Gonzo

It does take a bit of diversification to keep the doors open. It's definitely not the same "repair" shop as it was back in the day. Find a niche, exploit it to its fullest, and keep up with the ever changing technical advancements.

Before opening my own shop, the job I had required you to be there every Saturday, rain or shine. Basically, you worked 6 days a week. When I did open my own shop I tried the Saturday routine and found, (just has Joe commented on) the Saturday customers tended to be "Saturday only" customers. I got really tired of the 6 days a week routine so, I opted to not be open on Saturdays. The amount of business I probably lost over the years is hard to measure without comparing what could have been if I was open on Saturdays. As far as longer hours, or two shifts. I did try a late Thursday rather than all week. On Thursdays I would stay open until 10. Seemed to work, but profit wise I doubt it brought that much in. The other thing was the weather. In the summer the shop can get over 110 and since the doors face west you get the setting sun glaring down on you all the way to the back of the shop. Way too friggin hot for my tastes. So, that pretty much put an end to the late Thursday approach. Now, after three decades of service I'm more content to go home early, and come in early. I'm more selective than I used to be with new customers and I'm more likely to say NO to certain jobs than ever before.

Re-reading older stories and thought I'd put this one out again.

Yea, I remember them in the drug stores too, and I think a couple of grocery stores had a few. As kids we used to go over and push all the buttons until the store manager would chase us off. LOL It had that futuristic space age look to the thing with all those bulb sockets and weird lights.

Great to have you here. Lots of info, lots of contacts, and lots of great people. You'll like this site for sure.

