Have you ever been scammed by your auto mechanic/tech

[Remus Lupin]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiCAJ8ULnaI&feature=PlayList&p=02C9F64718D426DE&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=12

This video shows Jiffy Lube doing some of the most unethical things a technician does.

As someone who is going to college to become a automotive tech, it angers me that this type of crap goes on so often.
It is understandable why we are second biggest scumbags behind lawyers.

[camarozz]

That is why you will need to work especially hard to be sure people wont think of you that way.

I was working on my ASE in the late 80's, and worked for a shop that was fair, but did some things that I thought were skirting the edge. An example was the differential gear oil, where we were to try to "sell" the need for a change. I refused, but if it were black enough I would recommend but not push.

Once you establish your personal reputation as a good mechanic, you will be set.

Some suggestions that may help, keep the old parts and show them to the customers when they come to get it. (its the law here in Washington.)

Its those kinds of unscrupulous morons that really give us in the repair industry a bad name.

[Remus Lupin]

That is why you will need to work especially hard to be sure people wont think of you that way.

I was working on my ASE in the late 80's, and worked for a shop that was fair, but did some things that I thought were skirting the edge. An example was the differential gear oil, where we were to try to "sell" the need for a change. I refused, but if it were black enough I would recommend but not push.

Once you establish your personal reputation as a good mechanic, you will be set.

Some suggestions that may help, keep the old parts and show them to the customers when they come to get it. (its the law here in Washington.)

Its those kinds of unscrupulous morons that really give us in the repair industry a bad name.

What I really find unethical is techicians pushing repairs on customers that they don't need done.
What Jiffy Lube did here was way beyond the pale.

[sgdp]

Where I worked, I was pushed to up-sell, but the guys seemed very honest. They were sure as heck right about my rusty brakelines. :eek:

[Remus Lupin]

Where I worked, I was pushed to up-sell, but the guys seemed very honest. They were sure as heck right about my rusty brakelines. :eek:

Learned that the hard way about my Contour!

[pattyk]

$600 for a fuel injector (panel?) long thing with holes. was that a rip?

[BrittleBullet]

This is why I don't get my cars fixed or even looked at. I don't trust mechanics. I just drive a car until it craps out and then buy a new one.

[sgdp]

Learned that the hard way about my Contour!

Mmhm. :eek: My brakes went out on the interstate. Awesome!

[Remus Lupin]

Mmhm. :eek: My brakes went out on the interstate. Awesome!

My brake fluid leaked out thanks to two of my brake lines rusted out.
Had to pay $230 to fix it.

[psyko kat]

at various times over the years,because Im female,, but I kept receipts,,
marked parts, like in the video, -made a scene,by talking LOUD, in a shop full of customers,
and threatened to have their shop shut down....

[camarozz]

What I really find unethical is techicians pushing repairs on customers that they don't need done.
What Jiffy Lube did here was way beyond the pale.

That is why I would not push to have the "up-sell"; some things are not as critical. Now if I noticed bad brakes or something that could potentially be life threatening then I would have pushed harder.

Those unethical shops need to be closed down because of that.

[Remus Lupin]

That is why I would not push to have the "up-sell"; some things are not as critical. Now if I noticed bad brakes or something that could potentially be life threatening then I would have pushed harder.

Those unethical shops need to be closed down because of that.

Exactly!

[The Girl from Ipanema]

Leo, Anthony, and the others need to go to jail.

I wouldn't take my car to a Jiffy Lube to save my life anyway. The one in my town where I went to high school was where teenagers bought their smoke.

We take our cars an hour away to a mechanic that we trust and it's worth it because we know that he won't charge us like this, and he won't just hang parts on it if he's not sure that it's necessary. As a matter of fact, we had a long back and forth last time, because I was pretty sure that he was undercharging us. He's a long time friend of the family and we think that he felt that we wanted a 'brother-in-law' deal. We finally made him understand that we're not looking for a 'deal.' We just don't want to get ripped off.

