 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
Car Forum / Toyota / Prius / April 2008Better Post-Maintenance Performance
Spurred on by my miserable MPGs every time my car has gone in for scheduled maintenance, and its failure to even recover from that the last time, I decided to tape a note to my steering wheel re the amount of oil, tire pressure, etc. I got some snide comments from the mechanic, BUT my car is actually getting good mileage again--56+ MPGs. I may edit my note a bit before my next visit, but I will keep right on doing that....  SignatureJean B. > Spurred on by my miserable MPGs every time my car has gone in for > scheduled maintenance, and its failure to even recover from that the last > time, I decided to tape a note to my steering wheel re the amount of oil, > tire pressure, etc. I got some snide comments from the mechanic, BUT my > car is actually getting good mileage again--56+ MPGs. I may edit my note > a bit before my next visit, but I will keep right on doing that.... Why didn't I think of that? Thanks, Jean. I'm going to do the same thing. Mine will simply say "If the oil is over the full mark and the tires aren't rotated and at 42F/40R , you aren't finished." How about this: "If the oil is over the full mark and the tires aren't rotated and at 42F/40R , you ARE finished." Might be a bit harsh.... > How about this: "If the oil is over the full mark and the tires aren't > rotated and at 42F/40R , you ARE finished." Might be a bit harsh.... I was a service manager in an avionics shop for a few years. I was sometimes mildly annoyed when customers were finicky about things that made no sense to me, but I preferred accomodating their requests rather than leaving them dissatisfied. Mike >> How about this: "If the oil is over the full mark and the tires aren't >> rotated and at 42F/40R , you ARE finished." Might be a bit harsh.... [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Mike Yes it would be annoying to be reminded about an overfill seeing that it could very well cause the engine to refuse to start. I know first hand it doesn't take much to screw things up. > Yes it would be annoying to be reminded about an overfill seeing that it > could very well cause the engine to refuse to start. I know first hand it > doesn't take much to screw things up. My dealer overfilled mine doing the very first oil change. It was about 3/8" above the full line. Started fine when they drove it back into the shop to drain out the excess. Fellow was pissed that I made him do it. Along the way he asked, sarcastically, how much oil I want in the thing. I told him to drain it to the full mark. >>How about this: "If the oil is over the full mark and the tires aren't >>rotated and at 42F/40R , you ARE finished." Might be a bit harsh.... [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Mike That can be smart. Yes, I think I annoyed the machanic (and I would like not to do that). OTOH, don't you think that we, who are looking oh-so-carefully at the MPGs and ponddering the whys and wherefores might be interested in practices that don't cause them to plummet? SignatureJean B. >>How about this: "If the oil is over the full mark and the tires aren't >>rotated and at 42F/40R , you ARE finished." Might be a bit harsh.... [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Mike Oh! PS. Irony of ironies, it was a post from YOU that I based my note on! Thank you, BTW. SignatureJean B. >>Spurred on by my miserable MPGs every time my car has gone in for >>scheduled maintenance, and its failure to even recover from that the last [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Mine will simply say "If the oil is over the full mark and the tires aren't > rotated and at 42F/40R , you aren't finished." Oh! I LIKE that! I am thinking of rewriting my note, so it won't be offensive--but I am really happy right now. I am getting my best mileage yet. I was so afraid that I would be getting even worse mileage than I've had since my last appt. That would have been the pits. (I was barely hitting 50 mpg, and before I took it in, I was getting around 55 mpg.) SignatureJean B. I don't know why it took so long for me to remember, but a friend told me just recently she gets exceptional service by leaving a box of donuts when she drops off the car. A pretty slick way of being sure she is remembered as a person! Mike > Spurred on by my miserable MPGs every time my car has gone in for > scheduled maintenance, and its failure to even recover from that the last > time, I decided to tape a note to my steering wheel re the amount of oil, > tire pressure, etc. I got some snide comments from the mechanic, BUT my > car is actually getting good mileage again--56+ MPGs. I