[miura348]

Yes, foolish of me to part with that amount of money for just an HID headlamp but had no choice right before a road-trip which would involve nighttime driving - didn't have the bandwidth or time to search for part and locate a cheaper repair shop

But what irks me is this --

-- I paid good money for that extended warranty (the highest tier) and i repeatedly asked the dealer at time of purchase what was NOT covered - and i was told, everything is covered except wear and tear like tires and brake pads. My mistake for not getting an exhaustive list of what constitutes "wear and tear" but who does

-- Mopar rep on the phone told me that yes, the price is overly expensive for a part like this HID lamp and said "you can get it cheaper installed elsewhere" - in fact he said the dealer is charging more than double what i could get it fixed for elsewhere. Such an exorbitant repair for what is supposed to be squarely a middle class vehicle is a slap in the face and I would rather lease a different brand where atleast there wont be such a sticker shock

- 31k or 4.5yr is NOT a lot of mileage or time for HID headlamps to start failing. If they fail so early and often, why make them so pricey to replace at dealers. I have driven 5 other German and Japanese brands and haven't had a bulb failure this early

Needless to say, this has me turned off Chrysler, it was otherwise a good vehicle but I am scared at what other repairs are lurking for me as time goes on. Last month, I was thinking of rolling into a new Pacifica hybrid but will likely look at Honda / Toyota / Kia next

 

[adam1991]

I paid good money for that extended warranty (the highest tier) and i repeatedly asked the dealer at time of purchase what was NOT covered - and i was told, everything is covered except wear and tear like tires and brake pads. My mistake for not getting an exhaustive list of what constitutes "wear and tear" but who does

Do you often enter into contracts without reading them?

"Who does". Well, I do. Are you trying to make it seem normal for people not to read such contracts, but rather to make assumptions about the contracted services based on...your feelings of what you think you're entitled to at any given time?

Frankly, I find the whole attitude of "I didn't read the contract, but who does" to be highly offensive in the extreme.

 

[freddief73]

Yes, foolish of me to part with that amount of money for just an HID headlamp but had no choice right before a road-trip which would involve nighttime driving - didn't have the bandwidth or time to search for part and locate a cheaper repair shop

But what irks me is this --

-- I paid good money for that extended warranty (the highest tier) and i repeatedly asked the dealer at time of purchase what was NOT covered - and i was told, everything is covered except wear and tear like tires and brake pads. My mistake for not getting an exhaustive list of what constitutes "wear and tear" but who does

-- Mopar rep on the phone told me that yes, the price is overly expensive for a part like this HID lamp and said "you can get it cheaper installed elsewhere" - in fact he said the dealer is charging more than double what i could get it fixed for elsewhere. Such an exorbitant repair for what is supposed to be squarely a middle class vehicle is a slap in the face and I would rather lease a different brand where atleast there wont be such a sticker shock

- 31k or 4.5yr is NOT a lot of mileage or time for HID headlamps to start failing. If they fail so early and often, why make them so pricey to replace at dealers. I have driven 5 other German and Japanese brands and haven't had a bulb failure this early

Needless to say, this has me turned off Chrysler, it was otherwise a good vehicle but I am scared at what other repairs are lurking for me as time goes on. Last month, I was thinking of rolling into a new Pacifica hybrid but will likely look at Honda / Toyota / Kia next

In what world is a light bulb not a "wear and tear" item? It's too late now, but the OEM equivalent Sylvania/Osram bulb can be purchased off Amazon for a fraction of that price and is relatively easy to install. A bulb failure alone being enough to skew your opinion of any vehicle seems pretty laughable IMO.

 

[miura348]

Do you often enter into contracts without reading them?

"Who does". Well, I do. Are you trying to make it seem normal for people not to read such contracts, but rather to make assumptions about the contracted services based on...your feelings of what you think you're entitled to at any given time?

