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I just had a horrendous day

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Originally posted by: Last Rezort
Originally posted by: ThePresence
No, nobody died.
Yesterday I brought my car into the mechanic for a new alternator. He charged me $250 + labor, came out to $360 and of course he waranteed his work. Not terrible. So I drive my car from Lakewood, NJ where I live to Philadelphia where I work (about 90 miles). Everything is cool. As I'm leaving work I start hearing a strange squeeking noise, the battery light on the dash lights up and I start smelling burning rubber. I pull over (I'm now in Upper Darby, PA) and I see that a belt off the alternator broke. Luckily there's an R&S Strauss shop 2 blocks away. I drive there, they look at it and tell me I need a new tension pulley and a new belt. That'll be $450, and the part won't be in until the next day. I said no thanks, called AAA to have my car towed to my mechanic in NJ (90 miles) and they told me that after the first 3 miles it's $3 a mile. I was so fed up already, I said fvck it and tow me. I just got back at 9:45 PM. The towing cost me $300. The mechanic will be facing my full wrath tommorow, and he better pay me for the towing.

CLIFF NOTES: Read the story.
Click to expand...


Ummm.....

I bought a new alternator for around 120.00, and then changed it out myself in about 20 min. Learn how to work on cars (its easy) and you wont be charged such crazy prices.
Click to expand...


there a shop here in town that specializes in alternators, ive taken 3 or 4 cars to them, and they rebuilt it for under 100 bucks every time, and ive known someone that had a new one put in for under 200 easy.

ive also replaced a tension pully and belt on a couple of cars, and it was under 300 each time...but guess thats what i get for being buds with the mechanic next to where i work, ill be damned if he can get my car fixed in under 3 days, but its feckin cheap whenever he finally gets to it 🙂
 
Originally posted by: LoKe
Originally posted by: ThePresence
Originally posted by: LoKe
Originally posted by: ThePresence
Originally posted by: LoKe
Shouldn't your mechanic have to pay though?
Click to expand...

We shall see. I certainly think so.
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He's the one who replaced the alternator, it's 100% his fault.
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Well yeah, he's gonna be FIXING it for free, no doubt. I want him to pay for the towing too.
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He'll definitely be doing that too. If he says no, you take him to court and you will easily win. It's because of him that you needed towing.

Oh. and did you miss any work time?
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Yep, threaten with small claims court.
 
Originally posted by: Jhill
Originally posted by: Naustica
$1 says mechanic won't pay for towing.
Click to expand...

I agree, he probably won't. Even though he should I doubt he will.
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These guys are probably right 🙁. Good luck getting $$ for towing from the mechanic.

My car broke down on me a few times in college - always seemed to happen on long drives, too :|. Little things, all happened at different times - exhaust bracket separated, alternator went, idler pully assembly came apart, ignition module blew out...I would have been SOL if I had to take it to a mechanic, as I had no extra $$ in college and wouldn't have been able to afford it.

In most instances mentioned above, I was able to recognize the symptoms, figure out what was wrong before I was completely immobilized, limp my car to the nearest Autozone / Advance, buy the parts, and fix it myself in the parking lot in less than 45 minutes. Alternator = $70 + core. Idler pulley assembly = $40ish. Exhaust clamp = $0.99. Ignition module = $25. All that stuff would have been HUGE $$ at a repair shop, with their "diagnostic fee," parts markup, + inflated labor costs - not to mention the stuff they tell you is "bad" when it really isn't, just so they can bilk you out of more cash.

It is VERY worthwhile to learn basic car repairs. You'd save yourself LOTS of headaches, time, and money - plus you know that the job is done right, because you did it yourself. You don't have to worry about an incompetent / distracted / forgetful mechanic screwing something up, jeopardizing your safety, etc....

Try pricing out the parts you just paid for at a parts store, and see what you would have saved if you'd done it yourself...the markups and labor costs are ridiculous.
 
Originally posted by: ThePresence
No, nobody died.
Yesterday I brought my car into the mechanic for a new alternator. He charged me $250 + labor, came out to $360 and of course he waranteed his work. Not terrible. So I drive my car from Lakewood, NJ where I live to Philadelphia where I work (about 90 miles). Everything is cool. As I'm leaving work I start hearing a strange squeeking noise, the battery light on the dash lights up and I start smelling burning rubber. I pull over (I'm now in Upper Darby, PA) and I see that a belt off the alternator broke. Luckily there's an R&S Strauss shop 2 blocks away. I drive there, they look at it and tell me I need a new tension pulley and a new belt. That'll be $450, and the part won't be in until the next day. I said no thanks, called AAA to have my car towed to my mechanic in NJ (90 miles) and they told me that after the first 3 miles it's $3 a mile. I was so fed up already, I said fvck it and tow me. I just got back at 9:45 PM. The towing cost me $300. The mechanic will be facing my full wrath tommorow, and he better pay me for the towing.


