Bad Mechanics
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- Опубліковано 11 гру 2024
- www.ericthecarg...
I'm sure this will draw a lot of discussion and it should in my opinion. In fact I think part of my own motivation in becoming a technician is that I had a hard time trusting mechanics so I decided to take it on myself. Here are the links to the things mentioned in the video.
News Report
www.ctv.ca/CTVN...
Response to news report
cdntechnician.d...
Stay dirty
ETCG1
My dad had an Exxon in the 90s. There was a statewide police investigation. They put a bad compressor fuse in a chicks car and sent her around to different service stations. My dad had no idea about the investigation and found the fuse and sent her on her way for free. Only the shysters got publicity. Not him.
Zack Rossi of course they didn't show the guys trying to be honest they usually have a direct narrative that they're trying to drive home. That's why John stossel stopped doing consumer reports on 20/20 because the executives and or producers didn't want to show both sides of the equation thus turning him into the powerhouse of narrative he is today
@@budsodastories 20/20 IS STILL GOOD...AT LEAST IT MAKES PEOPLE AWARE OF MANY TRUTHS!! YOU WANT A GOOD NAME FOR YOURSELF ITS UP TO YOU AND YOUR WORK REPUTATION. pEOPLE DO SPREAD THE WORD...YOU DONT NEED 20/20 FOR THAT!!
I got into working on cars BECAUSE I don't trust mechanics.
That's how Scotty Kilmer got his start.
Most of us did.
truth
Same, it's made me a damn good mechanic because of it. Degree and all.
Same here. I don't trust any single one. Decided to do my own work. No I am a fair weather backyard mechanic who knows a thing or two and thats about it lol
Also, I think you're a special case. You actually care about what you do and you have a great attitude. Most people are not like that, regardless of profession. Your personality and moral compass are what make you a great technician.
Actually, I think most people want to care about what they do. It gives them meaning. A lot of people are underpaid and mistreated and that makes it hard to care. Some business owners are over their heads and oversell themselves.
Odd, he just flat out said he keeps the customer in the dark because he's more interested in protecting a mechanic he doesn't know than his own customer.
That's not a dude who cares about the work, the customer, or the machine.
i know this is off topic, but i greatly enjoy the ETCG1 intro theme. (:
+Alex Peterson Me too. (:
The first 10 times OK, now I fast forward past it.
me too
Watched your video on replacing Honda ball joints, and replaced my son's left ball joint, and his CV axle. When I got stuck trying to remove the rest of the broken ball joint my Mechanic neighbor showed me how to remove it with a 'pickle fork' pretty cool, and my kid still driving around in his old Accord. Thanks.
I used to be in the business several years ago, had my own transmission shop. I put my heart & soul into it and ran it honestly and ethically for only 3 years; and in 2010, I closed. I did my best & made a lot of happy customers, (of course, every mechanic runs into a few that can never be made happy, no matter what), but it wasn't enough to keep me afloat. Part of the reason was the economy was in the toilet and there were other shops nearby that were already established long ago, and the other was a thieving and unscrupulous landlord. There were so many instances of where I saw previous shoddy work done to customer cars from the local shops, I just couldn't believe why those shops that did the work remained in business. And I learned early on of being a shop owner, that it's a cutthroat, back-stabbing game of competition!
To be honest, I don't miss it. I went back to college, and I'm doing something completely different in the medical field of helping people. What I see today, is a growing trend of independent mechanics advertising their talents on the internet, and going to the customers house to do the work; some go flat rate, others are hourly. I met a few, and they are very good and experienced. One of them even took his add off the net later on, because he told me he was getting too much work.
If you KNOW someone did a bad job, and didn't tell the customer, then you are as bad as the person that did the bad job. But don't feel alone. Doctors and MANY other professions aren't HONEST about others in their profession that do bad jobs, either. I have been to hundreds of large and small shops since I started driving over 40 years ago. I've been ripped off more times than I can count. Used to be, dishonest mechanics mostly preyed on women. Now they'll rip off anyone that they think doesn't know enough about cars. Your profession is loaded with dishonest techs. Having said that, there are lots of honest ones, but finding them is incredibly difficult. I could tell you SO MANY TRUE STORIES about those dishonest techs in your field, but it would take literally hours. So when someone starts trying to bash investigative reporters for weeding out dishonest people, I don't agree with them (the bashers). Eric, wait till you've been driving 40+ years and had to get your cars worked on by many many shops, before you can say, with experience, that MOST aren't just trying to rip you off. :o)
facts. the investigative reporters dont come after groups of people who do things right.
