Are there any good and honest mechanics out there? I am really getting sick of getting ripped off by these so called "Honda specialists".
First of all, I own a 97 Honda Civic, and I DO NOT do my own mechanic work because I know I am not good with cars. So, I usually bring my car to the dealership or some local mechanic when something needs to be done to my car. I know the dealership cost more money but they do a good job.
So, recently, my light bulbs were dimming because I need new light bulbs, so I purchased some online thinking I can save some money if I install it myself (I knew how to change the bulbs for a 91 Honda Civic, so I assumed it was the same deal). Once I got the bulbs, I found the installation process was different than that of my parents' old civic. Not wanting to do any damage to my car, I brought my car to a local mechanic which I've never been to before (the mechanics that I used to go to were closed on this day) to get my light bulbs changed. I first called the place, and they said it'll cost $10 to change the bulbs on the phone, so I thought, "Hey, that's reasonable. I'll give them a shot, after all, the sign on the store say they're 'Honda Specialists'." So, I went to this place, drove my car into the garage to get the bulbs changed, thinking that I'll be out of there in like 10 mins, maybe 30 mins tops. I was in the shop watching the guy trying to put my light bulbs into my car. First, he used a screwdriver to try to unscrew the light. But he found that he couldn't do it. Then I see him fiddling around w/ the headlights for another 10 mins and couldn't get the original light bulbs out. Then another 10 mins passed by.... then another 10 mins..... then another 15 mins...... then he used some powered device (I think it was some sort of clamp) and prys the lens right off. He then spent another 30 mins to trying to get the lens off the other side using the same technique. After he took apart both headlights, he then spent another 20 mins to put both bulbs in. Then spent another 30 mins to put lens back on. So, I spent about 2 hours watching this guy try to install my light bulbs. After the installation, the guy charged me $20 and was all pissed off. All this time, I thought to myself.... This is taking a REAL long time, and it suppose to be a 10 minute job....... how am I suppose to change the bulb, if I have to use a device like that (the powered clamp) ..... and the thing that was probably bothering me the most..... according to what I read online, the head lights on the Civics are a SEALED unit.... and do I have to break this seal to install new bulbs? Anyways, those were the questions that were in my mind when I left the place. I was kinda pissed at that time that he charged me $20, but hey, they changed my bulbs and did a good job right? ...... WRONG!!!!
Later that night, I was driving back from the gym. I noticed I couldn't see anything in the road...... the reason...... the light bulbs weren't shining straight. The left one was shining towards the highway signs and to the right, and the left one was shining to the ground way too much and to the right. So, I thought I need to get it adjusted, and I would go to them Monday morning and get it fixed.
So, Monday morning comes around, I go to the shop to get my light fixed. I brought the car in, and told them that the lights weren't on straight and asked them to adjust them. So, they pulled my car into the inspection part of the garage so that they can fix direction that it was pointing. One of them looked at it, and did not know how to fix it. So, they had another mechanic look at it, and he couldn't do it either. And I see the guy who changed the bulbs on my car and said that he's the one who changed teh bulbs, and he should know how to fix it. Well..... the other mechanics asked him..... and he refused to touch my car. I was like.....what the F*@%$??? Then the manager (who is also another mechanic) tells me that the head light units are broken and I need to get the whole unit replaced. Hearing that, definitely set me off. I told the guy the headlight units were working perfectly fine and that I just needed to get my light bulbs changed. I also told them that they were the one who broke it because they took apart the light and can't put it back together. Then the manager had the nerve to accuse me of breaking the headlight unit. So, I got REALLY PISSED off and drove off before I would of said things that may be used against me in court. :|
After hearing this, I went to another mechanic and see if they could fix it. After the mechanic looked at my car, he tried to fix it and adjust it. He then told me that the previous person who put the bulbs in did it wrong and took apart the whole lens which they AREN'T even suppose to touch at all. They were suppose to take teh bulbs out from the back. The mechanic told me that he tried to get the lens back to its original position, but can't get it all the way because the seal was broken. He also told me that it would be dangerous to drive with these headlights because water can get into the lens cover and cause the light to refract the wrong way, and the only way to fix this problem is to get new headlights. He then told me that I should contact Honda dealership to see what they can do to fix it or replace it. Obviously, this was not the answer I wanted to hear, so I just paid the guy and left.
Not satisfied with the answer, I went to 2 other mechanics, whom..... surprisingly both gave the same answer as the second guy. So, to make sure this was the case, I brought it to two Honda dealerships near me to get my car inspected by a REAL Honda Certified mechanic, and both say that the lights need to be replaced completely. At the dealership, this would cost me around $200 a PIECE!!!! So, that's $400 for parts, and another $85 for labor!!!! Altogether with tax, to get this fixed, I would have to SPEND $500!!!! NOW I'M REALLY PISSED OFF!!!! I spent the last week getting mechanics to look at my car. I can't drive the car at night now because the lights are not working properly. And I need to be able to drive my car at night when I'm working. FREAKING MORONS!!!!
What would you do if you were in my situation??? ANY SUGGESTION??? I'm a freaking poor college student who just dropped $400 at the dealership to get a new timing belt and water pump replaced. NOW THIS..... THIS IS REALLY PISSING ME OFF!!!! ANY SUGGESTIONS??
Also, any mechanics in the Boston area who would like to help a fellow AT out? Any help or suggestion is appreciated!!!
Thanks for reading.
NOTE: I'm not saying all mechanics are dishonest. I'm sure there are plenty of honest, hard working mechanics out there. So, please don't get offended by this rant.
