Why is so difficult to find a reputable car repair place?

[SW_shooter]

I am so frustrated and tired of wading through the lies and BS to try to locate a reputable repair place for our vehicles.

We are going on a road trip at the end the week. I have an 03 Expedition with 155k miles. I know it needs new suspension and wanted to get it done last week. So we dropped off the vehicle and waited for the repair place, which was referred to us by friends, to call with an estimate. Weeeeeeell the guy called and after the initial shock of being told I needed $2500 worth of repairs I told the guy I had to check the money tree out back to see how much was ready to harvest!

He said the vehicle required:
* new brakes (even though they were just replaced last spring and less than 12K miles driven) $500
* new shocks were going to be $1000
* re-built torque converter for the transmission $1000

(all I asked for was an estimate for shocks front/rear with the intention of having them do the work)

He tells me that the rear shocks are all stretched out because someone put a lift kit in and the shocks are too short to reach. They have to special order shocks that are over $600 just for parts. Now I am a sporty and cool guy but there is no way in ***** I ever put a lift kit in that vehicle and I am the ONLY owner!

He tells me the brake pads are over 70% gone and I need newer better ones. That's funny because the last place put the better ones on in 2012, 10K miles ago.

He then explains that his transmission guy noticed a shimmy and shudder when going between 45-50 mph when he drove it and they know that means the transmission is going out and they want to do a re-built torque converter. Funny, I haven't noticed any issues and I have been through a transmission failure before. (different vehicle)

So today I take it to a place I have used before but was unhappy with another issue (long story) and hadn't been back in a couple years. They do an inspection and the brake pads are over 70% good, the transmission fluid was a 1/2qt low but clear with no metal or **** in it, no shuddering, no shimmy! They looked at the shocks/struts and there are no leaks or problems visible but with the mileage they do recommend the new ones, which I already know and agree with. They did tell me I have the fancy (and expensive) adjustable or air shocks in the rear and those will cost more.

This is not the first time I have had a car repair place try to pull one over on me, why do they do it??? Why can't they just be honest and truthful? I hate liars and shysters so much it almost makes me go postal!

 

[Arik]

I got a guy i trust and it will suck if he ever leaves.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

 

[Hillbilly77]

Some people are just scum.

Years ago I had a problem with a tech at the local dealership over some warranty brake repairs (the warranty was the only reason they were touching my car).
Mrs. Hillbilly was pregnant with baby #1 so I was being a bit "protective".

The tech wanted to fix the brakes on the cheap instead of doing the job right. I questioned him and he told me I was wrong. He started talking down to me, certain that I was the biggest moron to walk in that day, then I came a little bit unglued and a yelling match ensued.
Once I let super-wrench know that I am also a mechanic and knew what I was talking about, his tune changed. About two minutes later the service manager walked over to me and let me know that they'd be fixing the car right.

It makes me wonder how somebody who didn't know any better would've been treated.
That was the last time I entered their facility.

Makes me glad I'm fortunate enough to be able to do my own work myself.

 

[vytoland]

why do they do it??? Why can't they just be honest and truthful?

when dealing with "humans"....some are less than spectacular.....

you have to separate the wheat from the chaff....

 

[Grayfox]

Like any business, auto repair shops are there to make money. The more stuff they sell you, the more they make.
Some guys are just plain scum. They think every customer is an idiot about their vehicle and do their best to take advantage of them. They plan to fleece you one good time for all they can get and probably never see you again. Again, its all about making money.
However, there are good shops out there that will give you an honest deal. They don't need to cheat anybody because business is good for them. You just have to take the time to find them. The Better Business Bureau is a good place to start.
I've been a mechanic for 40 years. I never wanted to cheat anybody and that's why I've spent most of my career working in fleets.

 

[sceva]

I have been pretty lucky and trust those that service my car. My Son-in-law on the other hand got an estimate for some service at a local parts and service center that has three big heads for mascots and was looking over the estimate with him and pointed out that they were charging him to remove and replace the same belts three different times. They program each service with a code that automatically generates sub codes for related charges. Three things they wanted to do required belt removal per the computer so it automatically added them each time. When I went with him and pointed it out they had the gall to say that they would actually need to remove the belts and replace them at each step. We left.

