Philippines - one month later

[mogo51]

Forgot to mention I also agree with you regarding dealer service.  But car is still under new car warranty for another 12 months, so have to suffer the extras, they are armed hold up merchants for sure.  In Oz, you only have to use a licensed motor mechanic of your choice and genuine parts to maintain your warranty on new cars,  Result, service charges have come down considerably there but not so here.

[Jack Peterson]

22 minutes ago, mogo51 said:

 But car is still under new car warranty for another 12 months, so have to suffer the extras, they are armed hold up merchants

 WELCOME TO THE PHILIPPINES The land of "we don't need to work hard  to earn a Living" 

[robert k]

Dealers like to service things to death ....when they actually perform the services they claim, which in my experience isn't TOO often. I used to mark things with chalk in an inconspicuous place to see if they actually even touched something they are charging me for checking.

[Gary D]

Take a photo of under the bonnet beforehand. You can then check if your new bits have been changed out for old, batteries are a classic.

[Jack Peterson]

3 minutes ago, Gary D said:

Take a photo of under the bonnet beforehand. You can then check if your new bits have been changed out for old, batteries are a classic.

if Suzuki Change something, they have to show the old

[Gary D]

6 minutes ago, Jack Peterson said:

if Suzuki Change something, they have to show the old

I'm talking the other way around. The mechanical will upgrade his or a mates parts by taking your good parts and substitute with their old parts.

[Jack Peterson]

3 minutes ago, Gary D said:

I'm talking the other way around. The mechanical will upgrade his or a mates parts by taking your good parts and substitute with their old parts.

 One of us is always there on a Service, the thing with them is they must talk you through the Job, the Chief tech is pretty good and one of us would know if things are not as they should be. His job for the PI is pretty well paid and I really do not think he would jeopardise it  Yes Things can Happen I will Admit but we should never take our eyes off the game. After a Service or two I am now called the owl by the mechanics in fact, if I hear a hammer being used anywhere in the Bay and it is my turn for Coffee, they know I will be there in less than 5 secs

[BrettGC]

21 hours ago, mogo51 said:

Forgot to mention I also agree with you regarding dealer service.  But car is still under new car warranty for another 12 months, so have to suffer the extras, they are armed hold up merchants for sure.  In Oz, you only have to use a licensed motor mechanic of your choice and genuine parts to maintain your warranty on new cars,  Result, service charges have come down considerably there but not so here.

Don't even have to use genuine parts mate, just remember that part you do use won't be covered under of the manufacturers warranty but your overall warranty on the car will remain intact.  

https://www.choice.com.au/transport/cars/maintenance/articles/car-warranties-and-dealer-servicing#genuine-parts

 

1 hour ago, Jack Peterson said:

if Suzuki Change something, they have to show the old

If it's a new car you should be able to see where they've loosened/tightened things up as well.  If bolts and screws etc are in pristine condition chances are they haven't been touched.  That's not hard and fast but something to look out for.  

[Jack Peterson]

Just now, BrettGC said:

 If bolts and screws etc are in pristine condition chances are they haven't been touched.  That's not hard and fast but something to look out for.

 Major things a have a little red dots (Paint?) on the fixing nuts and bolts that come of when tampered with so yes very easy to spot

[Benington]

On 8/14/2017 at 10:43 AM, RBM said:

I was tired of the outrageous prices Chevy was charging for a simple serice. According to an Expat here whom serviced vehicles many years most of the work, if performed was totally unneeded. Now have a small workshop doing the oil filters and general check up.

 

In my experience it's not just Chevrolet dealers who charge outrageous prices, I also have experience of Suzuki in that respect. Referring here to just the servicing of their "run of the mill models", not those with eg advanced electronics.

On the other hand the Philippines,especially Manila and environs, does have a fair number of decent medium sized non-dealership garages which one can get to know and who can do a good job. For example one recommended not having expensive work done on a Chevrolet ABS leak..just keep topping it up, which we do.

I don't include the franchised garages in this, which I have found to be much more variable.

And if you have an older vehicle there are so many small specialist shops to choose from eg for AC, electrical problems, welding etc. Even out in the sticks they can give a good service. Which is Britain were steadily dying out when I lived there.

They often find some acceptable "work arounds", if one is prepared to accept them.