Gonzo

Shop Swappers I’m not just a shop owner, but also a consumer. As a consumer I’m always looking for the best deal, but… having been in the service industry for as long as I have, I also understand the value of quality service provided to me when I’m the consumer. If my HVAC at the house goes on the fritz, I’m not likely to call from place to place looking for the cheapest company, nor am I likely to go with the most expensive. What I will do is go with the one that has been recommended, or one I feel comfortable with. That might even mean I have to pay a little extra to get that certain company to make the long journey to my home… but that’s what I’m paying for… quality service. Now, when the shoe is on the other foot, and I’m the service provider at my automotive repair shop, I assume my customers are looking at my services the same way. But, that’s not always the case with some “one time” customers, who are just looking for a deal or a cheap repair. The phone rings and the lady on the other end began to tell me about her old pickup problem. “I had it over at a shop, and they said it needed a new fuel pump. So they put one in, and now it has no power, and it sometimes bucks and jerks. Also, my A/C goes off and on intermittently. It didn’t do any of this until they changed the fuel pump.” It’s not the first time I’ve got a call like this. I do want to help them, but at the same time I want to make sure they get some value out of what they have already spent to have their car repaired. My first response is always the same. “Did you take it back to them, so they could check their work?” I asked. “Yes I did. They installed another fuel pump, and it’s still doing the same thing.” “Well, maybe the fuel pump isn’t your problem,” I answered back. The conversation continued with more of the same questions and answers. Somehow, someway I work this statement into the conversation: “If they told you they fixed your problem with a new pump, and it didn’t fix it to your satisfaction, then I suggest you go back and explain to them what you just told me and see if they will re-diagnose it.” “OK, thanks for the tip I’ll take it back tomorrow.” A week later, the phone rings. “I did what you told me, and I took it back. They installed another pump, but it still is acting up. So, I took it to the dealership a couple of days ago. They put in a new A/C compressor and installed another fuel pump, but it still isn’t working correctly.” Here I am, standing in my shop wondering what kind of person would take their car to one repair shop, pay for their work, then call another shop for advice, only to take it to an entirely different shop to be serviced. (Just to let you know… I make a living repairing cars…not giving advice.) “Ma’am, I suggest you take it back to both places and have them make it right. There’s no reason to be calling me, you’ve obviously spent a lot of money at both places, and it sounds like you’re still not getting the results you expected. Unless you want to spend more cash with me to check it out, I’d suggest the same thing I told you before… take it back.” “Oh, I don’t have any more money to spend on it.” (I could have guessed that.) “Then take it back.” When this sort of person doesn’t feel like they are getting anything accomplished at one shop, rather than deal with them they head to the next shop down the road. Spending more and more, and not get anything accomplished. On the other hand, it could be they are not explaining their problem fully. As much as I hate to admit it, I turn into the grouchy old mechanic when people ask for my advice and I’m not getting compensated for my time. Could be why they only called for advice, instead of bringing it in. Sometimes all it takes is a service writer’s charm to get people to bring their car into a particular shop vs. another. (Obviously, that ain’t me.) Salesmanship is one thing, but results are what matters. Sugar-coating the response to a potential customer doesn’t change the results back in the shop. When a “shop swapper” meets up with a “parts swapper” shop, (shops that don’t diagnose but use the old “9 out of 10 times this solves the problem” method.) … … it’s going to be a long drawn out repair job. Of course, the primary reason to even think about going to one of the “chain” store repair shops, or one of those “Have tools will change parts” places … is price or location. (Or they have that service writer with the gift of gab.) A lot of people won’t ask for certifications or qualifications of the person working on their car. They see a big sign out front and it’s close to their home or office … and that’s all it takes… done deal. These days with the advanced electronics and computer systems, false diagnoses are more common than ever before, and shops willing to swap a parts rather than test for a solution are even more common than in years past… and so are the “shop swappers”. (Must be an economy thing.) Another time it was a car that came in with a finicky fuel gauge. If you hit a bump just right, the gauge would swing all the way to empty. He took it back several times to the repair shop, and they kept changing the same parts over and over again. The owner then took it to another shop who fiddled around with it for over a week, before they gave up. (And of course, he paid both shops for their time and efforts.) After I dragged some critical details out of the owner on and when it would happen, it led me to a chaffed wire that was nearly cut in two by a loose bracket in the engine bay. Problem solved. He asked me, “If I would have brought it here in the first place would you have found it without putting all those parts on that the other shops did?” You know, I’d like to say I would have, but… as I told him, “Maybe, but that would have depended on the condition of the original parts that were changed. Assuming all the original components were in working order, and you explained things as well as you have… then quite possibly yes.” The moral of the story for the consumer out there who’s trying to get their car repaired: “When possible, always take your car back to the original shop first. Have them make it right. Stick with one and explain things fully. You’ll end up with better results and fewer headaches and less time shopping for a repair shop.” View full article

