Gonzo

Glad I could make your day better. Have a Great Day!

I had to hold the article to no more than 1200 words. Had to really cut it down. I had a 6 hour wait at the airport so I did the whole thing sitting in the terminal. First time I tried to concentrate on an article with all that commotion going on.

My wife said she liked this story....cause I wasn't bitchin' I don't know how it happened cause I'm always bitchin' about somethin'

The storm was big news when I was in Florida last week. didn't see a bit of snow, imagine that. LOL

The MACS (Mobile Air Conditioning Society convention was held in Orlando Florida this year. Big turn out as always. Each year I'm asked to write for their magazine (ACtion) and this year was no exception. My coverage this year was on the heavy duty (Semi and RV) and Mining equipment section. I have a very strict word limit each year and this one was a toughy. 8 Instructors, 8 hours of classes and a 1200 word limit. Believe me, 1200 words goes fast. So I really...REALLY...had to nip this one down a lot. Here's the link to the unedited version on my website. Read it and I sure would like to hear some feed back if you think there is enough "overview" of the subject lines in the article. (Friggin hard to put it all in... geez...these editors can make it tough on a guy) http://www.gonzostoolbox.com/KnowledgeFolder/MACS2013.html

Have a Great Day I've seen mechanics, service writers, (and me) get upset over the stupidest things. Everything from each other, customers, the wrong parts showing up, stubborn bolts that won't turn,to "Who used the A/C recovery machine last and didn't bother to fill it backup?!" Things happen, and sometimes we should just let it go, and not let it raise our blood pressure to the boiling point. Sometimes it's best to remember those days when every repair and every customer situation went off without a hitch, and to remind ourselves there is a lot more of days like this than we care to admit. But, like a lot of hardened veterans of the wrench world we tend to see nothing but the gloomy side of the repair business. It's the car problems,or a few goofy explanations about those problems, and then we have to sort the mall out with logical explanations. This usually puts us (mechanics) in a mood where we tend to believe everyone around us must either be incompetent or lacks trust in our abilities. I wouldn't doubt that police officers,paramedics, or firemen develop a certain attitude when confronting the next traffic situation, drug dealer, or burning building. It's part of the make-up of the job. Not that anyone ever started out in their profession that way; it's something we all developed after years of experiences from countless situations. Sometimes, it's a good idea to just take a step back, no matter what's going on, and just have a great day. Put a smile on that old mug and say thank you and good morning to everyone you meet. Take the time to say, "Hi, how are ya?" to the mail person, the guy in the next bay and so on. Maybe it's the little extra time you take to say, "And, how are you?" back to the teller at the bank drive up window when they greet you with their customary introduction. Maybe spreading some of that old fashion common courtesy would be in order too. Opening the car door for the Mrs. or rushing to the restaurant door only to hold it open for the couple behind you. Some of us do all that and more without even thinking about it. But, there are many of us who need to be reminded about it. I fall in that category of; "needs to be reminded" more often than I'd care to admit. At times I do, and other times, I wish I would have thought to be more courteous before going on my own thoughtless way. There are days at the shop when all the money in the world doesn't add up to the joy of doing a good job and the admiration from the customer. If I had to put it in other terms, it would be like an actor on stage. They do their craft for the applause at the end of their performance. That simple act of acknowledging a job well done makes all the difference in the world to them. Similar acknowledgments do happen at the automotive service counter as well just not in the same way. At least I haven't had a customer stand there and applaud over an oil change… yet, but they do show their appreciation in other ways, and quite often. Over the years I've witnessed some of the generosity people have for their automotive repair person firsthand. From cookies and cakes brought in by an appreciative customer, to showing up announced just to say Hi. Once in a while it's tickets to a ball game,and others it's something they know I would probably would be interested in. I've even had a customer come in and present me with a handmade ball point pen. (Really cool pen by the way) and I've had an older gentleman bring my wife's flowers on her birthday. (Thanks for the reminder... I almost forgot that year.) Ya just never know, obviously, we do touch our customer's personal lives with our efforts. And for that we should all be grateful. It's not the kind of thing you think of when you make the decision to go into the automotive repair business. It's something that happens because you are doing a good job in business and touching so many lives. Great customers are like my extended family,and I'm glad to call them a part of it. Maybe as the shop owner, the technician, or the service writer, maybe,we should all stop what we're doing and applaud our customers. They're the real stars of our world. So, no matter the faults or misconceptions of car care, it's a good thing to be a part of it. Because, like a lot of us in the business of fixing cars even though we may not outwardly show it, we really do care. Yes, we need your business and your support;we appreciate it even though we may forget to say so. Sometimes we all need to be reminded of not what we do, but how much what we do effects everyone around us. So if you haven't already, now is a good time to start... mechanics, technicians, and everyone else out there.... Have A Great Day. View full article