may edit my note > a bit before my next visit, but I will keep right on doing that.... I think his attitude is understandable. The service manager is the liaison between you and the mechanic. Put your requests on the proper form. >> Spurred on by my miserable MPGs every time my car has gone in for >> scheduled maintenance, and its failure to even recover from that the last [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > I think his attitude is understandable. The service manager is the liaison > between you and the mechanic. Put your requests on the proper form. The proper form? On my last rotation I asked for 42 psi front, 40 psi rear. The service manager wrote that on the service order. When I picked up my car, front and rear were in the mid 30's. >>> Spurred on by my miserable MPGs every time my car has gone in for >>> scheduled maintenance, and its failure to even recover from that the [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > rear. The service manager wrote that on the service order. When I picked > up my car, front and rear were in the mid 30's. I can only imagine how alarming it must have been to be 65 years old and not taken seriously enough to follow thru on your request. But it happens and as I said before, the service manager is the one to speak with. Don't worry, you won't be a challenge to them. They see all kinds walk through the door. >>>Spurred on by my miserable MPGs every time my car has gone in for >>>scheduled maintenance, and its failure to even recover from that the last [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > The service manager wrote that on the service order. When I picked up my > car, front and rear were in the mid 30's. Ack! That's the problem, isn't it? And you'd think/hope that the fill mark on the oil would mean something. It looks really bad to point out what should be obvious--and yes, even offensive, but what can one do when this is ignored? Back to the tires, I wondered whether they would be filled as per Toyota's instructions, no matter what I asked and was pleased to find that was not the case. SignatureJean B. > > The proper form? On my last rotation I asked for 42 psi front, 40 > > psi rear. The service manager wrote that on the service order. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > Toyota's instructions, no matter what I asked and was pleased to find > that was not the case. I had 30K done about a week ago. I have long given up on asking them to fill the tires to anything other than Toyota specs. After this last fill up, I'm giving up on asking them to do anything about tire pressure. I told them that the previous time they didn't fill the tires to spec. The service manager assured me that everything would be to Toyota's specifications (including the oil, which I had also mentioned). When I checked the tire pressure in my garage the next morning, the tires were all between 30 and 35, with no two at the same pressure. SignatureStop Mad Cowboy Disease: Impeach the son of a Bush. > The service manager assured me that everything would be to > Toyota's specifications (including the oil, which I had also mentioned). > When I checked the tire pressure in my garage the next morning, the > tires were all between 30 and 35, with no two at the same pressure. From what I've observed, the service manager is hired for his soft voice and thick skin. His job is to stand between you and two other people: the guy who sold you the car and made lots of promises in the process, and the guy who is actually doing (or not doing) the work. Beyond that he's a paper pusher. When you are charged for something that hasn't been done, like rotating the tires for example, he's the fellow who chews the a.s off some mechanic in your presence, then laughs about it with him over a beer after work. My advice? Set traps for them like putting a small mark on your front tires so you can easily tell if they were rotated. > From what I've observed, the service manager is hired for his soft voice > and thick skin. His job is to stand between you and two other people: the [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > after work. My advice? Set traps for them like putting a small mark on > your front tires so you can easily tell if they were rotated. I think it's time to up your dose a bit, Bill. >> From what I've observed, the service manager is hired for his soft voice >> and thick skin. His job is to stand between you and two other people: [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >> > I think it's time to up your dose a bit, Bill. Think so, huh? Read about the Jiffy Lube scam here: http://tinyurl.com/qov9v It's reminiscent of the Sears scam some years back: http://tinyurl.com/lszca