Garages today...afraid to get their hands dirty?

Tue 7 Sep 2010 15:08

Garages today...afraid to get their hands dirty? - Tommk4

Recently a rear leaf spring snapped on my ageing pickup truck...I thought it would just be a case of taking it to a garage, who would know exactly how to fit a new one, but no. I went to several different garages which were all baffled by what was before them. Some had no idea what to do and admitted as such, others had no idea what to do and tried to pretend that they did, but just couldn't, for a number of amusing excuses. In the end I found an ancient, tiny rural garage, miles away from home, who knew exactly how to fix it..."easy" they said, and easy it was.

80 miles away my friend was having similar trouble, his bedford CF would not start. He took it to numerous garages who had absolutely no idea and were again, completely baffled. One garage even refused to look at it as it was their policy to run a diagnostic check ON AN IPOD for all cars that came in, and they, obviously, could not do this on his van...In the end, he found someone on a Bedford CF forum who came to look at the van for free, turns out it was a knackered head gasket.

So my question is, do you think we have just been unlucky? Or is it the case that the majority of garages nowadays are unable or unwilling to deal with basic mechanical problems and are only capable or willing to change brakes and tyres and fiddle with computers?

P.S I realise that this sounds like a bit of an "In my day" rant, but I'm only 24!

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Tue 7 Sep 2010 16:46

Garages today...afraid to get their hands dirty? - Rob C

I would certainly agree that modern dealerships seem to install parts fitters rather than mechanics. I'd rathert sort most things myself these days, rather than pay over the odds for someone with basic training, but even on my Audi I can't change the rear pads without a laptop, a cable and some ahem, legally acquired software.

When we bought it the speakers started cutting out over bumps after they fitted a phone kit, I suggested a simple loose connector might be worth checking but no, they had to replace the speakers, the subwoofer and the wiring loom before they finally discovered the plug on the phone kit had not been pressed home. Meh, their loss as it was all covered by warranty.

Similarly, York Toyota wanted to fit a entire new steering rack after my PS failed. I suggested it might be the pump rather than the entire steering assembly, but they were adamant. I took it home, got a pump from a scappy and did it myself.

HJ's good garage section here will help you find a proper garage, willing to sort out problems rather than just replace stuff at maximum cost.

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Tue 7 Sep 2010 20:28

Garages today...afraid to get their hands dirty? - gordonbennet

''In the end I found an ancient, tiny rural garage, miles away from home, who knew exactly how to fix it..."easy" they said, and easy it was''

And thats where people go wrong, instead of looking for the type of place you have found they go instead to the main dealer with their lovely clinically sterile showrooms, their pretty sales people with their trendy swept up hair. They like the nice you boy/girl (not easy to tell) who's masquerading as the service advisor, well since last Wednesday when they left school.

And you never see a grey haired mechanic with mucky hands or overalls at such a place goodeness me no, what sort of image would a grizzled old fellow (who's forgotten more than the kids who replaced him will ever know) portray to our sheep...sorry customers.

You've learned a valuable lesson there young Tommk4.

As you're still young take a tip from someone older though not necessarily wiser, don't pay too much attention to the packaging it's whats inside that counts....remember that well if you are ever looking for a good woman..;)

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Tue 7 Sep 2010 20:34

Garages today...afraid to get their hands dirty? - Sofa Spud

Nowadays they run a diagnostic which tells them there's nothing wrong when there's fuel pouring out of the filter. In the past a mechanic would have just hit the fuel filter with a hammer and tell you it's fixed. When you protested that fuel was still leaking out, the mechanic would tell you that's normal for your type of car!

Edited by Sofa Spud on 07/09/2010 at 20:34

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Tue 7 Sep 2010 20:45

Garages today...afraid to get their hands dirty? - piston power

Young lads in garages won't know what a bedford truck is will they?

There used to cars of 10-15 years back but give them a set of points to fit and there knackered it's not there fault there was not any old bangers to work on and end of the day why learn old vintage motors if none come into your garage, so the old motors should go to a specialist.

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Wed 8 Sep 2010 08:32

Garages today...afraid to get their hands dirty? - Tommk4

@ bigtee Modern cars have head gaskets don't they?

