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A Mechanic's Life - Tales From Under the Hood

2808 messages,  Last post on May 19, 2013 at 5:04 PM

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     This topic is primarily for professional mechanics, current or retired, or ardent amateurs who would like to share the suprises, victories, tricks and challenges of working on the modern automobile. All Forums members are invited, of course, to ask technicians about their work, or comment on your own experiences dealing with mechanics.
 
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Messages Page 153 of 281

#1519 of 2808 Re: The solution... grin. [imidazol97] by thecardoc3

Feb 18, 2013 (12:55 pm)

Replying to: imidazol97 (Feb 18, 2013 12:19 pm)
NO CHARGE. I think they said some location on Shelbyville Rd
 
If anyone knows what their training and investment in equipment is worth they should, and they are telling you that it's worth nothing, sooo.....

#1520 of 2808 Re: The solution... grin. [imidazol97] by roadburner

Feb 18, 2013 (1:01 pm)

Replying to: imidazol97 (Feb 18, 2013 12:19 pm)
St. Matthews Imports- I don't know anything about them other than that they have been around for years and they now claim to also service domestic cars. The indie shop that services my Jeep doesn't charge me to read the codes on my TJ or Mazda, but I've been a customer since the mid '80s.

#1521 of 2808 Re: Diplomacy isn't my strongsuit [thecardoc3] by xwesx

Feb 18, 2013 (1:01 pm)

Replying to: thecardoc3 (Feb 16, 2013 3:22 am)
It isn't about the money at all
 
Wow; this conversation really picked up! Since I don't have the time to catch up on it, I'll skip reading forward to find out if someone has already elaborated on this particular quote.
 
"It isn't about the money at all." Absolutely not - it's about trust. Trusting that your car is going to work when you attempt to start it, and work the whole time you want to use it. Trust that when someone says they fixed it, they did. The standard to measure up to this expectation is different for everyone, but I think there's a common denominator.... If the thing that stops working is the last thing that was fixed, the customer isn't going to be real happy about it (whether it's the tech's fault or not!).
 
The only time I bought a car unplanned, while its predecessor still operated, was when my wife lost confidence in the "old car" and simply refused to drive it any longer. Peace of mind cannot be under-estimated nor under-valued.

#1522 of 2808 Re: Diplomacy isn't my strongsuit [thecardoc3] by srs_49

Feb 18, 2013 (1:09 pm)

Replying to: thecardoc3 (Feb 18, 2013 10:56 am)
In Geometry we had to study Theorems and do Proofs. Lots of kids hated them, and there was usually a select few who actually enjoyed them.
 
Well, I was one of those kids that enjoyed 'em .
 
Your argument relies on the statement that the gas cap and only the gas cap is a rational cause for the P0442 If it's true 100% of the time then you have a valid theory. So, is the gas cap what is wrong 100% of the time or is it not?
 
No, that's not what I said, which was you can replace the gas cap and that has a 90% (or whatever percentage you’re comfortable with) [chance of fixing the problem]
 
Like I said in an earlier thread, you really have no idea how many P0442 codes are fixed by a simple gas cap replacement, or even by a simple remove and replace.!
 
Coincidentally, around the time we were discussing the P0442 code in this thread, two of my vehicles (a 2009 Infiniti G37 and 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan) both threw that exact same code within a week or so of each other. Both times, I just filled the vehicles up (which meant removing and reinstalling the filler cap), and after several driving cycles, the CEL turned off (or maybe I cleared the code and the CEL stayed off). So in this sampling of 2 P0442 codes, the gas cap fix (or filling the tank) worked both times.
 
probability of fixing the problem, or for $150 you will run a more exhaustive set of tests and pinpoint the problem with more certainty (but not 100%), then let the consumer make the call
 
Now we get to the second half, as if that was even necessary. You pulled a price out of thin air and made sure to suggest doubt about the end results.
 
Yep, because I don't believe you (or anyone else, for that matter) is that good - 100% correct, dead nuts on, all the time. I don't care how much training, or how much experience, or how much equipment and diagnostics software you have. Don't take it as an insult - you're just human!
 
