Am I being unreasonable? I'm thinking about breaking up with my mechanic

May 7, 2024, 11:03 AM

I've been taking my vehicles to the same mechanic for over 10 years now, overall I have been pleased even though they are definitely not the cheapest. However, I'm beginning to feel like I'm dealing with a dealership now...Couple of things have changed:

The old guy who started the shop has retired, and it's been taken over by his long time assistant. He was always very thorough, but he's no longer actually doing most of the mechanic work the best I can tell. He's hired a couple of guys, they seem OK, probably fine for oil changes but that leads me to this....

I have an O2 sensor that has apparently gone bad. One day I took it in for regularly scheduled service and when I got it back the check engine light was on. Code says it's that O2 sensor, I'm skeptical because what are the odds it just decides to shid the bed while in their possession? Strange things happen though, and I've got a decent amount of miles so I chock it up to coincidence (even though I'm fairly certain it's not).

At that point it was 5PM though, and they've had the truck since 9am. I schedule a time a few days later to bring it back, and specifically tell them I need the truck by 2pm. The day comes and I get it over to them at 8:30am, I am very clear I am leaving for a trip the next morning and need the truck back ASAP. I want this done because I'm towing ~7k pounds 4.5 hours away and like my stuff in ship shape condition. In my mind replacing the O2 sensor is not an all day event, I follow up at 2 and the truck is not ready. 4:30 comes around and they call me telling me it's ready. At this point I'm pissed, but doubly so when I get in the truck and see the check engine light is still on. Same code, guess the new sensor was bad too? This tells me despite being one of the first cars dropped off, it was the last one to be looked at even though I explicitly stated I needed it back ASAP. I feel neglected.

At this point I have paid for this to be fixed, I have time tomorrow so called yesterday to get things scheduled. Again, I am planning on dropping the truck off first thing in the morning, yet they tell me it will be until 3 or 4 until the can get the truck back. This has become common even for simple oil changes, I drop the truck off first thing, and don't get it back until the end of the day. This feels unreasonable, I'm not a PITA customer, but I feel like I'm being taken advantage of because I'm not one.

Surely this isn't common these days is it? I've had some bad experiences with the quick lube places, so I like going to a shop who I feel will be more thorough, but I don't feel like I'm getting that anymore...especially when they have my truck all MFing day every single time I take it in.

Hold me, love me, tell me what to do lunge
#17

flag link

military_tech

thumb_down

thumb_up

Whenever I got the "just getting it up on the lift" comment it's time to move on.

Had a similar situation with a "passenger door ajar" alarm. we went through everything, sensors, relays, fuses whatever. They kept hooking it up to the scanner and couldn't find anything. I said probably because the computer thinks the passenger door is ajar. Certainly there is someone at GM that knows what's going on. Then one day, for no apparent reason, it stopped and never happened again.

Found a local guy now that took over a shop his father ran for years. Completely honest with me, gets me the best price he can on parts, doesn't go by any labor guide for pricing. Simply charges a fair price for good work. BTW, because of all that, he's usually covered up in work.

Am I being unreasonable? I'm thinking about breaking up with my mechanic

Sounds like you need to breakup.

It just hurts, I thought I had found the one, you know? Now I have to

When he told you it was going to be $1000 to change the transmission

Yeah, I know the pan has to be replaced but thinking back that was a

Yah that filter/pan is like $150.

I did some investigating and that is basically what a dealer would charge

I just come to expect pisk poor service now

Heh, I've noticed that too now. A little oil stain on my driveway

Re: Am I being unreasonable? I'm thinking about breaking up with my mechanic

Is he in Greenville/Anderson area? That's how this shop used to be

Re: Is he in Greenville/Anderson area? That's how this shop used to be

Are your services all day events, or does your guy manage to get things

Re: Are your services all day events, or does your guy manage to get things

Re: Is he in Greenville/Anderson area? That's how this shop used to be

Need an O2 sensor in my truck as well.

Probably trying to push us into EV's by clogging up our sensors with

Re: Pretty sure

Pressley Auto Services

TigerBoard POTD