Off to find auto mechanic #3

[mikea]

I've just decided I need to switch car shops again.

I found two on Car Talk's Mechanix files.

The first I used when I moved here...I gave them easily $3000-$4000 in business on my 3 old cars over 18 months...only to have then give me a hard time about giving me a ride home (it's like 6 miles away), once when I tried to take the bus there I ended up stranded 12 miles away and it took me two hours to get a cab ride. Throughout all of this I woudl walk by the large fleet of loaner cars they have. Not only did they never offer me one, (I never,. ever asked about getting one) the last time I drove in to ask if they could work on my car, the first thing the guy said was, "Yeah but we can't give you a loaner." Did I mentioned that they had never offered me a loaner and I'd never asked for one?

I guess the loaners were for the good customers with new cars that rarely even need oil changes.


So I went to the other guys, recommended by my neighbor. I had decent experience with them taking in the 3 cars. I bring them the new beater (#4!) and with my getting a strong vibe that I was wasting their time asking questions about what would cost what and all that is wrong, among other things, they tell me the "low coolant" light is because needs a new coolant bottle because the old one has a bad sender and leaks.

I just replaced the reservoir. For me that was a couple hours of near torture, not counting picking up the replacement. When I added coolant I was all grins as the "low coolant" light was finally off. I went for a test drive. The light came on again in about a minute. I pull over and the bottle is empty. Maybe it just went into the empty radiator. I got back home, added a bunch more fluid and found the fluid pouring out of the water pump.

The air conditioner compressor clutch is flipping off and on every few seconds so I need the A/C fixed.

I'm off to local guy #3. Found him on Yelp.

I know these guys don't like working on creaky old cars, but I think I'm pretty good about saying "do it" and paying and paying. What the H#$%^ else do they want?

 

[bigred177]

After going to the mechanic the third time to try and get the same thing worked on, they finally just told my mom to find some else to do it, it wasn't a big enough job for them to mess with. This was after they told us they would do it, and we brought it by two times before and left it all day and it didn't get done.

 

[CJones]

Exactly why I try to do as much of my own fixin' as I possibly can - short of changing the clutch in my wife's car.

Took my truck in a few years ago suspecting a timing issue - I could turn the distrbutor and get it to run, but it wouldn't adjust itself when going from idle to acceleration. Towed it to a shop and said "I think it's a timing issue" and explained my unofficial diagnosis. I needed tires, so I told them to put a new set on while they had it in the rack (maybe they'll give me a break b/c I'm giving them so much $$$ -- WRONG!). $700 worth of unrequested parts later (plus $400 worth of tires), they discovered that the distributor was broken ($60 replacement part). I'm not a rocket scientist, but I'm pretty sure the distributor is a major component of the timing system on the vehicle.

It was all I could do to keep from making a scene when I got the bill. That was the last time I set foot in the place, and I made sure to tell about my bad experience every time I had the opportunity.

Seems like a lot of mechanics today just want to plug in the computer and charge you their astronomical hourly rate to change the blinker fluid. Not very many true gearheads around anymore. There is actually a radio commercial here locally where the 'mechanic' says "I actually use a computer more than a wrench these days". As a wise man once said.... "sigh".

 

[tonycondon]

that reminds me i should check the timing on ol' blue.

 

[mikea]

I was about to delete my whining here.

I guess I need to add that it's not like I always have asked them to find the problem so I can fix it myself. Over and above that if they had actually put some coolant in they could have seen as well as I did it wasn't leaking from the reservoir.

I bought a complete set of tires for my Mustang from those guys just 8 months ago. On that last trip I was paying them over $400 - for wasting their time.

I was hoping for lucky voodoo as I drove the car and the coolant light was off for quite I while. I could smell coolant and it came on eventually. I guess last night it was that a good portion of the first fill of coolant went into the radiator.

I stopped by the third guy and I'm getting a nice vibe. I made an appointment for Tuesday. He tells me the A/C problem is probably just low Freon - there's a cut-off switch - and as I was saying "Yay! It's simple!' we both chorused "...not necessarily!" At least his shop is the closest and right where the suburban bus that stops at my front door goes by.

As I drove I made a new battle plan. I'm going to sell 3 of the 4 cars - including the Mustang *sniff* - and get a newer one to replace #4/this one.

What's currently calling my name is a Dodge Magnum or Chrysler 300 after I really liked the unexpected comfort for me in that Challenger I rented for the trip to Gastons.

 

[sba55]

Mike! Please please please don't get anything Chrysler. I wouldn't call those cheap plastic things "cars". Chrysler don't know how to make cars.

It really takes a special kind of incompetence to take a decent Mercedes convertible, give it a much cheaper interior, a stupid name, and make it look like a dog going to the bathroom - only to charge money for it. Shudder.

 

[jesse]

Mike! Please please please don't get anything Chrysler. I wouldn't call those cheap plastic things "cars". Chrysler don't know how to make cars.

It really takes a special kind of incompetence to take a decent Mercedes convertible, give it a much cheaper interior, a stupid name, and make it look like a dog going to the bathroom - only to charge money for it. Shudder.

