Incorrect things a shop has told you

[mclasser]

Before I knew about BITOG and the wonders of DIY, I took my Accord to a rather busy shop near my house to have the ATF changed. Later that week, I was doing some checks under the hood when I saw the ATF was low. I went back to the shop and the tech proceeded to check the ATF with the engine running. I told him my owner's manual said to check it with the engine off but he kept insisting that wasn't possible since the fluid needs to move through the torque converter. This guy was really adamant so I ended up pulling out my manual. He was really surprised and said "if engine off is what I want, so be it." Made me wonder how many other Hondas they worked on that were driving around with jacked up ATF levels. What're some incorrect things a shop has told you?

 

[Ethan1]

 

[SatinSilver]

The Honda dealer changing the oil filter every oil change when the manufacturer says to change it every other interval. I asked the service manager about it, who's a very nice guy and he insisted on changing it every time. I wasn't going to challenge him on it since he's helped me out plenty of times in the past.

 

[CKN]

Must be a slow Friday night........ Let's all bash professional mechanics/dealers and then as shade tree mechanics we can all join hands and sing kumbaya.......

 

[PimTac]

Sometimes it's what they don't tell you. I brought in my problematic 85 Ford Ranger to a dealer for a oil change and checking on the front end. Something wasn't right. They told me it would take a couple of hours and since I was waiting I headed to the lounge. After 3 hours I inquired about the status and they told me it wouldn't be too much longer. At 4.5 hours I asked again. Since it was getting late I asked about a loaner but they would not provide one. At the 5 hour mark, the SA came out and asked to to come with him. In the shop they had the whole dashboard out of the vehicle. According to the advisor, "something shorted" and they couldn't find the source. Obviously my blood pressure was going up here so I demanded a car so I could get home. They did provide a Taurus for me. I got a call around 10am next day that it was done. No explanation of what happened even though I asked more than once. They did change the oil though and there was no charge for any of it. That was the last time I used that dealer. I went to another dealer to look at the front end and bushings were replaced. I finally got rid of the Ranger after the ECU blew for the 4th time. Traded it in on a Tacoma and never looked back.

 

[14Accent]

I must admit that even working as a professional mechanic I still get tripped up by things sometimes. I'm aware of the Honda transmission level thing, it's because it's a dry sump design. I actually learned this back when I bought my first Cadillac in high school. The GM 4T80 is the same kind of design, you check the fluid at temp with the engine off. Just the other day I was doing rear pads and rotors on a newer Ford Transit 350. Driver's side went fine, but on the passenger side I could not for the life of me get the piston to retract. These have ratcheting calipers that need to be spun and pressed back in at the same time. Long story short, the passenger side caliper has reverse threads and needs to be rotated counter-clockwise while compressing. My caliper service kit includes both tools, but I've never in 15 years had to use the left handed thread tool!

 

[Nick1994]

Last month my mom took her 2012 Jeep Patriot to the dealer (has extended warranty) for 2 issues. One was a blend door motor. The other was a bad throttle body. Red lightning bolt came on the dash and car had reduced power. Common issue. Dealer replaced the throttle body and then called me and recommended doing an "injector flush" because "there was a lot of carbon in there and that's what killed the old throttle body" and he recommended a injector flush to clean the throttle body. B.S.! Another time I took it in there last year I mentioned squeaky suspension. The same service advisor said it's the front "shocks" and the extended warranty doesn't cover "shocks" only "struts". I told him they are in fact struts and he said they are coil over shocks. I hung up and called 3 other dealership parts departments who verified that of course it has struts. Called the dealer back and the service manager actually answered the phone and I told her and she got it straightened out. This dealer also in the past replaced the alternator because the CVT was whining. Then it still whined with the new alternator, shocker...

 

[Trav]

Originally Posted By: 14Accent

I must admit that even working as a professional mechanic I still get tripped up by things sometimes.

You are not alone, so may makes and models, manufacturers change specs, procedures and update/change parts mid stream its impossible to keep up.

 

[Silk]

Originally Posted By: CKN

Let's all bash professional mechanics/dealers and then as shade tree mechanics we can all join hands and sing kumbaya.......

