Meeting people as a mechanic.

[LaserSVT]

LaserSVT, how much would you charge me, if you would do this, to go to Cleburne and check out a c10 truck I'm looking at buying? Would you do something like this?

Sorry man, just not enough hours in the day. It would be 3 hours of just travel. I would be more than happy to check it out at the shop though. Maybe the seller will let you take it for an inspection. Really though its a C10 so just look for cupped tires (indicates shocks), look for split boots on the ball joints and tie rods, let it idle for a good 10 minutes and watch temps and oil pressure. When they get warm 20psi at idle (indicated) is proper. That era GM gauge was off by about 12psi with every one I have checked. Listen for growling in the power steering, look behind the rear brakes and see if ANY moisture is coming out as that indicates leaking wheel cylinder or axle seal but in either case that means rear brake overhaul. The rest is just basic stuff. See how clean the oil is. If its cold look in the radiator and make sure its not rusted. Transmission fluid is really important. If you pull the stick and the fluid is brown and smells like burnt vinegar than know you are ready for a rebuild. Watch for smoke at startup. Front and rear mains as well as oil pans like to leak on those so expect to see a dirty motor. Also look in the master cylinder and make sure the brake fluid does not look like coffee. If it does expect a full brake overhaul as parts will fail one by one.

Really thats about it.

[Gasser64]

LaserSVT, how much would you charge me, if you would do this, to go to Cleburne and check out a c10 truck I'm looking at buying? Would you do something like this?

Is there a link to the truck? I'm curious cause I'm in cleburne. And I know of a couple for sale. One right down the road from my house.

[LaserSVT]

Argh this job makes me lose so much faith in people.

Old black dude comes in last week with his Benz and wants me to show him how to use a suicide AC kit. I explain in great detail why those are bad and for less money than he paid for those two cans that I could properly charge the system. He gets pissed at me and cant fathom why I wouldn't show him how to use the kit that I just explained why it was bad. So he leaves in a huff.

My shop is slammed and I am working on a 64 Malibu that's in really sweet shape. He strolls into my shop floor and plops his heavy ass on the fender of the car and I hear the tink of metal as his huge fake gold watch hits this cars fresh paint job. I look at him like hes the retard he is and tell him get off the damn car.
He then tells me he figured out how to use the kits but he put too much in as the compressor keeps locking up. He wants me to drop everything I am doing and drain some "Freon". I explain once again that it does not work like that. I need to drain the system completely, put a vac on it and then charge it to spec after I calculate how much extra oil he just put in the system and that it will be $78 plus tax. He goes bananas and continues to try and tell me how to do it. Well obviously you have no clue or you wouldn't have fucked it up in the first place. I will not just drain a little out. Besides chances are you already hurt that high dollar AC comp. So he walks off mother fucking me and sayin "You only in it for the money" Well yeah. Its how I pay my bills. It is a job. I instructed him to keep off the property.

[Chili]

Argh this job makes me lose so much faith in people.

Old black dude comes in last week with his Benz and wants me to show him how to use a suicide AC kit. I explain in great detail why those are bad and for less money than he paid for those two cans that I could properly charge the system. He gets pissed at me and cant fathom why I wouldn't show him how to use the kit that I just explained why it was bad. So he leaves in a huff.

My shop is slammed and I am working on a 64 Malibu that's in really sweet shape. He strolls into my shop floor and plops his heavy ass on the fender of the car and I hear the tink of metal as his huge fake gold watch hits this cars fresh paint job. I look at him like hes the retard he is and tell him get off the damn car.
He then tells me he figured out how to use the kits but he put too much in as the compressor keeps locking up. He wants me to drop everything I am doing and drain some "Freon". I explain once again that it does not work like that. I need to drain the system completely, put a vac on it and then charge it to spec after I calculate how much extra oil he just put in the system and that it will be $78 plus tax. He goes bananas and continues to try and tell me how to do it. Well obviously you have no clue or you wouldn't have fucked it up in the first place. I will not just drain a little out. Besides chances are you already hurt that high dollar AC comp. So he walks off mother fucking me and sayin "You only in it for the money" Well yeah. Its how I pay my bills. It is a job. I instructed him to keep off the property.

It's strange to me that you seem to frequently have issues where people get pissed at you and leave, then come back another day. Is there just not many independent shops around there or are people in your area just that stupid?

[mstng86]

It's strange to me that you seem to frequently have issues where people get pissed at you and leave, then come back another day. Is there just not many independent shops around there or are people in your area just that stupid?

Have you ever taken the time to drive around Waco and South Waco?

[Chili]

Have you ever taken the time to drive around Waco and South Waco?

The only driving I have done in Waco is exiting I35 for gas or food. I don't think I have ever gotten off of the service road.

[90MarkVII]

The only driving I have done in Waco is exiting I35 for gas or food. I don't think I have ever gotten off of the service road.

Best to keep it that way.

[LaserSVT]

It's strange to me that you seem to frequently have issues where people get pissed at you and leave, then come back another day. Is there just not many independent shops around there or are people in your area just that stupid?

