Some problems just ain't my fault...

Don't beat yourself up too much. We have VERY few callbacks for work, but some are going to happen. I've identified one case recently where we clearly messed up (my son did not listen to me!), but the rest are component failures. I make sure that the customer knows the reason 100% and sees our good results.

Sometimes, the old " 1 'awshit' cancels 10 'attaboys' " is true and I fight that by making sure the 'attaboys' get discussed. The customer gets bored with that, but it HAS to happen, or the negatives will take over the tone of the relationship. The issue of the air system drawing the battery down has to be explained but beware that the customer may not want to hear that.... it may be something his is really excited about and you may be 'raining on his parade' to make it the culprit. So you might bring up things like that as 'a possibility'.

FWIW, forgive me for saying this, but the phrase of 'solutions, not excuses' is not impressive to me as part of a conversation with a customer....I hope you are not using phrases like that. That type of phrase is for marketing types who don't know how to hold a screwdriver LOL

Did you take this car in for some sort of comprehensive check-up? I am trying to understand why this customer would hold a dead battery against you.

BTW, OBD2 won't test a battery. The way I test:

• Charge battery and then let it rest overnight, disconnected.
• Use a voltmeter..... after the battery is charged and 'rested', it ought to hold at about 2.1 volts per cell.... 12.6 to 12.7 volts for a 12v battery.
• Then use a battery hydrometer to check specific gravity in each cell if the battery voltage is low. You'll find a cell that is weak.
• Load testing will tell you some battery issues but not all.

I hope some of this is of some help to you!