Remus, you prove yourself to be trustworthy, and I think you'll have no shortage of return business and word of mouth advertising.

[Remus Lupin]

Leo, Anthony, and the others need to go to jail.

I wouldn't take my car to a Jiffy Lube to save my life anyway. The one in my town where I went to high school was where teenagers bought their smoke.

We take our cars an hour away to a mechanic that we trust and it's worth it because we know that he won't charge us like this, and he won't just hang parts on it if he's not sure that it's necessary. As a matter of fact, we had a long back and forth last time, because I was pretty sure that he was undercharging us. He's a long time friend of the family and we think that he felt that we wanted a 'brother-in-law' deal. We finally made him understand that we're not looking for a 'deal.' We just don't want to get ripped off.

Remus, you prove yourself to be trustworthy, and I think you'll have no shortage of return business and word of mouth advertising.

Thanks.
I'm not going after ones who make mistakes from time to time. We are human after all. As long as the shop fixes the problem whatever the technician did to make it worse for FREE. Hell the shop should either refund a small percentage or give something like a free oil change.

I'mmore angered at these scum who prey on innocent people like that. Heartland Automotive who runs the LA based Jiffy Lubes shown in the youtube clip also runs seven of
the Jiffy Lubes here in Columbus, and talking to a couple of fellow students in my class,
they have heard simular complaints with Jiffy Lubes here.

I am planning on applying at Jiffy Lubes in this area as well as other places. I will NOT ever do what these dirtbags do. I will NEVER try to push services to customers that don't need it either. If it results in me getting the AXE, SO BE IT.
I as a automotive tech has an obligation to be fair and ethical in my work. If I can't be that type, I DON'T BELONG IN THIS PROFESSION.

[The Girl from Ipanema]

Good on you, Remus! :)

[Remus Lupin]

Sorry about my little rant. Just seeing this stuff go on just make blood
shoot out of my eyes.

[Remus Lupin]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsLKNdebB6Q

Here is another investigation on Jiffy Lube and another auto repair chain.
This time recommanding that cars need to get an "Engine flush".
Whatever you do, DON'T EVER AGREE TO DO THAT. That actually might destroy your engine beyond repair. It isn't reccommanded by any of the car manufactuers.

[Dragon1963]

I've had no problems with my local jiffy lube, but I dropped another company that was supposed to change all the belts on my old Omni and didn't. They changed everything except the alternator belt; which broke a week later while I was on the highway.

[Remus Lupin]

I've had no problems with my local jiffy lube, but I dropped another company that was supposed to change all the belts on my old Omni and didn't. They changed everything except the alternator belt; which broke a week later while I was on the highway.

I think some of the Jiffy Lubes are ok. The ones that are run by Heartland Automotive are
the ones to stay away from.

[jimjames418]

I've had no problems with my local jiffy lube, but I dropped another company that was supposed to change all the belts on my old Omni and didn't. They changed everything except the alternator belt; which broke a week later while I was on the highway.
That is because on the Omni you have to remove an engine mount and lift the engine to change that belt. Ask me how I know that sad fact.

[Dragon1963]

I think some of the Jiffy Lubes are ok. The ones that are run by Heartland Automotive are
the ones to stay away from.

Jiffy Lubes in Tucson are own by independent franchise owners and the one I go to has been owned by the same person since it opened.

[LouC]

I do not believe I have been scammed by any of the dedicated drop and come back later repair shops.

I know I have never been scammed by any of the quick service type places such as jiffy lube because I always watch.

[The Girl from Ipanema]

Years ago I had a place try to push new brake calipers and a new master cylinder on me. I told them to wait while my husband brought me money and instead he looked at them and found that they didn't need replacing. grrrr

[PeterGriffin]

$600 for a fuel injector (panel?) long thing with holes. was that a rip?


If that was just for the injector rail, yeah thats a pretty good beating there. $40 part used, still under $200 for a top of the line Benz, and I can't imagine why one would need to be replaced short of being in an accident. Was just looking for a cause for failure and Delphi (one of the biggest parts manufacturers in the country) claims they've never had one fail. If you had all new injectors installed with it thats getting closer to a reasonable price, but its doubtful that all injectors would ever need to be replaced at the same time, or ever.