Do you know how to play "3 Card Monte"? The dealer never loses (unless he wants to)
 
Nope, and in any case would never play (gamble) on anything where I knew the odds were stacked against me from the start. At least, certainly not on a card or other table game (slots included).
 
The problem at the moment is you chose to pick two codes (test failures) that potentially are very unlikely to have cross checking conditions to try and make your point
 
Well sure, to make my point. Just like a lot of the examples you've used But also because those two examples have resulted in a fair amount of exchanges in this forum. And all I said was that you or some other tech would have some explaining to do.

#1523 of 2808 Re: Diplomacy isn't my strongsuit [busiris] by thecardoc3

Feb 18, 2013 (1:08 pm)

Replying to: busiris (Feb 18, 2013 12:15 pm)
Now, having stated that... I have to say, I think this is one of those times you're grasping at straws to make your point.
 
The word "lies" in the first sentence isn't there by accident.
 
But before you dissmiss everything, follow this ride to it's next stop.
 
http://www.edmunds.com/car-care/do-i-have-to-use-the-manufacturers-oil.html

#1524 of 2808 Re: Diplomacy isn't my strongsuit [srs_49] by thecardoc3

Feb 18, 2013 (1:17 pm)

Replying to: srs_49 (Feb 18, 2013 1:09 pm)
No, that's not what I said, which was you can replace the gas cap and that has a 90% (or whatever percentage you’re comfortable with) [chance of fixing the problem]
  
Like I said in an earlier thread, you really have no idea how many P0442 codes are fixed by a simple gas cap replacement, or even by a simple remove and replace.!
 
Do you really know how many are not?
 
So "IF" my 2010 Escape sets a P0442, what are the chances that it is a loose gas cap?

#1525 of 2808 Re: Diplomacy isn't my strongsuit [thecardoc3] by steve_ HOST

Feb 18, 2013 (1:57 pm)

Replying to: thecardoc3 (Feb 18, 2013 1:17 pm)
CarMD says it's mostly like the O2 sensor now that causes the CEL to come on, since most people have been educated that they need to tighten their gas caps until it clicks. So the gas caps aren't throwing as many codes as they used to. But for the P0442, I suppose that one could still be the gas cap most often.
 
Fords have had some TSBs for various EVAP codes over the years, but I don't have easy access to anything but the summaries, so I didn't look for a 2010 correlation.

#1526 of 2808 Re: Diplomacy isn't my strongsuit [thecardoc3] by busiris

Feb 18, 2013 (1:41 pm)

Replying to: thecardoc3 (Feb 18, 2013 1:08 pm)
So... What's your point here?
 
Who do YOU think the target market is for the article you linked?
 
The disclaimer at the end pretty much summed it up... When in doubt, follow the instruction found in the owner's manual.
 
Setting aside the claims and counter-claims of manufacturer-specified oil superiority, here's all you have to remember: As long as you follow the oil specifications shown in your owner's manual, you have nothing to worry about.
 
If everyone wanted to be into servicing cars at the depth you are, you'd be out of a job. Once again, many of us are perfectly capable of reading between the lines to glean the point being made.

#1527 of 2808 Re: Diplomacy isn't my strongsuit [thecardoc3] by srs_49

Feb 18, 2013 (1:44 pm)

Replying to: thecardoc3 (Feb 18, 2013 1:17 pm)
Like I said in an earlier thread, you really have no idea how many P0442 codes are fixed by a simple gas cap replacement, or even by a simple remove and replace.!
  
Do you really know how many are not?
 
Nope, I don't. But the again, neither do you.
 
So "IF" my 2010 Escape sets a P0442, what are the chances that it is a loose gas cap?
 
Don't know. It could be near zero. But that still wouldn't stop me from telling someone to fill the tank up, reseat the cap, and drive it around a bit.

#1528 of 2808 Re: Diplomacy isn't my strongsuit [srs_49] by thecardoc3

Feb 18, 2013 (2:59 pm)

Replying to: srs_49 (Feb 18, 2013 1:44 pm)
Don't know. It could be near zero. But that still wouldn't stop me from telling someone to fill the tank up, reseat the cap, and drive it around a bit.
 
Clue: It doesn't have a cap.....

Messages Page 153 of 281

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