CRAP- may have just replaced a transmission for no reason...

M38 Bob · Aug 20, 2015

Doing custom exhaust, I have it every day. "It's shaking up front so I want you to take them d@mn catalytic converters off". "I got a tank of bad gas, so I want you to take them d@mn catalytic converters off". etc, etc,.

Then there's "Every time I hit the brakes it shakes like hell, I want you to rebalance them d@mn tires you sold me". And the classic "My brakes make this grinding, growling sound every time I've touched em for the last month,,,ya think they may have a gravel hung up in there somewheres".

They's some dumb sumbiches out there!

Bob

EDIT; Then there's the coffee shop! "I was talking to the guys down at the coffee shop, and they said I probably need my alternator belt tightened since I have to jump start every morning. Stays up the rest of the day though",,,

libertybob · Aug 20, 2015

Diagnosis

tjkj2002 said:
I see this everyday,customers coming in and wanting stuff replaced without a diagnostic performed since they did it themselves.We still try and sell them a diag as insurance but most do not want to pay it.We simply state if the problem still occurs after there still on the hook for paying the bill,most then choose to pay to have us diagnose it(we discount the diag charge) and 90%(at least if not more) of the time the customer has always been wrong.

Now you say that the shop should just cover the diag cost even if the customer does not want to pay for it.Sure that would be a smart thing to do for the customers benefit but then the shop will start loosing a lot of $$$ because a tech will not work for free.Not a smart choice to keep your doors open.Discounting the diag charge is the best way.

I for 1 will not diag something for free,if the ticket says replace this part I replace that part.That is what I'm getting paid for,call me a ass but I got bills to pay just like you and I'm sure you don't listen to others stating how to do your job so don't think you can do mine.

Garages are a business that must get paid for work performed to survive, including diagnosis. I find that diagnosis is a big part of repairs unless a part failure is obvious. We all know we get what we pay for. What does upset me is when I pay a shop for diagnosis and it is wrong and the garage expects to be paid by saying that part needed replacing anyway.

M38 Bob · Aug 20, 2015

libertybob said:
Garages are a business that must get paid for work performed to survive, including diagnosis. I find that diagnosis is a big part of repairs unless a part failure is obvious. We all know we get what we pay for. What does upset me is when I pay a shop for diagnosis and it is wrong and the garage expects to be paid by saying that part needed replacing anyway.

Do you hold your doctor to this same high standard? Expect the pharmacy to refund for any unused pills if 'scrip doesn't have perfect result? Docs, lawyers only "practice", with an 8year degree, those of us in the auto profession are supposed to perform perfect diagnosis with a GED.:shrug:

Bob

CactusJacked · Aug 20, 2015

M38 Bob said:
Do you hold your doctor to this same high standard?

Well yes, a misdiagnosis resulting in a poor treatment can bring them a huge malpractice lawsuit.
Consider yourself lucky that you don't "practice" your field.

tjkj2002 · Aug 20, 2015

CactusJacked said:
Well yes, a misdiagnosis resulting in a poor treatment can bring them a huge malpractice lawsuit.
Consider yourself lucky that you don't "practice" your field.

In rare cases but you most likely need to be dead to win.Plus us tech's do not get the luxury of having insurance to cover those types of deals.

I love it when people can't understand that there vehicle can have more then 1 issue at the same time and that sometimes you must fix 1 issue 1st before you can correctly diagnose the 2nd(and in most cases main issue).Or fixing 1 issue causes another,very common on coolant and oil leaks.

The best ones are when you get that vehicle towed in with a broken timing belt.Well sorry but your going to have to spend $300-$500 just to see if the head is any good,can't do a compression test with a broken timing belt.And of course when the new belt is on and the head is FUBAR'd they don't want to pay the bill,sorry but your stuck.

M38 Bob · Aug 20, 2015

CactusJacked said:
Well yes, a misdiagnosis resulting in a poor treatment can bring them a huge malpractice lawsuit.
Consider yourself lucky that you don't "practice" your field.