Well put Spence, and I do think you're right about the customer choosing that particular shop because of costs or other "dollar" reasons. Quality went out the window on both sides, customer and repair shop.

good idea

It's not my habit to write "ticked-off" stories, but this was something that I thought needed to be told. We all talk about those unscrupulous shops and how the customer gets taken by one of them, well... this time it was the other way around.... I thought it was time to put it in writing that not only the consumer has to be aware... but so do other repair shops when dealing these kinds of idiots. I would expect a professional to act professional...but, I guess that's just too much to ask for from some people.

Be Professional The definition as Wikipedia describes it: "A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialized set of tasks,and to complete them for a fee." That's true, and "professions" are associated with some sort of recognition that quantifies them as a professional, such as a diploma, certificate, or degree. In the automotive field an ASE certification, manufacturer certifications, or years of service are just some of the ways to distinguish one as a pro vs. a parts swapping wanna-be mechanic. But the mere fact of calling oneself a professional doesn't always add up to the degree or certificate that says you are one. In my opinion, handling yourself as a professional matters just as much. I try to approach each and every job as a professional. These include detailing your results and striving to make each repair look as neat and orderly as possible. (Sloppy work usually means sloppy results.) It doesn't matter whether the job is for a customer off the street or for another repair shop… you do the best professional job possible. I recently got a car from a small motor swap shop that I used to see once in a great while. They never sent a lot of work, but their techs would call me constantly asking for information on how to repair something. Very rude, and definitely a second rate repair shop. Grudgingly, I told them I would look at this car, even though it didn't sound like one I wanted to deal with. The car had a zillion miles on it with a turbo/intercooler engine under the hood. The car definitely had seen better days, however this was the typical type of car they were likely to get in their shop. Under the hood I found a lot of new parts slapped on and several things out of place,most of which were not fastened down correctly with their retainers or clips. What wasn't broken or out of place was coated with oil sludge and dirt. You could tell they had no idea what was wrong or what they were doing, and were only throwing parts at it hoping it would start. The first thing I found were several wires that were poorly spliced together, and most of the relays were dangling off their brackets. I had to fix the wires even before I could check the rest of the systems. The main complaint was the fuel pump wasn't coming on. They had already changed out the fuel pump relay, and even though (at the relay) it had all the correct signals, it refused to cooperate. What I found was something I rarely see, but it does happen… the relay was built backwards. For now, the easiest solution was to reverse the leads at the relay. Once I switched it over, the car started. It ran terrible, service light was flashing,and a misfire code was stored. Upon further diagnosing, I found a broken wire at the no#1 coil. The front cylinders were a little easier to get to, but the no#1 cyl. was in the back,covered by all the intercooler and intake tubes. I had the O Scope hooked up to a pressure transducer, and it was showing some weird exhaust pressure readings. Sure enough, a compression test on one of the front cylinders confirmed my suspicion: the converter was clogged as well. I wasn't surprised that the sparkplugs were, at best... finger tight, and every single intake bolt, intercooler bolt, and fasteners had never been properly tightened. Instead of pulling the intake section and intercooler lines off to get to the no#1 cylinder and fix the wire, I thought it's time to call these guys and give them the news. "We can handle it from here," they told me. They paid for my time, and as expected it wasn't long before they needed more help. They had already fixed the wire on the coil and replaced the converter.It started, but died shortly after that. They were at a loss, so naturally I got a call. I could tell there was already some tension from their end of the phone, and I was going to be the scapegoat for this car's demise. "I'd check the fuel pressure... sounds like that might be part of the original problem, before all this other stuff went wrong," I told him before he rudely hung the phone up. I went over my test results again. My guess is they probably broke the wires while changing the plugs, and only made things worse by changing the relays. More than likely the fuel pump was the original problem all along, with a slightly clogged converter. I always thought these guys were a little shifty, and it wasn't long before I found out for sure. Their tech needed to save face with the boss,so he proceeded to tell him I didn't know what I was doing, and never did anything to help the repair along. The owner turned out to be just as unprofessional as his hired hands. What was my clue? He stopped payment on the check. You bet I was furious... but, let's cool down a bit and not stoop to their level… let's be professional about this. I kept my cool and called them, "I'm not here to lie, cheat or steal...and I've never-ever done that to you or anyone else. I'm here to do a job… a job I do with the utmost of care. Your lack of handling things in a professional manner only shows me what caliber of a person you really are. If you had a problem, call me or bring the car back. But trying to save a few bucks on your part after the efforts I put in this is uncalled for. I don't want your money. I also don't want your techs calling me to pick my brain for answers. It's not about the money now, it's about the principle." I said my peace, and hung up the phone…case closed. Shops like these give the rest of us a bad name. They'll deny everything, charge for anything, and never do any service on a customer's car in a professional manner. I could tell they expected an argument once they realized who was on the other end of the line, but they weren't expecting the response I gave them. It's as if they hada lot of practice arguing with customers over repairs… I'm not arguing… Actually, I felt a hundred percent better after handling it this way. I didn't see any reason to stand there toe to toe, and try to get compensated for my professional time. My professionalism means more to me than a few bucks. Let's face it, for a repair shop to insult another shop, especially when they couldn't figure it out shows their true nature. The Wikipedia definition of a professional needs some clarification. It should have included not only doing a task or job for compensation… but acting like one after you've written the check. Who loses out with these poor repairs done by mechanics who only know how to swap parts? …unfortunately, the customer. View full article

