From: pat@rwing.UUCP (Pat Myrto)
Newsgroups: seattle.general
Subject: Re: Beware Precision Tune in Federal Way!
Date: 28 Jan 93 15:22:03 GMT
Distribution: seattle
Organization: Totally Unorganized

In article <1993Jan28.055222.5737@eskimo.com> delisle@eskimo.com (Ben Delisle) writes:
>
>	I had a friend that went there to have his oil changed.
>They put on the wrong size oil filter and all the oil leaked out
>by the time he drove five miles.   

It seems that Precision Tune is anything but.  I haven't had the nasty
horror stories with them simply because at one, I caught them when they
were going to try to do a bunch of stuff I asked them not to do, and
made them put everything back WHILE I WATCHED, and left (I hadn't given
them money yet, and made it clear I wasn't going to, since they tried
to set up to overcharge me).  Another time, the engine was missing badly,
and they put in a new distrib cap (old one was cracked), and new spark
plug wires (one had very high resistance).  They didn't have the right
parts, and had to adapt with another part - resulting in overlength
cables.  Also, after replacing the points, condenser, etc., and tuning
the thing up, it didn't hold an emission passing tune for even a year.
When I did the work myself a few years before (had the time and tools
available then), the resulting tune passed emission test WITHOUT ANY
ADJUSTMENT for 4 years, until the points and sparkplug cable went bad.

As for oil changes, I like those Penzoil places, like that one at 140th
and NE 20th (AKA Northrup Way).  I don't think they do ignition/tune
up work, they seem geared to oil changes.  They do seem to be careful
to do it right, however.  After draining the oil and replacing the
filter, and replacing the drain plug, they put in the new oil, and then
have ANOTHER person check for proper tightness/installation, and for
leaks.  For example, the one who worked underneath comes up and checks
the stuff done on top, and the guy who works on top goes underneath
and checks the drain plug for proper torque, etc.   They also will 
install YOUR oil, if you prefer using something else besides Pennziol,
for example if you use Mobil 1 or Castrol Syntex.  They deduct the
price of their oil (which isn't a lot, they have it in bulk, of course),
but it helps a little.  Also the little things - like checking all fluids
and topping off windshield washer, etc is a nice touch.  They also
check the transmission grease (fluid for automatics) and differential
grease, putting a drop of each on a card to show the customer, and ask
before draining/changing those items (usually fouled oil in those parts
indicates severe problems developing, so that check is nice).

There is one thing - sometimes after an oil change, if the gasket is
replaced on the drain plug, after a couple of days a slow drip (perhaps
equivilant to a quart every 2000 miles) develops when the gasket takes
a set after the first really good warm-up.  Only cure for that is to
check the drain plug a couple of days later (overtorquing runs the risk
of damaging threads).

I don't think one could do much better for the routine stuff like oil
changes, unless one desires to do it oneself.

It seems to be two different corporate philosophies - one claiming they
do almost everything, and that does nothing very well, vs one who does
only the normal periodic maintainence, and takes great care to do it
right (and get return business).  I know I would NO WAY let Precision
Tune even touch my current ride - its in decent shape and I mean to
keep it that way.

-- 
pat@rwing.uucp                                  (Pat Myrto),  Seattle, WA
                      If all else fails, try:
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WISDOM:    "Travelling unarmed is like boating without a life jacket"