I am not I licensed tec, but I do work on a lot of vehicles, out of my garage. I'll get to the point. I can't spell worth a crap either, but when a guy at work took his 2003 edge ranger 4.0 to a garage, (unknown location) because of rough idle, hard to start symptoms. They said he'll need a new engine. I think the quote was around $2500, now this would be an engine from the wreckers, not a reman. The owner(guy from work) was hard up. He herd through word of mouth, I work on cars and trucks, so he asked if I could look at it. After starting it and listening to it running, for a while. a you could hear a barley audible hissing sound hissing sound right from the break booster vac line.(I think that's what it was, it was a while ago) anyway a massive intake leak! Just a rubber 90 degree that was deteriorated. So I grabbed a new piece of hose and problem solved.
The point is, is that they are out there.
You're right, your spelling does suck! ;-)
When I was 17 I got screwed over by an auto mechanic during a transmission job, and ever since then I decided I would do all work on my own car. This drove me to become an automotive engineer as well.
It is an honor to have people bring me their automobiles to me for service and repair. I suspect most good technicians feel the same . The dealer or the shop does not put money in my pocket . The customers do . I am humbled by their trust and confidence in me as well as their heart-felt appreciation. They are a big part of my life. As far as bad technicians , I can only say SCREW YOU!!! Go mess up something else , but get out of my profession!!!
What no one is talking about is the fact that the car dealerships and big companies push these mechanics to work quickly and cheaply. Blame it on big companies making big money and squeezing salaries with mechanics to basically nothing. Case and point ETCG doesn't work as a technician for a living, he works making videos. Companies do not want to pay techs so what you have are a bunch off low wage techs that do not make that much with limited skills. High Skill guys like ETCG gave up on being a technician because there is no money to be made anymore. You get what you pay for and no one wants to pay money for car repair anymore.
Not only that Chinese companies are buying name brand products like Bosch that used to be good quality parts and selling cheap parts under the quality brand name. But your exactly right car parts are cheap and do not last long anymore.
I agree with everything you said except the part where there's no money to be made in automotive tech, and that no one wants to pay for car repair anymore. There's a lot of new technology in cars nowadays even a seasoned diy'er will need to purchase some expensive specialized equipment to even just start making a diagnosis. And even without all the new technology, it will still be beyond most diy'er's ability to make more than just minor repairs, which require not only the skillset but also a good amount of heavy lifting from the tools to the car parts that need repairing or replacing.
Yep, I think today's heavy machinery (cars being the focus of this conversation) will always be in need skilled technicians to fix or maintain them.
I went to school to be a mechanic and got a job at a GM dealership at the end of my first year on the recommendation of my instructors. This was when I discovered I'm can turn a wrench pretty good but I'm not the best at diagnosis or getting myself out of hole. However, my service manager knew I used to be a supply sergeant and put me behind the parts counter. It was a natural fit and all concerned never regretted it.
Thank you for your service.
We have a lot of nice guys in this industry and most are not trying to rip someone off. But when when we make a mistake on a customer's car the question is how do we handle it from there. The biggest problem in the industry is incompetence not fraud.. When you seek someone to work on your car based on price alone, you run the risk of coming across many techs who are incompetent. He's the tech who has likely been working on cars for 10 years THE WRONG WAY. They often are the nice enthusiastic guys who never have trained to industry standards, don't use a procedural guide, always think they know better then the guy who designed it. If you want quality work, backed by a warranty, done by a credentialed tech who has the right tools and information to correctly fix your car while it's under the protection of the shop's insurance, you'll have pay more. All of those things in I mentioned are part of what it takes to do this business right. Serious shops are fixing cars because they've combined their passion with their business. IT"S NOT THEIR HOBBY.
I love bad (not horribly dishonest, just crappy) mechanics. They got me into turning my own wrenches.
I have to say, eric, most mechanics here are total scumbags. The good ones charge twice as much, pick their work, and are booked for a month. Some are just incompetent, but even if they try to eat it, in the end you end up eating it, and probably fixing it yourself too.
+dav3fk lol I agree with this wholeheartedly... my own bad experiences with mechanics is what got me to start doing my own car work, which eventually led me to etcg
Mechanics ripping me off is what got me into doing my own work too lol. I was too broke to keep playing their games. It was a blessing in disguise for me though because I genuinely enjoy working on my vehicles. Taking things apart, and putting them back together is something that I've enjoyed doing since I was little. Forum posts, how-to articles, service manuals, conversations with car enthusiasts, watching GOOD mechanics, and videos from people like ETCG, have all helped me to learn more and more about vehicle maintenance and repair.
