I've been ripped off and don't want to talk about it.
List when you found evidence that previous mechanic messed up
- Thread starter JimPghPA
- Start date
I honestly can't count the number of times, but the few that stand out to me were safety related. There is a price to pay when having someone else do work for you, both monetarily and trusting them. Always do research on shop reputation and at least have an idea of what work is being done, even if you cannot do it yourself. It is important to verify the work has been done properly to the best of your ability. With that said, also understand that mechanics are people too and make mistakes and have deadlines to meet. I always do my best to take care of the people who do work for me whether it is a job on a car I just don't have the time or tools to complete, or something on my house I need a contractor for. Something as simple as a dozen donuts or a case of their favorite beer can go a long way.
I bought a 2007 corolla where the transmission drain plug was very very stripped and resealed with rtv. While frustrating I was happy to see it had been serviced previously.
Took my Canyon across the road to what used to be Caliber Auto to have a complete brake job done. Got it back, all seemed well, opened the hood 3 days later to check the oil, heard something fall as I opened the hood. It was the cap to the master cylinder that fell off the cowl cover and down into the engine bay. The truck got an impromptu brake fluid flush that morning.
Took it to a GMC dealership at 60,000 mi to get transmission fluid and filter done. Thankfully I've gotten into the habit of checking up on people's work these days so I crawled under to look things over. The fill plug on the side of the transmission was missing. Put a piece of gorilla tape over the port and took it back.
My trust is waning.
Took it to a GMC dealership at 60,000 mi to get transmission fluid and filter done. Thankfully I've gotten into the habit of checking up on people's work these days so I crawled under to look things over. The fill plug on the side of the transmission was missing. Put a piece of gorilla tape over the port and took it back.
My trust is waning.
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2020
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- 390
I’ve got a few. Mind you, these happened a long time ago on vehicles I bought new.
1992 4Runner had a recall for replacement of front axle grease. While in the shop, I get a call that front brakes are worn and should be replaced. I agree. A week later, front axle is squeaking again so I bring it in to redo the grease replacement. Lo and behold I get a call at work that the front brakes are worn and should be replaced. Of course I agree. The look on the service advisor’s face was priceless when he tried to charge me and I explained the brakes were replaced the week prior!
Lexus ES 300 brought to Lexus dealer for coolant replacement. I bring the car home, look under the hood and find out they replaced it with generic green coolant. Service advisor states “this is better than Toyota coolant”. My reply was I didn’t bring it to a Lexus dealership to get non Lexus parts. Reluctantly agreed to flush and replace.
Honda Civic brought in for valve adjustment. When picking up the car, I decided to look under the hood. The engine was idling. None of the valve cover bolts were tightened and oil was flowing over the block like a waterfall. Took two hours to clean this mess and replace the oil.
Recently Mercedes dealer wanted to replace the tires on my wife’s GLC 300 saying 40% tread remaining was dangerous. Not really a screw up, but a bit disconcerting.
1992 4Runner had a recall for replacement of front axle grease. While in the shop, I get a call that front brakes are worn and should be replaced. I agree. A week later, front axle is squeaking again so I bring it in to redo the grease replacement. Lo and behold I get a call at work that the front brakes are worn and should be replaced. Of course I agree. The look on the service advisor’s face was priceless when he tried to charge me and I explained the brakes were replaced the week prior!
Lexus ES 300 brought to Lexus dealer for coolant replacement. I bring the car home, look under the hood and find out they replaced it with generic green coolant. Service advisor states “this is better than Toyota coolant”. My reply was I didn’t bring it to a Lexus dealership to get non Lexus parts. Reluctantly agreed to flush and replace.
Honda Civic brought in for valve adjustment. When picking up the car, I decided to look under the hood. The engine was idling. None of the valve cover bolts were tightened and oil was flowing over the block like a waterfall. Took two hours to clean this mess and replace the oil.
Recently Mercedes dealer wanted to replace the tires on my wife’s GLC 300 saying 40% tread remaining was dangerous. Not really a screw up, but a bit disconcerting.
In my younger years before I got into doing my own maintenance, I used to visit a Ford dealer for oil change and tire rotation when I lived away from home (Pa). I moved about 2 years later to NC and started service with a new Ford dealer. On the first oil change and tire rotation the front end had quite a vibration. I took it to the local Goodyear store and found that the tires had some cupping, the cause appears to have been lack of rotation. I had the store rotate them back to how they were originally and the problem went away albeit with less tread life.
Actually, Honda specks brake fluid change every 3 years, and it is a 2016 that was assembled in October of 2015, and it then was Feb. 2020, so that was past due. Honda also specks rear end first fluid change at 15,000 miles. The carfax showed the previous owner bought it from that same dealer and had all services done at that dealer. So, these services were beyond due date and miles.
And it was being re-sold at a Honda Dealer as a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle, and that means it is up to date on all Honda recommended maintance and technical service bulletins, and recalls.
So, its written in print about what that used vehicle section of that Honda dealer has to do to it before listing it as a certified print honda vehicle.
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None on cars, yet....
Well, there was the time when I had some avionics work done on my dearly missed Dakota, new Garmin, transponder, comm panel, etc., at a new local shop. Got an iffy feeling about the owner as the job progressed, but the work seemed OK after a short test flight. Next flight, I am landing at Chatham, MA with a friend and my family were waiting for me. Bit gusty, typical for the Cape, so working the yoke and as I turn final, the yoke hangs up for a minute in a slight left bank. I say something, try rolling the other way and my friend gets on the yoke to feel it and then we feel a hangup, then sudden release and I land normally. A loop of wires left unsecured had wound themselves into the control chains and were cut by the Pilot side yoke sprocket.
