Mechanics - A Rant

Mechanics, we all need them, some more than others.

I was raised to work on your own car. I taught myself how to do it. I change my oil, replace brakes, fuel pumps, fuel filters, gaskets, oil pans, manifolds, you get the idea.

I have a 2003 Ford with the battery light flicking when ever it rains and the air bag light is blinking on. My wife, not trusting my decision that it is nothing serious takes the Truck to her mechanic.

I get home last night and she tells me that her mechanic tells her, $70 later that the alternator is going bad. He further tells her that this is the reason that the radio is fritzing and that without fixing the alternator the radio will never work right, furthermore fixing the alternator will correct the flashing lights.

I told her that:
A: The alternator's only job is to recharge the battery. It serves no other purpose.
B: I am unaware of any radio that does not run on standard car voltage.
C: The airbag system is completely independent of the alternator.

I called her today and told her that if she did not believe Autozone where I had the alternator checked 2 months ago then take it to your favorite tire dealer and have them test it for free. They are always trying to sell us something we don't need. Sure as shootin', alternator is fine.

Now I am in trouble for being right?! How does that work?:shrug:

Then I hear that I also need to change the oil, change the ATF, and the brake fluid. Hold the phone, Brake fluid, didn't this :cen change MY brakes when all I needed was the new rotors. Along with changing brakes comes changing the brake fluid!! Right, Right. At least I changed my fluid when I installed a new camel hump and pads.

So now along with replacing the oil pan, changing the oil, changing the ATF, I have to add bleeding the brakes to this :cen job!!! I need to replace the sensor for the air bags. $40 bucks and removal of the two front seats and replace the battery cables cause there is a crack in the insulation that is causing condensation to get in which causes the battery light to come on when it rains.

I know there are reputable mechanics out there, hell there may be some here, but for my money, unless I need a lift, or to remove the block. I am doing it myself. My wife is just to trusting of people that have given her marginal service before.

Ha, try hiring a plumber to do a job. he'll takes the teeth right out of your mouth.

I know what you mean... Fortunately I happen to be one of those people that a) have old trust-worthy cars (a 1992 Peugeot 205 Diesel) that are cheap and easy to keep running and b) have a mechanic that you can trust... I have two, by the way! :) But I wish I could take care of my beloved little srcappy-doo! Change its oil, the spark plugs, the filters, the brakes, you name it. But, for the moment, I can check the water and the oil level, change the air filter and add some oil if needed. No more than that... My thought on the matter is: if you can do it well, why spend money to have someone else do it for you? And sometimes these people are professionals that happen to be far less competent than yourself.
You should make your wife watch you fix the car... that should teach her! ;)
Good luck...

A lot of things I'll do myself. I've done brakes and quite a few repairs. It's often a lot of fun, and I've been happy to save the money. But changing the oil has always been a waste of my time. I'd rather pay the $30 and have the guys at Jiffy-Lube do it in 15 minutes. Then I don't have to clean up the mess myself.

But as far as having the spouse on board with the home auto clinic, you could always get her involved in the repair. Have her sit out in the driveway with you. Have her hold the Chiltons manual and read along as you perform the repair. She'll learn something about the car as you fix it, and get some understanding of how and why things are done.

I haven't the time to work on my car any more - plus it's more modern than really allows for good tinkering (my old car was....old....). But there is a lot to be said for DIY. Failing that, I have a very good mechanic. He also races cars, so I know he knows what the hey he's doing.

The nickeling and dime-ing to death is a big bad sign.

Editing to add - I say you should show your wife what it is you're doing to the car - explain in clear terms - she sounds like she would appreciate knowing. It's easier to speak up when the mechanic starts in on hooey of you have a good idea of what's really going on. I know reading a fair number of repair manuals has helped me. A GOOD mechanic will appreciate talking to someone who has taken an interest in the machines.

I don't trust mechanics

over the years I've become one hell of a good mechanic
it isn't for everyone though (like some of those idiots in the shops)

I just changed brake fluid !!!!:D

no really !

