Car Mechanic Sh!t

[Mike]

I had an aggressively leaking front tire recently so I went to have it replaced. I replaced the other front tire too because 1) who buys just 1 tire?, and 2) the tread was wearing thin anyway on the other one. The cost for the 2 tires and an alignment correction was a little over $400. I haven't bought tires in a while so that seemed a little steep to me. But it is what it is...

My engine light is on too, so I had the mechanic run the test to find the cause. Turns out the catalytic converter isn't working as efficiently as it should. That's a pricey fix, even with after market parts. Maybe $1000 or so. But i decide to postpone it for a while.

As I'm driving home from work several days later my automatic transmission light comes on, which may reflect a serious problem. I bring it in to get fixed, and it's determined that the speed sensor is causing the issue. $300 repair.

Maybe 20 mins after I leave the mechanic the light comes back on. F#ck. And now we arrive at the point of the thread...

I can't even count how many times I've brought my car to get fixed over the years where the following situation unfolds:

I bring the car in to fix problem A, but problem A does not actually get fixed. Instead some other pointless repair is performed, ostensibly to fix problem A, but doesn't actually fix it. It's a misdiagnosis on the part of the mechanic. Meanwhile I've paid for parts and labor for essentially no reason at all.

I bring the car back to the mechanic who finally fixes problem A. But there's no mention of the previous f#ck up and all the time and money it cost me. It's as if that's all part and parcel of the car repair business. So i pay more money and waste more time to get the guy to do what he should have done in the first place, but there's no refund, no discount, and no apology.

It must be the only business in the world where you can pull that **** off. If i went in for a heart transplant surgery, and got a new liver instead, the doc wouldn't shrug and tell me to come back for another surgery and shamelessly charge me all over again. If I ordered a pizza and got a burger, i wouldn't be made to pay for the pizza *and* the burger. And if I asked a painter to paint my house blue and he painted it green, I would expect him to come back and paint it blue for no charge at all..

So why the hell can car mechanics pull this sh,!t off???

I'm bringing the car back in tomorrow, and I'm steaming mad about it. I honestly don't know what I'll do if he charges me for the repair. But I think I'm just gonna grab my key and leave. I really do. I will not pay the guy another cent

[Perdido]

They just guess at it.. for what makes them the most money.

Just like the medical industry.

[waxamillionpehhgasus]

It's time to leave the expensive and depressing cage in the past and make the quantum leap to two wheels.

[Mike Gorman]

It is mildly interesting that we not deal with 'car mechanics' these days, they are now called 'Automotive Technicians' because the sophistication of the modern consumer vehicle has reached such a level of specialization that 'mechanics' hardly ever come into it, we are presented with 'components' and systems within systems that are all governed by a master computer system. The automotive technician now has a barrage of diagnostic devices and algorithm analyses heuristics. When I was growing up you could approach fixing your own engine problems, I remember taking out the carburetor and clearing the nozzle, soaking it in petrol to dissolve carbon build ups. Now you cannot perform your own maintenance beyond putting in oil and additives, perhaps changing the spark plugs out. I agree Mike, the situation has gone well beyond 'Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance' we are being written out of the picture entirely!

[Mark (Star Mariner)]

So why the hell can car mechanics pull this sh,!t off???

Mate, seriously, find another mechanic!

I know exactly what you mean, I've experienced similar myself in the past, until I found a different shop. This same old guy, called Roger, ran this place for forty years. He wasn't immediately local, but I found him by word of mouth. The first time I went to him was to replace a faulty ABS sensor, which as anyone knows can cost a hefty wedge. He ended up waiving the labour cost as the extensive price of the tiny sensor was "more than enough" to cover it. I couldn't believe it. I was onto a good thing here...

A couple of years later, I had battery trouble. It was a cold winter and the damn thing just could not hold any charge. It would go flat sitting on the drive in just two days! So he replaced it with a new battery. But a couple of weeks later, same story. It depleted again for no apparent reason. I knew it wasn't the alternator. Not only did he drive out to jump start me for free, he re-replaced the battery with another brand new battery - for free. And when this battery also failed, he took the car in for a deep dive. Can't remember all the details, but water was getting in and the battery was essentially sitting in water all the time, freezing over night and killing it. He charged a minimal fee for fixing this, and put in another new battery for free.

