Gonzo

If they need a loan...go to a bank. You need your car fixed...go to a shop. I'm not a loan officer, I'm a mechanic. I'll bet if they did get a loan, and they missed a payment, and the collateral you put up was the car in for repair. Now... who owns the car? Not you! ! ! As long as I have the car I have reason to collect. If the car is gone so is most of the chances to get paid. Years ago I had a guy who wanted to "work" off his car bill. I told him as long as I keep the car while your paying it off no problem. Come to the shop in the morning I've got some work for you to do. Of course, he never showed up. 3 months later I filed on the car for title and sold the dang thing. Oh, one more thing... you want to see one of these types of people jump through hoops to get their car back? Charge them storage after 3 working days. That usually gets them to cough it up. Like I tell them, "You said do it, you agreed to the price, now pay for it or lose the car."

Thats going on my website. LOL

I've been contacted by these guys. Their sales pitch on the phone bothered me. They said, "We will bring in new business at 2000.00 a month. More new customers and customers that won't want it done cheap. We pride on the fact that we only have top notch customers for top notch shops. Your increase in profit will be very worthwhile." Anytime someone makes such a claim I want to see results not hype. I told him, "If you can guarantee that I'm interested. If not it sounds like a lot of smoke and mirrors." He couldn't and I said no. I'm always very curios of new ways of creating new business, but when you claim you can do something and can't back it up, it's like buying golf balls that have "Avoids Trees" written on them. Your results may vary....but...in the real world and years of doing this... I've seen these so called great ideas fade away.

thanks for the comments. Thought it was time for a feel good story. Glad ya liked it.

Gerdie A lot of guys and gals in the trade will have a special project in the back corner of the shop or at their home garage. It’s in our DNA to make things mechanical go. Some are into dirt track racing, the drag strip, power boating, snow machine, or many of the other forms of engine snarling, testosterone filled adrenalin sports activities. Then there are those who are interested in restorations projects. While others spend hours upon hours carefully and artistically creating their own unique work of automotive art. I got into air cooled VW’s. Restored a few and showed them at different shows, even won a few 1st place trophies and a few best of shows too. Sadly, the VW passion subsided a long time ago and all those cars are gone now. Like a lot of these restoration or testosterone filled hobbies, at some point in time they wear a little thin and you move onto other projects. However, for me, there is this one old truck that I never got rid of… and that’s Gerdie. Gerdie, as my daughters affectionately named it, is a 1984 Toyota 4X4 extended cab pickup. I bought it second hand when it had about 5,000.0 miles on it. It was in perfect shape and it was just the size I needed. These days it sports a few small dents here and there and a few cancer spots as well. It has slowly aged from shiny and new to dull and drab as the kids and the rest of the family grew older. This whole story is a result of me rummaging through some old photos and I ran across one of my two daughters standing in the bed of the truck. I think they were just 4 or 5 years old then. (They’re in there mid 30’s now.) (My son on the other hand, well, he doesn’t even want to be seen it. Says it’s not cool.) It does have that old car funk and it’s definitely no show winner, but I like it just the same. The paint faded years ago and a lot of the primer is showing through these days. The original 22R engine gave up years ago, dropped #2 cyl going home one night. A few years ago it was the transmission and somewhere between the engine and transmission problems I had to find a replacement rear-end for it. When I bought a brand new full size pickup old Gerdie became the shop work truck. And, like most shop trucks it got used and abused. We used it to haul parts and old junk engines and transmissions to the scrap yard. Half the time nobody would strap things down and things would slide around bashing into the sides of the bed as you would stop or take off. Mechanically, we kept it in shape, beyond that nobody gave it a second thought; it was just an old truck and nothing more. Every little ding and crinkle has its own unique story to tell. Most of them I put there myself. With the exception of a few that is. Nothing major mind you, well… there is that wrinkled front right fender that I’m not taking the blame for. That’s my wife’s fault. She was teasing me with some licorice one afternoon at the shop (years ago) she took off running around the shop giggling, so the chase was on. She rounded the corner outside the front office with me in hot pursuit. I didn’t make the corner; instead I tripped and did a header into the fender just above the center section of the wheel arch. Crushed it in pretty good too! I never changed the fender, I just hammered it out the best I could and left it there as a reminder of why I shouldn’t chase the wife for candy. Come to think of it… I didn’t get any of that licorice either. For years it was strictly the shop truck. Then we decided to move out into the country for a different life style than in the city. Gerdie took on the job as the all-weather 4X4 vehicle, and boy… has it come in handy. These days with gas prices the way they are the old truck makes regular trips back and forth to the shop almost every day. (Beats filling up the big V8 fuel tank in my other truck.) The old rust bucket gets a few stares on my 35 mile commute to work when I’m bounding along at 70 mph, like I said, it’s no show winner; it may look like crap but it runs like new. The big thing about this old truck when it’s sitting out in front of the shop is not that it’s my old truck that I’ve personally owned for 30 years, it’s actually my statement piece of what can be done. Just like the show car that somebody built by hand or the racer building their perfect machine. Old Gerdie becomes a way of telling my customers just how long you can actually keep one on the road if you really set your mind to it. Most of the time, when a car reaches a certain age, neglect becomes its only friend, and everything starts to fall apart. The oil isn’t changed, that little rattle is left go, or the coolant leak it’s had for quite some time is forgotten about. (That is until the next time you drive it and forget to bring the jug.) In fact, a lot of times it actually helps make a sale just to have the old heap of iron sitting in the parking lot. Oh sure, there are those that look at it and turn their nose up. Some will quote the old cliché, “It’s a mechanics car, and you know how it is… the worst car is always owned by a mechanic.” I just smile, while they are standing at the counter getting their car checked in and say, “Mine runs and drives, what’s yours here for?” (Snicker, snicker) As it is, I think I’ll hang on to the old truck a while longer. Maybe it’s the memories of all the trips we’ve taking in it or the stories behind each of those dings. I’ve been asked many times why I don’t restore it. You know, turn it into one of those “back in the corner of the shop” restorations jobs. Nay, you’d cover up all those little dents and the memories along with them. I think I’ll keep it just the way it is. View full article

