For the mechanics

**ASE-Tech** · 03-21-2010, 06:48 PM

We all know how some people can be when it comes to their cars. They think they know more than they actually do.

A lady came into our store for an oil change, and we do our routine check out like on any other vehicle. The mechanic noticed that the car had cranked over a little slower than it normally should, The service manager went to the customer and told her she should have us do a battery test cuz of what the mechanic had noticed. The customer said.... Oh, I know, its just low on gas, I will fill it up after I leave here.

JunkyardDog · 03-22-2010, 06:00 PM

Yes, that's funny. But there are 2 sides to that story. Around here, shops use that tactic to con the customer for paying for something that is not needed, or could be done much cheaper by the customer. My former father in law took his 2 year old Chevy pickup to a dealer to have some small service done, which was supposed to cost $25-$30. While he was waiting for them to finish, a guy came out and told him that one of his battery cables was "corroded" and probably should be replaced. Not thinking, he told the guy to go ahead and do it. Boy was he in for a surprise. They charged him $112 for it. He was pissed. He complained to the service manager, and demanded to see the old one. He was told that the old one had already been disposed of. (there is a law in AZ that requires mechanics to return all old parts to the customer if they ask). So he lost that one. But, they lost him as a customer, plus he told everybody he knew about it, so it may have cost them more than one customer.

Anyway, I looked at it, and it was a part I could have gotten at the local Pep Boys for $15, and replaced in less than 10 minutes. And I doubt there was anything wrong with the old one that a little cleaning wouldn't have taken care of, after all, the truck was only 2 years old.

And he did learn a valuable lesson. He is not nearly so trusting of such places anymore, which will undoubtably save him money in the future. And I told him that if ANY mechanic or shop told him he needed something he was the least bit uncertain about, to say no, and to call me. Of all the automotive and motorcycle shops around here, only a very few, maybe 1%, have a good reputation. And you can bet there are no dealers on that list.

Sorry to mess up your joke ASE-Tech, but that popped into my head as soon as I read your post. Jerry.

**northbiker** · 03-23-2010, 01:29 AM

i thought the joke was funny until jerry piped in ..... thanks jerry

its so true though. my buddy showed up to my place while my friend mitch and i were working on my truck. we were replacing the headlight and he asked us what was up. we told him we ewere frustrated cuz we forgot to get headlight fluid. he offered to go buy some and started towards auto zone. he stopped the car and said "i dont have any money" we gave his some and just about let him leave. we got a kick out of it. when it comes down to it mechanics could tell you anything. most people dont even second guess it as long as it sounds lagit.

**ASE-Tech** · 03-23-2010, 09:08 AM

Yea, its funny as hell what some people come up with though... and yea I can see people protecting money from us EVIL MONEY GRUBBING MECHANICS, I just get a kick out of some of the excuses for the simpe things, very entertaining on this side of it.. lol

**cagie** · 03-23-2010, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by northbiker

...we told him we ewere frustrated cuz we forgot to get headlight fluid.

I gotta remember that one.

JunkyardDog · 03-23-2010, 01:07 PM

Fortunately I work for a government fleet department, so the taxpayers pay for everything. Jerry.

**vanringo** · 10-03-2010, 02:12 AM

I know this is an older post, but had to add what I did to my oldest daughter when we got her first car.

My wife and I found her a 1988 Plymouth Horizon (Dodge Omni) for like $600. Anyway trying to teach her responsibility I made her do her first oil change, plug and wire change, and tire rotation. This is just something I do when I buy a used car.

I am out there and watching and explaining things to her, even help her with tight bolts, but making her do the most of the wrench work. We do the oil first, nothing major. Then we do the plugs and wires. I went in for a beer, and came out to all of the wires off of the plugs and the distributor cap.

I didn't say anything to her. Then She changed out the plugs, I was nice and checked the gapping for her and explained what it was for. She put the new ones in. She went to put the new cables on and couldn't figure out why they were different sizes. I still didn't say much about it and said for her to just figure it out. She does all cables are attached. I say for her to start the car. It won't start. She is upset and blaming me now. I had told her to not touch anything until I got back out there because there was something that I had to explain to her. Lucky for her, I had already marked and matched the cables before she got out to help. I wanted to see if she would listen to me. (she failed) So I fixed it, and explained to pull the plugs and cables off one at a time so that you get the right order on the distributor cap. She is able to start the car. So then I get a bright idea. We clean up and then before we drop the hood, I start looking for something, she asks me what I am looking for, I say the resivoir for the blinker fluid, and asked her to find it while I go get another beer. I wait a few minutes, come back out, and she is covered in grease, he has been all over looking for the yellow resivoir to check the blinker fluid. My wife finally comes out and yells at me and I just start laughing my rear off. I walk over, give my daughter a big hug and tell her I lover her and that there is no such thing as blinker fluid. Then I asked her to get the jack and stands, since she has to grease the muffler bearings. My wife hit me that time and told me to stop.

I just love doing stuff like that, but at least my daughter knows how to do a basic tune up.

**Twister** · 10-21-2010, 03:52 PM

I thought those were sealed bearings. I'll ckeck my muffler bearings, (grease gun on hand) just to make sure.

I'll try to pull one of these on my daughter next time we are wrenching on her Jeep.

**Badger** · 10-21-2010, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanringo

I know this is an older post, but had to add what I did to my oldest daughter when we got her first car.

My wife and I found her a 1988 Plymouth Horizon (Dodge Omni) for like $600. Anyway trying to teach her responsibility I made her do her first oil change, plug and wire change, and tire rotation. This is just something I do when I buy a used car.

I am out there and watching and explaining things to her, even help her with tight bolts, but making her do the most of the wrench work. We do the oil first, nothing major. Then we do the plugs and wires. I went in for a beer, and came out to all of the wires off of the plugs and the distributor cap.

I didn't say anything to her. Then She changed out the plugs, I was nice and checked the gapping for her and explained what it was for. She put the new ones in. She went to put the new cables on and couldn't figure out why they were different sizes. I still didn't say much about it and said for her to just figure it out. She does all cables are attached. I say for her to start the car. It won't start. She is upset and blaming me now. I had told her to not touch anything until I got back out there because there was something that I had to explain to her. Lucky for her, I had already marked and matched the cables before she got out to help. I wanted to see if she would listen to me. (she failed) So I fixed it, and explained to pull the plugs and cables off one at a time so that you get the right order on the distributor cap. She is able to start the car. So then I get a bright idea. We clean up and then before we drop the hood, I start looking for something, she asks me what I am looking for, I say the resivoir for the blinker fluid, and asked her to find it while I go get another beer. I wait a few minutes, come back out, and she is covered in grease, he has been all over looking for the yellow resivoir to check the blinker fluid. My wife finally comes out and yells at me and I just start laughing my rear off. I walk over, give my daughter a big hug and tell her I lover her and that there is no such thing as blinker fluid. Then I asked her to get the jack and stands, since she has to grease the muffler bearings. My wife hit me that time and told me to stop.

I just love doing stuff like that, but at least my daughter knows how to do a basic tune up.

I wouldn't let her cook anything for you for quite some time.

regards
Badger

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