Rant on auto repair shops

[jeff]

OK so this happened to me today, felt like venting, thanks for listening:

Just installed control arms, struts, and sway links on my '00 Insight. It rides like a dream now. Needed an alignment. Went to reputable shop.

People, they told me they couldn't align the car because the tie rods were "seized" and that they couldn't align the car until they were replaced. Now I was just under the car wrenching Saturday, there is no rust, everything is clean. So.....I said no thanks and they tried to charge me $34.95 for doing nothing to my car. After some creative diplomacy I left without paying and drove straight to the Honda dealer.

Honda dealer has a $89.95 alignment special! Yeah, cheap! They do the alignment, no issues, car rides straight and true and perfect. I ask the guy how the tie rods looked, he says no issues at all. Ah, I knew it, those bastards! However he did say about one of my front CVs the following: "Outer boot torn, grease is everywhere" (direct quote, have it in my hand) and the CV needed replacing to the tune of $1095.33. Uh.....insert Beavis sound effect.

Grease everywhere? Huh? I was just under the car Saturday installing all that stuff! No grease anywhere, the car was super clean! But...the man has a picture! He shows me. Area around CV boot has green grease splattered a bit.

Parenthetical: CV grease is black, I know this well, have filled them myself. The grease I used to lube my new links Saturday, however is green. I also applied it to the CV spindle to help it engage the hub upon reassembly.

As expected a bit of that grease on the spindle got here and there. But no CVs are torn or compromised! Those dinguses wanted to charge me $1095.33 for something that wasn't even broken!!!! And...both times upon leaving both shops my car was not the way I left it - my belongings scattered, seat adjusted improperly, A/C left on (I had it off both times, they turned it on and left it on both times).

It ended well...I asked to talk to the mechanic and explained the green lube and he was very kind about it and admitted his error. And, he aligned my car perfectly. But WTF people???????

In the end, I live by this motto when it comes to my cars: NO ONE TOUCHES MY CARS. Unfortunately there are some things I can't do, like alignment. I feel my anal sphincter tightening every time I pull in to a repair shop for this reason, and it happened twice today. Maybe I'm being a prick, and if I am I'll own it....I try to give people the benefit of the doubt in every circumstance, but sometimes it gets to me.

 

[Ford ST]

I left the industry for a reason. A honest individual like myself just could not work in that industry. You just can't make a living on maintenance and basic repairs. The automotive repair industry is a mess and I could easily write a book on it.

It is not just bad for the customer though it is also bad for the technician. I would never recommend anyone work in that industry don't waste your time it is a path to misery.

Being upset because they want to sell you something that your car doesn't need yeah that's legitimate, being upset over silly things like a seat adjustment is nonsense.



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[DoomsdayMelody]

OK so this happened to me today, felt like venting, thanks for listening:

Just installed control arms, struts, and sway links on my '00 Insight. It rides like a dream now. Needed an alignment. Went to reputable shop.

People, they told me they couldn't align the car because the tie rods were "seized" and that they couldn't align the car until they were replaced. Now I was just under the car wrenching Saturday, there is no rust, everything is clean. So.....I said no thanks and they tried to charge me $34.95 for doing nothing to my car. After some creative diplomacy I left without paying and drove straight to the Honda dealer.

Honda dealer has a $89.95 alignment special! Yeah, cheap! They do the alignment, no issues, car rides straight and true and perfect. I ask the guy how the tie rods looked, he says no issues at all. Ah, I knew it, those bastards! However he did say about one of my front CVs the following: "Outer boot torn, grease is everywhere" (direct quote, have it in my hand) and the CV needed replacing to the tune of $1095.33. Uh.....insert Beavis sound effect.

Grease everywhere? Huh? I was just under the car Saturday installing all that stuff! No grease anywhere, the car was super clean! But...the man has a picture! He shows me. Area around CV boot has green grease splattered a bit.