Frankly, I find the whole attitude of "I didn't read the contract, but who does" to be highly offensive in the extreme.

yeah genius, I am assuming you read every contract word for word -- you want to attack me personally to distract from the issue at hand fine, but I have said my piece for those who may find it relevant

do you have anything constructive to add or are you just trying to troll?

 

[miura348]

In what world is a light bulb not a "wear and tear" item? It's too late now, but the OEM equivalent Sylvania/Osram bulb can be purchased off Amazon for a fraction of that price and is relatively easy to install. A bulb failure alone being enough to skew your opinion of any vehicle seems pretty laughable IMO.

The dealer himself said at the beginning that HID lamps might be covered (regular lamps generally were not) - then he called Mopar and was surprised to find out that it was not

It is good vehicle, but the repair cost for a stupid little lamp is exorbitant - thats it. Now you maybe ok w it , I am not.

I also just told you it was a time crunch when I could not wait to shop around but you either did not read that part or were too eager to one-up

thats fine, I totally understand a Pacifica forum maybe full of diehard fans who dont want anyone to stir the pot, but not everyone is a "stan".

Most casual readers are going to see this issue for what it is.

 

[CANADAHYBRIDGUY]

And yeah fca is only one that would charge you to fix a hid bulb or ballast . The dealer , In fact any dealer , will tell you anything to buy whatever your selling . So I hate to say it , but since joining this site , the perception that things should last forever or everybody who thinks they are getting screwed runs pretty rampant . If you joined in 16 I’d say your vehicle is 5 years old , and things wear out like the bulb on your house , phone at you use , computer that you bought . You had a choice to either replace the bulb yourself or take it to another shop , so please , enough with the fca or dealer screwed you . If that’s all you’ve replaced on van in 5 years you should be happy , just saying .

 

[adam1991]

In what world is a light bulb not a "wear and tear" item?

well, of course.

But apparently in some worlds, it's not.

And in those worlds, people who service automobiles do so for free.

I have a car with a simple bulb that is impossible for me to get to on one side. I just take it up the street to my local shop, buy the bulb from him, and shoot--he puts it in for me.

Sure, I can get the bulb online for $0.45 or whatever China wants to charge me, then wait a few weeks for it to get here and then struggle and likely fail to put it in. But look at all the money I would save, compared to that ripoff artist up the street that dares to charge me $12.95 for a simple bulb!! Never mind that he installs it, that's outrageous!!!!! /s

 

[adam1991]

yeah genius, I am assuming you read every contract word for word

Yeah, genius, when I pay for something, I want to know what I'm paying for. Don't you? Or maybe you just blindly accept whatever you're given after you've paid your money. Are you one of those people who realizes 24 months later that your cable company has been wildly overcharging you, then claiming it's all their fault?

The VW finance guy wanted me to buy his extended warranty. Two hours later, after my reading it and having a little Q&A session with him, I had schooled him on exactly what that warranty was and was not. Most of what I found by reading, he had never heard. Funny thing--he never read the very contract he was trying to sell. Astounding.

So go ahead and publicly be proud about not reading contracts, while you then express surprise that the contract dares not to do something you fully (out of thin air) expected it to do for you.

 

[adam1991]

do you have anything constructive to add or are you just trying to troll?

And there it is. "He said something I don't like! He must be a troll!"

 

[adam1991]

The dealer himself said at the beginning that HID lamps might be covered (regular lamps generally were not) - then he called Mopar and was surprised to find out that it was not

You would have known that, had you bothered to read the contract before you went to the dealer.

I mean, you didn't read it up front--OK. But at least read up on the relevant parts before you go ask the ignorant service department. THEY don't know what's covered or not; they had to go back and do some research--the same research you could have done an hour earlier with your own paperwork.

 

[adam1991]

-- I paid good money for that extended warranty (the highest tier)

WHAT extended warranty? From whom? Did you buy the factory Chrysler product? Or did your dealer sell you on Big Jim's Lick and a Promise Full Premier Coverage for only another $80/month (as the finance guy positioned it)?

