Re: OT: Follow-up Story - Car Repair ripoff attempt

We've been having problems with the Check Engine light coming on and the car running like crap lately. I called a shop to find out how much and when we could get an appointment to bring the car in to put it on one of those diagnostic machines and was a little surprised when the guy said it was around $90. I had told him what was going on with my car and he didn't offer any ideas of what it could be. I told him I'd have to call back later. Well dh called instead and told him what was going on and thought we should have it put on the diagnostic machine. The same guy tells him that they were pretty busy and it might take several days to get it in there but suggested that he go out and buy some "Gum Out" and not the generic kind and explained that 99% percent of the time on our particular car it is the fuel injectors that cause that problem and the Gum Out should fix it. He explained it was $75 for each injector to be cleaned by them and $1000 if they replace them. Now why couldn't he tell me that??? The Gum Out worked but a couple weeks later it happened again, bought more Gum Out and it fixed it again. We've decided we're going to have to keep a stock of Gum Out on hand and every other tank of gas put a couple bottles in. Oh, also found out that another cause for this problem is sometimes the gas tank cap sometimes isn't tight enough and air gets in.

Jo Jo

Also, besides the fuel injector problem, we've had problems with our brakes squealing ever since we got this car. For two years we've been told that nothing is wrong with the brakes. Dh got to talking with a friend of a friend and he told dh to look closely at the rotors to see if they have a burn look on them. Dh found that they do have that burned metal look to them in places. Anyway, dh did all the work and replaced the rotors and put the higher priced brake pads on them and its much better now. I'm just surprised that all these places we took that car to couldn't see what the other guy told my dh to look for. Also I'm so glad that dh can do the majority of the work on our vehicles. The labor charge is what kills me when I hear it. If its anything that dh can't do, we've got a neighbor who works on cars on the side and he only charges $25 an hour.

Jo Jo

I'm glad I check my own. On my last car, I found a bad oxygen sensor that way. The last moron that had it had installed it too close to the exhaust and it was partially melted.

I've found a fair number of "check engine" light problems this way. Much cheaper to do it myself.

Rachel T. Damn right I'm good in bed. I can sleep for days. ;)

Well, you either put in a line item like that, or you build it into every thing you do as overhead. I prefer to see it split out like that. My repair place also has an environmental charge, a percentage of the total, for getting rid of old oil and such.

My van's brakes squeal in warm weather. Lots of people have looked at them and nothing has helped. The repair place I go to also repairs a lot of Astros for utility companies and they say a lot of them have squealy brakes.

I called a shop to find out how much and when we could get an appointment to bring the car in to put it on one of those diagnostic machines and was a little surprised when the guy said it was around $90.>>>>

TIP = did you know that many of the larger AUTO PARTS STORE will run the diagnostic for you for FREE....? Yup AUTOZONE will do it -- and - did you know they will LOAN you special tools FOR FREE --? yup --- and - they will test and/or QUICK Charge your battery for free too....

a lot of people dont know that - but AutoZone does a lot of cool stuff for its' customers. They will give good and FREE advice.. too.

Those guys are great .... I've even had them go out and stick my new windshield wipers on the car for me --

not affiliated -- just a very satisfied AUTOZONE customer.... Cheryl of DRAGON BEADS Flameworked beads and glass

On Sat, 12 Jul 2003 20:15:39 -0400, Cheryl wrote (in message ):

Thanks for the great hint! I didn't know that they'd do all that stuff. The diagnostic alone is well worth the trip.

BTW, I like going to AutoZone. They're one of the very few auto places that don't talk down to anyone. I've seen the staff there spend time telling people how to put in washer fluid or apply car wax, without getting impatient or treating people like fools.

Parts are expensive there, though. For anything big, I go to the regular auto parts store, and buy my supplies at places like AutoZone.

Automotive Hint: For waxing and cleaning my car, I like using nice soft rags. Since prying an old tee shirt away from DH is only slightly easier than getting him to donate organs, I have to buy my rags. However, I don't bother going to the automotive department at the Big Box store. I head right to Baby goods and buy a dozen birdseye flat diapers. It's cheap and the fabric is perfect for keeping the antique car in perfect shape.

Bead Reference: When I was well enough to go to car shows, I always brought some beading stuff with me. Car shows involve many hours of sitting around waiting for the car to be judged and I get an awful lot done. The guys all stand around staring aimlessly, but it doesn't seem to bother them. Most car shows are family affairs, and I've sold or given away a lot of jewelry to the captive audience: women waiting for the car to be judged who don't want to wax the car again or drink beers at 9 a.m.

Also, the folks in the Classic Car hobby are really nice, and you can make a lot of good and helpful friends at the shows. DH, DD and a friend are at a moonlight show tonight, at a Drive-in movie theatre about an hour away from here. DH just called - he's seen dozens of people we know, and the kids are snarfing down enormous quantities of concession stand food.

Kathy N-V

Nope, didn't know that but I told dh about it cause he has bought lots of stuff from Autozone in the past. I think he has borrowed some tools from them before. Several years ago he needed some parts for his full size Ford Ranger and the parts guy argued with him that there are no full size rangers. Dh had him walk out with him to the parking lot to prove that he had a full sized one. The guy just said "oh".

Jo Jo