Got my car back from the dealership yesterday after some warranty TSB. Noticed when I picked up the car my dashcam had been disconnected. Checked the InControl Remote app and noted a ten minute journey starting and ending back at the shop for about a mile. Nothing in the work order that I can see required a road test.

Would you follow up ?

 

Was the avg speed high? (Flashback to Ferris Bueller valet scene)

 

That would be an average speed of 6MPH. Did they take it out for a walk?

 

Dealers will usually do an MPI (Multi Point Inspection) which usually includes a brief road test to ensure everything is in order regardless of what your car is in for. And depending on the TSB, a quick roadtest may have been appropriate to make sure your car is functioning after completing the TSB. Considering it was a 1 mile trip with an average speed of 6mph, I would assume this is the case.

In regards to the dashcam, I doubt that the technician meant any malicious harm. Probably disconnected to ensure there was nothing drawing power but didn't plug it back in. I've dropped off my car plenty of times and most of the times my phone charger and radar detector were unplugged.

 

Yea, same as WhiteTardis, the tech will often unplug anything that draws power just to play it safe.

 

It's normal. I had update and checked my InControl App and they took it out for 2 mile drive to make sure everything was working.

 

Yes, when I looked at the map details, it was a trip around the block. They've done (or said they did) multi point inspections before without taking it out for a stroll. When I have had other brands, their worksheet stated "road test vehicle" just to avoid ambiguity ;-)

 

There is a reason people moan about the traffic in Austin ;-)

 

Service guy called me back and said that after the wheel alignment they do a road test to check. The dashcam was disconnected during the software update for the tweeter buzzing TSB and he apologized that they forgot to reconnect it.

Guess I should stop watching too many of those YouTube "The Dealer Hooned my Car" videos ;-)

 

I have a more casual attitude. When I give the SA the keys, I tell him to have fun. Same thing with valets...........

 

My dealer always unplugs the dashcam when it goes for a service.

 

Don't watch Ferris Beuller movie, if you think you're suspicious now.....

 

What could they possibly be doing to your car that you don't do yourself? In my case, I'd only be worried about how they might be abusing the clutch if they aren't used to driving one.

 

Must be the mile-long rolling burn outs being performed by all the mechanics on test drives...

 

My last Jaguar dealer (since changed ownership) would not test-drive customer cars 'after some incidents.' I had a 'rumble' and vibration at speed in my X-Type. 2 visits and $$ for stuff I didn't need, like $600 to "reforge the front wheels and remount." Never fixed the problem.
On the 3rd visit they discovered half the drive shaft bolts were missing and the remaining bolts were loose.
I never went back and bought my F-Type from another dealer.

 

HalcyonDays --

I need to get a job as a valet in your neighborhood.

 

Not sure my neighbors would follow my lead. Guy with the GT3 seems particularly careful.......

 

I spent 30 years working in dealership service departments. I could tell ya some stories !

A flat-out ban on test-drives would make it very hard to repair cars, though.

Some customers are very wary of 'road tests'; others quite nonchalant.

Back in the early 90s I had one steady customer who owned a Corvette ZR1---quite a hot machine at the time. Helluva nice guy. Brought the car in four times a year like clockwork. He made two things perfectly clear right from the get-go. First, the car must be returned to him 'fully detailed', at his expense. Next, when service and repairs were done, he didn't merely request, but actually insisted, that I drive the car home to make sure everything was OK. I lived 40 miles away at the time.

I never abused the car or the agreement but I did drive the car in a 'manner consistent with its design intent'....and told him so

Cheers
DD

 

I assumed Valet mode was invented because of Ferris Bueller ;-) My APR tune on my former Audi had a valet mode that locked the RPM and top speed down. I accidentally set it once and couldn't figure out what was up with the car ;-)

 

Valet mode on the F-Type consists of locking the trunk and glovebox with a 4 digit code, and nothing more.