Before y’all start with the “You should’ve just told him what it was” Keep in mind that I am running a business! This is what I do to feed my wife and 5 kids. My time is money. I no longer short change myself or my family, by just “telling” people what’s wrong. Pay for the diagnostic…
It's not even a question Alex, it's industry standard to charge for a 1-hour diagnosis to help pay for tooling and scanner and other special equipment and subscriptions, that money is not for profit, it's for helping you to save the customer labor by having better equipment and training, which is not free also, end of the story.
Yeah, the car still runs like crap after replacing the parts the customer wanted and he will not be happy. I would just tell him you suspect the timing chain issue or he may feel you did not replace the parts properly. So, you may get the timing chain job or he may take it somewhere else and get beat over the head. Customers choice.
I work for "company that shall not be named" as well. I correct folks anytime they come in and say they need a free diagnostic. I simply tell them it's a code retrieval, it only pulls the codes the computer has stored, doesn't say what is exactly wrong with it. Can't tell you how many times someone sees P0420 and goes "so an oxygen sensor right?" .... No fam... There's many reasons that can cause it and it's a very vague code. Get it properly checked out by someone who can dig in deeper to find what exactly is the issue before dropping 150 bucks on a part guess.
I too work part time for a company and I always tell them it’s not a diag and I recommend they pay for a diag at a shop to find out what they actually need before spending any money on parts
Yeah thats the general public for you. I bet they ran the code and the customer just assumed it was that part listed. I work at O'Reillys and I always warn people that the code points you in the general direction. I print out a sheet with probable causes and I hate that they assume that the first part on the list will automatically fix it. I have to carefully explain to them that I can't guarantee anything. Especially when I have had some people come back and say "Well you said it was this part that would fix it. " So many people think we're expert mechanics lol. I tell them to take it to an expert like you and get it properly diagnosed/tested before loading up the so called parts cannon. Being cheap ends up costing you more. Great video guy! Thumbs up from me.
Thanks Brother. we need more people like you that will explain things to the general public than just handing them a sheet of paper and say go for what you know
I love this mechanic. He is so truthful about what he tell people they keep people honest and keep money in their pocket. Some people let a car run and it won’t run no more do not have a do not have a look after the car just like we are have to go to the doctor to get a check up.❤
Great Job. I work at that the place you said and I ALWAYS tell customers to take their car to the shop for a true diagnostic. I alway work on cars on the side and have learned a lot to give good advice. Keep putting out these great videos. Thanks.
He might learn from losing the $100 waste of parts. Will he pay to have the real work done? I am betting not. He will just 2 foot it until it blows up. Oh well, at you got something out of it. Stay busy!
@@unclemarksdiyauto I think he wanted to get the diagnostic after the fact but I was leaving early so I told him to come back,I don’t think he will though lol. Thanks for watching buddy
People come into parts stores all the time asking us what's wrong with their car thinking we're mechanics for $12 an hour. We barely get trained on store duties. We only get paid to find and sell parts customers already know they need.
As a current Autozoner and trade school student the best advice I can give to anyone looking at those codes that they give you at the store is that computer will not tell you everything you need to know. It will point you in the direction you need to be, however, it won't tell you what's wrong with the car and that's where everyone goes wrong. It'll tell you what it THINKS is wrong with the car. Sure, a diagnosis costs money, but assumptions will cost you even more in the long run. Sometimes your assumptions will fix what's wrong. I won't deny that. Most of the time though, you'll make your assumption, buy a part, then have to get it diagnosed and fixed when you could've just spent the money on getting a diagnosis and repair.
