I recently had to take my car in to the dealer for repairs. What happened was, that the engine temp indicator kept fluctuating from hot to cold. So when I checked the coolant level, there wasn’t any there. So when I took it in they replaced the thermostat sensor (?) and the pressure hose for the thermostat. There was a leak in the hose initially which is why the coolant had leaked out. That was about 2-3 mos ago.
As it turns out, last week, the same thing happened that the temperature gauge was fluctuating. So I’m thinking, that it’s the same thing that needs to be done. I wasn’t prepared for the radiator to be replaced!!!! They claimed that the radiator was clogged and wasn’t covered under warranty, and the engine would surely blow up if I continued to drive it as it was. It cost me an arm and a leg to pay for that.
My question is: Is it possible that they overlooked something and the problem from two months ago was misdiagnosed initially? And do they owe me money?

This is the very reason, mechanics like myself have a hard time dealing with customers. There are so many dealerships and shops out there that hire shabby mechanics and end up costing the customer more than what it should. That almost everybody you come into contact with thinks initially that your trying to rip them off.

I always recommend getting a second opinion, and try to show the customer the problem before the repair is made so that the customer can feel comfortable with there decision to let me work on there car.

Unfortunately for you, It was the mechanics fault for not checking this when it came to them originally, but you probably won’t see a dime in compensation for there mishap.

On the behalf of all the good mechanic out there, I apologize for the trouble you’ve had with this shop/dealer. I can ensure you that not all mechanics are this careless. But keep searching around, cause like they always say, "if you can find a good doctor and a good mechanic you’ve been extremely blessed".

Good luck and I hope this helps!

Hi, I have a dodge minivan, the very bottom front bumper (which feels to be all plastic to me) is cracked from an impact with an unlucky coyote. (Don’t yell at me, I feel bad enough already, I did try to miss him.)

Is there a product out there, some sort of tape or bonding agent, that I can put on the crack lines from behind to keep them from shifting around and getting worse? There aren’t any pieces missing, it’s just split.

Thanks to all in advance!
Hi Kelly, I actually was on the interstate at night and he shot right out in front of me.. all I could do was brake, but I hit him dead center.

I was the only car for a mile in either direction… suicide or accident, we’ll never know..

Sure. There are several products that will repair that, I do them quite frequently.

Bondo is actually my preferred product, but not the body filler. Bondo makes a two part flexible repair kit that works well on the ABS and olefin bumper covers. I can’t remember the name of the product, but it is packaged in a white and green box, has two tubes and a sheet of reinforcing mesh. To use, clean and sand the inside of your bumper cover, use masking tape on the front side just to hold stuff in place, then mix and apply the repair goo using a bit of the mesh for strength.

I have used this stuff many times, and have put covers that were in pieces back together, as well as filled large holes. When hardened, this stuff can be sanded, then a bit of filler can be used before painting.

Auto_zone used to carry it, but if they don’t look for a auto paint supplier in your area.

Don’t fret over the coyote. He must have been trying out for a Geico commercial! Dumb coyote!

Hey guys right now im in a collision repair class for my school. Im a junior and right now im pretty sure i want to do something with cars when i graduate. Whether its customizing, repairing, or painting or w/e, im into it. The thing is i really didnt decided what i wanted to do until this year so im kinda behind everyone if ya know what i mean. As far as cars go. Lots of grease monkeys in my class and i feel behind if ya know what i mean. So my question is what kind of books could i read or what websites would help me in this class. Besides reading the text book i got in there. Really looking for websites on painting, or welding, or anything as far as cars go. I want to know it all if ya know what i mean. Id ultimately like to be able to restore an entire car by myself. Next semester i got auto tech so links or books you could recommend would be helpful. Thanks!

If you can, I’d see if a local shop would let you work part time and kinda do an apprenticeship. I’d learn best by doing things hands on versus reading about it in a book. You can know how it’s supposed to work by reading a book, but actually doing this is a whole different thing.

I am looking to open an auto repair shop on Pleasant valley Rd. just near the new Moore Cadillac.

Two questions: Anybody living in South Riding, northern Centreville or western Chantilly feel as though South Riding would be a feasible (BUSY) (work your tail off) area? Or do you feel the area INCLUDING South Riding is already saturated?

And secondly do you know approximately how many (total) homes, townhouses, condos, apartments, etc. (separate living spaces) that are presently in South Riding?

Thanks in advance to anyone with the kindness or knowledge to help, I hate to bankrupt myself if no one would come.

P.S. I have been at this for 25 years and have a number of equally qualified techs looking to go there if we open it. Pricing would be extremely reasonable with free pickup and delivery to South Riding, along with a customer shuttle and all the customer service items you could think of. Would this make a difference to anyone on the fence regarding usage of our facility?

