what is the worst mistake your mechanic done to your car ?

[svo supporter]

Originally Posted by danmc

Isnt it simple enough to test when the shift lever opens or closes the circuit, make it correct then test with the starter live and battery connected when you are in the seat with the brake on?

.

The loom is under the dash, so it is rather difficult sit in the seat, foot on brake and test a circuit, unless you're a contortionist.


I'm sure, the owner would have given him a dressing down about safe work practices, after you left. This would include removing wires where necessary, to ensure the same thing doesn't happen again.

[blueoval]

I had an old zj fairlane i was rebuilding. Rebuilt the motor myself with help of a mate. Fitted a 600 holley on it that was a bit dodgy and needed fine tuning but still worked. Got car running, sounded good but needed a tune, took it to supposed reputible mechanic. Told him what was done and that it needed a dyno tune badly. Went to work, few hours later got a call from mechanic telling me car caught on fire!!! I asked how and the dumb *** proceeds to tell me was using my car to run errands, the carby leaked, fuel all over the headers and burnt all the hard work i put into it to a crisp.

At the time i was devo and pretty poor so i could not fight it and ended up claiming my insurance to recoup some costs. Found out later the mech was high on dope at the time and a real druggy.

[Massi]

We had a "mechanic" change the power steering switch and boot for us. Took just over an hour. After finished the car wouldn't turn full lock left and the horn was beeping whenever it felt like it.

Took it straight back and he forced it full lock causing a very loud SNAP!!
Now we have no functions working on the steering wheel including horn, radio controls and cruise control. I've been back everyday for 1 week and he says they don't have the tool to removed the steering wheel. What a joke!!!

[J.C.]

Brake calipers left loose after 40000k service (wheel beaings repacked).
Worst part is they would have "test driven" the car after the service as recommended.............windows down and radio on, they would not have heard a thing.
Lucky it was I who picked up the car and not the wife. Got out and inspected. Tighten calipers on the side of the road, then proceeded to drive home and contact the dealer expressing my discontent.

[danmc]

Originally Posted by svo supporter

The loom is under the dash, so it is rather difficult sit in the seat, foot on brake and test a circuit, unless you're a contortionist.


I'm sure, the owner would have given him a dressing down about safe work practices, after you left. This would include removing wires where necessary, to ensure the same thing doesn't happen again.

You must be joking I assume. I was going to suggest that applying the handbrake before you start might be a good idea too but that would leave me open to the "can't reach the handbrake when you have your arms up inside the dash" bit. LOL

I meant, test the circuit while you are under the dash with the car unable to start. Just like I meant disconnect the battery before you start. If you want to live test it involving the starter motor etc, do that when you have your bum in the seat and foot on the brake. Try to get over the nagging feeling that you should be fiddling with wires under the dash when you are starting the car.

Maybe the battery is overkill. Disconnect the starter motor, or the dizzy, or the plugs, whatever is easiest and stops the car from starting up and Christining you...

Hell do something so the car wont start accidentally. I just mean, take some precaution so you can work safely as it pretty likely you are going to be testing if it starts in gear or not since thats the frigging problem you know?

And actually, my other point was that the owner of the shop had evidently had the same thing happen before, and didn't think it was really an issue. I wonder if he even tried to come up with some safer methods for his blokes?

I know its a pain in the *** taking extra time when if you are careful you can get away with it...For my part, I will happily pay a tradie extra to do it safely rather than save a few bucks at his risk.

I cant imagine anyone ever thinking "yeh, pity that guy lost his leg/died/got sick/lost his kid/ etc but at least I saved 100 bucks as it would have taken an extra hour to do it safely"

It is strange though, I found my usual sparky removing asbestos from the back of one of our meters a couple weeks ago. I asked him why the hell he wasnt wearing a mask - he said it took extra time, he didnt have one etc. I told him to go and buy a frigging mask, charge me for the time and the mask. He still didn't do it.

[svo supporter]

Originally Posted by danmc

You must be joking I assume. I was going to suggest that applying the handbrake before you start might be a good idea too but that would leave me open to the "can't reach the handbrake when you have your arms up inside the dash" bit. LOL

I meant, test the circuit while you are under the dash with the car unable to start. Just like I meant disconnect the battery before you start. If you want to live test it involving the starter motor etc, do that when you have your bum in the seat and foot on the brake. Try to get over the nagging feeling that you should be fiddling with wires under the dash when you are starting the car.

