Auto Repair Scams - The Podcast

"SteveLehto" (stevelehto) 07/02/2015 at 09:00 • Filed to: None

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Yesterday, a piece I wrote upset a few people. Turns out, if you call something a “scam,” it tends to bother people who make their living by doing that thing. And, there are some people who just don’t like that word: scam .

So, on the topic of !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! to buy a brake job - more than 750 900 people commented the last time I looked. F-bombs flew and ass-hattery was called, presumably by guys who run brake shops. A good number of people argued that this never happens and has never happened. Another group chimed in to tell how it happened to them. I wanted to introduce these last two groups to each other to see what would happen. Would they cancel, explode or damage the fabric of space-time?

And one guy got bent out of shape by my use of the word “scam.” Whenever I use it, he recalls one piece I wrote on !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and insists I have misused the word. Kind of weird but the internet has no barrier to entry. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , like a good super-villain, that he will figuratively dance upon my grave. And, he calls my lone article a “crusade.” A true super-genius.

Anyway, I recorded a podcast on the topic of Auto Repair SCAMS , primarily because I thought it would be fun to use the word Scam in a sentence today. So, here is this week’s episode.

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And, since my video podcasts only started recently, there is a whole plethora of topics I podcasted which are not on video. So, I went back and did a video on Lemon Law. This week, you have a choice: The podcast above (new topic) or a classic topic on video.

Or, be daring: Do them both. And learn about scams in two different arenas.

Follow me on Twitter: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Hear my podcast on iTunes: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Steve Lehto has been practicing law for 23 years, almost exclusively in consumer protection and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! He wrote !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

This website may supply general information about the law but it is for informational purposes only. This does not create an attorney-client relationship and is not meant to constitute legal advice, so the good news is we’re not billing you by the hour for reading this. The bad news is that you shouldn’t act upon any of the information without consulting a qualified professional attorney who will, probably, bill you by the hour.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > SteveLehto 07/02/2015 at 09:03

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My local shop keeps telling me that I need by blinker fluid refilled. How much does this repair normally cost? I thought that $500 was reasonable.

SteveLehto > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 07/02/2015 at 09:08

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Metric or English?

thebigbossyboss > SteveLehto 07/02/2015 at 09:15

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“When you tell people there is a law about something you should be able to find the law”. True that.

Also Canada Day is also celebrated by copious amounts of fireworks. :D

Here is some from last year in my neighbourhood.

nermal > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 07/02/2015 at 09:19

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Be glad it wasn’t you’re muffler bearings! Those buggers are expensive.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > thebigbossyboss 07/02/2015 at 09:40

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I have just found the law involving a question I had about fireworks, ironically enough, but as you’d expect, common information sources mostly didn’t cite. Long story short, my state has its head up its rectum, and one of the most common “legal”/”safe and sane” fireworks sold here every 4th season should technically be illegal by the same statute that prohibits anything launched. DURR.

thebigbossyboss > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 07/02/2015 at 09:42

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Reminds me of Indian Labour laws. As one fellow familiar with them said “If you tried to apply 100% of the laws you’d break 10% of the laws” ...lol.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > thebigbossyboss 07/02/2015 at 09:49

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I had always heard that this state banned sale, but apparently it moved on to possession at some point as well - possibly in the 90s. Pyrotechnics were technically banned in ‘37, an exception added for cap pistol ammo in ‘55 (no joke), and then in ‘93, they decided to legalize a limited number of failsauce items because “other states be getting all our revenoos waaaaa”. And then, in 2009, they implemented permitting and licensure requirements for any launch of anything not on the Fail List. Like I said, not sure when the possession thing entered - it’s definitely part of the text as of 2009.

bobloblaw2345 > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 07/02/2015 at 10:05

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Make sure they do a balance and an alignment while you are at it.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > SteveLehto 07/02/2015 at 10:05

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I don’t normally have the time or sit still in a quiet enough location to listen, but I think I will make the time for this one, looks pretty interesting.

I remember one car in my shop years ago that had a safety issue so bad we didn’t think it would even go a few blocks, but I don’t remember what the issue was. We wrote up a special letter for this car, not saying anything about it being illegal just saying how unsafe and badly worn it was, and then paid to have the car towed to a destination of the customers choice. No trying to force anything or claim illegality. It was just a stubborn customer that refused to believe anything we had to say, on the defensive before their car ever even came into our shop.

