Sharing experience with shops

dcraker · 07-03-2008, 10:51 PM

Okay, this isn't something that is asking for a request, I am merely sharing a couple of experiences with vehicles that I am more or less involved with. I am going to go ahead and tell you the moral of the story now, so that you don't have to wait.

Moral or my belief : "I will never, ever leave a vehicle that is in my possession alone at a shop, I will always be watching, even from a distance. And I do know what it is that needs to be changed."

These are in no particular order, and I was not thrilled when they were accomplished.

Story #1
My (separated for 8 years this was during this time) wife, has a 1992 Ford Taurus sedan, when she acquired this, I laughed. My hard earned dollars going to a piece of crap. I love Ford, but I don't like the Taurus.
When she got this, she never had any intention of me working on it. It ran great from the Used dealership (Don't they always?). Her boyfriend had a buddy that was an ex mechanic. Sounds reasonable right? whatever.
1. Starter goes bad, mechanic says it will take him a couple of days. She asks me if I don't mind. Takes me about an hour, never had to change it again.
2. the little hose that seems to be useless that comes off the waterpump? yeah, mechanic said the Heater Core was bad, and that was going to take some time. She lets him change it, pays him more bucks than me. That didn't fix it, mechanic says, "Don't know". She asks me, I say "Fine (not in a good way), let's have a look". I look around, don't see nothing immediately. Tells her to start the car, when pressure builds up, what do you think I saw? Yep, that little fricking hose. She buys..... nothing. I buy the hose, antifreeze and replace it for her. She pays me..... nothing. "Thanks" she says.
3. front brakes going bad. Mechanic says he will do it for some money. Changes pads, one rotor and a caliper. She gets in to drive it, before she moves 20 feet forward, she hears a snap or something. He gives up, keeps the money also. She takes it to a big tire/brake company here in Idaho. Cost her 300 plus. 6 months later, brakes are bad.
Now she's broke and desperate for the brakes, she asks me, if I can help. Well, yeah!, my kids ride in that car. "Do I get paid this time?", says me. "We'll see". Her mom pays for her, I don't accept it from Mother in law, says to her, that it is a paid deal.
What did I find about the brakes? That caliper? Yeah, it belongs to a Police Taurus model, not a domestic one. The brake pad was rolling around in the caliper, cuz the bore was large. So, I managed to get the pads, caliper, and rotors (2) replaced, and it was beautiful.

Now? The car is dead... Not my fault. Honest!

That's one story, have more, but will share that later. Feel free to post your story/experience here if you feel the need.

**mack1** · 07-04-2008, 08:01 AM

Great to get it off your chest, isn't it

dcraker · 07-08-2008, 09:14 PM

Short Story #2

I had a 1988 Buick LeSabre Limited, with the 3.8
I had this car for 4 1/2 years before selling it for 800 to a person that has been allowed to drive it in the past.
The front windows are held up by a piece of metal, so to lower them, you have to remove them.
Rear passenger window goes down, but takes about 20 minutes to come back up, the Rear driver window has no problem whatsoever.

What I have done to it, that I would consider somewhat major is:
Replaced the Waterpump, after the shaft broke on it.
replaced the steering wheel, then replaced it back again, but modifying the two steering wheels to make it work... has a wobble to it now
put new tires on it, of course, i learned that the driver's side apparently was really bad (which surprised me, because i love looking at my tires when i change the oil)

okay, now to the experience with the shop:
Last time I went in with it was to have the driver's rear tire flat-repaired. These tires were bought from the very same store and company 3 some years ago.
I do make it a habit to always watch my car or truck when it is being worked on. But for some reason I sat down for a couple of minutes and I suddenly had a weird feeling.
I get up and peer through the window at my car.
I don't remember the first thing I noticed about it, it was either that the Hood was up, or the tire was still on the car.
So I asked the guy at the front counter, "What does my engine compartment have to do with a tire going flat that is at the back of the car?" He said, "they were checking something for me." Needless to say, I wasn't thrilled. I told him that they have about 5 seconds to close the hood. And if there is anything wrong with the car mechanically, then they will be responsible for the entire bill. Sure enough, they closed the hood fast.

