good mechanic anywhere?(RANT)

[dranger21]

It seems I cannot find a mechanic anywhere that can fix my transmission. i had one rebuilt 2 years ago at 75,000 and now again it went out in less than 30,000 miles. First time the guy didnt realize there was a whole in the tranny cooler so antifreeze in the tranny does no good. So aparently this was what caused it to go out the last 2 times but actually caught it this time. I realized it when the torque converter would not lock in and i was running 3,000 rpm at 60mph and the o/d light was flashing. So i took it to another guy who proceeded to jerk my chain and try 3 different things and take 5 weeks before concluding that it needed replaced. Now 7 weeks in i get it back with a brand new rebuilt tranny and radiator in it today and the damn thing does the exact same crap and does not lock up the torque converter. I have not paid a dime yet and will not until it is fixed to my liking. It seems to me a good mechanic is hard to come by these days (no offense to any good mechanics out there). had to get that out sorry. Rant over

 

[RangerRyan88]

I know how you feel man! I've yet to find a capable, honest mechanic/shop in my area.. I just had my tires balanced and an alignment done (2 different shops) and neither of those feel right.. Most of my repairs I just do myself for that reason, short of engine rebuilds and that type of thing Hope your luck turns on that soon, I know how frustrating that stuff can be

 

[OilPatch197]

A good mechanic IS hard to find.... all the "special" tools you need to work on these vehicles, it is INSANE.

Seems tho, the good mechanics charge FLAT RATES for jobs, not by the hour. Finding a good mechanic that charges flat rate, AND gets the job done in a reasonable time is getting exceedingly rare.

We got three types of mechanics around here:

- The shops where the guy does it as a "side job" and hope he gets around to it in a few weeks.

- The guys that go by the book, has much training, gets it done fast and charges you $$$.

- The small shops that can't work on a German Volkswagon, but can do various jobs, brakes, tune-ups, but nothing in depth.

 

[partsguy84823]

I had my pinion seal replaced about two months ago, and now the pinion bearing is making all kinds of noise (pretty sure they over-tightened the nut). I'm taking it back to the shop to have them fix it this weekend, but it seems to me that it should have/could have been done right the first time! Had i known they would have screwed it up I would have done it myself... So much for saving time... Anyway, i know what you mean. There is a guy I have found about 20 mins south of me who seems to know his stuff. I think next time im too lazy to do something myself I will give him a shot.

 

[OilPatch197]

With the small shops, I think it is mostly because of inexperience.... I mean how many Pinion seals does a small two person operation replace in a year?

 

[partsguy84823]

With the small shops, I think it is mostly because of inexperience.... I mean how many Pinion seals does a small two person operation replace in a year?

I know what you mean, but this isn't a small operation. I mean its local owned, but the guy has two shops (one on either end of town) and they do a fair amount of volume.

I'm hoping some one had a bad day and just goofed, because these guys used to be pretty good, I just feel like this specific shop (and mechanics in general) are caring less and less about the quality of their work.

 

[LearjetMinako]

As a mechanic, I strave to do the best work that I can do within a reasonable amount of time. Thou my job is mostly a tire shop. I do more extensive repairs myself in my own time. Like what I did Wed. I had to replace a heater core on my mother's 96' Chevy Blazer. It requires to remove the entire dashboard out for access. If I had let a shop do the work, it would have been $1200. Instead, it took me about 8 hours and $40 for the heater core. And its a 10 hour job according to the dealership. Talk about a price difference and self satisfaction.

 

[AllanD]

You want to find the guy who does axles, all day, every day...

Or atleast someone who HAS done it that much

Anyone else is likely to do it WRONG.



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[MikeWild]

my mechanic is great, really knows his stuff, drives a lifted sas exploder, is building up a V8 ranger with d60's & doubler, goes wheeling with me all the time, and is a good friend. Can't really go worng with that combo!

 

[Ilikemice]

I asked the local mechanic to look over a leak coming from my S10 and he said it was the rear main seal. I decided to diagnose it myself and it was tranny fluid, and was obviously coming from bad tranny cooler lines (I didn't bother to look before. I figured it'd be easier for him to tell me). Then I noticed he's written "Cooler lines" on the quote paper then scribbled it out and wrote "Main seal".

The Ford dealership quoted me for 6 hours to remove a wheel, remove the caliper then look at the ABS sensor.

I've no idea where to get the Volkswagen looked at because it's never needed it.

