What's the worst thing you've done as a mechanic/technician in the work place? If you'd like to see another video like this in the future let us know. We wanted to change it up for the rest of the year. Submit your clips/photos at www.justrolledinyt.com
Dropped a very very low car onto a filled and capped oil drain pan which blew the cap off and exploded oil across the floor or my garage. Replaced a bunch of parts on a motorcycle that wouldn't run. It was out of fuel. On the same motorcycle, I was installing an aftermarket clutch. While I had the clutch cover off, I suspect I dropped some metal shavings into the engine while doing some unrelated work. After the clutch replacement, I rode about 100 miles before the engine started knocking. Oil was glittered and the engine needed rebuilt. Still have the bike with a fresh engine in it now. Had intermittent issues with an LS400 needing to bump the key a few times before it would crank. Once it would crank, it was strong so I figured the battery was fine and starter solenoid was going bad. Replaced the starter (it's under the intake manifold) and it still wouldn't crank. Turned out to be a loose battery cable. I think that's the last of my tales. For now.
I did the classic blunder of leaving the exposed metal window wiper arm in the upwards position while walking in to get a new wiper. I came back out to a smashed windscreen.
This is a very long story. I was a trim tech at a Ford dealer, Cust brought in an 86 F150, complaint was it wouldn't start in Park, a common problem. Got it started, pulled halfway into my bay, put it in Park, and set the parking brake. Then, for some unknown reason, I turned the key on, and went and jumped the starter solenoid on the fender. The engine started. Then I saw the engine torque over toward the driver side. In that millisecond, I knew that it was in Reverse. Know what is funny about duo-servo drum brakes? They don't hold well in Reverse. The truck started to go backwards. I stupidly tried to hold it back by grabbing on the radiator support bar, which not only dragged me toward the end of my bay, but sliced my fingers open while doing it. Oh, did I mention that I had left the front wheels turned to the right? As I got to the end of my bay, I let go, and watched the truck back out in a curve, ramming right into a customer's new Expedition. L/F fender of the Expedition was crumpled, and the tailgate of the F150 was damaged. Told my boss, he didn't believe me. When all was said and done, I had bandaged fingers, a horribly bruised ego, I wasn't in trouble, and they didn't charge me for the repairs. I learned that I wasn't strong enough to hold back a truck with a 351 FI engine, and that I got pretty lucky after all. Actually, I learned quite a lot!
The problem is likely only one thing mis-wired that causes the horn to honk and not every button being wired wrong. Something like if you wired the power source in series with the horn, so every time any current is drawn the horn honks.
@@movitoviscyrinxed446 I agree that a reasonable hypothesis but I still just can't figure out how you pull it off with so many unrelated functions. Notice also that it's always just a single short honk, even though some of those functions (like the headlight knob) pull current continuously.
Mistakes and accidents happen to the best of us. What's inexcusable is the rip-off mechanics like the guy who tried to sell a new trans because of a busted CV joint.
A Midas, I was at, got an older Honda Accord towed in. It wouldn't move in any gear and we thought it was the transaxle. We pushed it in and once it was on the hoist, I saw the lower ball joint broke and ripped out the CV axle with it.
A friend was quoted $3k for a transaxle rebuild from a shop. Instead he took it to a backyard mechanic. It just needed the gear oil changed. The trans had a clutch type limited slip diff, and the diff wasn't releasing properly. When that happens, the oil has degraded and needs to be changed.
I bought a jeep from a lady a few years back, shop told her I needed a transmission. Only had 95k miles on it. I bought it as scrap. Decided when we got it home I should actually drive it just to see how bad the trans was... The rear wheel hub sensor was bad and would kick on traction control above 30 cause the trans to feel like it was "slipping" took me less than 15 mins to diagnose. Felt kinda bad for the lady. She had already went out and bought a brand new jeep over a 90 dollar wheel hub.
I think he meant actual deadly stuff, like not installing the caliper or not tightening lugnuts. Or hell, if the transmission explodes it could cause the car to lose control too.@@snarkybuttcrack
We've all dodged a few bullets in the trade although it is well considered a very safe job based upon statistics. I know many of us expect to bleed a little regularly. We probably report fewer scrapes and lacerations than some other work places. However, the risk of moving parts, heavy items sometimes overhead, stored energy in springs, bars, batteries etc, and pinch and crush risks as well as flammable fluids I'm surprised we do so well overall! God Bless you and I hope you've found something else fulfilling and profitable for yourself.
I really have a problem with shops/dealerships that don't do what they say they did and worse yet had no idea what they were actually doing and really messed stuff up!!
Do you not have something like the BOVAG? It is a nearly century old (1930) cooperation of carsales and repair shops that certify and police the quality of the service their members. I would guess 90-95% of garages in my country is a member and it it generally seen as a sign of quality and dependability. They get rid of poorly performing members with a lot of customer complaints quickly but with a proper process of inspections and "secret shoppers".
