by "DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
Published 01/30/2017 at 23:58
by "DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
Published 01/30/2017 at 23:58
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STARS: 0
Lifehacker said to have mechanics show you exactly what’s wrong with their car. Granted it’s aimed at non-car people, but still seems like bad advice that would piss of legit shops.
Also pic because pic-less post aren’t to be tolerated!
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
01/31/2017 at 00:02, STARS: 3
ah, show them whats wrong with the customers car, not their personal car.
I think thats reasonable...so long as the customer isn’t a prick about it.
"OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars" (jakeauern)
01/31/2017 at 00:05, STARS: 7
My parents have a system where we take pictures of the broken part on the vehicle and text or email it to customers. 3 months and 6 iPads plus software has already paid for itself.
"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
01/31/2017 at 00:07, STARS: 0
Nice!
"TheHondaBro" (wwaveform)
01/31/2017 at 00:11, STARS: 1
A dealership back in California offered to take me back in the shop and show me what’s wrong with my car. Specifically, the engine mounts.
Can confirm: bad mounts.
"OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars" (jakeauern)
01/31/2017 at 00:13, STARS: 1
The best is watching their face when the engine almost jumps out of the engine bay.
"TheHondaBro" (wwaveform)
01/31/2017 at 00:16, STARS: 1
Definitely looked like my engine was ready for Mardi Gras.
"OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars" (jakeauern)
01/31/2017 at 00:17, STARS: 2
We had a Nissan that no kidding was hitting the hood every time you revved.
"Urambo Tauro" (urambotauro)
01/31/2017 at 00:19, STARS: 1
I suppose it depends on the problem. You can point to a bald tire and not have to explain why the customer needs to have it replaced. But some of the more complex diagnoses are hard to prove to someone who doesn’t understand how to interpret the symptoms. All that time spent troubleshooting the car might have to be performed all over again just to satisfy the customer, and that’s not very efficient for business.
"TheHondaBro" (wwaveform)
01/31/2017 at 00:24, STARS: 1
At what point are the mounts considered “failing?” Because if the engine binds with the hood, something’s up.
"OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars" (jakeauern)
01/31/2017 at 00:32, STARS: 0
Those were not failing. They were failed. Or in other words, gone.
"beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard" (beardsbynelly-Rikerbeard)
01/31/2017 at 00:41, STARS: 0
that’s good, my local suspension shop does something similar. They’ll email a video of the wobbly part.
Needless to say I got a pretty long video when I took ‘the project’ for a wheel alignment.
"Khalbali" (khalbali2)
01/31/2017 at 00:57, STARS: 1
I can see both sides, on the one hand we want the customers’ trust, but on the other I personally dislike having customers in the shop, it’s very distracting to the work environment when all of a sudden we have to turn off the music and act professional. The whole reason I became a tech is I hate interacting with customers (I started in sales). We have started using a new app the last month or so that lets us take pics and attach them to the estimate so we’ll see how that pans out.
"RallyWrench" (rndlitebmw)
01/31/2017 at 01:40, STARS: 4
I run a shop and have been a tech most of my working life. This is good and bad advice, but the suggestion doesn’t anger me at all. I often find it useful to bring a client out into the shop to show them the issue at hand and talk with the tech, but on the other hand, there are some problems that don’t have a visual, and this tends to annoy the tech depending on their personality. It’s hard to talk to people who have no damn clue what you’re talking about. A bad MAF looks no different to a good one, for example, and without the client present and reading data on a road test during an intermittent failure, that’s not something that this helps with. In that case it’s just “the data shows this $300 piece of plastic is bad, sorry.”
I have no problem showing the problem, data, old parts, or whatever to the client, in fact I make a point of it. I showed a guy a video I took of the “rodeo” test on his SL500's ABC system last week and he’d never really seen what it was capable of. Educating the client is the most important thing I can do. But that depends on the client being willing to learn. Many people actively don’t care until it comes time to complain about the bill that they’ve already approved in advance, and some take it too far and practically expect to be able to watch over the tech’s shoulder during the job, offering helpful Google tips along the way, because clearly Google posts of some forum where a guy threw parts at his car knows better. I’ve had people just grab paperwork off my desk and start reading it, not even for their car, and ask “what’s all this!??”. The level of disrespect never fails to amaze and dishearten. I fucking hate this business. /Rant off
"For Sweden" (rallybeetle)
01/31/2017 at 01:40, STARS: 2
A mechanic once tried to convince me the power steering belt was missing, and I needed a new one. I then walked to the car and pointed out the power steering belt I had installed a few months before.
I have trust issues with mechanics.
"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
01/31/2017 at 02:49, STARS: 1
I’ve often times wondered about becoming a mechanic, but I’ve always had a feeling it’d ruin any enjoyment of it. Overall right now I’m weighing pursuing a “regular” degree versus a more commercial trade like welding or diesel (I’d assume more knowledgeable and understanding clients). The trade route seems more stable, but the degree seems to have more potential although less stable.
"RallyWrench" (rndlitebmw)
01/31/2017 at 02:59, STARS: 1
Being a tech and working in the industry has more or less ruined cars for me. I’m a part time enthusiast at best anymore, because I view most cars as pieces of shit. That said, it’s been stable employment that’s more or less supported my family so I can’t knock it too much. Better to have a useful skillset than a piece of paper saying you’re worth more, not that I wouldn’t love to go back to complete a degree. Given time and money, I’d go back to college in a heartbeat and try to make a career in some other (or a part of this) industry that would allow me to keep my automotive enthusiasm intact, because for better or worse I’ve built my life around it. Also being a wrench is bad for your back.
"AMGtech - now with more recalls!" (amgtech)
01/31/2017 at 04:23, STARS: 3
By all means, ask to see what’s wrong. The most important tool in my toolbox is my reputation, and that’s built from trust. Without it, I might as well find a new job.
All I request in return is that you be respectful of my time and understand that sometimes you won’t be able to see what’s wrong. But in those instances I can give you a quick overview of my diagnostic process. I promise I’ll try to put it in layman’s terms and do my best to not be condescending.