Clunk 'tok' sound during acceleration

[Barry]

1 hour ago, Frederic said:

 

In UAE it goes like this: "Sir, 6 months back you changed my engine oil, but now my AC is not working !!! you clearly did something wrong and i will write bad reviews about you on Google and tell all my friends what a sh*tty shop you are running !!

I get this every day. I recently repaired the AC on a car that was worth close to 5 million dirhams. 

Owner took the car to another shop to get some engine modifications done because he didn’t like my price. In the process, they removed the AC compressor and let all the gas out. But it was somehow my fault because I repaired the AC 2 months ago?

Sometimes I miss being an oil rat where I just have to fix the problem and fill out some paperwork and not have to deal with the general public.

 

[Frederic]

48 minutes ago, desertdude said:

I hear you man, seen such things. But here like you said the door swings both ways. Customer wat dealer level repairs and want to pay fuck all for it and then there are places that charge dealer level prices and their work is fuck all. Its a vicious circle.

Some lucky folk have found a good mechanic who charges reasonably. And once found they never let ago.

A prime example is a good friend of mine who I know for 20 plus years he works out part time in thr evenings out if his bosses shed His policy is he will beat any outside garage prices abd guarantees his work.

And till date Ive not seen a customer leave him unless he wanted to get rid if a customer. 

Ive seen people literally force their cars on him. Even when he insists hes super busy and it will be weeks before he can even look at his car. Saying they dont care fix it when ever you get the time.

 

And even good mechanics have it wrong sometimes on diagnosis, and that’s perfectly acceptable if there is transparent communication. 

I used to repair electronics and when I had a customer that brought me a 50y old amplifier that had some intermittent issues like crackling sounds and unstable volume, I’d go for a capacitor replacement and clean out of all potmeters, although this MIGHT not have been the main culprit but it’s the most likely one and you want to exclude it out of your diagnosis. Same might sometimes occur for a car that gives weird noises and when looking underneath there are 15 things that might be the culprit. We need to start somewhere and hope that the gut feeling and experience weighs through. 

If you’re happy with your mechanic, then you’ll accept that he’s only human too and that a clear communication and mutual respect goes a long way.

 

Edited July 22, 2019 by Frederic

[desertdude]

3 hours ago, Gaurav said:

Sorry to say but just don't be too happy with Furure tyres even, as they getting good reviews they started hiking price with tremendous decrease in service.

Last time I went there, waited for 1 hour for 15 min job and presented with 4X pricing. And that place has become total chaos now to get one small job done.

Is that Ayub, is he back in business...?

Not Ayub

2 hours ago, Frederic said:

And even good mechanics have it wrong sometimes on diagnosis, and that’s perfectly acceptable if there is transparent communication. 

I used to repair electronics and when I had a customer that brought me a 50y old amplifier that had some intermittent issues like crackling sounds and unstable volume, I’d go for a capacitor replacement and clean out of all potmeters, although this MIGHT not have been the main culprit but it’s the most likely one and you want to exclude it out of your diagnosis. Same might sometimes occur for a car that gives weird noises and when looking underneath there are 15 things that might be the culprit. We need to start somewhere and hope that the gut feeling and experience weighs through. 

If you’re happy with your mechanic, then you’ll accept that he’s only human too and that a clear communication and mutual respect goes a long way.

 

Nobodys perfect and sometimes an issue is so niggly you just have to go down a list of troubleshooting. Starting with the cheapest and eaiset first and working ones way down.

[Gaurav]

12 hours ago, desertdude said:

Nobodys perfect and sometimes an issue is so niggly you just have to go down a list of troubleshooting. Starting with the cheapest and eaiset first and working ones way down.

Totally Agree, but sadly fake and greedy mechanic love to hide behind this "Nobody's perfect" theme and spoil the name for 20% genuinely good mechanics that fails on occasional attempt due to tricky scenarios.

If you are failing 1 or 2 out of 10 times, you are still considered good. If you fail 8 out of 10 times then either you are fake or greedy and need to learn your profession from foundation again. I ain't put my time and money for such people, charge me 50% extra but fix it in first time and that 50% extra labor will save me tons of hassle, time and unwanted parts cost.

We go to mechanics considering they are professional and "should" know what they are doing. If they also do the guesswork and pull the trigger in dark, then whats the point.

I even encountered a mechanic told me that one of my car engine cylinder is gone bad and he need to change that one cylinder. I was looking at him on his face and told him: This car doesn't have LPG cylinder.