Have ya seen this before? Have I seen this before? The typical question asked by that skeptical customer. How do you answer the question? I find it rather hard to know which way to answer it. A yes answer can lead in one direction, and a no answer can lead in an entirely different direction. Not answering, well that’s not going to work, either. Whichever way I answer their question only leads to more questions, or even more skepticism, but answer it I do. That’s how a lot of these repair jobs from the skeptical consumer begin. A typical phone call or skeptic customer at the counter tells the service writer about their car, which usually involves another shop or Uncle Bob. You know Uncle Bob, the family car expert guy. The skeptical customer is at the service counter not so much to get their car checked in, but to do a little investigative research on the shop and the mechanic’s skills. After telling their story of what the last shop did or what Uncle Bob tinkered with, sooner or later the proverbial question pops up, “Have you ever seen ‘this’ before?” They’re expecting some grandiose reply that either shows a spark of intelligence, or some sort of genius level response that even Uncle Bob could never achieve. Rarely does it ever make it to the genius level; most of the time it’s a mere curiosity to the mechanic that we’re even discussing apples to oranges. All he wants to do is test for a solution and not guess at a repair. Just for the sake of argument, let’s say I’ve answered the question with a “Yes”. A yes answer is always followed up with, “So, what do you think it is?” now instead of diagnosing, testing, confirming and repairing their car I’m playing a round of Jeopardy. Even though my answer isn’t in the form of a question there’s still money involved. Their money that is, and it’s not the daily double. Inevitably, if I throw out a probable cause it’s almost always countered with, “Uncle Bob tried that already” which only leads to a second attempt on my part to come up with a new and spectacular answer to their problem. If my answers turn into Jeopardy answers such as, “What did Uncle Bob do to the car?” we’ll soon be back to the skepticism and doubt on their part that I can tackle their seemingly impossible to solve problem. However, if I answer with, “Nope, never seen that before” it sends a message of incompetence or lack of knowledge and skill about their problem, and most likely even more skepticism. I guess you could say if the customer asks, “Have ya seen this before” I’m probably going to avoid saying “No” more times than not. What I’ve always wondered what the real purpose of asking the question in the first place? Are they looking for some assurance, or is it more of a check to see if I’m competent enough to handle the job? What is my reaction? I think it goes back to my dad and the TV set. In my younger years every TV had tubes. Yes, I know, I’m dating myself. Anyway, if the TV set would go on the fritz you didn’t call a repairman, well at least not my dad, he would pull all the tubes out and take them down to the TV shop and test them. He wasn’t a TV repairman by any means, but if he “thought” the problem was a bad tube he knew he could test them for free at the TV shop. You see, most TV sales and service store had a free tube tester on the showroom floor. Simply by sticking the tube in the appropriate socket and pushing a button you could find out if the tube was good or bad. Of course, while he was there he’d work the service guy over with a series of questions trying to get the guy to tell him what he “thought” the problem might be. As years went by the same principle of removing a component and bench testing it carried over into the automotive world, such as a starter, alternator or even an ignition module, for example. If you “thought” a certain component was bad you could remove the part and take it to the local parts store where it could be bench