 

[mentalbreakdown00]

Well, the hardest part of being a "mechanic" is that you treat us with a double edge sword. We are never allowed to have a mess up, you usually don't tell us the whole story about what it's doing or what you've done, and you usually gripe about the bill. Yet we have to, work on others stuff so much ours gets left out for a little while longer, have to have a lot bigger knowledge base than your doctor (and you don't try to jew him down on that bill), Also you get mad because we have to charge you to diagnose a problem, but not realizing the scan tools/ specialty tools cost upwards over 10 g's. I have been a tech now for 11 yrs, I run my own business now and go by the labor guides. I try to do the best I can, charge a fair amount, and will do what ever I can to help accomodate people. Yet when I have a small screw up, once twice a year maybe, that customer gets irate, and usually after I fix my screw up for free they never return, you are allowed to mess up, i'm not. Also, heh, the funny part is when you are at a big corporate party or business party, someone might ask what you do, when you tell 'em you are a technician or mechanic they curl thier lip in disgust, or roll thier eyes at you. The only people that try to befirend you are other techs, or people wanting car repair for cheaper. How's that for a rant from the other side.

 

[JohnnyO]

If your profile listed your location, someone here might know someone near you who is good.

 

[wizkid00104]

I have two certified mechanics who I allow touch my truck, my best friends dad and my uncle and I have found one body shop who does excellent work. I do everything that I can and then turn to them for help. I had my transfer case rebuilt by Cottman Transmission and I am not convinced they did it right because shift on the fly does not work. I guess a lack of good mechanics is just a way of forcing everyone to learn to do it themselves.

Well, the hardest part of being a "mechanic" is that you treat us with a double edge sword. We are never allowed to have a mess up, you usually don't tell us the whole story about what it's doing or what you've done, and you usually gripe about the bill. Yet we have to, work on others stuff so much ours gets left out for a little while longer, have to have a lot bigger knowledge base than your doctor (and you don't try to jew him down on that bill), Also you get mad because we have to charge you to diagnose a problem, but not realizing the scan tools/ specialty tools cost upwards over 10 g's. I have been a tech now for 11 yrs, I run my own business now and go by the labor guides. I try to do the best I can, charge a fair amount, and will do what ever I can to help accomodate people. Yet when I have a small screw up, once twice a year maybe, that customer gets irate, and usually after I fix my screw up for free they never return, you are allowed to mess up, i'm not. Also, heh, the funny part is when you are at a big corporate party or business party, someone might ask what you do, when you tell 'em you are a technician or mechanic they curl thier lip in disgust, or roll thier eyes at you. The only people that try to befirend you are other techs, or people wanting car repair for cheaper. How's that for a rant from the other side.

I certainly agree with you on that. The problems I have actually run into is not with the price. Its with the job being done half ass. The biggest one I had is my rear brakes. When I took my vehicle to get inspected last year, the garage did my brakes without telling me and then charged me for them. I bit my lip and paid it. But I later found that there were several other damaged worn and rusted brake components that caused 3 months worth of constant brake problems. This could have all been avoided it they would have replaced the damn spring kit when they put the shoes on... Nobody seems to make any effort to prevent further problems, just fix the current.

 

[LearjetMinako]

Well, the hardest part of being a "mechanic" is that you treat us with a double edge sword. We are never allowed to have a mess up, you usually don't tell us the whole story about what it's doing or what you've done, and you usually gripe about the bill. Yet we have to, work on others stuff so much ours gets left out for a little while longer, have to have a lot bigger knowledge base than your doctor (and you don't try to jew him down on that bill), Also you get mad because we have to charge you to diagnose a problem, but not realizing the scan tools/ specialty tools cost upwards over 10 g's. I have been a tech now for 11 yrs, I run my own business now and go by the labor guides. I try to do the best I can, charge a fair amount, and will do what ever I can to help accomodate people. Yet when I have a small screw up, once twice a year maybe, that customer gets irate, and usually after I fix my screw up for free they never return, you are allowed to mess up, i'm not. Also, heh, the funny part is when you are at a big corporate party or business party, someone might ask what you do, when you tell 'em you are a technician or mechanic they curl thier lip in disgust, or roll thier eyes at you. The only people that try to befirend you are other techs, or people wanting car repair for cheaper. How's that for a rant from the other side.

Some one that understands the pain.

You also gotta love it when the customers lie right in your face and you have to choke (hold) it in while trying to explain it to them.

 

[dranger21]

LearjetMinako and mentalbreakdown00,
I am not trying to bash anyone that runs an honest business and i have been more than pleasant not being a jerk. Im sure it is tough to run a shop and listen to all the crazy people of the world but after 7 weeks of screwing with my truck im a little frustrated. The guy running the shop and fixing my tranny was fired while he had my tranny apart laying on the table for 2 weeks while he was aparently 300 miles away telling everyone he was working on their vehicles. This aparently wasnt a rare occasion. So now the owner is stuck with this thing he knows nothing about what went wrong but he has been more than accomodating and i will probably take it back there sometime as long as the thing is fixed right. I was just a little frustrated with the whole situation but if it runs in the end ill be fine