A little rant on auto service work

I brought our old Chrysler Minivan (2002) into a local independent garage for an oil change. First time I had been there since they opened up about a year ago.
They had advertised an oil change special for 17.77. Anyway I made an appointment for 8 AM and still had to wait a half hour to get it in. Then it took about an hour. I asked the desk guy what the holdup was and he said we also do a free 32 point check on the car.
The desk guy finally comes up to me in the waiting area and said there are a few things that should be taken care of right of way. Your air filter is dirty, your serpentine belt has cracks, you have a loose tie rod, the transmission fluid should be changed, you need new wiper blades, and your rear tires measure 5/32 in.
So this low cost oil change was just a way to sell you on other services. I do most of my own maintenance and know I just changed the belt and one of the rear tires was new in Aug. as we had a flat that was unrepairable. I had the front end aligned at the same time and they did not mention the tie rod. Also the trans fluid was changed less than a year ago. This led me to believe everything he said was bogus. I decline their offer to fix everything for a little over $700.
Then as I drove home, the check engine light came on. I read the code when I got home and found it was P0113 which reads intake air sensor high voltage. I found they had broken off the connector at the intake air sensor when they had checked out the air filter and also broken the hard plastic vacuum line to the erg valve. I fixed both by hard wiring the sensor and patching the vacuum line with a rubber vacuum hose. The light went out and has stayed off.
I wonder how many people they take by pressuring you to fix things that don?t need fixing or breaking things so you will come back.

Well, at least you have figured out how things work at the stealerships!

Takes a LOT of $$$ to keep them fancy places all brightly lit and shined up and the help payed!

When each of my daughters got their license and/or car, I showed them all the things they needed to do in order to maintain it. I knew they wouldn't be doing their own oil changes so when they went for their first oil change to a quick lube place, I told them "Here's a coupon, just get the oil change. Don't let them do anything else. Even if they tell you the car will BLOW UP when you drive away, don't buy ANYTHING ELSE". Sure enough, each one had the tech try to sell them air filters, oil flush, transmission flush, radiator flush, belt, etc. One daughter DID have a tech warn her the car could BLOW UP. :lol:

I must tell you most shops do not have people who are meachanics. Even Wal mart down here where I live they have very ffew trained Meachanics. They train a person just by watching them how to change oil and hope hey do it right. I use to do side work on Automobiles but I was trained threw schools just to do that work. I do like these places because there not trained right for the job there doing. That is just my way of thinking.

yeah - similar experience here. I put one of my old beater cars back on the road - I decided not to fix an exhaust leak myself, I usually never pay to have work done, but it was too cold for me to bother with it.

They kept the car overnight "going through it".

I kept telling them I didn't want to spend any money on it, I just wanted the exhaust work done.

Got a loooong list of recommended fixes - totalling over $3000 for this $1000 car.

Told them no thanks, JUST DO THE EXHAUST.

If they want to waste their time like that - nothing I can do about it. But they kept pressuring me - which put me in an uncomfortable spot where I had to get a little rude about it.

JUST DO TH E)#(*$#$ exhaust work, that's ALL I want.

The real downside is, I finally got the car home - they did a good job with the exhaust - I looked at their detailed list of recommendations, and got a false sense of security that they checked over everything pretty well - it was such a detailed list of obscure things...

I drove the car a while - fixing items I thought were important - I never thought to check the transmission fluid.

The transmission started slipping one day - and progressively got worse over a 10 mile trip. Midway I checked the fluid - it was like black sand.

I don't think that just happened in 5 miles of light driving.

Not that I think they're at fault for it - but you'd think they'd have caught THAT instead of all the minor insignificant parts they checked out. By the crud on the trans dipstick cap, I could tell they never pulled it out.

Glad I didn't pay the 3 grand, just to have the transmission die!

I trained working for old Germans. I was taught that an oil change is not profitable, but is an opportunity to sell the customer the work they need. Not the work they don't. Apparently stores like Big O, Firestone, Midas, Walmart, etc. never got the memo. If they don't strip your oil pan threads or use a pipe wrench on the plug, oil change specialists are a cheap way to go, but dont swallow the hype, and at least every third oil change go to a mechanic you trust.

I was at napa last week when one of the workers from the local quick change oil place came in an bought a big box of self tapping oil plugs.

I had tires put on once and the installer stripped one of the studs and tried to tell me it was like that when I drove in. He looked real convincing while he explained it with a cigarette dangling between his lips. Another thing I like is how they tell you need to new tire valves every time. Or they fill your tires with 'nitrogen' and charge you without asking.

