I once had a similar problem. My car always seemed to have additional problems not long after I went to the repair shop. Also, the bills always seemed higher than necessary. That place got shut down for making up repairs and billing customers for them.
The trick is, husband/spouse or not that can fix cars, is to make them THINK you have someone at home that can fix things. I always say, when I go in for an oil change/inspection, “just change the oil today and write down anything else that needs doing. I’ll have to check with him on those and get back to you.”
The newer cars don’t usually give to many warning signs any more they just die in the middle of the road. I think the biggest money maker for car repair is that darn check engine light.
Ohhhhh. Now I get it. I will have to get my shop to check my truck for clackity-clack devices. That may explain the money I have been spending lately on “repair and replacements”. Of course the fact my truck it almost 20 years old could have something to do with it.
“It wasn’t too bad, Mrs. Johnson. We replaced them canooter valves on the exhaust regeneration coupler, readjusted the exhaust pipe wiring assembly and changed your catalytic converter fluid. But, for the good news… your muffler bearings are still in great shape. We’ll see ya in another three…um…two-thousand miles, Mrs Johnson. Drive careful and have a good’un!”
My daughter’s car one time was making a strange noise. She took it to a mechanic and he said she needed a new transmission. Since the car was hardly worth it she decided against it.
Soon after, another mechanic diagnosed it as rocks between the exhaust manifold and heat shield. He said don’t worry about it it’ll eventually work its way out and it did.
New a guy back in university days when the guys were always trying to wrangle dinners from the girls. A girl he knew was borrowing her dad’s Mercedes and he snuck over at slipped a prank exhaust whistle into the tailpipe. She was freaking out that her dad was going to be mad at her from ruining his car so he offered to take a look if she would cook him dinner. He slid under the car with a wrench, banged in a couple of places, slipped the whistle out of the tailpipe and told her to give it a try again…
Back in November or December of 2016 my car starting making a weird whirring sound and I wasn’t able to take it to my regular mechanic so I took it to another place. It was busy, but the guy came out, listened, and basically said, “I know what that is, just hearing it: your power steering pump is going. It’s going to be about $500 to replace it.” He did say it could probably last a few more months and that if it went it wouldn’t keep the car from working, it would just be harder to turn the wheel, so I decided to wait until I could have my regular mechanic take care of it. So a few weeks later I take it to my regular mechanic… and it was just a loose belt. I drove that car until earlier this year when the body had rusted to the point that it wouldn’t pass inspection, and never had any issues with the power steering pump.
allen@home over 4 years ago
Car repairs are high enough as it is. Don’t give these guys any ideas.
JudyHendrickson over 4 years ago
That’s why I married to a mechanic!!!
TStyle78 over 4 years ago
I once had a similar problem. My car always seemed to have additional problems not long after I went to the repair shop. Also, the bills always seemed higher than necessary. That place got shut down for making up repairs and billing customers for them.
Anters55 over 4 years ago
Last time I heard that sound it indicated I needed CV joints. $1,000+ later at the "stealer"ship and all set. Lesson learned.
NeedaChuckle Premium Member over 4 years ago
I had that happen, but not by shop. My tire picked up a bumper stick and the flapping noise was scary as heck. Easily solved though.
CrimsonOne13 over 4 years ago
The trick is, husband/spouse or not that can fix cars, is to make them THINK you have someone at home that can fix things. I always say, when I go in for an oil change/inspection, “just change the oil today and write down anything else that needs doing. I’ll have to check with him on those and get back to you.”
jbduncan over 4 years ago
Theft is the name of the game. I refuse to buy cars at certain dealerships due to their service center pricing policies.
Michael G. over 4 years ago
Business creating more business!
PO' DAWG over 4 years ago
The newer cars don’t usually give to many warning signs any more they just die in the middle of the road. I think the biggest money maker for car repair is that darn check engine light.
vaughnrl2003 Premium Member over 4 years ago
Ohhhhh. Now I get it. I will have to get my shop to check my truck for clackity-clack devices. That may explain the money I have been spending lately on “repair and replacements”. Of course the fact my truck it almost 20 years old could have something to do with it.
Dobie Premium Member over 4 years ago
“It wasn’t too bad, Mrs. Johnson. We replaced them canooter valves on the exhaust regeneration coupler, readjusted the exhaust pipe wiring assembly and changed your catalytic converter fluid. But, for the good news… your muffler bearings are still in great shape. We’ll see ya in another three…um…two-thousand miles, Mrs Johnson. Drive careful and have a good’un!”
WCraft Premium Member over 4 years ago
I knew it!
the lost wizard over 4 years ago
Mechanic should not be smiling. He’s supposed to shake his head slowly and quietly say oh boy.
Leojim over 4 years ago
My daughter’s car one time was making a strange noise. She took it to a mechanic and he said she needed a new transmission. Since the car was hardly worth it she decided against it.
Soon after, another mechanic diagnosed it as rocks between the exhaust manifold and heat shield. He said don’t worry about it it’ll eventually work its way out and it did.
wjbillthompson over 4 years ago
I KNEW IT!!
cuzinron47 over 4 years ago
The mechanics are going to be after you for telling their secret, although it’s not much a secret.
geese28 over 4 years ago
My bank account makes the same noise too
corpcasselbury over 4 years ago
I wouldn’t put it past them.
Digital Frog over 4 years ago
New a guy back in university days when the guys were always trying to wrangle dinners from the girls. A girl he knew was borrowing her dad’s Mercedes and he snuck over at slipped a prank exhaust whistle into the tailpipe. She was freaking out that her dad was going to be mad at her from ruining his car so he offered to take a look if she would cook him dinner. He slid under the car with a wrench, banged in a couple of places, slipped the whistle out of the tailpipe and told her to give it a try again…
ron.wills Premium Member over 4 years ago
Where is Bleeb?
chromosome Premium Member over 4 years ago
Brings back memories of Click and Clack, the Tappet brothers on “Car Talk” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_and_Ray_Magliozzi
scpandich over 4 years ago
Back in November or December of 2016 my car starting making a weird whirring sound and I wasn’t able to take it to my regular mechanic so I took it to another place. It was busy, but the guy came out, listened, and basically said, “I know what that is, just hearing it: your power steering pump is going. It’s going to be about $500 to replace it.” He did say it could probably last a few more months and that if it went it wouldn’t keep the car from working, it would just be harder to turn the wheel, so I decided to wait until I could have my regular mechanic take care of it. So a few weeks later I take it to my regular mechanic… and it was just a loose belt. I drove that car until earlier this year when the body had rusted to the point that it wouldn’t pass inspection, and never had any issues with the power steering pump.