Maybe the battery is overkill. Disconnect the starter motor, or the dizzy, or the plugs, whatever is easiest and stops the car from starting up and Christining you...

Hell do something so the car wont start accidentally. I just mean, take some precaution so you can work safely as it pretty likely you are going to be testing if it starts in gear or not since thats the frigging problem you know?

And actually, my other point was that the owner of the shop had evidently had the same thing happen before, and didn't think it was really an issue. I wonder if he even tried to come up with some safer methods for his blokes?

I know its a pain in the *** taking extra time when if you are careful you can get away with it...For my part, I will happily pay a tradie extra to do it safely rather than save a few bucks at his risk.

I cant imagine anyone ever thinking "yeh, pity that guy lost his leg/died/got sick/lost his kid/ etc but at least I saved 100 bucks as it would have taken an extra hour to do it safely"

It is strange though, I found my usual sparky removing asbestos from the back of one of our meters a couple weeks ago. I asked him why the hell he wasnt wearing a mask - he said it took extra time, he didnt have one etc. I told him to go and buy a frigging mask, charge me for the time and the mask. He still didn't do it.

There are plenty of things you can do to prevent the car accidentally starting in this scenario, if you stop and think about it.....You've mentioned them and there is no disagreement about it from me.

It's an obvious thing to do, AFTER it's happened.....This is why I'm saying, as long as the apprentice LEARNS from his mistakes and re-adjusts his process of elimination, there shouldn't be an issue.

You suggesting to have your bum in a seat and foot on the brake (handbrakes don't hold to well, when a car is under power), whilst testing wiring under a dash is impossible for any normal person.

[danmc]

I'm going to go have a lie down.

[RAPID_BA]

Years back i left an xf falcon in a workshop to fit springs all round. When i returned i saw the car with front end on the floor and back end raised up. He asked me what sort of weird spring setup i had given to him. He was thinking "p platers"... I took it to another mechanic who realised He had fitted the rear springs on front and front to rears. He was absolutely scratching his head when i told him.

[danmc]

Originally Posted by svo supporter

There are plenty of things you can do to prevent the car accidentally starting in this scenario, if you stop and think about it.....You've mentioned them and there is no disagreement about it from me.

It's an obvious thing to do, AFTER it's happened.....This is why I'm saying, as long as the apprentice LEARNS from his mistakes and re-adjusts his process of elimination, there shouldn't be an issue.

You suggesting to have your bum in a seat and foot on the brake (handbrakes don't hold to well, when a car is under power), whilst testing wiring under a dash is impossible for any normal person.

Ok, finished laughing now. Sorry mate but you seem to have misread what I was saying each time. I'm sure you mean well.

[dallasv8]

03 RTV steel tray is the car lol
our mechanic in AYR (a 4wd megastore,not naming names)didnt do the top control arm bolts up when they replaced our ball joints.
also they didnt attach the left side sway bar.
they didnt use any of the nolathane bushes we supplied when they replaced all our springs and shocks etc.
also as i found out today, they had rounded off the bolts holding the brake calipers on on the drivers side as well as rounded off the bleed screw on the rh rear caliper.
looking at the diff,it looks like they have used silicone to put the diff cover back on.

another screw up was from king springs,ordered 1 ton rear leaves for a ba rtv trayback through supercheap,got the springs, had them fitted then a few weeks later we were looking at it thinking something was wrong,turns out the springs we were sent were ones for a tub tray or something like that,definitely not 1 tonnners.the *** end literally sits lower than the front its sagged that much.makes it hard to return them when you dont have the original ones to put back in... the leaves actually look flat, as if theres no curve in them...

[Psi-Pop]

Had my mechanic forget to put in a wheel bearing outer race when he finished changing axles and mini spool over at 2am the night before AFF drag nats. Quickly worked out something was wrong when moving the car forward and had to go back up on hoist and fix. Bound to happen after 15 hours of working on it.

My mechanic is me. lol

[Hood-G6]

^^^lol. Nothing like last minute motors.