A young city slicker decided to move out to the country and raise chickens. He went to a nearby farmer and said, "I'd like 100 eggs. I'm going to raise my own flock." A few weeks later he came back and said, "I'd like 100 eggs." A few more weeks he's back, "I'd like another 100 eggs." The farmer was so impressed with the young mans ambitions he said, "Wow, you're really going at this. How's many ya got so far?" The young city slicker said, "I don't know... I think I'm planting them to close together."

Always slow in March and first part of April. I attribute it to the late snow falls that come our area, late for us is March snows...not like you guys up north. The big difference is if there is even an 1/8 of an inch of snow they roll the sidewalks up around here. Which means a lot of people don't get a full paycheck that week. With the credit card bills coming in from Christmas, the snow fall, the lack of a full paycheck everybody is broke. As soon as the 15th rolls around it's like a roller coaster ride of busy slow all the way until Sept. when school starts again. As far as my first year... geez...that was so long ago I've tried to forget it....it wasn't great but after 30+ years I'm still at it, still waiting for that busy season.

Jeff, I feel the same way. But I'll add to that... I've had a few seniors that have used the scream and yell approach. Time for them to leave. They don't move as fast (neither do I) but they'll find the door eventually.

Yes, it happens. But, I will say if a shop is using good parts it really is rare. The real deal is the attitude. Whether it's a mechanic or a customer.... There's no reason to go into an over the top screaming rant.