I developed trust with two local mechanics, they both screwed me over. Went to another mechanic, never did trust him and he also screwed me over. I'd walk instead of even buying a car if I could.
Maybe it's the cult you're in, Bob works in the industry.
Robert Drake In your case with that much screwing over, you have three viable choices:
One: Move to New York City or any other major US city with a vast public transit system, get a job that pays enough to live in the city proper along a subway/elevated train/bus or walking distance route to your job, shopping, doctor or anything else you need and dispense with a car altogether.
Two: Go to automotive repair school. Get trained and certified, buy the scan tools, lifts, special tools, etc. and work on your car yourself.
Three: Lease or buy brand new cars and if they fail under warranty period or lease period, it's the dealership's problem. After the warranty or lease runs out, get another car and they cycle starts all over again.
chrismc410 #boom
I need more details before I go jumping on this bandwagon. What did they do 3 times to "screw you over"?
My local mechanic doesn't even like it if I tell him I checked the oil or something. Like it's an insult. All about that power trip, for some.
Hey Eric. I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to post these really important videos whether its regarding car repairs, simple advice, or your approach/philosophy on what it takes to become a good tech. Im 24 yrs old just starting out in the Automotive trade working for Hyundai. I've had a passion for cars my whole life but didnt pursue a career till now. Your videos really help me get through the boring days of oil changes and tires. I gotta start somewhere I guess.. Thank you.
I wish I had the vocabulary you have in explaining things. I love listening to you talk because you're choice of words are so precisely correct and your point of views are right on the money. You're right, it's not just mechanics getting a bad rap. It could be any profession. I believe it all comes down to quality, honesty, and customer service. Thank you for all the free knowledge & time you provide for us. You are the most awesomest dude on UA-cam!!!
Hi Eric, i related to this video when you talked about learning difficulties. I'm dyslexic and have difficulty spelling sertain words. As you said, someone can take things apart and put them back together without a problem but when it comes to talking to people they struggle. That would be me. i recently found my love for woking with cars and i want to get into the automotive repair industry. Ive learned alot through your tutorial videos and i find them brilliant. Thanks for taking the time by making them.
I'm a techie too - but in my 60 years experience, at least 50% of the auto mechanics and shops are either dishonest or clueless. About the best you can hope for is reasonably competent and honest. You sir are an exception.
You guys do charge a lot for your service , but a mechanic like you is worth it. Your kind is few and far between. Keep up the good work and thank you for your service !
You arent paying for the job getting done. You are paying for all the knowledge and experience the technician has gotten over the years, and if he went to school, you're paying for that too. You pay for all he has to know to tell you what was wrong in your car and fix it in maybe 5 minutes.
Just like doctors , some are good some are not so good some are quacks .
We charge a lot per hour by the book, but we end up doing a lot of free stuff too, in addition to the truth of Kevin's reply.
Thing is, the mechanic isn't just raking in all the money you pay them for himself. He has a facility to run, a LOT of overhead cost, & he only takes home what is leftover. You pay $80/hour for labor, I bet the tech is only rolling in $30/hr on average. The rest goes back into the facility.
Right on Eric !
I could not have expressed the same sentiments and insights better, true there are un-scrupulous 'mechanics' out there, many of which I would not trust to gather shopping carts at a supermarket! All you have to remember is that YOU are diagnosing and repairing the vehicle in a professional manner and that YOU can be proud of the work you do.
When a family packs themselves into the car that YOU just had dont the entire brakes, YOU will know that car will stop safely as they descend a long grade.
YOU will be able to sleep well because of a job well done, who cares about the other 'mechanics' , do they sleep well and am able to look themselves in the mirror?
Professiona automotive mechanic-30 year experience here
I very much respect auto mechanics. You guys have a tough job! Slaving over hot, dirty, smelly vehicles all day. Wrenching in the extreme heat & cold. Getting dirty all day & having harmful chemicals splash on you regularly. All so that you can get me back on the road. & I have been a service advisor, & a commercial sales manager of an auto parts store. I know many, many good technicians. But unfortunately, there are bad apples everywhere.
Salute, ETCG!
Thank you very much for that comment! I really appreciate it.