BTW, for those who might not know, (a) the dealers almost never sell factory extended warranties because they make a BOATLOAD more on the third party crap, and (b) they don't always put in the paperwork to the third parties after you leave. They simply keep the cash and stick your signed contract in a drawer. Should you ever come back wanting service, they'll play dumb and claim it got "lost in the shuffle" and present it to the third party; but, should you never come back for a claim, they keep all the money themselves. It's a win-win for them, with zero reason to submit the paperwork up front.

 

[adam1991]

thats fine, I totally understand a Pacifica forum maybe full of diehard fans who dont want anyone to stir the pot, but not everyone is a "stan".

Most casual readers are going to see this issue for what it is.

so that's how you see the world, is it?

Nobody here is a "stan" as you call it.

And I guarantee, the casual reader will in fact see this issue for what it is. No question.

 

[miura348]

All these things can be true at the same time --

1. Chrysler Pacifica is good all rounder vehicle and should be on the shortlist for any minivan-type purchase

2. Cost to replace parts like an HID bulb at a dealer is exorbitant for a vehicle of this type - and yes, that should factor into your decision -- Not everyone has the bandwidth to research for hours and wait for days and find the right non-dealer service shop. The fact that HID bulb failed at only 31k miles should also be a consideration - as other vehicles may not have that problem

3. Be extra careful of paying up for high tier Mopar (Chrysler's own) warranties as dealers themselves are not clear as to what is covered and not

4. Fanboys will attack anyone who dares point out 2 and 3 above as either they can see no flaw or they are expect everyone to be a car repair and contract nerd

Well if nothing else, good that all these replies have bumped the thread up so people who google search on this topic and see and decide for themselves

 

[adam1991]

Cost to replace parts like an HID bulb at a dealer is exorbitant for a vehicle of this type

this is also generally true: dealer prices are higher than DIY or your local up the street guy. When you go to the dealer, expect that to be the case.

I treasure my up the street guy, btw, and give him all the business I can. I call it a "neighborhood tax". If I don't do business with him, he won't be there. And that would suck. And when I do need him, he's there at a moment's notice. All businesses could take a lesson from him.

Be extra careful of paying up for high tier Mopar warranties as dealers themselves are not clear as to what is covered and not

Even before that, make sure that what you're buying is in fact the Chrysler factory extended warranty and not some third party crapola the finance guy tries to slime down your throat.

Fanboys will attack anyone who dares point out 2 and 3 above as either they can see no flaw or they are expect everyone to be a car repair and contract nerd

This has nothing to do with the van itself, your position on that notwithstanding. You got caught by surprise by a contract you had purchased, and got exposed for that. Shame on you for being caught by surprise.

As for "contract nerd," is that your way of trying to deflect attention away from the fact that you didn't even bother to read your service contract before bothering the dealer, let alone at purchase time? Your way of deflecting attention away from that is to try to call names?? Really? "herp derp he actually reads his contracts, he's a stupid contract nerd"?

 

[jzchen]

About the bulb sorry you had to pay so much to have it replaced.

About the contract, usually they have a few up to 30 day cancellation clause to get a full refund. I don't read it in front of the salesman/finance manager, but do take it home and read it more carefully. I've cancelled wheel road hazard warranty after deciding it would not pay off for me with the low mileage I drive.

Yeah sometimes salespeople don't know the products they are selling. Best to get a different person next time who does. The good ones do know and will inform you clearly...

Sent from my moto g(7) power using Tapatalk

 

[miura348]

About the bulb sorry you had to pay so much to have it replaced.

About the contract, usually they have a few up to 30 day cancellation clause to get a full refund. I don't read it in front of the salesman/finance manager, but do take it home and read it more carefully. I've cancelled wheel road hazard warranty after deciding it would not pay off for me with the low mileage I drive.

Yeah sometimes salespeople don't know the products they are selling. Best to get a different person next time who does. The good ones do know and will inform you clearly...