CLIFF NOTES: Read the story.
Click to expand...

Tough one man, crashed my car today, nothing serious. but i had a rough day too. good luckwith that.
 
This is why I want to learn to work on cars... mechanics, as a group, are more sleazy & dishonest than anyone except, debatably, politicians and lawyers.
 
Originally posted by: Last Rezort
Originally posted by: ThePresence
No, nobody died.
Yesterday I brought my car into the mechanic for a new alternator. He charged me $250 + labor, came out to $360 and of course he waranteed his work. Not terrible. So I drive my car from Lakewood, NJ where I live to Philadelphia where I work (about 90 miles). Everything is cool. As I'm leaving work I start hearing a strange squeeking noise, the battery light on the dash lights up and I start smelling burning rubber. I pull over (I'm now in Upper Darby, PA) and I see that a belt off the alternator broke. Luckily there's an R&S Strauss shop 2 blocks away. I drive there, they look at it and tell me I need a new tension pulley and a new belt. That'll be $450, and the part won't be in until the next day. I said no thanks, called AAA to have my car towed to my mechanic in NJ (90 miles) and they told me that after the first 3 miles it's $3 a mile. I was so fed up already, I said fvck it and tow me. I just got back at 9:45 PM. The towing cost me $300. The mechanic will be facing my full wrath tommorow, and he better pay me for the towing.

CLIFF NOTES: Read the story.
Click to expand...


Ummm.....

I bought a new alternator for around 120.00, and then changed it out myself in about 20 min. Learn how to work on cars (its easy) and you wont be charged such crazy prices.
Click to expand...

and you probably have the space and tools. hello, changing an alt requires space, more than just a garage you have to be able to actually lean into the car etc, and you also probably used wrenches, sockets, or something of the sort, it is much more than just a quick change, you still had to already have those items, he may not have. also you need the time, what if he doesnt have the time?

i mean i have the tools, thats what y can get away with doing everything myself, but i dunno wtf im gunna do when i live on my own w/o any tools.
 
Originally posted by: Gurck
This is why I want to learn to work on cars... mechanics, as a group, are more sleazy & dishonest than anyone except, debatably, politicians and lawyers.
Click to expand...

You don't know how? I figured someone your age would know by now.
 
Originally posted by: nourdmrolNMT1
Originally posted by: Last Rezort
Originally posted by: ThePresence
No, nobody died.
Yesterday I brought my car into the mechanic for a new alternator. He charged me $250 + labor, came out to $360 and of course he waranteed his work. Not terrible. So I drive my car from Lakewood, NJ where I live to Philadelphia where I work (about 90 miles). Everything is cool. As I'm leaving work I start hearing a strange squeeking noise, the battery light on the dash lights up and I start smelling burning rubber. I pull over (I'm now in Upper Darby, PA) and I see that a belt off the alternator broke. Luckily there's an R&S Strauss shop 2 blocks away. I drive there, they look at it and tell me I need a new tension pulley and a new belt. That'll be $450, and the part won't be in until the next day. I said no thanks, called AAA to have my car towed to my mechanic in NJ (90 miles) and they told me that after the first 3 miles it's $3 a mile. I was so fed up already, I said fvck it and tow me. I just got back at 9:45 PM. The towing cost me $300. The mechanic will be facing my full wrath tommorow, and he better pay me for the towing.

CLIFF NOTES: Read the story.
Click to expand...


Ummm.....

I bought a new alternator for around 120.00, and then changed it out myself in about 20 min. Learn how to work on cars (its easy) and you wont be charged such crazy prices.
Click to expand...

and you probably have the space and tools. hello, changing an alt requires space, more than just a garage you have to be able to actually lean into the car etc, and you also probably used wrenches, sockets, or something of the sort, it is much more than just a quick change, you still had to already have those items, he may not have. also you need the time, what if he doesnt have the time?

i mean i have the tools, thats what y can get away with doing everything myself, but i dunno wtf im gunna do when i live on my own w/o any tools.
Click to expand...
You can get a cheap socket set for 2 dollars. You may need some specialty bits (I needed some Torx sockets) but those were only like 2 or 3 bucks each. That's not really an excuse. Changing an alternator on most cars doesn't require much space either - a tiny garage would be fine, or a parking lot, driveway, street, etc....
But, finding the time to do it would probably be the most valid point. All depends if it's worth it to you.
 