Thanks. I've spliced wire this way for so long I think I could do it blindfolded....ROFL. It's very affective when doing an entire harness from a body shop or when all the wires are cut off even with each other. You can patch a harness without any buldge in the loom. It really looks like you didn't do anything when it's done right. An extra tip... If you are working with an old car and the customer wants to use only factory wire try this. Go back into the good section of the harness and cut out a section of wire equal to what will be showing outside of the taped loom or split loom area. Now splice in any color you have.... then... use the factory color at the end that will be exposed. Looking at the finished job no one will know that there is a different color inside the split loom or taped section.... all they see is the factory color at the exposed ends. Neat trick and saves trying to find "striped wire" or some odd color.

It's actually pretty easy to do with a little practice. I show this to every class I teach, and every employee has to learn how to do this before I'll let them loose on a rewire job.

http://www.autocarepro.com/Article/109599/electrical_hand_wire_splicing_for_sensitive_connections.aspx

Heard the ball bearing story before... several times actually. I never knew it was the real deal. LOL Sounds like a whole lot of fun to find.

The law of age, gravity, and common sense says; "Are Ya Freakin' Nuts???" The ability to understand stupid comes with age. You learn that gravity rules and common sense prevails.

Can't wait to hear what weird noises and results everyone else has run into. LOL

Knock-Knock– Who's There? Trying to find odd noises, squeaks, rattles, and groans on a moving vehicle can be absolutely frustrating. There are several different methods you can use to find these noises, and even more bizarre results of those noises. Some mechanics prefer the old "bounce on the bumper" and listen for the squeak method. Others opt for the sophisticated microphones that can be placed anywhere on the car, then the tech listens to a recording, or live while driving the car. But, it never hurts to have a helping hand(ear) along for the ride, while you drive and they listen. Nowadays, most mechanics use a stethoscope made especially for the automotive field, but I'll still grab an old screwdriver first... just a habit I guess, you know, old school stuff. Holding the tip against the engine and the handle against your ear will still work just as well as some of those modern devices. Sometimes a light tap with a small hammer can help find the source, or swinging a door open and closed will give you a clue,whatever seems appropriate. It's the creativeness and ingenuity of the diagnostic mechanic to find these bothersome unwanted clicks, rattles, and squeaks that still amazes me. One of my all-time favorite noise safari adventures was on a car that had a tap-tap, knock-knock sound which would come and go. It was from an old customer who just picked up a sweet deal on a used car. As usual, those sweet deals usually involve some wacky problem that no one has solved yet. He said he couldn't reproduce the sound because he was never sure what was causing it. Now it was my chance to try and find the source of this annoying noise. Ok, sure why not, I'm up for a challenge; it's been a while since I've had to trace out a strange noise. Besides, the shop was a bit slow, and I had the extra time to spend on it. "The previous owner had it at several shops, and nobody has even come close to finding it," the owner told me, "and I don't want to start throwing parts at it, unless you're pretty sure it's going to fix it." I'm not one to just slap parts on a car anyway, so at least the owner and I are on the same page. Looks like it's time for a test drive around the block. Maybe a couple of times around the shop will do the trick, and see if I can recreate this unwanted sound. I went around and around...and around… nothing, not a sound, no creaks,no groans, no tap-tap, and no knock-knock coming from the car. The owner decided to leave the car with me for a few days so I could drive it off and on, hoping after a few more test drives I might have an idea. After numerous trips I did manage to find a way to create the tap-tap, knock-knock sound. You needed to be almost through a 90 degree turn, with a slight bump during the turn, and be slightly heavy on the throttle. It wasn't easy and the conditions had to be just right, but I was able to repeat the noise almost every time. Just