So, they were working on the tire, they screwed up and took out too much rubber, that they had to replace the tire. For a brief moment, they tried to tell me that I was going to have to pay a prorated charge for this. I laughed at them, and said BS. Of course, I had excellent tread on the tire and I paid for the warranty on the tires when I got them.

Moral of the story? I don't trust anyone with my car or truck at a shop, if you want it overnight, then I am staying overnight.

ebackhus · 07-09-2008, 01:43 PM

My shop experiences have been good, even though they were expensive.

Story the First:
My room mate had a 1992 GMC Sonoma with a 5-speed tranny. In mid 2006 it stopped shifting so we took it in to be looked at. The mechanics put it up on their fancy hydraulic lift and concluded that the clutch activator pin was not working. The mechanic assigned said he'd be able to do something but there was a 50/50 chance of it failing. We said yes because the work was guaranteed to only cost my room mate $300. A week later we get the truck back and it seems to work. Fast forward two years and my girlfriend now owns that truck and it stops shifting again. She lets her uncle and step dad look at it. $70 and 4 hours later it's running like new. They fully replaced the hydraulic clutch assembly and pin with new parts. The shop half-arsed it.

BUDFAN8 · 07-09-2008, 02:36 PM

well im a kinda free lancer i guess you could say. i work out of my garage. one reason i started on my own is i hate repair shops. i charge people equaly woman or man. i have had my wife stop and get her oil changed before and its always twice as high if i take her car and get it done (hate doing it but wanted records to show it was done regular for resale purposes). another thing i hate is they hire people that have swapped a few parts before in thier life so now they are considered mechanics. i know everyone has to start somewhere but for the rates they are charging i really dont trust half the people working in repair shops.

Bud.

**mack1** · 07-09-2008, 09:00 PM

Guess it's my turn.

Growing up in a small town, I know all the mechanics in all the local shops. There was only one that was considered really competent. Others would claim to do work that wasn't performed (wash off the outside of a carberator and charge for an overhaul, etc.). Maybe there was just too many shops and they need extra money to keep their doors open, who knows. I always did my own repairs, got a mechanics discount at the local parts places and enjoyed it all.
In later life, vehicles became more dependable and years would go by without needing repairs. Cars were still simple and easy to repair, but then Ford decided to put an electronic points replacer module onboard and it was a dismal failure. You could replace a lot of points and condensors for the price of one potted module with $2 worth of parts inside. The module cost about $95. Later, they started putting computers onboard and that scared a lot of us. After many many years of mechanical design that was still giving them problems, they were introducing electronics into a hostile environment. An older man told me "I've been driving all my life and the only time I ever had my automobile towed was when they put a computer on it." I would give them complements for having the good sense to let some good designers do the computer and convince them to use good and reliable connectors. They even have gaskets inside the connectors now to keep the moisture out (hard to believe from that bunch). Even sparkware wires seal so well that you can hit a mud puddle without the engine drowning out. But......back to the discussion at hand, shop experiences....

My wife's car stalled and would not restart. After being out of the repair experience for several years, took it to a shop. $250 dollars for replacing the sparkplug wire wires. Really? Wires cost about $50. $200 for trouble shooting? Either they overcharged are don't know how to trouble shoot problems. I got some books, bought a fuel pressure guage, subscribed to Aldata for prints, and AGAIN do all my own repair and trouble shooting. I have a voltmeter and scope and again know how to fix cars. Not much has changed, still need to know if the problem is fuel or spark, just like always.

