There are still "service" stations . . .

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Benzadmiral

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On Saturday both of my headlight bulbs went out within 1/2 hour of each other. I bought replacement bulbs and checked the manual on the replacement procedure, but access was sort of cramped in there. I was worried I'd get stuck part way through the job and have no headlights with rain on the way -- and I drive to work in the dark nowadays, too.

I stopped at a small Chevron station in the NO suburb called Metairie, because -- before Katrina -- it actually had a mechanic available on Saturday mornings for small jobs. Well, he was out (getting married. Can ya believe it?).

But the clerk was handy. He spent about 15 minutes changing the bulbs. The hard parts were getting his hand in between the headlight and the air filter box, and figuring out how to release and then re-clip a small wire clamp. A load off my mind. He asked for 5 bucks, and I was pleased to give him 10.

The small corner service station may be an endangered species, but it's not gone yet!
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There are still a few left out here. Usually they're small indies selling Gulf, Getty or maybe Sunoco that pump gas as a second profit center to their wrench spinning.

There used to be quite a few guys selling under Texaco around here, but they've all but disappeared. The little Sunoco guy in town here was recently shuttered up. The trend is not encouraging. The smarter indies specialize in either model or service lines.

But there is one very old six-bay place I know of that refused to move from Mobil to Lukoil, shut down all the pumps, and is still thriving on general repair. Been around over 50 years, so it had become somewhat of a local institution and could pull it off. That is the exception, unfortunately.
 
That's great to hear, benz. The best way to help them stay around is to frequent them even when they may be $5-10 higher on a repair or $0.05/gal higher on their gas than some big name place.
 
benjamming,
Did you know Huntsville still has a full-service Chevron service station/garage smack dab in the heart of the medical district? It's been there for decades. My Dad ran a "competing" full-service Citgo place there a couple blocks from HH, until the owners sold the place in the late 80's. Most of my Dad's customers were the doctors & folks from the neighborhood. The Citgo is long gone.
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It was at the corner of Governors Dr. & Franklin St. There is a medical/office tower there now. The FS Chevron place is exactly like my Dad's old place. I get very nostalgic every time I drive by the Chevron.
 
There is a Chevron station up the street like that. They even check your tire pressure, oil, and clean your windshield at the "self service" pump!
 
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There at Whitesburg & Governor's Drive? I didn't realize that. I will have to check it out.
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No. It's not that one! I can't remember the exact street. It may be Franklin St., come to think of it. I'll do a little checking & let you know for sure.
 
benjamming,

I believe the name of the place is Hartman's Chevron. It's at 825 Madison St SE. Here is a map-link to their location:

Full-Service Chevron

Their phone number is 534-7180, if you ever want to give them a call. The Huntsville Times did a piece on them a couple of years ago, talking about how they are the last of a dying breed. One thing I found interesting in the article is how the senior mechanic stated that a lot of his customers are elderly ladies who's husbands had died, and that many of these ladies did not know how to put gas in their cars by themselves. Their husbands had always just "taken care of the car". Those guys must have had a BITOGer streak in them.
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LOL, I just rememberd the exact OPPOSITE of a 'service station'.

One time I dropped in to visit West Point. In Highland Falls I stopped into a place that had both full serve and self serve pumps, the self serve of course being cheaper.

I forget the specifics, but the clown there said something about how I couldn't use (or had to pay for) the windshield washer squeegie and paper towels because I wasn't paying more for the 'full service'. I physically doubled over with laughter that continued long after I drove off.
 
I was at a full serve station (self serve is legal etc here) and the guy was busy so I started pumping my own 5 gallon can. When I paid by credit card (inside-- old pumps) he started flapping his lips about how the owner had a new policy coming out and you had to buy 8+ gallons at a time. Even though I did all the work. That was funny.
 
That's exactly what my business was for years. Finally pulled the pumps and added two additional bays to have enough room to start wheel alignment service. People ask if I miss selling gas,,, answer is, YES! Just like I miss my last tooth ache.

Bob
 
Reviving this thread . . . That station in Metairie is still doing a solid business.

I stopped there for an oil change yesterday morning. (I still haven't bought ramps for doing my own changes on the Buick yet.) They were open at 8 am, and I pulled right in.

While the oil drained, the mechanic went around and checked my tires, then popped on my Wix filter. With the Park Avenue down again, he poured in a bottle of Auto-Rx, then 4 of the 5 quarts I brought. Started the engine, ran it, shut off, checked the level, all ok . . . and then checked the coolant, washer fluid, and brake fluid (it was a bit low -- the car is new to me, and I didn't know where the full mark was). Gave me back the 5th quart, of course.

All finished, no leaks or problems, in half an hour. Price (for labor): 15 bucks.

Now that's what I'm talkin' about!
 
We need to support these folks. Many people don't know or understand that when we run these extended OCI's, you still have to check the fluids, especially the engine oil between changes regularly. A full service station has a very important role.
 
I remember when I was out of town visiting my girlfriend's mom in northern wisconsin I drove home up through the upper peninsula of michigan and somewhere up north I stopped and got gas (i think it was still in wisconsin) and a guy came running out of the store towards my car, and I didn't know what to think of it. I thought maybe they were closed or there was something wrong, but then he proceeded to ask me what kind of gas I wanted and filled it up for me, then cleaned off my windshield for me. I can't remember the last time I felt that awkward
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It was really nice of him though, would've given him a tip if he didn't run off to another car in a big hurry.
 
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I personally believe that US Americans in Oregon and another country in New England should not be allowed to pump their own gas...



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huh? If you are referring to New Jersey, I'll assure you it is not in New England.
 
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There are a handful of service stations in my home town. One is a Shell with a couple of full service and self service pumps and a couple garage bays. The employees seem consistant too. I have seen the same cars parked there everyday since I was very little.

There is also a Citgo, but the quality of their work is kind of questionable. I think they have much higher employee turnover than the Shell.

There is also a BP with a couple of service bays that goes general repair work. A lot of people like them and they have a solid customer base. They are one of the few places around that area that allows you to air up your tires for free, and they will even let you borrow tools if you need to do something quick. I had a leaking valve stem on my Ranger and they handed me the little tool to tighten it and let me air up for free.

Here is Charlotte, full service places are rare. The handful of independent shops have a very solid and consistent customer base though.
 
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Benz,

BTW, brake fluid level will vary depending upon the pad thickness.

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But shouldn't the fluid level be up to the "full" mark anyway?

GM put the mark on the *inner* side of the fluid reservoir instead of the outer side, where you could see it when you're standing right there. My brakes had been feeling a bit low. Much better now.
 
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