Another case of "How to Make Friends and Influence Enemies". A warm welcome to all members......

 

I just read in my 09 manual that if the engine cap light comes on to check and make sure it is tightenend and then after driving a few trips it would shut off. Seams to me if the cap is on correctly after a few trips of normal pressure will reset the warning. Saves $100 for the diagnosis. lol

 

That's the first thing I always check on a car when I get a CEL since all the cars will do exactly that now.

 

Well folks, this has been very interesting indeed. Not sure what to think. MGR had a diagnosis protocol but, quite frankly I fell asleep half way through. This dealer is the same dealer that sold me my PAL, did not know how to install this GM OEM part, sent me to a local tire/radio place who then installed the part completely incorrectly. Not until Bob Lutz personally stepped in on my behalf did I get it fixed (FOR FREE) at another dealership.

The dealer called me today to tell me that my part is now in (the gas cap). I'm sure they'll be asking about $30 for something I can find for $9.00 on line but this "pressurized" thing has me baffled. Here's what I know:

1) The dealer/service place has a history of incompetence (see PAL story above).
2) Especially as a woman I'm highly suspicious of all mechanics, especially those that work at a dealership.
3) I can get a cap myself for less money, screw it in and be done with this but the 'pressurized' thingy is baffling.

Everybody here has been awesome with the responses and opinions, for that I am grateful. But, I'm still not sure what to do. Maybe there's no one answer.

I'll call another dealership service dept. to see what they tell me over the phone.

 

Okay so I wrote that I'd call another local dealer/service department which I just did. After I explained the CEL situation, the service advisor at Community Chevrolet in Burbank just told me there's no need to pressurize a tank, all I need is a new gas cap. I asked, "Do I need to get the tank pressurized?" and he said, "No, just get a new gas cap."

VERY INTERESTING, INDEED!

So, the guy at Rydell Automotive at 5601 Van Nuys Blvd in Van Nuys, CA who wanted to charge me $100 just to diagnose the problem, then an additional marked-up cost for a new gas cap and also an added charge for "pressurizing" the tank was indeed perhaps a tad, shall we say, not necessarily telling this female customer the 100% truth. I can't be sure, all I have to rely on are the facts. By the way, that's RYDELL AUTOMOTIVE ON 5601 VAN NUYS BLVD, VAN NUYS, CA - (818) 267-1400.

The guy who told me all I need is a new gas cap is at Community Chevrolet on Olive in Burbank.

I can't help but wonder why GM is having so much trouble and why so many car dealerships have such a bad reputation.

 

Soooooo, just for kicks and in the name of fairness I called a different branch of the Rydell service department (there are three, I chose the one in Northridge) and over the phone asked a service advisor if I replaced my gas cap would the gas tank need to be repressurized and he immediately said, 'No."

Thank you everybody here on chevyhhr.net

I will be buying a gas cap at Autozone later today for eleven dollars. I'm guessing that the installation of a shiny new gas cap will be awfully complex for a dumb girl like me but I'm willing to try. Gosh, I hope I don't break a nail.

 

Sometimes I think the sales force needs to meet with the Service Department at some of these dealerships and kick the * out of them (or hire somebody to do it). I am blessed with having a wonderful local dealership with great service and great sales guys (now Rio Vista). The Service Manager may argue he is a "profit center" but when he drives customers away (for good by the way! never to come back) by perceived or real rip-offs, the dealership will eventually die and deserves to die. (This is not unique to GM though, any dealership can drive away customers through dumb actions like your experience).

 

Last year I made a decision to sell my foreign car and get an American car. I wanted to be part of the solution and not the problem. I was raised in a GM family and I really wanted to believe. It's bad enough that I've had numerous problems with a car that doesn't even have 13000 miles on it but to be exposed to this kind of a blatant rip off scheme at a GM dealership is maddening and even worse, depressing.

 

You have demonstrated, by what you provided here, the capability of describing a situation coherently and logically.

I suggest you provide a letter to Chevrolet Customer Service, the address is in th back of your Owners Manual, detailed as you did here. And explain your disappointment with the treatment provided.

Do not forget to provide the names and locations of the participating dealers.....good and bad.

 

Wow, I'm real glad you cleared that up for me. I was thinking everytime from now on when I loosened my gas cap to fill up that I would have to have it towed to the dealership for a repressurization. That could get costly.