I remember taking my old VW to the VW dealership for a flat-rate tune-up that included plugs, points and valve adjustment. The invoice had checkmarks alongside each of those items. There wasn't a fingerprint on either the distributor or the valve covers so I had them pull a plug. They hadn't been changed either. The service manager scolded the mechanic and forced him to perform the service with me standing there. Ya, sure, you betcha. Use the proper form. The service manager will take care of everything, including making excuses and chewing a.s. I remember the Buick dealer's service manager telling me I needed a brake job only two weeks after getting a brake job at a muffler shop. Thinking the muffler shop might have ripped me off I had them pull a wheel and show me how bad they were. Upon seeing the new brakes, he explained that they had confused my paperwork with a different vehicle. Ya, sure, you betcha. What dose do you recommend? > I remember taking my old VW to the VW dealership for a flat-rate > tune-up that included plugs, points and valve adjustment. The [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > explained that they had confused my paperwork with a different > vehicle. Ya, sure, you betcha. I had an opposite problem about twenty years ago. Mechanics at two different shops told me that my alternator was good and that I needed a new battery. Three different stores that sold batteries told me that the battery was good, and that I needed a new alternator. SignatureStop Mad Cowboy Disease: Impeach the son of a Bush. > I had an opposite problem about twenty years ago. Mechanics at two > different shops told me that my alternator was good and that I needed a > new battery. Three different stores that sold batteries told me that > the battery was good, and that I needed a new alternator. Geez, Michelle, don't leave us hanging! How did this story end? SignatureMike Rosenberg <http://macconsult.com/cafepress/> Net Junkie and Mac-themed shirts etc. <http://bogart-tribute.net> Tribute to Humphrey Bogart <http://cafepress.com/comedancing> Ballroom dance-themed shirts & gifts > > I had an opposite problem about twenty years ago. Mechanics at two > > different shops told me that my alternator was good and that I [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Geez, Michelle, don't leave us hanging! How did this story end? The car continued to not start when the engine was hot. The problem was never properly diagnosed nor was it ever fixed. We wound up selling it to a friend for $300 (it had about 150,000 miles on it, and we had had it for about fourteen years), and he sold it to a friend of his because he's allergic to cats. Don't know what happened to it after that. It was a 1975 or 76 Mazda GLC, by the way. SignatureStop Mad Cowboy Disease: Impeach the son of a Bush. >>> From what I've observed, the service manager is hired for his soft voice >>> and thick skin. His job is to stand between you and two other people: [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > > What dose do you recommend? Ask for the old parts you stupid dumbfuck. >>>> From what I've observed, the service manager is hired for his soft >>>> voice and thick skin. His job is to stand between you and two other [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > > Ask for the old parts you stupid dumbfuck. You can always tell when someone is losing a debate. They inevitably revert to the slurs of their adolescence. Whose old parts do you think I'd get, mine or someone else's? I'll bet if they had asked Jiffy Lube to produce the gas filter they didn't change they would have produced one in a heartbeat. Be nice now. I'll give you a second chance to win this one. Top 10 Top Lesbian Cars 2006 4. Toyota Prius If you're a tree hugger like me, (And most lesbians are, aren't they?) then you want a car that not only gets you where you're going, but does it in a way that's easy on the environment. The new Toyota Prius is a great car, that just happens to be a hybrid. Read Review http://lesbianlife.about.com/od/otherfunstuff/tp/LesbianCars.htm 2005 Toyota Prius Test Drive The car of the future- -and not because it's a hybrid About.com Rating From Philip Powell, for About.com Filed In:Fuel Economy > Hybrid vehicles 2005 Toyota Prius Used Hybrid Car Reviews Read the Reviews, Compare Prices, and Buy the Best Used Hybrid Cars www.ConsumerSearch.com 2008 Model 110 HP, EPA 60 mpg / 51 mpg Edmunds Empowers The Auto Consumer! www.Toyota.Edmunds.com New Toyota Prius On Sale Schedule A Test Drive & Save At Vandergriff Toyota in Arlington! VandergriffToyota.com Cars Ads Prius Reviews Toyota Prius Hybrids Honda Accord Hybrid Hybrid Gas Mileage The first Toyota Prius was a