Stupid previous owner trick of the day. - Diesel Forum

RLDSL · 03-14-2006, 01:05 AM

Well, I decided to replace the thermostat on my '92 f350 while I'm doing valve stem seals since I already have everything off and easy to get to, and it had been running a bit too much on the cool side.

Well not only did the last bozo to work on it put some gumby brand thermostat on the thing, but he didn't use a gasket. instead he used about two tubes of silicone ...completely filling the chamber with the check ball with silicone [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]
I spent about an hour with a dental pick digging that crud out of there.

Some people should have to pass an IQ test before being allowed to purchase auto parts [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img]

-----------Robert

tjgriffin · 03-14-2006, 01:08 AM

lol thats a nice one. i thank my lucky stars that that previous owner of my truck knew what the hell he was doing.....on most things. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

cdnsarguy · 03-14-2006, 08:27 AM

Worst part of RTV over use is, any bits/pieces can get to plug the rad core, heater core or even the oil cooler.

ClassicFordGuy · 03-14-2006, 08:46 AM

Gotta add a previous owner trick. When I started searching for why my rear brakes had no fluid going to them I disconnected the line from the master cylinder and found the po had cranked a machine screw into the line then re-attached it to the master cylinder. either he didn't want to replace worn brake parts or he was trying to do burnouts.

IQ test, YES!

-Rob

94_turbo · 03-14-2006, 10:38 AM

soem "mechanics" shouldnt be allowed near anything mechanical--and own any wrenches either--in my years of wrenching--wouldnt believe what ive seen come in the shop----sheesh----

RLDSL · 03-14-2006, 08:52 PM

[ QUOTE ]
soem "mechanics" shouldnt be allowed near anything mechanical--and own any wrenches either--in my years of wrenching--wouldnt believe what ive seen come in the shop----sheesh----

[/ QUOTE ]

I work primarily on European cars , and it's got to the point where when a car come in with some of the telltale markings under the hood from a couple of local *experts* shops I know exactly where to look to fix all of the things that they've screwed up( and you'd think after so many years they'd figure out what they were doing wrong). Anyone can hang out a shingle saying they are a specialist these days.

----------Robert

typefour · 03-14-2006, 10:14 PM

A specialist at hanging a shingle [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img] I have a shop at my house and the hardest thing is explaining to people that they aren't going to get a deal, they pay me from the neck up. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

94_turbo · 03-15-2006, 06:43 PM

typ4--aint that a fact--they think because you arent a huge shop--you should work for 20 cents a hr--think you have no expenses--or no training--hence should really work for free--or pay them for the priviledge of working on and learning on their vehicle--apparently snap-on tools are free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!those are the types i turn away--dont need their attitude--or grief!!!!!!!

typefour · 03-15-2006, 07:54 PM

Amen on all counts. Hey how do you like the posi in front? I an switching to 355 and have a traction lock to put in it so IF I want to camp in the sand I can make it in and out, putting a limited slip in rear 10.25 also.
[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

RLDSL · 03-15-2006, 08:58 PM

[ QUOTE ]
typ4--aint that a fact--they think because you arent a huge shop--you should work for 20 cents a hr--think you have no expenses--or no training--hence should really work for free--or pay them for the priviledge of working on and learning on their vehicle--apparently snap-on tools are free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!those are the types i turn away--dont need their attitude--or grief!!!!!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah that cracks me up, just because I work out of a shop at the house. Heck I was a certified mechanic back before it was cool with plenty of dealer and fleet experience.

It amazes me, charging half of what the dealers are charging and people still thinking it's too much. Heck my babysitters probably make more than I do considering they have no investment in education /tools /manuals etc to eat into the profits

Reminds me of one lady, comes to me after buying a car for way too much on ebay and paying a fortune to have it shipped...without paying for an inspection on the other end. about 5 months later she decides to try to fix the thing and the whole time she's panicing about the cost ( and I'm doing everything humanly possible to keep it cheep including cutting my own throat to try and help the poor ignorant soul) and then she starts whining about her 3 houses.
I politely found a way to send her down the road.