That was a very extreme case though and I’ve never seen another car quite that bad with a customer that stubborn.

Future next gen S2000 owner > SteveLehto 07/02/2015 at 10:06

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Lets dance with the devil and go deeper into “you can’t leave because...” I am hoping space time rips when the two groups of people collide.

tpw_rules > SteveLehto 07/02/2015 at 10:11

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I commented over there but I’d like to do so here as well. I don’t like you saying as fact that a car would arrive safely in this scenario. It’s possible for a car to be drivable but hideously unsafe; otherwise, cars would never be impounded. If we believe there are at least a couple people on the internet who don’t lie (taking my sample from, again, http://reddit.com/r/justrolledin… ), then there are people who come in with extremely dangerous brakes and tires and ball joints and wheel bearings etc. who don’t think they need to be replaced.

I get your point though. Mechanics aren’t exactly trustworthy 100% of the time. I have heard that, in some states, it’s possible to call up a cop and explain that the vehicle is unsafe and must be repaired or impounded, but I haven’t done much research. My point is that it’s not always a scam. If we were in an alternate universe where mechanics could not lie, I would support such a mythical law pretty much 100%.

Have Jeep, will travel. > SteveLehto 07/02/2015 at 10:12

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To be clear Steve, if you are dishonest with someone to the point where you profit off of it, I would agree that it is a scam. Again, I always enjoy your posts.

Second, I have no doubt this happens at some shops regularly and is encouraged. There are unscrupulous shops, that’s why you have a job. Thats also why GOOD shops, have an uphill battle for new clients, and also why customer retention is easy when you take care of your customers and earn their trust.

If this EVER happened in a shop I worked in, and it has, dirty techs and advisors are gone quick enough that their heads would spin. Management and the foreman know what work is plausible and what it costs. Selling something over priced? Work that doesn’t need to be done? We find out easily. As you know, reputation is everything. Its so hard to obtain a good reputation, but it can quickly be lost.

thebigbossyboss > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 07/02/2015 at 10:14

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Which state are you again? That sounds tough. Here there are only certain days you’re supposed to light fireworks but widespread availability thank goodness.

SteveLehto > tpw_rules 07/02/2015 at 10:18

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Let’s assume that nothing changes the moment the car hits your lot. It came in in condition “x.” It is unsafe to drive in your opinion. But it is in the same condition in which it arrived. Why do you have the right to stop them from driving it away?

And what law says you have that right?

That is the point of my piece. If you have no law, that is fine. I am not saying all drivable cars are safe. I am pointing out that those cars are the subject matter for the police, not brake mechanics.

CobraJoe > tpw_rules 07/02/2015 at 10:29

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It is possible for a car to move under its own power and yet be unsafe, but I’m betting that the majority of times when a mechanic says “I can’t let you leave”, it is a scam.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > thebigbossyboss 07/02/2015 at 10:32

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NC. SC to the south is one of the least restricted places around, and TN and other places are fairly slack as well. So, of course, local cops have been threatening to stop people and local municipalities have been encouraging people to forego even any “safe and sane” fw use and just go to major events - something echoed by the useless sacks at the CPSC this year. So, in general:

I may aim to misbehave.

Thor Steinar > SteveLehto 07/02/2015 at 10:32

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Might be Whitworth.

thebigbossyboss > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 07/02/2015 at 10:37

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Oh I see that is no fun. Here in Ontario the state nannies us in many ways but that is not one thankfully.

Mak attack > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 07/02/2015 at 10:39

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Take it. You’re getting a hell of a deal.

Vincent Davidson > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 07/02/2015 at 10:44

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Don’t forget to have them check your muffler bearings too.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > thebigbossyboss 07/02/2015 at 10:48

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The current statute, in addition to amending things to involve only licensed people operating permit events, actually leaves vague whether strings of noisemakers are legal or not. That’s what I was citing above. They have an entry saying that things designed to startle/blah blah are exempt including pull-string streamers, pull-string noisemakers, throw-pellet things... and no mention of standard firecrackers. Whether they would be taken as “included” would probably be up to an LEO. Fuck. That. Shit. After having bothered to read the POS legislation in question, I’m more disfavored toward it and apt to disregard it than ever before, which... good job there, guys. (Democrats had a solid lock on the legislature at the time: so much for certain popular allegations.)

