tritium_pie

hi everyone--

I live in Mountain View and have taken my car to Larry Hopkins a few times based on prior recommendations, but haven't been terribly thrilled with their track record.

for one, when my car is being worked on, I like to watch. I guess I'm kinky like that but also when I've brought my car in there for diff or transmission fluid changes I always want to see the actual fluid to note the color, and to check the plug for any metal shavings. three times I was assured it was no problem, they even wrote it on the ticket to let me watch, but only the first time did it happen.

also, I brought my S in there once for an alignment. after the alignment was done I decided to take my S up in the hills for some spirited driving to test it out. prob pushed it 7/10ths at most. didn't hit anything. that evening, driving on the highway, my steering wheel was having to be turned more and more to the left just to keep it going straight.

brought it in the next day and the left front and right rear tires were out of alignment. I didn't mind that the GM had his guy check the tires for any signs of impact, and was straight up with me when he said they'd bill me if they saw anything. they didn't, and they fixed it... but it was a hassle, and I wasn't impressed that whoever did the alignment failed to tighten something down on two corners of my car.

so...

looking for recommendation of other dealers near Mountain View. I'm wanting to get my diff fluid changed and I like to watch. I know the blah blah about liability and all that jazz-- I'm not going to be a parrot on the guy's shoulder, I just want to take a peek at the color when the fluid pours out, and if he can bring the plug over to me so I can see if any metal is present, I'm just happy as a clam.

any experience w/ S.Bay and peninsula dealerships worth visiting (or avoiding)?

thanks!

stevoe88

If you want alignments and fluid changes you should just take your car to Auto Innovations. Orlando is a great guy, and he knows how to treat his customers and their cars.

tritium_pie

^ cool thanks.

what about just a place to change my diff fluid and let me watch?

EDIT-- I've done it myself and it is a royal pain in the butt, particularly concocting some sort of squeeze pump type thing to get the fluid into the diff.

espelirS2K

I'll post before anyone else does

Joey its2krazy is the resident and great s2k tech who's owned "a few"

yamez

i say a few is an understatement! LOL

shotiable

just buy a manual pump from kragen... its like 15 bucks but it gets the damn job done with ease lol

lilazngrl4o8

Trek it up to Joey's in S. SF for shop nights on Tues. or if you want the number to the mechanic I use in Santa Clara, PM me. He'll let you watch. I use to stand around and watch while he worked on my car cause I'm curious like that. I can relate. haha

tritium_pie

torque wrench is at my Mom's house in the E Bay, don't want to deal w/ the hassle... would rather pay the $ and watch someone else do the work.

tritium_pie

PM sent! thanks!

lilazngrl4o8

replied. gluck!