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zolaMy car is at Sears getting some work done. This is fine. They didn't tell me anything that was a surprise, although it does need quite a few things.
That's because the car sat for quite a while, more than six months. Cars are made to be driven, and unless all fluids are drained and it's stored in a climate-control garage, sitting is very bad for it. Seals and grease dry out, you can get condensation, you can get rust...
As I said, little unexpected. There was a problem with the front brake rotors, which we were pretty sure was happening. It needs the front end lubricated, Tommy spotted this. They are going to do a couple of regular maintenance things and do an alignment, which is due. I'd made a point of saying that "a mechanic friend of mine checked the car as a favor and said the tie rod ends and wheel bearings are fine," so that I wouldn't get told I needed those. ;)
Usually, what I would do is do maintenance work every few months to spread out the cost. The front brakes one month, then, a couple of months later, the rear brakes, then a few months after that an alignment. I started doing this when I was using the car for delivery driving, it insured that I had no huge, unexpected bills. It was very worth it. For instance, there was one time that I needed only one tie rod end because it was just starting to go, and since I took care of it promptly, it didn't mess up the other and I didn't have to pay for both. I did two alignments a year usually, because as a delivery driver, you don't get much say about the kind of conditions you encounter.
So they went down the list for me, and it was fine. When they said the rear brake cylinders were leaking, it was not unreasonable--my brakes seemed to be getting unexpected air bubbles in them, and again, it sat for quite a while so it could have dried out the seals in the cylinders. The pedal definitely isn't where it should be. But they also said they were "concerned" about the brake pads being saturated with brake fluid.
I said it was fine, and I would expect to see the parts after. I think it was the last thing the mechanic expected me to say. "You want the old parts?"
"No, because then I would have hazardous waste to dispose of. I want to see the old parts, though." (Brake pads are hazardous waste because they contain asbestos).
"Usually we put the old parts in a bag in the trunk."
"I don't want to be responsible for disposing of the parts, that's hazardous waste, but I still want to see them. After all, you told me those pads were saturated with brake fluid, so I want to see them."
He figured out a way to arrange this very quickly... but it makes me wonder... am I going to go in and hear "Oh, we wiped off the pads and they weren't as saturated as we feared, so we didn't have to replace them!"
This would be hilarious if it wasn't so tiresome. I don't look like the type that would know anything whatsoever about cars, you see. So I have to go through the patronizing bit first before I ask enough of the right questions that the mechanic stops assuming I know nothing and starts giving me the answers I need. I miss my regular mechanic, and I hope I find one like him in WV. He didn't mind if I asked questions, and I could watch what he was doing if I was bored--he let me in the garage because he knew I used to work in one as a tow dispatcher and knew how to stay out of the way. But I got used to seeing what he was up to, and I don't feel entirely comfortable just walking off and leaving the car.
It may be a good idea to replace the rear pads. I'm not saying they are trying to make more money off me. I'm going to be pulling a trailer on a couple of my trips back and forth, and given that it did sit so long, I am definitely inclined to say better safe than sorry. But I want to see the parts.
At least I've just insured the work is done properly. ;)
That's because the car sat for quite a while, more than six months. Cars are made to be driven, and unless all fluids are drained and it's stored in a climate-control garage, sitting is very bad for it. Seals and grease dry out, you can get condensation, you can get rust...
As I said, little unexpected. There was a problem with the front brake rotors, which we were pretty sure was happening. It needs the front end lubricated, Tommy spotted this. They are going to do a couple of regular maintenance things and do an alignment, which is due. I'd made a point of saying that "a mechanic friend of mine checked the car as a favor and said the tie rod ends and wheel bearings are fine," so that I wouldn't get told I needed those. ;)
Usually, what I would do is do maintenance work every few months to spread out the cost. The front brakes one month, then, a couple of months later, the rear brakes, then a few months after that an alignment. I started doing this when I was using the car for delivery driving, it insured that I had no huge, unexpected bills. It was very worth it. For instance, there was one time that I needed only one tie rod end because it was just starting to go, and since I took care of it promptly, it didn't mess up the other and I didn't have to pay for both. I did two alignments a year usually, because as a delivery driver, you don't get much say about the kind of conditions you encounter.
So they went down the list for me, and it was fine. When they said the rear brake cylinders were leaking, it was not unreasonable--my brakes seemed to be getting unexpected air bubbles in them, and again, it sat for quite a while so it could have dried out the seals in the cylinders. The pedal definitely isn't where it should be. But they also said they were "concerned" about the brake pads being saturated with brake fluid.
I said it was fine, and I would expect to see the parts after. I think it was the last thing the mechanic expected me to say. "You want the old parts?"
"No, because then I would have hazardous waste to dispose of. I want to see the old parts, though." (Brake pads are hazardous waste because they contain asbestos).
"Usually we put the old parts in a bag in the trunk."
"I don't want to be responsible for disposing of the parts, that's hazardous waste, but I still want to see them. After all, you told me those pads were saturated with brake fluid, so I want to see them."
He figured out a way to arrange this very quickly... but it makes me wonder... am I going to go in and hear "Oh, we wiped off the pads and they weren't as saturated as we feared, so we didn't have to replace them!"
This would be hilarious if it wasn't so tiresome. I don't look like the type that would know anything whatsoever about cars, you see. So I have to go through the patronizing bit first before I ask enough of the right questions that the mechanic stops assuming I know nothing and starts giving me the answers I need. I miss my regular mechanic, and I hope I find one like him in WV. He didn't mind if I asked questions, and I could watch what he was doing if I was bored--he let me in the garage because he knew I used to work in one as a tow dispatcher and knew how to stay out of the way. But I got used to seeing what he was up to, and I don't feel entirely comfortable just walking off and leaving the car.
It may be a good idea to replace the rear pads. I'm not saying they are trying to make more money off me. I'm going to be pulling a trailer on a couple of my trips back and forth, and given that it did sit so long, I am definitely inclined to say better safe than sorry. But I want to see the parts.
At least I've just insured the work is done properly. ;)
no subject
Date: 2006-02-03 06:57 pm (UTC)