Another service he provided for free. If you were looking at buying a used car, he'd come and look at for you and give a free assessment. If you could get permission from the seller, you could even drive the used car to his shop and he'd put it on his lift - again for free.

He was so personable, and honest - falling over honest, and whenever he did have to hit you with a steep charge he did so apologetically. He did not hide his disgust of his own trade, particularly the markup of car parts which, in his view, was a scam. He was always looking out for the customer. Unfortunately he's retired now - from the shop floor at any rate. He still owns the shop and employs all the staff, and comes in once a week to see how things are going. I was there only two weeks ago for a faulty regulator in an electric window. It was promptly fixed, reasonably priced, and the service was excellent.

If you can find them, genuine and honest tradesmen do exist. But you gotta find them!

[RunningDeer]

You may want to shop around for another mechanic. I paid $519 for four tires, June, 2019. They were the middle of the road price range. I had the catalytic converter replaced because you can’t re-register your car if it’s not up to emission standards. It was January, 2020 and it cost $555 for the part, labor and to my surprise they brought it to the inspection station for me.

I’ve been with them since the early 1980’s. Now when I need work even an oil change, they pick up my car. Another thing I appreciate is they let me know the next big thing I'll need like tires and give me an estimate of the cost. My 2003 Toyota Rav4 still runs like new and has no dents or scratches. They’ve never scammed me. I’ve only needed general maintenance like brakes, and an exhaust system due to salty NE winter roads. Any chance I get I pass along their name. They've gotten four additional satisfies customers just from where I live.

[Bill Ryan]

So why the hell can car mechanics pull this sh,!t off???

Mate, seriously, find another mechanic!
Or move to Ecuador. :P My mechanic here is a super-nice guy, speaks perfect English, is absolutely ethical, machines his own parts on a lathe if something can't be found, and charges about $5/hour.

A few weeks ago he wrestled for a whole morning with a tricky rear light assembly replacement on my ancient 4x4, and eventually got it all working impeccably. He charged me $20 and apologized sincerely for the unexpected cost.

:flower:

[Mark (Star Mariner)]

So why the hell can car mechanics pull this sh,!t off???

Mate, seriously, find another mechanic!
Or move to Ecuador. :P My mechanic here is a super-nice guy, speaks perfect English, is absolutely ethical, machines his own parts on a lathe if something can't be found, and charges about $5/hour.

A few weeks ago he wrestled for a whole morning with a tricky rear light assembly replacement on my ancient 4x4, and eventually got it all working impeccably. He charged me $20 and apologized sincerely for the unexpected cost.

:flower:


They’ve never scammed me. I’ve only needed general maintenance like brakes, and an exhaust system due to salty NE winter roads. Any chance I get I pass along their name. They've gotten four additional satisfies customers just from where I live.

---------
47937

[Strat]

Mike out of curiosity what is your car? Year/Make/Model?

[I am B]

If you're too up with it, you can try to find mechanic schools. It has worked for my parents to make big repairs. You let younglings practice and you get repairs for free (only having to pay for the materials) instead of the 40-60€/h that is the average here. It may take just a bit longer, but if the teachers are competent the results are the same or even better than a regular one.

[Mike]

:cocktail:
Mike out of curiosity what is your car? Year/Make/Model?

It's usually been my policy to lie about that. The last time I was asked that question (and I remember it right down to the detail) was when I was working at a hospital as a "safety companion". I was 32 yrs old. A nurse actually just flat out asked me: "what kind of car do you drive?" I thought that only happened in the movies. It caught me off guard honestly, because it was so direct and shameless. She was trying to determine if I was worthy of her somehow (she had been aggressively flirtatious for days, but I wasn't the least bit interested in her)

At that time I'd actually been forced to sell my 1995 Jeep Cherokee Sport (long story) and was given a slightly older Saturn station wagon by my brother, for free (nice of him, in a way). I couldn't bring myself to tell her I was driving the wagon, and it wasn't because I was embarrassed about it really...it was because I wasn't going to allow her to indulge in any sense of superiority over me. So I told a little lie by saying I still drove the Jeep..which wasn't anything fancy but definitely more respectable than the wagon

She considered my response for a moment, nodded her head a little, and walked out of the room. And I shouted after her (rather sarcastically), "Can we still be friends???"

