[ChryslrFan]

Hi, I have a 2016 300C Platinum - love the power and handling.
A month ago, noticed that driver's side headlamp would not switch on - took it to a dealer - first diagnosis - bad battery - so I installed a new battery - cost $400.
1 week later, same problem, diagnosis by same dealer - bad control control - fixed.
1 month later - same problem - diagnosis - headlamp assembly needs replacement - cost $1386 for driver's side - "friendly advice" - if one headlamp assembly goes out, the next one will go soon
:-(
Love my car, but $ 2700 for headlamp replacement sort of kills my love - must be the most expensive headlamps in the world !!!
Can't help but think this must be the worst designed car, or the worst mechanics in the world or Chrysler just fleecing current customers - am I wrong?
Any similar experience or suggestions? thanks!

 

[commander]

Well,

First, that was a ridiculous diagnosis for the dealer to say that the battery was the cause for ONLY ONE of the lights to not turn on. If something was up with the battery, it would 99% effect both headlights.

Second, since it doesn't sound like you will be saving any significant money by replacing both headlights at the same time, then why do both? Just fix the one that is bad, and ONLY IF the other one goes bad in the future, then get it done then. But the chances are the other one may never go bad while you own the car, so you will save a lot of money by not doing both now.

Also, since this dealer has already demonstrated that they misdiagnose problems and it cost you $400, I would get them to put in writing that if the headlight still fails after replacing it, that they will re-install the original assembly and refund your $1400 (so make sure they save the original assembly).

 

[TheKrell]

Also, since this dealer has already demonstrated that they misdiagnose problems and it cost you $400, I would get them to put in writing that if the headlight still fails after replacing it, that they will re-install the original assembly and refund your $1400 (so make sure they save the original assembly).

I agree. ChryslrFan's dealer saw money walking in the door and went on what I call a fishing expedition. I had a Mazda dealer do that for my RX7 once. They kept replacing parts, eventually making me come back 5 times for the same problem. That was the last time I ever went to that idiot shyster dealer.

 

[OzKen]

Concur with the "one headlight/must be battery". That is just bizarre.

This is becoming a problem now that LED light clusters are being fitted. I noticed the Indian Chief I was going to buy "LED tail light assembly - if led fails replace ENTIRE assembly." To me it is ridiculous. Fair enough, LED's last for a long time, but having them non replaceable is a cop out, but they do it "to save money" (no sockets), so if they were dirt cheap, then ok................ but then charge ZILLIONS for them, which is the opposite of what makes sense. That is in a headlight/tail light, instrument modules are different, size/access is more the issue there.....

But Chrysler lights are just ridiculously priced. My car is older, but the "leveling" headlights on mine are 3 grand each. As my car is 2007; if I break just both headlights, insurance will "write my car off" as "uneconomical to repair." And we are meant to be saving the planet????

Dealers generally don't understand electrics/electronics. They go through a flow chart that tells them what to check based on what is happening. That is ALL they do, and hope the flow chart works. If it is the 5th thing they try, the first 4 things they replaced went into the bin for nothing.The aerospace electronics industry tried that starting in 1978. Good techs let them gather dust, as they mostly didn't work. But training people to understand how elecs work "costs too much".

And don't get me started on intermittent faults, they just do NOT have the ability to even LISTEN/START to look at that; and with moving/vibrating cars, they happen all the time.

It is the way of the world. Electronics is a long and involved trade, and as car elecs are a small part of the car, and are normally very reliable, MOST training is devoted to the clunky things.

When they are honest about it (limited elec knowledge/suggest specialist auto elec), then fine. When they bullshit and fob you off, that is annoying. My Dad's Hyundai (bought new) had some problems - they wanted to replace the CPU (at 5 grand on a 5 grand car) and when I asked the "counter guy" his answer was "It is very complicated, I could explain it, but I doubt you would understand......" Hmmmm. I said "I maintain gun and missile radar mate; try me, I can NORMALLY keep up......." He didn't have a clue, he was just trying to "fob off an old guy." But that is what they do. I am lucky in that my trade knowledge catches them out; but annoying when they have no idea/want to charge my ancient Dad 5 grand for stuff it may not (and it wasn't solely in that case) be.

Translation "we have done what the flow chart says (because we have no clue), and will continue to do so until we replace entire car if necessary, and THAT will fix it." Process of elimination rather than "logic/knowledge".

It is as simple as that. Don't expect much from dealers with "out of the ordinary" elec faults. If they didn't think of it when writing them, it won't be in the flow chart. Find a specialist electronics tech.

 

[Tom18300S]

Don't get me started on all of this dealer crap. Some of the older techs know what they're doing but they are even limited by the system these days because "the book" tells them that a repair should or needs to only take a certain amount of time and they only get paid that certain amount of time even if it takes longer. Therefore, by virtue of "the system" that they work under, they won't do anything more past the time when the buzzer goes off. They'll cobble something together and call it done, which forces the customer to come back again and start the process all over. The whole time it's just draining the customer's bank account.

And....sorry about your luck with the headlight assembly. If I do a search online for a headlight assembly for my 2018 300s, it comes up with a ton of choices that are less than $400, even from Chrysler. You got ripped off my friend and that isn't fair or right in any way shape or form. That dealer should be investigated for price gouging at minimum.

 

[Desert_Flyer]

Unfortunately, (or fortunately for costs), cars aren’t built anymore with a bunch of individual parts…they are built with a bunch of assemblies. Don’t expect a dealer to start breaking apart an assembly to find a faulty part; their ‘book of parts’ will have assemblies that can be swapped out quickly and offer some reliability in the repair.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[ChryslrFan]

Thank you guys! I am going to take the advice here and ask them to put it in writing that they will refund the money if it fails again!