I also rebuild everything

I don't know what's wrong with your radio, but the alternator can produce a high pitched whine that will be present if it's not filtered when the diodes go out. The alternator will still work fine, though. I am sorry to hear that you are having electrical problems. Especially so soon with a 2003 model.

Sometimes when my truck needs something fixed and I'm feeling kinda lazy, I will stop by a random mechanic and ask how much they charge to fix whatever it is. Usually by the time I leave I have a reason to laugh and I am provided with the financial motivation to do it myself as I always have.

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Originally Posted by singlewedge

A: The alternator's only job is to recharge the battery. It serves no other purpose.
B: I am unaware of any radio that does not run on standard car voltage.
C: The airbag system is completely independent of the alternator.

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A small amount of knowledge is a dangerous thing. All the Electronic control units (ABS, airbag, engine etc) on modern vehicles are voltage sensitive. If the regulated voltage of the alternator goes outside of a preset level (high or low) ECUs shut down and put on a warning lamp.This is A) to prevent damage B) to alert the driver to the fact the ABS, airbag or whatever, won't function as it should in an emergency. Thats on the simple vehicles. On the newest vehicles with smart charging systems and Controller Area Network (CAN bus) the alternator control is just one of the digital control units on the network( think of it as a mini internet in your vehicle) If the signal isn't correct all kinds of strange things will happen to the vehicle systems. Alternator problems have a knock on effect on everything electronic installed on the vehilcle. By the way, on later cars the Radio is on the CAN system as well.
Apologies for European nomenclature, I believe in the USA the main ECU is called a Powertrain Control Module or PCM.


Believe me, mechanics can be at least as exasperted by customers with very out of date knowledge as vice-versa.

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Originally Posted by fpessanha

I know what you mean... Fortunately I happen to be one of those people that a) have old trust-worthy cars (a 1992 Peugeot 205 Diesel) that are cheap and easy to keep running
But I wish I could take care of my beloved little srcappy-doo! Change its oil, the spark plugs, the filters, the brakes, you name it.

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Stand away from that Pug! Best take it to a mechanic to change the spark plugs on a diesel!:D No offence meant. Just amused me!

You can't go wrong with the old Peugeot/Citroen diesel engines. Been driving them myself for 20 years and they are bomb proof.

I'm on the opposite end of the scale. I was a salesman for 25 years and I never wanted to miss a sale because of car problems. For this reason, I lease new cars and keep them until the warranty expires. I have a reliable car, service is performed by the dealer under the warranty and my costs are fixed, i.e., no expensive surprises. The monthly payment is usually less than financing the purchase of a car. The only downside is that I never own a car and always have a car payment.

My mechanic drives a new Porsche, lives in a million pound house with no mortgage & works 60 hours a week for it.
He's become a mate over the years. Has never carried out any work without my ok first & gives honest advice. He gives me great rates & always get's our cars in at short notice.
Before i used him it was a bloody nightmare. There's a lot of idiots out there, many who can only fix what the diagnostics tell them to.
Find a better one!

Things like this make me happy that I drive a company car. I let the lease company fight it out with the mechanics. All i do it drop the thing off for an inspection every now and then, pick up the loaner, and pick up my own car after a day or two.

It's a known problem though when mechanics turn into salesmen.

They need to stick to their jobs and only fix things that need fixing and not tell lies about stuff, that's what salesmen are for.....and politicians.....and lawyers.

Far too many fitters and not enough mechanics these days. Keep changing bits until the problem stops. Costly!

I am very lucky in having a good, honest garage just around the corner. Having had some nasty experiences with main dealers and their apprentices in the past I would never take my car to a main dealer unless it was under warranty. Not a problem as none of my cars have ever been that new!

The final straw was several years ago when the main dealer had fitted new brake pads to my car as part of a standard service. Three months later the car went in for it's annual MoT test. For non Brits, that's a compulsory road worthiness test we have in Britain.

Anyway, the car failed because the brakes were uneven and were pulling to the left.