I like to ask these bashers what they do for a living...often it's something where on another board they will be bashing them for the things they do wrong. One day I was doing a safety inspection for a couple of dykes, when I failed it, one said to the other - ''I told you we shouldn't get a man to do it !''

 

[gathermewool]

Originally Posted By: Silk

One day I was doing a safety inspection for a couple of dykes, when I failed it, one said to the other - ''I told you we shouldn't get a man to do it !''

Were you as kind and sensitive during the inspection?

 

[HangFire]

Originally Posted By: CKN

Must be a slow Friday night........ Let's all bash professional mechanics/dealers and then as shade tree mechanics we can all join hands and sing kumbaya.......

Sounds like a fine idea.

 

[Sunnyinhollister]

On my last VW the service writer told me that the cause of my misfire and check engine light on my TDI was because I was coasting up to the stop sign or light and this caused the engine to back fire. I guess I was supposed to keep it in gear, get to the stop sign, slam on the brakes, stall the engine, and then put it in neutral so the car would never coast. She also never explained how a direct injected diesel could back fire. I should have known better when I dropped of the car for something that should have been warranty work and she wanted $90 up front. When I asked her why she said it was in case the problems were caused by a maintenance item - like changing glow plugs.

 

[nwjones18]

After bringing the caddy in for strange noises and several camshaft position sensor codes I was told by a very reputable shop that I just needed an oil change. Told them oil had less than 5k on it and they gave me the shoulder shrug. Problem did go away for 1500 miles before the timing chain tensioner failed completely and trashed the engine..

 

[Sunnyinhollister]

Originally Posted By: CKN

Must be a slow Friday night........ Let's all bash professional mechanics/dealers and then as shade tree mechanics we can all join hands and sing kumbaya.......

You are assuming that professional mechanics are being targeted. In my case she was neither professional nor a mechanic.

 

[ATex7239]

I've been told we needed new "tire brackets" and that the turn signal blinking fast meant an electric fault not a bad bulb. And, my mother-in-law was recently told she needed, not one, but two special order batteries for her 3.6 Impala LT.

 

[OilyMember]

Had a work vehicle trans serviced at an Aamco probably 10 years ago. Asked them if they used the correct spec oil I asked for (probably atf+3 at the time). They told me they used their common house fluid but used a special additive that transforms the fluid to a superior synthetic. Double A beep beep go F yourself at that Aamco

 

[bmwjohn]

a long time ago I had a very early ..1982?..stripped escort that needed new front wheel bearings. I put them in under the supervision of a friend who was an auto shop teacher. A year later bearings were moaning snow was blowing, and a co worker recommended a 'Christian" auto repair shop.I called them for estimate (general terms) they said very expensive because of sealed bearings and taking them to machine shop since the garage lacked a HFT or similar press. I explained that neither was necessary since early escorts had normal bearings. They "checked it" in manual and said I was wrong so we agreed to disagree. Took it to another shop and they fixed it, but on way home another driver honked horn and pointed out wheel was coming off. He had a lug wrench so we tightened it up. ALSO, guy at work had early Ranger (kind of cute)was stuck at work, wanted to sell truck cheap because it had been professionally repaired twice, but when damp would not start. Before I could get back to him another guy bought it, wrecked it, and never paid for it. I think my sister would have loved it...Arizona truck moved to Indiana, very small 4cyl auto, just her size and NO RUST.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted By: Silk

One day I was doing a safety inspection for a couple of dykes, when I failed it, one said to the other - ''I told you we shouldn't get a man to do it !''

Heck,THEY are men! Haha

 

[krismoriah72]

Not bashing mechanics..but there are a lot of them that are misinformed or have too personal connections to their ways. below are a few things i have heard over the years 1)Whatever oil you used in the beginning you have to use or it will leak or cause problems. 2)You got to run motorcraft plugs in a ford..you got to run ac delco plugs in a chevy. 3)Lucas oil will make your motor last alot longer. 4)Quaker State causes sludge 5)Try some seafoam and see if that helps. Since they started putting ethanol in gas we have to seafoam alot of cars.

 

[shDK]

As a person not being from the US. I have to say. You paint a picture, off the Average US worker as not bing very good educated. And having a very low professional standard. Is it really that bad? Or are you all just using wide brush to paint a bad image? How long does it take to become a certified professional auto mechanic in the US ?