Car Warranty Repairs - how does it work?

[GasX]

I have 500 miles left on warranty on my 2000 Chevy Blazer. I have identified 3 simple things I need fixed:

1. Gas Gauge doesn't work
2. Rear left speaker rattles like crazy
3. Rear windshield fluid leaks

I also have a hard to identify but potentially serious problem: The front suspension "clunks" when I turn at slow speeds and it feels "rough" when I turn at speed. I think a bearing is worn. Describing this to a mechanic so that he can fix it may prove difficult.

my question: How are dealerships compensated for warranty repairs? Do they have the incentive to properly diagnose and fix my front end problem or will they just say it is nothing and leave me hanging? And regarding the other stuff, they'll fix that no problem, right?

 

[yakko]

It will depend on how reputable the dealer is.

 

[PsychoAndy]

i think GM gives them $ for the repair time. just raise hell and you should be alright

 

[white]

they should fix the gas gauge and probably the fluid leak but i wouldn't count on them fixing the rattle unless it's really bad. i don't know how dealerships are compensated for repairs but when my sunroof switch was acting funny (refused to open within 15 minutes of being closed), the honda dealership couldn't recreate the problem so they wouldn't fix it. then they lost my key and never found it.

 

[Adul]

just complain and document every single problem. if one dealer wont fix it, go to another one. The suspension should be covered has well. With 7 milies left on our waranty, my mom had a bushing replaced under waratny

 

[toph99]

they'll do the work because GM is sending around a 'report card' for you to fill out about the dealership... anything less than a Totally Satisfied is a failing mark for the dealership. if it isn't fixed properly first, you could always raise hell when it breaks again saying you took it in already and it wasn't done properly

 

[Pacfanweb]

It works like this: you make an appointment, take the car in and they fix it. Then you pick it up.

Now, in case they can't duplicate the concern, let the service advisor know up front that you're more than willing to come ride with a tech or shop foreman and show it to them. Express NICELY your desire that this be fixed under warranty.
Be willing to leave it for a few days so they can try and duplicate the concern.

If the dealer is the one you bought the car new from, then you have an advantage there, too. They can offer you out of warranty assistance up to a certain point. (5 yrs, 50k miles, I'm pretty sure for GM's)
If they don't duplicate the problem, and you can't show it to them, just keep NICELY stating that you want some assurance that if you come back soon and they finally duplicate the concern AFTER the mileage is up, they'll step up and cover it.

After all that fails, you can call 1-800-chevusa and bitch about the dealer.

Remember, it was YOUR responsibility to get the car to the dealership BEFORE the warranty ran out. I'm quite sure all these problems didn't just happen right now, when the mileage is almost gone.

And yes, GM pays the dealer for warranty repairs, but they don't pay them to ride around for hours looking for a problem that only happens every other day. So that's where you riding with them and duplicating it for them comes in.

Just follow what I told you and remember, always be NICE. Getting pissed at service people just makes them pissed right back at you and less likely to offer alternate solutions. You can certainly be firm, just always be nice.