I'm glad you mentioned that, I have a learning disability as well. I understand motors I know how to work on them, but once wiring issue strikes up I'm lost I can't comprehend wiring. unless hooking up cd players speakers subs amps. those things I understand. but a short bad ground or a broke wire somewhere in a harness I don't know exactly where to start. I'm not a wire technician I'm just mechanically inclined. I believe treating people right an helping but it's to the point where when I'm needing help like right now everybody's backs turned I don't understand. I don't ask much from anyone because everything I do is self taught an I do things on my own.
I'm not book smarts I don't comprehend the books I want hands on or I watch someone else that's how I learn.
I’ve be a tech for about 15 years and I Totally agree. I personally feel good when I don’t rip my customers off. Like you said, the bad ones don’t stay around long. Thank you for speaking up Eric!
u are the best mechanic i know. To me, you come across as an automotive engineer than an automotive mechanic. You have great knowledge not just on cars but on the principles of life. Keep up the good work !
@yoyo762 That is an excellent point and one of the reasons that I always tell people asking me about getting into auto mechanics that they need to get some formal education and certification to succeed in this industry as a lack of knowledge and experience can not only result in poor quality work but also compromise the integrity of the profession. Thanks for your comment.
Hey Eric. I agree with most of what you said. There are definitely bad people in every profession, but I have experienced myself quite a few bad technicians moreso than any other profession. It's a shame, but that has what lead me to your videos! Seriously, without the bad mechanics I would have never wanted to try to fix my car myself, and thus watch your videos. So thank you for being so honest and helpful in an industry where it's hard to come by.
@chris95069 Yea the 'unexpected expense' of auto repair often puts people on the defensive and in a position where they can be taken advantage of. Thanks for your comment.
When worked on computers, I had customers come in, if it was an easy fix, like something came unplugged or whatever, i did not charge them.
Some news agency did an undercover investigation on computer repair techs, & sent in a computer with one of the PSU cables unplugged. Some shops plugged it back in & sent the undercover customer on their way. & others, told the undercover customer that she needed a new MOBO, or new RAM. Like, what?
Thanks for being honest. I had a great service manager who always told me "When someone is honest with the small stuff, they almost always go back to them for the big stuff." & he is right. I do that, too. & that is where the money is at, in the big stuff. So no need to nickel & dime your customers. Just being honest will keep them coming back, & keep your facility afloat. My service manager also said "Always tell the truth. Because the truth never changes, it always stays the same". This is so true.
@Toyota4Runner4Ever Building good customer relationships is key to a successful automotive business mostly because of the trust involved (with both parties if you think about it). Thanks for the comment and good luck with the business.
I saw the video you linked Eric. This is why I'm a DIYer in my spare time. The only things I take my car to the shop for are tires, exhaust, and A/C repairs, only because those aspects of car repair require equipment that is too big, expensive, or otherwise not feasible to do at home. Personally, I saved myself and my family thousands of dollars in car repairs, and all my fixes have held up to or beyond satisfactory tolerances because I take the time to do it right the first time.
@cbsctomh I subscribe to that philosophy myself and it's served me well for some time now. Thanks very much for your comment and working to help change the perception of the automotive technician, well done.
I've been an auto tech for 24 years. In that time I've been threw a lot with customers. The deal is that customers don't realise the cost of tools and overhead.I invested $75,000 worth of tools to work on todays vehicle. I use state of the art diagnostic equipment to make diagnose quicker to get the customer back on the road. And when it comes to parts I charge the customer the price we get it for. I don't double it or triple it like other shops do. After the diagnostic I bring the customer out and explain what happened,why it happened,and what it's going to take to fix it. I explain what has to be fixed now and what issues they are going have to address in the future. I do have customers who think I'm trying to take them so I refer them to get a second opinion. So yeah we do get a bad wrap cause most customer make there own labor in there minds what it should of cost. You want it cheap go to a back yard mechanic. You want it done right the first time take it to a certified auto tech. May cost you more but you get what you paid for.
wrong, even certified auto techs rip off people every day specially the ladies. shade tree mechanics all the way to auto techs in private garages and car dealerships make big ez money from people as ez as taking a candy from a baby.
I have been in the trade for 25 years and yes I am updated with all the tech, computer diagnostics , have to tell you I buy quality tools and I have not even spent close to $10,000 Australian on tools computer diagnostic scan tools included , sounds like you know how to waste money is all that proves to me ! Continuously throwing money at cars and tools is not your answer, the biggest problem I ever faced while working on cars was time , and money don’t buy time, fortunately my days of working on cars for me is nearing the point of not being worth doing they are all liabilities, you would be better off getting into investing shares/stocks , passive real estate income, that way just enjoy working on your own car. Who cares about being some slave society don’t care about .