After 30 years of swinging a wrench you can bet I've run across a few. I'll save them for later stories. LOL AND, YES, I've had the handy dandy home repairers in the parking lot before. I tell them to push the thing off the property and do it in the street or take it home. These type of people never-ever come back so it's not like you're going to be seeing them again. I told one guy, "How you would you like it if I pulled up to your house and pulled in the driveway to work on my car?" i's a safety issue, it's an insurance issue, it's just plain courtesy.... I'd like to see the cook at the resturaunt reaction when I march back there with my own steak and tell him to move over while I give this T bone a little time on the flames. (AND it's not uncommon for these parking lot dips to ask for a tool or "How do ya get this off") The nerve of some people......Grrrrr One thing is for sure... after all the years of doing this I've become less corgial, (pissed is more like it) I don't put up with it at all anymore. Oh, I've been threatened with a pop in the jaw before. Yea, try it big boy... Funny thing is, (Like Joe said) stand your ground, in fact walk right up in there face... they all back off. everytime. LOL 6'2' 245 kinda got most of these blow hards just with size. LOL (Yep, they still pile it that high) LOL An X-Marine..... and I ain't afraid to kick your arse even at my age.

A common problem I see on the Highlanders is the A/C control head. If you get one in that they tell you they have to bang on the dash to get it to work look at the ribbon connector inside the control head. What happens is the nut that hold the dial in place comes loose and as they twist the knob it also twists the ribbon connector. Easy fix, ya just have to take the entire control head apart to do it. (Putting together a tech article on this very subject)

Sad but true. I guess you could say "Some guy" has a lot of friends... "Them guys, Those guys, and That guy" LOL None of which could even pass a simple test to tell if they are qualified enough to call themselves a "mechanic" LOL I needed a good laugh Jeff... ya done did it.

Let's add some more fuel to the fire. Look at how cars have progressed in the last 50 years. What is the one common factor that has changed more dramatically than anything else in cars. I'm not talking about technology wise now... Think of what has the government mandated to be done to cars. Well for one is fuel mileage. . . . . . BUT... the real issue.... occupant safety issues. First it was to lower the smog levels by controlling emissions. That started primarily first. Then it was seat belts, then air bags, ABS, shoulder belts, TPMS, and now auto stop systems, GPS controls for accident avoidance, so on and so on. Everything about a car that was put into practical use had something to do with occupant safety. Now, the problem as I see it. If some Yahoo buys a bunch of 134 at a store and blows a can or two into the atmosphere isn't he endangering everyone else? Or, a guy who puts on his own brake pads (Cheap parts or good parts... doesn't make a difference...because those products have to meet a government minimum standard... so cheap parts don't matter.) and after installing the brake pads he puts one pad on backwards and locks his wheel up. Isn't that a safety issue as well? SO... I'll get to the point. It seems to me that the real way of getting ASE certifications, shop licensing, programmed or any type of part that can be deemed a safety issue to the general public put on a "only if you're certified" type of sale... the only way I see this happening is IF it comes down to a safety issue for the unknowing, untrained, and dollar saving consumers that the legislation can create some sort of law for it all.