Alex I love your channel, its about as real as it gets, been doing it for 43 years ( 10 at a cadillac dealer, 33 on my own), looks like this customer is willing to gamble on the lowest cost repair, I would have replaced the sensor for him, there is a chance it is bad or it has the rust jacking problem( the block will rust and push the sensor away), get the labor for that to pay some bills, then I would give him an estimate on the timing chain that he will find out soon that he needs, used car prices are at an all time high, this car will probably get fixed
Great video man! I had the same happen to me. Code read cam shaft sensor and I changed all 4 of them on my Lexus ES350 and engine light still wouldn’t go away…ended up being a leaking timing cover which requires pulling the engine out! Toyotas a great but their timing is questionable
Great video! I have a similar year with 170,000 it has a slight shudder going from 2 to 3rd gear. Is it worth getting fixed or just run it until it goes. Thank you!
I agree with @tsd560ti ‘s comment. Start with me a simple drain and fill of ATF and see if that helps. A lot of times it’s the simple things make a difference.
That sounds like a very reasonable diag fee. I had that code on my 9th Gen Accord with the I4 it was stalling at extended idle, however not making that timing chain sound. I changed the crankshaft position sensor and luckily it solved the problem.
People want cheap or free and they don't charge the oil or fix anything till it stops running then start crying that there car is crap but that is the way they treated the car 😂
Yeah, make them sign a disclaimer that the sensor is probably still good. Of course after agreeing to pay for the labor to do the unnecessary work to change a good part and then quote that appropriate course of action (timing chain set)
i worked at az for about a year, i always said the same. and can also say, 90% of the employees there dont know shit about cars and shouldnt give their opinion.
honestly my problem with diagnostics by mechanics is i’m always worried about them breaking something then telling me it was already rotting or getting old
He says auto parts store is trying to sell you parts you don’t need while he does just that. What a joke. If he doesn’t want a diagnosis then tell him the parts won’t fix the problem and you’re not gonna do it without a proper diagnosis.
Ill say this. i have a 2016 chevy ss. took it to vandervere chevy for a diagnoses and fix. 600 dollars, came back with THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. took it to another dealership, serpentini chevy, 600 dollars, PARTIAL FIX. the steering rack issue is still complained about by my gf today. Current actual problem, collapsed lifter, paid serpentini chevy 350 to TELL ME I WAS RIGHT in diagnosing it myself. basically i paid 350 for them to tell me what cyl was collapsed since idh the tools to remove the valve cover myself (yet) All in all the most important message behind all this is be careful WHO you trust with your cars well-being. alot of 'dealerships' only wanna drain you of cash.
Esspecially if ya have a diesel ... I had a charging issue ... they got battery charger and tested the passenger side battery and yup 11.5 volts no change ideled up ... sold me an altenator went to put it on and same problem went to my friends shop he tested drivers side 14 volts ....... turned out it was corrosion on the cable that went between the 2 batteries .
Went to get a scan annnd: 😂 Advance Auto Parts: Sir your vehicles starter is operating at 9V, your starter needs to be changed. Your battery is fine. Dealer scans vehicle. Infiniti Dealer: Sir, your starter is ok. The battery is bad. I changed the battery!
Alex you did your job..gave him advice and did what he asked for..so lets beat it..its same criteria all over the world 🌎 clients thinks by this way of repair they can save money and out smart mechanics..cheers bro
Nothing's more expensive than a cheap mechanic. Anyways, I've got a good one to share. A few years ago, I sell a 2001 Chevy Malibu to a girl. About a month later, she comes back with a diagnostic sheet from Autozone. It said that it lost communication with the Anti-Lock Brake Module. I remember that the car was decent, nothing wrong, so I just popped the hood and it took me all of 2 seconds to realize their scanner couldn't communicate with the ABS module... the car didn't have ABS! It just had ordinary brakes.
I would've turned this customer away, they're not worth the headache. they always want something for nothing and will blame you for their lack of money. I run a business as well and what ive learned is that not everyone is our customer. bottom feeder price shoppers like this arent our customers.
I completely agree. I should have because when I gave him back his keys I explain to him I had to drive it with 2 feet to get it in the shop,he stated it wasn’t doing that before I didn’t reply and moved on because I know he was full of it
@@AlexTheCarDoctor this is same all around the world, here is a comment from Italy. What I could advise you is to learn "to read" the customer, if you feel that could be a bad customer (asking for discount, can`t pay all now, life problem bla bla bla) it is better to give up telling you are too much busy. God bless your family and good luck for your business. Ciao!
I have never understood the mentality or logic behind peoples car repairs and diagnostic fees. As a customer, you are paying for SOMEONE ELSE to fix a problem and or figure out a problem on your vehicle. If your so keen as to believing you can figure out the problem and know more than the technician who is fixing the problem for you then stop wasting their time and do the repair your self. If your so cheap that you cant even pay for someone elses time to PROPERLY figure out a problem on your vehicle you might as well get in there and do it your damn self.
Idk how many times ive told my customers the same thing oh the parts store said it was this? And u dont wnat me to do anything but change that...? Me ok well when and or if it doesnt solve it im going to have to book a diffrent day for your diag ok..?
So many dishonest mechanics out there, people that get burnt too many times come to a mechanic trying to try to run around what they feel is going to be a mechanic scam.
The national parts store industry along with the manufacturers bank on the fact most people are ignorant of proper diagnostics procedure. The parts store free ecu scan only helps them sell more parts and the dealership with their overinflated service dept prices.
I have similar codes to the person who’s car is in this video, got them printed at o’rielieys near me and they told me to take the codes and my car to a mechanic. Didn’t try to sell me anything. This guy in the video however is showing horrible customer service by requiring a customer pay for diagnosing when he already did it in about a minute.
@@pogolaugh your experience would be the exception not the rule. But I'm confused, horrible customer service? Because he made them pay for his time and experience? Ok buddy, you must be one of those people that expects things for free all the time. It may have only taken him a min to diag, but how many years of experience did it require for him to be able to diag it in a min? Car repair is not UNICEF, it's a business, no business will last long giving out free services and labor all the time.
I have a scan tool and I never take the codes and directly purchase the part that’s associated with that code. If it’s a no brainer, I may do that but I know that when codes pop up, not every code is the problem. These diagnostics point you in the right direction of the problem, just don’t think throwing a part at the code will fix it.
Before y’all start with the “You should’ve just told him what it was” Keep in mind that I am running a business! This is what I do to feed my wife and 5 kids. My time is money. I no longer short change myself or my family, by just “telling” people what’s wrong. Pay for the diagnostic…
💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯
Exactly!!! People just underestimate the amount of experience it takes to fully know what’s going on with a vehicle!
It's not even a question Alex, it's industry standard to charge for a 1-hour diagnosis to help pay for tooling and scanner and other special equipment and subscriptions, that money is not for profit, it's for helping you to save the customer labor by having better equipment and training, which is not free also, end of the story.
Yeah, the car still runs like crap after replacing the parts the customer wanted and he will not be happy. I would just tell him you suspect the timing chain issue or he may feel you did not replace the parts properly. So, you may get the timing chain job or he may take it somewhere else and get beat over the head. Customers choice.
@@duanedonaldson2262 Amen! This is the best comment this year! Cheers 🍻
Finding an honest mechanic is easier said than done
You are absolutely right.I’m thinking of a video of how to test a mechanic to find out if they’re honest or not
I would pay you for your work. I have a messed up car and I don’t know what’s wrong so yeah
He’s not an honest guy if he’s withholding information to the client
I work for "company that shall not be named" as well. I correct folks anytime they come in and say they need a free diagnostic. I simply tell them it's a code retrieval, it only pulls the codes the computer has stored, doesn't say what is exactly wrong with it.
Can't tell you how many times someone sees P0420 and goes "so an oxygen sensor right?" .... No fam... There's many reasons that can cause it and it's a very vague code. Get it properly checked out by someone who can dig in deeper to find what exactly is the issue before dropping 150 bucks on a part guess.
I too work part time for a company and I always tell them it’s not a diag and I recommend they pay for a diag at a shop to find out what they actually need before spending any money on parts
Yeah thats the general public for you. I bet they ran the code and the customer just assumed it was that part listed. I work at O'Reillys and I always warn people that the code points you in the general direction. I print out a sheet with probable causes and I hate that they assume that the first part on the list will automatically fix it. I have to carefully explain to them that I can't guarantee anything. Especially when I have had some people come back and say "Well you said it was this part that would fix it. " So many people think we're expert mechanics lol. I tell them to take it to an expert like you and get it properly diagnosed/tested before loading up the so called parts cannon. Being cheap ends up costing you more. Great video guy! Thumbs up from me.
Thanks Brother. we need more people like you that will explain things to the general public than just handing them a sheet of paper and say go for what you know
Best line I heard on a podcast "you go to the customers car and it looks like Auto zone threw up under the hood". Thanks for the videos!
I love this mechanic. He is so truthful about what he tell people they keep people honest and keep money in their pocket. Some people let a car run and it won’t run no more do not have a do not have a look after the car just like we are have to go to the doctor to get a check up.❤
I wouldnt trust a damn thing that anyone from a parts store tells me
Great Job.
I work at that the place you said and I ALWAYS tell customers to take their car to the shop for a true diagnostic. I alway work on cars on the side and have learned a lot to give good advice.
Keep putting out these great videos. Thanks.
Thanks for telling them that! We need more people in the parts store like you! L
He might learn from losing the $100 waste of parts. Will he pay to have the real work done? I am betting not. He will just 2 foot it until it blows up. Oh well, at you got something out of it. Stay busy!
@@unclemarksdiyauto I think he wanted to get the diagnostic after the fact but I was leaving early so I told him to come back,I don’t think he will though lol. Thanks for watching buddy
@@AlexTheCarDoctor You can only do so much. Your running a business. You and your family stay well. Look forward to more of your videos.
$70 for someone to tell you it’s to mining chain is dumb. You can tell just by looking at it
People come into parts stores all the time asking us what's wrong with their car thinking we're mechanics for $12 an hour. We barely get trained on store duties. We only get paid to find and sell parts customers already know they need.
As a current Autozoner and trade school student the best advice I can give to anyone looking at those codes that they give you at the store is that computer will not tell you everything you need to know. It will point you in the direction you need to be, however, it won't tell you what's wrong with the car and that's where everyone goes wrong. It'll tell you what it THINKS is wrong with the car. Sure, a diagnosis costs money, but assumptions will cost you even more in the long run. Sometimes your assumptions will fix what's wrong. I won't deny that. Most of the time though, you'll make your assumption, buy a part, then have to get it diagnosed and fixed when you could've just spent the money on getting a diagnosis and repair.
Good advice car Dr! Paying a professional to do their job is always a good investment!
Scotty Kilmer: "These cars are bullet proof, I've seen them go 3, 4 hundred thousand miles. They last for - ever!"
Right lol
Yea if you do maintenance and not run it till it quits and then worry😂
Alex I love your channel, its about as real as it gets, been doing it for 43 years ( 10 at a cadillac dealer, 33 on my own), looks like this customer is willing to gamble on the lowest cost repair, I would have replaced the sensor for him, there is a chance it is bad or it has the rust jacking problem( the block will rust and push the sensor away), get the labor for that to pay some bills, then I would give him an estimate on the timing chain that he will find out soon that he needs, used car prices are at an all time high, this car will probably get fixed
Wow 43 years you are a vet,it was the cam gear/phaser
I will always follow him the car doctor. He’s like a doctor.
Great video man! I had the same happen to me. Code read cam shaft sensor and I changed all 4 of them on my Lexus ES350 and engine light still wouldn’t go away…ended up being a leaking timing cover which requires pulling the engine out! Toyotas a great but their timing is questionable
Great video! I have a similar year with 170,000 it has a slight shudder going from 2 to 3rd gear. Is it worth getting fixed or just run it until it goes. Thank you!
You could get it diagnosed by a professional.
If it lacks maintenance like an ATF change, you could begin with that.
I agree with @tsd560ti ‘s comment. Start with me a simple drain and fill of ATF and see if that helps. A lot of times it’s the simple things make a difference.
I’ll give that a try! Thanks for the help!
That sounds like a very reasonable diag fee. I had that code on my 9th Gen Accord with the I4 it was stalling at extended idle, however not making that timing chain sound. I changed the crankshaft position sensor and luckily it solved the problem.
People want cheap or free and they don't charge the oil or fix anything till it stops running then start crying that there car is crap but that is the way they treated the car 😂
Happy Thanksgiving Alex!
Thanks buddy. Happy thanksgiving to you too
Yeah, make them sign a disclaimer that the sensor is probably still good. Of course after agreeing to pay for the labor to do the unnecessary work to change a good part
and then quote that appropriate course of action (timing chain set)
Timing chain shot .. correlation code tells all with that noise
I work at Autozone in Minnesota and i tell the customers to get a second opinion from a professional
i worked at az for about a year, i always said the same. and can also say, 90% of the employees there dont know shit about cars and shouldnt give their opinion.
honestly my problem with diagnostics by mechanics is i’m always worried about them breaking something then telling me it was already rotting or getting old
thought the customer was always right lol
Yup that fixed it see it don’t stall anymore…🤦♂️ Happy Thanksgiving 🦃 to you and your family.
Thanks buddy! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours ! 🦃
TRUTH!!!! Auto parts stores and their code scanners are not mechanics.
He says auto parts store is trying to sell you parts you don’t need while he does just that. What a joke. If he doesn’t want a diagnosis then tell him the parts won’t fix the problem and you’re not gonna do it without a proper diagnosis.
4:51 Needs new mounts too
Ill say this. i have a 2016 chevy ss. took it to vandervere chevy for a diagnoses and fix. 600 dollars, came back with THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM.
took it to another dealership, serpentini chevy, 600 dollars, PARTIAL FIX. the steering rack issue is still complained about by my gf today.
Current actual problem, collapsed lifter, paid serpentini chevy 350 to TELL ME I WAS RIGHT in diagnosing it myself. basically i paid 350 for them to tell me what cyl was collapsed since idh the tools to remove the valve cover myself (yet)
All in all the most important message behind all this is be careful WHO you trust with your cars well-being. alot of 'dealerships' only wanna drain you of cash.
I absolutely agree! ✅
Esspecially if ya have a diesel ... I had a charging issue ... they got battery charger and tested the passenger side battery and yup 11.5 volts no change ideled up ... sold me an altenator went to put it on and same problem went to my friends shop he tested drivers side 14 volts ....... turned out it was corrosion on the cable that went between the 2 batteries .
Went to get a scan annnd:
😂 Advance Auto Parts: Sir your vehicles starter is operating at 9V, your starter needs to be changed.
Your battery is fine.
Dealer scans vehicle.
Infiniti Dealer: Sir, your starter is ok. The battery is bad.
I changed the battery!
If you get "crankshaft posituon sensor" with 1 or more other related codes, its timing :/
Alex you did your job..gave him advice and did what he asked for..so lets beat it..its same criteria all over the world 🌎 clients thinks by this way of repair they can save money and out smart mechanics..cheers bro
Absolutely! Cheers 🍻 and happy holidays bro!
We all have to eat right. 👍😎
Nothing's more expensive than a cheap mechanic. Anyways, I've got a good one to share. A few years ago, I sell a 2001 Chevy Malibu to a girl. About a month later, she comes back with a diagnostic sheet from Autozone. It said that it lost communication with the Anti-Lock Brake Module. I remember that the car was decent, nothing wrong, so I just popped the hood and it took me all of 2 seconds to realize their scanner couldn't communicate with the ABS module... the car didn't have ABS! It just had ordinary brakes.
lol
@@vivillager 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Sounds like it needs a timing job. Tensioner has left the chat.
Is it possible the owner of the vechicle just took cheapest item off the auto parts list replaced thinking it would buy him some time? 🤔
That was not the case because he proudly said he already had it diagnose and showed me that paper smh
What model scan tool do you like?
Autel. I have both the $500 one and the $5000 one
The parts store, trying to sell a customer parts....Shocker. Thats the only reason they do this.
p0008 code? my car doesn’t sound like this tho
I would've turned this customer away, they're not worth the headache. they always want something for nothing and will blame you for their lack of money. I run a business as well and what ive learned is that not everyone is our customer. bottom feeder price shoppers like this arent our customers.
I completely agree. I should have because when I gave him back his keys I explain to him I had to drive it with 2 feet to get it in the shop,he stated it wasn’t doing that before I didn’t reply and moved on because I know he was full of it
@@AlexTheCarDoctor I nailed it, sorry you had this experience. next time I hope this isn't the next time.
@@zackarymcclain164 we all learn as we go, every customer is a learning experience. thanks for the advice.how long have you been in the business?
@@AlexTheCarDoctor this is same all around the world, here is a comment from Italy. What I could advise you is to learn "to read" the customer, if you feel that could be a bad customer (asking for discount, can`t pay all now, life problem bla bla bla) it is better to give up telling you are too much busy. God bless your family and good luck for your business. Ciao!
Poor oil maintenance probably caused this timing chain to stretch
I have never understood the mentality or logic behind peoples car repairs and diagnostic fees.
As a customer, you are paying for SOMEONE ELSE to fix a problem and or figure out a problem on your vehicle.
If your so keen as to believing you can figure out the problem and know more than the technician who is fixing the problem for you then stop wasting their time and do the repair your self.
If your so cheap that you cant even pay for someone elses time to PROPERLY figure out a problem on your vehicle you might as well get in there and do it your damn self.
💪💪💪 good stuff
That there is a expensive sound for sure
We not mechanics we sale parts but people come in the store expect us to know what's wrong with their car.
I thought it was the lifters…
Good guess though
Master technician
Idk how many times ive told my customers the same thing oh the parts store said it was this? And u dont wnat me to do anything but change that...? Me ok well when and or if it doesnt solve it im going to have to book a diffrent day for your diag ok..?
So many dishonest mechanics out there, people that get burnt too many times come to a mechanic trying to try to run around what they feel is going to be a mechanic scam.
I do understand. A lot of my new customers are victims of bad mechanics 😔
This car has low oil pressure possible sludge blocked oil screen pump in side oil pan .
sound like chain and valves loose
That’s why when I heard this I knew a sensor would not fix noise
The crank sensor got fired and replaced, just for doing his job.
lol I’m going to use that one
💯🎯
The national parts store industry along with the manufacturers bank on the fact most people are ignorant of proper diagnostics procedure. The parts store free ecu scan only helps them sell more parts and the dealership with their overinflated service dept prices.
Absolutely!! I couldn’t have said it better buddy!
I have similar codes to the person who’s car is in this video, got them printed at o’rielieys near me and they told me to take the codes and my car to a mechanic. Didn’t try to sell me anything. This guy in the video however is showing horrible customer service by requiring a customer pay for diagnosing when he already did it in about a minute.
@@pogolaugh your experience would be the exception not the rule. But I'm confused, horrible customer service? Because he made them pay for his time and experience? Ok buddy, you must be one of those people that expects things for free all the time. It may have only taken him a min to diag, but how many years of experience did it require for him to be able to diag it in a min? Car repair is not UNICEF, it's a business, no business will last long giving out free services and labor all the time.
Anyone else see the mileage was 123456? What are the odds?
lol maybe he gets lucky and watches the video
Just lost 984 munies 🥺
What happened???
I have a scan tool and I never take the codes and directly purchase the part that’s associated with that code. If it’s a no brainer, I may do that but I know that when codes pop up, not every code is the problem. These diagnostics point you in the right direction of the problem, just don’t think throwing a part at the code will fix it.
Keep making great videos. Do not waste your time > *promo sm* !
Thanks buddy