*UPDATE*
So, TLDR: I'm going to try and fix it myself. (I was an L1 Automotive Tech for 15 years, now retired and don't have many tools anymore, but I still have the basics)
Dealer had the car for a week +. Got a call today and they said that they need me to buy a new battery so they can test the car as the current one is dead. (No shit, I brought it in for a battery drain issue and had to jump start it to get it moving in the first place)
I asked if they had a battery machine at the dealer as when I worked at one, we did and would regularly use it to provide the necessary voltage when we would do electrical troubleshooting. Service manager says he doesn't know but the techs said they need a new battery.
I asked if, as a dealer, they had another battery anywhere that they could use for the purposes of testing while my car was there and he said, I shit you not, the Stinger battery is bigger and we don't have one in stock.
Ok.
I politely explained that ANY battery would do the job and the physical size didn't matter as long as it was a passenger car battery, it would be fine. Again, "But the Stinger battery is larger in size and we don't have one.
Ok. "So, what should I do then?" (SM) "Can you come up and take the battery and get a new one to us by tomorrow?"
Me "You expect me to drive 45 minutes to you guys to take the battery that is in there so I can drive 45 minutes back home to do a warranty exchange and then drive back up to deliver it to you?" SM"...... yeah I guess that is a bit much" Me "I'll be there in a while."
I show up, ask to pick up my car and he asks if I just want the battery. I say "No thank you, I would like my car. It has been here since last Friday and it is now Monday. I think 10 days is plenty to diag a battery issue and since your technicians seem to not know how to do a simple task or operate their own machinery, I will no longer be trusting you with my car.
He pulled my car up and said they would not be charging me anything and he was apologetic about the techs. Apparently there has been a high rate of turnover in their department in the last month and he had only been SM for a week.
FML.
At least I have my car back in my own driveway where I can test it properly and do whatever until it is fixed.
Sorry for the rant but holy shit that was just so frustrating to deal with. Back in my day as a tech I took pride in my work and in 15 years never had a single complaint or comeback for any work I performed. I always came in under book and always had customers sending their friends to request me since I never treated anyone like a moron, I was respectful and always told them what was going on. No BS. People appreciate that.
What they don't appreciate is total lack of communication unless you want to get them to approve more work that you aren't actually doing. I am just dumbfounded that this is what passes for "Service" anymore.
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