Bitch re: Mechanics

[Beez97Cam]

I think I mistrust auto mechanics (at least those where I live) more than I do Dubya Bush - and that's saying somethin'. Here's my bitch....I had a manual tranny Gen2.5 Camry which just recently found a new home this weekend (couldn't afford to insure & maintain three cars & thusly had to dump it). Up til last Fall the car was a regular daily driver when I noticed slippage in the tranny & increasing difficulty shifting gears. As the car had 200,000+ miles on it, I automatically assumed the clutch was going. I called a bunch of mechanics here, and most stated clutch or hydraulic replacement, to the tune of $300 - $650.

Over the weekend a friend of mine came to get the car, and when checking it out, noticed the clutch fluid reservoir was bone dry. We filled the chamber, and after pumping the clutch for about 60 seconds were finally to get the car into gear smoothly! The car was driven 220 miles/3.5 hours, and the report came back that she ran smoothly all the way back, and after approx. 60 miles the slippage even stopped.

What I had been told was a $300 - 650 problem ended up being remedied by a $1.99 bottle of clutch fluid. I hate mechanics for the fact that I don't have a lot of $$, but the bastards woulda happily fleeced me big-time! Not once did anyone tell me to check the clutch fluid, instead leading me to believe my car was hurtin' for certain. Shit, had I known it was clutch fluid I might not've gotten the Gen4 I'm driving now. I'm happy w/the Gen4 no diggity, I just wish I hadn't been led to believe my Gen2.5 was in such bad shape.

Again it's proven that finding an honest, reliable mechanic wherever you live is on par w/finding a good doctor or veterinarian.

[Knailgun]

That pisses me off to hear this....I hate mech's who are unsure...and quote so high, you have to leave a kidney on deposit. I bet he would have charged the full amount for the repairs as well had you kept it..

[SLY Mantis]

well in all fairness you only called mechanics, and did not bring your car in.

Saying it's hard to get your car into gear, most mechanics would assume that the clutch would need replacement so will quote you that. Also most will assume that you're smart enough to atleast have checked your clutch fluid.

After all, if a mechanic is going to quote you a price, they'd probably rather quote you the $300-650 and have you come back and find out it only cost a couple dollars in fluid, then say it'll cost $2 and have you come back to a $500 bill.
It's just the mechanics being safe.

If you had brought your car in, most mechanics would have probably checked you're fluid first thing right in front of you, and said they'll try that first and if it doesnt work then change your clutch.

I think your anger isnt really justified. Yes there are a lot of mechanics that will try to screw you over. But when in this case, where you didnt even bring your car in and just told them the symptoms over the phone, I dont really think they were at fault.

If i was a mechanic i would have done the same thing. Quote high, and have you pay less, it leaves a better impression on the customer.

[Beez97Cam]

Originally Posted by SLY Mantis

well in all fairness you only called mechanics, and did not bring your car in.

Saying it's hard to get your car into gear, most mechanics would assume that the clutch would need replacement so will quote you that. Also most will assume that you're smart enough to atleast have checked your clutch fluid.

After all, if a mechanic is going to quote you a price, they'd probably rather quote you the $300-650 and have you come back and find out it only cost a couple dollars in fluid, then say it'll cost $2 and have you come back to a $500 bill.
It's just the mechanics being safe.

If you had brought your car in, most mechanics would have probably checked you're fluid first thing right in front of you, and said they'll try that first and if it doesnt work then change your clutch.

I think your anger isnt really justified. Yes there are a lot of mechanics that will try to screw you over. But when in this case, where you didnt even bring your car in and just told them the symptoms over the phone, I dont really think they were at fault.

If i was a mechanic i would have done the same thing. Quote high, and have you pay less, it leaves a better impression on the customer.

I see your point, and to some extent I agree w/your perspective. I'm a systems admin in IT, and I have to support 100+ users & their PCs & laptops. I too am in the business of fixing what's broken for users, who in essence are my customers. But when I get calls, I try to have the users try the smallest, simplest, most common fixes via phone first, before I either have the user bring me the laptop, or myself trek over to a desktop for further diagnosis. I just wish one of the tranny places or mechanics would've suggested clutch fluid first. It took me two passes thru the owner's manual to see clutch fluid listed under "fluids" in the index. Initially I checked under "T" for transmission, and only saw references to tranny fluid for A/T. That's my bad.