When I was very young I worked as the service manager for one of the biggest auto repair and towing companies in Portland, OR. The owner was probably one of the most talented mechanics I've ever known, and he loved ripping people off, it was like a game to him. He could make a battery go bad while you were watching him. He had us doing all kinds of things, mostly on fleet accounts where it was tougher to make money. Clean up shocks and struts and paint them, charge for new. Clean up and wire wheel PCV valves, charge for new. They're out there, which is why you always ask for the old parts when you have work done.

[AeroEngineer]

I had someone put wiper fluid in my power steering line once.

:-|

[The Girl from Ipanema]

Did it ruin your power steering?

[rhet 2]

We haven't been.

But, then, we've gone to the one shop -- an independent small business owner -- for more than 30 years. The guy who owns it now is one of the kids I personally taught English when his father finally got his family into the States legally, with my grandfather's help.

Personal, long-standing family connections make a huge difference when dealing with people you have no choice but to trust.

Since none of his sons want to continue the business, all of them now having college degrees and white collar professions, what we shall do when he retires, I don't know.

[The Girl from Ipanema]

Perhaps he can make a recommendation for you when that time comes.

[khigh]

I know I won't be scammed. My father in law went in with me the first time I tried my new mechanic and told them that if they ever scammed me, they would be blacklisted on the Army base here. No mechanic can afford to lose soldier money.

I love the shop I go to, though. I always watch while they are working on my Bronco and then they tell me how I can repair things at home. I do most of the work myself. If I didn't, she would be in the shop weekly.

[betwixt]

No, I do most of my own work (except my wife's newer model car...talk about a technichian hell)

When I do need work done I know enough to "look" like I know what I'm about. Usually keeps the garage honest.


Speaking of scamms/ripoffs, that is a huge issue with me.
I work in the HVAC field and years ago when I worked in residential, I would hear of tech's actually sabotoging home owners equipment, not just doing a half ass job but making things go wrong.
Often times they were told by the owners of the co. or thier servicr manager.
There are a lot of tricks out there to damage peoples equipment and they would have a call back to fix it.

[StoneScratcher]

Yes! But I caught them. I put a mark on all my tires and wanted them balanced and rotated. But the tires were in the same places when I got my car back. I ticked some people off by telling them what I found, but they did it anyway. Then came the mysterious slow leak I had in one of the tires...

Sometimes I wish I was 6'7" and weighed 385 pounds!!

[betwixt]

Yes! But I caught them. I put a mark on all my tires and wanted them balanced and rotated. But the tires were in the same places when I got my car back. I ticked some people off by telling them what I found, but they did it anyway. Then came the mysterious slow leak I had in one of the tires...

Sometimes I wish I was 6'7" and weighed 385 pounds!!


Lol, it helps, trust me.
I am 6'2" at 220, keep my hair short like a marine and am ugly as a "mud fence".

I turn red easily and when I get a little loud I get peoples attention quickly.

[MikeJF]

I've had very satisfactory repair work on all my cars over the years. There was one time I could have been taken. I was driving a Pontiac Sunbird in the late 70's Driving about 30 mph I accidently shifted into reverse! Needless to say the car didn't like that! I thought for sure transmission was now messed up.

I was so worried, the next day I took it to a transmission place to have it inspected, and they said I needed a new transmission! My fears were confirmed. However, I could not afford a new transmission so I said no, and decided to just drive it home. However, it seemed ok. I test reverse- ok. It drove fine! I never had to get it the transmission fixed! Saved a lot of $!

[Wookinstien]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiCAJ8ULnaI&feature=PlayList&p=02C9F64718D426DE&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=12

This video shows Jiffy Lube doing some of the most unethical things a technician does.

As someone who is going to college to become a automotive tech, it angers me that this type of crap goes on so often.
It is understandable why we are second biggest scumbags behind lawyers.

