Bloody mechanics

[Shounak]

My mum just bought an MG F and had a full Comprehensive RACV check, so we knew everything that was wrong with the car.

Car was due for a service and mum wanted a mechanic to do the first one. So I thought this would be a good way of testing how good this mechanic is. A lot of people swear by him and he's meant to be good..

I ask him to use Synthetic Oil and he tells me to just buy it and he'll deduct the cost from the normal service charge. Fair enough..

Drop the car in 9am this morning and we just got it back at 4pm.. The rear rotors were marked, glazy and scalloped and rear pads had 2mm left on em. There was crystalisation around the radiator hose where it meets the water pump. And the engine belt had a few cracks in it..

The only corrective action he took during the service was putting $2 worth of brake fluid in there and changing the sump washer..

I think we were jibbed of $100.. Paying someone $100 to do an oil change (not including the costs of oil) is ridiculous.

Should I take the car back to this wanker and tell him he didn't check shit?

[VS Omega]

Should I take the car back to this wanker and tell him he didn't check shit?

Yes. And since this isn't Commodore related to the pub with it!

[Shounak]

"The Pub (9 Viewing)
Talk about anything not relating to cars."

I'm confused..

[minux]

Juzza, how about making a forum in the car section regarding non holden's? Im sure alot of other people who own commodores also own other car's where they would like to ask tech question's about.....

[minux]

In regard's to the actual initial post...Did you tell him you wanted pad's done rotor's machined etc etc?

[VS Omega]

I know it says that, but it's a better place than Holden Commodore lol.. maybe some forum descriptions will need revising, or perhaps something else. Look at the amount of threads already in The Pub that are related to cars/automobiles, it's become a dumping ground

edit: examples:
- xr6 turbo drivers
- bloody mechanics ()
- using laptops to steal cars (mine, granted)
- ricing up a car
- undercover cop car
- you know you're a commodore owner when
- worlds fastest police car
- drag querry
- vrx magna what a surprise
- federal government to fund for development
- speeding fines
- saidi petrol 21 cents a litre
- ss commodore jc style
- drag racing vids
- horrific f1 crash
- indicators
- 563km/h supercar

I know some are about drivers, but isn't everything related.. I think a forum description should be in the works

[Shounak]

In regard's to the actual initial post...Did you tell him you wanted pad's done rotor's machined etc etc?

Nah, but it was damn obvious just looking at the wheel. I told him I wanted a minor service..

I just wanted to see if he'd notice the pads were down and the rotors needed machining.

Any mechanic worth his salt, carrying out a service should check these basic things. I mean he recommended the next service in 6 months, the pads could be gone and we'd know nothing about it (if we were typical clueless customers)..

Obviously he just changed the oil and called it a service.. $100 of labour for that?

**EDIT** Clarifying. I didn't expect him to change pads and machine rotors. I expected him to at least say the pads were down and rotors were f*cked. Or note it on the invoice..

[Shounak]

Juzza, how about making a forum in the car section regarding non holden's? Im sure alot of other people who own commodores also own other car's where they would like to ask tech question's about.....

Agreed.. "General Car Discussion".. For cars other then Commodores

[Nobody Actually]

you're right, he should have mentioned it or given you a call at least

[VT-565]

mate, the way things have become with stuff like this, most do as little as neccessary and unless you say "i want the discs and pads checked all round...blah blah blah" you probably wont get much movement on it.
be specific, say exactly what you want done, make sure they hear you, then you have something to stand on when it comes to the crunch. presuming they would've looked at it or "i'd do it if i were them" doesnt apply anymore....

[Shounak]

mate, the way things have become with stuff like this, most do as little as neccessary and unless you say "i want the discs and pads checked all round...blah blah blah" you probably wont get much movement on it.
be specific, say exactly what you want done, make sure they hear you, then you have something to stand on when it comes to the crunch. presuming they would've looked at it or "i'd do it if i were them" doesnt apply anymore....

I disagree.. I know a lot of people who know shit all about tyres, brakes or anything. They rely on their mechanic to tell them what needs changing and when, during the service..

I've seen Ultratune do a service. They check all the lights, check oil and all fluid levels, inspect condition of brakes and rotors, check under the car to see if everything's ok, change the oil+filter and take it for a spin around the block..

That's why they charge a bit more for a basic service then they do for just an oil change.

For all he knew, I had no clue about cars. I booked it in, but had my mum drop it off and pick it up..

[ScottB_33]

If someone asked me for a minor service that means to me as a mechanic, an Intermediate oil change only where you change the oil and no filter and carry out inspections as per a roadworthy inspection. It does not include removing the wheels and checking the brake pads or rotors unless you can see them through the wheels. Mind you I would only charge .8 of an hour plus parts which equates to about $70.00 including parts and lubricants. First thing I would do though is check the mileage and see if in fact it was due for a log book service then I would recommend to the customer that service to be done as necessary. Then a much greater range of things are carried out. A report is then written and any other necessary repairs are listed for the customer to do later on.

