Pet peeve: shops telling me that I should not do my own work on my car

"valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option" (valsidalv) 10/17/2016 at 13:28 • Filed to: wrenching, Rant

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Mini-rant up ahead. 1:43 Fiat Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari that sits on my desk for your time. And yes, I did actually buy it in Italy!

This weekend I attempted to replace the shocks/struts on my car. It didn’t go so well. You guys helped me out with some tips about removing a stubborn nut and although I was able to get one off it was just the first of many. PB Blaster, torch, hammer, impact driver, breaker bar - all cowered at the rusty landscape in my wheel wells. I exhausted my resources and conceded defeat.

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So now I’m calling shops to get a quote for the job. I’m hearing between $400 - 500 for some... others don’t install parts unless you order through them. The last shop I called, I explained to them that I tried to do it on my own and wasn’t able to finish.

And then the guy I’m speaking with begins to lecture me about how I should not be doing my own work because I’m not licensed, and that the police can ticket me for some obscure reason. Now, I understand that if I’m involved in a wreck and it’s because I took my brakes off and forgot to put them back on... yea, well that’s my fault. But this isn’t that scenario and changing shocks/struts is well within the means of a regular person (in the absence of rust). I don’t think a cop will pull me over and say “those struts look like they weren’t installed by a mechanic... license and registration, please”.

Furthermore, here I am actually calling your shop to get a quote for a professional install and I have to hear that my work is incompetent? That’s not a way to win me over. Sure I’m not a master mechanic (clearly, cuz damn you rust!!!) but I’ve managed to do plenty of work on my car, motorcycle, and bikes and still be in one piece. And no tickets.

So... that’s that. Car, you win this round. Reluctantly I will spend some more money on you.

bob and john > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option 10/17/2016 at 13:30

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what shop is this? I’ll make note to avoid them

CB > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option 10/17/2016 at 13:32

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Avoid that shop like the plague, and probably put up a review on Google or Yelp to let people know that they use scare tactics.

EL_ULY > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option 10/17/2016 at 13:34

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And here at the dealer level, we tell many independent/specialty shops not to work on many aspects of any of our 4 brands of cars.

valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option > bob and john 10/17/2016 at 13:42

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Well I don’t want to just badmouth them... they have good reviews online, it was simply this initial interaction that left a sour taste in my mouth. Dupont Auto in downtown.

In fact a motorcycle shop I went to in the past to do the 1000 km once-over of my ZX told me that I shouldn’t have changed the oil because it can have an effect on the warranty. Sure enough, I read my owner’s manual and Kawi recommends that oil changes be done at a certified dealer. Strange.

valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option > EL_ULY 10/17/2016 at 13:47

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Is there a specific reason for that? Perhaps a business reason?

I can understand where this message comes from... some stuff is in fact better left to the pros. But wrenching is a fun way to spend a day or weekend for some. I’ll work on my own car if I feel like it and if I think I can accomplish the task.

Autofixation > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option 10/17/2016 at 13:56

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I wouldn’t go to that shop. I try and build a relationship with a shop that understands that I do work on my own car. They also understand that I only bring my car in when I need specialty equipment, like an alignment rack. They do exactly what I ask and know better than to try and upsell because they know that I am there for only exactly what I came for.

valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option > Autofixation 10/17/2016 at 14:02

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Funny enough the shop that has given me the best price so far is actually one of those large store/garage chains that’s all over Canada. This particular location has good reviews and I’ve dropped off my car there before. It felt no different than going to a small shop. You hear about places like these hiring whoever walks in off the street... but they have a serious reputation to keep so I’m thinking their work should be trustworthy.

bob and john > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option 10/17/2016 at 14:07

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you go to really bad shops....

Mustafaluigi > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option 10/17/2016 at 14:17

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“Recommends” is the key word. That is their way of trying to convince scared people to thinking it has to be done there. If you changed your oil with the right, REQUIRED oil, in the right intervals and had proof of doing so, there is no reason or way it could effect your warranty. Had you decided to use a different weight oil or only doing it every 10k miles then sure you could have issues if your engine had a failure.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option 10/17/2016 at 14:30

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My mechanic (a Mercedes dealer) will tell me what I should be able to do instead of spending money there. I am more than happy to spend my money there.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option 10/17/2016 at 14:35

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Whether or not their work is trustworthy, it’s generally backed by a pretty good customer service department. I have however had wheel weights left off to upsell an alignment once at a CT... I was less than impressed.

Kanaric > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option 10/17/2016 at 14:38

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To be frank the only shops I had tell me this were bad shops or chains lol. The shops I use now which are also specialists who do serious builds for autocross, SCCA racing, and things like that on the side never say anything like this.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option 10/17/2016 at 14:51

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Did you try the nut splitter?

