Beware of Beechmont Subaru Cincinnati

P

phatirejunky

Hi, Bad experience with service dept. To make a long story short: My
2002 Forester has had an intermittent engine miss/hesitation for about
6 months. No CEL. I changed fuel filter, plugs, and wires myself,
didn't cure problem. Let local independent have a try at
troubleshooting, they agreed it was engine problem but couldn't figure
it out, suggested dealer. Beechmont is nearest dealer. They had it
for a day and diagnosed a bad clutch, $1,100 to replace. Granted,
clutch is probably worn at 70,000 mi., but it has never slipped the
first time. They also wanted me to replace timing belt since getting
close for replacement. They charged me $44 for B.S. diagnosis, no
indication any engine analysis was done at all. I explained that it was
intermittent and since no error codes had been thrown, I understood it
might take some time to diagnose. It was like they didn't want to take
the time, they just wanted in my pocket. I am searching for any ideas
about problem. I have found that sometimes a bad upstream A/F (O2
sensor) will not throw a code. Also, any reccomendations for good
mechanic/dealer in southern Ohio/northern KY.? Thanks
 
Sorry to respond w/out answering your question, but I'm always
skeptical of these "beware of so and so dealer" posts. Why did you pay
for services you weren't happy with?

-LK
 
Well, the law varies between states, yada yada. Generally speaking, a
repair shop cannot exercise a mechanic's lien to hold your if it did
unauthorized work or exceeded the written estimate by more than a
reasonable percentage. Also, even if the shop did authorized work that
did not exceed the estimate, if there's a dispute over the work, you
can call your bank, put the money owed into escrow, take your car, and
argue with the dealer later.

In our friend phatirejunky's case, maybe there's more to it than he
posted, but he says they charged him for a B.S. diagnosis, with no
indication any engine analysis was done at all, among other problematic
charges. If the dealer couldn't even document the work, there's no way
they're going to take the risk of holding someone's car under the
circumstances (and I wouldn't have paid them for work).

my two duckets,
LK
 
What the hell are you talking about? the guy is asking for a good mechanic
in the Cincinnati area, what does your diatribe have to do with that?
 
Wagner Subaru in Fairborn, OH is an excellent dealer. That is a bit North
for you, but if you are fed up at this point, it might be worth the effort.
 
my post was in response to bart's question, which was "Doesn't the
dealer have a mechanics lien on a car if you don't pay for service?"
Read the posts, monkey boy.
 
lkreh said:
my post was in response to bart's question, which was "Doesn't the
dealer have a mechanics lien on a car if you don't pay for service?"
Read the posts, monkey boy.

I did agree to labor costs at $88 hour. I was told worn clutch
exhibits same symptoms as I described. The reason I say B.S., worn
clutch would not be a intermittent problem, and this problem occurs
when engine is under load, which I also explained to dealer. A worn
clutch under load will show up as increased rpm's without increased
mph. I did not specifically say "Do engine analysis", I should have, I
guess? Thanks for legal advice and shop recomendations!
 
I did agree to labor costs at $88 hour. I was told worn clutch
exhibits same symptoms as I described. The reason I say B.S., worn
clutch would not be a intermittent problem, and this problem occurs
when engine is under load, which I also explained to dealer. A worn
clutch under load will show up as increased rpm's without increased
mph. I did not specifically say "Do engine analysis", I should have, I
guess? Thanks for legal advice and shop recomendations!

Whoa! Dealer labor prices are truly insane sometimes. But our dealer
(Van Bortel Subaru out in Victor, NY) is a lot more reasonable, $69 an
hour if I recall correctly. Maybe $72. But we have lots of Subarus
up here, so the volume allows them to set a more reasonable rate, I
think.
 

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