Years ago... and I mean "years" ago. I had a job come in from a sod company. I was to rewire their very large flat bed truck and get all the lights working. The bill was large. I think it was a little over a grand. It was in the winter time when work was slow and I was thankful to have such a large job to do. A guy came in paid for half of the job with cash and the other half with a company check. The check was worthless. I tried to call, but the guy on the other end of the phone denied even writing a check. I could hear in the background of the phone the actual guy I talked to at the shop. These two guys were working up a scheme to keep me from collecting. I even went down to their business and ask for my money. No luck. I ended seeking legal advice. Here's what I was told. "If you except even one thin dime for your services that's all you get. Anything written on paper (unless it's a certified money order --- which can also be faked) is entirely worthless. They do not have to honor it at ALL. Since you took cash for partial payment in the courts eyes you've have been paid." Needless to say I was pissed. I ended up going down to their warehouse area (an outside covered storage area next to their office) and "borrowed" a few rolls of sod. LOL The place is still in business and they never asked for their sod back. There's crooks everywhere.....

The American Dream Like most young lads, I grew up with a lot of the same dreams and aspirations as we all did. Things like owning your own home, a nice car, maybe a few “boy” toys, and … most of all, the ultimate American dream… owning your own business. Looking back on things now, I guess my interest in owning my own business probably started with my paper route. My family lived out in a rural part of the country, just outside a small college town, and delivering the paper took a bit more than a stroll down a sidewalk. This was farm country, and houses were sometimes miles apart. Luckily, my dad let me ride my mini-bike to make my rounds, and since it was so rural even the county cop looked the other way. Besides, I had his paper in that sack as well… if he wanted his paper he’d have to ignore the half-pint kid on the little Briggs and Stratton powered motor-scooter. At least as long as I had that huge sack over my shoulder and I was delivering the paper, he didn’t seem to mind. But, I’m sure any other time he’d have a few words. (I don’t think you could get away with that today.) I saved my money, counted it often, and thought it was pretty cool that somebody would pay me money to do something that I was having fun doing in the first place. Yep, I thought this sole proprietorship thing was pretty awesome. Then as we all must do, we grow a bit older and find out rather quickly that a few dollars from a paper route doesn’t add up to a tank of gas in that hotrod you’re now driving to high school.... ya need a better paying job. So the self-employed thing gets put on hold. For some, the idea of being self-employed goes no farther than the newspaper route or the lemonade stand. It becomes a part of your past, but for others, including me, owning your own business draws you back in. It could be because of the smiles and wonderful comments I would get as I pulled up on that little mini-bike when I was delivering the paper. Maybe that was part of the motivation to go into private business as an adult. I still remember how some of my older customers I delivered to would be at their mailbox when they heard that scooter coming up the road. They’d smile and hand me my change, then wave goodbye as I took off for my next stop. It was a Norman Rockwell moment to say the least. Ok, time to snap out of that nostalgic dream land and back to reality. Is owning your own business for everyone? No, it’s not… it’s a tough road of ups and downs, argumentative people, bad choices, poor investments, lack of working capital, and long hours. At that’s on a good day. Not every day is that way; some days remind me of my paper route customers greeting me at the mailbox. But, owning your own business can be a rough, tangled road that takes years to figure out how to make it all work, and even tougher to figure out how to keep it going for another day. Being self-employed “sounds” great until you realize the hours you put towards your success is based on the hours you put into it. Which generally means, 12 – 16 hour days, no vacations, no paid holidays, no paid health insurance, and no time off just ‘cause it’s your birthday. You have to be totally self-motivated and willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. As well as keeping up with the advanced education needed to stay current with your chosen field. It’s not a dream anymore… it’s certainly not a nightmare (unless you let it be.) It’s just not as easy as it was when all you had to do was ride that scooter up and down those country roads with a sack full of papers. Is it any easier after you put a few years under your belt? Well, that depends on the effort you put into it in the beginning. I’ve been at this independent repair shop thing for three decades now, and I don’t think it’s any easier than it was thirty years ago. Mind you, with the skills, the patrons, and the reputation you gain over the years (decades) things do get a bit better. But, you still have to show up every work day ready to take on the next challenge. When I first opened my shop there was an elderly man in the rented space next to mine, and he would come over to check on me from time to time. He had been in private business his entire adult life, and would tell me stories of how he made money and lost money. With his various ups and downs his stories reflected upon my concerns about starting up my own business. I’ll never forget what he told me about being in private business. He said, “Don’t let the banks own ya, and don’t let the business own ya. You run the business; don’t let the business run you.” I take that to heart every day. What I got out of it was that you have to make sure you remember what you were trying to accomplish in the first place. That is, to create an opportunity for yourself and others while doing something you liked to do. But, don’t forget to take time off, get away from it when you can, and reminding yourself that running your own business isn’t just for you… it’s for your family too. They’re the real winners in your choice to follow the American dream. Blink, and those days on that little scooter are just a memory, another blink and you’re looking at retirement square in the face. Make the best of your time, and don’t forget your family along the way. Private business ain’t bad. It’s not for everyone, but I do think it’s something everyone should experience. And if you do decide to follow the American dream, just remember that kid on that noisy little mini-bike heading down that country road on his way to the next house. All he was looking for is another smile and a bit of change. Hopefully, we can all run our business like that, with a smile and make a bit of change, while taking our own personal ride on the American dream. View full article

