Now I know what's going on!

[GROUCHO MARX]

I found this post on another board:

"I've been a mechanic for almost 5 years and I can tell that it isn't what it used to be. It is getting more and more difficult to stay honest and make money at the same time. Most of my coleagues will just replace parts no matter if they don't need to... all for the money. But if no part needs replacement you just don;t make as much for living. I hope is not the same outside D.C.
What do you guys think. "
-------------------------------------------------------

It's tough having ethics.

 

[Pablo]

It's not important that he has ethics, it's good that he is willing to express how he feels about it.

 

[Korean_redneck]

I have yet to meet an trustful mechanic.

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

"It's not important that he has ethics, it's good that he is willing to express how he feels about it. "
---------------------------------------------------------

P, I feel the same about you.

 

[Pablo]

I'm flattered. I think.

 

[blupupher]

I guess I am lucky, I have worked with and continue to use a very honest mechanic.
And yes, he is having trouble staying in business just doing automotive work, he has branched into metal fab also to make ends meet.

 

[Al]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Korean_redneck:
I have yet to meet an trustful mechanic.

---

I actually have 2 of them. They own a small garage a few miles from me. I have been going to them for 30 years.

 

[Benzadmiral]

"Trustful"? You mean trustworthy, right?

"Trustful" means he's willing to put his trust in you. (Though the mechanic-customer relationship should work both ways.)

Example: About 15 years ago I used to go to a little independent shop in uptown New Orleans. Not only did they do good work, they would actually let me pay my bill in installments, usually two! Now that's trustful! (They would still be at that site today, but they had a fire and decided not to reopen.)

-- Paul W.

 

[moribundman]

I've met two trusty mechanics in my life. One retired, the other one became corrupt.

 

[wavinwayne]

I've dealt with one particular shop in Huntsville, AL several times over the years. They seem like honest guys, but how is one to know for sure?

 

[Patman]

I was shocked this week when my wife took her car to a local mechanic who I thought was trustworthy. The guy even hosts a local cable TV show that answers problems people have.

But she took her car in simply to have him fix a loose heat sheild on her exhaust system. Before he began the work he told her she needed a new timing belt as well as new front brakes. But he never even pulled off the front wheels so how could he know it needed brakes? (you can't see the brakes through the steel wheels on my wife's Honda) He was simply going by the mileage since the last time he did her brakes (which now makes me wonder if she needed them then!!)

And how would he know she needed a timing belt? He has no idea as to whether or not we've done it already! (we haven't, but that's besides the point)

Either way, he would've charged my wife $1200 or more that day if it weren't for me saying no to all the work and just getting them to do the heat shield. In the end, we only paid $38.

 

[Vilan]

I recall reading an article where some news channel went around testing local garages. They got a brand new minivan, loosened one of the battery cables, and took it to various places to see if they could figure out what was wrong.

An embarassingly long list of garages flunked. Many said the alternator needed replacing. Some threw in totally unrelated things like new brakes. But a few solved the problem inside of 5 minutes and didn't even charge for the repair.

Guess which ones make enough money to stay in business.

 

[Korean_redneck]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Benzadmiral:
"Trustful"? You mean trustworthy, right?

"Trustful" means he's willing to put his trust in you. (Though the mechanic-customer relationship should work both ways.)

Example: About 15 years ago I used to go to a little independent shop in uptown New Orleans. Not only did they do good work, they would actually let me pay my bill in installments, usually two! Now that's trustful! (They would still be at that site today, but they had a fire and decided not to reopen.)

-- Paul W.

---

Man, My english went downhill to **** when I joined the Navy in 2001. I need to read more books again.

But yes Trustworthy mechanics. Al, you are very lucky to have two trustworthy mechanics. It's kind of hard especially when you own a Hyundai. My Tiburon has a basic Chassis, Transmission and Engine design, but people seem to mess up.

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

I have found that an independent auto parts dealer can point you in the direction of an honest, if not inexpensive, mechanic.

 

[Razl]

I'm lucky to have found my Saab Indie. He's as honest as they come. He left the stealership a few years back because he was fed up with how they treated (or didn't) the customers, so he opened his own shop.

Luckily for him, he's got more work than he can handle. Saabs always have something to fix

 

[Pontius Pilate]

honest mechanic....thats an oxymoron.... i find that if you know what is wrong with the car and tell them to just replace that, they get po'd because you know your way around the car and they can't rape you as easily.... the old "oh you need a new this, a new that" or "i can't legally let you leave with it like this" bwahahahaha....

quote:

---

It's tough having ethics.

---

not really....you are either an honest man, or you are not... i believe that what goes around comes around, so keep it up.... rip off the unsuspecting.

 

[PandaBear]

I know what you mean, the only way to find one, IMO, is to know your car and do the basic diag yourself, and only bring it to the mechanic when you know approximately what is going on.

Fortunately I found one, and has been refering friends and family to him. It is good to see him smile when you are constantly bringing in different cars every time.

 

[Cutehumor]

I don't like going to a mechanic period unless I have to. If something is wrong with my car and it's not under warranty, I research and try to troubleshoot it myself. if the work is too labor intensive for me like dropping the transmission to replace a flexplate, I shop around for the best quote I can get. If I go to get one problem fix, they recommend unnecessary repairs or if they really do need to be fixed. I'll tell them "I'll do it myself"

 

[labman]

It has been years since I have paid to have much done to my car except alignment. With 70K on my 02 Cavalier, I just did the front brakes and I am sure I will be doing more before long. Thankfully no timing belt. Having blown $142 on the shop manual, I am appalled at how complex it is as compared to the 92 Grand Am it replaced. I had to add a $130 Scan Gauge to be able to do anything. If you are planning on doing anything but simple mechanical work, be prepared to get serious help. A Chiltons and a jumper wire aren't going to get it.

 

[9296D21B14]

98 Protege was way overdue for timing belt/water pump. Standard maintenance item, no diagnosis required. Mech #1 who did the last replacement on same vehicle 90k miles ago estimate was $730.

Mech #2 estimate was $450. Mech #2 got the work. Shortly after the repair, power steering pump fitting developed a small leak which mech #2 then repaired for parts only. Guess what? Same car back there today for troubleshooting a bad front turn signal not because of lower price but because he seems to me to be trustworthy. I now have a new mechanic. And I agree that having a clean, well maintained vehicle, and at least some basic car sense helps alot when dealing with mechanics and parts staff.