Is it just me?

[clueless 2,976]

My wife say's it's me because I've become a grumpy old bastxxx and everything irritates me. Doesn't it seem that a lot of these auto mechanics now days are a little less Manny, Moe and Jack, and a little more Moe, Larry and Curly. I think it started when they became Auto Tech and not Auto Mechanics .

[wfrpalm 218]

I agree, they don't fix they replace.

[Pullstart 62,803]

5 minutes ago, wfrpalm said:

I agree, they don't fix they replace.

Many times they believe it’ quicker and the customer is happier.  I believe troubleshooting and replacing what is necessary is the right way 

[squonk 41,038]

Cars ain't what they used to be. Add in the pressure of flat rate and customers being a PITA. I remember starting out in 79. You brought your car in for a tune up. Plugs were replaced. Cap, rotor, wires, air, fuel filters checked along with the belts. If anything was needed you went to the parts counter got them and replaced them. Customer came in at 5 to pay the bill and they were happy.

 

Today, Plugs are replaced PITA on many vehicles, same stuff checked. Now the customer has to be called. How dare you replace that air filter without my approval! They finally call back at 4:30 and say change the fuel filter I'll be there at 5:00. Now you have a car on the lift, another waiting for approval and you have to get the filter changed before 5

 

I worked in the shop, I sold parts and am now a customer. I've seen all sides of it. Spare me the drama!  When my truck goes in I tell them, if you see anything it needs do it! Call me when it's done. 

Edited April 30, 2021 by squonk

[The Tuul Crib 7,336]

Im a grumpy old bas!!!d myself.

Atleast thats what the wife says!!!

[peter lena 8,583]

@SQUONK, shop I have been using for years , has obviously had to adapt to todays junk , very scary today is the plastic used in engines , most of the external manifolds and fittings are plastic . bmw is scary for upper engine work , couple of hours to get to the engine , to replace manifold and valve cover , while you are there might as well replace the starter , regularly over 2 k , for that replacement !  like i tell my grandson , for you , these are " the good old days " , pete

e   

[pfrederi 17,674]

Army School of mechanic repair.  truck doesn't start replace batteries still no start replace starter motor, replace ignition switch ... keep replacing stuff til it runs....

[clueless 2,976]

1 minute ago, pfrederi said:

Army School of mechanic repair.  truck doesn't start replace batteries still no start replace starter motor, replace ignition switch ... keep replacing stuff til it runs....

[squonk 41,038]

I've seen it all. Working in the parts store. "I need a fuel pump for an S-10." I send the pump. little while later, " send me a fuel pump relay" This shop is near my house. They call again. " I have power out of the relay but the pump doesn't run" I say "Your power wire to the pump is broke" They say it isn't, I say it is. They say it isn't I say it is. Never mind that I worked in a Chevy garage for 6 years.  "Finally I say I'm stopping by on my way home." I get there and he shows me the 12 volts coming out of the pink wire of the relay. I tell him put the truck in the air. So he does and probes the pink wire at the pump connector. "see no power" I say 'your wire is broke"  Now this pink power wire is in a plastic split loom. I grab the wire at the pump connector and start pulling it out of the loom. Half way to the front of the truck the wire is now a rubber band. It broke inside the insulation. "TOLD YA!" And I left. (one of my all time favorites) 

[edgro 677]

Due to the complexity of todays vehicles, there are repairs that require thinking, and those that don't. Those capable of doing the thinking usually can figure things out. The non thinkers guess and change parts

[roadapples 6,983]

I remember setting points with a match pack... those days are long gone...

[The Tuul Crib 7,336]

I used to set my timing on my Torito by ear. Only thing you can do it by ear now is listen to the radio! 

[Tractorhead 9,064]

On 4/30/2021 at 8:04 PM, edgro said:

Due to the complexity of todays vehicles, there are repairs that require thinking, and those that don't. Those capable of doing the thinking usually can figure things out. The non thinkers guess and change parts

 

 

Please correct me if i‘m wrong - but...
All the comments i hear about the new Cars technics when they start to establish the Electronic crap was
“ it is now much simpler to diagnostic, a error can be found much Quicker“ Service becomes easier...
Hahahaha, sorry but that is bullsh****.

i doesn‘t simplify the Service eitherway, it doesn‘t speedup the Find for an error.
i just make it just more complex with a felt hundrets of Sensors, they can measure everything

and all diagnosis feedback the car will give you as a response is a „Signal weak on cyl. bank 1“ 😎

 

The guy‘s today‘s job is mostly to interpret what will be the cause out of such perfect error descriptions.

Ok some are little better now but 80% out in the Shops was unable to do that here.

They just exchange parts until error is gone, without checking the sense behind their Work.

 

Sohn did this one time, to give them the response - if you find something important, simply fix it

- that is here the stupiest idea ever you can do.

In his Case that result in a 2790$ bill for a beginning 250$ service check“ without ask for permission.

i warned him don‘t do this without set them a brakeline where they have to call and he did it.

His „Deadline“ was 2800$ 😎

 

[haydendavid380 759]

On 4/30/2021 at 10:33 AM, wfrpalm said:

I agree, they don't fix they replace.

That's the case with everything. No one will repair anything. Appliances, tools, toys, electronics....

 

Doesn't matter. It'll last a year (maybe) and to the landfill it goes.