Learned Attitude Attitude, it’s something everyone has. Some good, some not so good. Some people can keep it in check, while others have no regard for anyone else and just let their emotions fly. You know the type of person I’m talking about, sure ya do, ever been to a hockey game and the guy sitting behind you is yelling at the referee? Yep, that’s him. That’s the guy I’m talking about. And, it’s those same kinds of attitudes that make their way to the service counter as well. There are other reasons for some people’s unfortunate circumstances that bring on a different type of attitude too. I think every service writer or mechanic tries to be understanding and be forgiving for their life’s problems. They range from, “I’m a single mother, I’m a senior citizen, I’m not from around here, I just lost my job, etc… etc… etc….” In the short and long of it all, what they are really trying to say is, “Give me a break!” To be perfectly honest, I do have a soft heart for those who are having a rough time financially, but the bottom line is I can’t make that my concern when I’m behind the counter. I’m here to do a job, to do it well, and to get paid for it just like anyone else who works for a living. Speaking of working for a living, there are a so many jobs out there that you never deal with the actual person who is paying for your service or product. You get your paycheck on a Friday, show up on Monday, and start the whole process all over again. Me, my paycheck is the cars that come into the shop, and who’s cars are they? Why it’s the single mom, the senior citizen, the out of towner, and the guy who just lost his job, etc… etc… etc…. Last week it was a 25 year old car with a sixteen year old driver with a serious need of an attitude adjustment. He told me he didn’t know a thing about a car, (keep that thought handy) and that he was only sixteen. More than once during his explanation of what was wrong with the car he had to mention how old he was, and how he didn’t have a lot of cash. Hey, we were all sixteen once, and I can understand about the lack of funds as well as the lack of knowledge about a car. Honestly though, being sixteen doesn’t make any difference as to the cost of a repair? It is what it is. But, he seemed to think it should. This poor old gas guzzler he was driving was well past its prime and had more than a few problems. There was already a new alternator and belt installed from another shop and it was obvious some recent work had been done. But this brash youngster was bent on pinning the problem on someone besides this aging hunk of iron. He even went as far to tell me that he knew the reason it wouldn’t start is because he spent all his money on the alternator. (He knew huh? Really… figured that all out with your pocket book aye? That’s an excellent way of determining what’s wrong with your car… NOT!) I told him we needed to check things out first. The battery was up to a full charge and the engine cranked over just fine, but there was no spark. The crank sensor has failed. This lead to a lengthy description of what a crank sensor does. (Hey, he’s learnin’ something. At least it’s a step in the right direction.) This eventually led to installing one. VROOOM! It started. A few quick checks on that new alternator output showed that it was doing fine too. At this point it’s time to send him on his merry way. But, I did manage to slip into the conversation and on his invoice about the condition of the rest of the car. Everything from the whining fuel pump noise to the groan of the power steering pump. He initialed the ticket, and then I looked him right in the eye and said, “You understand you’re going to have problems in the future. This car has seen a lot of road time so be expecting to put a few more bucks in it if you’re going to keep it running.” He nodded his head and was out the door in a flash. About 2 weeks later the phone rang, yep you guessed it…it’s the young driver with a car that won’t start. He was practically screaming in the phone. Of course, it’s all my fault and he’s positive that the part I put in has failed. (Hmmm, sounds kind of familiar doesn’t it?) And, just like last time I have to hear the part about being sixteen and no money. Then he dropped a bomb shell on me. “You guaranteed it would start, well it’s not! So you’re paying for it!” By now, I was getting a little hot and I thought it was time for me to fire back at this youngin’. “First off, you don’t need to raise your voice, it’s just a car. Second of all, your warranty covers the part not the entire car. That is why I made sure to let you know that I could see more things going wrong than what was wrong with it the day it was in here. However, I’ll check it out and let you know what needs repaired. If it is the same part that has failed it’s covered under the warranty.” With what little info I could get out of him, (between his screaming fits) led me to believe the fuel pump had just died. I wasn’t sure where this was all going end, but this kid had me so steamed that I had to ask him the one question that I’ve been meaning to ask all these “screamers” that I’ve ever had to deal with on the phone. “What makes you think you can get anywhere by yelling at me?” His answer, “My mother told me to yell at you guys (mechanics) because that’s the only way you guys will fix it for free!” Seriously, your mother is teaching you the fine art of pissin’ off a mechanic? That’s just great… absolutely terrific… Way to go mom! It all makes sense now; I’ll bet that’s just how the next generation of loud, obnoxious spectators is created at the ball park too. Dad takes boy to a ball game, dad yells at the umpire or opposing team, then son grows up to be just as obnoxious as his old man. I often wondered how these types of individuals kept popping up. Never put a thought to it being something they were taught by their elders, now I know. I really should have asked that question years ago. Ya learn something new every day; just wish some people would learn a better attitude. View full article

