I brought my car in for a ball joint replacement. When I got the car back I noticed that little white silver rectangular cover beside the gear shift was removed and left there open.
As far as I know, I am not experiencing any parking shift problems.


I asked them about this: why the removed it and if they did then it implies that they used it. They said they never removed it and don't need to use it. I KNOW they removed it and so I'm pushing hard back on them to investigate. They are doing so...


Why would a dealership want to remove this clip and use the Shift lock release? By using it, can it screw up my car, parking mode, tranny at all? thoughts?

 

So they could shift the car without depressing the brake pedal...

 

Don't worry, it didn't mess up anything.

It allows you to move the shift lever without turning on the car.

 

Why do they have to?
And more importantly, why are they denying it?

 

Why does it matter?

They might have needed to move the car without the key. It does not hurt anything unless they gouged the trim piece when removing the cap. If it damaged things, it would be kinda silly they would have it that accessible.

 

They may have done it so that they could lock the steering wheel but yet be able to roll it on the alignment rack so that they could dial in the machine. But like others said, its really not a big deal. Its not like they did something shady with the car because if it. And asking the service adviser if they removed it will probably get you a no as they dont know everything and why mechanics do what they do.

 

no big deal, just enjoy the car, dont need to worry about it

 

since they changed the ball joint they needed to perform an alignment.
no sense in making it bigger than what it is.
Ask them to give you or replace the cap

 

Maybe the tech was bored and was like. Hey, whats that little key slot for?

 

It matters because they should disclose to you anything they do with your car while in for service.

When I was just out of high school I worked as a dispatcher in a Sears Automotive Service Department. My manager and I went round and round on a similar subject. The manager wanted me to have the techs perform free brake and/or battery checks on cars to keep the techs busy and try to drum up extra business. I thought it was a bad idea as it was unauthorized work, even if it was free it was still unauthorized.

I told her that if I brought my car in for a new battery but saw it up in the air with all the wheels off (getting a free brake inspection) I would be pissed, even if I was not getting charged for it.

I also was of the opinion that it would open the shop up for increased liability issues. Imagine getting a new battery, but they do a free brake inspection and don't properly torque your wheels when they put the wheels back on. Then you drive off with your new battery and you wheels fall off. Yes the shop would be liable even if it was authorized work but imagine the fun lawyers could have in the case of unauthorized work causing a problem.

It sounds as if there are several acceptable reasons as to why they may have used the shift lock release and it should be easily explained. A really good service writer will know exactly what and why a tech/mechanic does what they do. If they don't know, they will find out so they know for future instances.

 

No clue why they are denying it...my guess is they disconnected the battery, which is normal when working on a car, even if only ball joints, and had to move the car and popped the cap then put it in neutral to move it. Again, doesn't make sense that they would deny it. Sounds like a complaint to the service manager is in order if they want to keep you as a customer they need to fess up.

 

probably to move the car without starting it.

multiple techs probably worked on the car, the one the OP asked doesnt know anything about it.