62.5k service.....GRRRRR

[jp928]

DId the service yesterday at STI Docklands. Reported ABS light coming on a couple of kms from startup, and occasional flat spot in response. On pick up- yes we found the up pipe from turbo to intercooler was kinked - removed and refitted better (or some such). ABS sensor is ordered, will notify you - Grrrrr, dont want to have to come back and waste more time.
Since its on a fully maintanied lease I didnt look at the bill much...but later, I found they charged $97 for the up pipe R&R. Surely thats a warranty issue? Nothing to do with me that it has not performed as intended AFAIK.
Any comments ?
jp 08 gtb 6mt wagon

[swingn]

From the parts side of things, it doesn't supprise me... Haven't heard of too many ABS sensors going wrong in the Libs, so you can't expect them to hold them in stock.

What annoys me, if that when they have recalls, they don't hold the parts in stock! So even if you've booked the car in, say, a week in advance, they more then likely tell you to come back later for the recall parts

With the dump pipe thingie, I think charging you is a bit rough... BUT, that depends if the issue was cause by say bottoming the car out, or weather it has been like that forever & a day... I guess we'll never know Considering the charge is rather small, truthfully I wouldn't look into it any further, it'll just be a huge waste of time of your end.

[jp928]

I guess if ABS bits rarely go wrong, they can be forgiven not having stock, but the waste of my time and money is irritating - either an hour twiddling my thumbs waiting for it, or an hour and $45 on two cab rides going to work and back.
The car has never been bottomed ,and there wont be any signs of contact underneath, so I cant see how this sort of problem can be listed as 'operator error'...but I am not going to make an issue of it, as its all in the lease stuff. When they ring me for feedback I will tell them clearly how I feel about it though.

As an example of how some people operate - I had a new ducted heater installed in 2004. Had a couple of problems with condensate leaking and rusting some of the ducting. Recently I found it was leaking again - I called the installers about it, and they sent a guy out to my house TWICE before it was fixed properly - absolutely no mention of charging me for it. This was only a $4k item, the GTB was $58k.

jp 08 gtb 6mt wagon.

[swingn]

Remember, most dealerships do not stock spare parts full stop - Outside of normal things like air filters, oil filters, etc... So unless your dealing with someone who happens to have a large spare parts distribution centre (Tyans in Sydney for example) I don't think you can complain much... You never know, there may be no stock of that part in Australia so they may be getting it out of Japan for you... You never know.

For info, Subaru's main parts distribution centre (Unless it has changed in the last few years) is Autonexus which is in the west of Sydney. So unless your using a dealership that is only down the road, or they have delivery cars, chances are parts aren't going to be delivered same day.

In regards to that other charge (Now, this is only my opinion)... I'm willing to bet, your time is worth more then $97, so I just can't see why it's worth kicking up a big stink about it? If it makes you feel better & you can do it over the phone, then fair enough. Realistically, it may involve more then that. So if you value a small amount of money over your time (& time at work) then go for your life... Mind you, if you were talking about a few hundred, or even a few thousand $$$, then I would be singing a different tune.

[coyote]

On pick up- yes we found the up pipe from turbo to intercooler was kinked

That's very interesting, given your intercooler bolts directly the turbo (no pipe).

[jp928]

"That's very interesting, given your intercooler bolts directly the turbo (no pipe)."

Maybe they were trying to convert some technical jargon into something a layperson would understand, assuming I dont know a turbo from a tuba.
Are there any pics or diagrams around of how the turbo is connected to the intercooler? But the desk man did say 'a turbo pipe was kinked, was removed and refitted', and bill says 'relocated turbo hose/owner to report'.

Coyote is quite right about hose - intercooler is bolted direct to turbo outlet. On checking , there arent many hoses that can kink (ie, rubber) - inlet from air cleaner to turbo - large dia and short, kinking pretty much impossible. Intercooler outlet - hard, and in a confined space. There seem to be quite a few small dia hoses for sensing boost etc, but see below for comments on signs of work.
The other curious thing is that there are almost no signs of activity on the top side at all, in that almost everything is covered in a fine layer of dust. The oil has been changed, its nice and clean. Battery electrolyte check - I find it difficult to see the level through the side of the case, and there is dust all over the top of it. Another service item is 'inspect air cleaner element' - having done this myself once, it takes a minute or two of snapping clips off the case and wriggling the flat feed pipe out to free the case - no signs of handling disturbing the dust there either.....

I am not going waste more effort on it than questioning it when they call to get my feedback on the job. I think they feel they can get away with it because its on a fully maintained lease, and it doesnt come out of my pocket.

jp 08 gtb 6mt wagon

[teK--]

I've had to wait for parts to come from Subaru Japan and was impressed by how quick it was. Around 5 working days plus I didn't even have to pay for shipping since it was ordered by the dealer

[jp928]

I experienced a flat spot in acceleration yesterday , so I did an ecu reset to see if it would help. Certainly seemed nicely toey this morning....

Just had a call from Suby - the $97 was for the service work, it just happened to be on the same invoice line as the note about 'relocated turbo hose'. Oops, apologies all around.

Hesitation/flat spot - probably in the fly by wire I am told, and there are no TSBs for this. There are in USA though - "different car, not relevant" they tell me.

jp 08 gtb 6mt wagon

[coyote]

What you are describing sounds like the closed to open loop transition delay in the factory tune.

[gen3v8]

What you are describing sounds like the closed to open loop transition delay in the factory tune.

Mine suffers that at times

[jp928]

Since the ecu reset all has been good, fingers crossed.
jp

[jp928]

Since last look have dug into the service 'work' some more....

- unless they have a tool other than fingers, battery plugs havent been removed to check fluid. I cant see the level through the casing.
- how do you inspect the air cleaner element without disturbing dust on the cold air intake and casing?
- how do you 'inspect' rear diff oil without removing the plug, and 99.99% of the time spill some oil, or at least disturb dust?
- one tyre was 2psi low, the spare was 10psi low.....

When they replace the ABS sensor, I have asked to be shown the turbo hose they 'repositioned'.

jp 08 gtb 6mt wagon

[coyote]

But you got the ticks on the page. That's what dealership servicing is all about.

I've paid for jobs that could have been done under warranty to be done elsewhere, simply because I've seen first hand how bad Subaru service is.

[jp928]

Is there somebody in Mlebourne that you can recommend please?
tks
jp