What is your experience with "Mechanics and Honesty"

rafhelp

Recently I did an MOT and asked them about a loose clutch pedal.


Having checked they said def clutch gone, even after explaining its been recently changed. Then I asked them to check slave cylinder if maybe a leak or check fluid level. To which I was told they cant check all that without opening up things so would take time. "cant check it its all internal". I said you can easily check the fluid, he said no they cant its def clutch.


Later found it was a small part that needed changing.


After I told them this they said well on most cars you cant access the clutch fluid tank, which again is lies according to what ive read online.


On others cars in the past i had small leak and was told its a big job - gear box leak. Took the car to another mechanic i kinda knew and he fixed for under £50 as it was s small rubber joint leak.


Another time took my car to dealers, they then said the car was not road worthy and should be driven at your own risk and that brakes were gone and this was bad etc...They said if there were kids in the car they would have called police to make sure i didnt drive it back.



Took that same car to another two garages and they said nothing wrong with brakes (or anything else), almost new and possibly very minor leak, but that could just be from when they were fitted.


Another time got clutch fixed and they left an engine mount unsecured aswell as messing up the abs cabling behind the steering wheel. When I confronted them they said its normal and the cable issue was my fault. Few days later I demanded they have another look at it and after a while another mechanic found the loose engine mount and fixed it. Another mechanic then admitted that they had caused the cable issue behind the steering wheel but were not willing to fix it.


Another time booked car in for some work and after took it down was told he had some other urgent car to fix up and they driver wanted it asap. Next day went down and that 'urgent' car's still there so it can have been that much of a emergency.


Another time a mechanic did some big work on my car then refused to give me a receipt (which i needed to part exchange the removed part) as he said it was a 'cash job' whatever that meant.


So why do mechanics do this, i dont want to stereotype as there are lots of good mechanics, but from my experience they are not really trust worthy people. Maybe its because they think most people dont know jack about cars, so they can just charge for whatever they want.

Moral is always do some research into the issue and always get a second opinion.


You could say maybe i just go to cheap and nasty places but ive had worse experience with official dealers.

waamo

I have no problem with mechanics and honesty. My eldest lad is a mechanic and MOT tester.

EssexExile

I've used the same garage off & on for 20 years, I trust them totally, they don't do work that doesn't need doing, they don't pull the wool over my eyes.

For example, I took my car in because the main dealer where I bought it said it needed pads & discs soon. I went to collect it & they said they haven't done them because there's a few months left on them yet, no charge. Six months later I took it for it's MOT & said check the discs & pads & they said they still didn't need doing.
I had an old Astravan that hardly got used & we used to discuss what needed doing at services because there was no point in doing everything. There was no pressure to do more than was needed.

Arklight

I've never had any problems with anything like this. I was quite an anxious driver when I passed my test (quite late as it goes) and several times thought there were things wrong with my car which I took to garages in London only to be told it was OK, or just something very minor.

One time I was sure the clutch had gone only to be told it was sticking a bit in reverse but was otherwise fine, no charge.

One time I was sure the brake calipers were sticking, free check from the local indy, no charge.

Convinced there was an electrical problem as the rear lights weren't working after I'd changed them. A different garage pointed out the bulbs were handed and I'd had them in the wrong way round (£3 for the new packet they'd opened before they realised what I'd done). I had no idea bulbs could be handed.

Another time I pulled into a really rough and ready place on the North Circular as a tyre kept going down which I assumed would be a repair or replace. A huge guy covered in tattoos and piercings loped out of the workshop, flicked the valve a couple of time and said there was some grit had been sticking the valve open and I was fine to drive off with no charge.

Wife's Micra kept stalling and throwing up a knock sensor error code associated with a stretched timing chain for which 03 Micras are legendary. Took it to the garage explaining to them all about this enquiring about the cost for a day's labour to fix. They insisted it really only was the knock sensor, and it was.

The only garage I've ever been ripped off at is Kwik Fit.

If you aren't sure where to go the Good Garage Scheme is a safe bet.

reddwarf2002

There are quite a lot of cowboy mechanics out there, as well as good ones. How do you separate them, that's the question!

I think it's best to be friendly with a couple of mechanics as each mechanic has their skills in certain areas and therefore tend to charge less/do better quality job for those.

As an example, when I had my oil changed I went to one mechanic as his labour rate was cheaper. He didn't have many specialist tools as he is more of brute force guy. I didn't mind that as there's not much that he could do wrong.

When I then needed a caliper to be changed I wen to a different mechanic. Not only was the cost cheaper, he actually had all the required tools to make sure the job was done properly.


The first mechanic tending to improvise than to use proper tools. He is also happy for me to supply my own parts. The second mechanic hates to use customer supplied parts and his rates are usually more expensive because of that.

So going back to OP's point, maybe part of the reason we feel ripped off is because we are taking the car to the wrong people for wrong the jobs? After all, cars are very complicated machines these days and to build up knowledge on one brand is tough enough never mind the whole industry. That's what most of these mechanics have to try to do. It's almost like going to your GP and getting him to do a heart bypass. It's not going to end well.

esmerobbo

How many of them are actually mechanics?

In my day it was an apprenticeship and five levels of City and guilds certification, now it is six months and you are a technician.

Once had a Nissan dealership bring a car to me because nobody could remove a snapped manifold stud.

Anyone with a bit of mechanical knowledge could change a part for new, but the art is knowing how it works, what it does and understanding why it is not working correctly.

I think in some instances the job title should be part swapper's.

System

<snip tales of woe>

rafhelp, how many of those times were you willing to pay for them to do a proper diagnosis? Why didn't you check your own clutch fluid level given its part of a regular weekly/fortnightly check along with things like engine oil and tyre pressures?

Quite often "garage said it could be this and it'd be £200 if it was but I took it to my mate who fixed it for £50" turns out to be that the garage said they'd look at it but there would be a labour charge which the owner isn't willing to pay so they make a best guess based on what they're told by the owner. Owner then takes it to a mate who is willing to work for nowt who gets to do a proper inspection because he's willing to do it for free and finds the fault.

Herzlos

Ask around locally to see who people use - particularly the taxi drivers.


Generally I've found the grubbier the garage is, and the more inclined the mechanic is to swear, the more honest they are. If you can find one full of older cars, perfect. It means they aren't trying to pretend to be fancy or impress you. Some will be total cowboys though, which is why it helps to ask around.


Don't go near the big chain fast-fit places or Halfords.

PDC

I've had a couple of problems over the years, couple of local small garages and one a main dealer. These went beyond
<snip tales of woe>
whatever that means and were likely criminal.

Agree, word of mouth and personal recommendations are best.

jimbo6977

Herzlos wrote: »

Don't go near the big chain fast-fit places or Halfords.

On the other hand, on a Friday evening 2 weeks ago, I was due to board an overnight ferry to France when I realised one of my headlight bulbs had gone. Not wanting to "discuss" the point with the French police at 6:30 the following morning, I turned up at Halfords Portsmouth at 7:30pm, they had the bulb I needed and fitted it on the spot for frankly next to nothing.

So not all bad.