Took it to a friendly mechanic for a quick look and he discovered THREE different makes of second hand pads fitted to the front brakes! Only two of the four were of the same make and they were on different wheels!

Bear in mind I'd been charged new prices for these pads. The main dealer insisted someone else had messed about since they'd done the job. I knew different but they wouldn't budge. Last time I went to a main dealer!

Gareth

I would love to have an old car that I could tinker with and a new car serviced by a mechanic that I know will always go. If I start tinkering there is always a chance of ending up with spare screws and bolts that don't seem to have any place to go.
But living in Bangkok I don't really need a car. The busses and taxis suffice for now. I know I don't sound very mannly at the moment.

there are honest mechanics and crooked mechanics just like every other profession. if you go to a crooked mechanic, and know less about cars than he does, you'll get fleeced. the key to defeating crooked mechanics is education.

make your wife maintain her own car for a year, she'll wise up.

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Originally Posted by jockeys

to defeating crooked mechanics is education.

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I find it much less stressful to work on vehicles for people with good mechanical/electrical knowledge. I can explain the problem, the proposed fix and the cost implication. Ultimately I want a customer who will recommend me and keep using my garage. The communication problems often arise when dealing with people that think they have a lot of knowledge but in actual fact do not. Or the knowledge they do have is based on vehicle technology that pertained ten, twenty or even thirty years ago.

I am lucky in that my 2003 is right on the cusp of all that electronic doo dad stuff. It is still a normal car with some high end crap thrown in. So I can still work on it with an electrical engineers degree.

I only get my stuff tested at places that have no vested interest in my buying stuff. In the states we can go to Autozone or Napa or other autoparts places and they test stuff for free. They know that if they screw you that you will go to corporate and nail them for it. I use these guys because they only sell me what I need and give me advice on what I might need and let me make the decision.

Mechanics are for using the lift. If I need the lift I go to him and bite the bullet, if not then I do it myself. I really loath the day when I have to buy a modern car. I will have to get a system reader for codes, and not be very happy with all the modern "conveniences".

I have had relativly good luck with with mechanics when I've needed them in the past. Back when I lived in southern CA, I had a guy around around the corner from me who would fix things for free if it was something trivial. I brought my old Honda in with a variety of things going wrong electricaly and had no clue what the trouble was. I figured something was wrong with the AC and expected to have to pay a few hundred for the repair. He called me about 45 minutes later and said "Come pick it up" I went over there and he said "loose wire and a fuse". I said "How much?" and he said "Don't worry about it. It took me two minutes to fix. I'll give you the fuse for free.. I don't feel like writing a receipt for that"

It was a good business decision on his part, because I used him every time I needed something done, and recomended him to everyone in the neighborhood. I think he doubled his business from that simple fix. He was a very honest and hardworking guy too.

I moved a few years later, and I brought my car to him still and he asked "Why are you still coming here? You have a good mechanic where you live now" Apparantly, he knew the guy who owned the shop down the block from my new house by reputation, and had no qualms about recomending him to me. I have to say, He was right about that guy as well. Both great mechanics, and both trustworthy.

The difference between an honest mechanic and a crooked one is that the honest mechanic knows that his reputation for honesty and fairness is far more valuable than the quick buck he's going to make from selling you parts and labor that you don't need.

I hae a couple of honest mechanics, and they're gold man. there are lots of things I'll do at home, and on the 51' everything is possible. on my newer cars, 2003 and 2006, I don't bother. I'll do the brakes, fuel filter, stuff like that, but not oil changes or anything major.

my wife does appreciate it though. dealer wanted 500 to do the brakes on her car, I did it for about 170 maybe, new pads and all rotors turned, and was a damn sight easier than on the older cars. these new "floating rotors" are slick as greased owl poop.

Plumbing, I do all my own now unless it involves a snake. fortunately I have a friend that is a plumber, before that I paid a HUGE sum to have a faucet installed ONCE, that was the end of me calling plumbers for anything short of blockages.

on the other hand, considering what they work with, they deserve what they charge. you couldn't pay me enough!

Red