Teach your kids two wrench

[kyngfish]

My in-laws bought a place near us so they could make extended visits. They live in Miami and we live in Oregon. My father in law is a car nut, and god bless him, he drives a 991 Carrera 4 GTS - but only because he can’t get a GT3 allocation - some people just don’t have any luck.

Anyway, they had to get a car here as well as a place, so over my bewildered objections, they bought a 2018 Beetle with 50k miles. I loved my wife’s MKVII GTI - but it was the least reliable car we owned, also the newest, with the least miles. That thing drove wonderfully, but it was trash.

So yeah of course all of the lights on the Beetle dashboard light up, and it goes into limp home mode randomly one day, and I’ve already had to do a battery replacement and an oil change on this thing (which inexplicably means removing an entire underbody panel - even my Land Cruiser has oil change access under all the underbody shielding). I tell my FIL that the MKVII had an issue with the Clockspring in the steering wheel, and this caused a bunch of lights to light up on the dash, but also I had had an old Mercedes where a faulty wheel sensor did something similar.

They decide they don’t want to trouble me, so they make an appt with a local mechanic. I offer to drop it off - thinking - honestly the mechanic will probably find the issue faster than me, so, cool. I tell the guy they should check the Clockspring or wheel sensor, which I fully expect him to ignore and he does.

They charge my in laws 300 bucks for “diagnosis” and they tell my in laws that the computer codes were apparently all wrong and they recoded the computer, and it’s fixed. Naturally they drive it home and it’s fine, but as soon as they turn it on that night to meet us for dinner - Christmas tree.

So for kicks, during dinner, I thumb through the 20 odd codes I was seeing from the OBD2 - and find one for the left wheel sensor. Most of the other codes aren’t linked to a specific sensor, and I figured if there was a more generalized error like a faulty ECU - I would be getting codes for all sensors, front left felt really specific.

The next day is Saturday, and the mechanic is closed, so I pick up a sensor at the flaps for 60 bucks, take ten minutes to replace it, and drive off, and lights start disappearing.

I wish I could say this is the first time I’ve had an experience like this at a mechanic, but it’s happened to me a bunch. This car is under manufacturer warranty, and the dealer was saying they wouldnt be able to book an appt for 3 months.

Honestly my in laws are doing fine. If their car breaks they can rent one, or take Uber everywhere and it’s no big deal. But I grew up in a home where we didn’t have a lot, and a lazy mechanic - one car and no options would have broken us. I’m an experienced amateur at best, and I had this diagnosed and fixed in under a half hour. A reasonably competent mechanic with a hint of care should have been able to spot the issue.

Stuff makes me see red. Cherry on top is that they texted my Father in Law that Monday to ask how the car was, he explained what had happened, and then they asked for a five star review on google. Good grief. I feel bad for the working family in this country.

[oldE]

Not just your country. Four years ago I bought an '07 C class Mercedes for cheap, as it had a cel. Some research on a Mercedes forum and some inspection revealed the cause: worn balance shaft sprocket. Annoying, but not fatal on that car. I was told there was a Mercedes specialist an hour away and left the car with them to see what might be done.
Waste of time and money. They charged me about 25% of what I had paid for the car to tell me what I already knew.
A few days later I got the request for a positive review.
Ahh. No.

Best
Les

[gchappel]

"Teach your kids two wrench"

Lots of things to learn in the world.
Two, too, to

But I agree that for many, any type of work ethic and pride in ones work has taken a nose dive in the last generation
gary.

[GH85Carrera]

Just last week I replaced the battery in my wife's 2017 Macan. Out of curiosity I called the dealership and asked what they charge for just the battery. Only $750.00! and I know if they installed iit it would be another 200 bucks at least.

I plugged in the OBD2 reader and it said the battery was at 57% and only 11.6 volts. It was the original battery in the car. Rather than wait for the wrong moment for it to die, I replaced it.

I went to the local Interstate battery place and brought in the old battery. It is 95 amp hrs and the old one was 92. Same AGM construction, and only $275.00 with taxes out the door.

The replacement is simple enough once the spare tire is out, and the subwoofer is removed.

The challenge is the Macan wants to know the amp hrs of the battery, 95, and the battery type AGM, and the tricky part is it wants the serial number and a part number. So I reused the old serial number but changed the last digit from a 1 to a 7, and it took that. The part number was too short, so I added a space. It took that. The serial number is 205 JCB4E9A0ZK7 and HAS to have capital letters. And typing on a tablet screen is a pain to go back from numbers to capital letters. and the space between the 205 is 100% necessary.

Anyway, the DYI battery replacement paid for the Autel MX808 scan tool.

I changed the battery on my 85 911 and no special computer tools were needed. I still can't find where to plug in the OBD reader.

[kyngfish]

Originally Posted by gchappel

"Teach your kids two wrench"

Lots of things to learn in the world.
Two, too, to

But I agree that for many, any type of work ethic and pride in ones work has taken a nose dive in the last generation
gary.

Hah. It autocorrected on my iPad and by the time I saw it I couldn’t edit the title. Sue me.

[kyngfish]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

The challenge is the Macan wants to know the amp hrs of the battery, 95, and the battery type AGM, and the tricky part is it wants the serial number and a part number. So I reused the old serial number but changed the last digit from a 1 to a 7, and it took that. The part number was too short, so I added a space. It took that. The serial number is 205 JCB4E9A0ZK7 and HAS to have capital letters. And typing on a tablet screen is a pain to go back from numbers to capital letters. and the space between the 205 is 100%
[/COLOR]

Christ what a pain. I also use diy repairs as an excuse to acquire new tools. Works out for the wife. Works out for me.

