never trust a mechanic

[harofreak00]

I recently bought another project 2000 SSEi for $500. The car is in great shape for the price, but they said the engine needed replacement. I picked the car up from a mechanic shop down by Mankato. I met with the mechanic before the seller showed up and I asked him what his diagnosis was. I was expecting a rod bearing or chunked piston. He said it had low compression. The car has 200k on it, but I've not seen many low compression failures on these engines. I didn't even double check his diagnosis, because the car ran like absolute crap if you could get it running. I ended up swapping in a 140k engine. It didn't take long, only about 4 hours. After I started it up the engine started running the exact same way that it had with the old engine. I then realized that I had used the MAF original to the car. I swapped in a new MAF sensor and the car is running perfect. Since the engine is out, I did a compression test on it. All 6 cylinders tested at around 120psi. I'm stunned. I just swapped out a perfectly good engine because of a bad MAF sensor, LOL! So kids, don't bring your car to Ron's Auto Repair of Mankato.

[CMNTMXR57]

As with anything, there are just 7 - 4 guys there to collect a paycheck. I worked with plenty of them.

[WhiteArrow3800]

*dang*!

One of those moments that piss you off but you laugh at later I'm sure. It would have probably taken anyone of the rest of us all day if not a whole weekend to swap a motor though. So at least you only lost a few hours in it, haha.

[gweg_b]

Three months after owning my Bonneville, and it developed a nasty lifter tick, I took it in for diagnostics, and the guy told me a I needed a new engine, without even telling me why.

My brother and I tore into it, and it was full of sludge and needed new push rods. After that, no more tick, and it's still the same engine. This guy wasn't doing it for the paycheck, he was just that dumb.

Yeah, some of them you can't trust, because they just have no idea what they are doing.

[Zeik75]

I have never taken my car to a mechanic because I know I will never be fully satisfied with the results. I wouldn't even have alignments or tires done if I could help it. One of my friends has had a terrible time with mechanics. His tranny went bad in his 99 Avenger so he took it to a shop that was recommended to be good and reasonably priced so they could put in a used one. when they finally finished he was driving it home and within like 5 blocks one of the C/V shafts fell apart because they had forgotten some sort of clip. He took it back and they fixed it free at least, but about a week later the new tranny died and left him stranded 30 miles outside of town. The shop was good about it and put in yet another tranny for free, but they forgot to tighten the hose clamp for the cooler lines so it leaked out about a quart before he noticed. I was able to find the leak and tighten that for him and it has been fine for about 3 months now but seriously??? you would think that the shop would like triple check everything after all the previous *shoot* that happened..

I HATE SHOPS!

[Trinity]

Nice to know we all screw up now and then.... that must have been a tough para to type though, Props for typing it...

[Boreas]

Very recently, the Caddy broke down in front of the dealer oddly enough, so we left it there. It took an extra two days to fix the coolant leak and WP, first because they didnt have the tool to remove the water pump. Then again another day, because the water pump removal tool was wrong.

When we finally did get it back, car was hard to start and had no tachometer reading. Found out that the crank position sensor was unplugged.

On the 97, I burst a rusty brake line going from MBC to the ABS unit. Instead of routing the new brake lines as they did originally, he took the shortcut and went over the tranny bell housing and down to the ABS unit.

Mom took the 96 to the mechanic for drastic coolant leak. Radiator was replaced. Days later, low transmission fluid. Filled up. Days later, transmission fluid low again. I checked myself and noticed the tranny cooler lines at the radiator was loose. You'd think they would button that down right...

I've got more but this post is getting long. Needless to say im happy to do my own work. This is what happens when high school failures find jobs at repair shops...

[nos4blood70]

Yikes. It really pays off to just get some tools and go at it. Learn something. Mechanics are worse than dentists. XD

[spoiledred94]

It was a definitely steep learning curve when I rebuilt a 4t60e. I had the professional rebuild manual and when I got to putting on the reverse band it turned out the diagram in the manual showed a vague rounded part with no prongs facing 1 way. I put in like that before I put the trans back in. Started up and everything was great except no reverse. I had to do it again and after actually thinking about how it works the error was obvious. BTW it took me a week to swap out the trans and fixed the band.

I hope you don't feel too bad Andrew. It just shows you're trusting guy. It would stand to reason to think he would have checked the MAF

[00Beast]

I feel more bad for the schmuck who sold the car for $500 thinking the engine was shot. I have a feeling said mechanic was hankering for an engine swap, and thought this one would be an easy target...

[Wes]

I feel more bad for the schmuck who sold the car for $500 thinking the engine was shot. I have a feeling said mechanic was hankering for an engine swap, and thought this one would be an easy target...

My thoughts as well. 200k may be a lot of miles, but probably lots of life left.

[haro1225]

That's the one advantage to my job, I deliver to shops all day. You learn which ones are good and which ones are hacks. I'd say maybe 4 out of the 30 some shops I deal with, I would recommend to somebody or take my own car to. Good example is I get a call asking for one of those 175 amp fuses, that we happened to be out of. The mechanic on the phone then said "I need this car out by tonight, just send me some wire."

