The Future of Auto Shops?

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: TooManyWheels
Originally Posted By: teambeechstreet

$110 for an oil change and safety inspection? That's f'n ridiculous. Not surprised it's in SF.


It isn't just San Francisco. My local Acura dealer quoted me $140 yesterday to flush and replace the brake fluid (which I declined).

It can be that costly when you have to bleed the ABS module.

 

[semaj281]

Originally Posted By: artificialist
Originally Posted By: TooManyWheels
Originally Posted By: teambeechstreet

$110 for an oil change and safety inspection? That's f'n ridiculous. Not surprised it's in SF.


It isn't just San Francisco. My local Acura dealer quoted me $140 yesterday to flush and replace the brake fluid (which I declined).

It can be that costly when you have to bleed the ABS module.

Does bleeding the ABS module require a different procedure than the traditional two-man bleed method?

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: semaj281
Originally Posted By: artificialist

It can be that costly when you have to bleed the ABS module.

Does bleeding the ABS module require a different procedure than the traditional two-man bleed method?

Yes, you generally need a factory-level scan tool to activate a pump and/or open valves to circulate fluid through the module. This is also sometimes needed to improve brake pedal feel.

 

[brianl703]

Originally Posted By: eljefino

My concern is preppy schools, guidance counselors etc shuffling the "dumb" kids to a trade and the smart ones to become anthropologists or whatever.


They shuffle the smart ones to get some useless degree so that they get out 4 years later and complain that they have tens of thousands in student loans and no job.

 

[bdcardinal]

We have had numerous Villagers brought in on the hook because an indy shop cant get a pedal after replacing a brake hydraulic component. I have lost count of how many Hybrids come in on the hook from shops after someone unknowingly loosens a brake line or bleeder and loses all pedal feel.

 

[Vikas]

Can you explain as to why an independent can not understand loosing a brake line or bleeder would cause loss of brake? I mean what is so different about Hybrid?

 

[bdcardinal]

A lot of shops don't know how to deal with the regenerative braking systems on the hybrid vehicles. We replaced a master cylinder on a Hybrid Escape and it required a few gallons of brake fluid to bleed the system using the scan tool to activate the Hydraulic Control Unit solenoids.

 

[MONKEYMAN]

The complexity of vehicles these days was the reason my mechanic with a small shop retired. He said he hated working on today's cars.

 

[tonycarguy]

Well they're obviously targeting the professional crowd. Given how expensive it is to do business in SF, those labor rates are reasonable. $110 for an oil change isn't that much to someone who makes $135k per year. A "poor" person in SF makes $60k and would likely have their oil changed at a gas station.

I think a shop like this would appeal to female customers. A lot of women are intimidated by the typical repair shop.

But the only thing the shop is missing is a Starbucks. That would make it truly San Franciscan

 

[Jeff_in_VABch]

Precision Tune was a good idea too. A $40 tuneup.

How is that chain doing nowdays?