I had a heater hose with a leak that was hard to reach so I figured they couldn't mess such a simple thing up and asked them to put it on the lift and replace the hose. Again, geniuses that they are, I am told they could not possible work on the car unless they first did a full diagnostic and bumper to bumper inspection in case it needed something else. I left then too and won't even buy parts there.

 

[rwsmith]

I find it ever so much easier

I find it ever so much easier to find a DISreputable car place.

 

[wbraswell]

What part of Texas are youi at?

 

[diamonback68]

I've found the best way is to find a local hometown small shop with a couple mechanics that appreciate your business and want your return business.
Stay away from dealerships unless it's for warranty work. I know, I used to work for them.

 

[Johnny_w]

Take a look here: http://www.cartalk.com/mechanics-files
I've used this in the past to find a good shop and I was very happy with the results. You also might want to listen to the show. Those guys are damn funny.

 

[4barrel]

car care

YOU need to get a written estimate & get a lawyer & put this guy out of business. A torque converter does that when going up a grade & unlocks & the rpm changes. NO ONE will put in a converter with out overhauling the trany, Get your shocks replaced --if needed-- at a discount tire & wheel. While there have them rotate the tires & they can inspect the brakes. Disc brake pads are cheap and easy to replace. Normally the rear brakes last twice as long as 70% of the stopping is in the front. They can also inspect what needs to be done to the front end. If the front end needs all that work then whoever changes your oil aint doing what you have been paying them to do. A good SEARS with a shop will do this also & they have lots of sales & guarantee their work.

 

[kozmic]

My guy used to be good but it seems like he's less busy now so my bills keep going up. I'm in the market for a new guy too!

 

[Lost Lake]

Torque converters are changed without tranny rebuilds.... It's quite easy to do. Some are known to fail like the 48RE dodge. But shuddering would be an impartial lock-up and would probably throw a code. I'd suspect a u-joint first.

I've posted this before I think. My dad took his Dodge diesel to a local dealer because he had low power. They charged him $110 for diagnosis, and found his turbo was shot. A rebuilt was $1600+.

He called me asking for advice.

I asked if he had a squealing sound or oil dripping or burning. Nope.

I said there's probably nothing wrong with your turbo.

Before I could look at the truck he took it to another big repair shop and they looked at it. The intake hose was off the intake! He remembered taking it off to replace the battery on that side.

They put it back on and sent him on his way. No charge.

That's the shop I now take all my diesel issues to.

The dealer that gave the bogus repair quote to my dad? I called them up and reamed them a new one, they refunded the money and apologized.

I wish I could tell everyone about how they tried to scam my dad!

.

 

[SW_shooter]

@wbraswell...I'm in the DFW metro. Lots of crooks everywhere

@4barrel...after several hours on the phone and going to two other places I got 4 estimates.

Brakes = fine, no replacement needed. Pads still at 75%+

Tranny = fine, no metal or **** in the fluid (was a little low so filled up) and no ne else could detect a shimmy or shudder while driving.

Shocks, this one was more of a PIA. Talked to a Ford dealer parts guy and he looked up the VIN and explained what was on the vehicle. That helped me to narrow down who I am going to use to do the shocks/struts. Found a Firestone guy who knew exactly why the liar thought there was a lift kit on the vehicle. Seems the struts have an aluminum cap and to the uneducated it may appear as a spacer or lift. He laughed when I told him the guy said the vehicle had been lifted.

There was also a quite a bit of confusion as to what type of shocks where on the rear. One place put it up on the rack and said there was a electric air suspension system, Ford guy said nope, according to the VIN it was a strut. The Firestone guy told me he put it up on the rack and described exactly what was on there, he owns a 02 expedition and thus is very familiar with them.

Never been to a Firestone shop, but that all changes today when they get the parts in and put'em on. I should have a nice smooth ride for the upcoming 2k road trip later this week.

Thanks for the input and opinions guys, this place is awesome!

