kenk

yes, just keep an open mind when working on anything, even if it's been through the "butchers" and your the next guy working on it!

we need an application to find an application, as searching can be time consuming, not knowing where it can be found

Yea a different kind of bug that can be in a vehicle that might not be the one your after!

yes, the laws physics, which are the  fundamental laws of nature, you can't break them, so I wonder why they are called laws? In real life laws are constantly broken!

Gonzo: Same thing can be said for being in the electronics business. You start out fixing and tinkering with some common  electronics like TV sets radios and the next thing you know there is a career there, and you find you can get paid for working on things you like to work on. Using tools and techniques too have changed over the years. Now we don't solder as much or use scopes as much, but there is still a need to repair, even though we don't get down to chip level anymore. To me seeing how much electronics has moved over to the automotive industry  is amazing. Even the techniques such as using O' scopes, voltmeters are mainstream tools today in that industry. One thing that has not changed much is the need for basic hand tools(wrenches socket sets cutters wire strippers etc). Most of those tools I still use today!

Gonzo: So many special tools used only once! Too bad you could not  rent them. Dealing with  stench in a vehicle, "book time doesn’t apply due to the conditions I’m working in" I think you did the right ting there!

Sometimes manufacturers use fake reviews to make there product look good. Buyers should be aware of this!

Yep, are bodies need PM too. don't forget it!

Years ago when I  was very young my father who was not a mechanic but a fairly good handy man, as he built his own club basement fixed a problem on his old American Motors Rambler,that allowed him to drive the car, until it could be properly repaired. How did he know what to do?

The problem was the ignition switch which on those cars was prone to going bad. When it went bad it would keep the starter motor engaged and as you know it, if left running while the engine was running, it would burn up the starter motor in short order.

I can remember my father reaching underneath the dash, and low and behold, not even looking he pulled out this green wire which apparently came off the ignition switch. It must of not been on tight and it was a spade type of termination, because if just came off without any tools!

It was the starter solenoid feed wire. That wire was connected to the part of the ignition switch that apparently shorted out and was constantly applying 12 volts to the starter solenoid. The starter stopped spinning and he had found a way to temporary control the starter by placing a jumper wire between the wire he removed and the terminal it came off of  on the back of the starter switch, until he had the switch replaced. At least he could drive it then.

Was it just plain dumb luck that he happened to pull the right wire off the starter switch? I never asked him.      I guess back then I just didn't have the interest in how things got fixed. But to me it was like a magic trick. That's probably why I remember the story today!

Gonzo: Funny how everything else besides automotive repair goes up in price, people grunt and except it! But when it comes to auto repair it's called a ripoff and folks don't want to pay the higher prices. Why is this? My guess is they don't want to accept the fact that automobiles have gotten more complicated and with that costs go up.

like to see it stay, for the few that like to use it sunday evening

can you blame them for the redneck repairs? Especially nowadays where its so expensive for parts, I expect to see more redneck repairs on newer vehicles, with so much electronics on board. If they can find a way they will! Be on the lookout Gonzo! electronics hacks!

realistically  it should be time spent, time charged. but there are so many other factors that have to be considered, it becomes a huge problem to agree on a price!

telematics, might help getting your car repaired as you will know something is wrong, but you still have to get the car to a repair facility or have someone come out and fix it. What about cost of repair, is it really going to make it more economical? Don't think so!

You should not have to ask "have you seen this before" you need to trust your mechanic or technician's ability and even if "he never seen this before" he can still fix it! BTW, we used to take those tv tubes to the drug store as they too had "tube testers" and sometimes those testers made mistakes  and said the tube was good and it turned out to be bad.

Think of it as trying to solve a Rubik's cube puzzle, which I did years ago, with some help from notes. It's a challenge that does not come along everyday! It's ok but you have to have the mindset to figure out puzzles.

Gonzo: Sinch’ ya there should only mean you have the car in the shop already, I will have a look, rather then placing your car outside the garage and writing another repair ticket and put the ticket back on the waiting list. It's like going into the supermarket ordering 5 lbs. of salami and  Sinch’ ya there give me 2 lbs of Swiss cheese. You still pay for both, just that you don't have to get another ticket to be served! how about that analogy?

I suppose sometimes the mechanic has to be the middle man when things go wrong. Someone to blame!

It's a good thing there is no "fast food" auto repair place. No one wants to work like that! It might not be a bad idea to give the customer a voucher for a free meal at the fast food joint down the street, just to get him out of the way so you can take your time in fixing the car without interruption!

Must be the extra stress put on a car while in the shop. Like when you go to the doctor and have your blood pressure taken. It is always high in the office! "The White coat syndrome!"

They bring it to the pro as a last resort after they can't seem to get it right

themselves. If they would bring it in the first place, the stories they have to

tell would be so short and you could get on with the business at hand!

gonzo: Sometimes you just have to trust your mechanic, so that he can just do his or her job and not have to explain why the repair is so complicated and or expensive! It will make for a better day for both parties.

Yes, there comes a time where it makes more sense to upgrade then to fight new technology with old tools and test equipment which might mean your not going be able to repair the problem in the end!

gonzo: hey, it's like I said once before "everyone wants to know a mechanic but no one wants to be one" or learn how to do it themselves without asking!

gonzo: I don't think you missed anything. you spelled it all out rather nice!