Mechanic Mishaps

The top 10 mistakes made by your repair shop and how to avoid them.

By James Tate of MSN Autos

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We would all love to think our mechanic is the best trained, most knowledgeable auto professional around — but the truth is, no one person can be prepared to take on the demands of every make and model of vehicle in existence. We're all human and we all make mistakes. With complex new technologies being implemented with each new model year, staying ahead of the game is getting harder and harder. Fortunately, most shops are happy to right whatever wrong you discover — as long as you act quickly and speak up.

1. Forgetting the Shims

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It isn't normal for brakes to be noisy just after they've been worked on. Take your car back to the shop and ask the mechanic to inspect the two tiny pieces of metal, or shims, that adhere to the back of the brake pads. They are the likely culprit.

Have you had your vehicle in a shop recently for brake work and then noticed a little more squeaking than you're used to after driving off? Odds are your mechanic forgot to include two tiny pieces of metal that adhere to the back of your brake pads. While not essential to making your vehicle stop safely, these shims do cut down on the amount of noise generated by minute vibrations in the brake pad. If you think your brakes are louder than they should be, check with the shop. Most garages will take care of the problem at no extra charge and get you back on the road squeak-free in no time.

Bing: Brake Shims

2. Skipping the Filter

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Change the oil filter every time you change the oil in your car. A malfunctioning oil filter could lead to premature engine failure, lower fuel economy and costly repairs down the road.

Everybody loves a deal, especially when it comes to routine maintenance. If you're one of the many who have been lured by impossibly economical oil changes, make sure the job includes a new oil filter. An oil filter is essential to keeping your engine's lubricant free of harmful contaminants. Unfortunately, if you believe your oil filter hasn't been changed, you'll have to take the vehicle to another shop and ask them to do the job correctly. An unchanged oil filter should constitute immediate grounds for a change of mechanic, since it could lead to premature engine failure, lower fuel economy and costly repairs down the road.

Read: 10 Tips to Avoid Auto Repair Rip-Offs

3. The Wrong Transmission Fluid

It's amazing how many different types of transmissions there are on the road right now. Even more staggering are the differences in lubricant those gearboxes require. Automatic transmission fluid comes in a variety of weights (thicknesses), and some manual gearboxes simply require motor oil for lubrication. Even more confusing, some manual transmissions use fluid specifically designed for automatics. Needless to say, it's easy for a mechanic to get turned around when it comes to changing your vehicle's transmission fluid. If you notice your car or truck shifting harder than usual or grinding as you shift gears, immediately turn around and take it back to the shop. Insist on a full flush and fill, because using the wrong fluid will cause expensive damage in a hurry.

Watch Video: Types of Transmissions

4. Improperly Sized Belts

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Using a belt not designed for your vehicle can lead to undue stress on the alternator, air conditioner compressor and power-steering pump, to name just a few. All costly repairs.

Most shops keep a wide selection of belts on hand to suit the vast majority of vehicles on the road. It's impossible for a garage to be prepared for every car that comes cruising onto the lift, and a mechanic may be tempted to use a belt that is similarly sized to the one called for by the manufacturer. Since belt types vary based not just on size but also profile, shape and type of material, this can lead to problems in a hurry. Using a belt not designed for your vehicle can lead to undue stress on your accessory pulleys — things like the alternator, air conditioner compressor and power-steering pump. It can also make lots of noise. If your belts are squeaking and they were just replaced, odds are you don't have the right belt for your car. Turn around and get the right equipment as soon as possible.

Discuss: Has your mechanic ever made a mistake? If so, tell us how the problem was fixed.

5. The Wrong Hose

As a car gets older, manufacturers are less and less likely to continue manufacturing replacement parts. When that happens, the aftermarket industry usually steps in to take up the slack, though fit and quality may suffer as a result. This is especially true with radiator hoses. Most aftermarket companies make one hose that can be cut and bent to fit a variety of vehicles. Unfortunately, this results in added stress on plastic-frame radiators and leaks from improper fit. If you see a leak from your brand-new hose, take the vehicle back to the shop and demonstrate the problem. The mechanic should be able to solve the issue by readjusting the hose or ordering a replacement.