Third you forgot politicians.. :)

[JediMindTrick]

Odds are we've all been scammed at some point and just don't know it.

[Souldire]

I work on computers at this small ma and pop run office. They called me in one day saying a computer would not start. By the way it did turn on I figured a ram stick was messed up. I opened up the side and saw that the ram was actually installed upside down. I showed the owner and said someone was tampering with this, I tried putting the ram in the right way did not turn on, Put in a new stick and still did not turn on.

I told the owner that the whole mainboard needs to be replaced. She agreed, and the next day she told her brother in law what happend and he was blaming me that I was trying to rip her off because he was the one that put the ram in backwards to test me and he said all I had to do was turn it around, but he did not take into account that it also short out the mainboard as soon as the power was turned on with the ram cramed in backwards. Needless to say she was mad at him and made him pay for the repairs. So it does pay to show your work and explain why you need to do something and always do honest work, you never know when you are going to be tested as a service technician.

[The Girl from Ipanema]

No, I do most of my own work (except my wife's newer model car...talk about a technichian hell)

When I do need work done I know enough to "look" like I know what I'm about. Usually keeps the garage honest.


Speaking of scamms/ripoffs, that is a huge issue with me.
I work in the HVAC field and years ago when I worked in residential, I would hear of tech's actually sabotoging home owners equipment, not just doing a half ass job but making things go wrong.
Often times they were told by the owners of the co. or thier servicr manager.
There are a lot of tricks out there to damage peoples equipment and they would have a call back to fix it.

I had that very thing happen to me!

We contacted a local company to perform seasonal maintenance on our a/c. The unit was cooling fine, but summer was approaching and I knew that it needed to be done before the heat got here. They offered a contract that would lessen the cost for summer and winter maintenance if we contracted for both summer and winter service at that time. Ok. Let's do that.

The guy shows up and goes up into the attic to clean the coils and whatever else he does, then went out back to do the part with the fan. I noticed that the house was getting hot and when I went into my dining room, the window was actually steamed up, it was so hot in there.

The unit was right outside the steamy window, so I knocked and got his attention, then went out and told him what was going on.

He did some things and said that he thought maybe he'd gotten the circuit board wet or thought maybe the thermostat needed to be replaced although it was less than 6 months old. So he let the board dry and went away (leaving the unit off). We went to lowes and got a new thermostat and installed it. Still heat, not just heat, the auxiliary heat, blew when we turned on the a/c.

This was a Friday, so when I called and told them, they sent another guy out to fix it and then charged us, not only for the repair, but for an emergency call after hours. I explained to the tech what had happened, but he didn't know anything about it so I just paid him and decided I'd take it up with the management on Monday. The solution was to swap some wires, he suggested that one might have been broken.

The management, of course was less than sympathetic and I had to go to the bbb to get it resolved. They finally refunded my money, but responded to the bbb complaint in such a way as to absolve themselves of any culpability. Basically, I was just one of those customers who couldn't be satisfied. I had 10 days to respond to their response, but by that time, I was exhausted and I had my check, so I didn't respond; something that I regret to this day.

After that, they kept calling and sending letters wanting to complete the contract by performing the winter maintenance. Yeah, like any employee from air assurance is going to step foot in my house EVER again! pfffft I don't think so!

I first thought it was incompetence, but then a few years later, they were involved in a scandal with our school system. I played with the idea that Air Assurance is a scheister company, but didn't entertain the thought for long. I was done with them, whatever.

After reading your post, I wonder how many other residents in Oklahoma they've screwed. Grrr now I'm all wound up again!

[camarozz]

If that was just for the injector rail, yeah thats a pretty good beating there. $40 part used, still under $200 for a top of the line Benz, and I can't imagine why one would need to be replaced short of being in an accident. Was just looking for a cause for failure and Delphi (one of the biggest parts manufacturers in the country) claims they've never had one fail. If you had all new injectors installed with it thats getting closer to a reasonable price, but its doubtful that all injectors would ever need to be replaced at the same time, or ever.