First of all, I own a 97 Honda Civic, and I DO NOT do my own mechanic work because I know I am not good with cars. So, I usually bring my car to the dealership or some local mechanic when something needs to be done to my car. I know the dealership cost more money but they do a good job.
So, recently, my light bulbs were dimming because I need new light bulbs, so I purchased some online thinking I can save some money if I install it myself (I knew how to change the bulbs for a 91 Honda Civic, so I assumed it was the same deal). Once I got the bulbs, I found the installation process was different than that of my parents' old civic. Not wanting to do any damage to my car, I brought my car to a local mechanic which I've never been to before (the mechanics that I used to go to were closed on this day) to get my light bulbs changed. I first called the place, and they said it'll cost $10 to change the bulbs on the phone, so I thought, "Hey, that's reasonable. I'll give them a shot, after all, the sign on the store say they're 'Honda Specialists'." So, I went to this place, drove my car into the garage to get the bulbs changed, thinking that I'll be out of there in like 10 mins, maybe 30 mins tops. I was in the shop watching the guy trying to put my light bulbs into my car. First, he used a screwdriver to try to unscrew the light. But he found that he couldn't do it. Then I see him fiddling around w/ the headlights for another 10 mins and couldn't get the original light bulbs out. Then another 10 mins passed by.... then another 10 mins..... then another 15 mins...... then he used some powered device (I think it was some sort of clamp) and prys the lens right off. He then spent another 30 mins to trying to get the lens off the other side using the same technique. After he took apart both headlights, he then spent another 20 mins to put both bulbs in. Then spent another 30 mins to put lens back on. So, I spent about 2 hours watching this guy try to install my light bulbs. After the installation, the guy charged me $20 and was all pissed off. All this time, I thought to myself.... This is taking a REAL long time, and it suppose to be a 10 minute job....... how am I suppose to change the bulb, if I have to use a device like that (the powered clamp) ..... and the thing that was probably bothering me the most..... according to what I read online, the head lights on the Civics are a SEALED unit.... and do I have to break this seal to install new bulbs? Anyways, those were the questions that were in my mind when I left the place. I was kinda pissed at that time that he charged me $20, but hey, they changed my bulbs and did a good job right? ...... WRONG!!!!
Later that night, I was driving back from the gym. I noticed I couldn't see anything in the road...... the reason...... the light bulbs weren't shining straight. The left one was shining towards the highway signs and to the right, and the left one was shining to the ground way too much and to the right. So, I thought I need to get it adjusted, and I would go to them Monday morning and get it fixed.
So, Monday morning comes around, I go to the shop to get my light fixed. I brought the car in, and told them that the lights weren't on straight and asked them to adjust them. So, they pulled my car into the inspection part of the garage so that they can fix direction that it was pointing. One of them looked at it, and did not know how to fix it. So, they had another mechanic look at it, and he couldn't do it either. And I see the guy who changed the bulbs on my car and said that he's the one who changed teh bulbs, and he should know how to fix it. Well..... the other mechanics asked him..... and he refused to touch my car. I was like.....what the F*@%$??? Then the manager (who is also another mechanic) tells me that the head light units are broken and I need to get the whole unit replaced. Hearing that, definitely set me off. I told the guy the headlight units were working perfectly fine and that I just needed to get my light bulbs changed. I also told them that they were the one who broke it because they took apart the light and can't put it back together. Then the manager had the nerve to accuse me of breaking the headlight unit. So, I got REALLY PISSED off and drove off before I would of said things that may be used against me in court. :|
After hearing this, I went to another mechanic and see if they could fix it. After the mechanic looked at my car, he tried to fix it and adjust it. He then told me that the previous person who put the bulbs in did it wrong and took apart the whole lens which they AREN'T even suppose to touch at all. They were suppose to take teh bulbs out from the back. The mechanic told me that he tried to get the lens back to its original position, but can't get it all the way because the seal was broken. He also told me that it would be dangerous to drive with these headlights because water can get into the lens cover and cause the light to refract the wrong way, and the only way to fix this problem is to get new headlights. He then told me that I should contact Honda dealership to see what they can do to fix it or replace it. Obviously, this was not the answer I wanted to hear, so I just paid the guy and left.
Not satisfied with the answer, I went to 2 other mechanics, whom..... surprisingly both gave the same answer as the second guy. So, to make sure this was the case, I brought it to two Honda dealerships near me to get my car inspected by a REAL Honda Certified mechanic, and both say that the lights need to be replaced completely. At the dealership, this would cost me around $200 a PIECE!!!! So, that's $400 for parts, and another $85 for labor!!!! Altogether with tax, to get this fixed, I would have to SPEND $500!!!! NOW I'M REALLY PISSED OFF!!!! I spent the last week getting mechanics to look at my car. I can't drive the car at night now because the lights are not working properly. And I need to be able to drive my car at night when I'm working. FREAKING MORONS!!!!
What would you do if you were in my situation??? ANY SUGGESTION??? I'm a freaking poor college student who just dropped $400 at the dealership to get a new timing belt and water pump replaced. NOW THIS..... THIS IS REALLY PISSING ME OFF!!!! ANY SUGGESTIONS??
Also, any mechanics in the Boston area who would like to help a fellow AT out? Any help or suggestion is appreciated!!!
Thanks for reading.
NOTE: I'm not saying all mechanics are dishonest. I'm sure there are plenty of honest, hard working mechanics out there. So, please don't get offended by this rant.
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