He didn't have the balls to try that Jeff. LOL

Classic, chuckle, chuckle... makes it sound like I've been writing stories likes this for a long time. LOL... wait a minute... I have. Glad I was able to put a smile on your face. Thanks for the comments.

Had to bring this story back out of moth balls. I'm cleaning up old stories this week and this story still makes me laugh. Thought I'd share it with ya again. Rocky Mountain Oysters At my shop I tend to do more electrical repairs than anything else. It’s what I’m known for, and sometimes I get my share of odd ball electrical problems. Sometimes it’s a factory defect where a harness has rubbed into a bracket behind the dash and shorted things out. But, a lot of times it’s some add-on that causes the problems. Usually some sort of flashy-testosterone filled bling that the owner is using to show off his macho self to all who pass by. Seldom do I see these “manly” things on a girl’s car… it’s mostly the guy’s… sorry dudes… it’s true. You guys can’t leave them alone. Ya gotta show your manhood somewhere on that Detroit steel. I had this cowboy’s truck in the shop; it’s was a late 80’s Chevy pickup, jacked up to the sky and loud. His only problem was his parking lights would blow a fuse. My usual first question is, “When did ya put in the stereo?” (Over the years I would say it’s probably the no#1 problem I find in the park light systems on these GM cars and trucks of that era.) It never fails; some goof ball is going to use the gray wire as the radio ground. I can usually tell these types of guys because they’ll “always” tell me how they used an ohm meter to check the wiring. (More testosterone showing... gotta make like they've got some "cojones"... at least, more than the mechanic who's going to fix the mess they created, you know.) The gray wire will show continuity to ground because the dash light filaments will send the meter signal to the next bulb and the next until it reaches another ground source. It’s really not a ground at all; it’s actually the positive voltage lead for the dash light circuit that is part of the factory radio. However when you turn the park lights on (Which they won’t check until the next time they drive at night.) the fuse to the park lights will blow. Happens all the time. But in this case this hombre was safe… it wasn’t the radio. Now I have to look elsewhere. One of my many “tricks” to test a short circuit on these older trucks is with 2 fuses. No meters, no high tech equipment, just a couple of fuses. First stick one in the fuse box and turn on the park lights. (It came in blown, and I doubt you’re going to make it any worse) … Keep your eye on the fuse, did it blow quickly? … Or did it take a bit? When I say a bit… I don’t mean like… a second….I mean not immediately, let’s just call it a quick blink. If the fuse takes a bit to blow that tells me the short is farther away from the fuse box than closer. (Learning the difference may take some practice.) In this case this saddle sore owner’s problem was not immediate, but an ever slight delay. I’m going to look around the outside of the vehicle and see if it reveals any clues. It could be in the back or the front of this herd chasing cattleman’s Cadillac. I climbed out of the cab and headed to the south end of this northbound rig to check for any trailer wiring. (It’s my 2nd usual place to look for faulty wiring on this type of truck.) Any time you get the handy-dandy farmhand with his fence pliers working his magic on the horse trailer wiring, you’re bound to have problems. Well, how about that… it was professionally done… and in fact the wiring looked great! But there was this other foreign object dangling on the receiver hitch. Oh, man … is this necessary? Bull testicles? There’s a pair of fake plastic bovine male parts rocking back and forth with every sway of this pasture cavorting vehicle. Now, I don’t know who this cowboy is trying to impress… ‘cause if I was a cow… I’d think there something wrong with this bull. And, if I was some gal in a car behind this boot wearin’, skoal chewin’, cattle jockey… I don’t think I’d be impressed either… or at all. But then something else caught my eye… and it wasn’t the swinging genitals. There’s a small wire connected to them, and the wire is connected to the brown wire of the trailer connector… which, is the park light wiring. OMG… no way…these rocky mountain oysters light up and glow with the evening sky. I don’t remember animal husbandry being a part of my job requirements. And I don’t think glow in the dark dangling beef ta-tas was covered in any of my training classes. You mean to tell me, if I disconnect the wire from this cowboy’s dangling plastic bull parts that the park lights might work? This is nuts! I can’t believe this … … this is definitely not going well today. Well, I’ve gotta try, it could be the end of my search of why the park lights are blowing the fuse … here goes… … with one hand, I grabbed this pasture-prowlers-artificial-cattle-creators and held on with an almighty firm grip. With the other hand, I took steady aim with my trusty cutters--- “Snip” ---the deed is done. Back to the fuse box and change the fuse, and then flip on the park lights. Well what do ya know, we have lights! Tell all the Angus and Holsteins on the farm – the park lights are working perfectly! ! Ya Hoo! I’ll have to admit, it’s the first time I have ever had to castrate a truck to get the park lights to work… Well, I guess, there’s a first time for everything, might as well start up my new career. You’ll find me on one of those late night infomercials or in the business yellow pages under; --- “Bull Castrator/Mechanic”--- . View full article