Then there is dealership scare for brake drum change. How critical are they to be changed in this service. Sir, its very critical and if you dont change them now they will break in two pieces on the very next hard braking you might do. You don't want to break them at SZR on 120 and loose control and damage your car and end up on a hospital bed. I was like, please change it NOW. Later I googled and found OEM thickness was 6MM and mine was at 5MM and I could have drove that for next 1 year easy as 4MM was change time and 3MM is the threshold. How will you trust these guys again......?

Another dude quoted me 2000 dhs for wobbling Discovery and then after 1 day of research on car forum, I bought an original Land Rover drive shaft U-Joint for 35 dhs and labor for 50 dhs and car was perfect without any wobble. And that was a Land Rover Specialist. Im more scared from specialist now as they know all the in and out of all the known problems but love misguiding the customer for endless repair bills.

I can go whole day with my horror stories and how some people spoil the name of others that ends up spoiling the name for everyone.

[GumbyAKhan]

Yes I'm not going to that shop, I'm dealing with Mohsen separately. he's still working with a couple of workshops like a technical consultant of sorts, and imparts good information. 

[Gaurav]

That's why I said Guarantee works every time:

• If you are greedy - I will go some where else.
• If you are busy - you will find a time do the perfect job.
• If you are stupid - you will consult the head technician or your capable mechanic friend.
• If you are learning - you will do enough research.
• If you are genuine - you will come back with "educated guess work", that I can accept.

Mechanic job in my eyes as an end user is 70% giving you the right diagnose and 30% changing parts.

Only 10% exceptions are there for tricky, non traceable problems. Other 90% are repeatable jobs as we aren't driving NASA mars rover on road. Any "GENUINE" and "HONEST" mechanic can do 30 mins research in proper fault finding or buy 10-20 USD workshop manual to learn to do the perfect job than breaking 5 parts to fix one - off course very old cars are exception here.

[GumbyAKhan]

16 hours ago, Gaurav said:

Sorry to say but just don't be too happy with Furure tyres even, as they getting good reviews they started hiking price with tremendous decrease in service.

Last time I went there, waited for 1 hour for 15 min job and presented with 4X pricing. And that place has become total chaos now to get one small job done.

Is that Ayub, is he back in business...?

Oh yes Future Tyres is definitely chaotic. 

[Gaurav]

26 minutes ago, GumbyAKhan said:

Yes I'm not going to that shop, I'm dealing with Mohsen separately. he's still working with a couple of workshops like a technical consultant of sorts, and imparts good information. 

That's your call completely, but if Future tyre can spot a loose nut in one lift then previous guy should have also pointed before 1700 dhs spend. I agree it may not be greed but simple take it for granted attitude or too busy for proper diagnose, because if they knew that loose nut can bring some relief, they would have tighten it too to gain at least half a feather on their cap. Whatever the case it maybe, your 1700 gone, now how you convince yourself, its all in your mind.

Now table can turn INSTANTLY if you would have push them back with guarantee and then they will lift the car, lick the car and smell every corner for the real culprit.

[treks]

2 minutes ago, Gaurav said:

That's your call completely, but if Future tyre can spot a loose nut in one lift then previous guy should have also pointed before 1700 dhs spend. I agree it may not be greed but simple take it for granted attitude or too busy for proper diagnose, because if they knew that loose nut can bring some relief, they would have tighten it too to gain at least half a feather on their cap. Whatever the case it maybe, your 1700 gone, now how you convince yourself, its all in your mind.

Now table can turn INSTANTLY if you would have push them back with guarantee and then they will lift the car, lick the car and smell every corner for the real culprit.

This describes the difference between mechanics and professional mechanics. Being a professional is NOT all about how much you know- it's is ALL about having the best interests of your customers foremost in your mind. 

The doctrine of "Do No Harm" counts for professional mechanics as much as it does for doctors.  

[GumbyAKhan]

34 minutes ago, Gaurav said:

That's your call completely, but if Future tyre can spot a loose nut in one lift then previous guy should have also pointed before 1700 dhs spend. I agree it may not be greed but simple take it for granted attitude or too busy for proper diagnose, because if they knew that loose nut can bring some relief, they would have tighten it too to gain at least half a feather on their cap. Whatever the case it maybe, your 1700 gone, now how you convince yourself, its all in your mind.

Now table can turn INSTANTLY if you would have push them back with guarantee and then they will lift the car, lick the car and smell every corner for the real culprit.

How does this guarantee thing work? I mean I can ask for guarantee, but if it's just a verbal thing, anyway I can't enforce it right? Just curious .