Rant on auto repair shops

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.

Air conditioning is a system where if you don’t use it, it becomes unreliable. You’re spinning a compressor which moves Freon and PAG oil (which is there solely to lube the compressor) in it. Like all liquids, if you don’t circulate them they tend to drip down to the lowest point. So if you don’t spin the compressor for a long time the next time you turn on your A/C, your essentially dry spinning a compressor and being that you are counting on Freon to pull it through the compressor actually getting oil back into the compressor can take time. Regularly running your A/C will keep the compressor lubed and will result in a significantly longer lifespan for your A/C system. The only other form of failure is a breach of the system at which point you’ve hit something or your rubber lines have dry rotted and that means the car is old anyways.


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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!

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!!!

i embodied that feeling after my AC went out. windows down is a VIBE. plus it makes it easy to wave at fellow STs

tbh tho, i mainly read and rely on this forum before diving in for a fix or even an install, and ya'll havent let me down thanks for saving me bunch on mechanical fees

I've been windows down too! The previous owner of my FiST installed a oil catch can that rubbed a hole in my ac line, so ac hasn't really been a option. I have the line, but my compressor is probably toast from not being run for so long.
.

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.

sooo, am I the only one who leaves my AC on AND has all my windows down in the summer? lol

sooo, am I the only one who leaves my AC on AND has all my windows down in the summer? lol

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 were scattered at mechanic service, 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.