Originally posted by: Black88GTA
Originally posted by: nourdmrolNMT1
Originally posted by: Last Rezort
Originally posted by: ThePresence
No, nobody died.
Yesterday I brought my car into the mechanic for a new alternator. He charged me $250 + labor, came out to $360 and of course he waranteed his work. Not terrible. So I drive my car from Lakewood, NJ where I live to Philadelphia where I work (about 90 miles). Everything is cool. As I'm leaving work I start hearing a strange squeeking noise, the battery light on the dash lights up and I start smelling burning rubber. I pull over (I'm now in Upper Darby, PA) and I see that a belt off the alternator broke. Luckily there's an R&S Strauss shop 2 blocks away. I drive there, they look at it and tell me I need a new tension pulley and a new belt. That'll be $450, and the part won't be in until the next day. I said no thanks, called AAA to have my car towed to my mechanic in NJ (90 miles) and they told me that after the first 3 miles it's $3 a mile. I was so fed up already, I said fvck it and tow me. I just got back at 9:45 PM. The towing cost me $300. The mechanic will be facing my full wrath tommorow, and he better pay me for the towing.

CLIFF NOTES: Read the story.
Click to expand...


Ummm.....

I bought a new alternator for around 120.00, and then changed it out myself in about 20 min. Learn how to work on cars (its easy) and you wont be charged such crazy prices.
Click to expand...

and you probably have the space and tools. hello, changing an alt requires space, more than just a garage you have to be able to actually lean into the car etc, and you also probably used wrenches, sockets, or something of the sort, it is much more than just a quick change, you still had to already have those items, he may not have. also you need the time, what if he doesnt have the time?

i mean i have the tools, thats what y can get away with doing everything myself, but i dunno wtf im gunna do when i live on my own w/o any tools.
Click to expand...
You can get a cheap socket set for 2 dollars. You may need some specialty bits (I needed some Torx sockets) but those were only like 2 or 3 bucks each. That's not really an excuse. Changing an alternator on most cars doesn't require much space either - a tiny garage would be fine, or a parking lot, driveway, street, etc....
But, finding the time to do it would probably be the most valid point. All depends if it's worth it to you.
Click to expand...

And that's the main problem as far as I'm concerned.
 
Originally posted by: RyanSengara
Originally posted by: ThePresence
No, nobody died.
Yesterday I brought my car into the mechanic for a new alternator. He charged me $250 + labor, came out to $360 and of course he waranteed his work. Not terrible. So I drive my car from Lakewood, NJ where I live to Philadelphia where I work (about 90 miles). Everything is cool. As I'm leaving work I start hearing a strange squeeking noise, the battery light on the dash lights up and I start smelling burning rubber. I pull over (I'm now in Upper Darby, PA) and I see that a belt off the alternator broke. Luckily there's an R&S Strauss shop 2 blocks away. I drive there, they look at it and tell me I need a new tension pulley and a new belt. That'll be $450, and the part won't be in until the next day. I said no thanks, called AAA to have my car towed to my mechanic in NJ (90 miles) and they told me that after the first 3 miles it's $3 a mile. I was so fed up already, I said fvck it and tow me. I just got back at 9:45 PM. The towing cost me $300. The mechanic will be facing my full wrath tommorow, and he better pay me for the towing.


CLIFF NOTES: Read the story.
Click to expand...

Tough one man, crashed my car today, nothing serious. but i had a rough day too. good luckwith that.
Click to expand...

What happened?
 
Originally posted by: ThePresence
Originally posted by: SampSon
You should spend the extra $30 to get the AAA plus coverage.
First 100 miles free.
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I just upgraded my membership tonight.
Click to expand...
That's a sh!tload of miles and god-knows-what-kind-of-roads to tow a car on one end. I hope it's for flatbeds.
 
Originally posted by: Gurck
This is why I want to learn to work on cars... mechanics, as a group, are more sleazy & dishonest than anyone except, debatably, politicians and lawyers.
Click to expand...

get a Helms manual. don't get the crappy haynes or whatever. it's well worth the $$$. spend a day with the manual and your car skimmping thru the pics and instructions.

and also, do NOT buy cheap tools. invest in quality tools, they will last you a lifetime. i've broken many $.99 Canal St. type sockets and joints - haven't broken a snap-on or craftsman quality tool, yet.
 
Originally posted by: rh71
Originally posted by: ThePresence
Originally posted by: SampSon
You should spend the extra $30 to get the AAA plus coverage.
First 100 miles free.
Click to expand...

I just upgraded my membership tonight.
Click to expand...
That's a sh!tload of miles and god-knows-what-kind-of-roads to tow a car on one end. I hope it's for flatbeds.
Click to expand...

They sent a flatbed.
 
I don't get it.

He replaced your alternator, not your tensioner pulley. Why is it his fault? Did you ask him to change that pulley? Or inspect it?

Those things usually last forever and a day. In fact, this is the first one I've heard of that siezed.
 
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