Current Events > Mechanics are all ripoffs honestly

(+) Yeah! (+)

I rather pay more to get auto repair lessons and just fix everything myself in the future. Thats how annoyed I am.
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Alright, you go do that then.
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I paid $430 to get all my brake lines replaced

No way in hell was I gonna do that myself
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what a baby
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LanHikari10 posted...

Alright, you go do that then.

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The rates are definitely extremely high. Labour rate at Toyota in Thailand is like $5/hour. I spent an extra $3 on top of the cost of parts to have my Ninja fixed at Kawasaki.
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MuayThai85 posted...

The rates are definitely extremely high. Labour rate at Toyota in Thailand is like $5/hour. I spent an extra $3 on top of the cost of parts to have my Ninja fixed at Kawasaki.

The rates are high so that the mechanic can actually get paid a decent wage.

And, TC, as a mechanic...

foreverzero212 posted...

LanHikari10 posted...

Alright, you go do that then.

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Im actually serious. May be a few years til I get to it but I eventually will.
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Ive been looking up the curriculum and what is required to become a certified auto technician.
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DanHarenChamp posted...

you have zero skills and want things handed to you?

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foreverzero212 posted...

DanHarenChamp posted...

you have zero skills and want things handed to you?

...smh...now why would I be telling other people in this thread that they have zero skills and want things handed to them?

if you're gonna try to be a smartass and make a statement by changing my words, at least do it right. what a fucking failure.
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16-BITTER posted...

DanHarenChamp posted...

Im actually serious. May be a few years til I get to it but I eventually will.

Make sure you also save up for a full assortment of specialized tools, a hydraulic lift, an air compressor, etc depending on your make and model, how old your vehicle is and what you can expect to be doing.

I try to do as many of my own repairs as possible but there's some shit you just can't do properly without the right environment and equipment, even with the right know how. At that point, it's worth just paying somebody else to save you the headache

Yea, probably not in the next few years, but eventually I certainly will have enough saved for all of that.

Plus I like cars in general. This will give me the skills to work on classic cars, which is something I've always wanted to do. I have a cousin that does that for fun so maybe we can work on cars together. He's done a few projects so far. I'd love to fix up an old F250 highboy or a 67 mustang or something.
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16-BITTER posted...

Hey if you really want to go through all the effort, more power to you, it's as good a hobby as any. Just saying you might find it to be more expensive in the long run (and more of a pain in the ass) than just paying someone reputable to do the work.

He's not. TC always whines about stuff like this.
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No I get what you're saying and I've done my research into the hobby as well. Fixing up old cars ends up costing tens of thousands of dollars extra and is a complete waste of money. But like you said, its a great hobby and something I've always wanted to do.

Again, not for now. I'll address this idea a couple years down the line.
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DanHarenChamp posted...

16-BITTER posted...

DanHarenChamp posted...

Im actually serious. May be a few years til I get to it but I eventually will.

Make sure you also save up for a full assortment of specialized tools, a hydraulic lift, an air compressor, etc depending on your make and model, how old your vehicle is and what you can expect to be doing.

I try to do as many of my own repairs as possible but there's some shit you just can't do properly without the right environment and equipment, even with the right know how. At that point, it's worth just paying somebody else to save you the headache

Yea, probably not in the next few years, but eventually I certainly will have enough saved for all of that.

Plus I like cars in general. This will give me the skills to work on classic cars, which is something I've always wanted to do. I have a cousin that does that for fun so maybe we can work on cars together. He's done a few projects so far. I'd love to fix up an old F250 highboy or a 67 mustang or something.

You do know that we're talking more money in tools than for a house, right?

Like, it's not uncommon for mechanics to refinance for far more than they owe on their house to pay off their tools?
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darkjedilink posted...

DanHarenChamp posted...

16-BITTER posted...

DanHarenChamp posted...

Im actually serious. May be a few years til I get to it but I eventually will.

Make sure you also save up for a full assortment of specialized tools, a hydraulic lift, an air compressor, etc depending on your make and model, how old your vehicle is and what you can expect to be doing.

