Why I do my own Maint. - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

jeepinbanditrider · 12-09-2007, 10:55 PM

http://mfile.akamai.com/12924/wmv/vo...52183.200k.asx

Work/family safe download.

**XDAndMe** · 12-09-2007, 11:05 PM

+1 on doing your own maintenance. Unless it's something major, I prefer to do my own maintenance on wear & tear items and fluids. Considering how easy it is to get your hands on a decent shop manual, there's really no reason not to.

Kent · 12-09-2007, 11:26 PM

Yeah. That is lame to do that to people. I have used Jiffy Lube before. I ALWAYS check their work though.

Kent

retired · 12-09-2007, 11:31 PM

Jiffy Lube has been caught numerous times by Joel Glover doing the same dishonest stuff. They promise not to, but continue to get caught.

I wonder if the real owner of the red camaro and the other customers within earshot of Glover, told Jiffy Lube to stop work and give their vehicles back to them.

I was fortunate to find a trustworthy, hardworking and excellent mechanic back in about 1996. Up until last year, I went to him all the time and recommended numerous friends to him. I have 2 new vehicles on warranty so I still go to the dealer. Once the warranty is over, I will drive the distance to go back to him.

Not only am I not physically able to work on my cars anymore (I only did oil changes), I'm not mechanically inclined enough to do the work. I'd kill myself!

zac07 · 12-09-2007, 11:35 PM

I used to work at a oil change place in high school, and I learned real quick that I would never take my car somewhere to get it serviced. We always did what we said we were but I witnessed some of the other workers accidentally break clips and put it back together like nothing happened. Or I saw numerous cars get started without any oil, and the worker would just fill it up and act like nothing ever happened.

zac07 · 12-09-2007, 11:38 PM

O and a tip if you do take your car somewhere stand there and watch over there shoulder and they will be alot more careful and be sure to do everything they say they will. But if at all possible replace filters and other small stuff yourself. You wouldnt believe the mark up on some stuff. We would charge $60+ dollars to put on a belt that cost us less than $10, or light bulbs that we only paid a few cents for we charged $5.95. Fuel filter cost less than $5 for most cars but we charged $40 for gas and $90 for the 6.0l ford diesels for a pair of $10 filters.

**XDAndMe** · 12-09-2007, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retired

Not only am I not physically able to work on my cars anymore (I only did oil changes), I'm not mechanically inclined enough to do the work. I'd kill myself!

It really depends on the car, retired. If I had something like a Firebird LT1 with the spark plugs on the under-side of the engine and half-way behind the firewall, then I'd die getting to them.

A big "plus" of my little Mazda is that everything is tidy, well thought out, and very, very easy to work on. I can change most things without breaking a sweat and there's plenty of room to work.

Now add 4 more cylinders and 3 more liters... and things start getting difficult.

retired · 12-10-2007, 01:59 AM

I actually forgot something in my first post. I stopped doing the oil and filter changes before I physically couldn't.

I stopped becaused I figured it wasn't worth it for me to climb beneath my truck/car, change the oil, get dirty, put the new filter in, clean up, load up the bucket of oil and drive to a place that would accept it, then drive home.

gr8johnson · 12-10-2007, 07:31 AM

I always just get the oil changed when I go to those places. I never let them do anything else. I always watch them too. I watch the old fluid coming out and I ask for the old filter too. My daughter got a used car and took it in for an oil change as soon as she drove it home. I told her to tell them just change the oil. She was crying when she got home because the guy told her she should not drive the car home until he does the $800.+ work he said needed doing because the car was dangerous. I had a few words for that guy. I always take my cars to the same place too.

jtkratzer · 12-10-2007, 08:27 AM

Always do my own oil changes, tune ups, etc. I just changed my catalytic converter on my Jeep yesterday. It was a pain and I needed to use a torch to get the muffler and cat apart, but it was worth it. I knew it was done right. I did pay to have the alternator replaced and serpentine belt done, but those are two things that I can check to make sure were done. I also brought in my own alternator for them to install to get a warranty on it.

I have a good relationship with the shop I go to and trust them. I have personal cell phone numbers of two of the mechanics...it's all about finding a shop you can trust.