novelty but the 2nd Generation delivers a full-featured family sedan with many advanced features. For 2005 subtle changes were made to its gas/electric/CVT powertrain, making Prius smoother, reasonably powerful and, of course, amazingly economical. The only problem lies in getting one, as demand for the spacious futureship outstrips supply. Base price $20,875. Warranty: 3yr/36,000 mi total car, 5 yr/60,000 mi powertrain. EPA fuel mileage: 60 city/51 highway. First Glance As the parking attendant guided our Prius into the last available slot aboard the 5 PM ferry to Vancouver Island he shouted "hey, it's one of those nuclear-powered cars!" It had been a close call as the ship was full and there was some doubt as to whether another vehicle could fit. Thankfully, trim lines and sensible exterior dimensions allowed the Prius to be shoehorned in place, otherwise it would have meant two more hours in the penalty box, waiting for the 7:00 PM sailing. I'd already been there more than an hour and the journey adds another hour-and- thirty-five minutes, so if the ferry guy assumed my car was powered by nuclear energy, I wasn't going to spoil the illusion. In fact, driving a Toyota Prius really is like driving a car of the future, even to the point of altering long-time driving habits. Of course the hybrid drivetrain with its advanced technology and fuel-saving performance is what makes the Prius unique but even if the car had been powered by a conventional drivetrain I'd still be impressed. Toyota has, literally, reinvented the motor car and we should all be glad, especially those of us who care about the environment vs. merely paying lip-service. In the Driver's Seat 2005 Toyota Prius Interior © Philip PowellEntering the Prius requires a remote locking device but once the doors are open, you can put it in your pocket because starting this car is unlike anything you've ever done: Foot on the brake, press the power button, watch for the "ready" indicator to light up and you're ready to go. You can then, if you wish, check the center-mounted display, which shows the flow of energy between gas engine, electric motor, and batteries. Sprouting from the dash is the gear lever, about the length of your thumb. The only "gears" you'll select, however, are forward and reverse, for the Prius utilises a CVT (continuously- variable) transmission, a system that automatically matches engine power to the circumference of a sliding metal belt. Because the Prius is so quiet, you won't even notice what's happening except when engine revs are required for passing acceleration. It's a perfect match for a hybrid power source, making the switch between gas, electricity, and gear- ratios seamless. Almost as impressive as the technology, by the way, is the exceptionally spacious interior which, when the rear seats are folded, provides a lengthy, absolutely flat, load space that would do credit to a minivan. On the Road The first thing you'll notice is utter quiet, though our reverie was spoilt by snow tires fitted for the benefit of journalists who motor to the nearby Whistler ski area. That aside, the Prius is a relaxing drive. You ride high, enjoy excellent visibility, manoeuver confidently with a small, oval-shaped steering wheel that sits almost in your lap. Far more enjoyable than being submerged in those slab-sided tanks with gun-slit windows masquerading as cars these days. Since there are no gears, tap the tiny lever to the left and down to go forward; left and up for reverse. Reversing causes a beeper to sound inside the vehicle, assumedly as a caution for motorists who accidentally flick the gear lever the wrong way. Acceleration from rest is only average but 40-70 mph performance, more important than stoplight drags, takes a mere 8.93 seconds. Flooring the throttle adds a burst of sound from the 1.5 liter DOHC four as it and the belt-drive adjust to your demands; the good news is that you can pass with confidence. The Prius is no sports sedan though steering response is good and it tracks well through turns. Mileage is better in the city when battery power dominates, whereas the gas engine is usually needed for highway driving. Journey's End 2005 Prius Aerodynamics Revealed Prius' non-traditional shape is aerodynamic, adding to fuel economy and performance while providing more interior room. Obviously such radical styling attracts attention but the innovative packaging is vastly superior to that of a conventional sedan which makes the Prius, in my view, quite beautiful. Others may disagree. The interior is equally different, particularly in its use of materials; dash, console, and upholstery all have a luxurious look that owes something, believe it or not, to those Bakelight-bodied