Truer words were never written Soder!
We took our Jeep Liberty in for some service work and they said the transfer case was leaking. They talked me into letting them install a new gasket. After we got it home, then we noticed big oil drips on the concrete garage floor. We took it back and they said the power steering unit was leaking. I let them put another pump and hoses on the vehicle. That didn't stop the oil leak. I noticed that when I had it backed out in the driveway and idling the oil was spilling out. They must have knocked the oil pressure unit loose when doing all their other 'repairs'. I fixed it myself. I just don't trust them anymore.

My wife took her Chrysler minivan to our local NAPA store and shop to get an oil change. The owner, whom I've known for years, came out and told her both of her outer tie rod ends were loose and needed replacing and all four tires were down to the wear bars.

He presented her with an estimate for some $1300 for a new set of Michelin tires, mounted and balanced, outer tie rods replaced and a four wheel alignment, etc. He almost had my wife wondering if the van was safe to drive home. When she got home, I put my wear depth gauge on the tires and the worst I could find was 55%, put the van up on jacks and checked the tie rods, which were both as tight as the day they left the factory. The whole thing was a total scam.

I never did figure out why he tried to pull it on my wife. I've known the guy for years, and over half of his guys in his shop have worked for me in other circumstances. Plus, he should have known my wife would never agree to something like that without having me check it out.

None of it added up, but I guess if you try often enough, someone will bite.

Don't forget the "vehicle safety inspection" at least here in MO. That is another spot for them to try getting in your pocket. I have had more than one vehicle fail inspection for trivial things. The last one was a cracked windshield. The crack was not in field of vision at all, but inspector would not have it, and failed the truck. I drove down the road and purposely asked this guy if he would pass it before I drove into his shop as I did not want to waste his time. Without looking he asked where the crack was, and told me to bring it in, as there was no reason to fail it. Not sure why the first guy had an issue unless he was planning on referring me to someone who replaced windshields and he would get a piece of the action.

I wonder if there is a business opportunity here? Start a business that does auto inspections only. Tells you what is wrong and what it should cost to fix. You could also offer the service as a second opinion when someone gets a list from their mechanic. Sort of like renting a father or big brother who is mechanically inclined when you don't have one.

Years ago my Daughters started driving, I got them a couple of used Toronados. I figured if they wrecked, they wouldn't get hurt. Anyway I got them fixed up and The older one said her car's front end was shaking. I had put new CV joints on it a few months earlier and knew all the joints were good. Told her to take it to the tire shop in town and get a lineup down. She called back and said she needed all new tires on it. Put the guy on the phone and asked him why it need new tires. He said it needed new tires before he could line it up. I said tell my Daughter to come back home as he already knew where to put his new tires. Send her to a garage by the lake and they lined it up and laughed when she told them what happened.

(quoted from post at 12:01:59 12/14/15) I wonder if there is a business opportunity here? Start a business that does auto inspections only. Tells you what is wrong and what it should cost to fix. You could also offer the service as a second opinion when someone gets a list from their mechanic. Sort of like renting a father or big brother who is mechanically inclined when you don't have one.

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Years ago, there was an outfit called "Lemon Busters". They only did inspections- no repairs. They had no interest in trying to sell you things you didn't need. The inspector was an old timey mechanic who would give you a heads-up on things that would need attention down the road, but weren't an immediate problem. Haven't seen them in years. Are they still around?

Sometimes its a judgement call or interruption. I have seen tires passed that I would not put on a wheelbarrow.

agree. MO tried get rid of inspections, but failed and we still have to waste our time and $$ on it. I say this because like you, I have seen vehicles pass that should not be on the road, yet others fail over trivial things that are perfectly safe. It is all about the $$, and in some cases once they get you in the door, an opportunity to sell you something. I have had them try to fail me over a drain hole in a muffler that was in a factory muffler. Next it was grooves in brake rotors and the rotors were grooved from the factory. He swore the brakes were gone, until he looked and it had new pads on it, so he had little choice but pass it. Total waste of time in my opinion, and just a nuisance.

They had a diagnostic place like that when we moved to AZ. They charged a flat fee for their diagnosis and did not sell parts or refer you to any repair shop. If you were mechanically inclined, you could repair what they said and save a lot of money.

A bunch of area dealers bought out the franchise and promptly closed it. They still hold the franchise so no one can start another. Just happened to drive by where that place was; it is now office space.

Duane, in Texas they tried an inspection only chain of shops. There was going to be one or more per county, depending on the population. That is a LOT of shops!

It was funded by the state, huge pork barrel fiasco!