[TaraHymen]

i just read this thread from start to finish and thought i'd add my bit. as a mechanic for 20+ years i'm only human and not a god so yes beleive it or not i make mistakes, but then who doesnt? difference is i love what i do and have pride in it so i recitfy my problems to the best of my ability.

some of these are real horror stories and make me cringe(some are exaggerated a bit too methinks) and its a shame there a fair few pack of dimwits getting around who think thier **** doesnt stink and think they're worth a million dollars. as a small business owner and employer i've had these idiots work for me which no matter how hard i try they tarnish my name without for a nansecond caring about it.

if you dont trust your mechanic then find another one. you will never be happy with the work. i've had people brings cars in with bits marked in chalk or lipstick to make sure i touch them. ie: spare tyre valve cap to make sure i check the pressure. if i see it i either get on the phone and ask the customer why or i just park the car outside. i could do the best job in the world but these people will NEVER be satisfied so it best they find someone they can trust.

you'd be pretty unlucky to find a mechanic who buggers something up or loosens something else deliberately. we all make mistakes but its how u rectify it which makes the difference. we're not all untrustworthy peices of crap.

lastly, if there are qualified mechanics who work for $20/hr send em my way, i'll take 3 thanks.

[my_gxl]

I am working on my ex's car today...I wonder if I will end up named in this thread???

[Kable72]

Snapped a rocker cover bolt, snapped throttle body bolt, lost 3 intake manifold bolts, cross threaded 4 of them.

Didn't replace or inform me. Wasn't until I went for a bit of a car detail did I notice the underside of my bonnet was coated in oil.

[red_hotxr6]

What i dont understand is how so many mechanics could mis diagnose the problem that i was having with the cam in my xf, and 2 of these completley stripped my motor down....then the last one that actually found the problem, uses a rattle gun to put my spark plugs in breaking the enamel on every one of them....And how many mechanics couldnt find out why dissy gear was being stripped....it was only here on one of these forums i found out that they made and sold steel ones right here in brisbane....both problems could have been solved quite quickly and saved me a lot of money...
Even right now, another mechanic has just done work on my el,s head and now 3 weeks later, 4 rockers are broken and he has gone on holiday, i am just waiting for the bad news when he gets back...

[dallasv8]

lol, being a boilermaker i like using hammers...back in the early 90's as an apprentice i decided to have my first go at doing brake pads on my EA.
front ones went smoothly, very basic then i got to the back,no body told be the piston screwed in so after the g clamp failed i decided to try knock the piston in with the hammer...didnt end well lol, snapped the calipre
so after that i dotn touch the car after a few drinks and i read the instructions

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by TaraHymen

lastly, if there are qualified mechanics who work for $20/hr send em my way, i'll take 3 thanks.

Stealership mechanics are on that kinda money, what do you pay your guys?

[melon466]

Many years ago me and the old man were at a VW workshop and there was this split oval rear window beetle there that had just been fully restored but had issues with the carby. watched the mechanic change the carby and take it for a test drive, 10 minutes later we see the fire brigade flying past.

Seems he forgot to tighten the hose clamp from the fuel pump and it burnt to the ground, have you ever seen a VW magnesium block catch on fire, it is impressive.

Anyone that knows VW's will know what a split oval window beetle is worth, and this thing was immaculate, he'd spent $15k on paint and this was the mid 90's.

[FPV+fteT3]

Mechanic forgot to press the dowells into a new billet alloy flywheel when fitting my new clutch, about 250km later the car is stuck in gear with a nothing feeling sort of clutch. (I thought the occasional clutch shudder was me getting used to the new clutch as it was not standard)
Returned to the gearbox place (I used a specialist) where the car sat for 3 days till someone could have a look at what went wrong. Get a phone call to say because the dowells were not fitted the pressure plate bolts some were 1/2 out and the whole assembly had moved, the good part is the clutch and pressure plate are fine...would you like us to machine your old fly wheel and re-fit that sir?
Yes please so I can get the hell out of there

[superpursuit83]

Originally Posted by dallasv8

lol, being a boilermaker i like using hammers...back in the early 90's as an apprentice i decided to have my first go at doing brake pads on my EA.
front ones went smoothly, very basic then i got to the back,no body told be the piston screwed in so after the g clamp failed i decided to try knock the piston in with the hammer...didnt end well lol, snapped the calipre
so after that i dotn touch the car after a few drinks and i read the instructions

I have done EXACTLY that on a Magna. Also a boily I used a 14 pound sledgy and steel wedges before mine broke. When I bought new ones I found out they screwed in too

[Phil B]

Originally Posted by melon466

Seems he forgot to tighten the hose clamp from the fuel pump and it burnt to the ground, have you ever seen a VW magnesium block catch on fire, it is impressive.