I guess my frustration is that I follow the KISS principle (Keep It Simple Stupid) when dealing w/diagnosis of my customer's issues, and I kinda wish the mechanic woulda treated me the same way. This was also exacerbated by the fact that I work long ass hours an hour from home, and don't have an easy time finding a slot to take the car in. A recommendation of fluid check as opposed to automatic demand for first-person diagnosis could made life simpler....

[GaviN]

Originally Posted by Beez97Cam

As the car had 200,000+ miles on it, I automatically assumed the clutch was going.

Well technically, the mechanics were going by your diagnosis and not their own. Now if the car had been seen by many mechanics and they all told you it was the clutch, then that would be messed up if it was just in need of fluid. But I agree with the fact that honest mechanics are hard to come by. I trust my mechanic because he's been on point with things gone wrong with my car.

[whocares04]

your anger is justified that alot of mechanics ( not even talking about the dealer) will try and screw you...

i've had my car for almost 2 years and since i started more beening more active on this forum i have learned alot about my car and what could to look for if i have a car problem and have actually called a mechanic out (not my now trusted mechanic) when he tried to pull one on me and he just couldn't say anything and then i realized i wasn't at a good mechanic...that was a good day and made me happy to "put him in his place" if u will....

[Pineapple]

1st rule: check all fluid and fuse before you call anyone.
Then there are mechanics who don't know anything.

[arcasmachineracing]

Beez97Cam, hum, wow... that’s your fault buddy, are they supposed to know that you don't maintain your vehicle regularly?

Just so you know, I don't think it's all that smart of you to be making posts saying that you "hate mechanics" and that they are all out to get your money. This is an automotive based forum after all, with certified techs and mechanics. Just my $.02

- Brandon Mendez

[Beez97Cam]

Originally Posted by Pineapple

1st rule: check all fluid and fuse before you call anyone.

Good advice fer sure. As I start to get adventurous (for me) & do more things on - and to - my car, this is a good ground rule to follow. My friend -and what I've learned from browsing the forums here - taught me a lot about auto maintenance & hopefully will make me more self-reliant as time goes on so I won't jump to bad conclusions, nor get screwed more than my brainfarts merit.

[Beez97Cam]

Originally Posted by arcasmachineracing

Just so you know, I don't think it's all that smart of you to be making posts saying that you "hate mechanics" and that they are all out to get your money. This is an automotive based forum after all, with certified techs and mechanics. Just my $.02

- Brandon Mendez

I hear ya, and I in no way meant to imply that all mechanics are bad. I know there are bad PC techs that give the rest of us bad rap's by treating their customers poorly. I've done independent contracting & run into very suspicious individuals who got hosed by the last PC repair guy. There's good and bad in every profession or sector of the service industry we all rely on.

From someone that's pretty automotively naive - but trying to learn more - all I wanted (in retrospect) was someone to say "based on what you described, check your clutch fluid, then bring the car in if that's OK". I didn't tell the mechanics that I thought the clutch or hydraulics were bad (that was my unspoken assumption I kept to myself), that was what I was told based on the symptoms I described.

Thanks to all for helping me see the other side of the coin, and letting me vent.

[arcasmachineracing]

Right on buddy.

[95camguy]

i also tend to distrust mechanics. which is why i do everything i can myself. if i do run into something i dont think i can handle i go to the shop and tell them exactly what to fix. i never bring in my car and say "find out what is wrong". thats asking for it.

also, since you were low on fluid it means u got a leak. probably the slave/master cylinder. check your dead pedal and see if you see fluid leaking inside the car.

or you could just keep adding fluid till the thing dies. 200+ miles and i would wanna put much $$$ into it either..

[whocares04]

Originally Posted by 95camguy

i also tend to distrust mechanics. which is why i do everything i can myself. if i do run into something i dont think i can handle i go to the shop and tell them exactly what to fix. i never bring in my car and say "find out what is wrong". thats asking for it.

also, since you were low on fluid it means u got a leak. probably the slave/master cylinder. check your dead pedal and see if you see fluid leaking inside the car.

or you could just keep adding fluid till the thing dies. 200+ miles and i would wanna put much $$$ into it either..

don't think its a leak...if the car has 200k miles on it and never had fluid changed, etc. then it probably just ran out...