When you can't trust your mechanic anymore

[Wanderer]

So, I bit the bullet and put the van into the shop for repairs. Front end and an oil change...

I get a call at 3 pm "We didn't fix it, but we did change the oil"

Reason they didn't do the work? "Supposedly" that due to the "Quality" of the parts. :huh:

Now, I have talked with various shop managers who will have 3-5 mechs and will (While waiting for the parts to arrive) will disassemble the vehicles so they keep them busy and the $$ rolling in....I got underneath the van and saw that NOTHING had been touched.

The receptionist said "They put the old parts back on" :huh:

Now I KNEW this was a lie, NO SHOP would ever put back worn parts on a vehicle. So, they let me leave and said "Oh, bring it in Monday, we can get it fixed"  

Screw you, 9 months ago they said it was "Dangerous" to drive it...So now it's even more so (Quite likely) and yet you didn't care enough to fix it as you promised....Yeah, you're not going to get my business from now on.  

Had they said "Hey, we were over booked and how about next week?" Yep, no probs, but lying to me gets you NO MORE business from me...

I'm debating about finding someone on CR to do the work (I did it before, good results) or working beside them and maybe learning from them....I have watched several videos on repairing ball joints and control arms and they have some real nifty tricks about putting them back together in such a way to get you to a alignment center without much worry....

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

Ha, yea no shop would put old worn out parts back on.

I've had very good luck using people on CL to do car repairs in the past. One guy that I used to use all the time was the mechanic for the DPW in the town next door. He'd schedule car repairs on the weekend and his rates were very reasonable and you brought the parts. However, he had gone through a divorce and no longer had his weekends available to work on cars. (Something tells me it was him working on cars all weekend that led to the divorce!)

 

[SternWake]

Junky new auto parts is certainly possible. Formerly well known suspension parts makers have shifted production to other countries, like Moog. Some recently manufactured Moog stuff is horrid, but one might get lucky and find some older made in USA stock before federal Mogul followed the offshore everything, maximum profit bandwagon.

it is so hard to even know if one pays a premium for parts hoping for top quality, if they will get what they pay for, or will get the junk part in the more expensive box.

But this shop does sound suspect.

Even Napa Auto parts, which used to be known for carrying the higher end parts, is now Chinafied much of their offerings, as they can't compete otherwise.

Well known Auto parts brand names mean much less than they did 20 years ago. they are riding their former reputations and current marketing. They cut the manufacturing budget and upped the marketing budget as this ultimately yields more profit for them, and everybody who seeks actual quality replacement parts and is willing to pay for them, gets a 5 fingered prostate exam

 

[highdesertranger]

yep that shop was blowing smoke up your, well you know where. I couldn't agree more with stern's post. you really have to search out your parts now a days. highdesertranger

 

[bullfrog]

Even manufactures outsource parts and get substandard parts now a days. Toyota's recall on camshafts was such a case, but sometimes buying online factory parts through manufactures outlets works.

 

[Gunny]

Yep, a mechanic I have used and trusted for years just plain lied to me. My 93 POS Dakota failed the emissions test by "Just a bit" according to the State Inspection place. I took it to my 'trusted' mechanic and he told it was $100 for a check-up, but since I was such a loyal customer it would only be $85. Okay, fine, can't renew my registration without passing so I said okay. From the confines of his office I watched him remove an airline from the EGR valve, blow thru it and replace it. He left the hood up but I watched working on a car next to mine, never touching mine again.

Told me my EGR valve needed replacing and that I "probably" had an exhaust leak. About $500 plus the $85 for the inspection. I asked him how many other times he EFF'D me and was asked to leave.

I ran a tank of super unleaded and had it retested. Passed. I hate liars.

 

[steamjam1]

Its why I do all my own mechanical work... If you can't trust yourself, who can you trust?

 

[Wanderer]

Its why I do all my own mechanical work... If you can't trust yourself, who can you trust?

But if you don't have your own shop, then what?

 

[GotSmart]

But if you don't have your own shop, then what?

