Leaving the lot with a used vehicle Q?

[cjac]

I just got a 2010 Tahoe from a GM dealership, rental return, so very close to new, meaning $35k plus on my part. I left the dealer lot and my gas was almost pegged at empty. Took 23.8 gallons on a 26 gallon capacity tank to fill.

I have no idea of what standard protocol is, is a dealer more or less expected to fill a tank on a vehicle leaving their lot?

Thanks, Chris

[Jack Peterson]

Yeah, we always fill the tank before the buyer finishes the paperwork.

[thatoneguy]

every car i've bought - new or used - has come with the tank filled.

[jwhjr]

Any vehicle I've purchased through a dealer new or used has been filled up at delivery.

[Jeremy airjer W]

I would have went back inside and asked the sales guy to fill er up before I left the lot. Of course you could have caught that if you took if for a test drive?

[Ralph Wiggum]

I asked for our last vehicle to be filled and was told that they no longer did that on used vehicles. I thought it was pretty cheap of them, but wasn't going to let it ruin the purchase. Dropping $35K, though, and I would have been a little more ticked off.

[goblueM]

why would you be more ticked off? if you're spending 35K, a full tank of gas is a drop in the bucket

[Ralph Wiggum]

why would you be more ticked off? if you're spending 35K, a full tank of gas is a drop in the bucket

Out of principle. If I am spending $35K, I would think they could drop $80 to fill the tank to make a customer happy. Of course, I guess they might not be making any more on a $35K sale over a $15K sale. I don't know. $80 is $80--no big deal. It just seems like a courtesy and a little "thanks for your business."

[pureinsanity]

I guess I never expect them to do that. If you drop 200K on a home they don't pay your first months gas bill?

[Farley]

I dont think courtesy and used car dealer go hand in hand. Had a flat last week, dropped my spare down to find out it was an old worn out tire. Should have been brand new bought the truck with only 30k and the guy I bought it from is in my fantasy football leauge. They switched the tire at the dealer before they put it out on the lot.

[LightningBG]

The last 2 trucks I've bought both were near empty when I drove them off the lot. It annoyed me, but I just continued on.

[Macgyver55]

The last thing I always say before buying is "fill er up and we have a deal"!

My last new snowmobile even came with a full tank!

[pureinsanity]

I even filled up my dirtbike when I sold it. Even gave him a fresh oil change and air filter! Its just common courtesy I guess. Depends on the day and the guy.

[BobT]

What would make it standard protocol? Everything is negotiable with the exception of maybe safety. I do believe they have to make sure all appropriate safety items are functioning such as seatbelts, air bags, etc. But gasoline? Your mistake for not bringing it up. Don't blame the dealer.

[cjac]

I think you answered my question with the same question? I didn't know hence my asking was a fair question, nor did I blame the dealer. Geepers....tough crowd.

I had to buy a vehicle on short notice, so to airjer's point, the gas level was the least of my concerns on the test drive. These dashes and controls are a bit overwhelming as it is!

Issue #2: (Disclaimer: Again, my fault for not checking everything before leaving the lot) I asked where my 2nd set of keys and stuff was before leaving. They said "It's all in your big packet". Get home and look and I don't have the key fobs, just two keys. They can't find them or never had them, so now every time I use the key to unlock at the handle the alarm goes off until I get my key in the ignition. I'm sure the neighbors appreciate that at 6:30AM... They had to know since every time they started it the same situation was in play with the alarm going off.

They are ordering fobs, but it's annoying in the mean time. Do I make a bit of a stink or chalk it up again to my naivety? I'd have to drive 30 miles each way to pick them up or should I ask they overnight or deliver them to me? I'll likely have to work with the dealership at some point in the future, so I don't want to burn bridges but I also don't want to come up empty for the inconvenience and oversight IMO on their side.

Thoughts on what I can leverage or bite my tongue and file it in the "Chris is dumb: Things to know next time" file?

Thanks, Chris

[cjac]

Side note to the gas fill:

They were very appreciative and thanked my several times for driving outside the Interstate loop to visit them and even offered a loaner for the day I bring my truck back in to have the $900 worth of accessories I purchased installed. Heck, the morning I was there I had to wait for the sales manager since he had to drive from town X to town Y (about 30 miles each way) to give someone a jump. Point being they are very service and customer oriented.

That's why I was a bit perplexed about the lack of gas.

[ted4887]

Cjac, the gas issue is all left up to the dealership. If it was a used vehicle, we didn't generally fill them up. New vehicles are ALWAYS filled with gas before they leave the lot. It's actually part of the GM survey.

Was the vehicle by chance a GM certified used vehicle? Because if it was, than it should have been filled up. If not, than like others said, it's supposed to be negotiated.

If the fob issue has already been addressed, than great. But if not, there is a slight chance that the sales people or service guys have a box sitting around of random fobs. I used to keep around 500+ fobs in the sales office for when issues like this would arise. If we had one in the box, than we would just give you it, and generally pay for the programming. If not, than we would just work with the customer to make it right. If nothing else, it's worth asking if they have some used fobs sitting around for it.

[pureinsanity]

Disconnect the wires to the horn? No alarm, no horn, but no mad neighbor either. have them mail them to you, or if you can disable the alarm system/horn (maybe just a fuse pull?) wait to get the fobs when you have all the accessories installed.

on a google search I found a 2002 answer for disabling the factory alarm, you pull a wire out of the BCM and ground that wire. The wire was light green and labled in the manual as "driver door key switch signal"

[pureinsanity]

Also found this... you might be able to program them yourself.

I am assuming if the dealer is programming them for you he will need your vehicle per these instructions.

Transmitter Programming Procedure (Method 1 - No Tools Required)

Close all the vehicle doors.

Insert the ignition key into the ignition lock cylinder.

Press and hold the door unlock switch.

While holding the door lock switch in the unlock position, cycle the ignition ON, OFF, ON, OFF.

Release the door unlock switch. The doors will lock and unlock to confirm the program mode.

Press and hold the LOCK button and the UNLOCK button simultaneously on one transmitter. After a delay of approximately 15 seconds, the doors will lock and unlock to confirm the programming of that transmitter.

Repeat the previous step to program up to four transmitters.

Turn the ignition switch to the RUN position in order to exit the keyless entry transmitter mode.

Operate the transmitter functions in order to verify correct system operation.

[MJ1657]

Having worked in dealerships for the last 15 years here is what I would do. (I was in fixed ops not sales)

Explain your concerns to the sales manager and ask for them to program the fobs free of charge. Basically you have bought the vehicle and a full tank was not part of the car deal.

The only thing you will need from them is good service. Customers that are reasonable and willing to work with people on problems will always get the best service.

[Macgyver55]

There are many different procedures to program fobs specific to different models. Many, especially newer ones, can sometimes only be done yourself if you have an onboard driver information center. Others will require a dealer to do it.

[Farley]

pull the fuse to the horn.

[muddpuppy]

Just have them overnight them, or if they have a concierge service have the person drop them off at your work while he is out and about.

[fasternu]

I bought a new (used) trucklast month. They actually had me sign a paper asking if I wanted any accesories added, and I said "only the tank filled up". the salesman laughed and said he would make sure it was done. Mine also only had one key and fob, but the salesguy told me that it sometimes goes between the office and salesmen. He said if they don't find it, they will make me one at their cost and mail it to me. He again laughed and said it's only a couple bucks for them anyway.