to be sure, I had the owner come along with me to verify this was the exact noise he was hearing. "That's it!" the owner of the car said enthusiastically, "What do you think it is?" "I don't have any idea, yet. But now that I can reproduce it, I have a wayto narrow it down to the source," I told him. Another day went by, test drive after test drive, up and down off the lift, flashlights beaming in every direction under the car, still nothing. It just didn't add up. Ok, it's about time to start getting creative. One of the guys in the shop volunteered to be a live hood ornament. (Good, cause I ain't doing it…) He would hang out the window while I juiced the gas pedal and sped around a corner. (Talk about strange diagnostic efforts, but ya gotta do… what ya gotta do.) I'm glad we didn't have any cops close by. There's no doubt this was an entirely unsafe way of finding the noise. First, we tried hanging out the passenger window, then the rear windows, but that didn't work. He wanted to hang on to the hood and try it,but I had to draw the line on that one; that's just a bit too far on the dangerous side. So instead he sat on the driver's window sill with his feet in my lap, while holding onto the top of the door and leaning forward towards the front bumper. I set the car in motion, hanging onto his belt... "Here we go....!" I yelled out. As we rounded the corner I gave it the gas. With the engine rev'd up, and him hanging on for dear life, the knock-knock-tap-tap was unmistakable. He shouted, "I got it! It's right here, it's on this side and behind the tire!" We drove back to the shop (with him back in the car of course), excited that we narrowed it down to one location. After a bit more head scratching we both decided it had to be coming from the inside of the fender area. Now it's time to see (who's) what's there. When we took the inner fender down there was a lot more in there than we expected to find. Bolted to the fender support bracket and hanging from a nylon string was a large nut, along with a message written on the inside of the fender. The message read, "Ha, Ha, how long did it take you to find me?" Yea, we found the noise alright. Looks like some wise cracking bodyman is having a little fun with us. Hmm, let me think about this… several drive tests later, one guy with his butt hanging out the window, while I have a hold of his belt, and gunning the engine on a hair pin curve… Oh yea… real F?#@?FUNNY! I've heard rumors that somebody tried this on a car while it was on the assembly line, but I kind of doubt that actually happened. There are too many inspectors and too many people around who would probably notice it. But, I could see it happening at a body shop. I guess it was my turn to be the recipient of this old practical joke. These days when it comes to finding squeaks, clicks, knocks, and other strange noises you can bet I'll look behind the inner fenders. Ya got me once… but not twice. You can call me paranoid, you can call me cautious, call it what you want... I call it practical experience, and that ain't no joke. View full article

If there is a shop owner who hasn't had this happen... they're not telling you the truth. Because it has. Defiantly seek legal council (attorney) in your state that you trust is the first thing to do. Laws change and knowing what is legal is important. Find out what your legal issues are with the car, the owner, the storage, the police, and the tow company. Here in Oklahoma, I can file a lien on the car after it has been in my possession for thirty days. I then file a claim on the car through the proper channels. I include the original work order, dates and times that I've tried to contact them, the last known address, phone, etc... including any tow fees, storage fees,etc...(I charge 30 dollars a day storage) Our storage fees start after three working days of completion on the job. Oklahoma does not require a pre-work signature for approval. But your state might. If so... did ya get one? It takes another 30 days or so to get the release for the title. After that, I decide whether to scrap it, or sell it... as is. Right in front of the shop, AND... I call the customer one last time to tell them that they can buy their car back if they'd like to come down to the shop. LOL... they never do... but I sure like rubbin' it in. LOL It happens, in fact I've got one right now that I'm about to file on. Crazy ain't it... they buy a car, they drive it... and then leave it... I guess hard times and bad decisions go hand in hand.