in the XC to make sure the dealership is doing their work. :D

[Raynald]

darn...now I have to buy a hidden camera to install in the XC to make sure the dealership is doing their work. :DNah.. Don't bother. Find yourself a friend in the TV business! :D

Joke aside, this kind of ripe-off has always been a problem not only in the automobile business, but in the home appliance business too. I've heard horror stories like that for many years where one of the actors was a so called "certified technician" and the other was a... diswasher!

My Volvo delearship is small, so I've been able to get friendly with almost every employee. When I call for an appointment, I don't even have to idientify mylself. They recognize me almost every time.. I wonder why! :rolleyes: :confused: ;)

[colovolvo]

Warning, rant ahead-
I got taken advantage of in high school by a mechanic who charged me for a tranny rebuild when in fact the problem was a 15 dollar switch, and that is the main reason I have become mechanically inclined and do the work myself. The mechanics at the dealer (at least here) are not much better than at JL. It's hard to find one with clean uniforms, pants around their waist, and the inability to set off the metal detector at the airport with their 'body decorations'. If the job will take too long or require special tools or expertise, I trust it to my local Volvo mechanic, who is outstandingly professional.
As an EMS helicopter mechanic, I am used to professional, clean, articulate coworkers. I understand that most auto maintenance is not life-dependent, but I maintain my car to the level that I would an aircraft. Call me anal, but if you are going to work, have some self respect, honesty and pride in your handiwork!

[MD-Daddy]

I trust no one with my Family's safety more than our Family mechanic...Mr Oliver to my kids. It took me three years to find him under that old oak tree in his backyard 'single bay' shop. Prior to Mr Oliver it was Mr. Kevin 35 miles south of us; Mr. Kevin was our mechanic for eight years prior.

Mr Oliver has several Hummer (the real ones), duce-n-halfs, jeeps, etc. He's a collector and also rents them to movie crews in the area. Mr. Oliver has an old hound underfoot, a smelly cigar in his mouth, country music playing in his shop, and never fails to welcome me under the car to point out the problem. And if there isn't a problem he tells me so. I trust him, just like I trust my doctor. We have a relationship like that too.

I am mechanically inclined, but not as good as the experts like Mr Kevin and Mr Oliver. I'd no sooner change my transmission fluid or brake pads as prescribing a therapy for myself or my family. I can do it, but thats not my way.

When our kids are older (teenagers before driving) they'll learn how to maintain a vehicle; tires, brakes, oil, etc. Thats part of being independent as well as an educated 'driver' in our opinion. Knowing that a muffler does not have chrome ball barings (sp) is as important as knowing how your car will perform on wet roads. Its my hope that Mr Oliver offers such education to our kids in ten+ years. :-) If not, that'll be my job.

P.S. Mr Olivers son is helping out now; he's a former Ford machanic with Volvo training (whaaooh!). So far the Volvo has only been seen by Volvo folks...but soon the oil will need to be changed and the relationship will include the 04 XC.

MDD