Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Sad, but this sort of thing happens over and over again in the automotive repair world.

If you don't/can't/aren't willing to do your own auto repairs, then you'd be smart to find a good, honest mechanic and never let go of him/her.

These days it seems that too many "mechanics" are people that know how to replace parts, but don't really know how to fix stuff.

I always had a shop with a space with a roll-up door, where I stored my "extra" cars and parts and worked on them. I built cars, did engine swaps, bodywork, paint, interiors...as a hobby and way to relax.

Then I moved to the Bay area, and after five years I finally have a rarity here--a car with a three car garage...most of which was remodeled into my music room and storage space for guitars and cases. So I'm working in the driveway, which rules out anything more complex than bolt tightening. Which is what I did: tighten one bolt--and saved myself $181.00.

My own Special Place in Hell story:

I inherited a 1998 Toyota Avalon. The exhaust began to leak. So I took it to a shop a couple blocks from home (Car-X) that had previously done work for me on another car, and I was satisfied with the results. They put the Avalon up on a lift and figured that the front pipe was leaking from the flex joint. Unfortunately with the Avalon and Camry from this era, the front pipe, flex joint, and catalytic converter all come as one piece so the whole thing would have to be replaced. The part plus labor would be around $1200. I looked at it with tired eyes after working all day, said: "Mmmokay," and left the car with them.

It was finished the next day. But after I got the car home, I got motivated to search the internet to see if anyone else had similar problems. On the internet, I found a similar story from someone with a Camry that was answered by an online mechanic. The online mechanic said that a good mechanic would be able to cut out the flex joint and weld in a new one for much cheaper. The guy with the Camry then found a good mechanic and had the job done for around $150. The online mechanic guy also mentioned to the Camry owner that he'd be better off welding in the new flex joint and leaving the factory catalytic converter because the after market catalytic converters that come on the front pipe carried by Car-X and Midas and the like aren't as good as the factory converters. In a few months time, he warned...your "check engine" light on the dashboard would light up from the aftermarket catalytic converter.

And wouldn't you know it? Three months later my "check engine" light is stuck on! Before I got a real job, I used to do much of my own repair work on my own cars. I thought repairs through. I questioned what mechanics told me, and asked around for second and third opinions. When I had much less to spend on cars...not surprisingly...I spent much less on them!

Guess I shouldn't have forgotten my old ways!

Similar story here at a local garage. My Kia wouldn't smog one year, so I took it around to these unnamed yuppie mechanics who declared that my engine needed to be dismantled, all the carbon scraped out of the voids, and then re-assembled at a cost of over 1200 dollars. I said I'd need to think it over, then I went round to the Mexicans' garage where they welded in a new Catalytic Converter while I waited, for just 180 bucks, and sent me off to pass my test with a smile. I hope the yuppie guys drown in their own juice.