Parenthetical: CV grease is black, I know this well, have filled them myself. The grease I used to lube my new links Saturday, however is green. I also applied it to the CV spindle to help it engage the hub upon reassembly.

As expected a bit of that grease on the spindle got here and there. But no CVs are torn or compromised! Those dinguses wanted to charge me $1095.33 for something that wasn't even broken!!!! And...both times upon leaving both shops my car was not the way I left it - my belongings scattered, seat adjusted improperly, A/C left on (I had it off both times, they turned it on and left it on both times).

It ended well...I asked to talk to the mechanic and explained the green lube and he was very kind about it and admitted his error. And, he aligned my car perfectly. But WTF people???????

In the end, I live by this motto when it comes to my cars: NO ONE TOUCHES MY CARS. Unfortunately there are some things I can't do, like alignment. I feel my anal sphincter tightening every time I pull in to a repair shop for this reason, and it happened twice today. Maybe I'm being a prick, and if I am I'll own it....I try to give people the benefit of the doubt in every circumstance, but sometimes it gets to me.

I don’t get being upset over the AC controls or seat position. If they need to move my car they had damn well better be adjusting mirrors so they can safely move it that includes finding an ergonomically sound seating position. You’re handing a personal use item over to strangers, shits gonna be fiddled with. If anything I’d feel more sketched out if the settings weren’t messed with because that means they were operating my car from a compromised position and that generates a wider margin for errors during operation. Finding shops that don’t try to get you to waste money seems difficult, I’ve had Ford dealerships tell me that it’s ford’s recommendation to “flush the crankcase (a $300 service), and perform an injector/fuel pump cleaning service (a $200 service plus 1.5 hours of time) at 60k miles. I literally went out to my car, grabbed the owners manual and paged over the the service section and went through Ford’s actual recommendations with the writer and he just shrugged and said something along the lines of “the owners manual is required service, the ones I’m suggesting are recommended.” I’m not dumb, the crankcase gets cleaned every time fresh oil gets put in, and the fuel system is literally filled with solvent. One by one all 4 of the Ford dealerships in my immediate area have lost my business by using similar tactics, and I’m currently searching for an independent shop to do all of my fluids since I’ve been formally handed a cease and desist order for working on my car in the garage of my apartment building.


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[jeff]

Being upset because they want to sell you something that your car doesn't need yeah that's legitimate, being upset over silly things like a seat adjustment is nonsense.

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Saw your unedited version....meh...the seat adjustment was just a bonus, but finding my previously-not-in-the-way-and-neatly-organized belongings literally scattered throughout the front compartment and relocated haphazardly in the hatch area can't be excusable, if it is I need to live on another planet. They tell me I need over $1000 of "immediate repairs" that don't exist, try to justify it with a picture that proves nothing, and then when I return to my car my stuff is displaced....launch me to space.

 

[jeff]

Folks the seat adjustment thing is 1% of it, the $1000 bill for something that didn't exist is the 99%. Probably normal to be a bit aggravated when they toss your stuff throughout the car. Also forgot to mention there were 4 fresh greasy fingerprints in the shape of a hand on my light gray headliner above the oh crap handle area where someone obviously used that area to lever their way out of the car.

 

[Ford ST]

Saw your unedited version....meh...the seat adjustment was just a bonus, but finding my previously-not-in-the-way-and-neatly-organized belongings literally scattered throughout the front compartment and relocated haphazardly in the hatch area can't be excusable, if it is I need to live on another planet. They tell me I need over $1000 of "immediate repairs" that don't exist, try to justify it with a picture that proves nothing, and then when I return to my car my stuff is displaced....launch me to space.

I agree there was no reason to move your stuff not sure why individuals do that. Especially for an alignment which is just pull the car on the rack. I'm only 5,7 so I do have to move the seat when someone is tall like yourself.

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[jeff]

I agree there was no reason to move your stuff not sure why individuals do that. Especially for an alignment which is just pull the car on the rack. I'm only 5,7 so I do have to move the seat when someone is tall like yourself.

