I hate mechanics sometimes. Especially the shiny happy people who use pneumatic E36 M3 for everything. I tryed to change the oil in my gf's Saturn Vue (Simple job right?). Apparently the berkeley hole who did it before tightened it to Jesus. After breaking a rachet and a wrench, I had to take it into a shop and have them get the thing out and they ended up having to replace plug because it was stripped.
/ rant
You hate quick lube techs, not mechanics. I don't know of a mechanic that dumb.
Been there, dude, don't admire your situation.
The thing is it was taken to a full service shop.
I hate mechanics who over tighten stuff, and most do it.
At least you got away with only a stripped plug. On my Acura, they stripped out the pan as well... and then replaced the plug with a rubber expanding type...
Bastards. I hate 'em too! The last one I had twisted my lugs so bad I verbally brought him to his knees, he looked like he was gonna cry.
He quit.
Year later when I'm suffering from an impacted molar, out of town, guess who the dentist was. 
That was a joke.
914Driver wrote: That was a joke.
You realize if you have to explain that it was a joke............you might have been wrong about the "joke" part.
I once had a dealership strip the lug nuts on my dakota... and then claim them on the invoice (under warranty).
Lesley, that may be the very first time I have ever felt sorry for the Chrysler Corporation, at least in regard to something they didn't manage to inflict on themselves.
I almost always change my own oil. This past summer I had the wife take her car to the Toyota dealer for an oil change. Went to change the oil the other day and damn near could not get the drain plug out. I thought it was stripped but I guess its OK.
yep...worst at the repair shop is electrics...had a bunch of stuff blow when a friend accidentally had put power to ground on my HVAC blower. Go to turn on the heat and poof...instant lump of nonmoving automobile. They estimated like $700 to get it fixed at a chain garage. I asked why so high? He listed out the parts it needed (mostly inline fuses and relays etc etc).it was like $400 worth of parts. I priced em out on my own and was able to get it all, in stock, same day, for less than $100. I had to wait 3 days for the garages supplier to get everything. When I told the dolt at the counter that I would be able to save myself $300 and 2 days of not working (pizza delivery guy), the told me they would only use their suppliers stuff because they cant provide a warranty for some other places parts.
When I got the call to come pick up my car, I went into the service area to inspect the work. I looked at the boxes that were in the trash bin at the bay my car was in...most were from the places I called. Bastards marked up 400% on parts. I never went back. That place is now dying...AVOID OHIO FIRESTONE GARAGES LIKE THE PLAGUE!!!!!!!!!!!11!1
One word guys: Fumoto
oldopelguy wrote: One word guys: Fumoto
I have always had my doubts about them, you use it?
So this is pretty self-serving (I part-own a two-man shop with my brother, I have never taken an impact to a drain plug), but maybe you all don't have good luck with dealerships and the big chains because they have enough marketing and name recognition not to worry about pissing off a few customers here and there. I suggest you ask around (local club members, any blue-collar-ish old dudes you know) and find an independent shop with a good reputation. The guys at Mel's garage or Rich's Auto Service either are or work directly for the owner and these guys can't afford the advertising blitz to paper over a bad local reputation.
I'm curious about fumoto experiences too, isn't it super vulnerable? I feel like I'd break one off on roadkill or something.
Down with the mechanics! Run them out on a rail!
I make my living maintaining and occasionally fixing cars, I am a mechanic. About once a month I see other mechanics mistakes, based on these mistakes I have divided the mechanics of the world into three classes:
I've had Fumoto's on most of my cars. Probably 200,000 miles all together. I've never had a problem. On the Legacy and the Brat, I've been off road in the Jersey Pine Barrens dragging them through the sand.
I've had about a dozen of them on various cars, trucks, motorcycles, and tractors over the years. The ones without nipples only stick out about 5/8 of an inch. I submit that if your pan is that close to something then it's the least of your concerns. Very few cars don't have something in the suspension hanging lower in front of the pan, and most of the old ones have plugs on the side of the pan instead of the bottom anyway.
Well, I'm a resto shop mechanic.
I fix other guys screwups all day long.
Don't say you hate mechanics, say you hate hacks because that's all these guys are.
Shawn
they like to be called "Technicians" these days..
novaderrik wrote: they like to be called "Technicians" these days..
who ? the hacks or the mechanics ?
As a former professional mechanic*, I object to the interchangeability of the term 'technician' - the latter, to me, connotes a parts replacer, somebody who just turns wrenches. Which is often applicable, don't get me wrong.
But 'mechanic' goes hand-in-hand with 'diagnostician' in my mind.
Kinda like 'cook' vs. 'chef' in my line of work, but that's a whole 'nother can of worms.
*I still consider myself a mechanic. I just get to work slower now, and on my own stuff.
alex wrote: As a former professional mechanic*, I object to the interchangeability of the term 'technician' - the latter, to me, connotes a parts replacer, somebody who just turns wrenches. Which is often applicable, don't get me wrong. But 'mechanic' goes hand-in-hand with 'diagnostician' in my mind. Kinda like 'cook' vs. 'chef' in my line of work, but that's a whole 'nother can of worms. *I still consider myself a mechanic. I just get to work slower now, and on my own stuff.
+1, QFT.
Ranger50 wrote:alex wrote: As a former professional mechanic*, I object to the interchangeability of the term 'technician' - the latter, to me, connotes a parts replacer, somebody who just turns wrenches. Which is often applicable, don't get me wrong. But 'mechanic' goes hand-in-hand with 'diagnostician' in my mind. Kinda like 'cook' vs. 'chef' in my line of work, but that's a whole 'nother can of worms. *I still consider myself a mechanic. I just get to work slower now, and on my own stuff.+1, QFT.
+2
I have a friend who is a mechanic aka a parts changer. when it gets more complex than that he calls me for help. OTOH I can't wrench on a car worth a squat, but I can sure as heck diagnose them or at least guide someone with better hand skills on how to do it.
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