Is this frowned upon?

[exbass94]

If you don't feel like reading this whole paragraph, just answer the question in bold letters at the end. (please. ) As some of you may know (but probably don't know), recently I tried changing the accessory belts on my 1992 Honda Accord. (You can see this thread in the "Non-RBV Tech" forum) So I bought the belts, and figured out that I don't have a friggin clue how to install them. I honestly thought this was a project even I could handle, but apparently not. Maybe I'm just a mechanically incompetent retard, or maybe it's Honda's stupid engineering, or a little bit of both. I found some bolts that I thought adjusted the tension of the belts and I loosened them, but that didn't do anything, and I can't find any other bolts that could possibly adjust the tension, so I'm at a loss. I think I may just have our family mechanic do it for me, but here's my question: I already bought the belts and got a great deal on them because I work at Napa, so I would like to just give him the belts and have him install them, but is it generally frowned upon for a customer to provide the parts? We've been going to this mechanic for years and he knows us very well and I'm not sure if he would mind, but how do most of you feel about this?

 

[Shoeboy]

I work in a garage, and this comes up a lot, in the shops I have worked in, and it all the shops I have heard of, this his highly frowned upon, we do make some exceptions for the guys who work at parts stores, people who own rare vehicles, or good cliants, but even then, its seldom we do it. This isn't because the parts we sell are better in anyway, we use a lot of the same parts that people bring us, but the big issue is warranty, in some cases quality concerns, and in the rare event, legal liability. I would talk to him about it but don't be shocked if they say no. However, you have been going to them for a wile, so you might end up being one of the exceptions.

 

[BGMark]

I have also worked in a shop for about 3 years as a cashier/clean up person/oil change, tire repair and install/gofer. We don't like it when people bring in their own parts for the same reasons as listed above, but also make exceptions. Maybe you'd be one as you've been going there for awile. Also have you looked for a shop manual? Honda manuals are pretty common and can be found at parts stores like Autozone and Im sure at the library. Check that out before you give up.
-Mark

 

[JFA_Spyderman]

Yo,
I once thought i was going to be able to change my own timing belt, it turned out to be too big of a job for me at the time so it took it to my local place. He told me that because he did not order the part himself, he couldn't gaurentee the part, just his labor. That was fine with me so i went ahead and had him do it. It seemed ok.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I know the practice is at least frowned upon. Some shops I know get a discount, but charge you retail price for the part to make a few extra bucks.

BUT, I've also run into some shops who informed me that I could either get the parts and fix it myself then bring it back, or bring them the parts and they'd fix it for a nominal fee.

Then there's the mechanic myself and my parents have been using for a couple years. Inspection time last year he finds my upper balljoint on the passenger side is shot. He called up and had a new one delivered at his discount price, handed it to me and said "here ya go, now fix it. If you need a hand, let me know." So I sat in his shop, tore it down, replaced the joint, and then he finished inspecting the truck. I paid for the inspection and discounted part.

 

[Sunk]

I worked at a shop a while back and we replaced a transaxle in a civic with one the guy got from a wrecking yard since the car wasn't worth putting a 'new' one into. IIRC we just charged for labor. We came to discover that the c-clips on of the axles was the reason it wouldn't move, so we were being nice to the guy since it was our mistake.

 

[Sunk]

... Some shops I know get a discount, but charge you retail price for the part to make a few extra bucks....

If I remember right, the shop I worked at charged 160% of their cost for parts.

 

[dude772]

on the honda theres a bolt that goes perpendicular to the adjuster bolt. It kind of locks it in place. loosen that one off and you'll get it

 

[Thumper113]

I've been in the biz since '82. I've haven't worked at a place that wouldn't let customers bring in their own parts. It was explained to them prior to the repair that we cannot warranty the parts they brought in but we will definetly warranty our labor. Especially when the situation is like yours.............they bought the parts, tried it themselves & realized that they didn't really want to do it for whatever reason(s), we never turned away work. I've even had a few of the customers watch me while I explain the procedure so that if that part they brought in fails, they might be able to tackle it the next time on their own, thus, saving them another labor charge. Some try it, some don't. I'm not greedy........I earned several lifetime customers by doing it that way. Everyone has to try & save a buck when they can & I fully understand that.

Talk to your mechanic & see what he thinks. The only ones that get pissed about it is the parts dept because they can't mark it up 300% because there's no parts on the repair order. But the service dept as a whole makes some money so it's better than telling a customer "NO, we can't work on iy unless you use our parts"..........That's just stupid in my opinion.

 

[dude772]

heres what i was looking for...

You can see where the perpendicular locking bolts are now. Dont forget to losen the pivot bolts also.

hope it wasn't too late to try and save you some labour charges.

 

[exbass94]

Hey Dude772, thats a great picture thanks a lot. When I tried it, I loosened the adjuster bolt for the PS pump and the mounting bolt, but I didn't loosen the pivot bolt, that could be part of the problem . Do I have to completely remove the mounting bolt or just loosen it? I'm not looking forward to that alternator belt, it's wedged in there with a lot of crap around surrounding it...

 

[Simple_serf]

I've brought parts in, primarily because I had spares and was cheap. If a shop refuses to put parts on that I supply, I refuse to go to them anymore.

Seems simple to me.

 

[rickcdewitt]

the main problem i've found with people bringing in their own parts is that they think they have diagnosed the problem themselves which only makes it harder on you when you try to find out what is really wong with the car(jack ass know it all boyfriends mostly).

 

[97BlackBetty]

I've found a local mechaninc that has his own shop, just a small town guy but he does really good work. He has no problem with me bringing in my own parts, especially since i want to learn how to fix the stuff that hes helping me with. And i help out in his shop, clean up and what not. It gets me access to a lift if i ever need one.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I've been in the biz since '82. I've haven't worked at a place that wouldn't let customers bring in their own parts. It was explained to them prior to the repair that we cannot warranty the parts they brought in but we will definetly warranty our labor. Especially when the situation is like yours.............they bought the parts, tried it themselves & realized that they didn't really want to do it for whatever reason(s), we never turned away work. I've even had a few of the customers watch me while I explain the procedure so that if that part they brought in fails, they might be able to tackle it the next time on their own, thus, saving them another labor charge. Some try it, some don't. I'm not greedy........I earned several lifetime customers by doing it that way. Everyone has to try & save a buck when they can & I fully understand that.

That is how things go at my parents ag shop, farmers being tight with money usually try to fix it themselves first. It would be a great way to burn bridges to make them buy a new part if they already had it or to have a fit about it. They usually come in for advice beforehand and buy the parts from us to begin with though.