Co-Worker wasn't too happy!

[Tony T.]

A co-worker of mine not to long ago traded in his 01 Chevy truck for a used 03 Dodge CTD with 34K miles on the clock. I ask him here last week how he was liking the CTD, and his reply was "I LOVE IT". He said though I had a problem when I carried it back for a free oil change at the dealership. He said, I drove home after the oil change, and noticed oil dripping bad around the oil filter area. He called the dealership, and their reply was bring it back for them to check it out. He said "no" its leaking to bad, and if they would just give him a new filter, he would replace it himself,they reluctantly finally agreed to give him the filter. He said when he pulled off the new filter the dealership installed, the original oil filter gasket (old filter) was stuck on which now you have double gaskets stuck to the filter housing causing his leak. "This is one reason I like to do my own maintence on my truck". So you ones that use the dealerships, or some other means than yourselves, you might want to do a through inspection after the change is made.



Another one of my co-workers, the dealership left his oil filler cap off, and man what a mess he had when he got home with fill cap laying to one side of the engine abit melted, and oil everywhere. Very first oil change at 4K miles on his 02 CTD. He said to this day he still finding places they missed cleaning the engine compartment.



I'm not saying all dealerships are the same, but usually only I can 100% trust myself in this case, and if I mess up I have no problem kicking my own "opps censored" :-laf.



Tony

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

I may be anal, but I'm so bad that when I bring the truck in for new tires I drive the truck in the shop and I drive it out. Nobody even steps foot in my truck. I've spent too much time and money to let someone mess it up. The only people who have driven my truck are me, the g-friend and my dad.

 

[McCRam]

I don't care who has worked on my vehicles ( which is pretty rare ), I always check all their work before I start the motor. In the case of oil changes, I always check for leaks after I start it up. I have found an empty oil pan three times. Once was in an airplane. :--) It doesn't matter who you work with, people are human, and humans tend to screw up.

 

[DieselTweaker]

Im glad I do all my own work,,, and tires.



Being a Mechanic I know how anal people can be.

 

[rbattelle]

You are potentially the single most knowledgeable and caring person on this planet when it comes to your vehicle. It's always better to use your own brain, especially on the simple things.



I'm surprised the filter held any pressure at all. I've had that exact same thing happen to me (both times with Wix filters) and both times oil sprayed all over the place the minute I started the engine. And those were gassers with significantly less oil pressure than a Cummins.



-Ryan

 

[Tony T.]

You are potentially the single most knowledgeable and caring person on this planet when it comes to your vehicle. It's always better to use your own brain, especially on the simple things.







-Ryan

He did make the statement to me afterwards he would be doing his own oil,filter,and other maintence on his truck from now on.



Tony

 

[Got HO?]

I may be anal, but I'm so bad that when I bring the truck in for new tires I drive the truck in the shop and I drive it out. Nobody even steps foot in my truck. I've spent too much time and money to let someone mess it up. The only people who have driven my truck are me, the g-friend and my dad.

NOBODY drives their own vehicle into my shop. If they want to observe it being driven in & worked on, they are welcome to do so from the entrance door. My garagekeepers insurance will not permit unattended cutomers in the shop & they certainly wouldn't be happy with them driving vehicles in my shop, with other customer's vehicles there & all my expensive equipment.



Imagine this scenario: Joe Soap pulls his car/truck into the shop, stamps on the gas pedal instead of the brake (Yes, it does happen) & creams the Ruf GTR2 Turbo ($350 000. 00) parked up against the wall. Who pays? Whose fault is it? Do I get my ins company involved? If I do, will they decline the claim & drop me because I violated their rules? Does Joe Soap have adequate coverage? Things can get ugly in a hurry. Joe Soap could also slip or trip on an airhose, break his hip & sue me for damages. I don't think so!



I welcome customers into my shop area to show them what we find on their vehicles (I'm proud of my shop, its clean & proffessional) & explain why we need to perform certain repairs, but I (or one of my employees) has to accompany them into and out of the work area. There are too many people looking for the chance to sue. Unfortunate, but a reality for a businessowner.



On any given day, I may have anywhere from $100 000. 00 to $500 000. 00 in vehicles in my shop. If something does happen, then I need that coverage. I have only had one customer decline work on his car because he could not peer over the shoulder of my Porsche Tech. during the course of repairs. It's his car, & his decision. However, I don't think I would want to distract a tech when he is setting cam timing on a 928 S4, especially if it belongs to me :-laf :-laf

 

[JoeBioDiesel]

Got HO,

I've never seen a Porsche guy act like that (although I'm sure it did happen to you), it's usually the corvette guys that act like that(you know the type- corvette driving gloves, corvette cigarette lighter, corvette pocket protector and matching pens... ). They're driving an '84 Crossfire POS worth $3000. 00 and they don't want anybody touching it, while the Ferrari guy parks it in the lot and leaves.

I've had more trouble with Corvette guys than everyone else combined. I also agree with all you said. If someone doesn't trust me to work on their vehicle, take it somewhere else.



. . now I'm not bashing you guys that don't trust your Techs, but I do encourage you to find a competent Tech... and then stop distracting hm while he's working.



Joe

 

[rbattelle]

I'm proud of my shop, its clean & proffessional

Why can't I find a mechanic like that?



-Ryan

 

[Got HO?]

Got HO,

I've never seen a Porsche guy act like that (although I'm sure it did happen to you), it's usually the corvette guys that act like that(you know the type- corvette driving gloves, corvette cigarette lighter, corvette pocket protector and matching pens... ). They're driving an '84 Crossfire POS worth $3000. 00 and they don't want anybody touching it, while the Ferrari guy parks it in the lot and leaves.

I've had more trouble with Corvette guys than everyone else combined. I also agree with all you said. If someone doesn't trust me to work on their vehicle, take it somewhere else.



. . now I'm not bashing you guys that don't trust your Techs, but I do encourage you to find a competent Tech... and then stop distracting hm while he's working.



Joe

Hey Joe,



I guess you saw the guy, huh? He was driving a 1981 928 that looked like it had been painted with a brush & needed about $10 000. 00 to improve it to beater status.



BTW, I don't trust myself when working on a task that requires lots of concentration & am interrupted by a customer or phone call. I always go back & retrace my steps & it takes me twice as long Old age or stupidity, I suppose. Then of course, there is the added incentive to make darn sure that its done right so that I don't screw up something like bearing clearances, valve timing on an interference engine or something equally expensive Ever priced out a valve job on a Porsche V8? :--)

 

[JoeBioDiesel]

... it could just have easily been a Ferrari 308 that was picked up on ebay for $12,000, and needed another $12,000 to make it reliable. I think he fell over when he got the estimate. ;-)



I do agree with you about stopping and starting when working on a car. The only time I don't mind it is when I'm very familiar with the repair... something I've done many times. I don't think it's old age that makes it tough. I remember it screwing me up at 19 years old too. I was strictly a Domestic Tech then. I didn't start wrenching Imports until I became a teacher. Then I started working on them during summer/Christmas breaks.

Joe