Spence

I looked at the MaxiDas and others. I am not sold on the MaxiDas. What vehicles are you looking to service with it?

Directing you to your last sentence: "Who loses out with these poor repairs done by mechanics who only know how to swap parts? …unfortunately, the customer." Who loses in my opinion? Everyone except the poorly run shop that did the work. Surely the customer as you mention but they may deserve it. They probably chose the shop because they didn't want to pay to have the job done right. If they didn't know the shop was performing poor work they do now. Other shops in the area lose as well. I have seen shops that low ball price suck the life out of other shops by taking work from them. Only to have both go down the tubes because the poorly ran shop didn't get the training... buy the equipment to do the job they are doing... charge enough to make a profit so they could stay in business. I'm sure you have had the "new" customer trying to get their car repaired come in and say "I have spent enough trying to get this car fixed and I do not want to spend anymore". I hand them back their keys and with as much professionalism as I can mustard up inform them they didn't spend a dime at our place yet. It takes proper knowledge and test equipment to determine what is wrong with their vehicle and there will be a charge for it. From there I will call them and give them the results of the tests and an amount to fix their vehicle. If that is good with them then we'll proceed. Nine out of ten will give me the keys a second time. If so they accepted how we are going to do it and understand there will be a charge for it. For the one in ten that don't... Well they deserve the shop that does the poor work and I have sent them down the road.

Saw this on another forum and thought I would bring it here. http://www.sae.org/mags/aei/11575 So what are your thoughts?

That was different.

Go figure eh...

Nice story, I liked it.

A lot of good comments you make Carl. It's applying those thoughts that I think would be good to explore. We'll see...

And what would be your ideas to "fight the good fight"? I would be interested in hearing them. Spence

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Thanks for the update.....

Good post Joe

Have you had more then one talk with him about it? Do you conduct shop meetings? If so how often? I have brought up with our guys that the shop policy is to wipe up fluid off the floor as soon as possible. One of the reasons is the tracking of it around the shop... Getting it on the souls of your shoes and then it finds its way into a customers car. This is not how a professional should work is how I out it. Keeping their area clean is put on their shoulders and they know it. I don't pay 100% flat rate but We also pay .5 hours a day for clean up and 1.0 on Friday. The shop must be cleaned up before they leave. If it is clean before the .5 or 1.0 they still get the time credit. It's an incentive to have it clean rather then stay longer to get it done. Just some thoughts I have about it Spence

Any news?

What kind of cars do you work on the most? What type of work do you perform on these vehicles? In your area have you researched the types of cars and percentage of them per household? Age of the vehicles you are looking to work on the most? Spence

Interesting story. Been there with an attorney needing so call "expert testimony". When asked I give them my opinion. When they want it to match there opinion and they are not the same I kindly inform them they got the wrong guy... Funny how if that happens and I ask for the name of the other party they just want to get off the phone...

Cloned...

Good to see this man finally put his mind into taking charge instead of accepting defeat. There's a lot to learn from that way of thinking! Thanks for the post Spence

I do a lot of engine swaps. Ones that mate an engine that was never in a vehicle to a different one. Instead of trying to cross between two different fuel/ignition systems we install a stand alone PCM. We then do our own programming. You may want to consider that. In the mean time which computer are you using. The OBD I or the OBD II? Which sensors are being used and are they of the system that the PCM uses? Thanks for the update. Spence

With the high number of auto service places jumping at these camera machines you should be able to get a good used alignment machine at a good price. Even if you have it overhauled and made like new you'll have a better piece of equipment for less. Hope that answered your question. If not then hit me up. Spence

I have not used the Hoffman 550. I have used SnapOn, Bear and Hunter. I have been using Hunter for the past 35 years. I would steer clear of the target/camera systems for now. I would also recommend training. There is a lot more to alignments then just camber, caster and toe! Where are you located? Spence

Thanks for not letting us hang. Kinda figured you had a DVOM. Which model of Fluke? I check in once or twice a day. If you get some test results I would look forward to hearing about them. For starters do you have spark? Not only at the coil wire but at the spark plug too. What is the cranking vacuum reading with the throttle plates closed? Talk to ya later Spence

Anything? Inquiring minds wanta know...

Sounds like you are having growing pains. Which isn't a bad thing but something to deal with. Is this secretary doing your book keeping? How many people are working for you, including you?

Looking forward to you updating with your test results. Hopefully I gave you some things to think about. Spence

Oh boy... Hmmmmmmm, Do you have test equipment? Such as but not limited to: Scan tool? If so which ones... Spark tester? DVOM? Test light? Fuel pressure gauge? Propane enrichment bottle? Labscope? Pressure transducer? Compression gauge? Also do you have an information system to look things up? If so which ones... It's Saturday. I am at the shop are you? Ball in your court. I'll check back later.