When I was very young I worked as the service manager for one of the biggest auto repair and towing companies in Portland, OR. The owner was probably one of the most talented mechanics I've ever known, and he loved ripping people off, it was like a game to him. He could make a battery go bad while you were watching him. He had us doing all kinds of things, mostly on fleet accounts where it was tougher to make money. Clean up shocks and struts and paint them, charge for new. Clean up and wire wheel PCV valves, charge for new. They're out there, which is why you always ask for the old parts when you have work done.

Actually in my opinion you do need to replace all the injectors at the same time depending on the mileage. Not that it is necessary, but if one is malfunctioning the others will follow shortly. They do wear out and stop working at peak performance, but most people will not even be able to tell.

[pattyk]

If that was just for the injector rail, yeah thats a pretty good beating there. $40 part used, still under $200 for a top of the line Benz, and I can't imagine why one would need to be replaced short of being in an accident. Was just looking for a cause for failure and Delphi (one of the biggest parts manufacturers in the country) claims they've never had one fail. If you had all new injectors installed with it thats getting closer to a reasonable price, but its doubtful that all injectors would ever need to be replaced at the same time, or ever.

When I was very young I worked as the service manager for one of the biggest auto repair and towing companies in Portland, OR. The owner was probably one of the most talented mechanics I've ever known, and he loved ripping people off, it was like a game to him. He could make a battery go bad while you were watching him. He had us doing all kinds of things, mostly on fleet accounts where it was tougher to make money. Clean up shocks and struts and paint them, charge for new. Clean up and wire wheel PCV valves, charge for new. They're out there, which is why you always ask for the old parts when you have work done.

he said it was because he had to take apart the engine. took all day he said. he did show me the old one, but hell, I don't know.

it went bad when we had some really cold weather. I could smell the gas.

he's now out of business and that could be why.

[chip]

This is from 2006 BTW

[AeroEngineer]

Did it ruin your power steering?

Completely.

[The Girl from Ipanema]

:( Did they cover the repairs?

[spearmaster]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiCAJ8ULnaI&feature=PlayList&p=02C9F64718D426DE&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=12

This video shows Jiffy Lube doing some of the most unethical things a technician does.

As someone who is going to college to become a automotive tech, it angers me that this type of crap goes on so often.
It is understandable why we are second biggest scumbags behind lawyers.

Yeah that stuff makes me sick, pure dishonesty. Although I make my living working on tactical vehicles I still take great pride in ensuring I do the job right.

[Drawz]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiCAJ8ULnaI&feature=PlayList&p=02C9F64718D426DE&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=12

This video shows Jiffy Lube doing some of the most unethical things a technician does.

As someone who is going to college to become a automotive tech, it angers me that this type of crap goes on so often.
It is understandable why we are second biggest scumbags behind lawyers.

When I was 18 my dad and I spent half the summer restoring a 62 beatle for me. Then me and two of my buddies took it to Colorado. When we got to Denver the engine started struggling and top speed dropped to about 30 mph.

I didn't realize that the altitude was reducing the amount of oxygen the engine was getting so I took it to a garage and they adjusted the timing, problem solved. But when I went to pick it up the guy told me that he'd checked the car over and my brake pads were pretty badly worn and that I might want to get them replaced, especially since I was headed into the mountains... I'd put new pads on myself not two weeks earlier. I'm guessing that was his standerd scam for any flatlander who brought their car to his shop.

[DougBH]

I once took my Ford to the dealership to get some part replaced. While looking at the engine, the mechanic held up his glove and said my engine was leaking oil and needed some major work on it. I decided to take the car to an independent mechanic to have him do the repair. He checked the engine out for a while and said there was no problem. He did note, however, that someone had placed some grease on the engine.

[Remus Lupin]

I once took my Ford to the dealership to get some part replaced. While looking at the engine, the mechanic held up his glove and said my engine was leaking oil and needed some major work on it. I decided to take the car to an independent mechanic to have him do the repair. He checked the engine out for a while and said there was no problem. He did note, however, that someone had placed some grease on the engine.

