Maybe. Mechanics like to expose other mechanics, especially when it makes them look good, and you then trust them. They may not be good people though, and may then use that new trust to scam you. They don't call them con men for nothing. A con is a confidence scheme to rip you off. By coming on YT and exposing others, he builds confidence which sets him up to scam others. So don't be so gullible. You don't know everything about this man. He could be a good man, or a really good con man. You just don't know and don't say otherwise.
Sadly, many people would fall for such a scam. That's how those shops stay in business. They thrive (or maybe I should say prey) on a very few "sucker customers", while the dozens of more-discerning ones with common sense took their business elsewhere long ago. I've watched a lot of repair-scam videos, but this was one of the best. Well done!
Being a motor vehicle mechanic is hard work, and a dirty job. Plus it requires lots and lots of knowledge. In addition to being willing to get oily dirt all over yourself, you need to have a good, analytic thought process to be a motor vehicle diagnostician. With that kind of mind, you can make more money diagnosing what's wrong with computer networks rather than cars. You get paid more. You don't get as dirty. However if you are a business owner, rather than an employee, perhaps you can make good money as a mechanic, despite the fact that your investment in a shop, tools, and a stock of frequently needed parts, will be high. Maybe all that explains why there may be a shortage of hops that have real knowhow and that don't scam people
THIS is exactly why I learned how to work on cars myself. I can do a lot of the work at home, which is a huge savings (e.g. that $1800 strut job would cost me $250 for the parts), and when I run into something that requires the services of an expert technician, I know what needs to be done so I know if the shop is BSing and trying to run me up.
Same here. I bought the factory Lexus service manual so all I need to take my cars in for is tires and alignment. Even the shops that aren’t shady, don’t torque bolts to the proper specs.
@@pigbelly100 Yeah, that's the other thing I discovered when I took the technician classes. They can't just run you up on the labor, because the online service manuals show the expected bill time for the job, and that information is publicly available. So what they do is focus on "beating the clock." So if a job lists for 3 hours, they try to get it done in 2. The problem is that this leads to taking short cuts such as not making sure all of the fasteners are torqued to spec.
@@pigbelly100 I watch them. Even with tires. Recently, a good friend of mine took his Jeep to a shop, I TOLD him not to use them, for 4 tires and a NYS inspection. All done... He pulled out, got about 500 yards, and one of his wheels fell off. It did body damage, wheel damage, wheel lug damage, disc brake damage, brake line damage, and the loose wheel almost hit a pedestrian!!!! Maybe next time he will listen to this "female", who can't possibly know ANYTHING about cars or local mechanics, and not go to these incompetent thieves.
State regulators should send undercover clients with cars that have been previously diagnosed to check for this type of scam and then take away their business license.
Totally agree, it's disgraceful, they were going to literally steal thousands of dollars off this customer, but thankfully the customer had alarm bells ringing and got another opinion. In order for a diagnosis, such as an engine rebuild or engine replacement, a compression test would have had to have been performed as part of that inspection. There is no way the other shop can in any way say an honest mistake was made in this instance, a compression test doesn't lie, it certainly doesn't change back to all good, that's for certain. They are nothing short of thieves, crooks, and need to be taken out of circulation, as a business, ASAP 👍
Unfortunately , they get a new corporate name and start over . I think a fine for a minimum of 10 K would get their attention . Strike two , it doubles , etc .
In many places you don't need any business license. State regulators exist to make money for the state, not to protect the public. As the saying goes: caveat emptor.
Your client is going to be so happy! Nice to see that honesty and integrity do exist. Great mechanics are out there. We just have to find them. We found one on this channel. Thanks for sharing your videos. Cheers!
Thank you for being a honest mechanic! I’m sure most would agree we need more honest mechanics like you in this world. There are way too many dishonest shops out there!
Excellent job, information and video! Love my 2.4 engine and it's 5 speed automatic in my similar 09' Matrix. Never knew how much a replacement engine could cost. $7,500.00!!!!! For the safety check I personally changed both front struts, already fitted with new coils for under $300.00 total. One was leaking badly and it had high mileage. I'd never done such a job before and I'm older than you my friend, so it took me nearly four hours start to finish, but I managed not trouble at all. Hope his transmission gets the new ATF and lasts even longer for him. Love your channel! Malcolm Ottawa Valley
Sadly, this is what we deal with around here. Absolute criminals. They'll charge you that and still not even do it correctly. So grateful for you Peter
Any mechanic who does this should be arrested. You can call it a scam. I call it theft, pure and simple. Many of these criminals need to have their business licenses revoked for this type of activity! Make me sick to my stomach when I see these things going on.
Right before I started looking for a decent used Corolla, I bought a code scan tool to check for captured codes and/or lack of codes. Rejected five different Corollas then found a great one. About eight months ago, I did get the P code about running lean. Turned out to be the intake manifold gasket. $10 part roughly, replaced it myself after watching the Tube videos. No more codes.
I appreciate your candid content about Toyota maintenance. Your interaction with the camera, you use of language and context are captivating and informative.
Oh boy Peter, you are the man. Its so hard to find a reputable qualified expert as yourself. I really enjoyed your through explanation of the repairs you performed. To bad you did not hold up that paperwork from that previous creep who tried to scam this customer. I would have liked to see who the repair shop was!!
So thankful there are people like you in this world. I wish I could find someone like you in my area. I love watching your videos and learning from them.
You are a good caring man that helps people from being scammed by dishonest mechanics who are in the business of ripping off vehicle owners that have no idea. 3 loud cheers for you Mr Toyota Maintenance man...
There is A lexus dealer in Hartford ct that charges $150 for the estimate if you do not have them do the work.They will not change the front bearing, they want to change the whole axel I guess they do not own a press. Estimate cost one bearing replacement ,$3,000.
Peter, I have a 2012 Toyota corolla s with 96k miles on it. At about 60k ,the front struts were leaking and i had them replaced by the Toyota dealership. That job only cost me $800.00 . At about 71k miles , the front timing cover was leaking . The dealership originally wanted to charge me $ 1.100.00 to do it. I contacted Toyota , and they agreed to pay 75% of the cost so it only cost me $350.00. Now, back in January of 2022 the alternator went bad and that cost me $985.00 at the dealership. Then in April of 2022 i heard a thumping noise in the engine . Turned out to be the water pump and that cost me $468.00. I can't believe a shop wanted $1,800.00 to replace the front struts on that car when i took mine to the Toyota dealership and only paid $800.00
I love your vlogs from an honest mechanic. I hope your You Tube channel gets lots of subscribers because you deserve it. I think that you should get permission from the customer to show the paperwork of the other garage to show who this scam garage is so that other people are not conned by that garage. I hope this new customer appreciates your honesty and gives you a good drink.
Man glad you helped out that customer and just insane the other shop wanted them to shell out that $ for a new engine/struts/etc that were not even needed. They should be locked up!
How incredibly insane. That other shop almost ripped off that poor customer. That is the reason I work on my own cars. And good job for saving that customer's car. We need more people like you.
You sir are amazing. I’ve been a subscriber for a while and it doesn’t take long to figure out who is honest and good hearted. Keep up the great work. I wish I lived closer!!!
Nice save for the customer, it’s bad enough to have to need a new engine but to have someone diagnosed a bad engine with those plugs in it should be reported to the BBB at least. Even negative social media posts. It sounds like some mechanic wanted to take a vacation on the profit from a car that wasn’t broken. Keep up the great content. It would be nice to see some hybrids in your shop, with the price of gas there are a lot of these being put back in service with large unnecessary repairs.
So if the scammer says that a new/rebuild engine is needed you really believe that ? Scammer probably changes plugs and cleans engine with brake cleaner and voilá. This was a smart owner.
@8:57 looks like the expansion tank is empty. If the engine has low coolant it will cause overheating, burning the oil off and causing the plugs to overheat and wear .....
This is why i enjoy real lovers of vehicles. This is why i went to school also , now i and then i do all the small repairs, thx for always showing these videos.
Scammers like that are why people either learn to DIY as much as they can and/or become fans of great YT car channels like yours, Eric O at SMA, or Ivan at Pine Hollow. It is *so* difficult to find a trustworthy mechanic, but the upside is how much I love to learn and help family and friends by doing as much for their cars as I reasonably can. I hate that people like your customer was so close to being so horrendously ripped off. Thanks for showing this scam!!!
I have a 2018 KIA Soul the dealer said that my battery needs to be replaced! I'm a 44 years small engine tech so i ck my battery myself and I found out the battery was not bad ! they also said my front brakes about worn out not true! its about the dealer making money on poeple that do not know better.
thank you so much for taking the road and help this poor owner. Much respect to you sir. I also have these kind of experiences, mechanics concluding right away without even test driving the car. I simply just walk away.
I sure wish that you lived/worked closer to Las Vegas... Most, of not all, repair shops and dealers are skilled scam artists, so I do my own repairs... We need mechanics like you!!! Thank you so much for your videos!
Yes, the world will always benefit from honest technicians. The greatest need though is educated consumers. Most vehicle owners are to busy on TikTok with their unicorn Frappuccino’s to take interest in the vehicle they rely on daily. 180k on original spark plugs…you vehicle owner are an embarrassment!
THANK YOU!!! We love a happy ending! What was the other shop going to do? Get a used engine from the auto wrecker, or just steam clean this original engine???
You thank us for watching etc. but it is us who should be thanking you for being a "light" in the dark world of automotive repair. Thank you and those like you who honestly diagnose and repair vehicles. You guys are the minority and frequently difficult to find but worth your weight in gold once we find you. I just turned 71 and have always done my own auto repair but recently sold my home, shop and most tools so I am now in the hunt for a person such as yourself and I can tell you it is a "jungle" out there. A lot of smooth talking confidence men and women running shops with nothing but malice in their hearts.
Brotherrrrr..your values are god like. HONEST TRUTHFUL AND GOOD..as a mechanic myself with 35 yrs plus experience its sooooo refreshing to see im not alone ...when it comes to peoples cars
If you clean the throttle body, you have to run a throttle body relearn with a special scan tool. If not performed it will idle around ~1,000 RPM and not ~750 RPM where it should be. I had this problem with my Honda Civic.
I wouldn’t defend the garage that did the diagnosis and quote, but as with a lot of trades, if they don’t want the work, due to being overbooked or it is not their bag, silly numbers will often be quoted just to indirectly turn the customer away. Or it’s ascam!
Even if the tips of the plugs look ok the burning marks on the porcelain next to the metal where the socket grabs them means that the spark is coming out there so they are shot.
Great channel and awesome information for the less informed viewer and we more informed viewers. Can always pick up new tips. Edit I wrote the comment below a year ago and the 2003 Corolla is still running great and still nothing coding.
Brought my 1989 Corolla sr5 to a dealership to have a starter replaced and they said I needed my fuel injection system rebuilt for 1100.00 only that car had the 4AF and not a 4AFE which without the E means no electronic fuel injection. Or carbureted.. needless to say I never went back there..
Something very uncommon in this day and age . . . a good, honest man providing a good honest assessment and diagnosis. It restores my faith in humanity if just a bit.
You are a credit to your trade and industry...Wish you where in my neck of the woods...you would get all my family and friends business...Heck I would come work for you. Thank you!!!
I so appreciate your dedication; I have a 2009 Camry Se with the V6 engine. I love this car! It’s has 157000 kms (approx 100k miles) and will be due for spark plugs soon . If the opportunity is there, I would greatly appreciate seeing your method for replacing spark plugs for the V6! Cheers!
As a retired auto mechanic my thoughts are. Experience says it usually takes about a 20 psi drop in any one cyl comparatively to start to set misfire codes. This engine does not show that. Misfire rates typically need to exceed a 10% threshold to set a code. This means misfires can register without a fault until this threshold is exceeded. Next is all valve problems for misfires will show up at idle the most unless it's a dead miss meaning below 20 psi loss. Ignition misfire issues tend to show up at higher rpm and loads. A simple road test with live misfire data should confirm what's going on. If misfires are only at idle it could very well be carbon buildup or valve seat pitting. Agreed the shop that quoted an engine did not follow the diagnosis through.
If it sounds unreasonable, always get a second or even a third opinion. You'd be surprised how much difference there is for the same work between shops. I always look for shops that have been in the same location for a long time under the same ownership.
I lived in a neighbourhood years ago where all the independent shops talked to each other - a lot. I went for a 3-opinion estimate, but when I got to the 3rd shop, he sneered, told me he knew I was at two other shops, and didn’t even want to look at the vehicle. Today I do all my own wrenching.
@@markstevens1729 I used to do most of my auto repairs before, but now I live in a one car garage condo so I am limited in what I can do. I found a repair shop two cities away that is very honest and warranties their work for two years. A few blocks away from the repair shop, I found a private tire shop that has really good prices and also does suspension work at really reasonable rates. They have been around for many decades. You actually have to schedule appointments to get tire work done. Two other shops quoted me $2500 for front end suspension work and this new shop will do the same thing for $700!
Happy you are getting many new customers. Was worried about you for a while because of no new videos and thought maybe the relocation caused people to not know where you are anymore. Hopefully people help your phone number and the hot rod guy next door could say where you are now. Takes time but the customer base will grow and many will refind you again.
I had a Corolla once for a friend wanting to replace an armload of expensive parts. the plug gap was too wide also, like this video. I regapped and cleaned the plugs and drove back to report findings. I did, later find the gap was originally specified wide. the update said to reduce the gap on all their engines for that model year. they were having misfires and eventually damaging the plug wires. nippondenso is the best part for your Toyota. and the best plug wire is also nippondenso. they're worth it on the older models. check your plug gaps and check your specs for updates on any loss of power and or dropping cylinders even with coil on plug models.
You can't trust these chain repair shops and sometimes dealers don't fix cars correctly either. These shops are interesting in making money off of you. Remember that trust is earned, not a given
My mechanic did the same thing...Used gearbox in but he didn't torque the drain plug all the way so it was leaking. Also, one of the ground cables from the battery was almost falling off...So as you can see there are lots of idiots everywhere...I told him the gearbox lost 0.5l of oil because of the leak but he didn't even apologize for his mistake. The gear stick was also not aligned with the vw 3421 tool...
Once again, great job! People LITERALLY are in your hands & u do everything in your power to help them. There's just not enough of people like u! U take such pride in your duties/work! 👍 🇺🇸
I had a mechanic that builked me for almost a grand for a leaking head gasket every time it overheated it was a diagnostic fee and radiator flush and thermostat change. It wasn’t till I went to the dealership that It got resolved
Was it the spark plugs which caused the VSC and check engine light to come on? I have an 09 Camry V6 with 320K miles and it runs like new. Never been in the shop for any repairs but my VSC and check engine light comes on and after I reset it it will come back on, sometimes weeks later.
You remind me of my late father. He was a car nut. Worked on anything but old VW and Toyota’s was his passion. He was just like you, honest mechanic. He would sometimes lose money or do it for free before he ripped anyone off. I used to get so mad when I was younger because he would sometimes struggle because Of his honesty. He would tell me, you can always make another dollar but you can only make one good first impression. Rather lose a buck than a customer/friend. Now as I’m older I realize. Man was right the entire time.
Thank you for being an honest, good man. I am glad people like you still exist, although rare.
Cheers! This was So Interesting too!
Very true. Honest mechanics are difficult to find these days. How can I have this good man move to my state?
Maybe. Mechanics like to expose other mechanics, especially when it makes them look good, and you then trust them. They may not be good people though, and may then use that new trust to scam you. They don't call them con men for nothing. A con is a confidence scheme to rip you off. By coming on YT and exposing others, he builds confidence which sets him up to scam others. So don't be so gullible. You don't know everything about this man. He could be a good man, or a really good con man. You just don't know and don't say otherwise.
Sadly, many people would fall for such a scam. That's how those shops stay in business. They thrive (or maybe I should say prey) on a very few "sucker customers", while the dozens of more-discerning ones with common sense took their business elsewhere long ago. I've watched a lot of repair-scam videos, but this was one of the best. Well done!
Glad I know couple of honest mechanics in my area!👍🇺🇲
This is why I educate myself through channels like this.
The world needs more honest mechanics like yourself. Thanks for sharing this repair with us until the end.
A lot of mechanics are honest but 80% dont know how to diagnose so they throw parts at it.
Being a motor vehicle mechanic is hard work, and a dirty job. Plus it requires lots and lots of knowledge. In addition to being willing to get oily dirt all over yourself, you need to have a good, analytic thought process to be a motor vehicle diagnostician. With that kind of mind, you can make more money diagnosing what's wrong with computer networks rather than cars. You get paid more. You don't get as dirty. However if you are a business owner, rather than an employee, perhaps you can make good money as a mechanic, despite the fact that your investment in a shop, tools, and a stock of frequently needed parts, will be high. Maybe all that explains why there may be a shortage of hops that have real knowhow and that don't scam people
THIS is exactly why I learned how to work on cars myself. I can do a lot of the work at home, which is a huge savings (e.g. that $1800 strut job would cost me $250 for the parts), and when I run into something that requires the services of an expert technician, I know what needs to be done so I know if the shop is BSing and trying to run me up.
Same here. I bought the factory Lexus service manual so all I need to take my cars in for is tires and alignment. Even the shops that aren’t shady, don’t torque bolts to the proper specs.
@@pigbelly100 Yeah, that's the other thing I discovered when I took the technician classes. They can't just run you up on the labor, because the online service manuals show the expected bill time for the job, and that information is publicly available. So what they do is focus on "beating the clock." So if a job lists for 3 hours, they try to get it done in 2. The problem is that this leads to taking short cuts such as not making sure all of the fasteners are torqued to spec.
A lot of jobs can be done by most people. Rusty cars is where the problem comes. A small job could sometimes take hours.
@@pigbelly100 yes, a lot claim that they have the hand because of experience, trust me, not all cars have the same torque specs.
@@pigbelly100 I watch them. Even with tires. Recently, a good friend of mine took his Jeep to a shop, I TOLD him not to use them, for 4 tires and a NYS inspection. All done... He pulled out, got about 500 yards, and one of his wheels fell off. It did body damage, wheel damage, wheel lug damage, disc brake damage, brake line damage, and the loose wheel almost hit a pedestrian!!!!
Maybe next time he will listen to this "female", who can't possibly know ANYTHING about cars or local mechanics, and not go to these incompetent thieves.
State regulators should send undercover clients with cars that have been previously diagnosed to check for this type of scam and then take away their business license.
Totally agree, it's disgraceful, they were going to literally steal thousands of dollars off this customer, but thankfully the customer had alarm bells ringing and got another opinion. In order for a diagnosis, such as an engine rebuild or engine replacement, a compression test would have had to have been performed as part of that inspection. There is no way the other shop can in any way say an honest mistake was made in this instance, a compression test doesn't lie, it certainly doesn't change back to all good, that's for certain. They are nothing short of thieves, crooks, and need to be taken out of circulation, as a business, ASAP 👍
How did they not see the bad plugs when they pulled them to do a compression test!!
@@69A12SuperBee They did, they just don't care. They wanted the client to approve the whole repair.
Unfortunately , they get a new corporate name and start over . I think a fine for a minimum of 10 K would get their attention . Strike two , it doubles , etc .
In many places you don't need any business license. State regulators exist to make money for the state, not to protect the public. As the saying goes: caveat emptor.
Your client is going to be so happy! Nice to see that honesty and integrity do exist. Great mechanics are out there. We just have to find them. We found one on this channel. Thanks for sharing your videos. Cheers!
It makes it hard to believe repair shops when there are dishonest people out there ripping you off!
Thank you for being a honest mechanic! I’m sure most would agree we need more honest mechanics like you in this world. There are way too many dishonest shops out there!
One of the reason I try to do as much possible maintenance that I can on my cars. With the help of this channel and other one. Thank you
Your not entertaining us Sir. You are teaching us. Thank You!
Excellent job, information and video! Love my 2.4 engine and it's 5 speed automatic in my similar 09' Matrix. Never knew how much a replacement engine could cost. $7,500.00!!!!!
For the safety check I personally changed both front struts, already fitted with new coils for under $300.00 total. One was leaking badly and it had high mileage. I'd never done such a job before and I'm older than you my friend, so it took me nearly four hours start to finish, but I managed not trouble at all.
Hope his transmission gets the new ATF and lasts even longer for him.
Love your channel!
Malcolm Ottawa Valley
Wow. Thanks for doing this. Retired now, but I was in the automotive industry all my life. I've seen the good and the bad. You are the good.
You should collaborate with the The Car Care Nut…you’re both honest mechanics who know your Toyotas!
Sadly, this is what we deal with around here. Absolute criminals. They'll charge you that and still not even do it correctly. So grateful for you Peter
That’s why I learned to fix cars myself
It's a shame there are unscrupulous mechanics out there. Thank you Peter for your honesty
Any mechanic who does this should be arrested. You can call it a scam. I call it theft, pure and simple. Many of these criminals need to have their business licenses revoked for this type of activity! Make me sick to my stomach when I see these things going on.
Right before I started looking for a decent used Corolla, I bought a code scan tool to check for captured codes and/or lack of codes.
Rejected five different Corollas then found a great one.
About eight months ago, I did get the P code about running lean. Turned out to be the intake manifold gasket. $10 part roughly, replaced it myself after watching the Tube videos.
No more codes.
You're a honest man and great mechanic. Our world needs you. Thank you for your honesty. I wish you all the best
I appreciate your candid content about Toyota maintenance. Your interaction with the camera, you use of language and context are captivating and informative.
We need more people like you! I am sick of seeing all these scam stories and am horrified to think of the people who fall victim to them.
That shop needs a late night visit . It's terrible the things that happen out there !
You're a good man! On behalf of the customer...thank you!
Stunning. The gall of a business that tries to dump its financial irresponsibility onto an unsuspecting customer.They ruin it for honest garages.
Oh boy Peter, you are the man. Its so hard to find a reputable qualified expert as yourself. I really enjoyed your through explanation of the repairs you performed. To bad you did not hold up that paperwork from that previous creep who tried to scam this customer. I would have liked to see who the repair shop was!!
So thankful there are people like you in this world. I wish I could find someone like you in my area. I love watching your videos and learning from them.
Honest and competent. To have such a man on your side is invaluable. Good job Peter.
You are a good caring man that helps people from being scammed by dishonest mechanics who are in the business of ripping off vehicle owners that have no idea. 3 loud cheers for you Mr Toyota Maintenance man...
There is A lexus dealer in Hartford ct that charges $150 for the estimate if you do not have them do the work.They will not change the front bearing, they want to change the whole axel I guess they do not own a press. Estimate cost one bearing replacement ,$3,000.
Peter, I have a 2012 Toyota corolla s with 96k miles on it. At about 60k ,the front struts were leaking and i had them replaced by the Toyota dealership. That job only cost me $800.00 .
At about 71k miles , the front timing cover was leaking . The dealership originally wanted to charge me $ 1.100.00 to do it. I contacted Toyota , and they agreed to pay 75% of the cost so it only cost me $350.00.
Now, back in January of 2022 the alternator went bad and that cost me $985.00 at the dealership.
Then in April of 2022 i heard a thumping noise in the engine . Turned out to be the water pump and that cost me $468.00.
I can't believe a shop wanted $1,800.00 to replace the front struts on that car when i took mine to the Toyota dealership and only paid $800.00
I love your vlogs from an honest mechanic.
I hope your You Tube channel gets lots of subscribers because you deserve it.
I think that you should get permission from the customer to show the paperwork of the other garage to show who this scam garage is so that other people are not conned by that garage.
I hope this new customer appreciates your honesty and gives you a good drink.
Honest auto technician or mechanic, are priceless.
Thank you for sharing the importance of getting 2nd opinion. Your a great human being.
Man glad you helped out that customer and just insane the other shop wanted them to shell out that $ for a new engine/struts/etc that were not even needed. They should be locked up!
How incredibly insane. That other shop almost ripped off that poor customer. That is the reason I work on my own cars. And good job for saving that customer's car. We need more people like you.
You sir are amazing. I’ve been a subscriber for a while and it doesn’t take long to figure out who is honest and good hearted. Keep up the great work. I wish I lived closer!!!
Nice save for the customer, it’s bad enough to have to need a new engine but to have someone diagnosed a bad engine with those plugs in it should be reported to the BBB at least. Even negative social media posts. It sounds like some mechanic wanted to take a vacation on the profit from a car that wasn’t broken.
Keep up the great content.
It would be nice to see some hybrids in your shop, with the price of gas there are a lot of these being put back in service with large unnecessary repairs.
So if the scammer says that a new/rebuild engine is needed you really believe that ? Scammer probably changes plugs and cleans engine with brake cleaner and voilá. This was a smart owner.
Awesome video- Thank you for your service!
Why do you need a 200k service if your rebuilding the engine. That's the first red flag.
Exactly what I was thinking
This baby is puuuuurrrrrrring like a kitten!!!
Love your videos!!!
thank you for all you do, as my own mechanic my self it upsets me how people get taken advantage of so great video
Im delighted too see that good and honorable people like you still exist. I will keep following your great work…God blessings to you and this channel!
You are an amazing mechanic, very honest.
@8:57 looks like the expansion tank is empty. If the engine has low coolant it will cause overheating, burning the oil off and causing the plugs to overheat and wear .....
Good eye. It's possibly time for a change if there is no leak.
This is why i enjoy real lovers of vehicles. This is why i went to school also , now i and then i do all the small repairs, thx for always showing these videos.
Scammers like that are why people either learn to DIY as much as they can and/or become fans of great YT car channels like yours, Eric O at SMA, or Ivan at Pine Hollow. It is *so* difficult to find a trustworthy mechanic, but the upside is how much I love to learn and help family and friends by doing as much for their cars as I reasonably can. I hate that people like your customer was so close to being so horrendously ripped off. Thanks for showing this scam!!!
Ha, Ha...........we watch the same channels! Don't sleep on Diagnosis Dan if you have a European car. Super Mario is really good as well.
You would also like The Car Care Nut channel that is run by a certified Toyota technician.
@@njsongwriter I watch him all the time. Great channel.
You're a unicorn, an honest mechanic! Love stories like this.
Hello Peter. You’re a great and honest mechanic my friend. Ciao from Canada 🇨🇦 🇺🇸👍
He always sounds like he woke up five min ago 😂😂😂😂
I have a 2018 KIA Soul the dealer said that my battery needs to be replaced! I'm a 44 years small engine tech so i ck my battery myself and I found out the battery was not bad ! they also said my front brakes about worn out not true! its about the dealer making money on poeple that do not know better.
thank you so much for taking the road and help this poor owner. Much respect to you sir. I also have these kind of experiences, mechanics concluding right away without even test driving the car. I simply just walk away.
I sure wish that you lived/worked closer to Las Vegas... Most, of not all, repair shops and dealers are skilled scam artists, so I do my own repairs... We need mechanics like you!!! Thank you so much for your videos!
Thanks so much for your honesty. Bad shops are why I work on my own cars.
We need more honest mechanics like you.
Yes, the world will always benefit from honest technicians.
The greatest need though is educated consumers. Most vehicle owners are to busy on TikTok with their unicorn Frappuccino’s to take interest in the vehicle they rely on daily.
180k on original spark plugs…you vehicle owner are an embarrassment!
Very well done. You saved this customer a lot of money!!
Great video. Thank you for filming it for us. As you said it's best to get a second opinion when the dollar amount is so high.
What a scam, thank you for being awesome and helping this person and also educating us along the way :)
THANK YOU!!! We love a happy ending! What was the other shop going to do? Get a used engine from the auto wrecker, or just steam clean this original engine???
Clean up the same engine and put in new plugs. Kaching! $7,500!
You thank us for watching etc. but it is us who should be thanking you for being a "light" in the dark world of automotive repair. Thank you and those like you who honestly diagnose and repair vehicles. You guys are the minority and frequently difficult to find but worth your weight in gold once we find you.
I just turned 71 and have always done my own auto repair but recently sold my home, shop and most tools so I am now in the hunt for a person such as yourself and I can tell you it is a "jungle" out there. A lot of smooth talking confidence men and women running shops with nothing but malice in their hearts.
Brotherrrrr..your values are god like. HONEST TRUTHFUL AND GOOD..as a mechanic myself with 35 yrs plus experience its sooooo refreshing to see im not alone ...when it comes to peoples cars
Thank you Peter!
If you clean the throttle body, you have to run a throttle body relearn with a special scan tool. If not performed it will idle around ~1,000 RPM and not ~750 RPM where it should be. I had this problem with my Honda Civic.
Toyotas don't need a scan tool to relearn TB positions. Just idling and drive time. It self learns completely solo.
It depends on the vehicle. Some are self learning because the TB runs self testing and will adjust to bring itself back into the preset parameters
@@jimrossabrena7955 I guess Toyota's have smart ECU's. Honda's not so much. LOL
That's true for Hondas, Toyotas, luckily, are more diy friendly.
your knowledge and your honesty keep me coming back to watch your videos. thank you Sir.
I'm glad your customer got a second opinion saved him thousands.
Another great video, Petr. At some point I hope to bring my 2002 4runner to you for inspection. Thank you!
Happy ending love Toyota Great Vlog Thank you Peter
I wouldn’t defend the garage that did the diagnosis and quote, but as with a lot of trades, if they don’t want the work, due to being overbooked or it is not their bag, silly numbers will often be quoted just to indirectly turn the customer away. Or it’s ascam!
Unreal scammers.... God bless you Peter for your honesty.🙏
Integrity is the true measure of man sir. Well done.
Even if the tips of the plugs look ok the burning marks on the porcelain next to the metal where the socket grabs them means that the spark is coming out there so they are shot.
Great channel and awesome information for the less informed viewer and we more informed viewers.
Can always pick up new tips.
Edit
I wrote the comment below a year ago and the 2003 Corolla is still running great and still nothing coding.
Thankyou for your honesty.
why can't I find a mechanic like you!!... I hope you are appreciated!
Nice, good to see honest work being carried out.
Brought my 1989 Corolla sr5 to a dealership to have a starter replaced and they said I needed my fuel injection system rebuilt for 1100.00 only that car had the 4AF and not a 4AFE which without the E means no electronic fuel injection. Or carbureted.. needless to say I never went back there..
Toyota has a problem or defect with their clear coat peeling off especially on Corolla’s, Camry’s, Yaris .
Original factory plugs used to be marked on the tip (non spark end) - replacements don't.
I have watched you chanel now for sometime now and I love it.
All of your advice has been spot on.
You are such a good and honest man, love your channel. Keep doing what you're doing!
Something very uncommon in this day and age . . . a good, honest man providing a good honest assessment and diagnosis. It restores my faith in humanity if just a bit.
You will have a New customer for life...... This guy will love you....
Plugs are the window...to the engine's soul. Thanks for the tip about PCM "relearning".
You are a credit to your trade and industry...Wish you where in my neck of the woods...you would get all my family and friends business...Heck I would come work for you. Thank you!!!
Robbers need hanging by their bollocks robbing folks like that, You provide a quality service Peter.
I so appreciate your dedication; I have a 2009 Camry Se with the V6 engine. I love this car! It’s has 157000 kms (approx 100k miles) and will be due for spark plugs soon . If the opportunity is there, I would greatly appreciate seeing your method for replacing spark plugs for the V6! Cheers!
A video from beginning to end thank you. It makes a difference when you can see the end result.
As a retired auto mechanic my thoughts are. Experience says it usually takes about a 20 psi drop in any one cyl comparatively to start to set misfire codes. This engine does not show that. Misfire rates typically need to exceed a 10% threshold to set a code. This means misfires can register without a fault until this threshold is exceeded. Next is all valve problems for misfires will show up at idle the most unless it's a dead miss meaning below 20 psi loss. Ignition misfire issues tend to show up at higher rpm and loads. A simple road test with live misfire data should confirm what's going on. If misfires are only at idle it could very well be carbon buildup or valve seat pitting. Agreed the shop that quoted an engine did not follow the diagnosis through.
If it sounds unreasonable, always get a second or even a third opinion. You'd be surprised how much difference there is for the same work between shops. I always look for shops that have been in the same location for a long time under the same ownership.
I lived in a neighbourhood years ago where all the independent shops talked to each other - a lot. I went for a 3-opinion estimate, but when I got to the 3rd shop, he sneered, told me he knew I was at two other shops, and didn’t even want to look at the vehicle. Today I do all my own wrenching.
@@markstevens1729 I used to do most of my auto repairs before, but now I live in a one car garage condo so I am limited in what I can do. I found a repair shop two cities away that is very honest and warranties their work for two years.
A few blocks away from the repair shop, I found a private tire shop that has really good prices and also does suspension work at really reasonable rates. They have been around for many decades. You actually have to schedule appointments to get tire work done. Two other shops quoted me $2500 for front end suspension work and this new shop will do the same thing for $700!
Happy you are getting many new customers. Was worried about you for a while because of no new videos and thought maybe the relocation caused people to not know where you are anymore. Hopefully people help your phone number and the hot rod guy next door could say where you are now. Takes time but the customer base will grow and many will refind you again.
Wow you did a great service to protect this customer.
I had a Corolla once for a friend wanting to replace an armload of expensive parts.
the plug gap was too wide also, like this video.
I regapped and cleaned the plugs and drove back to report findings.
I did, later find the gap was originally specified wide.
the update said to reduce the gap on all their engines for that model year.
they were having misfires and eventually damaging the plug wires.
nippondenso is the best part for your Toyota.
and the best plug wire is also nippondenso.
they're worth it on the older models.
check your plug gaps and check your specs for updates on any loss of power and or dropping cylinders even with coil on plug models.
You can't trust these chain repair shops and sometimes dealers don't fix cars correctly either. These shops are interesting in making money off of you. Remember that trust is earned, not a given
Great video love a honest mechanic.
If all mechanics were like you and scotty i would have never got into fixing cars.
My mechanic did the same thing...Used gearbox in but he didn't torque the drain plug all the way so it was leaking. Also, one of the ground cables from the battery was almost falling off...So as you can see there are lots of idiots everywhere...I told him the gearbox lost 0.5l of oil because of the leak but he didn't even apologize for his mistake. The gear stick was also not aligned with the vw 3421 tool...
Once again, great job! People LITERALLY are in your hands & u do everything in your power to help them. There's just not enough of people like u! U take such pride in your duties/work! 👍 🇺🇸
I had a mechanic that builked me for almost a grand for a leaking head gasket every time it overheated it was a diagnostic fee and radiator flush and thermostat change. It wasn’t till I went to the dealership that It got resolved
As Scotty Kilmer says: Do the simple stuff first...
Was it the spark plugs which caused the VSC and check engine light to come on? I have an 09 Camry V6 with 320K miles and it runs like new. Never been in the shop for any repairs but my VSC and check engine light comes on and after I reset it it will come back on, sometimes weeks later.
Thank you for your honesty
You remind me of my late father. He was a car nut. Worked on anything but old VW and Toyota’s was his passion. He was just like you, honest mechanic. He would sometimes lose money or do it for free before he ripped anyone off. I used to get so mad when I was younger because he would sometimes struggle because Of his honesty. He would tell me, you can always make another dollar but you can only make one good first impression. Rather lose a buck than a customer/friend. Now as I’m older I realize. Man was right the entire time.