12-09-2007, 10:55 PM	#1
jeepinbanditrider XDTalk 4K Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mineral Wells, Tx Posts: 4,847	Why I do my own Maint. http://mfile.akamai.com/12924/wmv/vo...52183.200k.asx Work/family safe download. __________________ Stuff USPSA-A59201

12-10-2007, 07:31 AM	#9
gr8johnson XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Clinton Township, Mchigan Posts: 181	I always just get the oil changed when I go to those places. I never let them do anything else. I always watch them too. I watch the old fluid coming out and I ask for the old filter too. My daughter got a used car and took it in for an oil change as soon as she drove it home. I told her to tell them just change the oil. She was crying when she got home because the guy told her she should not drive the car home until he does the $800.+ work he said needed doing because the car was dangerous. I had a few words for that guy. I always take my cars to the same place too. __________________ Major Jack Reacher for President

12-10-2007, 08:27 AM	#10
jtkratzer XDTalk 15K Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Lancaster Co., PA Posts: 17,542	Always do my own oil changes, tune ups, etc. I just changed my catalytic converter on my Jeep yesterday. It was a pain and I needed to use a torch to get the muffler and cat apart, but it was worth it. I knew it was done right. I did pay to have the alternator replaced and serpentine belt done, but those are two things that I can check to make sure were done. I also brought in my own alternator for them to install to get a warranty on it. I have a good relationship with the shop I go to and trust them. I have personal cell phone numbers of two of the mechanics...it's all about finding a shop you can trust. __________________ "I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it." - Thomas Jefferson The Gun Lounge Pennyslvania Firearms Owners Association Hockey Forum

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12-09-2007, 11:05 PM	#2
XDAndMe XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: PA, USA Posts: 3,402	+1 on doing your own maintenance. Unless it's something major, I prefer to do my own maintenance on wear & tear items and fluids. Considering how easy it is to get your hands on a decent shop manual, there's really no reason not to.

12-09-2007, 11:26 PM	#3
Kent XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: SW Missouri Posts: 3,238	Yeah. That is lame to do that to people. I have used Jiffy Lube before. I ALWAYS check their work though. Kent

12-09-2007, 11:31 PM	#4
retired XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: S. Calif. Posts: 5,532	Jiffy Lube has been caught numerous times by Joel Glover doing the same dishonest stuff. They promise not to, but continue to get caught. I wonder if the real owner of the red camaro and the other customers within earshot of Glover, told Jiffy Lube to stop work and give their vehicles back to them. I was fortunate to find a trustworthy, hardworking and excellent mechanic back in about 1996. Up until last year, I went to him all the time and recommended numerous friends to him. I have 2 new vehicles on warranty so I still go to the dealer. Once the warranty is over, I will drive the distance to go back to him. Not only am I not physically able to work on my cars anymore (I only did oil changes), I'm not mechanically inclined enough to do the work. I'd kill myself!

12-09-2007, 11:35 PM	#5
zac07 XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: West Texas Posts: 1,119	I used to work at a oil change place in high school, and I learned real quick that I would never take my car somewhere to get it serviced. We always did what we said we were but I witnessed some of the other workers accidentally break clips and put it back together like nothing happened. Or I saw numerous cars get started without any oil, and the worker would just fill it up and act like nothing ever happened.

12-09-2007, 11:38 PM	#6
zac07 XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: West Texas Posts: 1,119	O and a tip if you do take your car somewhere stand there and watch over there shoulder and they will be alot more careful and be sure to do everything they say they will. But if at all possible replace filters and other small stuff yourself. You wouldnt believe the mark up on some stuff. We would charge $60+ dollars to put on a belt that cost us less than $10, or light bulbs that we only paid a few cents for we charged $5.95. Fuel filter cost less than $5 for most cars but we charged $40 for gas and $90 for the 6.0l ford diesels for a pair of $10 filters.

12-10-2007, 01:59 AM	#8
retired XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: S. Calif. Posts: 5,532	I actually forgot something in my first post. I stopped doing the oil and filter changes before I physically couldn't. I stopped becaused I figured it wasn't worth it for me to climb beneath my truck/car, change the oil, get dirty, put the new filter in, clean up, load up the bucket of oil and drive to a place that would accept it, then drive home.