I've read all the comments on this subject, and... I would have to agree with all of them. Now, let's step way out there on the limb... all by ourselves and look at it from the customers stand point. A certified ASE technician doesn't mean didly to them. Right? Why? Here's my take on it. IF a customer looks or glances at the Blue seal and figures it means they are dealing with a "good thing" (as was described in a couple of the comments) then ... (in their mind) chances are it's going to be more expensive to get the car worked on at this shop rather than a shop that's not certified. Probably, maybe... could be a regular customer who doesn't care if you're certified or not. However, the real issue is how do you make the general public aware of the need for certifications and the need for such things as a Blue Seal shop. Ok, here we are out on that limb I mentioned. Let's imagine that only certified shops and techs can purchase certain parts. Such as anything that requires programming. This way the parts people avoid the ever popular "This part you sold me is defective" from the unknown consumer who is trying to fix his car. Now, in order to get the work done they have to find a Blue Seal shop that can not only purchase the "correct" parts but also do the programming. Let's face it, if you're in the home heating and air conditioning business you've got a clinch on a new home HVAC unit. I can't go down to Lowes and purchase a unit, in fact I probably can't hook it up without a licensed installer. But I can run down to the dealership parts department and buy a new instrument cluster even though (speaking as a consumer) I don't have a clue how to program it. Ok, I'll get to the point. If ASE certification wants to be something that is NEEDED. Then you have to make is somehow worthy for the mechanic to take the tests and GET certified. You want to bring in new techs into the business? How about bring up the point about certifications and how this trade is a lifetime trade such as any other blue collar trade. If they knew going into an apprenticeship that you'll be in a class all your own because you've been taught to perform a repair by experts in the field and YOU will be as respected as much as any another other tradesman. Pissin' off a few parts venders, and quite a few old timers that don't believe they need some stinkin' badge to fix a car is going to happen. In the long run the time of accepting any changes in the way we do our business will be short lived. The future of the trade is where it's at, not what we've done in the past... none of it worked anyway. Make the certifications mean something, not just a piece of paper on a wall.

So, that's how you're supposed to do it. I've been doing it wrong all these years. From now on I'll do the same with spark plugs and alternators. LOL Good one. Put a smile on my face. Thanks for the post,.