I try to do as many of my own repairs as possible but there's some shit you just can't do properly without the right environment and equipment, even with the right know how. At that point, it's worth just paying somebody else to save you the headache

Yea, probably not in the next few years, but eventually I certainly will have enough saved for all of that.

Plus I like cars in general. This will give me the skills to work on classic cars, which is something I've always wanted to do. I have a cousin that does that for fun so maybe we can work on cars together. He's done a few projects so far. I'd love to fix up an old F250 highboy or a 67 mustang or something.

You do know that we're talking more money in tools than for a house, right?

Like, it's not uncommon for mechanics to refinance for far more than they owe on their house to pay off their tools?

Theres no way it can be more than a house in california.
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Mechanics don't set the price, the dealer does.

The mechanic also makes next to nothing when assigned warranty work.

My dad is a mechanic.

Basically the dealer takes the most cut and splita the rest with the mechanic, service advisor, parts people, office ladiea etc. (Yes ladiea :p, at least anecdotally my dad referred to them as such)

Think of it like when you tip the waiter but the bartender and bus boy takes a cut.
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"looks like your flabastergab valve got cracked which is ruining your coilaxation pump, i'll fix it for $1,342."
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pretty much.

its not the actual parts and labor costs that I care about. Its that they could be doing shady stuff and no one would have any clue.
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DanHarenChamp posted...

pretty much.

its not the actual parts and labor costs that I care about. Its that they could be doing shady stuff and no one would have any clue.

Umm. You should have an itemized statement saying exactly what they did.

Unless you drop off your car and say "fix it, whatever it is". Then you give license for that.

Usually you pay for diagnosis only, then they say what they want to fix but have to have you sign and a ok it.

That said, my dad claims he knew some that said they fixed stuff and didn't. Think they got fired.

Also shows like 20/20 exposed Jiffy Lubes years ago.
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its more like, lets say I take it to em for an oil change, they could easily be intentionally fucking shit up causing leaks and damage, or just straight up making stuff up like "this part is leaking" "this part is damaged" etc.
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DanHarenChamp posted...

darkjedilink posted...

DanHarenChamp posted...

16-BITTER posted...

DanHarenChamp posted...

Im actually serious. May be a few years til I get to it but I eventually will.

Make sure you also save up for a full assortment of specialized tools, a hydraulic lift, an air compressor, etc depending on your make and model, how old your vehicle is and what you can expect to be doing.

I try to do as many of my own repairs as possible but there's some shit you just can't do properly without the right environment and equipment, even with the right know how. At that point, it's worth just paying somebody else to save you the headache

Yea, probably not in the next few years, but eventually I certainly will have enough saved for all of that.

Plus I like cars in general. This will give me the skills to work on classic cars, which is something I've always wanted to do. I have a cousin that does that for fun so maybe we can work on cars together. He's done a few projects so far. I'd love to fix up an old F250 highboy or a 67 mustang or something.

You do know that we're talking more money in tools than for a house, right?

Like, it's not uncommon for mechanics to refinance for far more than they owe on their house to pay off their tools?

Theres no way it can be more than a house in california.

I would bet that, if you're a professional mechanic, buying tools off the truck for fifteen years, in California, it's half as much as the average house.

My dad refinanced his house for triple what he still owed, in Minnesota, and dropped over $150,000 to pay off all his tools. When the housing bubble burst, he lost his house.
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16-BITTER posted...

DanHarenChamp posted...

Im actually serious. May be a few years til I get to it but I eventually will.

Make sure you also save up for a full assortment of specialized tools, a hydraulic lift, an air compressor, etc depending on your make and model, how old your vehicle is and what you can expect to be doing.

I try to do as many of my own repairs as possible but there's some shit you just can't do properly without the right environment and equipment, even with the right know how. At that point, it's worth just paying somebody else to save you the headache

This is a good post.

Yes mechanics are expensive, its because they have a skill and offer a service that often you could not do yourself.

Some things are very easy to do yourself, like change brake pads or repair bumpers and doesnt require a lot of tools.

Then theres things that youre in way over your head and you would need a mechanic like rebuilding your cars transmission, or rather if you could do it yourself, paying the money saves you a few hours of work and a lot of headache.
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DanHarenChamp posted...

its more like, lets say I take it to em for an oil change, they could easily be intentionally fucking shit up causing leaks and damage, or just straight up making stuff up like "this part is leaking" "this part is damaged" etc.

