Vulchur Mechanic or Full Service Treatment.

[shuzboomer]

A few weeks a go I posted about my experience at the hands of what I called a Vulcher Mechanic. I wanted to expand on this post and share my experience with some of the folk that have a few more years behind the wheel. And to ask a question...

Did I get rooked or did I simply experience the "Full Service Porsche" treatment.

To make a long story short, I was stuck at the side of the road with a car that would not start.

Because extenuating circumstances, I could not tow the car to my normal Porsche mechanic. As a result, I picked Porsche only shop (not a dealer - but don't tell them) that was in my town. Again, the shop that I picked, was no fly by night operation - specializing in "Porsche Only" work; The owners of the shop are very active members at my local PCA chapter or so I was told.

I dropped my car off on Sat night and waited nervously, until Monday when someone from the shop would have a chance to look and give me the verdict. Was it a broken chain? Did i hear a crunch the first time I tried to turn over the engine after it stopped... Will they need to drop the engine....

I finally got the call about 3pm telling me that all was OK with the car. They found a bunch of little stuff (oil sender pegged, broken interior passenger handle, sticky pedal cluster, etc). But the stoppage was a result of bad ignition coil. (something I had replaced about 50 miles ago... but that's details at this point.

I was asked at this point if I wanted to correct the other items on the punch list, to which I authorized them to spend up to an hour to tell me if I needed a new oil sender or if I had a wiring problem (They said i will need a new sender). All other issues (pedal & door handle) I had already purchased parts from our host and was going to tackle in good time.

When I came to pickup the car, I got a bit of a surprise from the size of the bill $370 bucks ($275 labor + $95 for new Brazilian coil). I questioned the tech about how much time was spent to diagnose and replace a coil and was told (and read in great detail on the invoice) how they had to swap out a CD box to rule out that it was not the problem; test drive the car and give it a ride on their lift...

Full disclosure - I was familiar with replacing a coil on my 911 because I watched it replaced just a few months prior to this event. But the only CD box that I was familiar with was the one my Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon album came in. I had no idea where in the engine the CD box was located and how much time it would take to troubleshoot it. So I smiled payed the man and tried to give him $10 bucks for beer - To his credit he refused because he was the Boss!

Fired up the car and took the long way home...

Three days and 20 miles later on my way to work, my car loses power rolled to a stop at the shoulder of I287N.

This time I call my trusty wrench and towed the car to his shop.

My car was fixed using the following process that took a little over 20 min. (while I hovered trying to learn as much as possible about my car and what to do in the event I get stuck again)...

a. Check for noise from fuel pump CD box. - check
b. Check for spark with timing light - no spark
c. To rule out bad original CD box; Disconnect harness from one in the car to a known good CD box - Humming
d. Check for spark with timing light - no spark.
e. Swap our Brazilian coil
f. Check for spark - We have spark!
g. Disconnect known good CD box and hook into original CD box.

Start car and gloat...

I am a complete green horn when it comes to the world of Porsche, but with my AAA membership and credit card in good standings, I have learned a few things in the last few months of classic car ownership.

1. Brazilian coils cannot be trusted - I have already gone through 2 in less than 70 miles.

2. It takes about 20 minutes to diagnose a no start condition condition using the method outlined above:

3. Mechanics should not write poetry - If you are paying your mechanic to write poetry on your invoice in addition to fixing your car, you are probably paying too much!

What do you boys and girls think?



PS: I went back to the previous shop to ask them to give me back $$$ on the 20 mile coil (which they said they would) but when I questioned the other owner of the shop about if he thought the invoice reflected the work done ... I was told that he does not see any errors or issues...

Again, I smiled thanked the man and made a mental note to never set foot in his shop again. In all honesty, I think my lesson was a bargain, compared to someone that has to learn on a major repair job.

BTW If any of you live and play in NJ - I would me more that happy to recommend a good mechanic - To stay away from... Drop me a line!

[yelcab1]

You get your car running again, and out of a "Porsche dealer" for less than $500, I say call it good enough and forget it.

I did a BMW clutch and tune up a few weeks ago and I spent over $1200 buying parts at the dealer alone.

[s_morrison57]

name the bad shop so others can steer clear of them

[E Sully]

I don't think it is too bad a price. Most shops in NY charge around $100.+ an hour. To spend time checking out the car thoroughly for ignition problems, pedal cluster, and checking wiring to confirm a bad sending unit, then performing the repairs after getting clearance. Maybe not a perfect price, but no blatant rip off.

[Joe Bob]

AAA will cover 'trip interruptions' check your policy. If you don't have that level (premium) get it.