O/Os report: ripoffs by truck dealers and mechanic shops

I am doing the same

 

Western States Caterpillar (also International Dealership) in Missoula, MT.

Got towed into their shop w/ a seized Cat Accert C-15 motor (faulty turbo oiler line took it out) - immediately their manager tried to talk me into trading my truck (07 W9 Studio w/APU) for a new left over (previous year) plain Jane ProStar ($$120k plus).

Got the quoted for $45k (from the same manager) or so for a reman crated motor plus labor and they said the labor to check the blown motor to see if I could get core credit was going to cost more than what Caterpillar was going to give (hence no core credit). The motor alone was quoted to be over 30K + not including shipping / tax. I wind up finding a low mileage salvaged motor in town, whom they already spoken with but didn't tell me about until I brought it up. They would buy it but were going to add extra charges to the bill, so I paid it directly. After 4 days over the date that it was supposed to be completed, they told me that the turbo + ECM had to be replace, the latter because they couldn't get any of the gauges to work properly in the truck (KW Multiplex system). They already flashed the ECM to 550hp (also had them drop the oil pan and check/replace all the barrings, gaskets, overhead, paint the motor, replace all the motor mounts w/neoprene, replace the clutch, etc...) and had the motor swapped but 4 days later they were still stumped. They said it was the ECM and they thought the turbos "might not last long". The truck started but not all the gauges were functioning properly. Called PDI in St George, UT - they said there was a setting in the transmission that had to be set - relayed that to the mechanic but the changes wouldn't set. Their idea was that I buy a new ECM or have mine sent to CAT to have it "washed" - have them ship it back - they re-flash it and update the settings but if my ECM was bad I still had to buy a new one. I was facing 4 day holiday weekend, shipping, labor, already had over 10 days in a hotel, etc....

I told them I was going to take it as is, (in de-rated state w/ half of the gauges dead) which they replied, if I did they would not warranty "any" of their labor. No problem! Their bill included "new turbo + new ECM" - which I brought to their attention and of course the manager did the write up went home already. Few trips back and forth to their parts departments. Few more calls to the manager in questions. Few thousands dollars deducted on the bill for parts + labor not performed. Still over $14k.

Engine in de-rated state, dead head over 850 miles, waiting over holiday w/e. Shawn at PDI fixed it in (no lie) under 5 min. All he had to do was reset the password to ECM and then set the input for the transmission because we didn't have the original password. A major Caterpillar dealership couldn't figure this out in 4 days while PDI did under 5 min??!!??

 

You said it ! My 2008 Freightliner XL 470 Detroit, Purchased new, in 4 years nothing but problems, they replaced with new engine at 80000km. injectors 4x, replaced ECM , reprogramed half dozen times.runs most of the time like its starving for air. no turbo boost. = no power ! Hoping to get out off this headache soon, goodbye 2008.

 

Stay away from Internet Diesel. Bought a turbo that lasted 4 months before it started leaking oil out exhaust, talked with Larry, no problem, send it back get a new one. They were good enough to take care of pick up and all, three months later no turbo and can't seem to catch Larry or get help from anybody else. Lesson learned

 

any body ever lease purchase truck from LYONS truck & trailer in indianapolis in good bad

 

rush truck center(peterbilt of nashville,tn) I went in and to the dealer and told them exactly what I wanted replaced, maybe that was my first mistake, not letting them tell me what wwas wrong. Any way on my 379 pete back on the trans the return fuel line aat the divider valve as they call it I wanted that replaced and the two fuel lines too the tanks replaced they replaced the divvider and one of the fuel lines and charged me $743.87 that places SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

didnt get one from there but did from ruble in indianapolis that partner with stark leasing

 

Dropped a transmission clutch, and Bellhousing in Iowa at the 201. Got towed into interstate truck repair on the south of the highway. 11500 total, but for what was done, i was happt. 4500 reman tranny. It may look expensive

The input shaft broke when the clutch let loose or vise versa. New truck to me so completely understandable.

After talking to them about parts, the bill was exactly what we talked about and expected and am really happy with the work. Small markup on parts which was very acceptable for me.The only grip i have is they charged me
for shell rotella oil, and i know what it looks like. They didnt uses shell.

But very good shop, clean and good people. Strongly recommend them. They did a handful of things i didn't expect them to do also. Better to fix it right the first time.

Interstate truck repair.. i would recommend them for service work if your on I80 exit 201 in Iowa

 

well i had coolant leak brought to jx peterbilt in bensenville il. they gave me a clean bill of health and showed me i had a oil seal leak on a valve guide with a new rad cap
turns after two picks on my way for the third couldn't hold coolant backed out of third pick and limped it into minneapolis and the so called oil leak was coolant suffered extra 4 days down time could of fixed it in bensenville but the tech should of let a mechanic look at it.

 

Sheehans truck centre in burlington ontario canada. They are a volvo dealer. Bought a 2010 volvo 780 with 450 cummins few months ago at 406000 KM now trucks at 470000 KM and cummins is rebuilding the engine warranty expired at 400000 KM. weve had problems ever since we got the truck and the problems started with the dpf and came to the point of rebuilding the engine and weve been doing everything we can to make sure the truck is taken care of well so we dont have problems. DO NOT BUY FROM SHEEHANS. They are nothing but crooks and they havent even bothered to help in any way.