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Seat is less an issue...it's my stuff strewn about and the black handprint on my headliner that I get to clean up. I just mentioned the seat and A/C because it's all part of the experience.

 

[M-Sport fan]

Folks the seat adjustment thing is 1% of it, the $1000 bill for something that didn't exist is the 99%. Probably normal to be a bit aggravated when they toss your stuff throughout the car. Also forgot to mention there were 4 fresh greasy fingerprints in the shape of a hand on my light gray headliner above the oh crap handle area where someone obviously used that area to lever their way out of the car.

Even though it is a pain, IF I ever have to hand this car over to any repair shop/dealership for something I just cannot do myself, or am not allowed to do by the HOA's draconian rules, I remove EVERYTHING not fully bolted down, in the interior of the car.

 

[SteveS]

I had a similar experience with the 94 Miata I bought last month. Took it for its safety inspection so I could license it. Shop is the one we buy tires from, do maintenance, etc. The guy who took it in pulled my wife's name up from their computer and did the work order from that. I come back to pick it up at lunchtime and they failed it for both inner tie rod ends and said they could fix it for $595 plus tax and disposal fee. My wife's name was at the top of the inspection form.

I had just driven the car home from Indianapolis (7 hours), and had actually looked under it before I bought it. There was no play in the steering. I took it to another shop for a check, and examined the tie rods with him. Absolutely zero movement or free play. So we called the highway patrol to have their inspection officer come see. Had to wait a day for him to come. He looked at it at the independent shop, then we had to go back to the original shop so they could defend their inspection. The highway patrol guy didn't overrule them. They said ball joints have to be checked under load, and said they used vice grips to make it move just a little. The inspection procedures are online and say load bearing balljoints have to be tested under load, and the test is to be done with hand movements. And for steering joints, the fail is for "excessive free play".

So I ordered the new tie rods for $53, and got the R-type outer tie rod ends since I'm going to put lowering springs on the car. Those were $125. Changed the tie rods. I have the parts out and check them holding both ends with pliers and a vice grips, and there is zero play in the inner tie rod ends. Ball joints were full of grease, perfect condition. Had to get it reinspected in a hurry because the state only gives you 3 weeks from a fail to get reinspected. It passed, of course. But now I have to decide how I can make any waves about it. I have considered taking the parts back and asking them to show me the free play. Or calling the highway patrol again to show them.

I am certain the guy inspecting saw a woman's name on the ticket and thought he could get away with it.

 

[Ford ST]

The (you need new parts so we can do the alignment) is one of the oldest ones in the book.

I have had this played on me multiple times.




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[M0LTEN]

I agree, "NO ONE TOUCHES MY CARS" unless its absolutely something I can't fix or do. I cringe every time I have to bring a car to a mechanic. Your story is all to familiar to me, been there done that. It shouldn't be that way but it is. I'm sure there are some honest mechanics out there but its hard to find one.

 

[LiLfieSTa]

Thats the main reason why I avoid stealerships, it only took working at a used car lot to understand what bigger stealerships actually do to customers.
im finally blessed with a mechanic that allows me to observe closely at what they do and even let me help out if i asked. (shops usually never allow this due to safety reasons)
But even that took forever to find.

 

[flbchbm]

I don’t get being upset over the AC controls or seat position. If they need to move my car they had damn well better be adjusting mirrors so they can safely move it that includes finding an ergonomically sound seating position. You’re handing a personal use item over to strangers, shits gonna be fiddled with. If anything I’d feel more sketched out if the settings weren’t messed with because that means they were operating my car from a compromised position and that generates a wider margin for errors during operation. Finding shops that don’t try to get you to waste money seems difficult, I’ve had Ford dealerships tell me that it’s ford’s recommendation to “flush the crankcase (a $300 service), and perform an injector/fuel pump cleaning service (a $200 service plus 1.5 hours of time) at 60k miles. I literally went out to my car, grabbed the owners manual and paged over the the service section and went through Ford’s actual recommendations with the writer and he just shrugged and said something along the lines of “the owners manual is required service, the ones I’m suggesting are recommended.” I’m not dumb, the crankcase gets cleaned every time fresh oil gets put in, and the fuel system is literally filled with solvent. One by one all 4 of the Ford dealerships in my immediate area have lost my business by using similar tactics, and I’m currently searching for an independent shop to do all of my fluids since I’ve been formally handed a cease and desist order for working on my car in the garage of my apartment building.

