You know what really grinds my gears?

"RallyWrench" (rndlitebmw)
10/29/2014 at 16:21 • Filed to: ASK AN EXPERT

Ok, that's perhaps a slight exaggeration, but I digress...

Let me start by saying that I don't dislike Tavarish, though I often disagree with his " You Can Buy (ruinously expensive & unreliable flashy car) For The Price Of A (totally reliable but boring car)" posts. And I really enjoy Andrew's contributions to Truck Yeah.

That said, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! sort of rubs me the wrong way, and I believe it's misleading. I know they meant well by it, and having read through the comments there was some good advice, but other stuff was just... not. Or it was really general in nature. I'm sure many of the professionals in the field on Oppo would be perfectly willing to arrange a series of AMAs, which could be backed up by their long experience, training, & knowledge of given marques, repair techniques & costs, actual OEM service information, and the industry at large.

Am I in the wrong here? Maybe I'm just jaded, having been doing it for lo these many years. The number of people who show up with pages of dubious internet advice, and will not be swayed from it by statements of fact and actual experience has been ever increasing in recent years, and it's a trend that helps nobody. If the internet tells you that when your car does Y, replace X, and we do it at your insistence and it still doesn't fix the car, what then? When your Amazon part fails, and we rightfully refuse to warranty it?

I spend a lot of time at work dispensing free advice to customers (in person and on the phone. So much phone.) and DIYers who show up asking questions, even people who I know will never spend any money with me, because I want them to have the right information to make good repair decisions, and I believe that being a helpful & open technician/shop manager is good for the industry's reputation, which is deservedly terrible. Knowledge is power, but incorrect information in a spiffy knowledge suit weakens us all. Deep, huh? You kids get off my lawn. I hope this wasn't too ranty.

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DISCUSSION (18)

505Turbeaux > RallyWrench
10/29/2014 at 16:25

yeah, I agree. Which is why I need to put some seat time back into the Oppo Knowledge guide I think http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/the-official-o…

Oppo tech AMA's?

deekster_caddy > RallyWrench
10/29/2014 at 16:27

It's like how they can be totally wrong on Car Talk but they usually know they are going to be wrong when they answer the question, so throw in a few alternate possibilities.

Was there a particular comment or was it the entire thread you have issue with?

One of the very very common 'DIY' misunderstood repairs: MAF and O2 sensor codes. People see "O2 sensor [something]" or "MAF sensor [something]" for the code and immediately want a new O2 or MAF sensor installed. I try to explain that it usually means something else, like you have a vacuum leak or exhaust leak or leaky fuel injector or whatever and it doesn't matter. I used to sell parts over the counter and every time it was for a coil or O2 sensor I would be like "exactly what problem are you having?" and it didn't matter what I said... even if my words were "once you install this part it can't be returned." Guaranteed I knew who was going to try to return a lightly used O2 sensor the following day.

Racescort666 > RallyWrench
10/29/2014 at 16:28

Kinja'd!!!

Joking aside, I totally understand how you feel.

RallyWrench > deekster_caddy
10/29/2014 at 16:36

The presentation of the thread in general, then some responses as I perused the comments. "Check your grounds" is the internet cop-out response to electrical problems, and is rarely helpful. "Evap Sensor" is meaningless. Many cars have tank pressure sensors, which are almost never an issue. If it stores an Evap code, there's a leak. And so on. There was some good, if general, advice, but the whole thing was flawed as presented.

RallyWrench > 505Turbeaux
10/29/2014 at 16:37

I'm game.

505Turbeaux > RallyWrench
10/29/2014 at 16:39

I just have such a weird set of niches. And a couple of useful ones...sort of. I can sort the vacuum system on an 82 Prelude pretty good :) Be interesting to put together, but there is no direct contact here which sucks

Kinja'd!!!

thebigbossyboss > RallyWrench
10/29/2014 at 16:43

Ok.

I pose to you the question I pose to them. I drive Cavalier. It has an evap leak. I know this because when I ran the code it came back "small evap leak".

Given I just went through inspection and passed. (lol OBD II inspection hahaha) is it worth fixing?

I talked to my mechanic he said he didn't *really* want to do it because it was a pain in the you know what.

This car on a good day is worth $1500.

Fix or drive till it dies with the check engine light on? As I said getting through inspections is no problem.

RallyWrench > 505Turbeaux
10/29/2014 at 16:43

Yeah, the lack of contact really sort of holds the whole thing up.

I tangled with a twin feedback carb Prelude once over 15 years ago, and only because a girl was involved. There is no other good reason.

Racescort666 > 505Turbeaux
10/29/2014 at 16:43

Someone recently asked a question about a vehicle I have extensive knowledge about, I helped. I'm helping! I'm helping! (Spills gallon of milk on the floor, sits down, cries)

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > RallyWrench
10/29/2014 at 16:45

I agree. I work on cars a lot but I'm in no way professional so when I give advice I always try to say things like "it might be this" or "try checking this." To allow for the possibility that I'm wrong. People need to know that one symptom on a car could be many different things in most cases. There's no substitute for an experienced mechanic looking at the car in person.