Sorry that was a little more than you bargained for. My car is a 2010 Mazda 3. I hope we can still be friends :)

[Mark (Star Mariner)]

I drive a 10 year old car too, don't sweat it :)

But if I had the dough...it's gotta be a Jag!

https://images.jacit.co.uk/ids/front/xe-jaxe-21.jpg

[DeDukshyn]

I drive a 10 year old car too, don't sweat it :)

But if I had the dough...it's gotta be a Jag!

https://images.jacit.co.uk/ids/front/xe-jaxe-21.jpg

My car is almost 20 years old. A 2003 Honda Pilot with 400,000kms on it. Awesome vehicle though, still in excellent condition, I use it to go off-roading, and I have never gotten stuck despite driving through some truly precarious trails. I have a slight issue with the front end, something is bent somewhere and I get a bit of a shimmy at high speeds, and it eventually effects my rotor, but I have brought it to the mechanic many, many times, to get inspections, even had the suspension inspected, and no-one can find the problem and they always tell me its in impeccable condition. Oh well, I guess I just have to live with it. Minor problem anyway. Best vehicle I have ever owned, and it was gifted to me about 6 years ago. :)

https://www.carsinvasion.com/gallery/2003-honda-pilot-lx/2003-honda-pilot-lx-03.jpg

[Mike]

I drive a 10 year old car too, don't sweat it :)

But if I had the dough...it's gotta be a Jag!

https://images.jacit.co.uk/ids/front/xe-jaxe-21.jpg



That's a beautiful car.

I think if I came into some money I'd get a few vehicles, starting with one of those old ford broncos from the 70's. And then I'd get an old muscle car from the same era, maybe a pontiac GTO or something. And then I'd get a luxury cruiser/sporty sort of car like the Jag there. Or perhaps an audi.

[PurpleLama]

Mike out of curiosity what is your car? Year/Make/Model?

This whole thread is Chinaski reaching out to you. Beware.

[Mike]

Mike out of curiosity what is your car? Year/Make/Model?

This whole thread is Chinaski reaching out to you. Beware.


I was going to fake my own death and return as 'Chinaski,' but now you've spoiled it. You've reminded everyone of my previous incarnation, and now I have to wait a few more years till everyone forgets again. Damn you Lama, damn you....

P.s. on a serious note: I got curious and tried to read my earliest posts on the forum, but the history doesn't go back far enough. I would have loved to see what ol Chinaski was up to back in 2011 or 2012. This place is almost like a diary if you've been around long enough.

[avid]

Sadly, Mike, I had a love affair with my wondrous low-mileage Audi. A fantastic sports model, just like its predecessor Corrado with amazing spoilers.
Going to the garage meant me taking a can of bs repellant, as I was not stupid, old lady being hoodwinked. However, I seemed to get a decent honourable service from the Audi team, they were sad when I left them for a Mini Countryman as round here we have ghastly weather, floods, etc. Missing my Audi, it was a great car. I can sniff out technical bs a mile away, so ‘little old lady’ does never wash with me, henceforth the can of bs repellant quite handy.

[Patient]

I drive a 10 year old car too, don't sweat it :)

But if I had the dough...it's gotta be a Jag!

https://images.jacit.co.uk/ids/front/xe-jaxe-21.jpg

IF you are out driving around an see a Jag dealership, go on inside. You will see that they have the nicest waiting area for people waiting for their car to be repaired - because that is where they make their money - repairing them.

And tires for cars can be all over the place in price - mine cost almost $1000 per tire.

[onawah]

No doubt this will resonate with no one else (or nearly), but I felt a tremendous sense of relief when I got rid of my last headache of a car and moved to a small town with a good public transportation system.
No more worries about mechanics, car repairs, car insurance, my driving record, dealing with other drivers, etc. etc.
The only thing I have to worry about now is how well I get along with the drivers of said public transportation, which hasn't been a huge problem, thankfully.