There are plenty of shops that have no idea what they are doing and/or are complete ripoffs. Many times they will go somewhere else and be quoted WAY more than I quoted them and come back with their tail between their legs realizing just how much cheaper I am. Then there are others that brought it someplace that was $2 cheaper than me but just fuck up the entire job. Well they bring it in to me to be corrected and flip out when I up the quote. I explain how the other place messed up the install and managed to break other components around the initial parts that needed to be replace.
So now the job has to be redone and I can see the rounded off bolts so I figure in more time to remove them plus the cost of the new bolts and new vac lines because they busted half of them replacing the alternator etc etc.
I have been yelled at many times when they waive the quote I gave them in my face and say its good for 30 days. Yes, it is good for 30 days but the job has now changed.

I really try to keep people happy all the time but you just cant please all of the people all of the time. The "entitled" attitudes are in great supply around here.

Best to keep it that way.

+1 LOL

[4king]

It's strange to me that you seem to frequently have issues where people get pissed at you and leave, then come back another day. Is there just not many independent shops around there or are people in your area just that stupid?

Its not just his area it is just the nature of the beast.

We sell those freon cans and have to deal with customers on a daily basis who think it is just magic in a bottle and will make their ac colder. People pull up in new cars all the time asking us to put more freon in because it's just not as cold as it should be.

People have trust problems and think they know everything because they have social media and Google at their finger tips.

I have grown ass men come in the store DAILY asking us to replace their headlights or turn signals for them. Think about that for a second

Also fix a flat in the can is the worst shit you can put in your tires. Ruin tpms sensors, throw the wheel out of balance. But they sell because people are too stupid or lazy to change a flat tire

[ceyko]

Yeah, fix-a-flat/slime on modern cars is a no-no - but sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do because you may not be able to afford a new tire(s) at the time.

I bought the gauges (high and low side, plus fill hose) for AC. 1 recharge results in a cost savings and I've been able to do a few for myself over the years.

Trust issues? Have you read the stories in just this thread? No wonder man. I have one dealer that I trust their service department and one shop all the way in Plano (I live way north of there) that I trust. However, in this day and age it seems worth it to at least try to DIY stuff when you can.

Problem is, when you fuck up - can't blame anyone else and be ready to pay. I'm trying to laugh about it, but I accidentally poked a whole in my brand new shop AC's high pressure coil last weekend. 18K BTU, 220 unit that maybe worthless - we'll see if it can be patched this weekend and work. If not, that's basically 600 dollars down the drain.

[Chili]

Its not just his area it is just the nature of the beast.

We sell those freon cans and have to deal with customers on a daily basis who think it is just magic in a bottle and will make their ac colder. People pull up in new cars all the time asking us to put more freon in because it's just not as cold as it should be.

People have trust problems and think they know everything because they have social media and Google at their finger tips.

I have grown ass men come in the store DAILY asking us to replace their headlights or turn signals for them. Think about that for a second

Also fix a flat in the can is the worst shit you can put in your tires. Ruin tpms sensors, throw the wheel out of balance. But they sell because people are too stupid or lazy to change a flat tire

I have to laugh every time I see a car ad that says "ac works but needs a charge".

Yeah, fix-a-flat/slime on modern cars is a no-no - but sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do because you may not be able to afford a new tire(s) at the time.

I bought the gauges (high and low side, plus fill hose) for AC. 1 recharge results in a cost savings and I've been able to do a few for myself over the years.

Trust issues? Have you read the stories in just this thread? No wonder man. I have one dealer that I trust their service department and one shop all the way in Plano (I live way north of there) that I trust. However, in this day and age it seems worth it to at least try to DIY stuff when you can.

Problem is, when you fuck up - can't blame anyone else and be ready to pay. I'm trying to laugh about it, but I accidentally poked a whole in my brand new shop AC's high pressure coil last weekend. 18K BTU, 220 unit that maybe worthless - we'll see if it can be patched this weekend and work. If not, that's basically 600 dollars down the drain.

Same here, though I had help when replacing the bulk of the AC system in my old Bronco (props to Baron!).

[Chili]

Best to keep it that way.

Lmao!

[helosailor]

Its not just his area it is just the nature of the beast.

We sell those freon cans and have to deal with customers on a daily basis who think it is just magic in a bottle and will make their ac colder. People pull up in new cars all the time asking us to put more freon in because it's just not as cold as it should be.

People have trust problems and think they know everything because they have social media and Google at their finger tips.

I have grown ass men come in the store DAILY asking us to replace their headlights or turn signals for them. Think about that for a second
And wiper blades. WIPER. FUCKING. BLADES.
Also fix a flat in the can is the worst shit you can put in your tires. Ruin tpms sensors, throw the wheel out of balance. But they sell because people are too stupid or lazy to change a flat tire

Fixed that for ya.

[BP]

It's strange to me that you seem to frequently have issues where people get pissed at you and leave, then come back another day. Is there just not many independent shops around there or are people in your area just that stupid?

Waco only has a few decent employers and they are fairly technical. Baylor and L-3 get the top talent. Some people luck into jobs with the VA, AAFES or MARS but otherwise it's mostly minimum wage - $10 hour jobs here. Where if you drive an hour north or south the same jobs pay $15+ and there are hundreds of other great employers.

[4king]

Fixed that for ya.

Its texas and that takes 3 seconds per side. I just do it every time regardless of who comes in the door. I can change wiper blades 20x faster than a customer

Another pet peave, my car is running hot can you put coolant in it for me? What do you mean you won't take the cap off for me!