Sorry to hear that. I broke the first one I tried but, I got the hang of how long to soak them and how hot the engine needed to be. Here's one of several videos of guys using the impact method. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFwRbDUgCL0

Language Mecánico I’ve wanted to learn a third language for a very long time, so I’ve been taking classes in Española. One of these days I might actually be able to hold a conversation in Spanish with some of my Spanish speaking customers. Did ya notice I said third language? Yes, that’s right I already know two languages rather well. English is my first language of course, and my second language is … mechanic. If you’ve been in the business or around repair shops as long as I have you pick up on the terms and slang of the business. If you’re not familiar with the language let me introduce you to a few of the common words mechanics here at the service counter. “Didya” - Usually associated with an overzealous customer who can’t stand to be away from his/her car for any length of time. “Didya get my car done yet?” Even though the mechanic has told them that changing out the heater core may take a day or two, they’re never too far away from a phone. Sometimes it’s just a few hours after the car was dropped off, and they’re already calling. “Didya” can also be in a form of a question at the time they pick up their car as well. It generally refers to something they thought you’d run across during the repair. Very rarely does it actually have anything to do with the repair that was just done, but more of a second thought they had, and either forgot to mention or they’ve been talking with someone after they left the shop and were told that they should ask the mechanic about it before they picked up their car. “Sinchya” - An all-time favorite of mine. “Sinchya got the car here for new wiper blades, could ya rotate the tires too?” Let’s take a look at this example of replacing the wiper blades. As with most techs you schedule your day around what work there is to do, and you place certain cars in certain bays to do certain types of work. Since changing the wiper blades doesn’t require putting it in a bay, with a lift you save an out of the way stall for just that kind of work. In the meantime you shuffle the “lift” jobs according to their priorities or whether or not parts have arrived, and get those jobs hoisted up in the air so you can get started on them. You know, there’s a certain type of smile a mechanic gets on his/her face when “Sinchya” comes into the conversation. Anyone in the business knows the smile. That smile isn’t really a full out smile, it’s more of a half snarl and half grin. ‘Cause, if you knew what I was thinking right about then you’d probably not ask, “Sinchya got it here”. The whole time I’m standing there I’m already trying to figure out the jigsaw puzzle of cars in the shop, and how I’m going to get this job on the lift while this customer is waiting on it. I’m sure the customer is thinking, “You know, it’s not that big of a deal… just rotate the tires… can’t take that long can it?” If I say, “Sorry, bays are tied up right now. If you come back later I could do it.” Chances are they’ll just run down the street to the next shop, so I better make every effort I can to bend backwards and get it done for them. Since the question of “Sinchya” usually comes up after they have written the check for the repair that brought them here in the first place, its stand to reason they expect whatever it is they would like done now as complete gratis. (I think that’s the snarl part of that half smile.) But, I can't leave out the ultra-classic use of "Sinchya", "Sinchya worked on my car last, it does this now... and it didn't do it before." Don't even get me started on that one. “Bidaway” – Another classic. “Sinchya” and “Bidaway” go hand in hand. They pretty much mean the same thing, although just like in most languages there are times when certain words that mean the same thing are more appropriate in certain instances. Example; “Bidaway, can I get an oil change while it’s here?” This is usually brought up after the car has been sitting up in the air on a lift waiting on some special part. The part finally comes in, you get it installed, and lower the car to the ground. You’ve kicked the lift supports out of the way, and are about to drive it out to the parking lot when someone from the front desk comes up to the car window and mentions to you that the owner would like an oil change while it’s here. You know, fifteen minutes earlier and this wouldn’t be a problem. Now, I’ve got to crawl down there and reset the lift supports, check the balance, and raise the dang thing back up. And, of course, it would be one of those cars that you have to be sure to put the lift arms in just the right places so that it will raise up level. “I’vBinthinkin” – A very dangerous mechanic conversational word. It has more to do with someone wanting to explain some sort of mechanical or electrical spark of brilliance they have come up with; some miracle that all the engineers in Detroit never thought of. Such as; “I’vBinthinkin, I should run 90 weight oil in my engine, because it’s so thick it would be impossible for it to leak out. It sure would be a lot cheaper than having you change the gaskets.” Can’t argue with that logic now, can I? Depending on how the conversation goes the mechanic may set things straight, or the question asker with their super powered knowledge will be even more determined to try it their way and not take the advice of a mere mortal mechanic. “Ryashur” - Without a doubt the most disturbing word in the mechanic’s vocabulary. Take a long diagnostic problem, one that required several special tools, maybe a scope, probably a scanner, and a whole lot of time going over procedures and wiring diagrams. The car in question has been to several other shops with no concrete answers from anyone. But through diligence and perseverance the mechanic has solved the problem. The customer asks, “Ryashur?” (There’s that quirky smile popping up again.) Now I have to explain the whole thing to someone who doesn’t have a clue. But, I’ll run through each step… step by step. Even after explaining everything in detail and there is still a bewildered look on their face, it’s time to break out the hand puppets, model cars, colored flow charts, and a complete set of Encyclopedia Britannica. (It’s quite a show sometimes.) I’ve only covered a few of the vocabulary words, but there’s plenty more out there. For the young techs, if you don’t know the words, don’t worry, it’s a learn as you go type of language. If you’re ever at a repair shop and you ask the mechanic something, and he hesitates, stares off into the distance, then gets this half grin on his face… you’ve inadvertently used one of those “mechanic” words. Give him a minute… it’s OK, he’ll snap out of it. View full article