tested free of charge. While you were there getting the part tested you could play a round of Jeopardy with the parts guy, who in most cases, had a pretty good working knowledge of the cars of that era. The parts guys were usually the first to see or hear about a problem, and sometimes the parts guy and the mechanic were one in the same person. Problems were somewhat predictable and for the most part common from car to car. There weren’t as many variations between electronic circuits or mechanical systems. As the years have progressed so has the modern car, and guessing at what I “think” might be wrong with a particular system doesn’t have the same typical answer it did back then. Nowadays, asking if I’ve seen a particular problem may not be as easy to answer or as simple as removing a part and bench testing it. These days, it's like asking my dad if he’s ever seen that certain tube go bad on the TV set before. Believe me, he had no more idea of which tube was going to fail than the man on the moon. Maybe it’s time we remove the quote “Have you seen this before” and let it fade off into history just like those old TV tube testing machines. Cars are so different than they were back then, but people, well… they haven’t changed much. Technology changes a whole lot faster than the average person’s conception as to what is involved in repairing the modern car. Cost is always a factor, and those cheap shade tree type shops that rely on “I think it’s this” to make repairs will probably be a thing of the past as the interconnection between manufacturers and the independent shops grows closer and closer. The trend these days is for the manufacturer to hold a tighter grip on their products. This is going to lead to a compromise between the professional independent shops and the manufactures in certifications, component purchasing, and information. Maybe then when somebody asks, “Have you seen this before?” the professional answer can be, “I can test the system and then find out the results. At that point I can say whether or not I’ve seen it before. That will be $xxxx to perform that certain diagnostics.” The days of the free tube check followed by drilling the service guy for answers is a thing of the past. I think you can sum it all up like this, “Yes, I’ve seen it before, but what your problem is exactly, I won’t know until it’s tested”. 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As they all tell themselves before they start tearing it apart, "How hard can it be?" ROFL. Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

I still get a few basket cases in once in a while. Although, they may not be total "basket cases" but it wouldn't take much to turn them into a pile of scrap metal. LOL The last one was a 73 Ford F250 camper special. The guy just want the turn signals fixed. . . holy flashers!!! I took the nut off of the steering wheel and the entire steering column fell apart. The guy tried to work on it himself and took all the hold down screws and clips out...well...because he didn't know how to put them back. LOL It was easier to replace the entire column with an aftermarket one. The column didn't arrive at the shop in a basket . . . but it sure left in one. LOL

I have access to all those classes too, and with a membership in ASA there are even more classes available. Also, there is AVI out of Florida that offers terrific on line training. https://aviondemand.com/ of course there are my fav's... conventions. Great classes as well as a chance to throw back a few with fellow technicians from across the globe. Even doing ASE practice tests are a great way of honing your skills. Nice concept, and the more places to go for great training the better. But, like Frank said, "Don't try to reinvent the wheel" but... keep at it. Entry level is good, but that is also the most popular type of quick training.... it's everywhere, ya just gotta know where to look or what to "google".