Have a nice day everyone.
Mack1

07-03-2008, 10:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
dcraker Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 62 OS: Windows 2000	Sharing experience with shops Okay, this isn't something that is asking for a request, I am merely sharing a couple of experiences with vehicles that I am more or less involved with. I am going to go ahead and tell you the moral of the story now, so that you don't have to wait. Moral or my belief : "I will never, ever leave a vehicle that is in my possession alone at a shop, I will always be watching, even from a distance. And I do know what it is that needs to be changed." These are in no particular order, and I was not thrilled when they were accomplished. Story #1 My (separated for 8 years this was during this time) wife, has a 1992 Ford Taurus sedan, when she acquired this, I laughed. My hard earned dollars going to a piece of crap. I love Ford, but I don't like the Taurus. When she got this, she never had any intention of me working on it. It ran great from the Used dealership (Don't they always?). Her boyfriend had a buddy that was an ex mechanic. Sounds reasonable right? whatever. 1. Starter goes bad, mechanic says it will take him a couple of days. She asks me if I don't mind. Takes me about an hour, never had to change it again. 2. the little hose that seems to be useless that comes off the waterpump? yeah, mechanic said the Heater Core was bad, and that was going to take some time. She lets him change it, pays him more bucks than me. That didn't fix it, mechanic says, "Don't know". She asks me, I say "Fine (not in a good way), let's have a look". I look around, don't see nothing immediately. Tells her to start the car, when pressure builds up, what do you think I saw? Yep, that little fricking hose. She buys..... nothing. I buy the hose, antifreeze and replace it for her. She pays me..... nothing. "Thanks" she says. 3. front brakes going bad. Mechanic says he will do it for some money. Changes pads, one rotor and a caliper. She gets in to drive it, before she moves 20 feet forward, she hears a snap or something. He gives up, keeps the money also. She takes it to a big tire/brake company here in Idaho. Cost her 300 plus. 6 months later, brakes are bad. Now she's broke and desperate for the brakes, she asks me, if I can help. Well, yeah!, my kids ride in that car. "Do I get paid this time?", says me. "We'll see". Her mom pays for her, I don't accept it from Mother in law, says to her, that it is a paid deal. What did I find about the brakes? That caliper? Yeah, it belongs to a Police Taurus model, not a domestic one. The brake pad was rolling around in the caliper, cuz the bore was large. So, I managed to get the pads, caliper, and rotors (2) replaced, and it was beautiful. Now? The car is dead... Not my fault. Honest! That's one story, have more, but will share that later. Feel free to post your story/experience here if you feel the need. __________________ Thanks, David If you cover it in chocolate, it'll look better.

07-04-2008, 08:01 AM	#2 (permalink)
mack1 TSF Articles Team Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Texarkana, Texas Posts: 727 OS: xp sp2 My System	Re: Sharing experience with shops Great to get it off your chest, isn't it __________________ "If you like yourself others will like you also" me "Don't drink downstream from the herd" Will Rogers Submit New Articles Here

07-08-2008, 09:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
dcraker Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 62 OS: Windows 2000	Re: Sharing experience with shops Short Story #2 I had a 1988 Buick LeSabre Limited, with the 3.8 I had this car for 4 1/2 years before selling it for 800 to a person that has been allowed to drive it in the past. The front windows are held up by a piece of metal, so to lower them, you have to remove them. Rear passenger window goes down, but takes about 20 minutes to come back up, the Rear driver window has no problem whatsoever. What I have done to it, that I would consider somewhat major is: Replaced the Waterpump, after the shaft broke on it. replaced the steering wheel, then replaced it back again, but modifying the two steering wheels to make it work... has a wobble to it now put new tires on it, of course, i learned that the driver's side apparently was really bad (which surprised me, because i love looking at my tires when i change the oil) okay, now to the experience with the shop: Last time I went in with it was to have the driver's rear tire flat-repaired. These tires were bought from the very same store and company 3 some years ago. I do make it a habit to always watch my car or truck when it is being worked on. But for some reason I sat down for a couple of minutes and I suddenly had a weird feeling. I get up and peer through the window at my car. I don't remember the first thing I noticed about it, it was either that the Hood was up, or the tire was still on the car. So I asked the guy at the front counter, "What does my engine compartment have to do with a tire going flat that is at the back of the car?" He said, "they were checking something for me." Needless to say, I wasn't thrilled. I told him that they have about 5 seconds to close the hood. And if there is anything wrong with the car mechanically, then they will be responsible for the entire bill. Sure enough, they closed the hood fast. So, they were working on the tire, they screwed up and took out too much rubber, that they had to replace the tire. For a brief moment, they tried to tell me that I was going to have to pay a prorated charge for this. I laughed at them, and said BS. Of course, I had excellent tread on the tire and I paid for the warranty on the tires when I got them. Moral of the story? I don't trust anyone with my car or truck at a shop, if you want it overnight, then I am staying overnight. __________________ Thanks, David If you cover it in chocolate, it'll look better.

