diesel mechanics

I am a mechanic, the reason a complete set would not be done if the Jake was being replaced is that the last 10 guys refused to pay for it being done and if the mechanic wants permission to do something you are not available. decisions have to be made quickly, and if I am not going to get paid for something I am not going to spend an extra hour so someone can yell to get the bill reduced.
Many times the service writer gives an exact procedure he wants followed. Why because the driver heard it at the coffee shop and wants that done, and when it does not fix it does he go on the CB and talk about how he fXXXed up and waisted his money, NO way he ####### about the mechanic and the shop.
I have had customers come in and tell me what is wrong and when you tell them the real reason they get mad. I have diagnosed problems for free, and the customer bad mouths you because you can not do it right away.
I also know mechanics that could not diagnose anything write and customers loved them.
I worked in a shop were we knew the customers and they knew us and when we did something extra they thanked us, Those environments are few and far between now as the company does not have the control they now demand.

 

I refuse to go to a shop if possible. Most of the time they don't listen and if its a shop on the road they just overcharge. Other day headed to get a load of logs truck stops building air pressure. Stop at shop by truck stop abbyland repair or something like that. Explained to the mechanic not building air so he sits in my truck reving engine for 5 min to only find not building air which I already explained. Then decides to POP off line to drier see if its the compresser which its not its the frozen check valve going into drier and the air drier is froze. Told him bypass it so I can get home. 60 bucks for that. They wanted 209 plus another 100 to install a reman drier no way I'm outa here. 120 on sale at the dealer and put it on myself. Some of those big fancy places charge you for there nice fancy building don't pay there mechanics a decent wage and there for you don't get good mechanics or good service. Find a good independent shop.or mechanic or do your own work.

 

thanks. i went from bein a grease monkey to a driver...i love the rd though. i tinker ever know and again. I am looking at buying a rig and Taking a few years to get her where i want her, so that will give me plenty of tinker time on my days off lol. and to get my 2 boys and lil girl involved.

 

I get that - but a phone call is worth a thousand words here.
In my case, I told the service writer I wanted an overhead run while the Jakes were being replaced. He thought it was a good idea.

He neglected to tell the tech.
The tech never bothered to ask the service writer or me, (the customer) while he was working in there.

I went to get the rig and when I asked about how the valves looked, I was given the deer in the headlight look .

Needless to say, that was another nail in the coffin.

 

See, your one of the guys dealers really hate. Your one of the guys that wants everything done for nothing! Look at what you did- if you already knew the air drier was frozen why did you just tell the tech it won't build air? It is their JOB to diagnostic problems. We aren't mind readers. If you felt the air drier was frozen you should have told that to the shop first. Again, your one of those guys that don't want it fixed right and just want to take the cheapy route. No one was trying to rip you off, they wanted to fix your truck the right way, there is nothing wrong with those prices. You just expect everything for free or expect someone to work for an hour and not get paid for it. If you have it in your head that dealerships are all rip off then that is too bad for you. Good luck!

 

I assure you that it's not the fact of people not wanting to work. It's the god #### companies that say you need a certificate in blehbleh before we can hire you. Well guess who most likely is going to get that certificate? People with money. Guess who really don't want to study when they already have money...

 

I told the tech that I thought it was the drier says it right on the work order left that out oops want it done right why I did it myself new air drier how is that done wrong just didn't want to pay 90 dollars more for the same drier or hundred bucks labor for a 50 dollar job. 60 bucks for 10 min of work and I'm the problem. I was a mechanic on atv's,motorcycles ect I would never have ripped someone off like that had my own shop. Like I said some mechanics just don't listen 5 min reving my truck what did that diagnose if you can't see its not building air in a minute you need to go buy a clue. I have shops that I will use charge a reasonable rate the mechanics are knowledgeable and don't mind paying or expect it for free.

 

Beside diagnose not building air well how about pull the input line by drier and see if compresser is pumping thats diagnosing the prob. Reving a truck and looking at the air gauge after you were told its not is not a diagnosis. And 60 dollars for 10 maybe 15 min work you think thats fair thats 240 per hr I'm opening a truck shop and selling my truck in that case.