Your company hasn’t switched to “work from home,” yet?
CSA
I don’t work for a company
I’m a public sector mechanic . . . for a large city’s fleet services division
We were specifically told we’re considered “essential personnel”
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You are essential personnel, though our city has made adjustments such as stay at home (paid), but on call if needed.
You’re not under “stay at home” orders yet?
And I have to look on a calendar to see what day of the week it is. And I only do that to book a tee-time online and get it on the right day. Then half-hour later I can’t remember half of that. 
CSA
@common_sense_answer — kindly, we get it. Your golf course is open.
Can we all please get back to cars?
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I am done wrenching, sure I could have replaced the blower resistor, 5 year old o2 sensor I never got to, gas and air filter, tried to find and fix the small evap leak so I can pass emissions, though I did try a new gas cap, done with that in my lifetime. My gm mechanic works on the side out of his farm, he has done so much for us, has a couple of kids and I love supporting him and his family. It is all about people,
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I have found that people can be great or terrible when working on their stuff. I don’t care if this is cars or something else. They can fix it right or really mess it up.
I have been busy as my business is considered essential and can help with those working from home or taking online classes. Because of this and the bad weather, I decided to take a truck into the shop to have some brake work done and am now in the process of figuring out what went wrong. This isn’t a shop I normally use but it was close to my house and the truck basically had no brakes.
I often find that it takes me less time to do simple stuff than to take it to the shop. I wait in line longer than it takes me to change my own oil. Plus I have to drive there and back if it isn’t along the way of my daily routine. I have had my engine overfilled in the past but quite a lot as well. I take more time and care to make sure the level is correct. I put the filter on and fill it some if it is located so that can be done. I then fill the engine to full or a tad above, start the engine, then check the level and add to full to take up the rest of the volume used in filling the filter and passages.
I think it can go either way. A good mechanic will treat you right but you can get hacks as well. A good owner can do a good job or do any fixes cheap or in such a way that it can cause bigger troubles or even an unsafe situation.
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Nope
The mayor had a message for us and made it crystal clear we were going to come to work, same as always . . . but safely, of course
I take it you are OK after your accident?
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Yes I am fine, but going through insurance crap. Just patting myself on the back I can get rear ended at 30 mph, braced myself, went to er, got muscle relaxers for between the shoulder blade pain, never checked for concussion as my head hit the backrest so hard my hat ended up in the back seat and I felt like my head was a baloon. Other insurance, could not have been that bad only after using used parts $700 in damage, I said even though though the other car was totaled and airbags deployed. Got the $700 check for repairs, bud looking at fixes. Now on it goes, my insurance submit us the bills and we will take care of it. They did except for $96.53 that I may owe, then there was a $450 faclity charge, medicare and supplemental picked up the bill, and now are researching if I might owe that. Other insurance CO called, your case has been moved up because you will not settle. Sorry lawyer suggested waiting 6 months to make sure all is good. So now medicare claim under review, don’t know why hospital says I owe $96, I bet you ar sorry you asked. @Renegade Guy blacked out after donating plasma at 30 mph. 4 lane road, me waiting to turn left,Floored it to try and get out of the way, that is why I am not totlally in the lane
No not sorry I asked just curious and was hoping every thing work’s for the best for you. I know how insurance company’s can be the last accident I had (other person’s fault) I got a broken wrist insurance kept after me to settle but I would not settle untill the Dr.gave me the all clear that all was healed and should not have any problems that was 10 year’s ago and so far so good.
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When i took my Honda Fit (2013) in for service at a local, reputable (non-dealer) shop later last year, I had noticed one of the stupid-design plastic clips on the cleaner was missing. I myself have trouble getting in. So, I had some on hand. I gave a new one to shop and asked them to do. They noted on ticket they did (making a point of no charge for that). When I checked later the next day to make sure it was in properly, it was not there.
Sorry you had that experience. It’s possible the shop staff in fact did install it, but it fell off b/c there’s something wrong with the part it sticks to. Small plastic tabs easily broken. This is the sort of detailed minutia task where auto repair shops seldom shine. Removing and replacing a transmission , no problem; replacing a plastic clip, not so much. The only recourse is to just live w a missing clip, install one yourself, or to take it back and have them install it again.
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Well, my feeling is it is just a v poor design by Honda–v hard to do, It just about breaks all my nails, but I can do it. It is not intuitive in how it installs. I put (another) of my extras on, with the usual broken nails, later yesterday, I wish i could buy a dozen of the clips (they are almost $4 each) at some kind of discount, but can’t find any cheaper. .
| George_San_Jose1
June 26 |
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Liza-Baby:
local, reputable (non-dealer) shop… plastic clips on the cleaner was missing … … asked them to [install clip]. They noted on ticket they did (making a point of no charge for that). When I checked later the next day to make sure it was in properly, it was not there.
Sorry you had that experience. It’s possible the shop staff in fact did install it, but it fell off b/c there’s something wrong with the part it sticks to. Small plastic tabs easily broken. This is the sort of detailed minutia task where auto repair shops seldom shine. Removing and replacing a transmission , no problem; replacing a plastic clip, not so much. The only recourse is to just live w a missing clip, install one yourself, or to take it back and have them install it again.
another possibility . . .
Somewhere along the chain of communication, someone forgot to tell the mechanic that he was supposed to install that clip
That actually happens fairly frequently
The service writer is told to do something
Then somewhere down the road, someone else forgets to actually write it down, tell the mechanic, enter it into the repair order software system, etc.
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Thank you for your thought Yres, I just did it mysdelf. Nothing wrong with item it attaches to (other than dumb Honda design). But, it’s hard to convince anyone how closely you have to look to make sure you put it on correctly.
June 26 |
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local, reputable (non-dealer) shop… plastic clips on the cleaner was missing … … asked them to [install clip]. They noted on ticket they did (making a point of no charge for that). When I checked later the next day to make sure it was in properly, it was not there.
Sorry you had that experience. It’s possible the shop staff in fact did install it, but it fell off b/c there’s something wrong with the part it sticks to. Small plastic tabs easily broken. This is the sort of detailed minutia task where auto repair shops seldom shine. Removing and replacing a transmission , no problem; replacing a plastic clip, not so much. The only recourse is to just live w a missing clip, install one yourself, or to take it back and have them install it again.
I don’t think I ever responded, but I could envision a scenario where DIY maintenance cars last longer for the mere fact that someone who knows how to do their own maintenance is going to be a little more conscientious on getting said maintenance done than the average owner. Doesn’t matter who does the maintenance ultimately, but a DIY person might be a little more knowledgeable/interested - they might even look in the owner’s manual sometimes!
I realize there are many people who are very conscientious about car maintenance that either can’t or do not care to do any maintenance themselves. But I’ll bet there are very few folks who do their own maintenance who neglect to check the oil level and silly things like that.
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It might make the difference between keeping the car or throwing in the towel.
If a car needs $10,000 in repairs, including labor, you might just give it up, but if you can do it yourself for like $3,000, it might be worth keeping.
Well just to keep my fingers in shape, a $10,000 repair would mean a major overhaul of an engine or transmission. I’ve been diy for over 50 years and there is no way I would tackle that. Brake, fluids, timing chains, exhaust, and so on is more likely depending on your current money supply, etc. a guy/girl has to know their limitations. But yeah we would be unlikely to not do or have done necessary work.
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