As for you Mike, I don't think any seasoned Avalon members have forgotten you were once (and in one sense in our minds will forever be) Chinaski. :nod:
What's more your fame (or infamy, depending on one's perspective ) ;) lives on, for the old forum is actually still online in read-only mode here: https://projectavalon.net/forum/
....Wherever you go, there you are....:ROFL:

[RunningDeer]

Dear Chinaski-Mike (Charles Bukowski), I ran a quick search. These posts (https://projectavalon.net/forum4/search.php?searchid=24979670&pp=) go back as far as February 18, 2011. ♡


Just in case, here's what I did:

https://i.imgur.com/TFacQib.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/YB1xmV1.jpg





This whole thread is Chinaski reaching out to you. Beware.
I was going to fake my own death and return as 'Chinaski,' but now you've spoiled it. You've reminded everyone of my previous incarnation, and now I have to wait a few more years till everyone forgets again. Damn you Lama, damn you....

P.s. on a serious note: I got curious and tried to read my earliest posts on the forum, but the history doesn't go back far enough. I would have loved to see what ol Chinaski was up to back in 2011 or 2012. This place is almost like a diary if you've been around long enough.

[Mike]

Sadly, Mike, I had a love affair with my wondrous low-mileage Audi. A fantastic sports model, just like its predecessor Corrado with amazing spoilers.
Going to the garage meant me taking a can of bs repellant, as I was not stupid, old lady being hoodwinked. However, I seemed to get a decent honourable service from the Audi team, they were sad when I left them for a Mini Countryman as round here we have ghastly weather, floods, etc. Missing my Audi, it was a great car. I can sniff out technical bs a mile away, so ‘little old lady’ does never wash with me, henceforth the can of bs repellant quite handy.



I wish I could bring you with me to the mechanic Avid:) My problem is that I'm a fundamentally agreeable person, and I think those vultures can smell it on me from a mile away. It helps me in some instances and backfires in others.

I fell in love with audis as a kid. There was a remote control car I got for Christmas, purchased at Radio Shack, and it was an audi quattro. There was something about the shape of the car that was so novel and cool. In those days there were hardly any audis at all in America...it was mostly all these hulking fords and chevys and buicks etc. So the stylishness of the Audi was a real revelation for a kid like me.

[Gemma13]

Yep, once upon a time mechanics were unsure of how much vehicle owners actually knew and if one tried to do the dodgy he was quickly given a bad rap and lost business; and for us girls we would always take a male mate, or Dad, so we didn't get the swindle.

Like many who have posted, nowadays it's so hard to find a goodie. Being ill put the hobbles on my gypsy roaming so I was lucky to find an 'ol schooler who gives good service coupled to mates rates for loyalty. Had him for 9 years now and saved a fortune on my old Ford and now 2010 Toyota Cerato that was also gifted.

Speaking of Pontiacs... my ex-husband knew I had a thing for Pontiac convertibles, a rarity in Australia of course. Phoned one day telling me to get to his work to see what was in the yard. And there she was! I was ecstatic and could hardly believe how incredibly lucky I was.

Owner wanted to sell quickly and cheaply and then she was mine. The only thing needing to be fixed, after full mechanical inspection, was windscreen wipers. But the part didn't arrive for the auto-electrician to fix her and an unexpected issue prevented me from bringing her home for the night.

The workshop burnt to the ground overnight from arson and with it my beautiful car that I only had the pleasure of driving for two weeks. His insurance eventually paid out four times what I paid, but it was absolutely no consolation.
God giveth and taketh away!

First photo when she got home to have a bath. Looks banged up but it's only mud from the yard and light reflection as she was in really good nick. Thinking of moving to Cuba one day where I can sit and drool all day:

That's why Cuba is the way it is today—essentially a living museum for classic cars. [...] Cuban mechanics are truly the wizards and MacGyvers of the automotive world.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.anywhere.com/cuba/travel-guide/classic-cars&ved=2ahUKEwjwl__hy6X0AhWHzDgGHXXZDgEQFnoECAQQBQ&usg=AOvVaw1ePeIvH33MxxBKwDSoYImU

47947

[Frankie Pancakes]

Well as click and clack the tappet brothers used to say the guy has a boat payment to make.

Not at all unusual for cars to deteriorate with age mechanically and electrically. Older cars especially become money pits.
Code readers and scanners can be had with varying amounts of sophistication. One of those will at least give you an idea of a problem and some really drill down as one problem could have many interrelated causes. If nothing else a scanner or reader will give you something to relate to or test the mechanic.

