[LukeSkyWalker]

Two weeks ago, I took the Rocket in for its 10,000 mile service.
The dealer had the bike for a week before I could go and pick it up.
When I went to start the bike at the dealership, it sounded like it was only running on two cylinders. I immediately shut the bike down and tried to restart it to see if the problem persisted….it did.
So I went back inside the dealership and they wheeled the bike back into the service bay. The Engine Management Malfunction Indicator Lamp came on and stayed on when they started the bike for a third time.
The technician plugged diagnostic tool into the bike and determined a DTC of P0136 (Oxygen sensor circuit malfunction) was being thrown.
He replaced the Oxygen sensor and cleared the fault code.
The bike ran great.
This past Sunday, I go out on a ride, get 80 miles from home and the MIL comes back on. The bike runs for about 10 minutes then quits!
I get the bike to a different Triumph dealer and they proceed to work on the bike. What they find are four clamps, 3 on the throttle bodies securing the Intake Plenum and 1 on the Roll-over valve, are not tight. This caused a massive air leak in which the ECM tried to compensate for by richening the fuel mixture. The end result was that four plugs fouled out and the motor eventually failed to run.
The new shop charges me $200.00 for plugs and labor to fix the problem.

So today I contact the first shop and tell them what happened with the bike. They totally deny having anything to do with this issue.
When I asked them if they removed the air box or roll-over valve they said no.
I then asked them if they performed all recommended tasks on the 10k checklist…and of course they said yes. So my next question was how did you get the valve cover off to check the valve clearances without taking the air box, plenum and roll-over valve off?
Their response was that they do not check the valve clearances until the 20,000 mile checkup.
The end result was that they would not compensate me in anyway, shape or form.
So the question I pose is how do you protect yourself from situations like this?
One shop denies touching something and the second shop clearly points out that components were touched.
What recourse do I have?

 

[vonbonds]

This is why I do my own work and I am a computer geek by trade. Buy the service manual, get some quality tools and find a handy friend if not one who is a full blown mechanic and then take your time and do your own work.

The next best thing you can do is lots of homework on shops you are willing to travel to and go to the most reputable one you can find.

 

[dougl]

On 2006-11-08 15:04, LukeSkyWalker wrote:

If your Triumph dealer was Freedom Cycle in Reno, you wouldn't have these kinds of problems.

I was in there recently and they were doing a 10K checkup and they were doing the valves. There's no way the plenum clamps would miraculously come loose.

It sounds pretty sleezy. You should report them to Triumph.

[ This message was edited by: dougl on 2006-11-08 15:43 ]

 

[Mav68]

I think you should post the name of your dealer that clobbered you so the rest of us know where not to go. Just maybe if stealers think we are keeping score they may pick their game up!

 

[TallRocket]

Maybe the decision to take the bike to a different dealer in the area played a part in their decision. About the only thing you might have done differently was to have it towed back to the shop that last worked on it. Kind of keeps it their problem, maybe the lesson is to do so only after they fix the problem. Of course don't go back.

My home dealership was an all Triumph shop and my new home dealer handles almost every brand. My confidence that the mechanic in the mega store will actually have performed my 10000 mile service on other bikes prior to mine is kind of low.

Given this is a company sponsored board, I doubt that your post with the name of that shop will ever appear on-line.

 

[12724]

I was in there recently and they were doing a 10K checkup and they were doing the valves. There's no way the plenum clamps would miraculously come loose.

It sounds pretty sleezy. You should report them to Triumph.

I agree with dougl, and you should do it as fast as possible, you are probably not the only one they did shoty work for? :hammer:

 

[travelguy]

if you paid for it with a credit card call the cc comp. or go on line and dispute the charge.

 

[rudebwoy85]

This is not a company sponsored board. If you have been mistreated by a dealer service that you paid hard earned money for and were screwed over when attempting to find an honest recourse by all means post their name and address so that others will know the circumstances of your experience and the treatment you recieved..Dont embelish your story, keep it straightforward, simple and honest that way any accusations about sensationalizing your experience can be clearly rebuffed.

Report them to Triumph and I like the suggestion regarding contesting the charge with your credit card company if they dont offer restitution for the cost of correcting their mistake. I couldnt conceive of taking my car in for a service, paying a fist-full of money and having it in worse shape than it was when I took it in and the service manager essentially telling me "it's your hard luck, whatever is broken we didnt do it now get lost!".

He!! No! Consumers have recourse and do not have to put up with fraud, shoddy service or mistreatment.

 

[sbljr]

On 2006-11-08 15:49, Mav68 wrote:
I think you should post the name of your dealer that clobbered you so the rest of us know where not to go. Just maybe if stealers think we are keeping score they may pick their game up!

We can assume it's in Illinois or thereabouts so you Aussies aren't likely to stumble in there by mistake, but yes enquiring minds in the midwestern US would like to know who these clowns are :???:

 

[LukeSkyWalker]

Thank you all for your input.

What I have done thus far is to contact my credit card company to dispute the charges.
All I'm really after is the $210.00 of additional cost by the second shop to fix the bike.
Even if shop 1 offers a free 20,000 mile checkup with oil change....would YOU take your bike back there?
Not me.

For shop 1, this is strike two.
I posted a while back about issues I was having with a bad hesitation after service.
I took my bike there earlier in the year to have TORs put on.
They left the 50 map on and not the 54 map.
When confronted, after the fact, they said the computer must have rejected the update...oh well.

I'm not sure contacting Triumph corporate will accomplish anything. My thinking is that each shop is independently owned and operated. I'd find it hard to believe that Triumph will bare any responsibility with shoddy service...parts yes...service not likely.

I'll keep you all posted.

