Horror stories in the auto repair biz abound.

I sent my daughter to the quick oil change shop for a $30 oil change. She came home having spent over $100.  They talked her into an air filter change, and a few other things as well....and of course the oil. 
It proved to be a valuable lesson in not being scammed for her. 

I have a Ford PU truck. F-150. But it had developed a nasty misfire.  I took it to a buddy who I trusted pretty well and he diagnosed it as a misfire and said there was no way to determine which  ignition coil or coils was the cause. They all needed to be replaced and it would cost about $650 to do it.  I bit the bullet because the truck ran horribly.  I'm not saying the first guy scammed me, because he has always been fair with me, and he is a customer of mine.... he just didn't look far enough to find the source of the problem...and he has one of those inspection devices to read computer codes.

So, about 2.5 years later, after all new coils were installed..... yup.. it started up doing the same thing again. I called my buddy back but for one reason or another I never got the PU to him for him to check it out, and the thought of another $650 repair kept me from trying too hard.... I just drove it the best I could. So one day while getting the oil changed and getting it ready for a state inspection, the guy at the shop.... a different shop and a customer of mine...... pops his head in the waiting room and says,  "Herb, do you know that cylinder #2 is misfiring?"  It seems, those ODB tests will show up all the data in the computer and the computer picks up and stores misfires as well.  So I made arrangements to leave the PU over night and he changed out the coil on #2 and the problem was solved. Total repair including oil change, tire rotation, and inspection.... Around $225 IIRC.....   And the truck runs smooth as silk. 


Actually, when he came out to get in the truck to drive it into the bay on the first day for the oil change..... he cranked it up....cocked his head sideways a bit and says to me.... you have a misfire. Just from starting it and letting it idle a bit. 

I had several vehicles that were getting serviced at this same shop and in the same few days of time. On one....I believe it was my wife's car, I asked for a tire rotation and a front end alignment since it had been a very ling time since the last alignment. He came back in and added up the bill and told me he didn't do the alignment. I asked why not. He said, it would be a waste of money since the rear tires would need replacement soon and to rotate them and then align the front end with tires worn about 75 to 80% of their life would be a waste of money on the alignment. Now that is refreshing coming from a car shop that could have done the alignment to make the money, and then did it again when I put new tires on the front. 

Needless to say, I have switched shops and have my daughters get their oil changes done there when they are in town. He looks to see if there are other issues but doesn't do the hard sell like the Jiffy Lube folks do. If you are not careful in the auto shops, you can walk in for a $30 oil change and walk out with hundreds of dollars in unneeded work. 

I used to do all my own repairs...oil changes, brakes, flushes and other minor things myself.... but now, I just prefer to let a shop I trust do the job.


BTW: I got one of those Car Doctor gizmo's for a gift. After I had the shop tell me that #2 was misfiring.... I plugged in the Car Dr and sure enough, it said the same thing....and then gave me an estimated average repair cost for that problem based on my area.  It estimated the repair at $250 to $300 for just the coil replacement. 

From now on I will use the Car Dr to check the computer for codes..... I didn't do it initially because the check engine light was not on with the misfire for months... it finally came on the day before I took it to the shop for the inspection/oil change.... so I had to get it repaired before the inspection could be done. No inspections with a check engine light on. 

I have this photo in my office and found out I can post if I use Flickr...
so thought I'd show off a car I rebuilt from the ground up.
It's a 1969 Chevelle SS and it was an original but unfortunately it
didn't have the original motor (396)

The cool thing is that the motor I had had never been rebuilt so when it
was bored that made it a 402 and that made it like they originally sold it-
all the original 396's were bored to 402's. My guess for them not calling
the car a Chevelle SS 402 had something to do with insurance.

Anyway, a friend that owns the red 72 next to it ask me to go to the car
show with him. I did and he entered my car...I didn't know until I was
awarded first place ( he got second)...lol.

Other than a few modifications I made, like electronic timing...stuff to improve
performance, it was very close to original.

I built it to drive and was made an offer I couldn't refuse...I kinda miss it.
Yes, it was very fast.

"

I had a fastback '70 Impala that I drove as if it was a Chevelle.

;-)

We could fit 8 bicycles in the trunk and go to the races. It was roomier than a Suburban.

:-)


Putting Radials and a new set of Springs on it turned it into a sportster.