Every one that I've ever done this method on I have NOT broken one off. Probably a dozen or so... so far. Now I did break one the very first time I tried it... but, that was my fault. I didn't have the socket seated all the way. It did come out without using the tool but, it did crack it, and it did try to fall apart. If you get the engine warmed up and are "pre-set" up with the needed sockets and extensions you can whip the plugs out rather quickly. The longer you wait the more likely the carbon build up becomes a problem.

An elderly fella was in a hospital room gathering his thoughts as he laid there with a breathing mask on. In walked a young nurse to check up on him. She asked, "Is there anything I can do for you?" Through the breathing mask the young nurse heard, "Yes, are my testicles black?" She was a little shocked, but being the dutiful nurse she was, she lifted the hospital robe and examined the old guys private parts. "No," she said, "They're quite normal in color and very well proportioned I might add. Anything else you'd like me to do?" The old man took a deep breath and pulled the mask away and said with a smile, "Thanks for the complements young lady. Been a long time since a pretty girl noticed,"he grabbed another breath from the mask, "Now, could you find out if my tests results are back?"

Diagnostics MD Ever notice there a lot of medical shows with names like: “Diagnostic Unknown”, “Medical Mystery”, “Untold Stories from the Emergency Room” ?… you know, if I didn’t know any better it sounds like these highly trained doctors are having a tough time diagnosing certain “medical” problems. I can relate to tough diagnostic problems myself. Now, I’m only a mechanic, not a doctor, however in some respects we do the same type of job… that is: diagnose and repair. It’s like the old joke: “What’s the difference between a doctor and a mechanic? Answer: A doctor does his work with the engine still running.” True, but I’ll bet he can’t get his patient to go 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. These days the equivalent technical abilities of a practicing doctor and a mechanic are getting closer and closer than ever before. Granted, I don’t need to learn as much as they need to know, but the concept is basically the same. Even though a technician doesn’t need a degree to repair cars… he might as well have one with the way the automobile has evolved. The one thing I have a real problem with is how the news portrays the automotive repair industry. There’s always some repair shop that has botched a job for a customer on the ten o’clock news. Usually with the customer looking for sympathy, and the news reporter doing his part by showing how fouled up the repair was made. I’m not saying we (the guys and gals in the repair business) don’t make mistakes, but it sounds to me after watching some of these medical shows that doctors can botch a diagnostics up just as easily. The only thing is the repair shop gets the evening news, and the doctor gets a national syndicated television show. Now for the next half hour they explain how some weird medical problem came into the emergency room, and how they eventually solved it. Quite frankly, if there was a show about some of the weird problems that I’ve seen in the automotive repair business, I know I’d sit down and watch that program. You hardly hear a thing on the news about someone getting over charged or falsely diagnosed at the physician’s office. But leave it to an automotive repair shop or body shop… it’ll make the evening news for sure. There are other comparisons to think about. Did you ever notice if a doctor has a problem with a patient they’ll refer them to a specialist? Sounds just like what we do in the auto industry doesn’t it? The big difference is the first doctor is still going to send you a bill. Then again, if we send a job on to a specialist we very seldom get paid for our time that we’ve already invested into the customer vehicle. Maybe if mechanics had an “AD” (Automotive Doctor) at the end of their title things might be different. (Or whatever it would take to be recognized as a professional and not one of those wrench benders, who are only out to take people’s money and do subpar work on a customer’s car. Which, only degrades the entire industry.) I get calls all the time from people wanting to know how much to fix their car. All they want is an over the phone estimate. Since I mainly do electrical repair, rewiring a complete car is nothing new for me, although an