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Wed 8 Sep 2010 10:52

Garages today...afraid to get their hands dirty? - retgwte

last few service invoices for my car (from main dealer) show "updated engine management software with new version" as one of the items done

going to be tough for non main dealers to do this

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Wed 8 Sep 2010 12:59

Garages today...afraid to get their hands dirty? - madf

To be fair to mechanics, the school system does not poduce students with ANY practical skills. To diagnose cars today, you need more than a nodding acquaintance with lectronics and modern engines rarley leak oil or go wrong (unless they are Rover or Renault or Mercedes).

Basically they don't want your business. And who can blame them. I would not . Old cvars are not enjoyable to work on.

Give me a multimeter anyday.

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Wed 8 Sep 2010 13:10

Garages today...afraid to get their hands dirty? - Tommk4

To answer the previous two comments. yes its great that main dealers can update the computer software, but I think thats a fairly pointless skill if you cant diagnose and fix a simple, common mechanical problem.

madf. Whilst I respect your opinion, i completley disagree, I can 't see any enjoyment in working on modern cars, which usually involves plugging in a computer and letting that do the work for you. Not to mention the fact that most modern cars are all the same underneath and are built by accountants and health and saftey officers rather than people who have a passion for motoring.

Pesonally I think older cars are much more enjoyable to work on. Because they are designed to be as such. They are not sealed plastic units which can only be accessed by dealerships.

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Wed 8 Sep 2010 14:35

Garages today...afraid to get their hands dirty? - madf

, I can 't see any enjoyment in working on modern cars, which usually involves plugging in a computer and letting that do the work for you. Not to mention the fact that most modern cars are all the same underneath and are built by accountants and health and saftey officers rather than people who have a passion for motoring.

Pesonally I think older cars are much more enjoyable to work on. Because they are designed to be as such. They are not sealed plastic units which can only be accessed by dealerships.

Plugging in a computer makes life easier IF you know what you are doing.

A well designed and built car should never need it.. A multimeter works for many minor faults.

Cars the same underneath? Joke. Compare the fisings alone and the designs.. Which would I rather work on : a 5 year old Toyota or a 5 year old Renault?

No contest.. PS not Renault.

Old cars were mainly unrelaible junk built to be sc*** if 5 years.. see contact breakers and drum brakes and fuse boxes...as fitted to any 1940s to 1970s car.. And the wiring!

Anyone likes working on an old Jag? built in rust and aluminium corrosion.. Junk.

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Wed 8 Sep 2010 16:54

Garages today...afraid to get their hands dirty? - Tommk4

Well perhaps i shouldn't have opened that can of worms, its irrelevent to the origional topic and I'm sure we could trade opinions untill the cows come home.

But I think the main thing to be said is that whether the computerisation of cars and garages is a good thing or not. Mechanics should still be able to deal with basic mechanical problems and not rely entirely on computers.

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Wed 8 Sep 2010 18:32

Garages today...afraid to get their hands dirty? - piston power

On sky tv there's a program called The garage set in spain run by a scotish guy called jock with his flock of British mechanics.

One program the young BWM trained technican top notch on his modern motors but a 1964 i think MGB GT came in for a service and set it up, the young lad didn't know what to do with points and condensors let alone work on the motor in any other capacity.

He was approx 23 yrs old but a fault with the bmw and other top marques he was on the ball, you can't expect all mechanics to know every motor on the road can you?

My background is plant, forklifts, jcb, now Trains but am i expected to know how to repair and overhaul the Flying scotsman?

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Wed 8 Sep 2010 18:48

Garages today...afraid to get their hands dirty? - madf

On sky tv there's a program called The garage set in spain run by a scotish guy called jock with his flock of British mechanics.

Brilliant program.

A 30 year old car is equivalent to a 10 year old PC. Only specialists and the elderly should touch them...

(MGBs were horribly heavy to drive when new - and with minimal performance the only appeal must be nostalgia 0 rose tinted in my view). I had a 1967 Lotus Elan S3 - at least it went and cornered better than many modern cars,,,)

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