A Tisket A Tasket Every mechanic worth his salt loves a good challenge when it comes to something mechanical. Tearing engines and transmissions apart and putting them back together is kind of like “automotive therapy” for most professional wrenchers. These “therapy” jobs come in all sizes, big and small, and even in green and yellow baskets. They all start out as recognizable pieces of machinery but are now a disemboweled mechanical nightmare, haphazardly strewn into a motionless collection of parts at the bottom of a cardboard box. Yes, I’m talking about the proverbial basket case. They really do come in baskets, but cardboard boxes, shopping bags, burlap sacks, pillow cases, milk crates and the occasional pickup bed loaded down with what can only be described as pure chaos will suffice for a good old fashion basket case. True to form, the owner of these discombobulated ancient relics will always tell the mechanic the same thing, “Everything is there.” Yep, everything is there alright. Everything you took apart is probably there, but what about all the parts that were missing before you started? You know, those parts that probably set this whole thing in motion, and why it ended up in these assorted parts boxes. And, I believe you when you tell me, you haven’t lost a bolt, a nut, or that specially shaped washer that is rarer than hen’s teeth to find. (Not!) What makes matters worse is not so much what they took apart, but how they took it apart. There are numerous components that seasoned mechanic knows better than to try and separate, even though there might be some obvious screws or fasteners or a sealed cap. However, to the weekend nut spinner it looks no different than any other part. Somehow, someway, they manage to take that sealed cap off of a spring loaded diaphragm, and the next thing you know … zip, zoom, zing, sproing… the internal pieces fling into the next county. I can only imagine how much time and effort went into removing that sealed cap! From window tracks to engine components, nothing is sacred when it comes to how or what someone will tear apart and then give up on. Sooner or later the quest and the ambition to put it back together dwindles down to another feeble attempt they can mark off of their bucket list. They’ve lost hope of ever putting it back together again. Then, it’s time to toss all the pieces in the nearest basket or container. Someday, they’ll finish it, sell it, or maybe take it to a real mechanic. For the mechanic, the real challenge is trying to figure out what in the world is in the basket, what can be reused, and what has to be replaced. Sometimes the person who brought this basket case to the mechanic just purchased it at some ridiculously cheap price, thinking it can’t be that bad to put back together. Other times, even before they’ve bought these jumbled together crates of parts, they’re already working on how to spring this on their favorite mechanic. Once the mechanic gets his eyes on their latest flea market find the first thing he’s usually is wondering about is why in the world it was torn down this far apart in the first place. Sometimes it’s obvious, other times it only becomes apparent when you start pulling things out of the boxes and assembling what’s there. A perfect example of this was the time an old rare motorcycle came to the shop in bushel baskets. Since it was an old regular customer, and I’m always up for a good challenge, I thought, heck, why not, I’ll give it a go. Turned out the baskets contained enough for about one and a half engines, and as usual several parts were missing. Once I sourced all the missing pieces I could come up with, I managed to get it back together. I was in for a big surprise when I fired it up though. On the very bottom of the engine block there was a slight crack that only could be detected after the engine was warmed up. I really think this was one of those basket cases that should have remained in the basket. And, wouldn’t ya know it, the only part that wasn’t in the baskets and impossible to find… the engine block. It’s simply amazing the extent that some people will go to when tearing down a piece of machinery. I’ve done countless restoration projects where the entire car, bolts and all, end up in little plastic bags, as well as cardboard boxes. I usually mark each box or bag with a number, starting with the first part I take off in a bag labeled #1. Then, using a log sheet I work my way from the last number back to number #1 when reassembling. Seldom do I lose track of the components that way. But, to see these haphazard collections of wires, bolts, brackets, and grease covered components in the same box, all twisted together makes this anal retentive mechanic with a touch of OCD cringe every time. I’ve got to admit the hours spent sorting through the boxes brings out that “kid in the candy store” reaction from me. It adds to the experience of trying to bring life back to an old forgotten piece of machinery, and there’s no telling how long some of these basket cases have been abandoned back in the corner of some old garage. Whether it’s a hundred year old oil pull motor or a rare foreign car with no source of replacement parts, the challenge and the stories you can tell afterwards are priceless. None of these basket cases ever pay nearly what they should, but is it really about the money on these projects? For me, it’s more about the achievements and the chance to say, “I did it.” Yes, these basket cases can be a real challenge sometimes, but honestly, after you’ve put the last bolt on, turned the last screw, and got it to fire up, you can look back on the whole experience and tell everyone how you brought one more forgotten relic back to life, as well as emptying a few peach baskets. That’s when it’s time to flip that peach basket over and sit down and take in all that you’ve accomplished. Believe me, it’s great therapy, and you’ll be smiling from ear to ear when that hunk of iron is up and running again. View full article