------------Robert

mgraveman · 03-16-2006, 02:24 PM

I had the same problem, except it was only one brake. The Wheel cylinder had exploded, and so they cut and crimped the brake line going to that sheel. It took me months to figur out why the other wheel was locking up all the time. I was looking at the wrong one!

Didn't find that gem until I was hooking up the trailer - "what the hell - dammit!!"

Mike Lewis · 03-16-2006, 04:48 PM

I've started taking my vehicles to places OTHER than the dealer for work. Tired of feeding the Ford and GM corporate machines.

I expect to pay a little less, but not much, at a local shop. More than that, though, I expect my money to go farther with the smaller shops. They should have an interest in doing their best work, because if they don't, then they don't eat. I get the benefit of a better repair, plus the tech gets to know my vehicle and me... that goes a long way in the relationship.

Mike

Crash_AF · 03-17-2006, 01:50 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I get the benefit of a better repair, plus the tech gets to know my vehicle and me... that goes a long way in the relationship.

[/ QUOTE ]

It's really sad that the mechanic/owner relationship has gone away in today's society. Used to be that you had a relationship with your mechanic, now people just want to take it to whoever's quickest and cheapest and it's that type of attitude that breeds 'Automotive Technicians'. I'm sure you all know the type... lots of credentials but they only know how to bolt parts on until the problem goes away. I'd rather have a mechanic work on my car, someone who actually knows how to use his senses instead of a computer, diagnose where the problem is and repair it right the first time.

Had a 'technician' try to tell a friend of mine that the EEC-IV computer in his 88 F-150 was bad because it was running like crap, threw two codes, and fouled all the plugs out. I told my friend (Who was in NM at the time, otherwise I would have fixed it) over the phone that the problem sounded like an O2 sensor and EGR sensor throwing the codes. Replaced both of them and it still ran like crap but no more CEL... 'Technician' was still saying the computer was bad, even though he PULLED A PLUG AND IT WAS COMPLETELY FOULED OUT... didn't even clean them to see if it helped. My friend replaced the plugs himself in the Pep Boys parking lot and it solved the problem.

Sorry, had to vent for a minute... completely agreed that there are just some people who just shouldn't be putting their 'skinners anywhere under the hood of a vehicle.

Later,
Joe

94_turbo · 03-17-2006, 05:00 PM

typ4--posi front--- [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]you just have to be careful with it-on slick and such--doesnt like to turn the best--though have had no problems yet----and if i ever do get stuck with it-----well--call in a cat with a 300 fooot cable!!!!!!!!!!!!! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

srminc · 03-18-2006, 10:19 PM

I guess Im lucky, I know how to do most of the repair's to all my vehicles but if I really run into something Im not sure of Im real lucky to have an honest mechanic I can trust. I've known him for 14 years now, I even worked for him at one point, he's a church goin guy, not that means anything nowadays, but, he goes to a huge church and I would say 90% of the people there go to him, and as I said, I worked there and I know his work ethics, he's $25 cheaper an hour on labor than the stealership's and he doesn't triple markup the parts, I mean he has to make money, that's a given, and as the cost of property taxes,tools and equipment, along with the expenses of running a 5 employee shop, insurance, workmans comp mand all that garbage he has to raise prices sometimes.What he has done with the exception of a few, he has had to stop giving friends a discount, I mean, he's the kind of guy that has 100's of friends so he just had to stop doing it.He'll work with you though, he don't give credit, except to me,lol, but he'll try and help you figure out what to do if the repair is more than you can afford, like maybe a bandaid until ya have the money.I have no idea what I will do if he ever closes the doors,I mean when I buy tires I go there and mount and balance them myself and give him $20 bucks or more for wieghts and stems,he's saved me alot of money over the years, and I've sent him alot of customers.There's always the guy that thinks he can get his drunk nieghbor that used to be a mechanic to fix his junk cheaper but after never getting there car or truck fixed and spending more than they would have had they just took it to my guy, they always ask me, what was that great shop you were telling me to go to??? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif[/img]