[vogie01]

Dumb mechanics!! My neighbor just had a similar experience. Two mechanics told him to replace the fuel pump and it ended up being a dirty MAF and air filter that has never been changed.

[CMNTMXR57]

Again, I will say, there are a lot of 7am to 4pm guys out there just to collect a paycheck. Cars are NOT their passion and all the cars coming through the service door to them, is another number. All they see is numbers and how many numbers that they can push through before 4pm, because at the end of the day, numbers (or pushing tin), is what you get paid on.

It is the same with any job, how many here are 110% passionate about what they do, and how many here are 50% passionate, and more or less just want to get through the day? Same applies to above. Just because you're a car enthusiast who may be obsessed with every noise your car makes and every drop of fluid you put in it, the guy having to work on them, just sees them as another number.

[SSEiMan01]

That's the one advantage to my job, I deliver to shops all day. You learn which ones are good and which ones are hacks. I'd say maybe 4 out of the 30 some shops I deal with, I would recommend to somebod9y or take my own car to. Good example is I get a call asking for one of those 175 amp fuses, that we happened to be out of. The mechanic on the phone then said "I need this car out by tonight, just send me some wire."

Same situation with me at AAP. I've seen some janky shops, some ghetto ones, and some really reputable places. You learn right away who to send people to and who to avoid.

[1tinindian]

Again, I will say, there are a lot of 7am to 4pm guys out there just to collect a paycheck. Cars are NOT their passion and all the cars coming through the service door to them, is another number. All they see is numbers and how many numbers that they can push through before 4pm, because at the end of the day, numbers (or pushing tin), is what you get paid on.

It is the same with any job, how many here are 110% passionate about what they do, and how many here are 50% passionate, and more or less just want to get through the day? Same applies to above. Just because you're a car enthusiast who may be obsessed with every noise your car makes and every drop of fluid you put in it, the guy having to work on them, just sees them as another number.

I totally agree Lane.
Some of these internet mechanics should try making a living working on other peoples junk, then maybe they wouldn't find it so easy.

No offence, but until someone has walked in a hourly rate mechanics shoes, I think you would have a different outlook on things.
I totally believe in doing a job right the first time, so I hear what is being said in this thread, but I also see it as an easy way for people that have never turned a wrench other than maybe changing their oil, to take cheap shots at people in the industry.

Just a reminder guys, there are mechanics on the site that shouldn't be thrown under the bus because of a few bad apples.

Leon

[00Beast]

I agree with both sides. I worked in a repair shop for a year, and it made me realize I hate working on other people's cars for a living. Too many issues, too much different crap all going on at the same time. However, the job of a mechanic is to fix cars, and that means making a proper diagnosis and doing the job right the first time as often as possible.

I also hate the mechanics who mark stuff up the wazoo. My aunt was quoted $1200 for a UIM/LIM job when she had an 01 Bonneville, $600 in parts. I know it's not a 6 hour job (figuring $100 an hour, incl overhead), nor is it $600 in parts. He had coolant elbows quoted for $55. We all know they're $11 at the parts store. Yes he has to make money, but he also has an ethical responsibility (or should) not to be a price gouger...

[vogie01]

I agree with both sides. I worked in a repair shop for a year, and it made me realize I hate working on other people's cars for a living. Too many issues, too much different crap all going on at the same time. However, the job of a mechanic is to fix cars, and that means making a proper diagnosis and doing the job right the first time as often as possible.

I also hate the mechanics who mark stuff up the wazoo. My aunt was quoted $1200 for a UIM/LIM job when she had an 01 Bonneville, $600 in parts. I know it's not a 6 hour job (figuring $100 an hour, incl overhead), nor is it $600 in parts. He had coolant elbows quoted for $55. We all know they're $11 at the parts store. Yes he has to make money, but he also has an ethical responsibility (or should) not to be a price gouger...

[1tinindian]

I also hate the mechanics who mark stuff up the wazoo. My aunt was quoted $1200 for a UIM/LIM job when she had an 01 Bonneville, $600 in parts. I know it's not a 6 hour job (figuring $100 an hour, incl overhead), nor is it $600 in parts. He had coolant elbows quoted for $55. We all know they're $11 at the parts store. Yes he has to make money, but he also has an ethical responsibility (or should) not to be a price gouger...

I'll take issue with this comment, and just say this...as a flat rate mechanic, I have NO say in the cost of parts or labor.
That is all dictated by the parts department and the service writers.
I get paid by whatever the "Book" rate is, and no more, so if there is a way to do the job faster and have the same results, then I make more money, as in, less time spent on that job, and on to the next one.

I know this may not sit well with some people, but after all, it's called, making a living.
If they wanted us to REALLY give a *dang* about a customers car, and sweat the little details, then they would be paying us by the hour.
But the dirty truth of it all is, if the wrenches aren't turning, you're not earning!

Leon

[MattStrike]

If they wanted us to REALLY give a *dang* about a customers car, and sweat the little details, then they would be paying us by the hour.

Leon

So that is to say you have no pride/ethical responsibility in your workmanship? Making a living = screwing the guy who can't do what you can do half-assed? The disappointing truth...

If you did give a *dang* about the customers car, they would come back, ensuring future job stability/income. Unless people really are dumber than I try to give them credit for...