Sent from my moto g(7) power using Tapatalk

thank you for a constructive reply

the dealer who sold it to me misrepresented the warranty that much is now clear to me - and perhaps I should have spent an extra hour at the dealership reading the contract page to page after already having spent three hours there and exhausted at the end of day when I bought my car in 2017

the dealer who repaired the bulb recently (different than the dealer who sold the car) - he himself at first said, "if it is an HID bulb it most likely may be covered" and I dropped the car off and left.
After an hour he calls my cell to tell me , "HID bulbs are not covered" . Well I could have said, you know what 1. I will find someone to drop me off and come back to your dealership 2. Retrieve my car and begin the process of searching for a cheaper repair shop and a cheaper light bulb online 3. Get it all done in the time before I have to leave for my roadtrip.

In my circumstance, I could not. And I totally understand I chose to overpay for convenience.

Thing is most people want convenience. And car companies and dealers, for all their previous flaws, are realizing this more and more. This could have been a better experience. The problem is now I am worried, if a simple HID lamp costs $411 to fix at a dealership after discount coupon, what else may I be exposed to in terms of repair cost despite my pricey Mopar warranty since I am only at 31k miles and have a lot more to drive yet

 

[adam1991]

the dealer who sold it to me misrepresented the warranty that much is now clear to me - and perhaps I should have spent an extra hour at the dealership reading the contract page to page after already having spent three hours there and exhausted at the end of day when I bought my car in 2017

...or at any time within the cancellation period.

This is good advice for anyone reading this thread.

The problem is now I am worried, if a simple HID lamp costs $411 to fix at a dealership after discount coupon, what else may I be exposed to in terms of repair cost despite my pricey Mopar warranty since I am only at 31k miles and have a lot more to drive yet

ummmm....you could read the contract you purchased. Then you wouldn't have to wonder what else you may be exposed to in terms of repair cost despite your pricey Mopar warranty since you are only at 31k miles and have a lot more to drive yet.

In fact, that would be GREAT information to have right now. After you get that information, you may choose to do something else with transportation in your life--and you would be making that decision in the best seller's market ever. If you don't like what you got into, you may find this is the best time in the world to get out of it and move on.

I'm dead serious. I'm not saying to do anything in particular, but certainly gather all the information at your disposal so you can make the best of your life.

 

[jzchen]

I think sitting there and reading the contract is not something I would do. I should have specified directly, as I admitted that I did not read them before buying. What I would do is go down to the return/refund/cancellation clause and read that first. If the cancellation terms are clear and I have time to read at home I would buy the contract then read at home, then cancel if I decide to...

I don't have a Pacifica, I came and joined because our rental had a freaking loose bolt on the front left brake that I needed to tighten right before our 1000 mi trip. So I understand the difficulty of making a repair decision just before a trip. What I see is that you were misinformed. Hope you now know a way to protect yourself in the future.

I think that specific dealership overcharged you. It may not be all dealerships. The one you bought from may have more motivation to take care of you as a service customer, (this is what I hear on the grapevine so to speak). A call to a different Chrysler service department can tell you if they all charge the same exorbitant fees. I did find something interesting in the past couple of years as a new to us (used) Porsche owner. Sometimes Toyota parts are more expensive than the Porsche equivalent, or the tools to repair the Porsche are (much) cheaper than the tools to repair our Prius...

The good news is that you do have a Max Service Contract. I would not worry about future repairs as it does cover a lot. Read it over and decide. The manufacturer backed contracts usually have a cancellation clause that applies through a good duration of the contract. If it still is maybe get some of your money back. I'm afraid the math may be challenging to calculate though...

Sent from my moto g(7) power using Tapatalk

 

[stevec00]

Out of curiosity, of the $411, how much was labour vs the bulb itself?

 

[adam1991]

MSRP on the bulb appears to be $264. I see a Philips bulb for $112, Sylvania between $135 and $160.

MSRP $264 plus installation plus shop supplies plus tax...quick napkin math shows that labor to be right around $100.