My favorite. Had work done on an old inboard I rescued. The local reputable boat yard did a reseal of the stern penetrations and it required removal of the fuel tank. I get the boat back and the stern light is inop and my fuel gauge pegs to max. Only two wires back there so there is a 50% chance of getting them right (I hear that can rise to near 100% if you check your work). I go to fix it and, working blind, I just cannot get a wrench on the stern light terminal. I remove the entire fixture and see this....captive star washer on the bottom. Felt like asking the mechanics: "So, how do these washers work?"
Well, there was the time when I had some avionics work done on my dearly missed Dakota, new Garmin, transponder, comm panel, etc., at a new local shop. Got an iffy feeling about the owner as the job progressed, but the work seemed OK after a short test flight. Next flight, I am landing at Chatham, MA with a friend and my family were waiting for me. Bit gusty, typical for the Cape, so working the yoke and as I turn final, the yoke hangs up for a minute in a slight left bank. I say something, try rolling the other way and my friend gets on the yoke to feel it and then we feel a hangup, then sudden release and I land normally. A loop of wires left unsecured had wound themselves into the control chains and were cut by the Pilot side yoke sprocket.
My favorite. Had work done on an old inboard I rescued. The local reputable boat yard did a reseal of the stern penetrations and it required removal of the fuel tank. I get the boat back and the stern light is inop and my fuel gauge pegs to max. Only two wires back there so there is a 50% chance of getting them right (I hear that can rise to near 100% if you check your work). I go to fix it and, working blind, I just cannot get a wrench on the stern light terminal. I remove the entire fixture and see this....captive star washer on the bottom. Felt like asking the mechanics: "So, how do these washers work?"
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Ridgeline manual states if driven in mountainous terrain they recommend 7500 mile intervals.
JimpghPa's description of removing the diff bolt mirrors mine
I needed jack handle over a long wrench to get it off and I still have and dreams about sound it made when it broke free.
It sounded like it cracked the case.
If it was like that for him the guy lied about doing it.
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- Sep 22, 2025
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- 217
Never in my life have I seen a mistake made in a repair facility that was not corrected. Legitimate and well established repair facilities have quality control that prevents mistakes being let out the shop before correction.
I unfortunately had a great shop but the owner retired and two mechanics took over. After this it went to pot. They did great work at a reasonable price. Now my dodge neon had a random no start issue. They replaced the fuel pump harness battery etc. Last year it started acting up and randomly not going into 4th gear or the speedometer would drop out. My dad and I are finding wiring with cheap butt connectors that weren't heat shrink sealed. I'm now hearing local people saying the same thing.
Play with cars, trucks, boats, airplanes, commercial equipment long enough and you may rethink this...
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2025
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- 217
I have all my life and simply choose to do business with well known and rated repair shops. What I cannot or not willing to do myself I have only competent and proficient people do repairs, maintenance or R&R.
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- May 31, 2024
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A Ridgeline diff uses VTM-4 fluid, a CRV uses Dual Pump 2 fluid.
Many people never change either until there's a noise, or other problems.
I think stereo installers qualify as mechanic-adjacent and the stuff I've seen with door panels incorrectly hung, pathetic wiring and broken trim clips is astonishing.
I understand trim clips are gonna break but even *I* keep an assortment of common ones. They often don't have to match EXACTLY -- just something to hold the panels mostly kinda sorta tight.
Now if I did nothing but stereo installs I'd have a wall full of various trim clips. That's your trade -- there's no excuse.
I understand trim clips are gonna break but even *I* keep an assortment of common ones. They often don't have to match EXACTLY -- just something to hold the panels mostly kinda sorta tight.
Now if I did nothing but stereo installs I'd have a wall full of various trim clips. That's your trade -- there's no excuse.
I love shrug given when you point out the mistakes
Here's a good one, found when troubleshooting an autopilot issue.
This one isn't nearly as bad as others, but it was still frustrating.
Back in 2017, we had dropped off our 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan because the one sliding door would not open.
After 3 attempts to repair it, we finally got the call to pick it up for the 3rd time. I got there about 45 minutes before closing and was told that the tech had left for the day, and he must have left our keys in his (now locked) toolbox.
They tried telling me to come back in 2 days, as he was off the next day, and I had to go back and forth with them until nearly closing, when they finally produced my key.
I don't know if they found a key to his box, or busted his lock, or what, but after picking up the van 2 times prior and having the door not be fixed, it was very frustrating. Worst service department I've ever dealt with.
Very minor and not nearly as bad as having damage caused, but my blood was near boiling at being told to come back in a few days for my key that someone locked away.
Back in 2017, we had dropped off our 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan because the one sliding door would not open.
After 3 attempts to repair it, we finally got the call to pick it up for the 3rd time. I got there about 45 minutes before closing and was told that the tech had left for the day, and he must have left our keys in his (now locked) toolbox.
They tried telling me to come back in 2 days, as he was off the next day, and I had to go back and forth with them until nearly closing, when they finally produced my key.
I don't know if they found a key to his box, or busted his lock, or what, but after picking up the van 2 times prior and having the door not be fixed, it was very frustrating. Worst service department I've ever dealt with.
Very minor and not nearly as bad as having damage caused, but my blood was near boiling at being told to come back in a few days for my key that someone locked away.
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