excellent analogy

Tell them their problem is gators in the gas tank....lol

There’s the bargain hunter, the bargain shopper, the bargain finder, and the “I ain’t shopping anywhere, unless I get a bargain” shoppers. But, there is one more bargain shopper who tries their best to get something for nothing at the repair shop, and that’s the “Sinch’ ya bargain shopper. The sinch’ ya bargain shopper isn’t hard to find, they’re everywhere. But, there are a lot of places where this form of shopping never works, such as the grocery store and at the gas pump. Now, the sinch’ ya shopper may try it at a doctor’s office, but I seriously doubt when they’re at the dentist getting a cavity filled they’ll ask, “Sinch’ ya got that tooth fixed, can ya look at this other one too?” and not consider the fact your dealing with a professional who gets paid for that sort of thing. Basically, what they are trying to accomplish is to get one thing done while sneaking in something else. You know the type. At the repair shop it is a habitual occurrence. Take the guy who comes in for a brake job, and then asks, “Sinch’ ya got it here, could you see why the check engine light is on.” Sometimes, the shop will bow to their request, but a lot of times this simple check ends up taking a considerable amount of the technicians time, because the problem in question isn’t a simple problem after all. It could be their thinking process assumes it’s no big deal, since the car is in the service bay already. Although, sometimes it’s pretty obvious it’s an intentional effort to slip in another repair on the cheap. And you can bet, if the mechanic checks things out and finds it’s a major issue, they’re not inclined to pay for any diagnostic time. I mean what was the mechanic thinking? They just wanted you (the mechanic) to “look” at it, not diagnose it. Now, that’s another thing. That word “look”. It seems to go hand in hand with the “Sinch’ ya” bargain shopper. “Can ya look at this for me too? Since it’s here?” however, when the service writer says, “They’ll have to charge you for the time to look at it”, you can bet the next thing they’ll say is, “Oh, never mind then. If it’s going to cost me anything I’ll just wait until next time.” That little word “look” tends to lead to other issues as well. Time after time I’ve been asked, “Well, if ya can’t look at it for free, what do ya “think” it is?” Oh here we go again. Now, the mechanic isn’t looking, he’s gotta think, sinch’ ur there and all. Which is probably the worst idea ever. Guessing at a repair just starts the wheel of parts spinning and hope it lands on something cheap. You can guess at a probable solution, with luck and experience the mechanic might actually have the correct answer. But, I have to wonder, is that all they really wanted in the first place? You know, a free spin on the parts wheel. Obviously the answer can only be based on what information was given. What if it’s not the right solution? What if the mechanic’s answer doesn’t match what they’ve researched on the internet? What if they think it’s still something else and the mechanic is wrong? Now what? I’ve solved these “thinking” answers with my own little tidbit of wacky wisdom. I’ll tell them, “I try not to think. It gets me in trouble every time. I’d rather test it and be sure.” Which only leads to, “Then, what would be your best guess?” Now we’ve gone passed the sinch’ ya, the look, and the think, and have gone straight to the guess. I’ve got a standard answer for the guess. It’s an answer that throws the whole question of sinch’ ya, look, and think right out the window. I tell them, “Well, it sounds like butterflies in the muffler.” Imagine the unusual stares I get. For me, it’s a priceless moment. It’s about then they realize I’m not about to tell them anything worthwhile about my job, their car, or their problem. Let’s face it, the long and short of it all is thinking, looking, and sinch’ ya’s don’t put supper on the table. Of course, it’s all about the dollar. It goes back to why it’s not such a good idea to give estimates over the phone without knowing the condition of the vehicle. Despite their best efforts to explain things, I’ve found over the years if they knew what was wrong in the first place chances are we wouldn’t be having this conversation. But, sinch’ ur here, maybe I can make an exception. Maybe I’ll bend a bit and take a look at the problem. Yea, I’ve slipped up more than a few times, usually after I’ve forgotten the golden rule of not “looking” at a customer’s car unless we’ve agreed on a fee. And, what happens 99% of time? They’ll thank me and tell me they’ll be back later to have the work done, but I wouldn’t hold your breath you’ll ever see them again. In large, urban shops the whole concept of the sinch’ ya bargain hunter is probably a whole lot different than the same type of customer in a small rural town. Meaning, there isn’t one set rule or answer to the issue. The big problem for both the big city and the small town is educating the customer, as well as the technician on what it takes to do this job. I’ve got to admit, after 3 decades of working on cars I still don’t quite understand the general public. Sinch ya’ gotta have them, you might as well “look” at their car and tell them what ya “think”, at least that’s my best “guess”. But, I am sure of one thing, when I retire from all this wrenching and scanning I won’t be the bargain hunter type of customer. I know from experience what it takes to do this job, and I highly respect anyone who takes on this trade and performs the job with professionalism. But, I might ask ya to check the butterflies in the muffler, sinch’ ya got it in the shop and all. View full article

