Bogus service policy?

Took my 03 PT in for a state inspection, plus evaluation of the proverbial
"funnyt noise" that it only makes first thing in the morning when I start to
drive. I left the car overnight so they could hear it themselves. They actually
did find the cause: low power steering fluid caused by a leaking rack. This is
on warantee, so they will replace the rack free. However, they told me that
this repair entails dismantling a sizeable part of the front suspension and
that Chrysler will only authorize a toe alignment, not a full front end
alignment which the dealer said really should be done.
After several calls to the servuce dept, they agreed to do the whole thing
free.

Is this policy of Chrysler's to only pay for the toe alignment reasonable?
Seems to me if I need a total alignment due to the failure of their part, it
should be covered, no questions asked.

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unless the car been wrecked a toe adjustment is all thats needed

 

I'd tend to agree that a covered repair ought to pay for all the labor
involved, however I think you have to remember something: ultimately it's
YOUR part, and YOUR car. The warranty is an insurance policy. Nothing
more, nothing less. It covers certain things, and it doesn't cover anything
else. If they managed to find another way to get the full alignment paid
for, it was probably not because they found a way around the warranty
restriction. They probably tapped into a 'customer satisfaction' claim bank
that allowed them to do it.

I'm not posting this to beat on you, it's just something I think isn't well
understood. As far as the dealership is concerned, it's just another
customer's car, not theirs. As far as DC is concerned, it's just another
vehicle that was built and sold at wholesale to a dealer, not theirs. The
parts don't belong to the warranty guarantor, either. It belongs to the
person whose name is on the title. Lucky you!

FWIW,
--Geoff

 

It covers certain things, and it doesn't cover anything

I'm a repeat customer who bought 2 PTs from them, so I'm thinking that they
just decided to eat the cost difference between just doing the toe alignment
and the full alignment. What does that actually cost them? A little mechanic's
time is all, no parts. They end up with a happy customer instead of one who
feels he was ripped off (although I would feel less ripped off since people
here have told me that all I really need is the toe setting). Sometimes, a
business has to give a little to get a lot.I've been pretty happy with this
dealership, and this is an example of why.

******************************
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Check out my exotic hardwood pennywhistles at fair
prices...http://www.Busmanwhistles.com