[LWJ]

And this morning I discover a neighbor with similar car interests as I. Porsche and LandCruiser. Hey Kyngfish! Small world.

[911 Rod]

Mechanics can be lazy just like a lot of people that don't give a s##t.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Agreed- I think kids SHOULD learn two wrench method:

https://expeditionportal.com/two-wrench-leverage-trick/

[masraum]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

Agreed- I think kids SHOULD learn two wrench method:

https://expeditionportal.com/two-wrench-leverage-trick/

Or did you mean this one?

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Originally Posted by masraum

Or did you mean this one?

I was actually thinking just to use two socket wrenches (one on each end of a nut/bolt) to unscrew it doubley fast, but that'll do too

[LEAKYSEALS951]

After 10 years of PPOT participation, one deserves four wrench status.

[mattdavis11]

Kudos on the fix.

I get perturbed when mechanics tell people something is wrong and it's going to be expensive, especially when they can't afford it.

Last week there was a guy on the next door app looking for some help with his air conditioning on his car. I messaged him and we talk, then the next day he brings the car by my house.

This guy is down on his luck. His wife hadn't paid the mortgage in 4 years and ran off, etc... just in a hard spot . A friend of his recommended a mechanic who told him it needed a complete new system. We're talking a repair that exceeds the value of the vehicle. Another friend who looked at it said the compressor is fine but he didn't know what was wrong, it must have a leak.

I spend a little time, run some traps, compressor is fine, pressure switch, etc.. I find the lines are getting cold but there's no cold air inside. I Google where the blend door actuator is on his car and send him to the store.

He comes back, we take the glove box out and notice that the blend door actuator isn't even plugged in. Those things don't just come unplugged, someone was looking for some fast money.

The system was a little overcharged, I corrected that, and sent him on his way.

To say he was happy would be an understatement.

[Ralph3.]

^^^^^^

Good deed, you sir are good neighbor.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Ralph3.

^^^^^^

Good deed, you sir are good neighbor.

Matt's the shizzle fo sho!

[Tobra]

I need more neighbors like Matt, but it turns out I am the Matt for my neighborhood.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

Agreed- I think kids SHOULD learn two wrench method:

https://expeditionportal.com/two-wrench-leverage-trick/

Unsafe...but we've all done it. Much safer is a wrench extender...plus they allow use of either wrench end on the fastener.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Just last week I replaced the battery in my wife's 2017 Macan. Out of curiosity I called the dealership and asked what they charge for just the battery. Only $750.00! and I know if they installed iit it would be another 200 bucks at least.

I plugged in the OBD2 reader and it said the battery was at 57% and only 11.6 volts. It was the original battery in the car. Rather than wait for the wrong moment for it to die, I replaced it.

I went to the local Interstate battery place and brought in the old battery. It is 95 amp hrs and the old one was 92. Same AGM construction, and only $275.00 with taxes out the door.

The replacement is simple enough once the spare tire is out, and the subwoofer is removed.

The challenge is the Macan wants to know the amp hrs of the battery, 95, and the battery type AGM, and the tricky part is it wants the serial number and a part number. So I reused the old serial number but changed the last digit from a 1 to a 7, and it took that. The part number was too short, so I added a space. It took that. The serial number is 205 JCB4E9A0ZK7 and HAS to have capital letters. And typing on a tablet screen is a pain to go back from numbers to capital letters. and the space between the 205 is 100% necessary.

Anyway, the DYI battery replacement paid for the Autel MX808 scan tool.

I changed the battery on my 85 911 and no special computer tools were needed. I still can't find where to plug in the OBD reader.

More and more....cars being made with the intent being that only dealerships can fix a problem. Now they make even a simple battery replacement complicated. Stinks to high heaven.

[cockerpunk]

i dont think you have to teach your kids to wrench, you need to teach them they are perfectly capable of doing anything a professional does, if they do enough research and try.

i learned basically everything i know about wrenching from youtube. and i build and maintain road race cars, ice racing cars, im probably one of only a handful of people worldwide who knows about everything there is to know about studded tires.

all from the internet and personal experience.

same with home repair and remodel. its all on the youtubes. all of it.

but you gotta convince your children they are capable of taking on these things and winning.

[cockerpunk]

Originally Posted by mattdavis11

Kudos on the fix.

I get perturbed when mechanics tell people something is wrong and it's going to be expensive, especially when they can't afford it.

Last week there was a guy on the next door app looking for some help with his air conditioning on his car. I messaged him and we talk, then the next day he brings the car by my house.

This guy is down on his luck. His wife hadn't paid the mortgage in 4 years and ran off, etc... just in a hard spot . A friend of his recommended a mechanic who told him it needed a complete new system. We're talking a repair that exceeds the value of the vehicle. Another friend who looked at it said the compressor is fine but he didn't know what was wrong, it must have a leak.

I spend a little time, run some traps, compressor is fine, pressure switch, etc.. I find the lines are getting cold but there's no cold air inside. I Google where the blend door actuator is on his car and send him to the store.

He comes back, we take the glove box out and notice that the blend door actuator isn't even plugged in. Those things don't just come unplugged, someone was looking for some fast money.

The system was a little overcharged, I corrected that, and sent him on his way.

To say he was happy would be an understatement.

there is a very short list of mechanics i trust. VERY.

some of the more re-noun performance shops around here are not on that list too.