If you go for oil change only and your engine turns up broken, I think that qualifies as a lawsuit.
If they do that, it wouldn't be to just you, so it would be verifiable.

In any case, if it is a dealer and not a mom and pop, you could always complain to corporate.

That is, if this scares you, make sure you use a dealer since theoretically their corporate masters have a vested interest in their image.
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DanHarenChamp posted...

its more like, lets say I take it to em for an oil change, they could easily be intentionally fucking shit up causing leaks and damage, or just straight up making stuff up like "this part is leaking" "this part is damaged" etc.

Do you have any idea how insanely illegal that is?

Like, do you even know where that meme comes from? It's almost entirely from anecdotal stories about lube shops on Route 66 back in the '50's.
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darkjedilink posted...

DanHarenChamp posted...

darkjedilink posted...

DanHarenChamp posted...

16-BITTER posted...

DanHarenChamp posted...

Im actually serious. May be a few years til I get to it but I eventually will.

Make sure you also save up for a full assortment of specialized tools, a hydraulic lift, an air compressor, etc depending on your make and model, how old your vehicle is and what you can expect to be doing.

I try to do as many of my own repairs as possible but there's some shit you just can't do properly without the right environment and equipment, even with the right know how. At that point, it's worth just paying somebody else to save you the headache

Yea, probably not in the next few years, but eventually I certainly will have enough saved for all of that.

Plus I like cars in general. This will give me the skills to work on classic cars, which is something I've always wanted to do. I have a cousin that does that for fun so maybe we can work on cars together. He's done a few projects so far. I'd love to fix up an old F250 highboy or a 67 mustang or something.

You do know that we're talking more money in tools than for a house, right?

Like, it's not uncommon for mechanics to refinance for far more than they owe on their house to pay off their tools?

Theres no way it can be more than a house in california.

I would bet that, if you're a professional mechanic, buying tools off the truck for fifteen years, in California, it's half as much as the average house.

My dad refinanced his house for triple what he still owed, in Minnesota, and dropped over $150,000 to pay off all his tools. When the housing bubble burst, he lost his house.

lmao. Please dude. I'm not opening a mechanic shop in my garage. Theres absolutely no way all of the tools combined for hobby and most repairs would be more than like 10-20k.
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DanHarenChamp posted...

darkjedilink posted...

DanHarenChamp posted...

darkjedilink posted...

DanHarenChamp posted...

16-BITTER posted...

DanHarenChamp posted...

Im actually serious. May be a few years til I get to it but I eventually will.

Make sure you also save up for a full assortment of specialized tools, a hydraulic lift, an air compressor, etc depending on your make and model, how old your vehicle is and what you can expect to be doing.

I try to do as many of my own repairs as possible but there's some shit you just can't do properly without the right environment and equipment, even with the right know how. At that point, it's worth just paying somebody else to save you the headache

Yea, probably not in the next few years, but eventually I certainly will have enough saved for all of that.

Plus I like cars in general. This will give me the skills to work on classic cars, which is something I've always wanted to do. I have a cousin that does that for fun so maybe we can work on cars together. He's done a few projects so far. I'd love to fix up an old F250 highboy or a 67 mustang or something.

You do know that we're talking more money in tools than for a house, right?

Like, it's not uncommon for mechanics to refinance for far more than they owe on their house to pay off their tools?

Theres no way it can be more than a house in california.

I would bet that, if you're a professional mechanic, buying tools off the truck for fifteen years, in California, it's half as much as the average house.

My dad refinanced his house for triple what he still owed, in Minnesota, and dropped over $150,000 to pay off all his tools. When the housing bubble burst, he lost his house.

lmao. Please dude. I'm not opening a mechanic shop in my garage. Theres absolutely no way all of the tools combined for hobby and most repairs would be more than like 10-20k.

Well, then you won't be buying everything necessary to not need a mechanic ever again.
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For 50 I'll change your oil, but for an extra 25 I'll throw in the express package where I use an impact wrench to save you time and money, because time is money.

