Auto repair/work rants

[shenion]

Had a local muffler shop replace my muffler and cat converter on my Cherokee. Had them add an additional hanger as the existing would twist out the pipe from the muffler. Was lots of rattles before their work especially with the insides of the cat sliding around.

Got it back, it rattled like crazy. Managed to adjust the mounts so it did not hit the frame and gas tank.

6 months later the muffler fell down. Looked at it, they had cut the pipe from the cat short and only had it 1/2" into the muffler. Then installed a clamp 1" down.

Had a buddy just weld it up as it would have been a lot of work to get a pipe expander, extend the cat pipe and do it right.

Now 2 years later I need to pull the tranny to replace the clutch slave unit. Need to drop the exhaust as it crosses over behind the bell housing. Son of b***hes welded the cat to the header flange rather than use the correct flange on the cat. So now the entire exhaust is welded as one piece. Arrgh.

Looks like I'll be cutting it out and welding back. Will probably replace all of it sometime. Jeez, exhaust work was the only thing I have others do. Now I guess I'll start rolling my own.

Had an '81 mustang. Everything on the car was f'ed up. Bolts loose everywhere, had cam shaft gear bolt loose that cracked the cam. I took most of the front of the engine off with no wrenches, everything was loose. Carb was busted up as tech had bent throttle stops to put choke on backwards. One brake caliper was rotated 360 deg, one big bump and would have broken brake line.

The guy I bought it from had $2500 in receipts for work done on it. He kept talking about how the guy was "licened and certified". Well, probably certifiable I got it cheap, but all the work had to be redone.

Well, off to grab my reciprocating saw, crawl back under the Jeep and swear profusely.

Ok, so much for my rant I bet you guys have some real horror stories.

I just feel for those who cant do work themselves, they must get royally screwed

 

[Drains]

Only I am allowed to do crap repairs on my truck! And the garage comment on it every time I take it in for them to fix something I don't want to! Which they normally do reasonably well and reasonably cheaply. I have a feeling they may be the exception.....

Anyone in Edinburgh need a recommendation for a good garage, pm me! (I also know a bloke who specialises in Citroens, and is FANTASTIC)

 

[Luke]

My landrover hasn't been near a garage since i've owned it, expect for its MOTs. I don't see the point in paying someone else to do a worse job than me.

 

[Bigjoe]

Hi Shenion,
Im much like you,i do anything except exhaust work,i recently had my exhaust snap just before the rear silencer (muffler) flange, i stripped it off and asked the local garage to weld it back together but despite marking the alignment clearly they managed to weld it on back to front and 120 deg oot of alignment! so i cut it off and arc welded it back on using a borrowed 25 year old buzzbox.

Just checked out your site,that airco welder is some beast!!

Bigjoe

 

[shenion]

I would have done the exhaust myself. Nothing rusted out, just output pipe pulled out of muffler and cat had broken internally. New muffler and cat would just bolt on.

However, I had just finished installing a new engine. Replaced clutch, slave cyl (need to do that again after only 50k miles ), alternator, water pump, hoses belt etc.

Funny, was going to rebuild engine, but found longblock with 100K warranty at about the cost of parts/machining. A few clicks on the internet, and a Fedex truck shows up with shiny new block a few days later . If you buy an engine for GM/Ford/Chrystler dealer, these are the guys that supply them.

After a month of work swapping engine, was tired of it and had local shop do exhaust. You just bolt then parts on, what could go wrong?

Bigjoe, yeah the Airco is amazing and powerful. I just about hid under the bench the first time I flipped the power switch.

 

[lexi]

My landrover hasn't been near a garage since i've owned it, expect for its MOTs. I don't see the point in paying someone else to do a worse job than me.

Quite right . If you have to take a Landy into a garage it aint a proper Landy............or you aint a proper Landy owner..or it`s Mot time...

Alex

 

[Luke]

hear hear!

 

[shenion]

Oh, like this is a suprise:

Actually, the rests of the welds look rather clean.

 

[t'rusty duck]

Simon,
that Citroen fellow wouldn't happen to have the handle 'Norry', by any chance?
Ken.

Anyone in Edinburgh need a recommendation for a good garage, pm me! (I also know a bloke who specialises in Citroens, and is FANTASTIC)

 

[snowcat]

I know a couple of rip off's from a subaru main dealer (haveing been forced to buy the odd part from them I cant understand why anyone buys a car or uses there service department) , that happend to a freind of mine, the first was brake pads they forget to put retaining pins back in, luckly they jam'ed the wheal up solid before an accident could occour, The second was less serious with the same garage they charged her £20 for filing up a screenwash bottle, this would be bad enougth had they actualy done the job, Other than MOT's I never use a garage, hate paying for work I can do myself.

 

[MrFluffy]

I love garages, but only for the wifes car. Firstly she has the newest car in the family, so theyre usually half conversant with their problems.
Second she wants everything fixing yesterday even if its ******* down or i have loads on. And finally I hate working on newish normal production cars, theyre such a pain in the bum and I dont possess a 4 post lift which seems to be a compulsory requirement for even simple jobs like cambelt changes etc.
I do however have a chat with the garage beforehand to let them know I know what theyre down to be doing, and why and they seem to try it on less with us than if someone else goes to them for work to the extent that people will quite often ask me to take their car in for them on their behalf. I also usually know exactly what the issue is and how to fix it, just dont fancy reaching up out the pit to get access after taking zillions of plastic covers off the underbody first. If I dont trust the garage we stop using it and find another/or do the job myself instead.

My rangie or the van or bikes, thats a completely different kettle of fish. Theyre mine and part of me. If I find access is awkward to something I cut a hole to make it easier and make a door or make a special tool...

Theres only so much of me to go round, id much prefer to do the fun stuff for myself