You do it where ever you can.  I have replaced parts in the snow.    , rebuilt a motor in the desert, changed I don't know how many sets of brakes on how many vehicles in driveways and parking lots.  Replaced three transmissions in fields.  (I do not recommend that!)

 

[highdesertranger]

yep your shop goes with you. a good mechanic can fix anything anywhere. highdesertranger

 

[ggwoman]

Seems to me, that doing mechanic repairs and service would be a good paying job for life on the road. Heck you got customers already right here.

 

[SoulRaven]

yep your shop goes with you.  a good mechanic can fix anything anywhere.  highdesertranger

I'm starting to wonder if the only way to actually do cheap RV living is to become your own bona fide mechanic.

If that's the case, I'm screwed.

 

[rvpopeye]

I used to do the change stuff in the woods stuff,,,, but 2 blown out elbows and a compressed disk and now I just save up a fix-fund.
Glad I had the guys at my truck place do those brakes when I saw how massive the hubs were !
400 for parts and 800 labor,,, now I just touch the pedal and ,,,,oh yeah !

 

[steamjam1]

I know that I am at the age where there isn't alot of time left before I start falling apart, and like a candle thats burning down, the youthful energy that has always kept me is going to fade. It's why Ive started to keep things easy and pack light when it comes to van dwelling and RV living. Why deal with 1-ton full float axles and 4000lb ball joints and brakes when a 1/2 ton will work? Its lighter, and will hurt less when I'm done pulling drums and the such. Why deal with a big block engine when a little 6cyl will do as you save your joints when maneuvering all over it to fix it?

I guess I am planning my own obsolescence.

You don't really need a shop to do 80% of car/van/RV repair. Just basic knowledge.

 

[steamjam1]

You do it where ever you can.  I have replaced parts in the snow.    , rebuilt a motor in the desert, changed I don't know how many sets of brakes on how many vehicles in driveways and parking lots.  Replaced three transmissions in fields.  (I do not recommend that!)

Yep. I've done more red-neck, hokey, cheese road side repairs to get me home in my life then I can mention.

The most memorable on the road repair to get me home involved the use of:

A tampon

A stick

duct tape

A leatherman

a set of g-string undies I found in the back of the van........

to temporarily repair a gas leak at 2AM going 60mph on I5 northbound in California which was spewing gas all over a bad set of ignition wires that were arcing sparks all over the engine.

 

[GotSmart]

Yep. I've done more red-neck, hokey, cheese road side repairs to get me home in my life then I can mention.

The most memorable on the road repair to get me home involved the use of:

A tampon

A stick

duct tape

A leatherman

a set of g-string undies I found in the back of the van........

to temporarily repair a gas leak at 2AM going 60mph on I5 northbound in California which was spewing gas all over a bad set of ignition wires that were arcing sparks all over the engine.

All great repairs will involve a stick, duct tape, and a McGiver knife.  Bonus points for the g~string and tampon.

 

[bullfrog]

Wish they would hurry up and invent maintenance free hydrogen powered light weight vehicles that can haul our houses on wheels around or at least super light weight houses on wheels. I guess as close as I'll get in my lifetime is a tacoma with a foamie.

 

[highdesertranger]

if it moves and it is not supposed to bailing wire and duct tape will fix it. if it doesn't move and it's supposed to WD-40 will fix it. so all you need in your tool box is duct tape/bailing wire and WD-40 and you can fix everything. highdesertranger

 

[sephson]

All great repairs will involve a stick, duct tape, and a McGiver knife.  Bonus points for the g~string and tampon.

Forget the stick, duct tape and MacGuyver knife! This is the impressive part. :angel:

to temporarily repair a gas leak at 2AM going 60mph on I5 northbound in California which was spewing gas all over a bad set of ignition wires that were arcing sparks all over the engine.

Most people would stop and maybe shut off the engine before doing the repairs.

 

[rvpopeye]

And where did the G string panties come from ????????
And exactly how did they stop the leak???
We're gonna need a lot more info !
(Of course so we can learn from your expert experience !)