estimate is another matter all together. I find it hard to just throw a number out there and be anywhere close to what it is actually going to take. I sometimes think they believe that I should have a “one size fits all” price. The automotive wiring system is far more complex than a single price per foot or length of time that I can give over the phone. I want to know the extent of the “rewire” before giving out any numbers, or I’d like to know a little history about the vehicle, so I can at least get close to something in the way of an estimate. Some of the usual drawbacks are whether or not someone has already worked on it, or it’s completely torn apart already. (That always throws a curve into the estimate.) Now, how does that work if I call a doctor for an estimate? Can there be a price difference between doctors? Should I question him on what he/she is charging based on what the physician down the street is charging? Should I tell the doctor that so-and-so worked on it before? From what I gather it’s an insult to ask a doctor how much a procedure is going to cost other than the cost of an office visit. (Of course, there are those unmentioned fees that seem to always creep up when the final bill comes in) Insult or not, I find it rather amusing that there is such a difference in prices from hospital to hospital and “Joe-public” doesn’t have a clue or seems unconcerned about it before hand or during the “procedures”. Then you get into the issue where “Joe-public” will attempt to repair things themselves. This un-professional approach is probably the same thing a doctor will run across when someone tries to take care of a simple problem, or tries to use the internet to diagnose what they think is wrong with them, only to have it end up as an entirely different problem. However, they still won’t ask the doctor “How much?” Of course when the bill shows up in the mail their chin drops to the floor and gasps at the cost. (I wonder if a doctor has ever had a call from a recent client stating their prices are way too high compared to the last guy they went to.) Maybe it’s a good thing people ask me how much a repair will be. At least then, it’s not as much of a shock to their pocketbook or to their physical health. Human life still outweighs anything in regards to an automobile. It’s a poor comparison to even suggest any kind of comparison. It’s not really the “human” side of it that I’m trying to compare; it’s the dollars spent, and how each and every one of us tend to be misled by pain and suffering vs. cost and contentment. I’ve got to hand it to the medical profession, insurance companies and the like. They’ve all manage to make a buck on everyone who’s in the need of repair. Too bad we couldn’t get the same kind of coverage on a car. I’m not talking about extended warranties, or some aftermarket company that covers certain aspects of auto repair. I’m talking about a real health insurance policy for the car. I doubt too many people would call me up asking for prices on repairs then. I’d bet the caller on the phone would most likely say, “It’s covered. I’ve got great insurance… just get it done.” View full article

I hear this complaint a lot. Being mainly an electrical repair shop it's hard to give an estimate on chasing a wire short or a draw based on, "My brother in-law is a mechanic." type response. I get at least one person a week who doesn't like the cost of diagnostics. I tell them about the same thing Joe told this last guy. The big difference is the dealership DOES charge for a diagnostic fee, although some of them will hide the cost and not mention it at the beginning. But, you know... they'll get it.

always second guess the first opinion of the problem if you're the second opinion. In other words... I don't give out my opinion of a problem...EVER. I've had people come directly into the shop and ask about a certian repair (and they're not regular customers) I won't tell them a thing. All I'll say is bring it in and I'll check it out. The usual responce is, "But, you're Gonzo, everybody knows you already know what is wrong with. That's how I got here... I was sent by another shop." My answer is, well let me do my job. I'm not here to take a test on whether or not my guess is right and furthermore... I don't make a dime at guessing. You'll have to pay for my time. That usually ends it... and I never see them again. I'd rather do (or say) nothing than I would do (or say) something and get nothing. Sorry folks... the almighty dollar RULES!