Lol, yes a new story for later on.

Lol...they never apologize. ..

Panic Attack Getting your car repaired can be a trying experience for a lot of people. It could be the cost, time without their car, lack of trust with mechanics in general, or their understanding about automobiles. It can put some people into an all-out panic attack. Then, throw into the mix the car in question is an elderly parent’s car that the son or daughter has taken on the responsibility of getting it repaired, or a parent’s own offspring’s ride to school or college. The sudden realization of sending one’s own child out into the vast world is bad enough, but put them behind the wheel? It’s just too much stress for some parents to deal with. I can’t begin to count the number of times a parent, who’s on the edge of a nervous breakdown over their son or daughter’s ride has said to me, “I don’t want my kid driving that car if it’s going to break down.” Ah, news flash … all cars will at some point in time . . . break down, but don’t panic we’ve all had our turn on the back of a tow truck, and we’ve all got a story to tell about it. When an elderly parent is involved, usually I’ll get the same old answer, “Well, dad shouldn’t be driving anyway.” But, when one of the kids is placed behind the wheel it’s a completely different story. Just the mere thought of a flat tire or using jumper cables, or worse yet the fuel pump goes on the fritz can leave some parents in a panic mode worthy of a Hollywood Oscar. Sometimes, it’s not the repair that matters as much as a little assurance from the mechanic that everything is going to be fine. For the mechanic, it puts him/her in a spot that no text book or technical seminar ever covered, and that’s how to be consoling and showing compassion for the situation to ease their tension and frustration. Sometimes, even the best bedside manner isn’t enough, you’ve got to go over every issue one at a time. Especially if the car in question has enough miles on the odometer to have traveled to the moon and back. A lot of times the car is a hand me down from the family, but as soon as “Junior” or “Princess” gets behind the wheel things start going wrong. We all know it can’t be because of the age of the car, or how it’s driven… of course not. Junior does no wrong, and little missy is a perfect angel. The mechanic is entirely to blame why this old car can’t stay on the road without breaking down. Then again, ask any mechanic if they’ve heard this line before, “It’s been a good car, and it’s never broken down before. In fact, we’ve never had to have it serviced.” There are other ways the mechanic gets involved in creating an atmosphere of trust outside of their tool box. Sometimes, the mechanic has to fix the parent more than they need to fix the car. One Friday afternoon, a call came in about a 20 year car that had a battery issue. After a brief explanation of the problem, the mom said she could have it at the shop right after the new tires were put on. The car showed up, but mom wasn’t driving. It was Grandma. She was assigned the duty of sitting at the tire shop waiting on the new tires, then drive it over to my shop to have the electrical problem checked out. Grandma had enough of auto repair shop lobbies, old magazines, and stale donuts and asked if there was any place to go shopping nearby while I checked the car out. I gave her a few ideas and places to go, and before long she got a ride and left me with the car. The problem turned out to be nothing at all, just a loose clamp. However, a few other issues were pointed out during the follow-up phone call with mom. Mom had no idea about any other problems, which only made her concerns of sending her offspring to college in a car with any type of problem even more heightened, even though the problems were minor, such as a faulty wiper blade refill and an electric seat that didn’t move. We had a rather long chat about the overall condition of the car, and after explaining to her that a ripped wiper blade refill and a power seat that didn’t’ work wasn’t much at all to worry about. The wiper blade was an easy fix, and since the seat was in a position that worked well for the youngster there wasn’t any need in digging into that problem. All and all mom’s panic attack had softened to nothing more than a concerned parent looking out for the wellbeing of their child. She was much more at ease sending the boy to college after our conversation. Grandma came back from her shopping trip and picked up the car later that same day. Just before closing the phone rang, it’s the mother again. This time she was talking so fast I could hardly keep up with her. She was on her way with jumper cables to go rescue grandma who was stranded at the local grocery store. Knowing that I just had it in the shop and checked things out very carefully, I was quite surprised that a problem could even exist. By now, the mom is in full panic mode frantically telling me about the car. I said to her, “I can assure you, the battery couldn’t have gone dead that quickly. My guess is that it’s something else, like it’s not in park, or an overheated starter motor.” “Well, I don’t know how that could happen,” said the frantic mom. “I’m sure the battery is dead, because this is exactly what happened last time.” A few minutes later she called back when she got to the car. I could hear the ignition warning chime going off in the background as she was giving me the third degree over having the car in the shop and obviously not finding the problem. I abruptly interrupted her, “Ma’am, would you try to put it in park first then start it.” I could hear the gear selector sliding into park, and the engine starting. There was a moment of silence, then in a soft voice she said, “It wasn’t in park.” (In the background I could hear grandma apologizing the whole time.) Needless to say, this frantic mom, calmed down almost immediately. She was impressed that I knew what the problem was even though I was nowhere near the car. (Lucky guess actually). She was even more impressed that a mechanic, yes a mechanic, didn’t just take her money and leave her high and dry, but helped make a bad situation a whole lot more tolerable. Not everyone is cut out to be a mechanic, no more than everyone is cut out to be a brain surgeon. You’ve got to have the right kind of moxie to take on the challenges of this job. Fixing cars in one thing, but you need to master patience and understanding when it comes to dealing with the unaware, uniformed, and quite cautious general public. Sometimes, being a mechanic requires fixing things without a tool box. View full article

Car repair isn't a glamorous job, in fact it doesn't rank very highly as a career choice (ask any high school counselor) But, it is a way of life and a career for a lot of people, including myself. I enjoy it, still to this day. ASO is one place where you can talk shop with like minded people in the business. They're technical wisdom, stories, and passion for this trade is evident in the pages of ASO. If you read a few of the topics from all over the country, you'll find that passion, that drive, that "want to do it better" atmosphere of helping people with their car problems. We just don't fix cars, we fix people's faith in the automotive mechanic too, and that's what you'll find here at ASO.

Golf, fishing, woodworking, golf, play chess, golf.... did I mention golf???