[TomKat]

I watch Scotty Kilmer on youtube. He explains what cars are money pits and to be avoided. Almost anything not made by Toyota or Honda is going to be trouble nowadays. Also, stay away from CVT automatic transmissions, which is where Honda can let you down -- they're even making motorcycles with CVT tgransmissions nowadays. As my mechanic says, CVT doesn't work.

[Ernie Nemeth]

That made me remember my old Austin Mini. It seemed every weekend I was out there under the tiny hood, rocker cover off, adjusting the gaps back to the correct settings.

The click and clack of tappets is maddening...

As for CVTs, I don't know. But CV joints I had to constantly replace on my Civic. That was a job, what with ball bearings packed in grease constantly falling out of their sockets as I tried to fit the pieces back together. That was probably why they wore out so fast, after the third or forth fail and picking up the greasy and now dirty ball bearings. I probably didn't clean them off good enough before repacking them in grease...

[Mike]

Well the 3rd time was a charm. He finally fixed it (i hope). Just to recap: the first time I brought the car in he put in a new speed sensor; the second time he put in a different speed sensor (the first sensor, apparenly, was defective); and this last time he rewired it all. The first 2 "repairs" fixed nothing. This time he seems to have sorted it out. Which makes me think of course that I likely never needed a new speed sensor to begin with...just needed some rewiring.

I still don't feel totally out of the woods just yet. If I drive the car for another couple days with no issues I'll start feeling good about it. I'm still skeptical, but so far so good.

I've driven the car home from the mechanics' and now to work, and the AT light (automatic transmission) has not come on, and there has been no clunky gear shifting either. Keeping fingers crossed. And thank God for my younger sister, who has been driving me around and letting me borrow her car for the last week or so. I woulda been screwed without her

[avid]

That made me remember my old Austin Mini. It seemed every weekend I was out there under the tiny hood, rocker cover off, adjusting the gaps back to the correct settings.

The click and clack of tappets is maddening...

As for CVTs, I don't know. But CV joints I had to constantly replace on my Civic. That was a job, what with ball bearings packed in grease constantly falling out of their sockets as I tried to fit the pieces back together. That was probably why they wore out so fast, after the third or forth fail and picking up the greasy and now dirty ball bearings. I probably didn't clean them off good enough before repacking them in grease...

After years of being patronised by garage ‘mechanics’, being a woman, I decided to take my mini cooper to bits, hired an engine hoist, digested Haynes manuals, and stripped my car down, replaced dodgy bits, got recycled parts and eventually put it back together, a filthy job. It passed its MOT with flying colours, engine compartment pristine, wiring checked. It lasted for years after almost being written off. I drew the line at bodywork, hate fibreglass, so sold it to a friend, who trashed it!!
Never underestimate a determined woman who loves her sports prepared mini cooper :ninja:

Since then corrado, audi and now mini countryman auto, my fixing days are over…

[RunningDeer]

http://paula.avalonlibrary.net/smilies/flirty-hearts.gif

https://i.imgur.com/6TglhQX.jpg
♡

After years of being patronised by garage ‘mechanics’, being a woman, I decided to take my mini cooper to bits, hired an engine hoist, digested Haynes manuals, and stripped my car down, replaced dodgy bits, got recycled parts and eventually put it back together, a filthy job. It passed its MOT with flying colours, engine compartment pristine, wiring checked. It lasted for years after almost being written off. I drew the line at bodywork, hate fibreglass, so sold it to a friend, who trashed it!!
Never underestimate a determined woman who loves her sports prepared mini cooper :ninja:

Since then corrado, audi and now mini countryman auto, my fixing days are over…

[avid]

That made me remember my old Austin Mini. It seemed every weekend I was out there under the tiny hood, rocker cover off, adjusting the gaps back to the correct settings.

The click and clack of tappets is maddening...

As for CVTs, I don't know. But CV joints I had to constantly replace on my Civic. That was a job, what with ball bearings packed in grease constantly falling out of their sockets as I tried to fit the pieces back together. That was probably why they wore out so fast, after the third or forth fail and picking up the greasy and now dirty ball bearings. I probably didn't clean them off good enough before repacking them in grease...

Ernie, my days of using a ball-joint splitter are thankfully done :happythumbsup: