The world's gone stark raving mad.

[Die Judicii]

As the title indicates,,,, thanks to a good dose of old fashioned American "Let's Sue" mentality,, this is what we reap.

My utes power steering pump is worn and not working as well as it should.
No leaks,,,, but just not performing well.
I cannot currently afford a new one from Toyota, so I bought a brand new aftermarket one.

So,,, with the new pump and bottles of new Penzoil fluid I went into town today to book it in to get it fitted.

No way,,,,,,, I was told.
"We won't fit it because we didn't order it in ourselves,,, and we don't want to get sued if something goes wrong"

(even though the new pump has it's own warranty)



I ended up going to three of the best known mechanics in town,,,,, and get the same story from all of them.

As if that wasn't bad enough,, they also refused to book me in for a service because I said I don't use synthetic oil,,,, and have always only used mineral oil for as long as I've owned the vehicle.

With attitudes like that I can't help but wonder where we'll all end up.

I usually have in the past done my own services and most mechanical work, but currently am not able to do so.

[animalpest]

My wife's 4x4 is booked in tomorrow to get a cv replaced on the front drive shaft. I am supplying the parts. No problem there.

I have supplied plenty of the parts needed to fit my vehicles. The markup they want to charge is often outrageous. Recently the wife's car had a service done and they said the air filter need replacing when we picked it up. Said it was $50 but ridiculously didn't put a new one in. I went one block down the road, bought one for $15 and put it in myself.

Go elsewhere.

[wanneroo]

My mennonite mechanic has no problem with me supplying the parts.

Also for some older vehicles they are not meant to use synthetic oil anyways. Ultimately regardless you are the customer so it's your choice.

[Die Judicii]

My wife's 4x4 is booked in tomorrow to get a cv replaced on the front drive shaft. I am supplying the parts. No problem there.

I have supplied plenty of the parts needed to fit my vehicles. The markup they want to charge is often outrageous. Recently the wife's car had a service done and they said the air filter need replacing when we picked it up. Said it was $50 but ridiculously didn't put a new one in. I went one block down the road, bought one for $15 and put it in myself.

Go elsewhere.

Heh,,,,, I've just about ran out of "elsewhere" to try.
With one of my earlier Cruisers (12 years ago) I was taking it to the Toyota Dealership for its services,,, the old 2H motor, and they were renowned for tappets tightening up or running loose.
They regularly included "Adjust tappets" on the accounts,,, and after a while I got suspicious of being "had"

So the last time it ever went there I put Thread Locker on the rocker cover nuts.
When I went to pick it up, I asked their mechanic how the tappets were this time ?

Oh yeah,, he said,,,, a couple of em definitely needed adjusting.

So I said to him ,,,,,, come have a look at something.
We lifted the bonnet and I pointed to the "undisturbed" nuts on the rocker cover.

They were definitely not very happy about being sprung, and that was the last time they got any of my or my mates business.

[Die Judicii]

My mennonite mechanic has no problem with me supplying the parts.

Also for some older vehicles they are not meant to use synthetic oil anyways. Ultimately regardless you are the customer so it's your choice.

Yeah,,,,,, Dead Right,,,,, but that doesn't help much when you find yourself in a situation when you can't do it yourself.

[S O K A R]

What a bunch of clowns
They're providing a service not a product
If something causes the "part" to fail then the ownus is on the company that supplies said product, how do they not understand that....
Unless their work is shonky & then they would be liable for any misfortune due to poor installation but jeez

If you can't find a local mechanic to do it for you, maybe ring around & see if there are any mobile mechanics that would tackle the job
Another approach would be to put an add on gumtree/facebook marketplace/craigslist etc seeing if someone with experience would be interested in a cash job

[northdude]

Try and find a kiwi mechanic. I know a couple over there and they are creaming it because of attitudes like above. They might even be able to repair your vehicle not just be parts fitters...

[on_one_wheel]

Pretty sad, I'd fit it.

The oil part is equally bad.
On vehicles with short service intervals there's no point running synthetic oil as you don't gain the advantage of its long life because it becomes heavily contaminated with carbon well before it looses its ability to properly lubricate.
Anything other than mineral oil and your throwing money away.

[mchughcb]

Dude that sucks I bought a lift kit from the USA to put on my new car, still under warranty.all the BS on various forums was it will void warranty. Tok it back to my local dealership and they say great, no problems, this much to install. They even had to grind off a bit for the rear to fit. They said it doesn't void warranty. I ran that car for 9 years with the lift kit and they always gave it to the same mechanic that installed it.

Last week I needed a new part and they said after market is cheaper, better and installed in 30 min.

Having a dealership that is listening to the customer is why I've stayed with them 12 years.

[animalpest]

So got my dinghy motor serviced the day before I left for a holiday 1200 km away (got back last night). Only a morning of trolling with it before it died.

Totally spoilt my holiday watching perfect weather conditions with no boat.

After spending $1000 to service a 30hp 2 stroke motor and getting 4 hours out of it makes me feel ripped off.

[wanneroo]

My mennonite mechanic has no problem with me supplying the parts.

Also for some older vehicles they are not meant to use synthetic oil anyways. Ultimately regardless you are the customer so it's your choice.

Yeah,,,,,, Dead Right,,,,, but that doesn't help much when you find yourself in a situation when you can't do it yourself.

I know but surely there is someone out there willing to do the work. You might have to go find a shadetree mechanic out there working a side job.

[Oldbloke]

So got my dinghy motor serviced the day before I left for a holiday 1200 km away (got back last night). Only a morning of trolling with it before it died.

Totally spoilt my holiday watching perfect weather conditions with no boat.

After spending $1000 to service a 30hp 2 stroke motor and getting 4 hours out of it makes me feel ripped off.

That's nothing. Try caravan repairer who openly state it's OK if 1 of 4 brakes don't work.

[MtnMan]

So you've only just come to that conclusion now?
I knew the world had gone bat s**t crazy years ago.

[Lazarus]

This is a digression from the initial subject, sorry DJ, but is right in line with the heading.

I read this morning that Anus Tangerinus, the 45th president of the USA, is making another run for office and that under the letter of US law, even if he is convicted of a felony and imprisoned under the espionage act for improper handling of top secret documents, there is no statute that explicitly prohibits his standing, winning and taking office, even while locked up in a jumpsuit that matches his fake tan.

Now that is some crazy sh!t.

Donald Trump could become president of the United States again — even if he's in jail
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-14/ ... /101420494

[bladeracer]

This is a digression from the initial subject, sorry DJ, but is right in line with the heading.

I read this morning that Anus Tangerinus, the 45th president of the USA, is making another run for office and that under the letter of US law, even if he is convicted of a felony and imprisoned under the espionage act for improper handling of top secret documents, there is no statute that explicitly prohibits his standing, winning and taking office, even while locked up in a jumpsuit that matches his fake tan.

Now that is some crazy sh!t.

Donald Trump could become president of the United States again — even if he's in jail
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-14/ ... /101420494

And he'll still do a better job than the decrepit moron currently in charge of the nuclear power.

[on_one_wheel]

I hope he wins

[animalpest]

So got my dinghy motor serviced the day before I left for a holiday 1200 km away (got back last night). Only a morning of trolling with it before it died.

Totally spoilt my holiday watching perfect weather conditions with no boat.

After spending $1000 to service a 30hp 2 stroke motor and getting 4 hours out of it makes me feel ripped off.

That's nothing. Try caravan repairer who openly state it's OK if 1 of 4 brakes don't work.

Now that is really stupid

[Lazarus]

Leaving out the Orange, it is striking that you can't be Prez if you're born abroad but technically can if you're a convicted criminal serving a sentence

[GQshayne]

I have had a local workshop say the same thing. I can understand their position, to a point. If the part fails, then you will go back to them to attend to it under warranty. And some aftermarket parts are more trouble than they are worth.

As for the oil, modern vehilcles have ever increasing oil specifications, many of them being synthetic. If yours is one of those, then I can see why they will not agree to use an oil spec not specified by the manufacturer.

[Die Judicii]

As for the oil, modern vehilcles have ever increasing oil specifications, many of them being synthetic. If yours is one of those, then I can see why they will not agree to use an oil spec not specified by the manufacturer.

It was born and bred to run on Mineral Oil Mate.
So why these workshops are now insisting on using Synthetic beats the hell outta me.
Maybe,,,,,,,, political undertones ?

[wanneroo]

As for the oil, modern vehilcles have ever increasing oil specifications, many of them being synthetic. If yours is one of those, then I can see why they will not agree to use an oil spec not specified by the manufacturer.

It was born and bred to run on Mineral Oil Mate.
So why these workshops are now insisting on using Synthetic beats the hell outta me.
Maybe,,,,,,,, political undertones ?

More expensive, higher profit margin.

However synthetic lasts longer. I do oil changes every 10K miles on mine.

[deye243]

This is a digression from the initial subject, sorry DJ, but is right in line with the heading.

I read this morning that Anus Tangerinus, the 45th president of the USA, is making another run for office and that under the letter of US law, even if he is convicted of a felony and imprisoned under the espionage act for improper handling of top secret documents, there is no statute that explicitly prohibits his standing, winning and taking office, even while locked up in a jumpsuit that matches his fake tan.

Now that is some crazy sh!t.

Donald Trump could become president of the United States again — even if he's in jail
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-14/ ... /101420494

I talked to a lot of Americans every week on different forums by email and on the telephone when good old Donald was in a lot of these people I speak to said I may not like the person but at least I and my son's now have a job I speak to these same people quite regularly even now but now only one of their children have a bloody job get over it he was the best thing to happen to America in the last 20 bloody years regardless of what anybody says I wonder what they would find with Clinton the obummer if they went and raided their houses proberbly more smutt and a truck load of classified information but because nobody hated those limp dicks we will never know.....

[deye243]

As the title indicates,,,, thanks to a good dose of old fashioned American "Let's Sue" mentality,, this is what we reap.

My utes power steering pump is worn and not working as well as it should.
No leaks,,,, but just not performing well.
I cannot currently afford a new one from Toyota, so I bought a brand new aftermarket one.

So,,, with the new pump and bottles of new Penzoil fluid I went into town today to book it in to get it fitted.

No way,,,,,,, I was told.
"We won't fit it because we didn't order it in ourselves,,, and we don't want to get sued if something goes wrong"

(even though the new pump has it's own warranty)



I ended up going to three of the best known mechanics in town,,,,, and get the same story from all of them.

As if that wasn't bad enough,, they also refused to book me in for a service because I said I don't use synthetic oil,,,, and have always only used mineral oil for as long as I've owned the vehicle.

With attitudes like that I can't help but wonder where we'll all end up.

I usually have in the past done my own services and most mechanical work, but currently am not able to do so.

And yes you are absolutely right after I had locked everything away in the gun room I was looking at my stubby of beer well bugger me on one part of the label it says best before SEE label so I go looking why couldn't these f****** idiots put it in the same place.
It was printed in macro form on the other side of the bottle .

[northdude]

Can understand it in a way. We will do it at our work but sometimes it becomes a pain in the arse if the customer supplies the wrong bits then for some reason its our fault and they seem to think its our problem. Same with warranty because we fitted it its our fault and they have this idea that we have to sort it out for free. Some workshops cant be bothered with that bs so refuse or hike the price...

[cz515]

The thing is there is dealer branded markup on parts and then there is OEM parts and then there is Chinese parts.

A lot of times the Chinese part figment is bad that extra work needs to be done... so they might have quoted you 1hr to install the pump which is what a genuine pump would take but a Chinese one will take 2hrs. When time to do Bill everyone is upset as the Labor has gone up.

I was at an diesel injector owner and he told a guy on the phone sorry he is not going to do his injectors. I asked about it and he said he had so much terrible with Chinese engines that now he just refuses the job

Synthetic oil is bizarre, almost all mechanics i know but 200L drums of oil and use that... then mark it up slightly more then 5L bottle.

[S O K A R]

A lot of times the Chinese part figment is bad that extra work needs to be done... so they might have quoted you 1hr to install the pump which is what a genuine pump would take but a Chinese one will take 2hrs. When time to do Bill everyone is upset as the Labor has gone up.

Similar story here
My dad runs an exhaust shop here in tas, gets loads of people buying chinese rubbish off the internet thinking it will be a straight bolt in job & then when they can't do it they try bring it to him expecting him to do it for peanuts
He won't do them anymore, tells them to take it elsewhere

[northdude]

Or you get the customer that wants a cheap job finds the parts overseas comes in and shows you then wants you to order and pay for the parts and expects you to wear it if they are the wrong ones. Get told to piss off and sort it yourself

[AZZA'S HJ47]

Can understand it in a way. We will do it at our work but sometimes it becomes a pain in the arse if the customer supplies the wrong bits then for some reason its our fault and they seem to think its our problem. Same with warranty because we fitted it its our fault and they have this idea that we have to sort it out for free. Some workshops cant be bothered with that bs so refuse or hike the price...

Same with the shop that i run i have no problem fitting customer supplied parts providing its from a reputable supplier. However at the bottom of every invoice I will have written

No Warranty given on customer supplied parts.

Sadly when things do go south usually the manufacturer will back out or cause a s**t fight. Customers then get all arky. My main suppliers will warrant what they have sold me and cover my labour costs. Im all for helping people out where i can but its certainly a huge gamble. I can understand why some shops won't take Jobs on I have had jobs go south and the consequences that go with it.

Once bitten twice shy.

[Gamerancher]

My old boss has a workshop and yard full of vehicles waiting on parts. All different makes and models. Parts availability for anything is f#cking ridiculous at the moment. 3 week wait for a set of tie-rod ends for a falcon ute FFS!

[Oldbloke]

My Triton has been out of action about 9 weeks waiting for parts. Latest yesterday was it will not be ready until very early next month.

Pissed, big time.