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87 Questions

Last Answer on October 20, 2013

What do you auto mechanics wear on the job? Is there a particular kind of clothing or fabric that can stand up to grease etc, or do you just assume whatever you wear is gonna get destroyed?

Asked by playball! almost 13 years ago

We have a service that cleans our uniforms. Off hand I don't know the material, but I will check for you. I pay about $200 a year for uniforms.

1086 Votes

Do you think cars are getting TOO technologically advanced? Do you and other mechanics wack nostalgic about how older cars may have had fewer bells and whistles but were built far better?

Asked by The Occasional Auto Purist almost 13 years ago

GREAT question. Funny, it was something I was chatting with my boss about today. It is an interesting thing to analyze. One the one hand, the less bells and whistles, the less things that can break. But there is another side to it. The more advanced cars get, the easier mechanics can interact with it. We can use a scan tool and see exactly what the car sees. Air, fuel, and even compression can be seen. It can be seen live while a car is driving down the road. We do get nostalgic for older cars. Mostly because we knew how to fix them faster. The new stuff always has a learning curve.

1082 Votes

How good is the city & highway mileage of the Aston Mini Cooper in general?

Asked by Steve over 12 years ago

Steve, refer to the Maroni sticker. You can also get mpg from places like cars.com.

1078 Votes

we have 1995 vw cabrio, after putting in $2200 in parts and labor in this car we scheduled it to be aligned. Just to be told it would cost $94 because it would need to be shimmed. Now they say something is not lining up...wrong tie rods ends??

Asked by erica almost 13 years ago

Hi Erica,

The part that would be shimmed would be the rear of the car. Do you know what will not line up? It could be the wrong tierods or tie rod ends. You may also have something else bent.
Please email me Charles(at)humblemechanic(dot)com. If you have a copy of the alignment sheet let me know. I will take a look at it.

1072 Votes

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do all tires have a temperature rating

Asked by pepe almost 13 years ago

As far as I know, they do.

1068 Votes

this happened at a Toyota dealership. wouldnt I be able to sue for them telling me that the vehicle is good to go and they allow me to drive off the lot, when the vehicle was not to par w/ safety standards. They broke their service contract. Correct?

Asked by DADE over 12 years ago

You could sue them. I was just saying that if you do, be sure it's worth it. If the dealer fixed your car(as they should with out question) what other obligation do they have?

If they are giving you a hassle about fixing it, then I would put the screws to them for sure.

I guess my big question is, What are you trying to get from a lawsuit?

Don't think that I am on the side of the dealer here. They messed up, and they need to make it right. I just don't see a lawsuit being worth the time, energy and money..

1062 Votes

Toyota mechanic fails secure Front Passenger rotor to the caliper. Not loose, no bolts applied. While Driving home wheel banged R to L then locked up. After wheel was removed the brakes dropped. Is this a big enough safety factor for a case? Consider

Asked by DADE over 12 years ago

Yikes! I hope that everyone is okay. It hard to say whether sueing is a worth wild venture. Here is my take.

A good shop will take care of anything that happened as a result of this mechanics mistake. Whatever damage to the car needs to be repaired, and paid for by the shop. If the shop did that, I think that I would be fine with that. I don't think that I would be taking my car back either.

There is 1 execption, injuries! If someone got injured as a result of this happening, I would sue. Customers almost always have the upper hand in a lawsuit against a shop.

Thanks for the question DADE. I hope that it works out for you. Can you please update me on what happens? You can update here, or email me Charles(at)humblemechanic(dot)com.

1054 Votes

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Auto Mechanic

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

What do you auto mechanics wear on the job? Is there a particular kind of clothing or fabric that can stand up to grease etc, or do you just assume whatever you wear is gonna get destroyed?

Do you think cars are getting TOO technologically advanced? Do you and other mechanics wack nostalgic about how older cars may have had fewer bells and whistles but were built far better?

How good is the city & highway mileage of the Aston Mini Cooper in general?

we have 1995 vw cabrio, after putting in $2200 in parts and labor in this car we scheduled it to be aligned. Just to be told it would cost $94 because it would need to be shimmed. Now they say something is not lining up...wrong tie rods ends??

Also on Jobstr...

do all tires have a temperature rating

this happened at a Toyota dealership. wouldnt I be able to sue for them telling me that the vehicle is good to go and they allow me to drive off the lot, when the vehicle was not to par w/ safety standards. They broke their service contract. Correct?

Toyota mechanic fails secure Front Passenger rotor to the caliper. Not loose, no bolts applied. While Driving home wheel banged R to L then locked up. After wheel was removed the brakes dropped. Is this a big enough safety factor for a case? Consider

Auto Mechanic

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

What do you auto mechanics wear on the job? Is there a particular kind of clothing or fabric that can stand up to grease etc, or do you just assume whatever you wear is gonna get destroyed?

Do you think cars are getting TOO technologically advanced? Do you and other mechanics wack nostalgic about how older cars may have had fewer bells and whistles but were built far better?

How good is the city & highway mileage of the Aston Mini Cooper in general?

we have 1995 vw cabrio, after putting in $2200 in parts and labor in this car we scheduled it to be aligned. Just to be told it would cost $94 because it would need to be shimmed. Now they say something is not lining up...wrong tie rods ends??

Also on Jobstr...

do all tires have a temperature rating

this happened at a Toyota dealership. wouldnt I be able to sue for them telling me that the vehicle is good to go and they allow me to drive off the lot, when the vehicle was not to par w/ safety standards. They broke their service contract. Correct?

Toyota mechanic fails secure Front Passenger rotor to the caliper. Not loose, no bolts applied. While Driving home wheel banged R to L then locked up. After wheel was removed the brakes dropped. Is this a big enough safety factor for a case? Consider

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