Mechanic Ignorance of CJ's!

[jzak]

Hey Guys,

I wanted to know if any of you had any crazy stories about mechanics incapable of working on vehicles without onboard diagnostic computers (CJ's). I had a NAPA parts guys tell me that my AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l 4.2l was a Ford engine. I had a auto-repair shop tell me that my TBI unit was a carburetor. I complained about my car overheating, and the mechanic never suggested replacing the thermostat.

It's amazing that we live in a world where 90% of the mechanics out there have no idea how to fix a car unless a computer tells him what the problem is first.

Thanks!

 

[hdgapeach]

Don't have a line on any "mechanics" 'cause I've always turned my own wrenches and worked for many years as a tech at a dealership until I learned why some folks call them "steallerships".

BUT! I do have a story on an older guy that had worked forever in the parts department at the local Ford dealership I used to live near. I had a 20th anniversary Mustang GT 350's with the 302 HO engine. All of those engines had the 4V carburetor. Anyhow, I went there to get a Motorcraft carb rebuild kit and the guy all but cussed me out, trying to make me understand that none of the cars after '81 had carburetors.

Felt like strangling that guy. I even gave him the part number of the kit I needed. He was showing his *** in front of all his cronies in the parts dept., talking loud so everyone could hear him and trying to make me look like the idiot.

I walked out and never did business there again, that is, after I made a visit to the dealership owner. "Parts dude's" career got whittled down shorter than he was expecting after that little episode.

 

[jzak]

Don't have a line on any "mechanics" 'cause I've always turned my own wrenches and worked for many years as a tech at a dealership until I learned why some folks call them "steallerships".

BUT! I do have a story on an older guy that had worked forever in the parts department at the local Ford dealership I used to live near. I had a 20th anniversary Mustang GT 350's with the 302 HO engine. All of those engines had the 4V carburetor. Anyhow, I went there to get a Motorcraft carb rebuild kit and the guy all but cussed me out, trying to make me understand that none of the cars after '81 had carburetors.

Felt like strangling that guy. I even gave him the part number of the kit I needed. He was showing his behind in front of all his cronies in the parts dept., talking loud so everyone could hear him and trying to make me look like the idiot.

I walked out and never did business there again, that is, after I made a visit to the dealership owner. "Parts dude's" career got whittled down shorter than he was expecting after that little episode.

Wow! I'm amazed you didn't strangle the guy! I had a mechanic tell me that I needed to do an emissions test, even though I knew that vehicles older then 25 years were exempt. Some times it's best to just nod your head and walk out the door.

There's nothing wrong with voicing your opinion, but it's these arrogant guys who are sooo sure of themselves, and treat you like a idiot saying different. Those are the ones that I can't stand.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

I'm the only one to have ever turn'd a wrench on my CJ.
Bought it new in March of 1985.
You need to remember, that or CJ's have been around longer that most of todays 'wrench-monkeys' have been.
LG

 

[Saddle Tramp]

Ever see Chasing Classic Cars on Velocity? Check out the old guy in the shop, Roger. He’s probably the only mechanic in New England that knows how to work on a prewar anything. When he’s gone unfortunately the knowledge goes with him.

 

[caveman]

Hey Guys,

I had a NAPA parts guys tell me that my AMC 258 4.2l was a Ford engine.

Thanks!

The AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l was a ford engine at one time. AMC bought the rights to build the engine from Ford. It's the same six cylinder engine that was in the full size cars and pickups in the 50s, 60s and early 70s. They were AMC 232 i6 C.I. back then. Same as the original straight six that came in the late 70s AMCs. Bolt for bolt, The same engine.

 

[Kane]

Ever see Chasing Classic Cars on Velocity? Check out the old guy in the shop, Roger. He’s probably the only mechanic in New England that knows how to work on a prewar anything. When he’s gone unfortunately the knowledge goes with him.

I live in the next town over from that shop. Wayne Corrini has a bad rap around here for being a douche to the Ferrari crowd. His mechanic does know alot though.

 

[Hedgehog]

"Wayne Corrini has a bad rap around here for being a douche to the Ferrari crowd."

Ohhh why did you have to say that, while it is very possibly true I now have a different view of the man, until now I've been a big fan of Wayne. He proved to me that you can be a car or motorcycle enthusiast with out screaming and yelling like an idiot. Wayne sure gets top dollar for the Ferrari's he sells at auction. I wonder if his expectation's for what a decent Ferrari is rubs the average owner the wrong way. I'd love to own some of the cars that pass through his shop.

 

[Petescj]

I live in the next town over from that shop. Wayne Corrini has a bad rap around here for being a douche to the Ferrari crowd. His mechanic does know alot though.

I'm a douche to the Ferrari crowd as well.

 

[jdcaples]

I live in the next town over from that shop. Wayne Corrini has a bad rap around here for being a douche to the Ferrari crowd. His mechanic does know alot though.

I'm a douche to the Ferrari crowd as well.

What a coincidence: my white collar coworkers are under the mistaken impression that I'm a competent mechanic that knows a lot, as well.

-Jon

 

[HackFabrication]

I can tell you some real horror stories about Harley mechanics....

 

[hdgapeach]

I can tell you some real horror stories about Harley mechanics....

God, ain't that the truth!!

But hey, one of those MMI, UTI school graduates will fix you right up!!

I'm the only one that turns wrenches on anything I own; gasoline, diesel, computer controlled, HD, Ford, Chevy, JD.........EVERYTHING! And since I have such a sympathetic heart, I will usually make time to help a neighbor every now and then so they won't get screwed by the plug and play techs that don't know their butts from a hole in the ground.

I'm nearly 53 years old and I swear, the funniest entertainment in my life so far was watching a recent graduate of one of those high speed, low drag tech schools trying to sync / balance dual carbs on a 50's German import VW air cooled Karmin Ghia with the pancake engine. Laughed my tail off for a while 'till he started throwing stuff around the shop. Then it was time to step in before he tore something up. BUT, that kid sure can pull diagnostic codes like nobody's business .

 

[hdgapeach]

Wow! I'm amazed you didn't strangle the guy! I had a mechanic tell me that I needed to do an emissions test, even though I knew that vehicles older then 25 years were exempt. Some times it's best to just nod your head and walk out the door.

There's nothing wrong with voicing your opinion, but it's these arrogant guys who are sooo sure of themselves, and treat you like a idiot saying different. Those are the ones that I can't stand.

You're right 100%.
There's definitely a broad difference between the definitions of a mechanic and technician in today's world. The mechanics of the late 60's up until the early 80's could actually diagnose issues. Today's techs only know how to plug up the computer, pull codes and start changing parts until the problem is gone or the reference material runs out of pages to read. You could train a monkey to do what half of the techs call vehicle repairing.

 

[jdcaples]

You're right 100%.
There's definitely a broad difference between the definitions of a mechanic and technician in today's world. The mechanics of the late 60's up until the early 80's could actually diagnose issues. Today's techs only know how to plug up the computer, pull codes and start changing parts until the problem is gone or the reference material runs out of pages to read. You could train a monkey to do what half of the techs call vehicle repairing.

Today's automotive products only need people to replace parts until it works or until the lessee signs another monthly payment agreement, driving off in a new ride.

Now cars are built for a problem-free-ish service life of about 2 years or a few thousand miles further than the lease.

Now that I think about it, maybe that's one of the reasons a '69 Camaro or Mustang can command a five figure price.... ok, maybe not, but it made sense to me for a minute.

-Jon