Dealership techs can be just as scummy as the ones in chain repair shops.

[blackcatrun]

I once took my Ford to the dealership to get some part replaced. While looking at the engine, the mechanic held up his glove and said my engine was leaking oil and needed some major work on it. I decided to take the car to an independent mechanic to have him do the repair. He checked the engine out for a while and said there was no problem. He did note, however, that someone had placed some grease on the engine.

I had a huge station wagon made by Buick a few years back.
The V8 started to use oil after having a change done at a dealership.
A lot of oil...well I took it back they did a test on it charged 200.00 for it. Told me nothing was wrong. I argued the point but they refused to listen. I used four quarts of oil in just a few miles took it back and told them it was using more oil than gas...the engine had no power at all and barely made it up a hill. It stank horrible. They took it in a few hours later came out told me everytings fine now 480.00 dollers later. Drove less than 9 miles the moter got bad knocks so I took it to anouther dealership and they took five seconds to tell me the moters gone and needs to be replaced. The moter which my luck was under warrenty. They however pulled me aside and asked where I had the oil changed. I told them at a dealership with a coupon. They went on to tell me someone had crimped a oil line off with plyers building up pressure to the point it blew by the rings and anouther crimp in an internal line.Needles to say I was going to get some answers from the dealship that did my oil change.. I had to cough up 800 dollers for the other replacement parts including a new catholitic converter not covered, I was in a quandry as to what to do over the expence expected at that time as well. A sudden relief came as the management came over and handed me a payed in full bill. Seems he had a conversation with the other GM dealership who payed for the repiars every dime. They fired four mechanics in that dealership for these kinds of stunts.

[Drawz]

catholitic converter
I thought catholitic converters were members of the Popes secret army of special force's missionaries. :)

[MR. MISTER]

This is why I don't get my cars fixed or even looked at. I don't trust mechanics. I just drive a car until it craps out and then buy a new one.
When we moved to a new town 10 years ago, we found our current mechanic here-

http://www.cartalk.com/content/mechx/find_by_name.html

and he's been great.

3 years ago, the CEL came on. I hooked up my scanner, and it said "Catalytic Converter" (which on my car would've cost $1000).
He had just been to a seminar on Cat Converters, and they told him modern converters are practically indestructable, and a more probable cause was the O2 sensor. Sure enough, he changed the 02 sensor, and that was it - Light never came back on and the car passed emission tests every year since.

[Rankandfile]