* Additional fees for loc-tite and/or replacement bolt, not liable for failure of oil pan once out of garage.

idk I found a local mechanic who does a lot of shit for cheap, and he's done a lot of free diagnostics work for us.
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I decided not to pay $1,000 for a front-end alignment.

Why was it $1,000?

They told me I required lower control arms with ball joints + repack wheel bearings for a Ford Ranger 99 (or else the front-end alignment would be pointless).

Deal or no deal?

On a side note, all computer repair shops are also rip offs.
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This is nothing YouTube, the right tools, a little ingenuity, and some time can't fix.

EpicKingdom_ posted...

I decided not to pay $1,000 for a front-end alignment.

Why was it $1,000?

They told me I required lower control arms with ball joints + repack wheel bearings for a Ford Ranger 99 (or else the front-end alignment would be pointless).

Deal or no deal?

On a side note, all computer repair shops are also rip offs.

Where do you live, and what's their labor charge?
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Unknown5uspect posted...

This is nothing YouTube, the right tools, a little ingenuity, and some time can't fix.

Never suggest YouTube as a primary source for mechanic information.

That's how people blow up AC compressors, fry electronics, and put the wrong type of brake fluid in their car.
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Hello I do some spannering

I'm not a car mechanic at all. Ask me to replace fuel spray nozzle #7 on engine 3 on an Airbus A380, no problems. Ask me to change the oil and filters in my Subaru, yeah no problems.

In all seriousness if you can't change your wiper blades or pump your tyres up, then think of the mechanic's cost as an idiot tax. For more complicated jobs, unless you're very handy on the tools, then it's best to pay someone who knows what they're doing to make sure the job is done right. Mechanics love beer, and I've managed to get very intensive jobs done by just buying the beers that evening. 50 of pints is nothing compared to the 200 they'd have charged me otherwise.
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LanHikari10 posted...

Alright, you go do that then.

You can pretty much use YouTube for everything car related now and figure it out yourself, just in a longer amount of time.
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Deadpool_18 posted...

LanHikari10 posted...

Alright, you go do that then.

You can pretty much use YouTube for everything car related now and figure it out yourself, just in a longer amount of time.

Not in the long term, if you actually want to stay away from a mechanic shop.
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Purple_Cheetah posted...

For 50 I'll change your oil, but for an extra 25 I'll throw in the express package where I use an impact wrench to save you time and money, because time is money.

* Additional fees for loc-tite and/or replacement bolt, not liable for failure of oil pan once out of garage.

Lmao @ $50 for an oil change
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darkjedilink posted...

Deadpool_18 posted...

LanHikari10 posted...

Alright, you go do that then.

You can pretty much use YouTube for everything car related now and figure it out yourself, just in a longer amount of time.

Not in the long term, if you actually want to stay away from a mechanic shop.

Why not the long term?
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EpicKingdom_ posted...

I decided not to pay $1,000 for a front-end alignment.

Why was it $1,000?

They told me I required lower control arms with ball joints + repack wheel bearings for a Ford Ranger 99 (or else the front-end alignment would be pointless).

Deal or no deal?

On a side note, all computer repair shops are also rip offs.

They're not wrong about the alignment being pointless if you don't take of those parts first.

Idk about $1000. But I do know replacing lower control arms and ball joints can be a real pain in the ass.

Ive had my front end sligned along with the replace of the arms and ball joints for $350 on my 2000 Ranger

He was also a shade tree mechanic that was a good family friend.

Also look up ChrisFix on youtube, he does THE best mechanic for dummy video and he often uses his Mazda B3000, which is a Ranger with a Mazda badge

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCes1EvRjcKU4sY_UEavndBw
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I worked in a small engine repair shop for a while. Mechanics only earn 25-30% commission, and the manager sets the rate.
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Deadpool_18 posted...

Purple_Cheetah posted...

For 50 I'll change your oil, but for an extra 25 I'll throw in the express package where I use an impact wrench to save you time and money, because time is money.

* Additional fees for loc-tite and/or replacement bolt, not liable for failure of oil pan once out of garage.

Lmao @ $50 for an oil change

That's a deal. They usually are nearly 2x the price.
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TheRealDill2000 posted...

Deadpool_18 posted...