I've seen similar issues regarding the hydroboost. Contaminated pwr steering fluid or sticky valve in the hydroboost. If a flush fixed it, you probably got lucky. Watch for the problem to sneak up on ya again when the summer time heat starts to come around. If so, then you'll need to look at the hydroboost again.

On the many occasions where I've been busy, already having a rough day and some dipstick comes to the counter and I ask them, "What's wrong with the car?" and they start in with, "I changed this part, and this part, and I did this and that...etc..etc..." I look them right in the eye and say to them, "So..... "THATS" what's wrong with the car!!??!!" They usually walk out, and quite frankly... I'm glad they did... don't need a backseat mechanic trying to help... I'm pretty capable of fixing it without extra cheap ass parts thrown into the mix.

I have had a lot of dealings with these extended warranty companies and very seldom does it go well. Most of the time the customer is left with a bill of more than their deductible. Of course we do warn them ahead of time. It's still shocking to them. The worst one was... yes... yes it was... a company out of PA. They didn't like the price on this motor so they said they would get it. Not my choice, but when the motor arrived I expected to see a gleaming clean crate engine, what I got was a greasy run down used piece of crap. I refused to put it in. The extended warranty company then pulled the job and took it to another shop. About 2 weeks later the same car was back, running like crap. AND, the warranty company wanted me to look at it. Because as they said, "It wasn't doing this before." I laughed, and told them where they could shove it. Never seen the car again. Nobody wins on these deals.

What's really amazing is that it's the same no matter where you go or where you're at. There's always some wacky customer needing their car repaired. I'm just glad I can share these experiences and see the reactions of everyone else from across the country. I enjoy reading the comments. It's just another day at the service counter.