This was back when they first started emissions inspections, when every vehicle was put on the dyno with a probe up the pipe. The complaints were pouring in! Damaged vehicles from coming off the dyno, people getting hurt. But mostly from dishonest shops failing vehicles that were good, and passing ones that should fail for an extra fee.

The whole project was canceled after wasting a few million tax dollars. Once OBD2 came out it mostly settled down, that and strict enforcement of inspection shops, including sending bait cars in at random, driven by DPS agents!

My wife takes her car to a major tire dealer to get the oil changed. They always find other things that need repaired. On her copy it is printed "husband will fix". The last time the salesman told her if it was to cold or I didn't want to do it call for an appointment.

Here in pa the shop doing the inspection can actually have liability if there is an accident and they missed something doing the inspection. jstpa

Our local Toyota/Honda dealer has it down to a science, if you bring a car in for a warranty claim they won't look at it unless you agree to pay a 100 dollar "diagnostic" fee, because "they have to be paid for their time if it's not covered under warranty" While they have your car they will go through and check every light bulb, tire, filter and fluid. You will get a recommendation for the ever popular cooling or transmission flush or what ever scam bogus service they have a quota on that month and if you don't bite your warranty claim gets denied.

I have both of our vehicles serviced at the dealers and have never experienced what you guys have. Both Chevy and Ford. I had my F150 at the dealer last week for an oil change and tire rotation. They do their 42 point inspection as part the the deal. They call it "The Works". They said the brakes are getting a little thin and should to be replaced sometime within the next year. So my son and I do the work next summer. No arm twisting or high pressure. I've found the biggest scam artists are the independent repair shops.

I read all of these horror stories. All I can say is I am so lucky to live where I do, in a small town where we have several auto shops we can trust. The place that does most of my work is family owned and run. I have known them many years. The other shop is also run and owned by a family, the original owner was a machinest at the local NAPA dealer old time trained. His wife runs the office and the son is taking over in time. By the way they are brothers in law. Another shop just outside of town I have recomended .
yes last week I wrote a big ckeck to fix my truck, but I know the shop will stand behind the repair.
We had 2 good tire shops where you could get any tire from a 4 inch lawnmower tire to a CAT loader tire. Unfortunaly , one burned down last week something like 700 tires, one heck-of-a fire. I believe he will be open at another location very soon.
Yes lucky to live where I do.. joe

My neighbors coolant gauge on his Ford Tarus would peg out, but the car never overheated or lost antifreeze. He took it to his garage guy who diagnosed it as a bad instrument cluster and advised him to take it to the Ford dealer as he didn't want to deal with the odometer certification. Neighbor took the car to the dealer and told the service manager what his garage guy said. Two days later Ford dealer calls neighbor that the water pump was the problem and while they had it apart that the timing case cover was cracked and needed to be replaced along with thermostat and belts. The neighbor picked up the car and before he got it home the coolant gauge pegged. He took the car back the next day. This time dealer called and said they found the problem and it was a bad wire. He again picked it up and again the gauge pegged. Again he took it back and the dealer replaced the instrument cluster and all was well.
Neighbor then went to the top manager at the dealership and said if the service manager and the techs didn't know how to diagnose a problem, he should not have to pay for all the mistakes thay made and the manager agreed and wrote him a check for $500.00

As far as replacing valve stems every time you get new tires, it is insane not to do it. No tire warentee will cover some clown not allowing the tire tech to replace them. Been there done it. As far as the guy buying a box of self tapping oil drain plugs, I can understand that. You should have seen some of the stuff I was brought to change oil in. Totally cheep idiots think the only thing they need to change oil is a pair of pliers or totally worn out vicegrips that were uncle Bert's and "I just can't get rid of them." I've had to take oil pans off new Dodge mini vans because the new owner was to darn cheep to spend less than 20.00 to have a professional take care of it. Dodge was spot welding a nut inside the oil pan that the drain plug screwed into. They would cross thread the drain and the single spot weld would break. We dropped many of them, had new nuts spotwelded into the pan. I have many more true stories I could post here. We only did oil changes and tires. Anyone who believes you cannot make money changing oil does not know what they are talking about. We did it for 22years, the shop is still doing them, I just had the oil changed in the van today. Still costs 22.00 useing Valvoline oil.

They probably got sued out of business by a big dealership or chain service stores that claimed they were sabotaging their business. They can tie you up in court even tho they know they are wrong but you will raise white flag first. They already retain lawers don't cost mush more to use them.

You took the bait what did you expect... It does happen a local shop was bad for this. A very good bud of mine took the bait they had him so scared to drive it away he called me to tow it away from there lot... What the other guy said about being liable for what you miss are not looking at is true as far as safety items... Lawyers :evil:

A good shop that charges for there work does not have to use hook and bait to look for work...

