Notwithstanding this incident, a road test, thorough inspection and diagnostics, before starting repairs is a prudent idea, protecting both the shop and the customer.
You're lucky it was a mate that was straight up with you and rational about the situation. Some clients would have milked that fluke failure and given you grief. How big a premium would you pay for "Irrational client insurance" that guaranteed and actually did pay up with no questions asked? The answer to that question might indicate what you need to squirel away to self insure yourself. Good will self insurance may be the way to go.
A few years ago, at my last shop a Mercedes mid 2000, can't remember model was in for routine service. Car would not start and no electrical power to anything and couldn't get out of bay. Boss man, who is also a sharp tech, spend hours on it to find out that steering wheel lock was not disengaging and therefore no power anywhere. Found out common problem and needs a column. Found internet hack where you pull column, drill small hole to use pick to turn gear to release lock. Then you can remove module and replace, or do another hack and buy a small RC DC brushed motor like the ones in blend doors and install. He did that and it worked.
sometimes lift rides can do things to a rack because of the angle of the tie rods, it will load internal parts in a way that is different than having the wheels on the ground, another thing I learned a long time ago is if you have a car on the lift and turn the front wheels with the engine off for some reason (like doing brakes) the outer rack seal on the right side can draw air in, the seals are made to hold pressure from the inside but if there is a vacuum in the rack pison air can get in, no big deal it will just shudder for a day or two, I have learned to tell people this before doing the job so I do not get blamed for it, good story thanks for sharing!!
Video record a complete vehicle inspection ( record starting when tech approaches vehicle in parking lot include any test drive ,and when tech returns car to parking lot). Document everything . I refuse to do any European imports to mitigate my risk as an owner / technician. Euro's have a ton of intricacies and are time and money consuming . Unless you are a euro specialist, turn them away ,even for a LOF/ rotate & balance. There are two types of euro owners : wealthy ones who maintain them , and those who can barely afford liability coverage on them with zero budget for maintenance/repairs.
Mike, these kind of failures happen to every car mechanic as well as appliances and electronics. Come to think of it, It happens to carpenters, electricians and plumbers as well. Del
I think these German cars have huge markup in parts, which I would be okay with if they actually lasted 15 years, but they don’t. Ever hydraulic steering rack for my 2015 bmw x1 is about $2700 Canadian ($3k with taxes). If you were to rebuild the car with part it would cost 2-3x the original price of that vehicle.
Hey it happens it wasn't your fault. Just tell the customer when it happens. It's just the way it is. You know your honest and so do your good customers.
I love your videos. However, your videos can be pretty hard to hear without turning my television up pretty high… But as far as the video. This is why i limit the services I offer and take photos of the areas I touch before touching them.
Thank you I appreciate it. I have gotten feedback on the audio issue my editing software has a default where it’s left channel and sometimes that creates an issue. I’ve been looking into it to try to figure out what settings I have to change.
The original owner may have gotten the same advice after replacing his rack and pinion steering unit. Get rid of it before the next one fails. Your buddy was unfortunate soul who got it.
Notwithstanding this incident, a road test, thorough inspection and diagnostics, before starting repairs is a prudent idea, protecting both the shop and the customer.
Most stressful business is automotive shop. " WHAT DID YOU DO, MY CAR WAS RUNNING PERFECT"
You're lucky it was a mate that was straight up with you and rational about the situation.
Some clients would have milked that fluke failure and given you grief.
How big a premium would you pay for "Irrational client insurance" that guaranteed and actually did pay up with no questions asked?
The answer to that question might indicate what you need to squirel away to self insure yourself.
Good will self insurance may be the way to go.
A few years ago, at my last shop a Mercedes mid 2000, can't remember model was in for routine service. Car would not start and no electrical power to anything and couldn't get out of bay. Boss man, who is also a sharp tech, spend hours on it to find out that steering wheel lock was not disengaging and therefore no power anywhere. Found out common problem and needs a column. Found internet hack where you pull column, drill small hole to use pick to turn gear to release lock. Then you can remove module and replace, or do another hack and buy a small RC DC brushed motor like the ones in blend doors and install. He did that and it worked.
sometimes lift rides can do things to a rack because of the angle of the tie rods, it will load internal parts in a way that is different than having the wheels on the ground, another thing I learned a long time ago is if you have a car on the lift and turn the front wheels with the engine off for some reason (like doing brakes) the outer rack seal on the right side can draw air in, the seals are made to hold pressure from the inside but if there is a vacuum in the rack pison air can get in, no big deal it will just shudder for a day or two, I have learned to tell people this before doing the job so I do not get blamed for it, good story thanks for sharing!!
Thanks for sharing that information. I'll keep that in mind for future jobs!
If you dry steer an old Ford Ranger, you need to find a big parking lot and do a bunch of figure 8s to get the shudder out.
@@stevestadnik9206 yes the old rangers would do that every time, hard to tell a customer it will go away in a few days, but it will
Video record a complete vehicle inspection ( record starting when tech approaches vehicle in parking lot include any test drive ,and when tech returns car to parking lot). Document everything .
I refuse to do any European imports to mitigate my risk as an owner / technician. Euro's have a ton of intricacies and are time and money consuming . Unless you are a euro specialist, turn them away ,even for a LOF/ rotate & balance. There are two types of euro owners : wealthy ones who maintain them , and those who can barely afford liability coverage on them with zero budget for maintenance/repairs.
It's hard to trust a machanic. Too many of them give the good ones a bad name😢
Mike, these kind of failures happen to every car mechanic as well as appliances and electronics. Come to think of it, It happens to carpenters, electricians and plumbers as well.
Del
I think these German cars have huge markup in parts, which I would be okay with if they actually lasted 15 years, but they don’t. Ever hydraulic steering rack for my 2015 bmw x1 is about $2700 Canadian ($3k with taxes). If you were to rebuild the car with part it would cost 2-3x the original price of that vehicle.
In my shop, customers always pay for this kind of stuff, I record everything at all times
Hey it happens it wasn't your fault. Just tell the customer when it happens. It's just the way it is. You know your honest and so do your good customers.
Wish you was closer to the DC area i would work for you if you needed a helper
What make and model Mercedes was this?
E300
I love your videos. However, your videos can be pretty hard to hear without turning my television up pretty high… But as far as the video. This is why i limit the services I offer and take photos of the areas I touch before touching them.
Thank you I appreciate it. I have gotten feedback on the audio issue my editing software has a default where it’s left channel and sometimes that creates an issue. I’ve been looking into it to try to figure out what settings I have to change.
The original owner may have gotten the same advice after replacing his rack and pinion steering unit.
Get rid of it before the next one fails. Your buddy was unfortunate soul who got it.
PRO TIP, Don't test motor mounts after a brake job!
😂
You lift a car or truck and then the struts blow out lol Not my problem but it looks pretty bad right?
Customers will always blame the mechanic