Heard of exactly the same thing happening to both engines on a twin engine aeroplane, twin engine fire. You can't just pull over when flying over the jungle in PNG...

[Olbucko]

Even a good mechanic can make a mistake, but the best mechanics are the ones that own up to their mistake without any argument and make good any damage ASAP.(Bit hard to do though after your car has burnt to the ground)

[XR6T0Y]

Newest one is on the daily that I drive now. When they did the gearbox, they didn't do the rear main.
Got it done at no charge, but have to love apprentices that don't know what they are doing

[Stagg]

Not car related but motorbike related. I found a nail in my rear tyre one day and told my boss I had to take it over to the workshop ASAP. Drop the bike off and pick it up that night. Riding down hoddle street all of a sudden I hear a whoosh and fishtailed a little, lot complete control of the bike but thankfully managed to stay upright. Find out that instead of replacing the tyre they had just pulled the tyre off and used a piece of glass tape on the inside of the tyre!

Didn't go back there again that's for sure

[Olbucko]

Originally Posted by Kable72

Snapped a rocker cover bolt, snapped throttle body bolt, lost 3 intake manifold bolts, cross threaded 4 of them.

Didn't replace or inform me. Wasn't until I went for a bit of a car detail did I notice the underside of my bonnet was coated in oil.

That's not a mistake, it's incompetence, negligence, and dishonest.

Was he related to the blokes in 2 previous posts who tried to repair their rear brakes with a large hammer?

[superpursuit83]

Originally Posted by Olbucko

That's not a mistake, it's incompetence, negligence, and dishonest.

Was he related to the blokes in 2 previous posts who tried to repair their rear brakes with a large hammer?

Cmon mate thats not nice..

We did admit we are boilermakers. And it was a LOOOONG time ago for me.

[SXR6]

When I was younger I had a paddock basher, bent it up fairly often lol, took to it with a hammer and fixed it.
After a little bingle with a tree, was trying to fix the car, for the life of me I could not get the bonnet open. Tried everything.. Ended up smashing the grill in, trying to find tools to undo the latch from the inside. Just couldnt do it. Got dad to come and have a look to see if we can figure out why it wont open.

He reaches in the car and pops it.. Laughs at me and walks away. I'd be trying for almost 2 hrs, and didnt even think to pop the bonnet. WTF!! lol.

Now I take my time and make sure everything is done right. I dont trust mechanics. Atleast once a week I'll have a mates car on the driveway that im working on. Since that day, i've never had anything go wrong. lol.

[The Yeti]

Originally Posted by TaraHymen

if you dont trust your mechanic then find another one. you will never be happy with the work. i've had people brings cars in with bits marked in chalk or lipstick to make sure i touch them. ie: spare tyre valve cap to make sure i check the pressure. if i see it i either get on the phone and ask the customer why or i just park the car outside. i could do the best job in the world but these people will NEVER be satisfied so it best they find someone they can trust.

you'd be pretty unlucky to find a mechanic who buggers something up or loosens something else deliberately. we all make mistakes but its how u rectify it which makes the difference. we're not all untrustworthy peices of crap.

lastly, if there are qualified mechanics who work for $20/hr send em my way, i'll take 3 thanks.

I remember once I had once such customer, we did a promotion so they came in from a broucher, the oil filter was marked a few other silly things and the spare had some sort of sealing wax over the valve cap, so I checked it and left a little card along the lines of the spare was down 10lb and you might want to look to see what has leaked in your boot becasue there was some sort of wax substance over the valve cap

she saw the joke and we got her back every 3 months her parrents started coming when she got married her husband came and so on

it seems she was looking for a "good mechanic" when she found one she was very loyal and no more silly "tests" that said I see your point if they are regulars

[Kable72]

Originally Posted by superpursuit83

Cmon mate thats not nice..

We did admit we are boilermakers. And it was a LOOOONG time ago for me.

I'm gonna go with pursuit on this one. It's not a Boilermakers fault all they know to do is hit **** with hammers. :P

My best mate is a boilermaker and I rag him for it all the time. One night, he came home with half of his pant leg missing. Asked him what happened. Moron set himself on fire lol