mostly electronic...watch the video.

That's my question also. There was a blue wire rigged to make sure the fuel pump ran. He mentioned another miss-rig or ? causing some transmission issues. I watch this mechanic on Youtube and in general I like him. I also like South Main Auto.

Fuse manipulation, a relay moved...probably more. My thinking? Probably purposely left some stuff out on order to avoid being a "how to" video...

When i worked as a tech I saw MANY times people getting ripped off but I have to say, 90% of the time it was simply that the tech did not know what he was doing and it was not on purpose..

My '02 Silverado ignition is a little tricky to turn on and off as well. So far I've always been able to get it where it needs to be with the right little whack on the transmission shifter arm.

Again...watch the video. Obviously on purpose.

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Removal of the fuel pump relay, then running a wire from the hot of the relay receptacle directly to power so the pump would run at all times (killing the battery, and necessitating - to a trusting customer - a return to the shop), and removal of a 15 amp fuse that affects ignition and causes the transmission to go into limp mode.

All of this could be undone in, what, maybe two minutes? Customer was told they needed, at a minimum, a new fuel pump and a new ecu. After all that, does anyone think they wouldn't have ended up recommending a new gearbox as well?

As pwd noted, there might well have been more, but better to not give other unscrupulous shops a how-to.


_

Maybe not along the same lines as the above ripoffs, but even the shadetree mechanic within me gets angry at some of the garbage that goes on.

I had a good friend have the alternator die on her Odyssey minivan. She took it to the dealer, and they swapped it out but also charged her for a new radiator, because that supposedly was on its way out as well. Having replaced the alternator in my own Odyssey, I know exactly what happened to require a new alternator--the hamfisted mechanic put a hole in it while trying to remove the alternator. That's exactly why I removed the top two bolts mounting the radiator and canted it forward to give enough clearance to get my hands/tools in there and remove the alternator. And it still was like trying to remove something the size of a coconut from an opening that would only fit a softball. She (my friend) didn't know better, but I was pissed for her.

Many years ago, I had a shop that was swapping a timing belt charge me for 2 broken spark plugs. I have no doubt it was the same thing.

I initially paid for the 2 plugs as it was <$5 and wasn't worth the trouble. Then they gave me some story about the car bucking and shaking and running bad and they needed to pull the head to see if I had bent valves or issues (timing belt had failed). I started out driving with the AC off so I could listen to the motor. Everything seemed fine. About half way home I turned the AC on and the car felt like it thought it was in the rodeo, it was bucking and shaking. Turned the AC off and the issue cleared up again. I got home and started looking around. Turned out that the bolts that held the compressor in were unscrewed by 3/4". I tightened them back up and drove back to the shop. I was pissed. I parked in front of one of the bays and went to find the manager. I told him that they were either completely incompetent or crooked, he could take his pick, and that they were going to refund the cost of the spark plugs and do a few other things as I showed him how the car ran perfectly and described what I'd done to "fix" the various problems that they'd tried to convince me existed. He didn't argue and made the adjustments/refund.

+1 I ran it at 1.5 speed and still bummed at time wasted.

It does appear that we have someone who was being scammed but how much can they prove it and what if the ripoff artist says "sue me"?

My FIL is notorious for going to this Dad and Son mechanic in a not so good part of town. The place is a nightmare that I would never go to unless it is to pick him up...

A few months ago FIL needed an O2 sensor for his pick-up truck. You can actually see it and reach it easily.

That place charged him over $370 for the O2 sensor and to install. He said they told him the sensor was around $180 and the rest was install and tax. WTF? $200 to unscrew unplug and re-screw an O2 sensor. I looked up the O2 sensor, could get them for around $80. Bunch of freakin crooks.

Did you tell him that it was an $80 part that could be replaced in 15-20 mins? Or is it not worth it to try to clue him in?

I'd like to think that they at least just charged shop rates from the book which often can be pessimistic on times to get a job done. It's also not surprising for a shop to change what seems to me to be astronomical prices for parts. I get that they've got to make money, but if a shop is charging more than double the retail price, I'd consider that astronomical considering they shouldn't be paying retail.

I told him but he just loves that place and thinks they can do no wrong. Even though they usually screw up something.

Whats funny is he marvels at the car work I do, like headgaskets on my daughter's Land Rover Disco 2. Then at times doubts that I can get it done. He's 88 so I give him a break

Yep, some time oldsters get a pass. I completely understand.

Thats what im working on right now for elderly neighbors. Their check engine light came on the went to the honda dealer $800. for the sensor installed. We looked it up $120. for the sensor its a denso same one the dealer uses. Its right on top easy 10 minute job. I didnt ask how much they paid for an oil change but seemed like they wernt happy about it

My MIL bought a new Mercedes 280 from the local dealership. She drove it like a typical great grandmother type. At 30,000 miles she came down for me to drop it off at the dealership for a 30K service. The name on the ticket was Bertha, but I dropped it off, and they took me to my office.

They called and said her brakes were shot, and she needed new struts, rotors and brake pads. I mentioned the car had no brake warnings and to not do ANY of that, just the standard 30K service.

When I got it home, I pulled both wheels, and the pads had +80% of the pads left, almost no wear. The rotors were pristine, and the shocks were not leaking and all was perfect. She sold the car at 80,000 miles and it still had the same brakes on it. The Mercedes dealer was just blatantly trying to rip off an old lady. With a name like Bertha, or Florence, or Gertrude one know instantly it is an old lady and an easy mark for a rip off mechanic.

Yep, but you'd be surprised, they'll try to pull that stuff on just about anyone and everyone, doesn't much matter if you're male or female, young or old. I assume the one thing that they assume is that an oldster may better be able to afford stuff and less likely to question things.

I've been to plenty of places for tires or whatever and been told "you need new brakes." It's almost a standard response for them any time they get a car.

I hooked him up with LED headlight bulbs for the truck months ago. He couldn't see a car length away on the halogen bulbs.

He was amazed, just not amazed enough for me to unscrew an O2 sensor.

I'm in the middle of changing the AOS on my 996. This past weekend when the family was at our house he snuck out the garage to inspect the project. He couldn't get over the limited amount of space and my ability to understand and do the work.

We have a cousin and his wife that have 8 or 9 kids, I forget how many. They had a Mercedes big van until recently. The wife said they were very happy with it but "every time we took it to the dealer" for an oil change they would be given a long list of the other things that needed fixing.

It is common practice, sure but people that don't understand cars and maintenance just seem to be easy prey. Then they get freaked out by the things that allegedly need attention. And I bet 5 bucks that if windshield wipers were on the list they couldn't change them with a set from Costco.

But it raises the question, why did they take the van to the dealer anyway just for an oil change?

They replaced the van with a Ford, the one that looks like an airport shuttle. My bet is they won't get nearly the vehicle life as they would have with the Mercedes.