Hiroku > SteveLehto 07/02/2015 at 10:55

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Oh, this gon’ be good!

*grabs cop porn*

C Bake > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 07/02/2015 at 10:57

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If you are having the blinker fluid replaced, make sure the shop does the taillight fluid at the same time! I can’t believe they wouldn’t do those two together

thebigbossyboss > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 07/02/2015 at 11:07

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No disagreement here. Laws that are selectively enforced are the worst laws of all because it leaves it to the officers biases/mood/prejudice/whatever.

I prefer less laws but having those remaining laws pretty strict.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > thebigbossyboss 07/02/2015 at 11:11

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If I were a law student with literally nothing better to do, I’d buy an in-state legal assortment with a string in it, some out of state goodies, and force the issue. Demand that the in-state assortment be listed with the rest on the misdemeanor charge, and so on.

RALF > thebigbossyboss 07/02/2015 at 11:11

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I assumed Canada Day was celebrated by eating loads of poutine and drinking bagged milk.

RALF > SteveLehto 07/02/2015 at 11:13

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Scam artists tend to get defensive when you point out they’re scam artists. No surprise there.

thebigbossyboss > RALF 07/02/2015 at 11:13

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Well my one buddy did show up to the BBQ we were having stuffed to gills with so much poutine he couldn’t even eat burgers but yeah. Poutine is eaten in only the eastern half of canada in the western half it’s not really eaten at all.

SteveLehto > RALF 07/02/2015 at 11:18

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This piece has brought out the most vigorous reaction of anything I have written so far.

Brian Stieh > SteveLehto 07/02/2015 at 11:19

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A Relative took her Ford Escape to a place to get new tires. She got the tires. And then they told her that she needed new Calipers, Rotors and Shoes. But the car has absolutely no trouble stopping.

She took it to a Ford Dealership to get a recall fixed. And out of curiosity. She asked about the brakes. The tech said that there was nothing wrong. So that small tire shop definitely tried to screw her.

HEADLAU5 > SteveLehto 07/02/2015 at 11:28

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I can not begin to count the numer of times people have brought thier car to me from Just Brakes with a $1000+ estimate to replace calipers that have nothing at all wrong with them. I can’t speak for other brake shops but stay the helldamnfuck away from Just Brakes.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > thebigbossyboss 07/02/2015 at 11:28

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I thought of something else looney - no “pyrotechnics” in NC, no Jarts nationwide, but no special licensure is needed here at all for model rocket engines up to nearly 35lbf of thrust. What in the actual fuck. Here, let me go tig weld up a tube I’m going to launch high enough to come back down at 300mph, but anything made out of cardboard with some black powder? That’d be craaaazy.

C Bake > SteveLehto 07/02/2015 at 11:31

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Consider all the average Joes and Janes who don’t know much about cars. Say they bring their Dodge caravan in because it has warped rotors (pulsing in the brake pedal). They don’t know what’s wrong, they’re just unnerved by the feel of the brakes. This is very likely not a major safety issue since the brakes are unlikely to fail as a result of rotor warpage or whatever might cause brake pedal pulsation (of course there could be some unusual and very dangerous condition, but usually “warped rotors” are not a major safety concern). “Warped rotors” would not fail a state safety inspection. Now forcing those people to buy something they don’t actually need is wrong and obviously should be prevented. I am all for presenting the repair options to the customer, but under no circumstances should mechanics, or any salesperson, be allowed to coerce a customer into buying something under false pretenses and especially under the threat of holding the customers’ property hostage.

Now consider the flip-side: a truly unsafe vehicle comes in. Say the tires are past bald with cords showing everywhere, ball joints are ready to pop out, the frame has severe rust with major cracks 96% all the way through, and the brake rotors are broken off the hub. And the e-brake doesn’t work. And the throttle sticks open. Some or all of these problems would cause you to fail state safety inspection, at least in my state, depending on the attention paid by the inspector. Now is it right to say this car should not be on the road? The law says unsafe cars should not be operated, hence state safety inspections. If we can agree that unsafe cars should not be operated on public roads, then the question is only what to do about these cars when mechanics discover the safety problems.