 

[Andy Griffith]

I have not been a mechanic, nor will I ever be much more than a tinkerer. I do most of the work on the cars and trucks myself, but ever so often there is something I can't get to, or I just don't feel like crawling under anymore. I amaze myself sometimes, considering I've learned it all out of necessity.

However, as we are planning an outbuilding that will be used by myself and our posterity, I'm really thinking about putting in a good lift, so I can do a lot of work myself much more easily. Am I correct that I can get one for less than $3K? It isn't so much that I can save money, but I don't trust most repair shops, or I trust them about as far as I can throw the truck. I problably make some nervous at the shops I take them to, as I stand and watch everything done to my vehicles.

$3K is a lot up front, but I believe it will save a lot of money in the long run.

 

[4barrel]

I have not been a mechanic, nor will I ever be much more than a tinkerer. I do most of the work on the cars and trucks myself, but ever so often there is something I can't get to, or I just don't feel like crawling under anymore. I amaze myself sometimes, considering I've learned it all out of necessity.

However, as we are planning an outbuilding that will be used by myself and our posterity, I'm really thinking about putting in a good lift, so I can do a lot of work myself much more easily. Am I correct that I can get one for less than $3K? It isn't so much that I can save money, but I don't trust most repair shops, or I trust them about as far as I can throw the truck. I problably make some nervous at the shops I take them to, as I stand and watch everything done to my vehicles.

$3K is a lot up front, but I believe it will save a lot of money in the long run.

In my area u can buy a good used lift for $1000 & $200 more to install. Most lifts have 2 cylinders & an electric pump that uses 0 or 5w motor oil. Get at least a 9000 lb. rating. u will need about 12 feet clearance.

 

[carpriver]

I live in a fairly small city here in the UP. I go to the dealer where I bought my truck. I have never been screwed by them. I have had them go out of there way several times to help me. A couple years ago I lost the keys to my truck while using the snow blower to clear the drive way. My wife was away from home with the other set of keys. So the Service Manager drives to my house with his computer, he needs it to get the security code to make a key to start the engine. So long story short I go the dealer ship to pay for the key and he said there was no charge. The dealer is in a small town he depends on the customers for his income, word spreads quickly in small towns when a business is out to take advantage of the people.

 

[loutent]

It's kind of funny - I used to never, ever go to the dealership where I bought the car (new) - instead, I would go to jiffy-lube and the like to save a few bucks. The last car we bought (2008 Highlander) I decided that I was going to take it to the dealer to get serviced (at least until the warranty ran out - 3 years.) Well, going on 6 years now and the dealer has been great - never got that "gouging" feeling - no appointments (even Sat & Sun) and always courteous. An oil/tire rotation might cost an extra $10-$15, but for the convenience and professionalism, it's been worth it.

 

[jaykellogg]

I am going to mention another site, flatratetech.com . You can go on there and ask questions and professional techs will answer questions free of charge. You can also ask about where to get a car repaired.

Some GM cars from the '80s and '90s had torque converter shudder. It feels like an engine miss. Dr Tranny's Shudder Eliminator will correct that without replacing the torque converter.

If you want to clean your injectors yourself, add a can of Seafoam to the next fillup. Probably the best there is and available everywhere (WalMart)

I bought and sold used cars for three or four years. The worst ripoff I had was a Chrysler dealer and I think it was honest incompetence rather than dishonest thievery. I finally gave the car to my son and he straightened it out and got good use out of it.

I have seen several cars with problems that professional mechanics could not diagnose.

To the OP, I would inform your friends that the shop they recommended tried to take advantage of you.

There's good and bad shops everywhere. I have seen good Firestone stores and some that are crooks. I have one Ford store (the closest one) that appear to be more interested in padding the bill than fixing the car and another I wouldn't hesitate to take my Ford car or truck to.

 

[MORSNO]

Has everyone noticed that the "mechanics" at the dealerships are now called "technicians", they plug in a computer and read codes, then practice swaptronics at your expense. It's hard to find a good mechanic that can repair your vehicle anymore.