  My wife recently took the car in for an oil change and she called me to tell me that the tech said that the A/C needs charged. I work on air conditioners and I knew they were so full of horse pucky it wasn't funny. This same outfit has been trying to get me to spend 150.00 to have my automatic transmission fluid changed because they said it should be done every 30,000 miles. I looked at my service manual and it doesn't say one thing about any kind of transmission fluid change.....really gotta watch these people.

spacey


Brakes are a critical component and your points are valid.

My post wasn't to suggest that others may want to do the job and
I sure don't recommend others attempt it without a very good understanding
of the job.
As you point out Robert there are other factors that must be considered.
Wheel bearings are another critical part directly related but again, it wasn't
my intention to "disect" the procedures or many technical particulars.

I'll add that I grew up with a lot of hands on and fortunate to be around
some most professional mechanics - it was something I enjoyed learning
but no way was it with the desire to do full time as a pro.
I've built and rebuilt motors and completely rebuilt and restored muscle cars.
It is easy to not realize all the very important details envolved and mislead
another thinking there's not much to it.
In no way am I suggesting that others should attempt repairing their vehicle.

My intention was to point out the INSANE price quoting for this particular job and
by major vehicle dealerships.
Simply a warning that folks may sure want to investigate needed repairs. Taking
the time to understand exactly what is going on before having the vehicle repaired
may save them a great deal of money.

Point taken. I can't believe that price.
And I totally agree, while this is a fairly simple procedure for an experienced mechanic, it's not something your average Joe needs to be messing with. But they shouldn't be getting ripped off, either.


I miss building motors. When I lost the house in Colorado, I had a '71 302 on the stand. The block was solid, and it just need the normal wear and tear stuff. Guides, bearings, rings, dress the bores, and she's good to go. I basically gave it to the kid down the street.
I drove FIAT's for years, and am intimately familiar with those.
I usually had two running, and a spare engine ready to go, or being assembled. And shelves filled with spare parts for nearly any situation.
But that's me. You are quite right in saying we should not suggest others should repair their vehicles.
If you feel that you are in over your head, you probably are. It's time to turn it over to a pro. But do some research, and be sure you are getting a fair price.


ps. That is one sweet Chevelle.

While I agree with the sentiment that we shouldn't advise people to mess up their brakes on a DIY repair, I think it can be helpful to remember that the guys at the dealership that install the new brake pads are usually guys that barely know how the brakes work.

The engineers designed a system that can be serviced with a nearly mindless 10 minute removal and replacement of pads. Perhaps you an spend an extra few minutes for a quick fluid line bleed... if there is some reason to think there is air in the line.

Guys like us might take a few extra minutes to wipe off some dirt and inspect a few things... while the guys charging $400 for a brake job don't have time for those niceties... they are rushing off to the next $400 harvest.



I grew up with mechanical brakes and then upgraded to hydraulic brakes. Both required periodic adjustment of the brake shoes with a pry tool.


Even my wife can do a brake job on today's disc systems. :-)



I think we should be more encouraging about the idea that most people can probably do their own brakes. I'd opine that the only societies that think this type of maintenance is too specialized a task for DIY is a society that can afford to be ignorant of how simple the brakes are.





Discalimer, I have not addressed ABS systems above, however I have experience with them. There is no effective way to service ABS so even a skilled ABS certified repair person is simply removing and replacing parts until the computer/dash board indicator says it's working again. That work is incredibly simple yet time consuming... and the parts are exorbitantly priced.

If you are willing to throw the parts at it... any one with mechanical ambition can perform the work with competency.



All of us "mechanics" can be reminded that we learned stuff by messing stuff up and then fixing it. I personally feel we shouldn't discourage, under the guise of a blanket safety policy, other people from enjoying the same growing pain experiences. :-)

Heck I remember the results of our first brake job. We were 15, the car was 1967 Mustang 289 convertible. On our test drive a rear wheel locked up hard and took us off the road for a spell. Good times.

BTW, that was an old drum system... You can't mess up a disc system that badly. :-)


all the very best,
mike

Robert and Mike- when I was 18 I would have recommended to any of my friends
to dive in....just do one at a time because then you have one to see how it is suppose
to go back together LOL.

Today....I don't recommend doing anything to anybody. People want to sue over
everything they possibly can.
I will give my opinion and mention to others something they may want to watch out for.

Man I'm even reserved to mention what I think may be a good deal or good equipment.
Times have changed and just feel much safer and better doing my own thing...alone.
I'm not really a secluse...just adapted.