Mechanics, not being law enforcement, cannot legally impound vehicles or otherwise prevent you from driving your car (though juries might side with the mechanic in extreme cases). What mechanics should be able to do, in my opinion, is revoke state safety inspection stickers, and replace them with Rejection stickers. Let the customer drive away with the big red R sticker on the window. This prevents the scam, while revoking the vehicles’ “safe” status.

Thoughts?

SteveLehto > C Bake 07/02/2015 at 11:38

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I agree with you wholeheartedly.

Many readers seem to think that I am advocating to keep unsafe cars on the road. I am not. Those cars should not be driven. The question is - Whose job is it to keep them off the road?

Until they start deputizing brake mechanics, let’s leave that to the Law Enforcement Professionals.

Izatd > C Bake 07/02/2015 at 11:44

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So there is a financial incentive for the mechanic to revoke your inspection, that won’t be abused at all. What happens if they are able to revoke an inspection the owner of the car goes to another shop and there is nothing wrong with it?

GreenN_Gold > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 07/02/2015 at 11:45

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Don’t forget the gerotor belt, the O-ring valve, the rain filter, the O3 sensor, and all four tire gaskets.

Droug > SteveLehto 07/02/2015 at 11:47

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Sure sure sure. There are bad mechanics and people that will try to scare you into buying services you don’t need.

BUT

I know way more bad lawyer jokes than I do bad mechanic jokes.

Just sayin.

SteveLehto > Droug 07/02/2015 at 11:54

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Most “lawyer” jokes work just as well with any profession plugged in. (Which means they aren’t all that funny.)

Q. What do you call 100 dentists at the bottom of the ocean?

A. A good start!

Q. What’s black and brown and looks great on an insurance adjuster?

A. A rottweiler!

Now, “It was so cold yesterday I saw an attorney with his hands in his OWN pockets . . “

That’s kind of funny.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > SteveLehto 07/02/2015 at 11:56

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I think sometimes when a mechanic wants to hold the car because the brakes really are COMPLETELY shot (as one example), there is a really legitimate safety concern where the car is so dangerous, it shouldn’t be on the road at all. Some people seriously neglect their cars.

But in other cases, there have been mechanics where they *act* like the brakes are completely shot when in fact they aren’t. And there’s no doubt that’s a scam.

Over the years, I’ve seen both good and bad mechanics... and good and bad car owners.

C Bake > Izatd 07/02/2015 at 12:00

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I see your point. I think it should count as a “false inspection” against the issuing inspector, with the second inspector having the authority to issue a passing inspection with the same expiry as the original, free of charge to the customer. Inspectors with abnormally high reports of false inspections (say three sigma outside the norm) should have their licensure / certification reviewed. Of course this could become a never-ending stream of he-said she-said, but how is that any different from the current situation with state safety inspections?

94GTratracer > C Bake 07/02/2015 at 12:04

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Some states do not have safety inspections or stickers. California, for example, only cares about what comes out of your tailpipe and that you have made no modifications under the hood. No tail lights? Broken windshield? No problem!

SteveLehto > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 07/02/2015 at 12:09

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I am not doubting that some of these mechanics might mean well. I am merely pointing out that there is no LAW allowing them to hold the car hostage until the brakes are repaired.

But, let’s face it, 99.9% of the time this line is used, it is being done to rip someone off. The other .1% of the times where the mechanic is legitimately concerned about public safety cannot be used to condone the bad apples.

Bearded Bastard > SteveLehto 07/02/2015 at 12:17

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It’s nice to be talked about but it appears you recorded this before I got back to it yesterday.

I swear, you should see some of the correspondence I gathered about this, and I mentioned the biggest part of the scam yesterday. They will say “well you owe us money for the diagnosis, and R&R of parts, your vehicle is unsafe to drive, we can’t let you take your vehicle”

People miss the “owe money” part, and latch on to the “we can’t let you leave because you have a bad car”

I came across forum upon forum, discussing how alberta is the only province they don’t have that ability, and after challenging people to find where the other provinces show, they never replied again, or have me government sites that specifically stated the conditions of payment owed, as well as estimate, and quote conditions much like you discuss about michigan.