South Riding has a lot of homes, but not a lot of industry. Most of the people work within the Beltway or along the I-66 or toll road corridor. That being said it would probably be not too bad to have an auto repair service in South Riding proper. Anything more east towards Chantilly and you’ll be directly competing with Curry’s which has a fantastic reputation among local residents. If S.R. is no bigger than Herndon, than it should have about 20k+ residents in the town proper.

Hello,

I was assigned by my teacher to prepare a technical report on the auto repair shop management problems of owners.

So, my question to auto shop owners (and to those who are in the know), what are the shop management difficulties/problems that you are facing right now and that you are willing to pay to lessen, if not remove, the problem?

Like (according to my research teacher), do you have troubles writing invoices that you’re willing to pay for some nice software to solve that?

And, could you please give a short description of the problem?

I’ll credit you in my research paper for helping me out.

Thanks in advance.

My dad owns a private shop and i have ran it for about 3 years and one of the big problems we have been having the past couple years is getting our techs trained in all the new technology that is comming out. I sent 2 techs to a training class to learn to fix problems with the on board navigation systems that are on a lot of newer cars and that class cost the shop about 5 thousand dollars for them to take it. Also the classes that i sent our techs to a couple years ago for hybrid cars cost quite a bit also. Keeping up on new technology is a BIG issue for privately owned shops

I have a Landrover Freelander and the brakes started grinding and I drove no more than 10 miles after the grinding started. The mechanic showed me the pads one had gone to metal. I looked at the rotors and saw no damage. He says I have to replace the rotors and refuses to do the repairs. My question is do the rotors need to be replaced?

If the rotors have never been turned before and the grooves are not more than about 1/2" to 3/4" of an inch deep or less, you can take them and have them turned or resurfaced. It sounds like to more that the refusing to make the repairs is trying to jack the price up by adding on some parts. Without looking at the rotors I can’t be sure. Have them taken off and carry them to a reportable machine shop and have them miked. It is the only way to be sure. Also, If it was a dealership, most of them won’t make the repairs unless they replace the rotors. That way they can warranty the work they do.

I have a Hyundai Sonata ‘01 which I took to a Hyundai dealer to have a pulsating problem fixed. Apart from that problem, they recommended that the timing belt and tensioner be changed too on the side because the vehicle had 60k miles.

But, after that belt job was done (which took almost 150 bucks), from the next day, there has been a repeating hissing sound (a sound like a slick belt rubbing across a rough surface) from the front of the car, which occurs when I start the car and disappears after 20 minutes of driving.

My question is: since this new sound was nonexistent when I turned in the car, and it started as soon as my car was returned, the repair shop/dealer should be responsible for the cost of repairing the new problem – is that right by generally accepted policy/standards in the repair business?

As for the repair guys, they say the accessory belt may need to be replaced and that I have to pay for the labor/parts.

It depends on how closely related the problems are. Say you take your car in for a brake job, and the next day you have transmission problems. One has nothing to do with the other. That’s not the shop’s responsibility. Same job, only the next day the right front tire comes off. That is the shop’s responsibility, because they didn’t properly tighten the lug nuts after they fixed your brakes.

Shop owners are businesspeople. They know that word of mouth can kill their business, most of them are willing to work with you, if the problem falls into a gray area. They don’t stay in business buy giving their work away, and they don’t stay in business by ripping people off. If it had mileage on it, they should have replaced the belt at the time they did the timing belt, since they had to take it off anyway. Maybe you can get them to comp the labor if you buy the new belt. That’s fair.

I’ve tried counter-clockwise and don’t want to lever it, w/o being sure it’s not reverse threaded like a propane tank, darn koreans.

You are doing it correct. If you are using a 1/2" ratchet – sometimes it helps to hold the head of the ratchet over the socket on the plug and give it a CCW smack with the base of your hand btwn your palm and your wrist.

Stick with your Hyundai – Ford sent their Crown Vic and Mercury Marquis plant to Mexico almost 20 years ago AND it is still there.

Hyundai built a $1.4 billion plant in Alabama in 2004 – it keeps American workers on the job.

License, I am referring to the Bureau of Automotive Repair.

Easy question/points

In my state, Maine, you don’t need a license to run a shop, unless you want to perform state inspections. You don’t even need certifications to call yourself a mechanic.

If you wish to give a hair cut however, you need to take a state test and maintain a license.

answer the question, what is the least amount and what is the most?

my father owns a VERY successful repair shop in fort worth texas…his first year servicing hondas he made zero dollars…as a matter of fact he ran in the red for several years… many years later the business does 500,000 to 1,000,000 in business but he does not take nearly that amount home.. i suggest going to college kid…bachelors, masters, and pound the pavement. its mush easier than twisting a wrench