I love my Chrysler Concorde. Even Ted approves.

 

[Obi Heed Kenobi]

Exactly why I try to do as much of my own fixin' as I possibly can - short of changing the clutch in my wife's car.
...

Agreed. A few months ago I had to have a fuel filter replaced - was leaking gas and I just didn't have time to do it. The guy gave me a quote for doing the front brakes (only rotors/pads, no calipers). He wanted $550!

I did it myself last weekend, all 4 wheels, all parts (including calipers), and it cost me ~$200, some skinned knuckles, and some swearing.

If you've got the time and the inclination, you can save yourself a lot of money.

Seems like a lot of mechanics today just want to plug in the computer and charge you their astronomical hourly rate to change the blinker fluid. Not very many true gearheads around anymore. There is actually a radio commercial here locally where the 'mechanic' says "I actually use a computer more than a wrench these days". As a wise man once said.... "sigh".

I was thinking the exact same thing when I read Mike's post.

 

[mcjon77]

It has taken me a few YEARS to find a mechanic that I can trust. I finally found one this week that does solid work at a fair price. Originally, my family (as far back as my grandparents) went to the same mechanic since before I was born.

After he died, we have been on a more or less constant search for someone who does quality work but DOESN'T rip us off. I had one mechanic recommended because he was cheap. Yes, he was cheap, but that was because he did a ****ty job. Others did good work but tried to nail me on the price (one of these guys wanted to charge more than a DEALER for some repairs).

This last guy did the job correctly on my car (a job that was supposed to be done correctly by the cheap mechanic, HA), and he didn't try to rape me with the bill. The thing I have discovered is that good mechanics that are good values are ALWAYS busy. They build a reputation and people refer their friends to him.

 

[SCCutler]

Mike! Please please please don't get anything Chrysler. I wouldn't call those cheap plastic things "cars". Chrysler don't know how to make cars.

It really takes a special kind of incompetence to take a decent Mercedes convertible, give it a much cheaper interior, a stupid name, and make it look like a dog going to the bathroom - only to charge money for it. Shudder.

Another way to look at it:

It takes a really special kind of incompetence to take a manufacturer with a long and (generally) decent history, and a large and well-established dealer organization, and run it so far into the ground that it is essentially valueless, all in nine short years. This is what Daimler did.

And the Crossfire was designed and built by the Daimler side of the shop. Built in Austria. And it was pretty much a piece.

And, ChryCo is actually building some pretty sound product these days.

 

[cessna182b]

Mike! Please please please don't get anything Chrysler. I wouldn't call those cheap plastic things "cars". Chrysler don't know how to make cars.

It really takes a special kind of incompetence to take a decent Mercedes convertible, give it a much cheaper interior, a stupid name, and make it look like a dog going to the bathroom - only to charge money for it. Shudder.

What a lot of bull! I bought a T&C (on eBay) with 60K miles, and it was still going strong at well over 200K when it was rear ended last year. Most comfortable and useful vehicle I ever owned (not to mention very reliable). You can bet your behind that I bought another as soon as I found one that suited me.

Dave

 

[cessna182b]

I've just decided I need to switch car shops again.

I found two on Car Talk's Mechanix files.

The first I used when I moved here...I gave them easily $3000-$4000 in business on my 3 old cars over 18 months...only to have then give me a hard time about giving me a ride home (it's like 6 miles away), once when I tried to take the bus there I ended up stranded 12 miles away and it took me two hours to get a cab ride. Throughout all of this I woudl walk by the large fleet of loaner cars they have. Not only did they never offer me one, (I never,. ever asked about getting one) the last time I drove in to ask if they could work on my car, the first thing the guy said was, "Yeah but we can't give you a loaner." Did I mentioned that they had never offered me a loaner and I'd never asked for one?

I guess the loaners were for the good customers with new cars that rarely even need oil changes.


So I went to the other guys, recommended by my neighbor. I had decent experience with them taking in the 3 cars. I bring them the new beater (#4!) and with my getting a strong vibe that I was wasting their time asking questions about what would cost what and all that is wrong, among other things, they tell me the "low coolant" light is because needs a new coolant bottle because the old one has a bad sender and leaks.

I just replaced the reservoir. For me that was a couple hours of near torture, not counting picking up the replacement. When I added coolant I was all grins as the "low coolant" light was finally off. I went for a test drive. The light came on again in about a minute. I pull over and the bottle is empty. Maybe it just went into the empty radiator. I got back home, added a bunch more fluid and found the fluid pouring out of the water pump.

The air conditioner compressor clutch is flipping off and on every few seconds so I need the A/C fixed.

I'm off to local guy #3. Found him on Yelp.

I know these guys don't like working on creaky old cars, but I think I'm pretty good about saying "do it" and paying and paying. What the H#$%^ else do they want?

Fix it yourself. If unable, look around (or ask around) for an independent mechanic. I found a couple of guys on Craigslist who will do work at my place or theirs, charge fair rates and do good work.

Dave