Funny thing, Alberta is basically the Wild West ofCanada, there is not a single shop that won’t try to do the whole “we did this work for you without you asking” scam, because alberta has zero legislation on requiring shop and customer due diligence by signing agreements on estimates or pre work quotes. And there is almost zero recourse for a scammed individual as alternative to small claims courts.

I spoke to a shop I deal with exclusively, and honest as they are, are still just a tad cockeyed. I asked him, do you have the right to specifically refuse someone their vehicle if it’s not roadworthy. And his answer included “well if your vehicle is not drive able, and owe us money, we can’t let you have your car back because it’s unsafe”

And I went back and forth FOUR times to get him to say specifically that he cannot legally withhold a vehicle for being unsafe, and he wouldn’t, he absolutely would not separate the cost, and safety aspects.

It’s no wonder this myth gets so easily propagated. To the point that mechanics themselves believes it’s a legitimate law.

That said, I had an excellent canada day, worked a bunch, made some killer holiday pay, and had enough laughs to go around in seeking more insight to this cause yesterday.

DinoTheDinosaur > Brian Stieh 07/02/2015 at 12:24

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A Relative took her Ford Escape to a place

Key word in your story: “her” ... unfortunately, women are far and away the largest target of unscrupulous business tactics (aka “scams”) at mechanic’s or other car shops. The same car going to the same shop, if driven by a guy, 90+% likelihood of complete honesty on the part of mechanic/service adviser ... if driven in by a woman that percentage drops noticeably. Most shops / mechanics / advisers are completely fair and honest to all customers, male or female, but those few who are shady or otherwise unscrupulous will be more likely to try to pull the wool over on a woman than a man.

SteveLehto > Bearded Bastard 07/02/2015 at 12:27

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I had two people from Canada check in on this. You were one, obviously.

Thanks for the note.

RALF > SteveLehto 07/02/2015 at 12:41

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I think it falls into 2 categories.

1. Actual scam artists, they get incredibly bent out of shape when they are identified for what they are.

2. Idealists. They live under the illusion that the world is a wonderful place full of reputable people, and they think because they are honest so is everyone else. Honestly I think I actually dislike these people more

Every reasonable, professional mechanic I’ve ever talked to worth his salt will acknowledge that plenty of mechanics and garages will rip people off, but point out that they don’t, and that plenty of others don’t as well. Given that it’s basically a smart, reasoned approach, you’re not going to see it in gawker/kinja comments very often, or anywhere on the internet for that matter.

RALF > SteveLehto 07/02/2015 at 12:53

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To me the difference between meaning well and not meaning well is the difference between “I’m really not comfortable with you leaving in that condition, sign this acknowledging we warned you” and “there is a law that I can’t prove exists and probably doesn’t exist that says you have to pay me”

I refuse to give benefit of the doubt to anyone who uses what feels like a scare tactic without being able to provide the backup for it.

OldKingCole > C Bake 07/02/2015 at 12:55

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Here in Ohio we are not required to have vehicle inspections of any kind. So the mechanic would have no course of action. Assuming your state does have inspections, what qualifies the mechanic to evaluate your car to the state's standards? They would have to attend the same training the state inspectors do, and have to maintain a valid inspection certification. Once again, I'm not sure about other states, but here in Ohio you are not required to have a certification of any sort to work as a mechanic in a shop. If a non-certified mechanic removes an inspection sticker applied by a certified state employee, I'm pretty sure that would fall under the description of vandalism, which IS a crime.

Nytmare > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 07/02/2015 at 13:11

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$18.95 —

http://kalecoauto.com/index.php?main…

deekster_caddy > Have Jeep, will travel. 07/02/2015 at 13:29

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The difference is in the phrasing. It’s one thing for a shop to tell you “Your brakes are extremely dangerous and you shouldn’t drive this car.” It’s quite another for a shop to say “Legally, I can’t allow you to leave with brakes like this.” The first phrase is a scare tactic, but can be truthful. The second phrase is a lie, and that’s where the line is crossed.