[Shounak]

If someone asked me for a minor service that means to me as a mechanic, an Intermediate oil change only where you change the oil and no filter and carry out inspections as per a roadworthy inspection. It does not include removing the wheels and checking the brake pads or rotors unless you can see them through the wheels.

WTF? I thought all oil changes involved changing the filter. No matter what..

Well, this car has alloy wheels and I could see from a metre away the rotors were screwed and I could easily guage with my eyes (not one of the mirror dentist things) that the pads had 2mm on them and were a different colour..

Thinking about it though, it seems pretty pointless bringing it back to him now..

But some mechanics though.. URGH..

But as a mechanic, you think what he did was fine? I've only been in the car game for a year, but I'd disagree.. Tbe basic safety check's the reason I paid a bit more then an hourly rate..

[Spyper]

IMO you should have asked him to check some things out. Not be specific about it if you were wanting to test him, but just ask him to check it over and report what needs doing. A minor service is generally just oil, quick check of engine bay and fluids, rotate tyres (?), and apparantly some lubricating of different things. If he did everything stated in the manual, you haven't got a leg to stand on.

If you don't really trust him to be working on your cars, find somewhere else..

[ScottB_33]

Well no, I would have done the job differently and explained to you from the beginning what you would have received for your money and yes you would have received a written report on the condition of the car as well. So a lot depends on what the information that you gave this fellow and his work practices. You will probably find that this guy is popular because he is cheap and now you see why. Each workshop has its own way of doing things and you can vote with your feet and go elsewhere now that you know how he works. I WOULD!!!

[Shounak]

Also, the pads need changing and I've never changed the pads before, so I don't wanna do it myself.

Anyone got any recommendations where I should get the pads changed and probably the rotors machined too?

My mum thinks take it to "Brakes Plus" because they specialise in brakes and really know what they're doing, as it's their bread and butter..

Anyone got idea's, tips or hints?

[ScottB_33]

If you were in Sydney I'd do it for you but sorry you are a bit far away!!! Not a bad idea using a brake specialist even a place called BrakePro if you have it down your way! But remember because they are specialists don't expect a cheap job as that is why you are paying for their expertise. "Remember you don't get something for nothing" and "you only pay for what you get" you have to pay for warranty entitlements and quality.

[Shounak]

If you were in Sydney I'd do it for you but sorry you are a bit far away!!! Not a bad idea using a brake specialist even a place called BrakePro if you have it down your way! But remember because they are specialists don't expect a cheap job as that is why you are paying for their expertise. "Remember you don't get something for nothing" and "you only pay for what you get" you have to pay for warranty entitlements and quality.

Oh definitely.. When it comes to brakes, I really don't mind paying a premium for peace of mind. Neither does my mum.

Thanks for the help mate..

[Nobody Actually]

changing brake pads is easy, but the discs should be machined at the same time.......

[vtdemon]

Where I work interim services means just oil, no filter. (Works at a non-Holden dealer). But a full check and reporting anything in need of attention in the future, eg, any leaks, low pads, wet struts etc.

[NORTI]

erm, I would think that they would check over few extra things, so as to get you to come back & have more work done?


Whenever Ive had any work done, they have always pointed out other stuff that needs doin, I figure its their way of makin few more bucks outta me


D.

[MOTIV8]

It's worth learning how to change your own brake pads, fuel filters, oil filters, air filters, brake fluid, tranny fluid/filter, plugs, leads, rotors, caps etc. Knowledge is power and the more you know the harder it is for scumbag mechanics to pull the wool over your eyes.

They are not hard to do and apart from being more aware you save a lot of money. They don't take a workshop full of expensive state of the art tools to do.

That mechanic obviously doesn't care about customer loyalty and has lost sight of the fact that repeat business is good business.

Businesses are not charities and they will milk every cent they can out of potential suckers. Shop around and when you find someone who actually gives a shit and does an honest job to earn an honest dollar then stick with them instead of going back to shonky sleazy rip off mechanics.

Good luck

[Shounak]

Oh I know and agree with all of what you said above.. I do everything on my car, except the brakes.. I've basically done all of what you listed.. I did all of those by myself and taught myself, with a little help from this forum and mates..

Brakes are seperate though. I don't want to experiment with brakes. I need someone who knows EXACTLY what they're doing showing me before I do it..

[Boonz]

well im a mechanic.... i think we have pretty good pricing too, $169 for plugs, oil and filter, air filter, fuel filter,rotate and balance tyres, check the exhaust, tyre pressures, lights, fluid levels, pads and rotor thickness and condition.
and a wash
the customers are happy, all are repeat customers because we pride on serving the customer not milking them dry

[MOTIV8]

Brake pads are easy to change over but disc machining of course needs someone with know how and the machining tools to do it.

I can't believe that mechanic charged you $100 to undo a sump plug, drain some oil, put the sump plug back in, fill with oil that you bought and not even change the filter.