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I had no success finding a close military base with an auto hobby shop, but what about this place?

DIY Auto Repair and Customization Shop - DIY Auto Repair (diyordietech.com) The Best Do-It-Yourself Auto Repair Rental Shop, where you can rent a car lift, tools, and workstation. Save money! Have Fun! Learn something new! and fix or modify your car yourself!

 

[dhminer]

Most shops are awful. Clinton Family Ford in Rock Hill, SC is the only exception I've found where I don't personally know the owner. They treated me and the fiesta great, wish I was still close enough to bring it there when required.

 

[FiSTY]

Damn... that's all kinds of shitty. There's SO much honest work to be had here... why try to hustle?

Finding a good shop is hard to do. Previously, my solution was to buy a new one (and rely on warranty). Not the case for my FiST... so I searched high and low to find a guy.

Out of curiosity why do turn the AC off? I leave mine on auto 69 year round... cause it's comfortable and I'm juvenile. Am I fucking up?

 

[LiLfieSTa]

Out of curiosity why do turn the AC off? I leave mine on auto 69 year round... cause it's comfortable and I'm juvenile. Am I fucking up?

from what ive read, isnt a busted AC a common issue for us? i did the same thing the first year n' half of ownership and the AC went kaput after. Been driving with no AC for a looooong time.
Maybe that makes me a juvenile for refusing to fix it because i dont think i ever need it.

which brings me to a time where i was charged 90 bux for a compression test that took 5 mins
That felt dirty as heck.

 

[haste]

I hear you jeff. I am the exact same way with my machines. I take off my wheels and take them to the tire shop to get new boots. The ONLY time my entire car is at a shop is for an alignment.

I'm a diesel mechanic and it pisses me off when I get in a customers truck that another tech has worked on and the floormat and seat cover are just pushed aside. I try to treat all the trucks I work on as my own. Not many techs out there like that nowadays from what I've seen.

 

[Sprinkle_Star]

I'm the same way.

I have always been interested in cars ever since I was a tot. My father took the time to sate my curiosity whenever I'd watch him working on the family car.

I did extensive research on basic car maintenance, but finally after a couple of years, I had enough courage to buy all the tools I'd need to do an oil change, and the rest is history.

Now I buy tools as needed, based on the type of work I want to get done.

It used to be that I would go into a Valvoline or Jiffy Lube oil and be totally cool with that, but now since I know what I'm doing, I insist on doing my own maintenance.

 

[rallytaff]

I'm glad I live where I do. I have a great relationship with my Ford dealership and have never had any problems since I went there from a previous dealer. Other people seem to have problems that I've never encountered on my car. Maybe my car wasn't a Monday or Friday build!

 

[jeff]

I appreciate the support guys. It's been a couple days and I'm cooled off, I'm normally pretty level headed, it's probably a combination of things, I've worked so hard on the car and treated it so well, the quote for unneeded parts was bad but the greasy handprint on my headliner and my stuff being scattered was the final straw. I cleaned it up and feel better now, I have a lot going on and this just hit at the wrong time.

Someone asked about A/C, not sure if that was to me or not, but I do tend to only use my A/C 3-4 times a year. Always been that way, I just prefer windows and sunroof, everything is so artificial in life, from screens to cars to food to people, it's nice to hear and smell and feel real wind when I'm driving, I love that visceral experience!!! When wife or daughter is in the car though my cold A/C works well!