Mechanics see a woman coming and BAM!!!

[Lady's Human]

The title of the thread?

[Lady's Human]

As to the tons of articles on the interwebz from googling something....

One of the articles that's been posted and reposted is someone from consumer protection group abc takes a plug wire off of their car and goes to x number of shops to get it fixed, and then compares prices for the repair, complaining about the inequity of the quotes.

2 problems with that:

1) many shops have signs right in the window clearly stating that if they pop open the hood they're going to charge you 1 hours for diagnosis, regardless of what's required. If they're telling you this up front, how can you complain after the fact? Those advanced code readers that they're using can cost north of $15,000, and they have to pay for having it.

2) Plug wires don't just come off on their own anymore. in 1980 that little trick might have been a valid test, but not anymore.

[happylabs]

The title of the thread?

Okay, I still don't see the word "all". I just see "Mechanics see a woman..." I guess you could take it either way. I guess if you aren't a woman and haven't been through this you wouldn't understand.

[Lady's Human]

Not everything is related to gender, race, or other categories.

Opposed to the current President's policies? You must be a racist.

Someone screwing off on the job and gets caught but nothing happens? Must be because they're a Union worker.


There are unscrupulous people in every field, and they'll take advantage of anyone who doesn't know what's going on.

Seriously, people, this racist/misogynist/fill in your category here victim crap needs to end.

[happylabs]

Not everything is related to gender, race, or other categories.

Opposed to the current President's policies? You must be a racist.

Someone screwing off on the job and gets caught but nothing happens? Must be because they're a Union worker.


There are unscrupulous people in every field, and they'll take advantage of anyone who doesn't know what's going on.

Seriously, people, this racist/misogynist/fill in your category here victim crap needs to end.

It probably will once we all live in a perfect world.

[Karen]

It probably will once we all live in a perfect world.

It will end as soon as we each stop doing it! You can change the world, as long as you start with yourself!

(Not directed at happylabs personally, but at each and every person. It would be more correct to use "one" instead of "you, but then it sounds stilted.)

[Lady's Human]

There is SO much information out there now about car repair no one should be a "victim" of an unscrupulous mechanic.

I don't care whether you have a Geo Metro or a Corvette, there's a forum out there somewhere on the internet dealing with your particular car.


CEL (or service engine soon) light on? Limp it to autozone, get the codes pulled, and search. (DO NOT!!!! buy the part that autozone tries to sell you, it may or may not fix the issue, and your mechanic isn't going to appreciate not making the markup on the parts. Damned crooks need to put food on the table too)

Someone has had that problem before, and someone can help you diagnose it. Even if you don't turn wrenches yourself, you can at least get an idea of what the repair is going to be before driving to those thieving mechanics.

Odd noise? Go online, find a forum relating to your particular car, and search. Someone has had that problem before.

All it takes is a little research and you can avoid getting taken advantage of.

As with anything else, forewarned is forearmed.

[Pembroke_Corgi]

There is SO much information out there now about car repair no one should be a "victim" of an unscrupulous mechanic.

I don't care whether you have a Geo Metro or a Corvette, there's a forum out there somewhere on the internet dealing with your particular car.

Very true!! I've fixed a lot of things on our cars before by googling the cars' issues. It's mainly been stuff that easy to access- I haven't done anything under the car, for example- but even that has probably saved several hundred dollars over the years.

There are plenty of repairs anyone can do, and even if you can't, it helps to diagnose the issue before it goes to a mechanic.

[moosmom]

Took it in for a second opinion.

Not only does my car not NEED a motor mount (which was scheduled to be put in tomorrow), it also doesn't need front hub bearings!!!

This place raked me over the coals. I got a refund for the double charge on the left front axle. They never even diagnosed a critical safety issue with my tie rods in the rear right.

When I called the "other guys" and told them what the second opinion showed, he argued with me saying my guy was lying. If he was lying, he would've said yes, it did need all the things the other place said and offered to fix it for cheaper. I will NEVER set foot in D'Addario's Auto Service in East Hartford, CT again!!!

I am definitely filing a complaint with the BBB. Word to the wise...get a second opinion.

Lady's Human,

I rest my case!!!! I didn't say ALL mechanics. THIS mechanic saw me coming!

[happylabs]

Took it in for a second opinion.

Not only does my car not NEED a motor mount (which was scheduled to be put in tomorrow), it also doesn't need front hub bearings!!!

This place raked me over the coals. I got a refund for the double charge on the left front axle. They never even diagnosed a critical safety issue with my tie rods in the rear right.

When I called the "other guys" and told them what the second opinion showed, he argued with me saying my guy was lying. If he was lying, he would've said yes, it did need all the things the other place said and offered to fix it for cheaper. I will NEVER set foot in D'Addario's Auto Service in East Hartford, CT again!!!

I am definitely filing a complaint with the BBB. Word to the wise...get a second opinion.

Lady's Human,

I rest my case!!!! I didn't say ALL mechanics. THIS mechanic saw me coming!

Amen! Get 'em!

[blue]

They never even diagnosed a critical safety issue with my tie rods in the rear right.

Learned something new. I didnt know cars had rear tie rods, I always thought tie rods where a steering component.

[Karen]

Learned something new. I didnt know cars had rear tie rods, I always thought tie rods where a steering component.

She may have 4-wheel or all-wheel drive.

[blue]

She may have 4-wheel or all-wheel drive.

Tie rods are still a steering component, nothing to do with AWD or 4WD. Maybe if she has a rear steering axle.

[caseysmom]

Took it in for a second opinion.

Not only does my car not NEED a motor mount (which was scheduled to be put in tomorrow), it also doesn't need front hub bearings!!!

This place raked me over the coals. I got a refund for the double charge on the left front axle. They never even diagnosed a critical safety issue with my tie rods in the rear right.

When I called the "other guys" and told them what the second opinion showed, he argued with me saying my guy was lying. If he was lying, he would've said yes, it did need all the things the other place said and offered to fix it for cheaper. I will NEVER set foot in D'Addario's Auto Service in East Hartford, CT again!!!

I am definitely filing a complaint with the BBB. Word to the wise...get a second opinion.

Lady's Human,

I rest my case!!!! I didn't say ALL mechanics. THIS mechanic saw me coming!

I think you may be better off complaining with the bureau of automotive repair.

[Lady's Human]

Tie rods are a steering component. They connect the steering rack to the knuckle/hub assembly. (Or, in the case of a really old car, they connect the knuckle to the drag link assy, which connects to the steering box)

If someone told me I needed tie rod ends in the rear of the car, my next phone call would be another mechanic.