Bogus2 > SteveLehto 07/02/2015 at 13:33

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My favorite is the automatic charge for grease.
About 8 years ago, I was at a dealer because my truck had a unique O2 sensor only available from the University Mazda in Seattle. When I went to pay the bill, the itemized charges had a listing of $12 “Grease charge”. I’m confident it’s $20 by now.

Seriously? I complained to the cashier and said, there were no moving part involved. There is no way any grease was used to install my part. Even if so, it would have been less than a dab. They still said there was a charge. I said please get the manager. Once I asked to see the manager the cashier reluctantly eliminated it.

They then stated they list this on ALL repair bills.
I understand a charge like this if its for rebuilding bearings or other rotating parts. However that is the exception and not the norm. Usually if a part is replaced that requires grease, it often comes with the specific type, & quantity needed to ensure it meets specifications.

What a bunch of bullshit. I hate this and I called the BBB as there was little social media at the time.

“Standard Book” job times are the other excrement foisted upon most consumers. While I agree, a mechanic should be competent and able to perform routine jobs in a “set time” parameter, they should ONLY charge for time they actually spend working on a vehicle.
Instead, If a mechanic finishes faster than the book’s average time, usually the shop and mechanic split the remaining wage hour tied to the repair as bonus compensation.

The REASON to choose a shop/mechanic is because they are experienced, good and are going to save me money. Not charge me a standard time to complete work and not give me an inflated charge for time they did not work on my vehicle. This removes all the incentive to work in the best needs of the customer. This is a bullshit system.

Dest > SteveLehto 07/02/2015 at 14:47

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Your a boss Mr Lehto. I never thought I could be interested in articles about the law!

philinmpls > SteveLehto 07/02/2015 at 14:59

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MANY years ago I brought my ‘68 VW in for new tires (I probably doubled the value of the car with that investment). When they were finished, they mechanic suggested I have the brakes fixed ... because they’d overshot the hoist and bumped the wall when they pulled my Bug into the garage. I remember the news being delivered with pity, but maybe that was because their shop didn't DO brake work.

Kw4m1g4 > SteveLehto 07/02/2015 at 17:14

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San Francisco Mercedes-Benz dealership, took the c-250 for a regular oil change and got hit with a $400 bill! Changed my oil, checked fluid levels and changed my wiper blades that did not need changing. charged almost 300 dollars for labor alone! Not everyone in SF had his/her start-up acquired for a gazillion-billion! Some of us are trying to make ends meet.

soundman98 > Hiroku 07/02/2015 at 19:16

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what does cop porn have to do with the subject?

F16AISGuy > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 07/02/2015 at 19:23

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It would have to be metric as a metric crescent wrench is the only way to remove the blinker fluid reservoir cap. Now, another really expensive repair is when your muffler bearings need a bit more propwash for lubrication.

LegHumper > Bogus2 07/02/2015 at 23:24

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What if it turns out your car is full of seized fasteners, rounded bolts or the book rate was plain optimistic (it usually is) and it took longer than that estimate. Would you be happy to find the labor is going to be X% more than the estimate when you go to pick it up?

LegHumper > Kw4m1g4 07/02/2015 at 23:25

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Right click, save as “First World Problem.txt”

Dumahim > SteveLehto 07/02/2015 at 23:28

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Oh, thank goodness you're on youtube now. Subscribed so I won't miss anymore episodes.

Mold67 > SteveLehto 07/03/2015 at 00:16

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I was in a shop once where I saw an old pickup on a lift with its front wheels off. I didn’t recognize what I saw on the hubs and asked the shop owner to explain. He pointed out that what I was seeing was what was left of the front brake discs. The outer surface of the discs had been completely worn away and the disc center ventilation ribs were now exposed and had partially worn away! Of course, the brake pads and backings were long gone, so he had no front braking at all. Up until that point, the truck owner had been able to acquire his annual safety stickers somewhere else, but finally couldn’t stop his truck very well. I’m questioning his ethics and those of his previous “mechanics”, not for his personal safety, but for all those people sharing the road with him every day. How about one of his previous inspectors alerting the police about his dangerous truck when they saw it, or should they just ignore it and hope no one gets hurt or killed?

945T > RALF 07/03/2015 at 02:06

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3. Good hard working honest people that are called scammers or implied they are when they are not, based on a wide brush approach to their profession that’s grossly inaccurate.