InfinityAero > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option 10/17/2016 at 14:52

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There’s nothing worse than stalling over something stupid like a bolt— a huge job undone by one faulty bolt or stud. Now that you’re stuck-- shops will likely look to gouge you unless you have a good relationship with one. They’ll claim they need the full book-specified timeframe to get a job finished that’s half done, and you might have to pay to have it towed over there...

Took a look back at the post— cut that bolt off! Had to do the same while dealing with my Fiat’s suspension— ended up cutting the shocks at the bottom right above the eye so I could hit both sides of the mounting bolt with a combination of a cutting wheel and hand-saw.

I’ve heard heat works wonders for bolts like that... maybe borrow a torch from a friend and hit it with that...

Sam > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option 10/17/2016 at 14:52

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Every vehicle manual recommends going to the certified dealer for repairs.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Autofixation 10/17/2016 at 15:14

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Upselling in and of itself isn’t a bad thing, even if they know you work on your own stiff and won’t have them do the work. I do it for my customers like you and it’s meant as a courtesy. As a professional there’s a very good chance I’ll notice something that you didn’t and I just want you to be aware of it. I’ll give you my price and you can take it or leave it, maybe the convenience is worth it to you. The bad side of upselling is when shops try to force or scare you into getting the work done.

People bad mouth shops all the time simply because “They tried to sell me a transmission service! Those evil bastards!”. Well maybe it’s just due by time and mileage or the fluid looks like crap.

valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option > InfinityAero 10/17/2016 at 15:15

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I pretended I had that nut off and proceeded to the next step. Was met with a bigger bolt in a location that was even harder to reach and had just as much rust. Basically at any step I would have been met with an excruciating challenge. This completely gets rid of the fun in wrenching for me, and makes the entire process feel like a chore. I’m sure I’d be very satisfied with myself if I was able to do it all... but don’t want to waste another weekend on this.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option 10/17/2016 at 15:16

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That’s a bit unethical of him to say, trying to scare you out if working on your own stuff.

Unless you have a reputation among various shops for being a hack? ......kidding.....

valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 10/17/2016 at 15:17

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No, I couldn’t find one at my local tool/hardware store. The remaining steps in the job would have been just as challenging so I threw in the towel.

valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 10/17/2016 at 15:18

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Haha! “Oh no not you again... just stop working on your car already!”

valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches 10/17/2016 at 15:18

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That’s the dream.

InfinityAero > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option 10/17/2016 at 15:22

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I hear ya-- I got my suspension disassembled with a lot of blood sweat and tears, but it did take me weeks, not days (much less hours). I’ll be tearing it down and rebuilding it again this winter-- should be able to do the job in a wekeend now that I’ve made all the possible mistakes at least once :)

OPPOsaurus WRX > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option 10/17/2016 at 15:26

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i’m pretty sure there was a Lento video on that or something similar. That guy can go screw.

EL_ULY > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option 10/17/2016 at 15:44

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Body shops messing with carbon fiber structure pieces

Shops trying to calibrate convertible tops without proper factory tools

Shops trying to tackle any type of network diag

Any type of a/c work where the dash is getting pulled and SRS stuff needs to be carefully removed.

Anything to do with our very high tech brake actuators and modules

Any module ever!

Anything to do with panoramic roof.

etc...

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option 10/17/2016 at 15:58

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We definitely have customers like that. But we never actually say they’re the problem, just give them an objective list of obvious issues.

Autofixation > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 10/17/2016 at 21:19

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You have a very valid point. By upselling I didn’t mean that if they see that I have a bad tie rod, my valves need adjusted, or a torn subframe that I wouldn’t listen to their offer. Things that are either safety issues or extremely difficult I’ll entertain. I just meant stuff like filling my washer fluid, installing an air filter, changing diff fluid. The simple things that are basic maintenance.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Autofixation 10/17/2016 at 21:29

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But at the same time, it’s not our job as shops to pick and choose what your car needs. It’s our job to let you know what we found top allow you to make that decision for yourself. We don’t necessarily know your capabilities, or what kind of time you have, or money, or even if you’re in the mood to replace an air filter.

There’s been a bunch of times where I’ve had people come in and say right off the bat they wouldn’t buy anything if we tried to upsell them because they would do it themselves or have “their mechanic” do it instead. Then they would turn around and spend a ton of money with us. That’s great. But plenty of times where they don’t buy anything, and that’s fine too. At the end of the day the only real control I have is to make sure all of my customers are fully aware of their vehicle’s condition.