radios of the 1940's. (What goes around comes around and its name is Philco; nice to know the future has a past.) That center-mounted screen offers, among other attractions, a GPS map, and although the steering wheel cleverly includes buttons for sound, air controls and screen-displayed information, I'm of the opinion that one can sometimes have too much of a good thing, for such things are distracting. Said comment does not apply to the wide rear doors and spacious rear seating area nor to the "double-bubble" roof, a clever take on Italian sports car designs from the 50's. Buy this car to save fuel or to experience the automobile as it should be: I have seen the future and I'm driving it now. http://cars.about.com/od/toyota/fr/05_toyo_prius.htm <snip> This looks like it was written years ago..... Tomes > Top 10 Top Lesbian Cars 2006 > [quoted text clipped - 76 lines] > variable) transmission, a system that automatically matches engine power > to the circumference of a sliding metal belt. No sliding belt for the Prius. The author quoted might have confused the Prius CVT (or ECVT as Toyota calls it) with a Honda CVT version. For more on the Prius CVT see http://www.cleangreencar.co.nz/page/prius-transmission. Tom > Because the Prius is so > quiet, you won't even notice what's happening except when engine revs [quoted text clipped - 46 lines] > > http://cars.about.com/od/toyota/fr/05_toyo_prius.htm mark_digital© wrote: >> Spurred on by my miserable MPGs every time my car has gone in for >> scheduled maintenance, and its failure to even recover from that the [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > liaison between you and the mechanic. Put your requests on the proper > form. Which would be what? (I am being serious, not snide.) It would be nice if such preferences could be part of one's service record and print out as part of every service request. (You can see I have no understanding of how such things work.) SignatureJean B. >> I think his attitude is understandable. The service manager is the >> liaison between you and the mechanic. Put your requests on the proper [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > part of every service request. (You can see I have no understanding of how > such things work.) I don't know if you just show up or make arrangements for service. But in any case, it's the paper stating the service you asked for, and quite possibly a disclaimer stating customer requests tire pressure be such and such. Then you sign it and then the work gets done. Its the same thing if you were to ask for new brake pads without the rotors turned. They'll try to sway you if they feel the rotors should be turned (skimmed flat) so your pads last longer. If the rotors are almost at scrap point they'll tell you. Sometimes no matter what you want it's not going to happen. They don't want to jeopardize your life. Now as far as oil, suppose you asked for 10W-40 and it's supposed to be 5W-30. Don't be surprised to see a disclaimer on the worksheet stating "Customer requests 10W-40". Later on if there's damage and it can be traced back to the wrong oil you may indeed voided your warrantee. You won't be able to say "But you didn't warn me about this" because that's what disclaimers are all about. As far as leaving a note, they don't know what's going on in your head. They don't know if you will owe up to being the one who insisted if something goes wrong. Like I said to Bill, they see all kinds walk thru the door. In today's world many people won't accept responsibility when it's their fault and no paper trail. Leaving notes bypasses their right to advise you. If you leave a note AND get it in writing on the worksheet it's demeaning to the mechanic. Leave a note that says "Thank You". Nothing more. >>> I think his attitude is understandable. The service manager is the >>> liaison between you and the mechanic. Put your requests on the proper [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > get it in writing on the worksheet it's demeaning to the mechanic. > Leave a note that says "Thank You". Nothing more. First you point out that they don't know what's going on in our heads and then you challenge leaving them a note letting them know what is going on inside our heads. Make up your mind, ok? If I'm paying for the service, I'm the boss. Simple as that. >>>> I think his attitude is understandable. The service manager is the >>>> liaison between you and the mechanic. Put your requests on the proper [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > inside our heads. Make up your mind, ok? If I'm paying for the service, > I'm the boss. Simple as that. OK whatever. |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.