I had a front main seal go on my HHR at 317k miles, within 400 miles of replacing the AC compressor. So, since I didn't have time to do the repair myself due to 60-80 hours of work per week I took it to my local dealer.

They got back with me and said I was right about the front main seal leaking, but that the rear main seal was leaking too, and there was oil around the valve cover so that was leaking, and the oil cooler was leaking too (that has had a seep for the last 80k, just haven't gotten around to fixing it even though I have the parts). They also said I needed a new air filter, an alignment, and the PCV system cleaned, an oil change, and even trieded to tell me I needed new plugs. All of this would be over 2,000 dollars on an 06HHR with 317k miles on it.

I told them I only wanted the front main seal replaced, and that I had troubleshot the rest of the stuff in the past and it wasn't needing replaced. He stuck with his guns on all that needing replaced and even gave me a handount when I picked up the car stating it all is in "the red" and needed immediate attention.

I replaced the air filter, plugs, and even the boots from the coil to plug at just over 300k miles. The oil monitor shows 61% life left, and I use Valvoline full synthetic 5w30 high mileage oil at every change and have for a long time (before that it was Valvoline 5w30 synthetic). The alignment was done less than 1000 miles ago when I put new tie rod ends and lower control arms on it. You can let the steering wheel go and it tracks straight as long as the road is straight and the steering wheel will stay perfectly centered. I replaced the valve cover gasket at the 300k mile service since I found a little oil residue on the spark plug holes, which is also why I replaced the boots.

I seriously would hate to be a person who went in there cold with no knowledge of their own car, because it sounds like they might get ripped off. I look forward to my survey GM will send.

 

Some dealers do this so that the owner won't have it repaired... The dealer just doesn't want to work on the car.


I would try to find a good independent shop... I know that's easier said than done, but they are out there. The place I take mine is great, good guys, and know what they are doing. They don't overcharge nor say a car needs something when it doesn't.

 

Mine wanted to flush the power steering fluid. He gave ma a thousand mile stare when I asked exactly how that was done.

In the end a dealership service department is just a shop looking to make money, hoping that people think they are different because they have a car company name attached.

 

Independent shop, that's the ticket.. But must be reasonable & honest.

 

X3 on the independent shop. I'm to the point that I can't/don't want to work on certain things anymore. I have a shop that I trust and has even looked at things without charging me.

The only times I say use the dealer is under warranty or on the newer cars when there are issues with the infotainment systems, especially those that are tied to HVAC functions. Even some of the dealers are still clueless on how to fix those.

 

I had that happen once. They told me the fluid smelled burnt. I told them to show me....

Now, they all of a sudden were talking to the wrong customer....

 

I'm sure they get plenty to fall for their BS.. Pays to have a clue..

 

here in Russia we sometimes also have similar acquisitiveness.
Not as big as I can see from your long-standing posts, but there is one too.
I drive my Hippo for repairs just as I go to the doctor myself.
There is no concept of "dealer" for me, there are specific specialists.
If the engine repair - Roman, if the electrician - Sasha, if you need to paint something, this is Lenya. These guys change jobs, today they are in one store, in a year they may be in another place. But I always know that I will get guaranteed honest repair and a discount on the main price. Because they are interested in a regular customer, and I am interested in a competent specialist.

While I do not see another way to deal with cheating in a car service.