Eric, I've been in business for 18 years. Customers can detect honesty as well or better than you can. You must always be straight with them. After a while I find myself taking on the toughest jobs just to show my knowledge of the industry. It makes me feel good regardless of the amount charged and your customers see this and will always return.It's no longer about the money, it's about your own satisfaction. If you enjoy your job it becomes your life! Everything else falls in place.
ive gone through 4 laptops under my truck man, im a loyal customer, here on youtube, i was a newbie at working cars, i have not gone to a mechanic ever since i found you! Screw the media!
I think the other reason mechanics are disliked on that list you mentioned is the average person doesn't understand the art of auto mechanics. It's a "black magic" or "witchcraft" of sorts.
just wanted to say this man tells the truth!! I have adhd and dyslexia. I never could do a flip in math, history, English, etc. but when it came to cars, bikes or anything with a engine. I am like a genius for what little education I have. everyone always thought I was dumb as a box of rocks but when it came to mechanical things all the book worms came to me for advice.
I never had to go to school for Mechanics, it is just something i understood!!
YOU ARE BORN A GOOD MECHANIC NOT TAUGHT!!
Eric'm Portuguese thanks to your tips ... thanks to your tips I could discover or understand how it works as a part of my car ... who understands the mechanics of a car does not need anything else ... SO the tips make the difference ... Thanks and good job!
@spelunkerd Your right but keep in mind that there are SOME people at the dealer that are good, they are hard to find though. Thanks for the comment.
I disagree there are a lot of bad techs and even more bad shops!! I've worked in them and that is why I don't anymore cause I won't rip people off!!
@PUREAAMERICAN It's true that there are a lot of things that come into play that can handicap the outcome of a service or repair but at the end of the day I guess all you can do is the best you can. Thanks for the comment.
Eric, you do great work and I've used your videos as guides in my repairs several times. I think too many people have the opinion of auto mechanics as being not as smart or uneducated and your work and philosophies prove quite the opposite. Great stuff man, keep up your good work
Eric and Scotty Kilmer are the best and I appreciate theyre are pro mechanics that have time to show inexperience people how to fix cars. Most appreciated and thanks keep up the great work and never stop, there will always be critcs but the majority of the people love you guys. Thanks
@keasy84 That is very true and if I can do anything with my work I hope it helps change that very perception. Thanks for the comment.
@vipermech It is amazing how auto repair and certain 'business philosophies' seem to collide at times. Thanks for your comment.
@hobieslug45 Yea the dealership setting can be a high pressure environment that's for sure. Thanks for your comment.
@Chills327 People have a tendency to focus on the negative but there are a lot of GOOD mechanics out there but they are unfortunately grouped in with this lot. It may take some time but with enough effort I think those perceptions could be changed. Thanks for the comment.
My family has a mechanic, Josh the mobile mechanic who is awesome. Always answers questions, explains things, even lets us help out if we want. He's honest, hard working and just generally a really decent guy.
Amen brother. I grew up around car guys, my dad worked for a GM dealership for decades. Most down to earth best folks I ever have known. There are some that are not so great but just like you say they get weeded out.
People ask me where they can take their vehicles to get them worked on since I refuse to work on any ones car outside of my family and select friends. I tell them I only trust myself, and I can't even fully trust myself. You're going to have to do your research and find a mechanic with the best reviews that specialize in your vehicle. Do not go to a mechanic that does all makes.
I won't work on cars outside of my family and few select friends, because if something breaks I don't want to have to replace it for free at cost and pay to fix their car, and when something down the road happens I'm automatically blamed. I don't want to be on the hook or have people thinking I broke their car when cars break all the time and isn't even related to what I fixed. I actually picked up many cars that mechanics did break and found what they broke or did wrong and had a good vehicle from it.
There is a lot to know. You can't know every make and model and each year could be different, and there are many quarks, and things that would have you spending more time learning then actually fixing. So that is why I say go with someone that specializes in one make, or even a specific part like transmissions or engines, or similar.
The reports are definitely a representation of people who don't think they should spend money to keep their car running. Sorry, but that's the reality of it. It costs money to repair your vehicle.
I definitely resonated with you when you mentioned that some people aren't very sociable. That's part of why I love my job. I'm an electrical engineer and I love my work. My work speaks for me, without me having to talk.