07-09-2008, 01:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
ebackhus Asst. Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 12,582 OS: WinXP Pro SP3 My System Blog Entries: 18	Re: Sharing experience with shops My shop experiences have been good, even though they were expensive. Story the First: My room mate had a 1992 GMC Sonoma with a 5-speed tranny. In mid 2006 it stopped shifting so we took it in to be looked at. The mechanics put it up on their fancy hydraulic lift and concluded that the clutch activator pin was not working. The mechanic assigned said he'd be able to do something but there was a 50/50 chance of it failing. We said yes because the work was guaranteed to only cost my room mate $300. A week later we get the truck back and it seems to work. Fast forward two years and my girlfriend now owns that truck and it stops shifting again. She lets her uncle and step dad look at it. $70 and 4 hours later it's running like new. They fully replaced the hydraulic clutch assembly and pin with new parts. The shop half-arsed it. __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses. Last edited by ebackhus : 07-09-2008 at 01:44 PM. Reason: Typos

07-09-2008, 02:36 PM	#5 (permalink)
BUDFAN8 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 192 OS: XP	Re: Sharing experience with shops well im a kinda free lancer i guess you could say. i work out of my garage. one reason i started on my own is i hate repair shops. i charge people equaly woman or man. i have had my wife stop and get her oil changed before and its always twice as high if i take her car and get it done (hate doing it but wanted records to show it was done regular for resale purposes). another thing i hate is they hire people that have swapped a few parts before in thier life so now they are considered mechanics. i know everyone has to start somewhere but for the rates they are charging i really dont trust half the people working in repair shops. Bud.

07-09-2008, 09:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
mack1 TSF Articles Team Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Texarkana, Texas Posts: 727 OS: xp sp2 My System	Re: Sharing experience with shops Guess it's my turn. Growing up in a small town, I know all the mechanics in all the local shops. There was only one that was considered really competent. Others would claim to do work that wasn't performed (wash off the outside of a carberator and charge for an overhaul, etc.). Maybe there was just too many shops and they need extra money to keep their doors open, who knows. I always did my own repairs, got a mechanics discount at the local parts places and enjoyed it all. In later life, vehicles became more dependable and years would go by without needing repairs. Cars were still simple and easy to repair, but then Ford decided to put an electronic points replacer module onboard and it was a dismal failure. You could replace a lot of points and condensors for the price of one potted module with $2 worth of parts inside. The module cost about $95. Later, they started putting computers onboard and that scared a lot of us. After many many years of mechanical design that was still giving them problems, they were introducing electronics into a hostile environment. An older man told me "I've been driving all my life and the only time I ever had my automobile towed was when they put a computer on it." I would give them complements for having the good sense to let some good designers do the computer and convince them to use good and reliable connectors. They even have gaskets inside the connectors now to keep the moisture out (hard to believe from that bunch). Even sparkware wires seal so well that you can hit a mud puddle without the engine drowning out. But......back to the discussion at hand, shop experiences.... My wife's car stalled and would not restart. After being out of the repair experience for several years, took it to a shop. $250 dollars for replacing the sparkplug wire wires. Really? Wires cost about $50. $200 for trouble shooting? Either they overcharged are don't know how to trouble shoot problems. I got some books, bought a fuel pressure guage, subscribed to Aldata for prints, and AGAIN do all my own repair and trouble shooting. I have a voltmeter and scope and again know how to fix cars. Not much has changed, still need to know if the problem is fuel or spark, just like always. Have a nice day everyone. Mack1 __________________ "If you like yourself others will like you also" me "Don't drink downstream from the herd" Will Rogers Submit New Articles Here Last edited by mack1 : 07-09-2008 at 09:04 PM.