Not all auto repair shops are crooks, and not all dealerships are out to burn the customer, but those few who are make everyone else in the industry look bad.
The vehicle in question is a 2009 Ford Escape with about 40k miles on it. The lady who drives it is a family friend. She is recently divorced, and has two kids she is trying to support. I've helped her with some mechanical things such as changing her oil, maintaining her lawn equipment, fixing her sink, etc.
Today she calls me and leaves a message on my phone since I was in class. She was at a repair shop getting her A/C fixed since it stopped working two weeks ago. They apparently told her that her front brake pads were extremely worn and very dangerous. They told her that just one panic stop would probably render her car unable to stop. They told her they would be glad to change the front pads for $400 and that she shouldn't drive with bad brakes.
By now she is panicking because she doesn't have $400, and she also has to pick up her daughter and get to work. The shop is convincing her that she shouldn't drive her car.
I ask her if the car makes any noises when she presses the brake pedal, she says no. I ask her if there are any vibrations when she presses the brake pedal, she says no. I tell her not to worry and tell them to just fix the A/C like she asked, and I'll look at the brakes on Saturday.
This lady is a bus driver, so I'm pretty confident she would know if something is wrong with her brakes. At 40k miles, sure they may be worn, but to tell her it is unsafe to drive? That is a bit over the top. Once I look at the brakes I will have a word with this "shop".
The vehicle in question is a 2009 Ford Escape with about 40k miles on it. The lady who drives it is a family friend. She is recently divorced, and has two kids she is trying to support. I've helped her with some mechanical things such as changing her oil, maintaining her lawn equipment, fixing her sink, etc.
Today she calls me and leaves a message on my phone since I was in class. She was at a repair shop getting her A/C fixed since it stopped working two weeks ago. They apparently told her that her front brake pads were extremely worn and very dangerous. They told her that just one panic stop would probably render her car unable to stop. They told her they would be glad to change the front pads for $400 and that she shouldn't drive with bad brakes.
By now she is panicking because she doesn't have $400, and she also has to pick up her daughter and get to work. The shop is convincing her that she shouldn't drive her car.
I ask her if the car makes any noises when she presses the brake pedal, she says no. I ask her if there are any vibrations when she presses the brake pedal, she says no. I tell her not to worry and tell them to just fix the A/C like she asked, and I'll look at the brakes on Saturday.
This lady is a bus driver, so I'm pretty confident she would know if something is wrong with her brakes. At 40k miles, sure they may be worn, but to tell her it is unsafe to drive? That is a bit over the top. Once I look at the brakes I will have a word with this "shop".