Seeing this being a second year apprentice in a shop that's very difficult to be at it's good to see a tech that's understands
I'm trying very hard to finish my apprenticeship and find another job with techs that love what they do even when I was going to trade school there are so many haters out there saying things behind your back but it's nice to see Eric the car guy working hard at it gives me courage and yes I do look at my tool box makes me proud like something I built with my own hands
This video gives light to my day everytime i watch it.
Thanks for doing what you do Eric! :)
@GCraigmile Thank you for being an exemplary technician, me and the industry thank you.
@fastveedub I for one appreciate you for that more than you know. Thank you for the exceptional work ethic.
@HIPPIE1255 It is a tough living and would wear anyone down including me. Thanks for your comment and for your input.
hi people always blame the mechanic that's part of life I'm afraid to say, I had a Peugeot 206, the customer said he wanted the handbrake adjusted that's all, when I looked at the problem it was a rear brake slave cylinder leaking, so I told him that he totally disagreed with me, but said replace the rear brake cylinder which I did, and still the brakes wouldn't work, I found out it was a rear load sensor, told the customer this, and all hell was let loose like it was my fault for the problem, I ended up showing him the parts I replaced I did get paid but I know he will not be back in my garage again, people don't understand it could be several faults with the car but I like to send them out at least safe,
Yeah I have experienced this as a service advisor. Some cars have a lot of problems, & people walk in expecting to have 1 repair made & assuming that is all they need. When in reality, there are often multiple issues that need to be addressed in order to fix the initial customer complaint. They think I am trying to rip them off & sell them unnecessary things. I usually try to explain it like "If this were *my* car, I would do X & Y to it, & repair Z in the near future". They respond better when I talk like that. It's like I am putting myself in their shoes. & then everyone is happy. Their car is repaired & safe, & I didn't have to look like a highway robber.
i am not a mechanic, but a power engineer and i totally agree with you. We all have "our days" once in a while. You love what you such as i do in my business. But it is really hard to find people dedicated to their work. Everywhere it is the same, in Germany too. Great Video Eric.
@SinBeatz1 Your honesty is greatly appreciated because of it the rest of us move up the food chain, thanks for the comment and for your integrity.
@istishhadi We ALL have to start somewhere it's where we end up that's important I suppose. I wish you the best of luck and thank you for your comment.
@ColdNapalm42 It's unfortunate but true, thanks very much for your comments.
Hello etcg community. I'd like to share my experience about the topic. I own a 1998 Honda Civic mb4 (the european version of the 5d and station wagon). I got it for free from a family member but it was in a fairly bad shape with the biggest issue being an overheating problem with the indication that it was caused by a blown HG. He didn't know what caused the blown HG though. Well I took it to my local shop my family uses to repair the rest of the family cars, to fix it. They did a whole bunch of work including service (oil, filters, coolant etc), rear suspension (all of it), front shocks, and nothing about the overheating problem. They told me that it might be something minor and we'll check it out later on. All of this costed me about 600 euros=700$. Naturally, the car overheated, the coolant was boiling and I had oil in the system despite the flush that was done. I took it back and they told me: "Yeah we think it's actually the HG." NO SHIT!! Anyway they changed the gasket (another 500$) and they told me that it was caused by a bad temperature sensor. BUT they didn't flush the coolant again and there was a lot of oil in it. They told me it was all ok. Well it wasn't ok because all (literally all) of the hoses got stiffened and started to crack and I had to check for leaks every 10miles with the fear of blowing another HG again. Long story short, I never took it there again, I started watching etcg, kilmer etc and I do all of the work myself. PS: those guys have at least 3-4 cars in their shop for fixing everytime I go there, so the fact that scammers fade away over time obviously doesn't apply in my city/country. Thanks for the room.
@Sorman26 That's one way to look at it but remember auto repair is a business and they were probably just trying to cover their overhead. That said learning to do your own repairs is empowering and not a bad thing at all.
Lovin it Eric!! Good to see other technicians sticking up for our trade. Too many people don't understand we're only human and make mistakes sometimes.
@GoTMLGo1967 I believe there is a link in the description, if not it's in the video I posted on ETCG.
@captainvlog It's situations like that that led me to start ETCG, I figured if nothing else I could educate the general public on what to look for so that they didn't have to put up with such inferior work. Thanks for your input and for your comment.
@sras2000 Let me put it this way, I don't miss working at the dealer at all as I saw a lot of the same things go down, I'm not saying that I'm perfect but at least I take pride in my work and there were many times at the dealer where I felt punished for that very thing including the day they let me go. I wish you all the best and hope things work out for you or that your able to find a job in a better place. Thanks for your comments.