Multiple Answers You’re at the emergency room, you’re left arm is swelling up, pain relief is a priority. The initial diagnosis involves a few x-rays and checking your vital signs. The nurse writes down all the information on your chart and then places it by the door of the exam room so the doctor can read it. The doctor enters the exam room already flipping the pages of information, and takes a seat on the little stool. The doctor introduces himself, “Hello, I’m Doctor Smith,” with the formal introductions out of the way the next question is usually in regards to the information on the chart and his initial evaluation. He asks, “So, how’d ya break your arm?” Without hesitation, you go into a detailed explanation of how it all happened. In some case the story is very important to the diagnosis, while other times it’s just another one of those typical stories the doctor has probably heard before. Never the less, they’ll listen. (I think they call that “bed side” manner.) When your tests are done, the cast is applied, and you’ve got a few pain meds prescribed, it’s off you go to home sweet home. Now what in the world does a trip to the emergency room have to do with cars? Well, nothing, and everything at the same time. If you’ve ever stood at the service counter and was asked, “So what’s wrong with the car?” you might find this interesting. Just as the doctor asked when he entered the exam room there is a few primary questions to answer at the service counter. At the emergency room it’s all about gathering pertinent information about the problem and it’s the same at the service counter. There’s no doubt even at the ER the answers to the questions can be jumbled up and misleading as they can be at the service counter. The service writer isn’t asking, “How you broke you’re car.” But, “What’s wrong with the car.” For some people answering that question with, “It doesn’t shift, or the battery is dead every morning” isn’t possible. They somehow start in the middle and work back to the beginning of their story, and then finally to the real reason why they are there. I’m still baffled at the answers I get on these occasions, and just like the ER doctor, listening to the various replies takes a bit of patience. Sometimes I have it… sometimes I don’t. Let’s face it; I fix cars not people. If I could ask the car directly I probably would. But, as it is, the car can’t speak. (Yet) In the meantime, standing at the service counter and deciphering the bits and pieces of information from the owner seems to be the best way. Needless to say, at times, there’s a lot of piecing together be done. Granted, a lot of people don’t know the first thing about cars and with the internet full of suggestions and friends with more than a cursory knowledge of the modern automobile the confusion at the service counter can be overwhelming. I hear all kinds of wild and exotic solutions and explanations about car problems when I’m standing at the counter. All this random information might seem important, when in reality, most of the time, less = more. The other day I had an encounter at the counter after asking the usual question, “What’s wrong with the car?” It was definitely one of those multiple answer and confusing explanation type of situations. I generally keep notes as people are explaining things to me. I was going to need a lot of scratch pad on this one. The owner began with, “It doesn’t start every once in a while.” Our conversation covered the typical reasons for an intermittent no start, which also brought up the diagnostic hassles with this type of problem, and the problems of trying to find intermittent issues. “As long as I can duplicate the problem I can fix it,” I told him. “Oh, you won’t have any trouble with that,” he answered, “It does it all the time.” Now that’s interesting, before it was once in a while, now it’s all the time. I think I’m somewhere in the middle of this story right about now… I hope we get to the finale soon. Cross out intermittent and below that write “does it often” on the scratch pad. “That’s slightly different from what you just told me. When you say all the time, do you mean once in a while or do you mean,” holding my fingers up for quotations, “all” the time?” He answered, “What I mean is, it’s doing it more often now.” “That’s great,” I said with a smile, “I’ll be able to find the source of the problem much easier now. Let’s get it into the shop as soon as possible and run a few tests.” “Super, I’ll get it towed in this afternoon,” he cheerfully replied. “Wait a minute,” I answered with a questioning tone, “Why a tow truck?” “I’ve tried to start it every day for the past 2 weeks and it still hasn’t started. That’s what I’ve been telling you. It doesn’t start.” I checked my scratch pad, several pages of jotted notes, turn back to page one, cross out “does it often” below it write D.O.A. It’s just another round and around story at the service counter. I really wanted to tell this guy. “What if we started this whole conversation in reverse? So when I ask, “What’s wrong with the car?” You say, “It hasn’t started for the last 2 weeks, but before that it was intermittent at best.” I should have, but I didn’t. Would have made a whole lot more sense that way and probably would have saved a few pages of that scratch pad too. Of course, there are the ones that have to lump everything and anything that has ever gone wrong with the car into their present story. (You’ll need a lot more paper to jot these stories down.) That simple question of what’s wrong becomes a dissertation of every little bump or bruise the car has ever had. And, they have to throw in every shop that’s worked on it and every part that’s ever been changed. Is it important? Well, kind of, but probably not as important as what’s wrong with the car now. Ya just gotta smile, and go on. If it makes that particular customer feel better to tell every little bit about their car by all means… tell your story. Whatever way you’d like to tell it is fine with me, and it doesn’t matter about the multiple answers you have to the question or what order you want to tell them. I’ll try to keep up and sort out the important parts. Don’t worry, I’ve got plenty of scratch pads and pens. Will it change the outcome of the repair? Nope, not a bit. But I’m sure, just like any emergency room doctor will tell you too; these stories sure do make for an interesting day at the office. View full article

So true PH.

It's a page out of my book.... been there done that... never liked it..EVER!

You're not the first, LOL. I get a lot of those "walking stares" from across the isle. A lot of people walk up and read the name tag then they got it. LOL Anytime you see a booth with one of the magazines in it... just stop by. If I'm not there just ask. I'll show up sooner or later. Next stop is Detroit end of July first part of August.

I was there, came in on Thursday and left Saturday afternoon. I was going to stay for Sunday, but had other plans for Sunday. see my latest article.

this is going out in next months magazines. look for it. and if you have a chance go to the website for each of the magazines and either leave a comment or hit LIKE. the more the better. keeps me in the mag that way LOL