I took my car to a Fuccillo dealership for an oil change (Chrysler Crossfire). When I picked it up, the service manager showed me the front driver’s side tire was worn almost right to the metal. I swear when I put it up for the winter, it was fine. Would a dealership go so far as to put an old tire on a car to try to sell a new one? They said I needed tires and brakes. So, now the oil change is up to about $600. Then they called the next day and said a more experienced technician looked to see why the tire wore. They said I now needed an inner tie rod, outer tie rod, and something with steering. THey said if it was a Dodge, the steering would cost $25, but because it’s a Mercedes engine they needed the entire steering linkage. They called today and said the bill came to $1752!!! Does any of this sound right? I’ve been unemployed 7 months and am super low on $. I hope they didn’t see me (single girl) coming and target me to pad their service dept. revenues!
You state that it was stored for the winter so you must have other transportation . You are unemployed so I suggest putting it back in storage until you are employed. Other suggestion would be to sell it for what you can get and let someone else spend money on it. Years ago we hit a real financial crisis so I sold a convertible at a four hundred dollar loss to get rid of the payment, insurance and registration expense’s. We have never regretted.
If you do have to fix it, get another opinion. Look at ‘mechanics files’ above for mechanics in your area.
While possible, I doubt they’d swap in an old tire. Does it match the others’ brand and model? Not likely they’d have one around.
“front driver’s side tire was worn almost right to the metal.”
“They said I now needed an inner tie rod, outer tie rod, and something with steering.”
Sounds to me like somebody may have hit the curb, causing damage to the steering system
“because it’s a Mercedes engine they needed the entire steering linkage.”
Yes, the crossfire was based on a Mercedes-Benz SLK. It has a separate steering gearbox, pitman arm, and outer tie rods. But the inner tie rods and center link are one piece
This is what that “entire steering linkage” looks like, by the way
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=4644180&cc=1422548&jnid=435&jpid=0
Note that in that picture, the center link shown includes the outer tie rod ends. They’re the only pieces that are available separately
Whether you need all that, I don’t know, because I don’t have your car right in front of me. But now you know what they’re trying to sell you. They may also be trying to sell you the pitman and idler arm, for all I know . . .
There’s a few hours labor involved, and you would also need an alignment
So the bill could be hefty, including the tire(s)
You should be able to get a better quote from a independent shop, the center link and tie rod ends are sold as one unit and runs at least $215 online. Under the bodywork this car shares most of it’s parts with the Mercedes SLK.
http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/sku/Chrysler/Crossfire/Lemfoerder/Tie_Rod_Assembly/2004/Base/6_Cyl_3-dot-2L/W0133-1718685.html
How many miles on the tires? I believe this car has different sizes front-to-rear. How is the tread on the other tires? How was it driving? Pulling? Steering wheel straight ahead? Steering feel direct with no play? Brakes: Pad thickness? Good breaking feel? Any complaints on handling? This is rear-wheel drive so you could just replace the worn tire as a stop-gap.
And yeah, selling it may be your best option.
Always get a second opinion and quotes. This is just good business and car repair is a business, so treat it as one.
No, they would not go to the trouble of installing an old tire in an attempt to sell you a new one. Forget that conspiracy theory.
Mercedes stuff is going to cost more. A Crossfire will be far more expensive to repair than a lowly Neon just like a Porsche will cost more to fix than a Ford Escort.
I tend to think the car has struck a curb, large pothole, or possibly been into deep water which has caused wear on the steering components (the tie rod, tie rod end, etc) and that is what chewed the tire up.
Once something is worn or damaged in the suspension/steering even a new tire can wear quickly.
The car is built to handle well so some of the parts are kind of light duty. Your car is still worth money so don’t let it go too cheaply if you sell it. The repairs seem reasonably priced if you have money coming in. I always suggest the “friends and family plan” for gathering money to pay for things but it doesn’t always work.
Gotta agree. Just compare the worn tire with the other tires to see if it is the same brand and same or very similar date and plant codes. They really wouldn’t do that though. Agree with storing it or selling it until times are better.
“Always get a second opinion and quotes. This is just good business and car repair is a business, so treat it as one.”
Amen to that.
the service manager showed me the front driver’s side tire was worn almost right to the metal. Would a dealership go so far as to put an old tire on a car to try to sell a new one?
So…the last time that you got up close and personal with the tire while checking its pressure, the tire looked normal?
When was that?
If it looked normal fairly recently, then shame on them for putting a worn-out tire on your car in order to try to sell you tires and repairs.
On the other hand, if it has been a long time since you personally looked at your tires, then shame on you.
The moral of the story is when suspension components are damaged by hitting a curb or a big pothole, that damage can wipe-out a tire’s tread in a fairly short period of time. That is just one of the reasons why car owners need to personally check tire pressures periodically, and while squatting down to do the pressure check, it is very easy to give the tread area a visual inspection.
As was said, it is unlikely that a dealership would put a worn-out tire on your car, but one way to tell if there has been a switcheroo is to compare the brand and model of that tire to the other 3 on the car. If it is identical in brand and model, then it is extremely unlikely that they did what you suspect, and it is more likely a case of a car owner who simply hasn’t looked at the tires in a long time.
And, was also said, you need to get the opinion of another mechanic–preferably an independent shop, and not a chain-run operation.
Get a second opinion from an independent shop. If this work were done at my shop, the loose tie rods and tires and any other possibly damaged component would have been discovered when doing an oil change. Not after the fact.
Maybe at your shop, but many oil changes are done without a suspension inspection.