@anold130 I hate to say it but there are a lot of "bad mechanics" out there but there are also plenty of good ones. Try asking around to see if you can find a good one or you could watch ETCG videos and do the work yourself, either way thanks for your comment.
In every trades has cheaters or they just want to milk the job.
Back in the 90's owned a Audi 5000, driving home the car stalled out, crank over but would not start.So I towed it to a Audi dealer for repair. Towing is payed by my insurance co.
Dealer tech said, I picked up a bad tank of gas, they'll have to drop the fuel tank, steam clean, maybe need new fuel tank, and may be clean the fuel lines also. I'm looking it at least $1500 or more. I didn't agree for the repairs, sounded fishy! Payed $150 for the test and towed the car to an other garage for second opinion. An hour later the other garage called me, said the fuel pump relay is bad, $90 to fix it. Agreed for that repair and the car was back running in a short while.
Ever since than I'm very suspicious, when some one handing me big bills.
Later the dealer ship closed.
"Stealerships" don't last long. Glad you found a legit mech.
@wardubo That would be an excellent indicator, well put. Thanks for the comment.
Screwing up makes people lose tons of money and tons of time. Fuck your bad day. I've been screwed so many times
+Marques Atkinson That's a bit harsh dude. Are you sure you have been screwed all those times or you just want to believe you were screwed because you had to spend more money than expected?
+deamonmachine I'm not going to explain I have integrity I don't say things out of spite, yes I sure tons of mechanics are good. But if your going to say your having a bad day so you mess up on are time and are money I can't accept that.
usually when a mechanic makes a mistake it is them who fixes it for free and with an apology is it not?
+MrTechsupport87 lol I've been to many mechanics where car they make my car even worse. Car breaks down days after getting it fixed then they say oh well this is broken too, I mean should bring they notice that in the first place. Honestly I bought a new car, I'll never go to a mechanic again. I'm going to just but a new car
+deamonmachine thats the truth.
I've known, and worked with more than my share of hacks. Also been privileged to work with some really great mentor types over the years.
IMHO, the dealership commission structure is one of the biggest problems . Not saying all commission tech are ripoff artists, but the pressure to bill 100%+ hours/week can be a contributor.
Another great vid, Eric!
AMEN! As a technician, I agree with every word of this video. Glad someone is out there publicly sticking up for us.
@MrMK94 Yea some dealerships are great where others not so much. I think the point is that when you find a place you can trust you stick with them.
@xsenceo89x That sounds eerily familiar but if I'm honest if I wasn't fired I'd probably still be there, it's hard to walk away from easy money and a certain comfort level, don't get me wrong I wasn't 'ripping peoples lips off' as there was plenty of easy work to be done that paid well, others that I worked with adopted a somewhat different philosophy and took advantage of certain situations lets just leave it at that. Thanks for your comment.
@hellraiser319 Yea it's interesting how someone makes a decision in an office somewhere about how you should go about doing your job when they have never done it themselves. Thanks for the comment.
@zochpeter Indeed it is. Thanks for the comment.
@knunne1 I don't think it does in the short term but as I said in the video with all of us connected these days it's harder to be taken in by a place that is a habitual offender as long as the customer does a little research before committing to a given garage. As for not wanting to speak badly of other technicians my approach is to give great service rather than focus on the poor practices of others, my hope is that this positive approach will instill confidence in a customer.
@GammaCruxis Excellent comment, in fact I touch on it a little in the next video that I'll post.
problem I have in my area is....there are no good technicians so they don't get weeded out....I literally have to work on my stuff if I plan on keeping it long
i can really appreciate what your doing your videos are very informative and it really is true this profession like most is purely based on word of mouth. if you have a bad experience you tend to tell people so they can avoid the same experience. and vice versa. and alot of shops do come across as places that are scamming people outta their money. but then on the other hand there are the shops with good honest hardworking techs like yourself that try to build a relationship with the customer.
Well said ETCG, I work on my own cars as well because I love doing it, as a young kid my olds didn't think Car Mechanics was something I should do and got me into Computers, I am now looked at from a ton of customers as the best they ever found and what you said applies to me as well. However I always come back to working on my own cars for the love of Mechanics. 2 things no one touches or they will cop it (My Car & My Computer) I fix my own
@hobieslug45 They certainly do put a premium on dealership stuff that's for sure, thanks for the comment.