When I was a single woman in Los Angeles, I got ripped off on car repairs quite frequently, until I found not one, but two, honest outfits to deal with, and I stayed with them. In fact, one day I was at the supermarket standing in line, and two guys behind me were talking about one place, how good it was, how honest, etc. Jiffy Lube almost ruined a car for me when they failed to replace the oil cap after a change, and almost all the oil splashed out. Now, I live in a very small town in Northern California, and there is a place that has been here for years that only does oil changes and tire rotations. No need to upsell because there is nothing to upsell. You can sit on the side of the work area in a "safety zone" and watch exactly what they do to your vehicle. Family owned, family run.
Now, a few stories of "revenge on the dishonest car repair people". I had a Volkswagen Golf, which has to be one of the biggest pieces of junk ever made. One morning on the way to work, it started spitting and sputtering like it was out of gas, only it wasn't out of gas. I took it to a German car specialist shop in Glendale, California, and the repair people told me I needed a tune up, new spark plugs, etc., etc. I left the car there all day, and went to pick it up, and was charged $400 for all that they did. (which included filling the tank with gas). About a week later, when the gas tank was down to about 1/3 full, the car started spitting and sputtering again. Only, this time, I wasn't on my way to work; it was 1:00 a.m. and I was about 10 miles from home. (that was the last year I was ever without AAA). I coasted to a gas station, which was closed, and sat there until they opened at 6 a.m. It was a lovely way to pass the night. I figured that a full tank of gas, for some reason, made the car run better. So, got a tank of gas, drove home, changed, and went to the same place and said "you charged me $400 for repairs, but did not fix the problem". Then, I got the song and dance that "oh, you probably need a new fuel pump if the car did it again". Huh? I said "what about all that other work you did -- what was that about"? and the answer was "well, the car needed all that, too". So, I left the car there to get a new fuel pump -- go to pick it up, and the bill was almost $400 -- $398 or something like that. Gave the owner my Mastercard, and he rings it up for $39.80 -- misplaced decimal point. I signed the slip, took my copy and was on my way. I immediately called Mastercard and said no more charges were authorized from this shop. I don't know if the guy ever noticed his mistake, but I figured they owed me the difference for (a) not fixing the problem in the first place, and (b) leaving me stuck somewhere overnight.
Second story of revenge: Same piece of crap Golf -- this time the timing belt breaks on the way to work. I took it to the repair shop of a Union 76 that was across the street from the office that everyone liked. Got a new timing belt -- the cost didn't seem to be out of line -- but, the belt moaned and groaned when the engine was running. Took it back -- service manager told me that the belt needed time to "seat" and that the noise would eventually go away. It never did. I was told that the belt was installed according to manufacturer's directions and that there was nothing further they could do. So, if it was installed according to mfg specs, how come every Golf wasn't moaning and groaning down the street? There was another incident with my mother's car at the same place where they ripped me off for $800 -- I later saw on t.v. how repair shops were ripping people off in this little scam, and being an car innocent, I had no idea. Fast forward a few years -- I'm working at another place in a position to select an outside vendor of large copy jobs. (pre-Kinko days). Someone makes an appointment to give me his "pitch" -- in walks the service manager from the Union 76 station, now in a different line of work. He didn't recognize me -- I told him that he was dishonest in his work as a service manager, and I didn't expect him to be honest in his work as the manager of a copy shop, so no, he would not be getting the extensive amount of work I could throw his way. For about $1000 of dishonest work, he cost himself the $2000 or $3000 a month I could have given him in copy jobs.
(sorry this was so long)

[Drawz]

Rankandfile,

Likely the problem you had with the Golf was that water had accumulated in the gas tank through condensation. The water floats on top of the gasoline and when the tank gets low your engine is getting gas and water instead of gas. Used to happen with my Beatle.

[MarkyS]

;)Rankandfile,

Likely the problem you had with the Golf was that water had accumulated in the gas tank through condensation. The water floats on top of the gasoline and when the tank gets low your engine is getting gas and water instead of gas. Used to happen with my Beatle.

I'm betting you mean "beetle" unless John, George, Paul or Ringo had water floating on top of their gas. ;)

M

[MarkyS]

That is because on the Omni you have to remove an engine mount and lift the engine to change that belt. Ask me how I know that sad fact.


Doesn't that sort of engineering drive you nuts??? Most of the time, cars are designed with aero packaging and assembly ease in mind, but hardly ever for easy maintenance. They really don't care how long it takes to have certain service work done, because it only helps their service departments get even more money. I had a girlfriend with an old Opel GT - looked like a baby Corvette Stingray, if you remember. Looked great, but because of the tight engine bay, you had to lower the engine off its mounts to change some of the spark plugs! Ridiculous.

M

[MarkyS]

My brake fluid leaked out thanks to two of my brake lines rusted out.
Had to pay $230 to fix it.

I'm gonna bet that was your fault. You probably ignored the owner's manual recommendations schedule for changing the brake fluid and water built up in the lines. Most people never change that fluid, and eventually it costs them. I change EVERY fluid on my cars at the manual recommended times, or even more often and that sort of thing never happens to me. My calipers and cylinders are also in excellent condition for the same reason. Hundreds of thousands of miles and they don't leak a drop. I figure they write those recommendations for a reason.

M

[Drawz]

;)

I'm betting you mean "beetle" unless John, George, Paul or Ringo had water floating on top of their gas. ;)

M

:lol: