@@TRUTHISABSOLUTE777 What an excellent question. The scanner costs money and the web search costs time. The parts store only costs time and contains the possibility of getting some questions answered by staff, about parts at least. And then you know what to think of the parts cost quoted later by your mechanic.
@@TRUTHISABSOLUTE777 In my experience, the auto parts store because I have a 2011 Nissan Rogue with a failing CVT transmission and this BlueDriver scan tool only does transmissions for Ford, Chevy, Dodge and Toyota. Full disclosure. My transmission started slipping. BlueDriver shows nothing. Autozone says see mechanic for general powertrain problem. Danco found nothing on their scanner. Said should get another 15,000 to 20,000 miles before usual full failure around 110,000 miles. Dealer charged $168 and found nothing. Then gave me 50% off the $168. My dealership is actually pretty good. Cannot afford a new vehicle so eventually I will be paying $5,000 for a replacement CVT. Average new vehicle price is $40,000 !!!! Crazy. Makes the Ford Maverick look real appealing at $20,000 except.... it has a CVT transmission and won't be out for awhile.
One of the last REAL mechanics. I follow in your footsteps scotty. I am doing mechanic work and being honest with people and they pay me whatever they can afford/want. Thank you for your inspiration.
I have a neighbor like you, he will fix anything the cheapest way he can find too. Its sad that his back is messed up now because he did so much work for everyone he knows. I don't want to take mine to him anymore
@@AR-zq9hq obd1 though can miss a few things, chiefly clogged cats. You won't know if the cats are any good unless you test them yourself. Obd2, as finicky as it can get, is a pleasant upgrade.
Scan the codes, research them, find out standard cost of repair and parts involved and tell them you do not know what's going on with the car,. Then have fun hearing their idiotic explanations to nustify their prices.
@@Meekerextreme i don't go to mechanic i don't trust. if mechanic can't be honest what wrong in car. what make trust mechanic fix the correctly car to save your life
Sound advice, unless you have a honest mechanic regularly maintaining your car for many years. Mine doesn't try to sell me any unnecessary parts, on the contrary, he advised me more than once how to keep the maintenance costs within reasonable limits without compromising safety or shortening the life expectancy of the vehicle. My only concern is that he's getting older and I'm not sure how much more he'll be able to keep the workshop running, I'm terrified of having to go back to the regular dealers shops.
Thats the sad part isn't it? That maechanics are so well known for scaming people that when you find a good one you hold on for dear life. Or go to youtube and listen to scotty because he's the only good one you've heard of. I'm the ladder not the former sadly
same, my mechanic is a Honda fan, thats why i bring my cars to him always, even if its 160km away, and there are garages 5km away from me. Always did the work, what needed to replace+ i was always there to see the progress and talk about/learn things, if its not a 2 day job he allow you to have a coffee, and just watch how your car get fixed. Its a small family garage with father and son. I dont know what i will do if something happens to them 😐 i want to learn a lot so if that happens im gonna build my own garage and work on my cars myself.
Vladimir, your mechanic knows the golden rule of honest business, A satisfied customer will come back but an impressed customer will come back with their friends. In the last decade I lost a machinist and a body guy to retirement so I understand what it is you are fearing. I found that if I brought up their impending retirement in a way that showed I was happy for them and that they will be sorely missed it took the sting out of asking who they recommend I go to after they retire. I have always had cars that I could fix myself so I have never actually used a mechanic's services but I imagine it will be difficult to find that kind of trust in another mechanic these days. It would be so helpful if you made friends with your mechanic. Maybe you could do something nice for them and ask if you can contact them later to look over your new mechanic's estimates? That might be over the line, I don't know how things are where you live.
@@asimpson164 I'm fairly friendly with the guy but he's keeping a certain distance, still calls me "doctor" even if I lost count how many times I told him to just call me Vlad or V. He's not quite that old yet and we hope we'll manage to keep him healthy (you're right about bringing friends, almost half of the hospital staff is now on his clients list), he promised to present us a similarly skilled mechanic when he decides to retire but skill isn't everything in this mater, guess we'll see what kind of person that other guy will turn out to be.
My local mechanic literally walks me around my truck and points things out. Some small things I do myself everything else is on him lol. He runs a honest shop. Good people.
"Are you planning on being a millionaire?" my dad asked me about 45 years ago. "Of course!" I quickly replied. "Well just in case, you'd better learn how to fix your own car." words of wisdom.
This is the advice I give everyone I ever talk to that is too scared to work on their own car. I'm really glad you are using your platform to reach a massive audience about this. You're doing a great thing!
The one thing I love about this guy and his channel the most, is how much value he gives people. Like he probably prevented someone from being scammed, or better yet customer and mechanic communicate with each other.
I took my 1999 Subaru Legacy Outback to my local Subaru dealer and told them I had a P0325 code, which meant the knock sensor was malfunctioning. The woman at the service counter said they still had to charge me a diagnostic fee because they don't know which knock sensor is bad. I knew my vehicle only had one knock sensor, but she apparently thought I was too dumb to do my research.
It sounds more likely that they need to troubleshoot to see why to knock sensor error is occurring. A bad coil pack can also trigger the KS and not trip a code itself.
Still always good to have a scan tool, it can help you do the repairs yourself or even help you when you're buying a used car to make sure there are no issues in the vehicle
@@christopherrosas2738 I think the scan tool might also tell you if the check engine light was recently reset, though I'm not sure about that. The car needs to be driven a certain amount before the car decides if it truly has or doesn't have a CEL after it has been reset, but the car will have no CEL in the meantime, just a code in the scanner
@@heckraiserrr413 it can tell you if codes are pending..... this usually means the vehicle was recently reset, but it won't tell you if it's been repaired, but some scan tools will even give you live data while the car is running and if you know how to read it, you can usually identify faults from that that may not have tripped a code yet
it’s good if you’re in a pinch or you’re not near your home and don’t have a scanner, but with how inexpensive these scanners are, i’d recommend just getting them.
car dealerships are the worst scammers in the world. If you have not learned already. There are crooks every where out there, but the dealerships charge hundreds for what might be a simple problem only. This is the price you pay when you refuse to learn. Scotty, you are always our man. The best to you for giving us these videos. They are so great. God bless you.
I was a auto mechanic for 40 years and you have taught so many people important facts about their vehicles and how not to get taken advantage of when going to a repair shop. A little knowledge and common sense makes a difference!!! Great videos Scotty!!!@
You're right about getting ripped off... my son in law took his 05 Tahoe to a tire store, the name starts with a "G". He already knew the front end needed alignment... they quoted him $1500 and said he needed most of the front end replaced. He had that work done several years earlier. He then took it to our locally owned tire place that did the front end work originally. It cost him $875, but that included a new set of tires.... the alignment was free...
I had just bought a used car and took it in for an oil change. Came back and they said it needed $4,000 worth of work. More than I bought it for. "For an oil change?" "Oh, you said you wanted it completely looked over" Nope, just brought it for the oil change and nothing else. So I declined all the other work and just got the oil change and left. One of the things they said was that the catalytic converter was in terrible shape. I drove the thing for a couple of years when the muffler got real bad and I took it to a muffler place to replace. I told them It needed a new muffler, and possibly other exhaust work and that I know the catalytic converter is bad and needs replaced. Came back later and they told me the catalytic converter was just fine and didn't need replaced. Just the muffler and they cut and replaced just part of the exhaust pipe. Luckily they were a good honest business and didn't do the unnecessary work, even though I thought it needed done. But yeah, the first shop said it was in terrible condition and acted like it NEEDED to be fixed right away. Yet 2 years later it's in good shape.
You’re a good man helping the common folk, I got one of those devices and it honestly saved me $1000 because I was able to buy and do the replacements myself. Sure I got a little dirty, but it was good for my soul.
Scotty has a good point. Another piece of advice - don't tell the mechanic what the car "needs", tell him what your observations and experiences were. Back in the day when cars had distributors and points and condensers, sometimes my car would begin to run a little rough. I'd go in and say it needed a tune-up. I did this several times before I found out all it needed was a re-adjustment on the points' "dwell angle", back to the manufacturer's original setting.
Finally some advice from Scotty Kilmer, car guys can agree with.. some shops out there take advantage of people when you say things like, "im not sure whats wrong with my car, i don't care what it cost, just fix it." Good honest Mechanics are hard to find. if you find one, Cherish them.
Being able to fix your cars on your own really is a good thing. I’ve heard so many stories from coworkers and friends who go to the mechanic and are basically getting fucked over.
@@thomas.thomas So?, I don't go into a supermarket and have the cashier overcharge me for my groceries. What should being naive have to do with a business operating criminally?
That's why it's also good to have a good honest relationship with a mechanic. You're less likely to get screwed. But Def helps knowing something before going in
There are honest mechanics out there, but very rare. My dad found out his mechanic quit the shop and moved elsewhere. Now, we have to find a new mechanic. It's difficult.
Im taking auto repair in school this year and i was mind blown at how much people go to the mechanic for that they could fix themselves with some ambition and 3 steps
Used to do my own stuff but now with knees and shoulder problems opted to take it to the mechanic. Here are my two cent based on solely my personal experience: -If you find a good, independent mechanic, keep it. Don't piss him off arguing about every penny. Remember you are talking to the 'owner' himself, so the relation is more personal, so will be the disagreements. -Chain shops are the worse. Always try to stick you some other junk. I feel so bad for people that do not know about cars. One tried to have me get an $800 brake job when the tie rod ends were worn out. Another told me my struts were worn out, when I had replaced them three months before. Finally, even when the job is right, they only charge 90% of what the dealership would.when they use after market parts! When I asked why, they say 'we give you the same warranty'. I don't want the 'warranty' I want it to last. -Contrary to my initial misgivings, being I had done my own work all my life, I found the Honda and Toyota accurate and not trying to sell me unnecessary jobs. Yeah, expensive, BUT, chain shops charge only 20% less for sticking aftermarket parts while at least at the dealership I get original parts. So far I have been happy (remember I can no longer do my own work). But somebody explained to me that the quality of service varies from dealership to dealership as they all are independent. We have a 2003 Highlander with 188,000 miles, a 2005 Camry with 130,000 miles, a 2008 Avalon V6 with 150,000 and a 2013 Camry with 78,000 miles, all run perfect. But, I do change the radiator and transmission fluid around 100,000 miles, do not run with a 'warm A/C' waiting until the compressor is messed up (recharged it) and I am a fan of replacing the front struts around 110,000 miles (the rear shocks last forever unless you always drive around with three grown men in the rear seat). Seem to be none of these vehicles will have any trouble any time soon. I hear that Honda is the top quality and it may be. But the years doing the work myself taught me they are difficult to work on because everything in them is so small and compacted and the Honda parts are the most expensive.
Who goes to a mechanic for a check engine light though? When I get a check engine light, I just go to AutoZone or O'Reilly's. They don't try to sell me anything. That said, this video is a pivotal moment in Scotty's career. He has never made a shorter video or said fewer words at one time in his life. Can you imagine how much energy his hand still have saved up? When the camera turned off they probably had to keep waving.
The scan tool they use has every data point available and checks out all the systems. Its much more detail than a scanner a customer would use. Yes 230 is too much but sometimes its worth it. My A/C was blowing warm air. I figured it was the compressor. Turns out it was the evaporator. My dealer charged 125 for diagnose it.
@@Brsrafal gonna have to check it out my corolla 2020 is only a year old and the check engine light comes on only on improper ignition lol sometimes when i try to start the car i stop too soon and doesn't start and it kicks off the check engine light lol.
@@interstategar nice might have to switch to a different dealer see if they charge less i know theres no problems on my 1 year old corolla 2020 check engine light comes on only when i try to start the engine and let go of the ignition too soon i dont know what the proper word is. When it fails to start the check engine light comes on lol
I only took my truck to a shop for an electrical quote once. The guy said for $200, he'd pop the hood and take a look at it. I drove straight to O'Reilly's and snagged a Bosch scanner. I've diagnosed both my parents' cars, my boss's, friend's, and my Toyota several times. Beats the hell out of leaning on someone else's 'honesty'. X3
These new cars are super trigger-happy with the check engine light, too! Last time it was just a dirty air filter. Literally they may charge you 100 bucks or more to 'diagnose' the car when all they're doing is reading the codes! F them in the ear!
Best $20 I ever spent. Code on wife's car came back as a serious transmission problem despite symptoms disappearing after 15 minutes. Turned out the transmission was still under warranty for one more month. Full replacement at zero cost because I scanned it and took it seriously because it told me it was serious!
What not to say to a mechanic. " Is this your first day on the job?" " Do you use crescent wrenches on everything? Hammers?" " Mind if I watch? I know more than you do anyways." " You don't look like a mechanic to me, you look like a dry wall hanger."
I like Scotty so much I’m constantly telling people about him. I don’t know how many of those people subbed to the channel but it’s got to be a lot at this point.🤠
And never, *EVER* tell the mechanic that you're in no hurry to have it fixed, no matter *HOW* busy they are! It'll probably get pushed to the back of the line & "looked" at several weeks later! 0_o
I told the tire shop that they could take a month on a free flat repair, since I am moving and need space for my dozen spare tires. They had it out later that day. I agree that it wasn’t snappy but this small town has nothing better to do, except maybe touring every gravel path.
@@nelsblair2667 you can go to discount tire too. They’re found virtually everywhere, and they’ll patch your flat if it’s patchable and fill it with air for free
I’m a tech and had a customer recently who spent over $500 replacing parts on his car based on the fault codes. I really wish I could have totally screwed that guy over by charging him $166 up front and told him exactly what was wrong with his car rather than have him spend over $500 (and replacing parts in his driveway) and he still had no idea what was wrong with his car.
This is probably the best single piece of car repair advice there is. Here's a semi-related anecdote: my brakes started squeaking one time, indicating that I needed new brake pads. I take it to a big name shop, tell them I need a brake job, and leave. I came back a few hours later to a $800 bill. I was expecting it to be less than $100. To they're credit, though, those were the best brakes I ever had. 🤣🤷♂️
Had a mate take his car to a mechanic and he said, just fix what's wrong with it. Well, $3200 later and the mechanic still hadn't moved onto the slipping transmission yet🤦♂️
Yep! Cousin's Mystique had a check engine light but still ran normally. Midas made it sound like her car was falling apart and wanted over $2700. I told her to try a new gas cap. Solved!
Exactly. Knowledge is power and especially powerful during negotiations (essentially what you’re doing with a mechanic) also always ask first “what will it take to run again” because they will up sell you on every single bushing, joint, lightbulb air filter etc which a lot of them can be done under 10 minutes with no tools..
@@PittsburghSonido did you get your dash lights fixed? If the rheostat for the dash lights is part of the headlamp switch assembly, it's probably just a bad rheostat in the headlamp switch or if it goes through a separate connector on the switch assembly it could be that he didn't get it plugged back in properly. But it seems pretty unlikely to me that he "broke" your dash lights when he replaced your headlamp switch. Also, people need to understand that us mechanics are just as wary of customers trying to screw us over as they are of us trying to screw them over. Just remember we have to make a living too. We can't work for free.
This is facts! My mom bought a brand new car because her power train control module was messed up. She didn’t let me know until she was driving the new car home. The dealership was full of snakes.
Why are mechanics not held to any professional standards? Seems like there should be laws and accreditations to make sure people who rip people off are kicked out of the profession
-USA, with only 25% of world's GDP, and over 70% of entire world's Lawyers, making Everything cost more, It is possible..... anyone can resolve.... an issue.. ;)
The problem is that the OBDII scanner will give you a code for what's wrong, but there are always a number of things that could cause whatever the code is. My last car was throwing codes for bad emissions. I took it to the shop and they tried to charge me $1,200 for a new catalytic converter. I took it to a friend for a second opinion and he replaced the O2 sensors. Check engine light went off and hasn't been back since.
Not always true Scotty, you don't tell a mechanic how to fix it. You think you need a new starter and TELL him to replace it before he finds the poor connection?
I'm a mechanic. I always ask the customer, what do you think is wrong with it. If they don't know then I diagnose it. If they name an issue, I always replace the part first. If it doesn't fix the problems, I go back to them and ask what they want me to fix next. If they don't know, then I diagnose it. If they name an issue then I fix that. If it still isn't fixed, I tell them they are the worst mechanic I've ever met. You can make a lot of money like this.
Only way not to get ripped of is to listen to Scotty do some research and already have some experience working with your hands. See I’m a plumber, but I’ve done so many things I’ve got high work IQ. I’m not a true mechanic at all. Although I’ve dropped transmission changed struts, spindles, control arms, changed out hoses or did quick fixes with brass fittings and clamps. So yes guys don’t give up keep pushing forward and you’ll never have to pay to fix you car I’ve done it all myself for cheap.
I went to a mechanic and told him that a had a front end wobble. I told him that I needed new shocks and an alignment. He tried to tell me it was just a tire out of balance. I told him that I wasn't going to fall for any scams. He said OK, fine. He could see that I knew my business. I sat in the waiting room for about 10 minutes. He came in, said it was good to go& handed me the keys. The Bill said balanced your $10. I was livid! I demanded that they put new tires on. When he refused, I got in the car and drove away. I'm not paying for services that I didn't request. I threw his bill in the floor. To my surprise, the wobble was gone! You can't trust anyone now days.
I know the best mechanic ever straight honest and 75 percent cheaper than the dealer. I always tip him after anything and he loves me and is the world's best mechanic
No, the ones at the auto stores are higher end and plus they run it on your car for free. No point in buying one unless you deal with a whole lot of check engine lights.
I bought a small one for just over $20. Just gives me a code I have to look up. Worth it to have in the car and not have to find an O'Relly's if I'm on the road or in another city.
Worked at a place that did this. They always told you to replace everything that they took out. Like this is already going to be off. In 3 years it might let you down. Might as well replace it. I’ve seen so many people fall for it and spend 4 grand on a 450 dollar job. Plus if the book said that the job takes about 3 hours and he got it done in a hour and a half. He still charged 3 hours and while he was still under your time he was working on someone else’s car doing the same thing. He was making like 15 to 20 service hours in a 10 hour day.
Me: Hi mechanic, my car won’t start and my scanner says I’m out of gas, can you fix it? Mechanic: Yes I can, it’ll be $300. Me: Wow that’s cheap, get er done.
you do not really need it. shouldn't bring the to mechanic you not trust. you mechanic is supposed be most trusted person you because your life depends on it
I do say this but I already know what the codes are and the freeze frame data and everything I have. I do this to check if they are honest or they are shylocks and trying to rip me off. This way I kill two birds with one check engine light.
Ha, after meeting the mechanic, introducing him to my family, I just say fix my car as fast as possible as cheap as possible or I'm taking her wallet and leaving my wife behind with you.
A good mechanic is more like a doctor. He needs to diagnose the problem and use the optimal methods to fix it. You can’t just go to your doctor and say ,,hey, I’ve read my symptoms on the internet. I think I have diabetes. Can you test it out for me?” It’s not wrong to say you don’t know what the problem is, although I get that humans are having a hard time trusting authorities lately. We resort to self-solutions because we never trust the person in front of us for what he’s supposed to be good at 😬
Do this, I work at a Dodge dealership getting started in the mechanics world and we legit charge $100 just to diagnose what's wrong. $100 to plug in a computer and say you have a software update XD
Also when you buy a scan tool make sure the app is free or it can use third party apps, I had an auttel bluetooth obd2 scanner and it only worked with it's proprietary paid app. I haven't tried this one but the OBD Link MX+ seems good, also it can connect to apps like FORScan for changing ecu settings and can bus stuff.
Look at the Ford dealership ,my mom Had it towed there because the shifter was jammed and they said it was going to cost $1,000 , and then she took the car to her actual mechanic and he fixed it for $100 . The only reason she took it to the Ford dealer is because the recent owner (family member) always took it to the Ford dealer for maintenance . So I think they tried selling my mom the stars .
Best scan tool: amzn.to/2V2Gmts
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Will be there 🙂
Which is better? This or the free scan that your auto parts store can do for you?
We Love You Scotty Kilmer. In Love&Light to you and your Family. ✌ 💪 ❤
@@TRUTHISABSOLUTE777 What an excellent question. The scanner costs money and the web search costs time. The parts store only costs time and contains the possibility of getting some questions answered by staff, about parts at least. And then you know what to think of the parts cost quoted later by your mechanic.
@@TRUTHISABSOLUTE777 In my experience, the auto parts store because I have a 2011 Nissan Rogue with a failing CVT transmission and this BlueDriver scan tool only does transmissions for Ford, Chevy, Dodge and Toyota. Full disclosure. My transmission started slipping. BlueDriver shows nothing. Autozone says see mechanic for general powertrain problem. Danco found nothing on their scanner. Said should get another 15,000 to 20,000 miles before usual full failure around 110,000 miles. Dealer charged $168 and found nothing. Then gave me 50% off the $168. My dealership is actually pretty good. Cannot afford a new vehicle so eventually I will be paying $5,000 for a replacement CVT. Average new vehicle price is $40,000 !!!! Crazy. Makes the Ford Maverick look real appealing at $20,000 except.... it has a CVT transmission and won't be out for awhile.
Don’t say “Whatever it costs just do the work”
Some mechanic in the lunchroom soon after:
“That’s what he said! I couldn’t believe it either!”
Just start pulling 100 dollar Bill's out of your pocket and have them say when to stop.
You kidding … this is like $$$$$ to the mechanic
And don't say I'm not in any hurry to get it back.
Walks in bay, engine on shop floor
Mechanic: yeah you wouldn't believe the work needed to get the part out.
One of the last REAL mechanics. I follow in your footsteps scotty. I am doing mechanic work and being honest with people and they pay me whatever they can afford/want. Thank you for your inspiration.
That's good to hear ppl like u that help others out I wish u success in all you do
I have a neighbor like you, he will fix anything the cheapest way he can find too. Its sad that his back is messed up now because he did so much work for everyone he knows. I don't want to take mine to him anymore
you're a real one for that
We appreciate you. There shouldn’t be more people like you, they have to like you
Maybe one day I can be like you
Or just buy a 1994 Celica and you'll never need to use a scan tool
Hell yeah OBDI FTW!
@@AR-zq9hq obd1 though can miss a few things, chiefly clogged cats. You won't know if the cats are any good unless you test them yourself. Obd2, as finicky as it can get, is a pleasant upgrade.
Or a bike
OBD 1 is a PIA
Or a 89-91 Honda CRX best car ever made, and our federal government made them illegal to sell for lack of airbag.
Scan the codes, research them, find out standard cost of repair and parts involved and tell them you do not know what's going on with the car,. Then have fun hearing their idiotic explanations to nustify their prices.
Or mention stuff so they know at least you educated yourself some.
Laugh as they have the look of a deer in headlights
@@Meekerextreme i don't go to mechanic i don't trust. if mechanic can't be honest what wrong in car. what make trust mechanic fix the correctly car to save your life
What's the point of that because that doesn't get you a good repair deal which is the goal?
@@mrpmj00 cheap deal don't mean the work is good either
Sound advice, unless you have a honest mechanic regularly maintaining your car for many years. Mine doesn't try to sell me any unnecessary parts, on the contrary, he advised me more than once how to keep the maintenance costs within reasonable limits without compromising safety or shortening the life expectancy of the vehicle. My only concern is that he's getting older and I'm not sure how much more he'll be able to keep the workshop running, I'm terrified of having to go back to the regular dealers shops.
Thats the sad part isn't it? That maechanics are so well known for scaming people that when you find a good one you hold on for dear life. Or go to youtube and listen to scotty because he's the only good one you've heard of. I'm the ladder not the former sadly
@@photofreak56 lol 😝
same, my mechanic is a Honda fan, thats why i bring my cars to him always, even if its 160km away, and there are garages 5km away from me. Always did the work, what needed to replace+ i was always there to see the progress and talk about/learn things, if its not a 2 day job he allow you to have a coffee, and just watch how your car get fixed. Its a small family garage with father and son. I dont know what i will do if something happens to them 😐 i want to learn a lot so if that happens im gonna build my own garage and work on my cars myself.
Vladimir, your mechanic knows the golden rule of honest business, A satisfied customer will come back but an impressed customer will come back with their friends. In the last decade I lost a machinist and a body guy to retirement so I understand what it is you are fearing. I found that if I brought up their impending retirement in a way that showed I was happy for them and that they will be sorely missed it took the sting out of asking who they recommend I go to after they retire.
I have always had cars that I could fix myself so I have never actually used a mechanic's services but I imagine it will be difficult to find that kind of trust in another mechanic these days. It would be so helpful if you made friends with your mechanic. Maybe you could do something nice for them and ask if you can contact them later to look over your new mechanic's estimates? That might be over the line, I don't know how things are where you live.
@@asimpson164 I'm fairly friendly with the guy but he's keeping a certain distance, still calls me "doctor" even if I lost count how many times I told him to just call me Vlad or V.
He's not quite that old yet and we hope we'll manage to keep him healthy (you're right about bringing friends, almost half of the hospital staff is now on his clients list), he promised to present us a similarly skilled mechanic when he decides to retire but skill isn't everything in this mater, guess we'll see what kind of person that other guy will turn out to be.
My local mechanic literally walks me around my truck and points things out. Some small things I do myself everything else is on him lol. He runs a honest shop. Good people.
@Cha Man 🤣🤣🤣🤣
"Are you planning on being a millionaire?" my dad asked me about 45 years ago.
"Of course!" I quickly replied.
"Well just in case, you'd better learn how to fix your own car."
words of wisdom.
This is the advice I give everyone I ever talk to that is too scared to work on their own car. I'm really glad you are using your platform to reach a massive audience about this. You're doing a great thing!
The one thing I love about this guy and his channel the most, is how much value he gives people. Like he probably prevented someone from being scammed, or better yet customer and mechanic communicate with each other.
man, i don’t even own a car and i love watching scotty’s videos, a lot of knowledge gained.
@Hi I’m Mike Johnson That’s good coffee because he doesn't?
do you think he refuses to buy a car or something?
most people are broke.
I took my 1999 Subaru Legacy Outback to my local Subaru dealer and told them I had a P0325 code, which meant the knock sensor was malfunctioning. The woman at the service counter said they still had to charge me a diagnostic fee because they don't know which knock sensor is bad. I knew my vehicle only had one knock sensor, but she apparently thought I was too dumb to do my research.
Did they end up charging you? I wanna know more on what happened next
Let's know the outcome
The counter person probably didn't have a clue what a knock sensor was.
It sounds more likely that they need to troubleshoot to see why to knock sensor error is occurring. A bad coil pack can also trigger the KS and not trip a code itself.
But she knew what a knocked-up sensor was...she peed on one once.
Just bring it to an autoparts store, they do it for free and you dont have to buy a scan tool.
Still always good to have a scan tool, it can help you do the repairs yourself or even help you when you're buying a used car to make sure there are no issues in the vehicle
@@christopherrosas2738 I think the scan tool might also tell you if the check engine light was recently reset, though I'm not sure about that. The car needs to be driven a certain amount before the car decides if it truly has or doesn't have a CEL after it has been reset, but the car will have no CEL in the meantime, just a code in the scanner
@@heckraiserrr413 it can tell you if codes are pending..... this usually means the vehicle was recently reset, but it won't tell you if it's been repaired, but some scan tools will even give you live data while the car is running and if you know how to read it, you can usually identify faults from that that may not have tripped a code yet
It's more convenient to have your own scan tool. Don't have to drive to the parts store and you the code all from your phone
it’s good if you’re in a pinch or you’re not near your home and don’t have a scanner, but with how inexpensive these scanners are, i’d recommend just getting them.
car dealerships are the worst scammers in the world. If you have not learned already. There are crooks every where out there, but the dealerships charge hundreds for what might be a simple problem only. This is the price you pay when you refuse to learn. Scotty, you are always our man. The best to you for giving us these videos. They are so great. God bless you.
I have a very good mechanic. They allow me to watch the use the scan tool, show me the codes and explain what they mean and what it takes to fix it.
That's most mechanics. Ask me how I know.
@@Cultural_Supremacist how do you know
I was a auto mechanic for 40 years and you have taught so many people important facts about their vehicles and how not to get taken advantage of when going to a repair shop. A little knowledge and common sense makes a difference!!! Great videos Scotty!!!@
You're right about getting ripped off... my son in law took his 05 Tahoe to a tire store, the name starts with a "G". He already knew the front end needed alignment... they quoted him $1500 and said he needed most of the front end replaced. He had that work done several years earlier. He then took it to our locally owned tire place that did the front end work originally. It cost him $875, but that included a new set of tires.... the alignment was free...
What you can't say Goodyear?
I had just bought a used car and took it in for an oil change. Came back and they said it needed $4,000 worth of work. More than I bought it for. "For an oil change?" "Oh, you said you wanted it completely looked over" Nope, just brought it for the oil change and nothing else. So I declined all the other work and just got the oil change and left. One of the things they said was that the catalytic converter was in terrible shape. I drove the thing for a couple of years when the muffler got real bad and I took it to a muffler place to replace. I told them It needed a new muffler, and possibly other exhaust work and that I know the catalytic converter is bad and needs replaced. Came back later and they told me the catalytic converter was just fine and didn't need replaced. Just the muffler and they cut and replaced just part of the exhaust pipe. Luckily they were a good honest business and didn't do the unnecessary work, even though I thought it needed done. But yeah, the first shop said it was in terrible condition and acted like it NEEDED to be fixed right away. Yet 2 years later it's in good shape.
@@Logan_Baron “All i want is an oil change” 🤡
You’re a good man helping the common folk, I got one of those devices and it honestly saved me $1000 because I was able to buy and do the replacements myself. Sure I got a little dirty, but it was good for my soul.
As a lady, i do treasure your advices given how people assume we are stupid and try to scam us any chance they get.
Scotty has a good point. Another piece of advice - don't tell the mechanic what the car "needs", tell him what your observations and experiences were. Back in the day when cars had distributors and points and condensers, sometimes my car would begin to run a little rough. I'd go in and say it needed a tune-up. I did this several times before I found out all it needed was a re-adjustment on the points' "dwell angle", back to the manufacturer's original setting.
I have seen several videos from Scotty and I really enjoy the content. He goes straight to the point no bullshiet. I am subscribing.
Finally some advice from Scotty Kilmer, car guys can agree with..
some shops out there take advantage of people when you say things like,
"im not sure whats wrong with my car,
i don't care what it cost, just fix it."
Good honest Mechanics are hard to find.
if you find one, Cherish them.
Mechanics think Scotty is stupid for giving away common sense 🙄
Being able to fix your cars on your own really is a good thing. I’ve heard so many stories from coworkers and friends who go to the mechanic and are basically getting fucked over.
It's SAD to say that about mechanics but too many bad apples ripping off sweet little old ladies earned them the cliche'
Not just old ladies. Most modern men don't even know how to pop open the hood anymore.
True but some people are also just too naive and invite scammers in
@@thomas.thomas So?, I don't go into a supermarket and have the cashier overcharge me for my groceries. What should being naive have to do with a business operating criminally?
That's why they say a good mechanic is not expensive. He's priceless.
That's why it's also good to have a good honest relationship with a mechanic. You're less likely to get screwed. But Def helps knowing something before going in
Probably the only honest mechanic in the universe
“Everything under the sun” has so much failed attempts within is killin me lmao
WOW!!! I am surprised by Scotty's honesty preventing us from being ripped off! . Kudos to Mr.kilmer 💯
Facts tho they make u replace stuff that don’t even stop the car from running windshield wipers and all 😂
No mechanic "makes" you do anything.
There are honest mechanics out there, but very rare. My dad found out his mechanic quit the shop and moved elsewhere. Now, we have to find a new mechanic. It's difficult.
Or just make sure your oil is changed and ignore the light because it's probably
a malfunction just like the tire pressure light.
😂 yeah just keep driving it that’s a good idea. I too like to live dangerously
Im taking auto repair in school this year and i was mind blown at how much people go to the mechanic for that they could fix themselves with some ambition and 3 steps
don't ever say " my butts already lubed"
Used to do my own stuff but now with knees and shoulder problems opted to take it to the mechanic.
Here are my two cent based on solely my personal experience:
-If you find a good, independent mechanic, keep it. Don't piss him off arguing about every penny. Remember you are talking to the 'owner' himself, so the relation is more personal, so will be the disagreements.
-Chain shops are the worse. Always try to stick you some other junk. I feel so bad for people that do not know about cars. One tried to have me get an $800 brake job when the tie rod ends were worn out. Another told me my struts were worn out, when I had replaced them three months before. Finally, even when the job is right, they only charge 90% of what the dealership would.when they use after market parts! When I asked why, they say 'we give you the same warranty'. I don't want the 'warranty' I want it to last.
-Contrary to my initial misgivings, being I had done my own work all my life, I found the Honda and Toyota accurate and not trying to sell me unnecessary jobs. Yeah, expensive, BUT, chain shops charge only 20% less for sticking aftermarket parts while at least at the dealership I get original parts. So far I have been happy (remember I can no longer do my own work). But somebody explained to me that the quality of service varies from dealership to dealership as they all are independent.
We have a 2003 Highlander with 188,000 miles, a 2005 Camry with 130,000 miles, a 2008 Avalon V6 with 150,000 and a 2013 Camry with 78,000 miles, all run perfect. But, I do change the radiator and transmission fluid around 100,000 miles, do not run with a 'warm A/C' waiting until the compressor is messed up (recharged it) and I am a fan of replacing the front struts around 110,000 miles (the rear shocks last forever unless you always drive around with three grown men in the rear seat). Seem to be none of these vehicles will have any trouble any time soon. I hear that Honda is the top quality and it may be. But the years doing the work myself taught me they are difficult to work on because everything in them is so small and compacted and the Honda parts are the most expensive.
I was just at the garage and said if you f u my car i`m telling scotty and he said oh you watch him too
Scotty is the best mechanic under the sun!
I have BlueDriver from Scotty recommendation and love ❤️ it, more than what I need but great 👍 tool for any car 🚗 owner
Who goes to a mechanic for a check engine light though? When I get a check engine light, I just go to AutoZone or O'Reilly's. They don't try to sell me anything.
That said, this video is a pivotal moment in Scotty's career. He has never made a shorter video or said fewer words at one time in his life. Can you imagine how much energy his hand still have saved up? When the camera turned off they probably had to keep waving.
the dealer likes to try i said TRY to charge me 230$ just to use that tool 230$ an hours for the tool alone lol
Now that's stealing, Dealers Stealers.
The scan tool they use has every data point available and checks out all the systems. Its much more detail than a scanner a customer would use. Yes 230 is too much but sometimes its worth it. My A/C was blowing warm air. I figured it was the compressor. Turns out it was the evaporator. My dealer charged 125 for diagnose it.
@@Brsrafal gonna have to check it out my corolla 2020 is only a year old and the check engine light comes on only on improper ignition lol sometimes when i try to start the car i stop too soon and doesn't start and it kicks off the check engine light lol.
@@interstategar nice might have to switch to a different dealer see if they charge less i know theres no problems on my 1 year old corolla 2020 check engine light comes on only when i try to start the engine and let go of the ignition too soon i dont know what the proper word is. When it fails to start the check engine light comes on lol
I only took my truck to a shop for an electrical quote once. The guy said for $200, he'd pop the hood and take a look at it.
I drove straight to O'Reilly's and snagged a Bosch scanner. I've diagnosed both my parents' cars, my boss's, friend's, and my Toyota several times.
Beats the hell out of leaning on someone else's 'honesty'. X3
Scotty is a good man, trying to help all of the mechanically moronic folks out there.
These new cars are super trigger-happy with the check engine light, too! Last time it was just a dirty air filter. Literally they may charge you 100 bucks or more to 'diagnose' the car when all they're doing is reading the codes! F them in the ear!
Best $20 I ever spent. Code on wife's car came back as a serious transmission problem despite symptoms disappearing after 15 minutes. Turned out the transmission was still under warranty for one more month. Full replacement at zero cost because I scanned it and took it seriously because it told me it was serious!
The more knowledge that you have, the less likely you are to be ripped off.
Thumbs up for the al bundy pic
"The more you know, the less you blow."
@@dixonpinfold2582
Unless your Kamala Harris.
LOL
What not to say to a mechanic. " Is this your first day on the job?" " Do you use crescent wrenches on everything? Hammers?" " Mind if I watch? I know more than you do anyways." " You don't look like a mechanic to me, you look like a dry wall hanger."
I love these little "Scotty Shorts!" Keep up the good work, Brother!
That's right . Going to mechanic without checking the problem yourself it is a lot of money... Scotty is always right!!!
Just scan first, then check with a few shops to see who is really honest.
Scan it yourself, but dont tell them you did. Then see what they tell you is wrong...Its a great way to test their honesty.
Hey Scottie, Luv your content.. you're the best
hello and thank you!
Mans a livesaver
I like Scotty so much I’m constantly telling people about him. I don’t know how many of those people subbed to the channel but it’s got to be a lot at this point.🤠
@@sweetdrahthaar7951 Way to go lad.
This is the most honest men on this planet and i appreciate that Mr.Kilmer
And never, *EVER* tell the mechanic that you're in no hurry to have it fixed, no matter *HOW* busy they are! It'll probably get pushed to the back of the line & "looked" at several weeks later! 0_o
Depends, took 4 days in my case.
I told the tire shop that they could take a month on a free flat repair, since I am moving and need space for my dozen spare tires. They had it out later that day. I agree that it wasn’t snappy but this small town has nothing better to do, except maybe touring every gravel path.
Not true! When i tell them i need soon they get done faster. If i tell them take your time, they will drive around for lunch or errands.
@@nelsblair2667 you can go to discount tire too. They’re found virtually everywhere, and they’ll patch your flat if it’s patchable and fill it with air for free
I’m a tech and had a customer recently who spent over $500 replacing parts on his car based on the fault codes.
I really wish I could have totally screwed that guy over by charging him $166 up front and told him exactly what was wrong with his car rather than have him spend over $500 (and replacing parts in his driveway) and he still had no idea what was wrong with his car.
Well that was probably the quickest Scotty video I’ve ever seen!
Ayo our mechanic is legit. Got a check engine light? Boom, diagnosed, fixed, no extra junk, all golden
Excellent advice, thank you Scotty!
I am still waiting to be beamed up
This is probably the best single piece of car repair advice there is.
Here's a semi-related anecdote: my brakes started squeaking one time, indicating that I needed new brake pads. I take it to a big name shop, tell them I need a brake job, and leave. I came back a few hours later to a $800 bill. I was expecting it to be less than $100. To they're credit, though, those were the best brakes I ever had. 🤣🤷♂️
Sure you can tell them the DTC’s but don’t tell them you want a sensor replaced.
Dtc?
@@TRUTHISABSOLUTE777 Diagnostic Trouble Codes.
Why
Had a mate take his car to a mechanic and he said, just fix what's wrong with it. Well, $3200 later and the mechanic still hadn't moved onto the slipping transmission yet🤦♂️
Yep! Cousin's Mystique had a check engine light but still ran normally. Midas made it sound like her car was falling apart and wanted over $2700. I told her to try a new gas cap. Solved!
Midas is the king of ripping people off
Wow
Exactly. Knowledge is power and especially powerful during negotiations (essentially what you’re doing with a mechanic) also always ask first “what will it take to run again” because they will up sell you on every single bushing, joint, lightbulb air filter etc which a lot of them can be done under 10 minutes with no tools..
Or in my case, they'll just break the A/C and claim it was broken before you got there. Then, they'll charge you $4000 to fix it.
There are lots of crooked mechanics out there .
😄😄😄 right
I think I’m going through this rn
I had a guy break my dash lights trying to fix my headlight lever. “No, I didn’t notice anything wrong with the lights”. Ok pal.
@@PittsburghSonido did you get your dash lights fixed? If the rheostat for the dash lights is part of the headlamp switch assembly, it's probably just a bad rheostat in the headlamp switch or if it goes through a separate connector on the switch assembly it could be that he didn't get it plugged back in properly. But it seems pretty unlikely to me that he "broke" your dash lights when he replaced your headlamp switch.
Also, people need to understand that us mechanics are just as wary of customers trying to screw us over as they are of us trying to screw them over. Just remember we have to make a living too. We can't work for free.
This is facts! My mom bought a brand new car because her power train control module was messed up. She didn’t let me know until she was driving the new car home. The dealership was full of snakes.
You're awesome! You're advice is priceless.
its terrible not trust your mechanic. should't be working on your car if you cannot trust what mechanic saying
I’m glad I have a trustworthy mechanic been going to him for many many years
Why are mechanics not held to any professional standards? Seems like there should be laws and accreditations to make sure people who rip people off are kicked out of the profession
-USA, with only 25% of world's GDP, and over 70% of entire world's Lawyers, making Everything cost more, It is possible..... anyone can resolve.... an issue.. ;)
The problem is that the OBDII scanner will give you a code for what's wrong, but there are always a number of things that could cause whatever the code is. My last car was throwing codes for bad emissions. I took it to the shop and they tried to charge me $1,200 for a new catalytic converter. I took it to a friend for a second opinion and he replaced the O2 sensors. Check engine light went off and hasn't been back since.
Not always true Scotty, you don't tell a mechanic how to fix it. You think you need a new starter and TELL him to replace it before he finds the poor connection?
I'm a mechanic. I always ask the customer, what do you think is wrong with it. If they don't know then I diagnose it. If they name an issue, I always replace the part first. If it doesn't fix the problems, I go back to them and ask what they want me to fix next. If they don't know, then I diagnose it. If they name an issue then I fix that. If it still isn't fixed, I tell them they are the worst mechanic I've ever met. You can make a lot of money like this.
He literally said if you have a bad oxygen sensor to go and ask your mechanic to test it out, don’t twist his words.
@@stilianivanov3377 He literally said, "If you say this to a mechanic, you're stupid". Don't twist his words.
Yea he said that, but it was about a different thing.
Only way not to get ripped of is to listen to Scotty do some research and already have some experience working with your hands. See I’m a plumber, but I’ve done so many things I’ve got high work IQ. I’m not a true mechanic at all. Although I’ve dropped transmission changed struts, spindles, control arms, changed out hoses or did quick fixes with brass fittings and clamps. So yes guys don’t give up keep pushing forward and you’ll never have to pay to fix you car I’ve done it all myself for cheap.
I did the tailpipe finger-swipe Scotty test and at 200k miles my Focus has no oily residue.
The old finger in her tail pipe trick.
2 in the pink and 1 in the stink. That's a shocker 😅
I went to a mechanic and told him that a had a front end wobble. I told him that I needed new shocks and an alignment. He tried to tell me it was just a tire out of balance. I told him that I wasn't going to fall for any scams. He said OK, fine. He could see that I knew my business. I sat in the waiting room for about 10 minutes. He came in, said it was good to go& handed me the keys. The Bill said balanced your $10. I was livid! I demanded that they put new tires on. When he refused, I got in the car and drove away. I'm not paying for services that I didn't request. I threw his bill in the floor. To my surprise, the wobble was gone! You can't trust anyone now days.
Is it me or Scotty the only youtuber that never says “plz like & subscribe “
And yet he has 4.5M subs. Shows humility and good content are what matter.
I know the best mechanic ever straight honest and 75 percent cheaper than the dealer. I always tip him after anything and he loves me and is the world's best mechanic
Is his recommended scan tool as good as though one that the auto parts store uses on your car for free?
No, the ones at the auto stores are higher end and plus they run it on your car for free. No point in buying one unless you deal with a whole lot of check engine lights.
@@Rhymezny you just saved me over a hundred bucks
@@TRUTHISABSOLUTE777 look up scan tool Scotty I bought the small one for $30
I bought a small one for just over $20. Just gives me a code I have to look up. Worth it to have in the car and not have to find an O'Relly's if I'm on the road or in another city.
I got a T-Mobile SyncUP that shows the codes, which also provides gps and WiFi in the car for $15 per month. Love that thing.
I love this guy he always says that we're stupid. If I wanted to get insulted, I'd just get married again 🙄😆🤣
Someone did you wrong..
I'm waiting for " If you tell a mechanic you're stupid , you're stupid " video .
😂😂I. Just. Died!!🤣😭😭😭
Sound man Scotty
You should come to Eire for a visit
@@liberals_destroy_everythin2497 Scotty would love our Guinness
We'd treat him like a king
Worked at a place that did this. They always told you to replace everything that they took out. Like this is already going to be off. In 3 years it might let you down. Might as well replace it. I’ve seen so many people fall for it and spend 4 grand on a 450 dollar job.
Plus if the book said that the job takes about 3 hours and he got it done in a hour and a half. He still charged 3 hours and while he was still under your time he was working on someone else’s car doing the same thing. He was making like 15 to 20 service hours in a 10 hour day.
Bless this man watching out for us. I don't know how he wound up on my recommendations but I'm not upset by it.
The Truth and only the Truth ! Go Scotty !
His videos are better than a college education !
I wouldn’t be surprised if one day Scotty had a video titled, “ if you breath oxygen then you’re stupid”
You can get the same Bluetooth scanning tool that works great for around $10 on eBay.
Me: Hi mechanic, my car won’t start and my scanner says I’m out of gas, can you fix it?
Mechanic: Yes I can, it’ll be $300.
Me: Wow that’s cheap, get er done.
My boy Scotty for the save ! Best free 4 min advice one will ever have with cars
I once changed my entire front end turns out my wheel needed to be balanced
Hey Scotty! You are a blessing. Thank you. I will buy a scan tool next week. Thank you.
you do not really need it. shouldn't bring the to mechanic you not trust. you mechanic is supposed be most trusted person you because your life depends on it
You can get your car scanned for free a lot if auto part stores will let you use theirs for free then just look up the codes youself
I do say this but I already know what the codes are and the freeze frame data and everything I have. I do this to check if they are honest or they are shylocks and trying to rip me off. This way I kill two birds with one check engine light.
Yep diagnostics here In california is 189.95
I'm glad I purchased a invonna 3160 scan tool it's not the best but it helps
Excelente!
Good tip. Never tell the mechanic you don't know what's wrong with the car. They will swindle you.
Ha, after meeting the mechanic, introducing him to my family, I just say fix my car as fast as possible as cheap as possible or I'm taking her wallet and leaving my wife behind with you.
A good mechanic is more like a doctor. He needs to diagnose the problem and use the optimal methods to fix it. You can’t just go to your doctor and say ,,hey, I’ve read my symptoms on the internet. I think I have diabetes. Can you test it out for me?”
It’s not wrong to say you don’t know what the problem is, although I get that humans are having a hard time trusting authorities lately. We resort to self-solutions because we never trust the person in front of us for what he’s supposed to be good at 😬
Do this, I work at a Dodge dealership getting started in the mechanics world and we legit charge $100 just to diagnose what's wrong. $100 to plug in a computer and say you have a software update XD
Scotty is the only living legend..
My mechanic does it all in front of me and shows me the codes. Then I just buy the parts I need. It's nice to have a trustworthy mechanic
Scotty has saved the general public millions of dollars
Also when you buy a scan tool make sure the app is free or it can use third party apps, I had an auttel bluetooth obd2 scanner and it only worked with it's proprietary paid app. I haven't tried this one but the OBD Link MX+ seems good, also it can connect to apps like FORScan for changing ecu settings and can bus stuff.
Hey, is the OBD2 Kimood any good?
Look at the Ford dealership ,my mom Had it towed there because the shifter was jammed and they said it was going to cost $1,000 , and then she took the car to her actual mechanic and he fixed it for $100 . The only reason she took it to the Ford dealer is because the recent owner (family member) always took it to the Ford dealer for maintenance . So I think they tried selling my mom the stars .