Unfortunately, the previous mechanic is usually me.
List when you found evidence that previous mechanic messed up
- Thread starter JimPghPA
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- Dec 9, 2002
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Years ago I took my 1999 Taurus to Tires Plus for a rotation and balance. Get a call about 30 minutes later stating my cabin air filter needs replacing. Which was BS as I replaced it a few months earlier when doing an oil change. So, about this cabin air filter- you have to remove a bunch of the plastic cowling to access it (no simple cover, panel or door). I pick up the car, drove it home and out of curiosity I popped the hood. And wouldn't you know it? Whoever was working on the car left ALL of the cowling on top of the intake. Went full Karen that day...
Has moment of profound personal enlightenment...
<Insert copyrighted photo of Bill and Ted/>
Whoa!
Socket head not safety wired and backed out or just buggered install of the actuator(?)?
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Gen 2 Ridge uses Dual Pump II.
Different rear ends. VTM vs IVTM.
Gen 2 also overdrives rears a small amount which also wears the clutch pack ,making changing even more important.
Agreed on poeples maintenance habits.
Many people never maintain hondas to spec - valves and or belts are the big misses, On the J35 the rear bank is pain to do plugs on, so some only do the front three and pretend the others don't exist.
Yeah, if my car needs someone to Macgyver something I at least get to look at the mechanic in the mirror!
Not properly keyed to the bellcrank, not fully seated, and fasteners not safetied.
Nothing important, just the RVDT that reports cyclic position for SAS, AP, and backup fly-by-wire. In a combat zone.
I've got a folder on my computer full of misses like this.
When I pay someone to do work for me and they mess it up, I usually tell them that if I wanted it messed up, I would do it myself……
1) I brought my '93 Tercel into Toyota of Hollywood for some small thing that I could not do in my driveway. When I signed the work order, I wrote, "Nothing else is wrong with the car. Do not touch anything else." When I came back to pick it up, I was met with, "We completed the job that you requested, sir, and we also completed our entirely free 4,000 Point Inspection, and we found a torn CV boot." Really? Show me. The car was on a lift, and the Service Writer pointed to a cut in the CV boot about three inches long, the kind of cut you might make with a boxcutter. The tech was standing on the side, wiping his hands on a dirty rag, and looking at me to see what kind of sap I was going to turn out to be.
2) I took the same car to a mechanic in North Hollywood for a tune-up. Among other things, I specifically said, "Flush the brake-clutch system and replace the fluid." When I returned and saw that this had not been done, he said, "Oh, it didn't need it." It was my only car. Servicing it cost me a day without a car, and this clown could not be bothered to do what I paid him to do.
On the positive side, I once took my Porsche to Callas Rennsport for some routine brake maintenance. This was when Tony Callas was just starting the business. I got down to Torrance early to pick up the car and drink coffee and hang around, and I found Tony cleaning my disassembled brake calipers with a brass toothbrush. I couldn't believe how meticulous and thorough he was. It was on that day that I decided that I wanted to marry a Porsche mechanic, but that never worked, and, if you don't count three specific women, I never married anybody.
2) I took the same car to a mechanic in North Hollywood for a tune-up. Among other things, I specifically said, "Flush the brake-clutch system and replace the fluid." When I returned and saw that this had not been done, he said, "Oh, it didn't need it." It was my only car. Servicing it cost me a day without a car, and this clown could not be bothered to do what I paid him to do.
On the positive side, I once took my Porsche to Callas Rennsport for some routine brake maintenance. This was when Tony Callas was just starting the business. I got down to Torrance early to pick up the car and drink coffee and hang around, and I found Tony cleaning my disassembled brake calipers with a brass toothbrush. I couldn't believe how meticulous and thorough he was. It was on that day that I decided that I wanted to marry a Porsche mechanic, but that never worked, and, if you don't count three specific women, I never married anybody.
After a PA required anual inspection I found all 5 lug-nuts of the back drivers side tire no where near tight enough.
And when I called the owner he said that mechanic was called away on a personal matter when doing my vehicle, as if that was a legi.\nTimate excuse. That is the last time they ever get business from me.
And when I called the owner he said that mechanic was called away on a personal matter when doing my vehicle, as if that was a legi.\nTimate excuse. That is the last time they ever get business from me.
When he forgot to put the lug nuts on my Tundra after replacing the front differential. Two months and $4500 later (paid for by the dealership), I'm still waiting for the Platinum Tundra placard to come in off backorder for the right front door.
Then the Toyota Certified body shop cleaned the interior and used a caustic chemical on the dash cover.
Then they forgot to bleed the brakes and I had a squishy brake pedal.
Still waiting on the placard, but the truck runs and looks as it should now.
Then the Toyota Certified body shop cleaned the interior and used a caustic chemical on the dash cover.
Then they forgot to bleed the brakes and I had a squishy brake pedal.
Still waiting on the placard, but the truck runs and looks as it should now.
slo town
$200 Site Donor 2026
Because I do all the maintenance and repairs on my cars I don't have a bad mechanic story. However, I do have a damaged wheel story.
At the time Sue and I had a brand new 1982 Volvo DL; a two door with a manual transmission. It came equipped with those 5 spoke OEM Volvo alloy wheels that were so popular at the time.
I found a nail in the tire and called a tire store about a dismount and patch from the inside. The tire store assured me 100% they could dismount and remount the tire without damaging the wheel.
Well, they destroyed the wheel. The scratched the heck out of the rim edges and actually bent the inner rim edge in a few places.
When I went to pick up the wheel I saw it laying on the ground near a service bay. I knelt beside it to check the repair and saw all the damage, me going from mellow to angry in seconds. The tire guy came over and he and I exchanged some hostile profanity, the guy pretty much telling me "too bad, not my problem".
This incensed me and I angrily stood up and got in his face, all 6'5" and 220 buffed pounds of me. For a moment we came close to exchanging blows. My good friend was there with me and said the look on my face was seriously unhinged.
I took them to small claims court and got a new wheel.
Scott
At the time Sue and I had a brand new 1982 Volvo DL; a two door with a manual transmission. It came equipped with those 5 spoke OEM Volvo alloy wheels that were so popular at the time.
I found a nail in the tire and called a tire store about a dismount and patch from the inside. The tire store assured me 100% they could dismount and remount the tire without damaging the wheel.
Well, they destroyed the wheel. The scratched the heck out of the rim edges and actually bent the inner rim edge in a few places.
When I went to pick up the wheel I saw it laying on the ground near a service bay. I knelt beside it to check the repair and saw all the damage, me going from mellow to angry in seconds. The tire guy came over and he and I exchanged some hostile profanity, the guy pretty much telling me "too bad, not my problem".
This incensed me and I angrily stood up and got in his face, all 6'5" and 220 buffed pounds of me. For a moment we came close to exchanging blows. My good friend was there with me and said the look on my face was seriously unhinged.
I took them to small claims court and got a new wheel.
Scott
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