Purple_Cheetah posted...

For 50 I'll change your oil, but for an extra 25 I'll throw in the express package where I use an impact wrench to save you time and money, because time is money.

* Additional fees for loc-tite and/or replacement bolt, not liable for failure of oil pan once out of garage.

Lmao @ $50 for an oil change

That's a deal. They usually are nearly 2x the price.

The difference is made up when you need an entire new oil pan, because you won't find out until later down the road and even then it's too late anyways. Because I gotta go fast and screw it to death.

Speaking of garbage oil changes, many moons ago when I was still new to the act of driving(think I'd been driving for a year or so) my parents got an oil change at one of those quick stop service stations that litter the landscape. Paid for the oil change, assumed the deed was done. Bout a week later while I was driving "oil light is on... and now off... and on again" and ofcourse I was told it was probably a mistake or I didn't see it right. Turns out the car with 160k miles on it was driven for over a week under commute/shopping/etc load with no oil in it beyond what remained in the filter. They didn't even check their own oil yet acted at the time like if I so much as glimpsed under the hood I'd ruin the car somehow.

Engine siezed about a month later, with oil ofcourse, but the crankshaft warped and melded to the block, bending a few connecting rods as well. Transmission's reverse also somehow grenaded itself under the dealership mechanic's care... which I find suspicious.

That's a lawsuit right there
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darkjedilink posted...

EpicKingdom_ posted...

I decided not to pay $1,000 for a front-end alignment.

Why was it $1,000?

They told me I required lower control arms with ball joints + repack wheel bearings for a Ford Ranger 99 (or else the front-end alignment would be pointless).

Deal or no deal?

On a side note, all computer repair shops are also rip offs.

Where do you live, and what's their labor charge?

Unknown5uspect posted...

EpicKingdom_ posted...

I decided not to pay $1,000 for a front-end alignment.

Why was it $1,000?

They told me I required lower control arms with ball joints + repack wheel bearings for a Ford Ranger 99 (or else the front-end alignment would be pointless).

Deal or no deal?

On a side note, all computer repair shops are also rip offs.

They're not wrong about the alignment being pointless if you don't take of those parts first.

Idk about $1000. But I do know replacing lower control arms and ball joints can be a real pain in the ass.

$379.98 for lower control arms with joints x2.
$320.00 for Installation.
$200.00 for repack wheel bearings.

Total was closer to $933.23.
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EpicKingdom_ posted...

darkjedilink posted...

EpicKingdom_ posted...

I decided not to pay $1,000 for a front-end alignment.

Why was it $1,000?

They told me I required lower control arms with ball joints + repack wheel bearings for a Ford Ranger 99 (or else the front-end alignment would be pointless).

Deal or no deal?

On a side note, all computer repair shops are also rip offs.

Where do you live, and what's their labor charge?

Unknown5uspect posted...

EpicKingdom_ posted...

I decided not to pay $1,000 for a front-end alignment.

Why was it $1,000?

They told me I required lower control arms with ball joints + repack wheel bearings for a Ford Ranger 99 (or else the front-end alignment would be pointless).

Deal or no deal?

On a side note, all computer repair shops are also rip offs.

They're not wrong about the alignment being pointless if you don't take of those parts first.

Idk about $1000. But I do know replacing lower control arms and ball joints can be a real pain in the ass.

$379.98 for lower control arms with joints x2.
$320.00 for Installation.
$200.00 for repack wheel bearings.

Total was closer to $933.23.

IDK about the wheel bearing repack, but, depending on where you live, that seems reasonable.
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I'd love to have a small scale mechanic garage one day, where I can do all my repairs myself

It's definitely an investment though. The equipment is expensive
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Deadpool_18 posted...

darkjedilink posted...

Deadpool_18 posted...

LanHikari10 posted...

Alright, you go do that then.

You can pretty much use YouTube for everything car related now and figure it out yourself, just in a longer amount of time.

Not in the long term, if you actually want to stay away from a mechanic shop.

Why not the long term?

Because eventually, if you never want to go into a mechanic shop again, you're going to need a lift and a shit-ton of specialized tools.

The tools to remove an oil filter on a late-model Toyota are $150, for example.
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