Certainly, in BOTH occupations in a case of loss of life. But I was referring to you got a bit of high blood pressure, they prescribe this or that. Doesn't perform properly, or the side effects aren't tolerable. So they try another concoction, maybe several before they find the exact working combination (if they ever do). How many of those office calls are free because they didn't get it right the first time? Refund on that cabinet full of pills that didn't cut it?

More folks killed by medical mistakes than by firearms! Lightening strikes are more likely than harmed by a auto tech.:emotions34:

Bob

libertybob · Aug 20, 2015

Question

tjkj2002 said:
In rare cases but you most likely need to be dead to win.Plus us tech's do not get the luxury of having insurance to cover those types of deals.

I love it when people can't understand that there vehicle can have more then 1 issue at the same time and that sometimes you must fix 1 issue 1st before you can correctly diagnose the 2nd(and in most cases main issue).Or fixing 1 issue causes another,very common on coolant and oil leaks.

The best ones are when you get that vehicle towed in with a broken timing belt.Well sorry but your going to have to spend $300-$500 just to see if the head is any good,can't do a compression test with a broken timing belt.And of course when the new belt is on and the head is FUBAR'd they don't want to pay the bill,sorry but your stuck.

With a broken timing belt don't you tell the customer that there may be more damage to the engine beyond the broken belt? Also there is much published information as to which engines are interference and non-interference, so the customer can be told what to expect. Sorry, but too many garages use the arguments you put forward which do have merit to cover for poor diagnosis. When this happens I don't go back to that garage.

tjkj2002 · Aug 20, 2015

libertybob said:
With a broken timing belt don't you tell the customer that there may be more damage to the engine beyond the broken belt? Also there is much published information as to which engines are interference and non-interference, so the customer can be told what to expect. Sorry, but too many garages use the arguments you put forward which do have merit to cover for poor diagnosis. When this happens I don't go back to that garage.

Yep and I even stated that but you don't really know till you replace the belt.90% of the engines with timing belts are interference engines and yes the customer is informed.

M38 Bob · Aug 21, 2015

tjkj2002 said:
Yep and I even stated that but you don't really know till you replace the belt.90% of the engines with timing belts are interference engines and yes the customer is informed.

Emphasis added

BUT,But, but, if ya don't put it in writing, show em a video, draw em a picture, then inform em again, HOW can they possibly understand? :shrug:

Bob

dougmac · Aug 21, 2015

M38 Bob said:
Emphasis added

BUT,But, but, if ya don't put it in writing, show em a video, draw em a picture, then inform em again, HOW can they possibly understand? :shrug:

Bob

.... and beacuse I didnt understand, you should now troubleshoot and repair it for free.... at least that is what a "reputable" shop that cares about its "reputation" would do....

Man up! When you make a decision OWN IT!

tjkj2002 · Aug 22, 2015

dougmac said:
.... and beacuse I didnt understand, you should now troubleshoot and repair it for free.... at least that is what a "reputable" shop that cares about its "reputation" would do....

Man up! When you make a decision OWN IT!

And that shop would not be open long since they would be flooded with people wanting free diag's.

ftaa · Aug 22, 2015

a reputible shop would listen to what the owner says and do their own .. if the owner is right thsats fine and the cost of the diag *could* be discounted as long as the work is done by the same shop ... but like TJ said sometimes you need to fix one problem before another comes up ... example i went to a ****** sahop thinking i needed a new torque converter and a fluid and filtre change ... turns out i needed a solenoid andf a fluid change... he treated me correctly and was fair i didnt mind paying the bill and thats that ...

M38 Bob · Aug 23, 2015

ftaa, how many years have you been successfully running your shop with that policy?

Bob

ftaa · Aug 24, 2015

my brother has been running his shop for about 17 years like that . i myself dont have one. but i CAN speak for him .

CRAP- may have just replaced a transmission for no reason...

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