Why do I feel mechanic shops aren't taking me seriously?

[96ToyoCam164K]

So I went over to a shop today that specializes in Japan type cars. Well, I get there and one of the owners of the shop is like in the back behind a glass and she yells out, "can I help you?"

I'm like...yeah, if you actually come to the front counter. I said, "yes I have a question about my car." She comes up and I start discussing wanting a valve adjustment. So we talk for a bit and then she says to pull up to the garage and someone will listen to the ticking noise. I'm out in the hot car for 5 minutes while the garage doors are closed. so I go back into the shop to wait while my car is parked in front of the doors.

Then a guy comes open the garage door but then he tells me to move my car into the parking space. I'm like, what the hell? But being patient I just move it out the way thinking he's going to be backing a car out.

Well he doesn't, and I go back inside and wait some more. Then the lady at the front desk is explaining what I need and the guy just looks at me like, "ok, what is it". Like the way he said it was like, "what is this imaginary sound you are hearing?"

So we go out and I let him listen to it. From this forum, I know what it is. It's the shims/lifter bucket sticking and in need of a valve adjustment. But he's looking it over saying my exhaust is leaking and some noise coming from my timing belt cover area (that I just had changed less than 20,000 miles ago). I'm like...what does that have to do with the valve adjustment? I didn't say that to him, but just what I was thinking. Because Toyota quoted me a $3,000 exhaust leak 2 years ago but this lifter sticking sound did not come about until several thousand miles after that.

Other times I've gone to 2 other mechanic shops in the area and they just never have time. They always busy and put me off. I mean, I work on my Camry a lot so I know things take awhile (spent 6 hours the other day on an oil/tranny/diff. fluid change). But it seems like people are either short of staff or overworked or something.

And then, the phone at this shop just kept ringing back to back and this lady has me standing there for like 10 minutes while she talks to all these callers. I'm waiting on her to give me a price on a Denso compressor. She then just says, "you're going to be here til 5 oclock with me haha" I was like, look I'll just take your business card and call another time. Finally she did get around to answering my question but it took 30 minutes to do it.

That's why I try to do as much work on my car as I can. I'm even thinking of going ahead and doing an install on a new compressor. I just bought $50 if torque wrenches so I'm ready to go.

Anyone else notice this? I'm thinking maybe because I have an older car or something? I don't get it/

[houra]

Man, Don't worry, i have the same problem.:)))
i think, because you know about how to repair a car, and you tell them the problem, so they act like this.it is just my opinion.

[96ToyoCam164K]

Originally Posted by houra

Man, Don't worry, i have the same problem.:)))
i think, because you know about how to repair a car, and you tell them the problem, so they act like this.it is just my opinion.

LOL, is it because they know they can't rip me off? Like I tell them the most recent maintenance I've performed to kind of let them know I'm not totally dumb about my car. I just don't like going into places feeling vulnerable. I mean, I won't brag on my DIY accomplishments, but like today the guy says, "do you have enough oil in there?" I say, "yeah, I just changed the oil Friday".

[Luckynumber5]

Its a ton of work adjusting the shims on one of these engines. I honestly wouldn't want to do it either, sucks they took your time up like that though

[Tom 2000]

Many years ago, I had a slight ticking sound from my gen2 (3S-FE) engine. It turned out to be a broken exhaust manifold stud. It's common on engines like Nissan Maxima with VG30E engine. Not exactly a common issue on S-series engine (that I know of), but you might want to take a peek to check.

I ended up buying new exhaust manifold studs and a exhaust manifold gasket. Took it apart, and put it back together. No more ticking.

[ghettosled]

but look at it from their standpoint. people mostly come to them when there is something obviously wrong with a vehicle - most owners dont notice minor problems developing. add in that these mechanics have experience and (hopefully) training and a degree of some sort, so they will make their own opinion and take the owner's with a grain of salt. plus they dont know how your car normally sounds so they have to make a judgement of what it sounds like at that moment.

take all of this and factor in they only get paid their $70-100/hr working on vehicles and not offering advise (to potential customers) in the parking lot so your priority to have him check it out is very low. if you want a mechanic to spend some time chasing down a ticking noise, make an appointment and pay for the time.

personally i dont like taking vehicles to the mechanic and resort to doing the work myself, but they are a mechanic to make money. though some places could stand some customer service training to make happy and returning customers.

[96ToyoCam164K]

Originally Posted by ghettosled

but look at it from their standpoint. people mostly come to them when there is something obviously wrong with a vehicle - most owners dont notice minor problems developing. add in that these mechanics have experience and (hopefully) training and a degree of some sort, so they will make their own opinion and take the owner's with a grain of salt. plus they dont know how your car normally sounds so they have to make a judgement of what it sounds like at that moment.

take all of this and factor in they only get paid their $70-100/hr working on vehicles and not offering advise (to potential customers) in the parking lot so your priority to have him check it out is very low. if you want a mechanic to spend some time chasing down a ticking noise, make an appointment and pay for the time.

personally i dont like taking vehicles to the mechanic and resort to doing the work myself, but they are a mechanic to make money. though some places could stand some customer service training to make happy and returning customers.

Yeah you do make a point. Mechanics are going to make their own diagnosis regardless so I try not to get into a debate about what I think it is versus them because if they get it wrong, it's their responsibility to do it over again. If I tell them to do something and get it wrong I have to pay them again LOL.

But even if they don't know how my car sounds, everyone notices this ticking noise LOL. No Engines just don't sound like that. But the tip about the broken exhaust manifold sounds like a possibility too.

Maybe I'll just do the compressor and let them figure out the ticking noise...after I pay $1,200 for dental work

[fenixus]

I usually have similar experience with shops ... so I do it all I can myself over weekends ... if I go to shop I always waste a few good hours on just waiting, talking, explaining, waiting, going back and forth, waiting again ... and waiting ... finally bringing the car in ... and waiting again even longer than before (because I try getting it done cheap and only what I want LOL) hehe ... I feel like an idiot when doing that LOL

I only go to a shop if I REALLY have to

[Mister_Perkins]

Originally Posted by Luckynumber5

Its a ton of work adjusting the shims on one of these engines. I honestly wouldn't want to do it either, sucks they took your time up like that though

The guy probably didnt feel comfortable doing the valve adjustment. Most mechanics will avoid a topic if they dont know what they are doing. Most likely this is the case. Take it to someone who is a Toyota Specialist (not dealership) and they will be able to take care of you