Robin3 > SteveLehto 07/03/2015 at 03:39

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Years ago, I took my Austin Montego to Kwik Fit. The car was worth 150GBP to give you an idea of its look. It was however reliable and well maintained by me, as it was my daily driver as a graduate. The Rear brakes failed the MOT. Kwik Fit told me I needed new Cylinders, shoes, and drums skimming at the rear or new Drums. The total cost would have been just under 500GBP. I took the car home without them doing the work, took the rear drums apart and inspected for myself, blew out the dirt from the cylinders, and they worked. And passed the MOT. All for free.

Fred von Halem > SteveLehto 07/03/2015 at 03:43

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Haha, I’m going to be looking for an insurance adjuster gig pretty soon and I love rottweilers!

Wilson > Bogus2 07/03/2015 at 03:53

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You would have book rate only work to the customer’s advantage, never to the mechanic’s. As it stands now, book rate for a job provides a fair and *predictable* charge for service.

SteveLehto > Mold67 07/03/2015 at 07:00

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I thought inspectors were supposed to fail vehicles which were unsafe. Isn’t that their job?

SteveLehto > Fred von Halem 07/03/2015 at 07:02

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Cross out insurance adjusters and write in “architect.”

Whitesmoke > SteveLehto 07/03/2015 at 08:52

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Yesterday, a piece I wrote upset a few people.

Comment of the day!

SteveLehto > Whitesmoke 07/03/2015 at 08:59

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Which one? Yours or mine?!

Whitesmoke > SteveLehto 07/03/2015 at 09:03

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Yours, for the sublime understatement....

Garismatic > Bogus2 07/03/2015 at 09:43

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So, if it takes a guy who has been working on cars for a year, an hour to repair your car, but a guy who has five years experience can do the same repair in half an hour... Isn’t that penalizing the guy who has lots of experience? I think that’s the idea behind the flat rate system.

Commenticus > deekster_caddy 07/03/2015 at 19:21

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Don’t bother with him. He gets all worked up if you challenge him. Funny to watch. Watch, he will jump right in like an asshole...now he won’t, because he wants to be the big man. But have fun watching him explode. I know I did.

Commenticus > LegHumper 07/03/2015 at 19:26

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1) like shops like the one in question wouldn’t up the cost anyway; and 2) if you go to an honest mechanic (I have one) you find the charts are pretty much spot on.

Commenticus > Thor Steinar 07/03/2015 at 19:29

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What I loved about the Cars movies was references like this.

Commenticus > SteveLehto 07/03/2015 at 19:32

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THIS!

Commenticus > Mold67 07/03/2015 at 19:39

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If the story you state is true, then you a)call the inspector’s office or b) call the police. That is all you can legally do.

Commenticus > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 07/03/2015 at 19:40

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How often do you believe this is the case - say out of 100.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > SteveLehto 07/05/2015 at 12:49

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Finally got around to listening, great podcast.

One comment though, sometimes we can’t give a perfect estimate for repair because we don’t know what’s needed yet. This is uncommon, but it will usually be a weird intermittent electrical issue that requires hours of testing to figure out. When the car comes in with a complaint the owner should be given an initial estimate for diagnosis, usually one hour, then at the end of that hour should be called with an update and an idea of how much more time it will take to figure out.

Unfortunately not all technicians are created equally so some will take much longer than others. But on the other hand, many good technicians will only charge you for a portion of the actual time they invested and that percentage decreases the more time they spend. We understand that it would be absurd to make you pay for eight hours of diagnostic time and then half an hour to repair that wire along the firewall that was chewed on by a mouse for a total of more than $1000 in labor. This is especially true when we feel we should have found the problem sooner.

SteveLehto > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 07/05/2015 at 13:18

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Yeah, I get that too. I think in those kinds of situations, the techs give an estimate and when it looks like they are going to exceed it, they call. But for most of the stuff (water pumps, starters, tuen ups and so on) an estimate should be doable.

If nothing else, ask and play it by ear. I suspect that a good mechanic should be able to explain why he cannot give an estimate in advance (if he/she is in a state where one is not required).

Thanks for the note and the listen!

Integra420co > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 01/19/2016 at 23:04

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Ha, well if u do your blinker fluid u need to adjust the Johnson rod.