Watch Video: Costly High-Tech Car Repairs

Continued: The Wrong Thermostat

Related Content

Most techs spend $100 plus per week on tools (It's only that cheap if the toolbox is already paid off.). How many people or professions do YOU know of that spend $100 a week just so they can do their job?

I don't know, anyone with a college degree who has to pay back their loans. Don't the shops provide the tools & equipment that are used? And are most mechanics direct employees, or 1099 contractor-types at shops?

daryl88mm

Sunday, October 25, 2009 5:21:06 AM

I agree with you 100%. I started out with a non-turbo 67hp 4 cylinder 1984 Isuzu which gave me 49mpg new and 42mpg at a older age unloaded at 55mph that a later bought a 1981 Chevy LUV diesel because of the simplicity to maintain and great gas mileage of the first one. To further protect my investments, I paid $7 and took some oil out to send to Titan Lab. and found out that by sending off a sample every 3,000 miles over the recommended oil change(changing the oil filter at the owners manual suggestion and adding make up oil) and using 15W40 syntec, I could leave the same oil in both trucks for 18,000 miles and the Lab. would still say it is not time yet to change your oil. The two trucks lasted to well over 300,00 miles with the parts becoming unavailable-caused me sell them off cheap. Even with the fact that the people who normally buy these oil test kits own rigs that are in the thousands or millions of dollars, my work trucks are all I had and the fact that I cannot afford to replace them right away, they are valued as much to me. What are your thoughts on spending the extra money on these kits ($21 now)if your ride is not leaking or burning much oil in the first place to find out exactly when to change your oil(not your filter of course). Daryl

rod8675309

Friday, October 23, 2009 3:07:18 PM

Ok I work in this business for 24 years in the early years the auto companies had great customer service programs to help customers out with problem repairs ,meaning repairs that a certain car or model by extending warrantee ect. as the years went on most stopped that or if they had it they did not want it known to customers. Instead they insisted on selling extended warrantee plans at 1500.00 or more I felt if the cars could not hold together for 6years 100.000 miles they were not that good .So then they came out with the 3 year 36.000 mile warrantee and then they wonder why people buy foreign cars ,why not when they are offering 10 year 100.000 mile warrantees. Ok now about the Techs working on the cars I seen good ones and I seen bad ones even the good ones have bad days and the not so good ones too. I found honesty is the best way to handle things I found also that more than 50 percent of the shops have people running them that do not tell you the truth when things are misdiagnosed. And the owners don't even know it or they don't want to know it.I have seen Managers who look to sell customers everything From shocks. Struts and springs and brakes when not needed because it makes them look good on end of the month sales.I have seen techs misdiagnosis cost the customers 3 times the amount they should have been paying because each time the tech misdiagnosed the repair the service Manager covered it up and then called the customer and said to them o we did what we talked about on the repairs it's better but is not 100 percent yet ,it still needs this and this and the bill goes from 100.00 to 650.00 in one phone call. It's True I been there and seen it and it happens more than anyone knows so watch out and be Leary about add on repairs and add on costs Because these costs are most likely caused by shop Tech misdiagnoses or shop techs screw ups and Manager cover ups.

CERTIFIED MECHANIC

Friday, October 23, 2009 8:20:42 AM

I agree with drn1979. Many of you have posted things about how taking the test helped you learn and become a better technician. That is retarded. You don't take the test so you can learn the material, you take the tests to prove that you ALREADY KNOW THE MATERIAL. Again, any of you that have taken ASE exams know that ASE intentionally includes red herrings and "trick" questions in the exams to see if you really know the material or are just guessing. I know techs that can swap out the camshaft in your 454 in 2.5 hours, yet they can't seem to get certified. Some people just aren't good test takers. Others go to school for 2 years, get all these certifications, and don't know squat. They understand it in THEORY (from the book or watching an instructor do it) but they can't apply it in a real world situation. Only time and experience will make them a competent and efficient technician. So, ASE certifications are an INDICATOR that your tech knows what he is talking about, but it does not GUARANTEE it. The person that used the accountant analogy...Seriously dude...Not only does that accountant have extensive training, but they don't just throw him out there and let him start managing big accounts. It starts out with an internship, then an apprenticeship, then some small accounts, then, after he's proven himself, some big accounts. They don't just throw him the multi-million dollar Johnson account straight out of college. I have seen a lot of techs make a lot of dumb mistakes. I have also learned many helpful tricks from techs that were senior to me over the years. I know guys that have worked on cars for 25 years that aren't worth a crap. I know 22 year old kids that are damn fine technicians. Pay attention to the details.

IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE HONESTY AND COMPETENCY LEVEL OF THE INDIVIDUAL TECHNICIAN. ASE is an attempt to GUAGE that competency level, but it does not GUARANTEE it.

The Lumpster

Friday, October 23, 2009 4:09:32 AM

"A car dealership changed two tires on my Ford product that is AWD. The tire SIZE was the same but they were mix matched tire manufactures and therefore the circumference was over a 1.5 inch difference between the tires that were installed and the ones that they left on the vehicle. The difference destroyed my transfer case"

Did you write this article. The reason why the tires were different sizes is because you drove the car with the old tires. What do you think happens to tires when you drive them. THEY WEAR AWAY. Just like an eraser. So basically you had 3/4" wear on your tires and it doubled because you measured the "circumference".

Let me guess the dealer told you that you really should get 4 tires, but that you could get away with two for now as long as you replaced the other two the next visit. How long were you driving on mismatched tires? It must have been more than a month. I can't imagine in any scenario unless you did a Baja Challenge wear a transfer case would be destroyed in a short amount of time because of tires. ASS!

Autospecial1

Friday, October 23, 2009 4:06:47 AM

I've seen a lot of these mistakes, one as recently as yesterday. Brakes on a Expedition missing the anti-rattle clips and springs. A friend had the wrong transmission fluid put in a Toyota truck a couple of months ago too. I know mistakes will be made, to me it's all about minimizing those mistakes and caring about the work being done.

I've worked in both the dealerships (13 years) and for the last 10 years as an shop owner. There is a lot of information out there to keep the independent shop current. I spend a lot to make sure I have the latest diagnostic equipement and that it's up to date. To me the ONLY advantage a dealership has is that since they only work on 1 manufacturer they can see a trend in re-occuring problems. Otherwise, with the information and tools available there is no excuse for some of the mistakes made.

drn1979

Friday, October 23, 2009 2:38:37 AM

Dear SVC MGR... That might be one of the funniest & most ignorant responses I've read on here, You have know idea! First, I actually own a 1959 El Camino! (very nice car) Second, My Dad has never picked up a wrench in his life (he's in finance). Third, I hold 8 ASE certs, NONE of them made me a better tech, and finally, I attend no less then half a dozen "continuing education" courses a year.

Your an idiot!, If you dont have anything positive to add to this post get off your company's computer and go study... Oh, by the way, I to am a Service Manager.

LandYachtDiesel

Thursday, October 22, 2009 10:36:07 PM

That is a real post right there!

A evil necessity

#10

Thursday, October 22, 2009 10:13:56 PM

I have read some of these intelligent comments and the uneducated comments as well. I have to say that the "technicians" that have posted there is no need to take or pass ASE tests or any certification tests is a pure act of pre-Madonnas ego and shear laziness on your behalf. Taking the time to have these certifications shows that you cared to take the time and effort to learn what your charging them for. I have been a auto technician for 20 years and I am very proud to tell anyone what I do for a living. As far as the argument of dealership or independent shop, dealership technicians are constantly training to stay up to date with the latest technology offered with the brand we work for. The manufacturer REQUIRS it and the dealership has no choice of not training technicians or the manufacturer takes away certain sales and service benefits. Yes the dealership can be more expensive, but it will be (in most times then not) repaired correctly the first time and in the long run will either be the same price as an independent shop would have been or slightly cheaper because they did a blanket repair instead of an isolated repair.

Keep in mind, one of the first things you need in the morning is your car. The last thing you want to spend money on is your car. A evil necessity

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Mechanic Mishaps

The top 10 mistakes made by your repair shop and how to avoid them.

1. Forgetting the Shims

2. Skipping the Filter

3. The Wrong Transmission Fluid

4. Improperly Sized Belts

5. The Wrong Hose

Most techs spend $100 plus per week on tools (It's only that cheap if the toolbox is already paid off.). How many people or professions do YOU know of that spend $100 a week just so they can do their job?

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