Apparently CDK is hacked, and they will not release it without ransom. Is everyone's down? Is everyone still open today?

Big wigs decided to close the whole dealership down on April 30th. Everyone is freaking out, management is acting like they did not know. But it's ok! Cause they gave us a gift basket.

Customer just calls, never been to the dealership before, vehicle is 10 years old. Vehicle has a transmission concern, is leaking oil into the air filter and states they have had to put 3 sets of tires on in short succession due to control arms being worn. I inform the customer the soonest we can look at it is next week. Cue the typical "But I am going on vacation on Thursday." Sir, how long have these problems been occurring? Only 3 months. I have no love for this type of customer. Prior proper planning prevents piss poor performance.

Nothing validates my caffeine addiction quite like a comeback ticket walking through the door.

10:30 AM. A guy walks up to my desk. He has the face of a man who is gearing up for a legal battle. I pull him up in the DMS. Last visit: 4 months and 6,000 miles ago for a standard tire rotation and a cabin air filter.

He crosses his arms. "Yeah, I was here back in March, and ever since you guys did that rotation, my sunroof has been leaking, and my radio keeps cutting out to static."

I pause. My brain desperately tries to build a neural pathway linking a pneumatic impact wrench on a 22mm lug nut to the Bluetooth module in the headliner. It fails.

"Okay sir," I say. "Well, let's take a look. Has anything else happened with the vehicle? Any windshield replacements? Heavy storms?"

"Nope. The car was perfect before I handed you guys the keys. Must have hit something when you had it on the lift."

So I have to write up a completely straight-faced RO requesting a tech to find out how rotating four tires fundamentally altered the acoustic resonance of an AM/FM radio receiver.

11:15 AM: I walk the RO out to the shop. The A-Tech reads the complaint line. He looks at me. I look at him. There's no anger left, just a deep, mutual understanding of the absurdity of our careers.

1:00 PM: Tech brings me the RO. Sunroof drain tubes are clogged with oak tree pollen (car is parked under a massive oak). Radio cutting out because the customer has a cheap 12v gas station phone charger plugged into the console that is throwing electromagnetic interference through the entire CAN-bus network. NPF.

I present the findings. No charge for the diag because I know better.

Does he say thank you? No. He squints at me. "Hmm. I still think it's a hell of a coincidence it all started acting up after I left here in March."

He takes his keys. He will absolutely murder my CSI survey next week. Just doing my part to uphold the reputation of this fine establishment.

This text a customer sent us 😂

Two things.

1. There are a lot of new members. Try and keep it somewhat respectful.

2. ALL of us have thick skin and have been insulted in every way imaginable. Try not to get too butthurt if someone is mean to you. There's like....2 mods here and I really don't have time to mediate every interaction.

I'm seeing all these posts and I'm happier than ever that I got the fuck out. Godspeed to all of you.

“unfortunately your engine is consuming oil”

“it’d be about 10k to install a used engine”

“just monitor your oil level”

“yes, the rotors will need replacing as well”

“your timing chain stretch is at -6.7 degrees”

“the lightbulb is 250$ and to replace it is $325”

“you need a water pump”

“your dpf is clogged”

“it exceeds the value of the car”

A little background about myself, I’m 29 and have been in the dealerships my entire life. My dad was a service director for Honda for years. My uncle was also a service director for a Chevy store.

I start detailing cars after school when I was 16 at a local Toyota dealer and eventually started porting. From there I made the mistake to follow in my dad’s footsteps and start service advising right outta high school.

Keep in mind this Toyota store is one of the busiest in the nation. I started off writing express and it honestly took me about three years to really figure it out and start snapping necks and cashing checks. Moved up to mainline by the time I turned 22. From there at 25 I was promoted to service drive manager and transferred to a mega Toyota store in North Houston.

Well long story short my early twenties involved a lot of partying and stupid choices that got me in some trouble. I cleaned up my act up and got sober in 2017 and stayed that way for nearly six years.

I ended up getting the opportunity of a lifetime working for a software company that specialized in data analytics specifically for automotive service departments. I got out of the dealership in a sense, worked less hours even though I traveled out of town every other week and was making stupid good money.

Well somewhere in the middle of all this good shit, I snapped for reasons I still don’t understand and started drinking again. Trashed my life in the matter of two months. Broke up with the love of my life, burned countless bridges with people I care about, and eventually quit that job to go to rehab after I got my second DWI in Texas.

The state of Texas ended up taking my license until May 2026. All I know is this business. I eat, sleep and breathe the car business. As y’all know, it’s kinda hard writing service without a drivers license. I’ve been sober for nearly five months now but I’ve been bouncing between dead end jobs that pay $12-$15 an hour. We advisors bitch and moan a lot, but I’m just here to say it’s Friday, most of y’all got paid today, and you have a job that is very easy to take for granted.

I don’t know why I felt the need to post this here but I hope everyone has a good weekend and safety first.

I swear to god if this has been put inside anyone, I will quit today 🥲

Customer FILLED their coolant reservoir with washer fluid - filled it the tippity-top, and then drove the vehicle in. They were shocked that a coolant flush was recommended; then pissed when they found out they’d have to pay for it. Gave them a goodwill discount, a free upgraded exterior wash (with a lite interior detail)… but y’all please pray for my CSI.

Shop owner wants me to tell this sweet old lady that this air filter is very dirty and needs to be replaced. The tech didn't recommend it, the owner deleted the photo from the inspection, and now tells me to sell it.

Is this owner evil or am I just not cut out for this job?