@oleg67dog Sometimes bad things happen, sometimes mistakes get made, but the point of this video was to point out that not all mechanics are bad and if you find a good one stick with them but give them the benefit of the doubt till they give you a reason to doubt them.
= ( I honestly appreciate excellent tech's! I always stand up for my friends and tech's that work hard and do an honest job!
Amen, brother!! One of the main reasons that I got into this industry was because I have integrity. If you are fair and honest, you will always have tons of business. God bless. John
@ncrdisabled Yea, you do often get what you pay for. I've seen first hand what comes out of some of those places, I'm thinking of making another video on this subject and cover more of what you mention, thanks for the comment.
This hits me right in feels. I found out I love working on cars and other things! I just feel I have a connection and they almost seem to have feelings. lol. However I have social awkwardness. I just can't talk to someone without making it awkward. Not like creepy or anything just I can't word things properly and such.
I really want to go to school to become an Automotive Technician but I'm afraid I will have problems getting a job or making it through school because of my awkwardness. I like meeting new people and talking but I just suck at it... horribly. I would love to work at the Ford dealership close to me.
I can't lie and cheat people! If I do, I get this horrible, evil guilt. Even if it's something small. I like doing things properly. I like making people trust me and be happy to work with me and be more than willing to again in the future.
Keep up the great work Eric!
@meddle82 I could not have said it better myself, thanks very much for that comment.
@DriftingFWWA I think that is only part of the issue as I feel pretty much the same way whenever a new medical bill shows up in the mailbox, it's often an expense that your not prepared for and the natural reaction is to be put on the defensive.
@Samsgarden Funny I don't feel that way, to be honest I feel much better behind it but thanks for the comment.
@BeReady Being a smart educated consumer as you have demonstrated here is the best defense against getting ripped off, well done and thanks for the comment.
@blazingtonight1 Very good point, thanks for your comment.
Wow... I see some great insight. I'm a "machine people" - over 40 years now. 50% of all mechanics graduated in the bottom half of their class (FWIW, most of my customers have been coming to me for 30 years). My wife and my son abide my aberrations but it is with machines that I can truly be myself with. Unlike your "guys that can't spell" experience, I find that I am an unfulfilled perfectionist. My customers are perfectly happy with work that I always feel I could have done better
@bhstone1 It's not that I wouldn't tell the customer I just try and stay away from disparaging remarks as I think it reflects badly upon me and the profession to do so. I say things like this was not correct or perhaps they forgot to do this, the customer just about always ends up staying with me anyway so I'm not worried about them going back to where they had the work done originally.
@seapeddler Thanks for the MRI lesson I learned something today. Interesting theory on engine repair, I wonder if it will come to that. Thanks for the comment.
@situationmoney It's true that there are a lot of lazy mechanics out there, I've worked with a few myself, sometimes it's a personal choice on their part and other times there are policies in place that actually promote their behavior. I think since this has gotten a lot of discussion I'm going to make another video about this from a different viewpoint.
I've known good techs and bad techs. Most of the problems I've had have been with dealerships, and their issue is usually overpricing, mostly for parts, and pushing service you don't need. I did have one dealership torque down my oil drain plug to where when I went to change it myself I stripped the head trying to get it off. I took it to a Valvoline place I go to occasionally (they are pretty trustworthy there and not much more than the oil and filter I buy if i do it myself) and paid them the extra to get it off and replace it.
Most of the independent guys in my area are excellent mechanics and I'd recommend any one of them.
A couple of bad examples, though: One guy who is retired now broke a plastic part of my fuel pump off and tried to superglue it back together without telling me. I caught him before he could get it to work. Never went back to him. Another guy was honest as the day is long, but wasn't the best diagnostician. He worked for a long time to try to fix what appeared to be some missing that was happening. He replaced everything from the coil to the spark plugs to no avail. I took it home, looked it over, and found that I had a large hole due to age and degradation in the hose on the back side of the engine that goes from the PCV valve to the intake manifold. I replaced the hose myself and the problem cleared up. It wasn't missing - the PCV system wasn't properly pressured.
So I have a short list of people I won't go to and long one of good techs I trust. It's good to have a long list because these guys stay pretty busy. I do what I can myself and go to them when I'm up against something I don't have any experience with. My wife's cousin occasionally makes house calls to help family, but I don't want to pay him bottom dollar just because he's family. He's worth a few extra bucks because I know he cares and he's an excellent tech.
@zochpeter It started that way for me too, thanks for the comment.
Bad mechanics are found out, be it poor quality work or ripping off customers, or both.