Yes to it all and the same customer that won't buy the valve stems is the same one crying like a baby when he's got a leaker in a couple months.

YEp they do try and get into you knickers . Took the War Dept.'s Durango over to the goat dealer to have and alignment done had it set to go in Monday morning first thing . So Sunday i took it down to my buddy's and he and i put it up on stands and i did and oil change , new air filter new plugs cap rotor and wires . Got the dial indicator out and checked the ball joints tie rods upper A arm bushings and found nothing so it was good to go for the alignment . Monday morning i am stting in front of the door when everybody gets there , I know the service manager and he knows me he is on the phone and i walk up to the service desk and the guy asked me what i needed and i told him i am here for the ft. end alignment . Oh there you are Bill already has this wrote up . He takes the work order out to Billy Bob and Billy Bob comes and gets the Durango and drives it back into the shop and on to the alignment rack . He opens the hood and walks away to where god only knows . Forty min later here he comes strolling across the shop with a cup of coffee . I am standing there watching him . He stands there looking at the Durango for five min. then walks down into the pit and grabs a trouble light and looks around then he comes up out of the pit and comes into the write up area and talks to the idiot service writer who then comes over to me and says you need all new ball joints inner and outer tie rods and new bushings in the upper control arms. REALLY YOU GOT TO KIDDING ME , oh no the mechanic said you were lucky to even make it over here REALLY wow . We need to get started on this wright away . GEE YOUR GOING TO HAVE TO SHOW ME . OH well ah we can not allow you in the shop it is to dangerous . Look either you show me or just pull it outside and i will go some place else . OH it is so bad that we can't let you drive it that way it must be fixed NOW . Well either i see it or I will drive it out of here myself and SON you and nobody else is going to stop me . So either i SEE all this BAD stuff or i am out of here . SOOOOOooooo he takes me out to the rack and i walk down into the pit and grabbed the trouble light out of Billy BoB hand and stat looking and wiggled and tugged on everything and looked at Billy Bob and said ALIG IT and i don't want to hear your B/S anymore and it had best be done wright the first time as you do not want me to come back. SOoooooo Billy Bob does the alignment then is idiot service wrighter comes over to me and say do you know that your oil chqange is twentyfive thousand miles over due and you need a tune up and transmission service along with both rear ends and transfer case service as our records state it has been that long since you have had it in for service . About then Bill was able to come out of his office and he is smiling from ear to ear and said to this idiot service writer ya know your lucky your still standing and WE DO NOT DO THIS B/S at this Dealership .This man your trying to B/S is in fact a certified Chrysler tech that i have knowen for years. Also he was a parts manager . Here this writer and Billy Bob both just started there from another dealership and had worked together probably scamming other people by the dozens. I swore that i would NEVER buy a scan tool , Well i lied i bought a Snap On Solus just to do my own checking and ok maybe it well help my close friends from getting fleeced since NOBODY can be trusted to tell the truth . Maybe that is why i am not rolling in the big bucks because i can not cheat people .

The misadventures posted here are a reminder to me why I continue to service cars for friends and family. People are getting ripped off right and left!!

Some useful information:

Most franchises like Firestone, Goodyear, Midas, Wal-Mart, and a host of others do NOT have "trained" mechanics on staff. The reason is the PAY. Back in my earlier days as a mechanic, when time got slow and layoffs came around, it was the "junior" guys that got the axe first. I had applied to several of the franchises. The common thread was the low pay. They mostly pay a low wage (to comply with labor law) and the rest is COMMISSION!!! That means that the inexperienced semi-skilled person working on your car has a VESTED INTEREST in SELLING YOU something that will earn him more pay - WHETHER YOU NEED IT OR NOT!!!!!

The biggest scam around at this time is the transmission flush.
First let me explain that after over 40 years of rebuilding automatics, I can testify to the fact that there is NO WAY to "flush" a transmission. Oil stagnates in certain places in a transmission and is not regularly exchanged. Clutch drums and servos are just a couple of them. Flushing out those areas would require GALLONS of flushing agent and hours of flushing to even get a small percentage of that oil out of them.
Then there is the issue of fluids. At present, there are specific fluids used based on application. GM cars now take Dexron-6. Fords take Mercon-V for most and Mercon LV for others. Chrysler cars take ATF +4, and then there are specific oils for Toyota, Honda, VW, etc. So, which oil do you suppose the flush is putting into your transmission???? I would give you long odds that it would be the WRONG OIL. This could cause early transmission failure. After all, there is a reason for the different oil requirements.

The ways that they try to rip you off are unlimited. Be wary!!!!!!!!!