 

[Royal-R3]

Luke;

I do think it is important that the rest of us on the forum know which stealership this is. I am in Indiana, and we have two triumph dealerships.. one in Indy and one in Evansville. There is a Dealership in Lexington, KY and that's the one I travel to.. as it is closer to me. Their service(s) have been incredible.. not to exclude the 25% off all parts and Accessories I buy while owning the bike.

As I understand it.. it takes $250,000 of upfront liquid assets to get a Triumph Franchise... and I understand they are pretty picky. It sure wouldn't hurt to let them know their shortcomings.

What if their failure led to an engine seizure? I am sure you would go after Triumph.. but I assure you triumph will be looking at root cause analysis.

On 2006-11-13 08:31, LukeSkyWalker wrote:
Thank you all for your input.

What I have done thus far is to contact my credit card company to dispute the charges.
All I'm really after is the $210.00 of additional cost by the second shop to fix the bike.
Even if shop 1 offers a free 20,000 mile checkup with oil change....would YOU take your bike back there?
Not me.

For shop 1, this is strike two.
I posted a while back about issues I was having with a bad hesitation after service.
I took my bike there earlier in the year to have TORs put on.
They left the 50 map on and not the 54 map.
When confronted, after the fact, they said the computer must have rejected the update...oh well.

I'm not sure contacting Triumph corporate will accomplish anything. My thinking is that each shop is independently owned and operated. I'd find it hard to believe that Triumph will bare any responsibility with shoddy service...parts yes...service not likely.

I'll keep you all posted.

:hammer:

[ This message was edited by: Royal-R3 on 2006-11-13 08:58 ]

 

[sbljr]

On 2006-11-13 08:56, Royal-R3 wrote:
As I understand it.. it takes $250,000 of upfront liquid assets to get a Triumph Franchise... and I understand they are pretty picky. It sure wouldn't hurt to let them know their shortcomings.

If you want to put a store where the company's demographic consultants say one needs to be (an unserved market) AND you've got plenty of financial backing behind you, you will probably get the franchise unless you're a registered sex offender or something. At least IME in a banking former life, that was generally the case. And once you get a motorcycle franchise you can then hire people who are worse than sex offenders--they screw up people's bikes

I'd make sure top management/ownership of the dealership not just the service dept. knows what happened--if anybody's interested in making good on it as a matter of PR it will be the dealership mgmt.

 

[KADUTZ]

Dang
I sure do like my 78 T140V. It may be old but it putts down the road and I don't have to futz round with EGR's, Ox sensors, MIL lights. The only MAP sensor is my hand reachin into the tank bag looking for my map.
Any of you guys that think Hinckley cares are wrong. The rudest letter I ever received was from Mike Vaughn when he was CEO of Triumph US. I was even less impressed when I met him in person.

 

[sbljr]

On 2006-11-14 06:26, KADUTZ wrote:
Dang
I sure do like my 78 T140V. It may be old but it putts down the road and I don't have to futz round with EGR's, Ox sensors, MIL lights. The only MAP sensor is my hand reachin into the tank bag looking for my map.
Any of you guys that think Hinckley cares are wrong. The rudest letter I ever received was from Mike Vaughn when he was CEO of Triumph US. I was even less impressed when I met him in person.

A guy with your attitude got a rude letter back? Geez I can't understand how that would ever happen... :???:

 

[LEE]

Rude that is a heck of a luggage rack...and the trunk is alright as well. Can't tell about the headlights though?

 

[thx1158]

We need a dealer forum. One BMW site has a section for dealer feedback..the good, the bad, and the ugly. They then posted ratings for the dealers based on feedback. Praise those who excel and name those who don't.

 

[Pig9r]

Do you mean something like this?

Clickity Clack

 

[sbljr]

On 2006-11-16 22:38, Pig9r wrote:
Do you mean something like this?

Clickity Clack

That's good to at least have a place in this forum. The most famous one for motorcycle dealer ratings is the stand-alone site stealer-dealer for Harleys. It's pretty good, but info is not always up-to-date with regard to things like pricing policy (a common negative comment). Most dealers have quit doing that (price gouging) because they simply can't get away with it anymore.

[ This message was edited by: sbljr on 2006-11-17 05:08 ]

 

[bobw3592]

Pig9r, thank you for the link, I was going to mention the same.

Luke, I use my dealer's name in postings here and on other sites, fortunately it has been in good reference. As Rude stated, keep accurate non embellished synopsis of issue and steps being taken.

Before a flame in an open forum, I would try to make it right with a shop. We are all less than perfect and can make a mistake or a part/repair can fail. As stated, it appears they blew off some very compelling points of them being involved/responsible with both repairs being poorly completed. Naming them is your call, I would.

Does the 10k involve a removal of the parts/fasteners that had to be addressed by the other dealer and did the repair order list the specifics of their diagnosis and repair?

I'm pissed for you, get Triumph involved, show them copies of repair orders. You are paying top dollar for Triumph service, accepting shade-tree repairs is not acceptable.

Good luck.

 

[LukeSkyWalker]

-

Does the 10k involve a removal of the parts/fasteners that had to be addressed by the other dealer and did the repair order list the specifics of their diagnosis and repair?

I'm pissed for you, get Triumph involved, show them copies of repair orders. You are paying top dollar for Triumph service, accepting shade-tree repairs is not acceptable.

Good luck.

bobw3592,

As part of the 10k checkup, the valve clearances are suppose to be checked. This would involve removing the valve cover which would require the airbox, plenum and rollover valve fasteners to be removed. This is the assumption made by shop 2 as to why the fasteners were not tight. Shop 1 said they did not remove the valve covers and check the valves. That (valve clearance inspection) was not listed specifically on the invoice as service completed.

So on to step two. How would I go about getting Triumph involved. I have all the paperwork ready to go.
Any advice?