posted 07-05-2002 07:10 AM                  

I'm a new owner and haven't had much call for service, but worry that every time I take it to the dealer it will be their first time for diagnosing and fixing whatever problem is at hand. Your observation goes one step further.

Perhaps other owners have specific knowledge of what is required by the manufacturer when a model is discontinued. I thought they were required to provide at least common parts support for 7 to 10 years. I wonder if the "certified technician" problem is a new twist for a dealer to get out of a low-profit work area.

Does POA maintain a list of dealers with certified technicians or a "5-star" list of recommended repair stations for specific regions? This would not help with emergency work, but at least we can support the places that have several Prowler customers and perhaps stock standard parts when non-emergency service is required.

Additional thoughts?

posted 07-05-2002 08:32 AM                  

Point is Just because he is a factroy trained "Prowler" tech may not mean he is the best in the shop, most of them went to the training center for a few days back in 97, by now a lot of them have moved on to other shops, have not been back to school, some have never worked on a Prowler, I know of one dealer that sent a first year trainee just because he had to train someone to get the car in the showroom, Bottom line find a dealer that you like-a tech you feel good about and go there they will get the job done, but like doctors you need to look around and ask others

JMO good luck

Happy Prowlin
curtis

posted 07-05-2002 11:51 AM                  

Got me to thinking - should there be a level beyond "Prowler Junkie"? Maybe "Prowler Guru"?

Just kidding.

Thanks again.

posted 07-05-2002 12:03 PM                  

1. You know your car better than the average tech working on it. Don't automatically defer to the "experts" if it doesn't sound right. You may well know more than they do.

2. To help in #1 above, you must have the service manual. This will obviously get more important as the dealers see
less and less Prowlers for service. It's invaluable to help you diagnose problems and to define procedures even if you never touch a wrench yourself.

3. To me, the number one benefit of POA is the concentration of knowledge about this car - it far exceeds what you can find at any dealership regardless of how many certified prowler technicians they have. From past posts, you can see that I'm MAJORLY concerned about capturing and preserving this practical knowledge indefinitely.

4. I, too, had a good experience at a Dodge dealer. They seem to respect the car more for what it is.

Bill, I hope this is an active topic - there's only one certified Prowler tech in this area, and I have a 7 year extended warrantee. We really do need answers.

- GRROWL

posted 07-06-2002 09:33 AM                  

quote:

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Originally posted by ed monahan:
I think another important point is the fact - "It is human nature to forget things that you do not use on a regular basis"

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Funny, Sandy said the same thing about you
V
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I prefer to go to a Chrysler/Jeep - Dodge combo dealer because they have one Prowler tech and two Viper techs. I know the Viper wrenches are well versed in knowledge and know that those owners want their cars treated as if they (the tech) owned them themselves.

posted 07-10-2002 04:13 PM                  

The "2000 Plymouth Prowler" brochure (6-page foldout)states,

"It can be serviced at any Chrysler-Plymouth dealership".

The "2001 Chrysler Prowler" brochure says the same thing, just drops the word "Plymouth".

LOL

- GRROWL

posted 07-10-2002 10:40 PM                  

quote:

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DC will probably change their policy on warranty work or come up with another fix

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posted 07-11-2002 08:07 AM                  

#1 repeating Todd's ... is there a list?

#2 Is training still available today, even though production has shut down?