Reading comprehension lesson: "The horn beeping" is the subject of the sentence. "All those buttons and switches" is not. "The horn beeping WAS hilarious" is correct grammar, "the horn beeping WERE hilarious" is not.
2:56 Obviously some customers aren't smart when it comes to taking care of their cars, but it's stuff like this that makes me mistrust car repair places. Spray painting the existing part to make it look new and charging for a "new" unit...that's pronounced "fraud".
@@major__kong If it's a warranty repair don't bother asking for the old part(s), the manufacturers make us keep those in case they decide to do a random inspection or it happens to be a very unusual fault and have us send them in.
@@alexwalker2582In Michigan the customer is entitled to the return of all old parts, or inspection of any parts that have to be returned for warranty or core charge. You can ALWAYS look at the old parts.
Last time I took my truck into the dealership for an oil change they put 8 quarts of oil in it which it only takes 6...glad I checked it before I started the truck up-I do my own oil changes now.
Im a mechanic myself. (1 year out of aprenticeship) and i often think back at stuff i did, wich i would have done so much better now (organizing wires repairing wires etc, just cosmetical stuff and nothing drastic i think). I come to realize how much i am still learning everyday by watching your videos and other car stuff on youtube and just from learning from mistakes i am making Always keep improving fellow mechanics
As vehicle systems keep changing, you need to change with them... After 20 years in the trade, i could no longer be bothered spending the time required to keep up for the absolute garbage pay... I'm off to the mines to drive dump trucks instead...
Starting out I knew I didn't know shit. A few years down the road with more experience & certifications I realized just how much shit I didn't know, shit I know that I don't know, shit I don't know that I don't know and shit I probably won't ever know. And that's a lot of shit. Never stop learning and always be honest to yourself and others. It's ok to be wrong and ask for help. Everyone makes mistakes and when you do, fix it. We're mechanics, we fix broken shit, even the ones we broke.
I have been an "addict" of these YT car repair videos for over 10 years now! I couldn't put a dollar amount on the "training" I have received, it would easily have run into the thousands! THANK YOU YT!!
@@cammy9r in my country (austria) such trucks dont exist. i got a toolbox from my workshop so im fine. a house is really really expensive to build (500.000-1.000.000€) so its hard to get one but a flat should do it
25 years now without having a car fall off a rack. Happened to a coworker while I was 5 feet away. Don't be careless & take your time setting the lift.
My 2002 f150 fell off the lift two times... Once at Firestone and the second time at my mechanics shop just after he made fun of Firestone doing it. Talk about concerning and hilarious at the same time. Truck got some bumps and bruises and a flat tire but hey. Stuff happens 😮
@@buyallmeans425 unfortunately some shops are too cheap to buy or maintain the correct adapters for the lifts as well as the lifts themselves... and then they send some kid making $15/hr to lift a brand new truck. im surprised it doesn't happen more.
Oh and also, on welding and brake clean: DONT WELD THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SPRAYED WITH BRAKE CLEAN. Welding arcs will heat brake clean to the point that it breaks down into phosgene gas. One little wiff and you'll have permanent debilitating brain damage
Honestly i think tetrachloroethylene should be banned from brake cleaners for this exact reason. You don't have to look far for a mechanic that nearly WW1'd themselves because of this stuff. Crazy dangerous!
150 PSI. I was a 16 inch gunnersmate on the battleship Missouri. After we fired the 16 inch guns, they were blown out with 150 PSI. This was to blow any burning debris out of the muzzle so next round of powder did not ignite. If we heard air hissing from any pipe, we never ran our hand along to find the leak. We grabbed a wooden broom handle and ran that along the pipe. Better to saw the handle in two than saw some hand parts off.
This sounds like a very common usage of brooms and the like, cuz I swear I hear the same thing was used to find high-pressure steam leaks as well for the exact same reason. Better it than your hand
Them springs be lethal I remember years ago changing the shock on my car at home using the widow maker compressors (two not so sturdy prongs either end). Got halfway through tightening and had some slippage. At the same time I heard someone about to enter the garage and had to shout “STAY OUT”. 5 seconds later the compressor slipped completely one side and the spring gave it enough momentum where it wedged into the door frame about 15 feet away where my family member would’ve walked in Next time round I made sure I secured them compressors properly before tightening 👍
@smilerbob, yea as the "non-mechanic", I never liked spring compressors. Had to use them once on my beater to get the factory springs off and put on lowering springs. Def not fun, they "slipped" a bit but being as careful as possible paid off & nothing bad happened. I like the fact that they offer "complete struts" tho so you can just replace them as a complete unit. For some people tho they may go the cheaper route of replacing the strut/shock whilst retaining the spring.
Fuck that compressor.. We were doing springs on a damn box truck and the ONLY damn compressor that would fit was the widow maker. It exploded into sparks and broke the compressor. The second set shot it across the shop. I hate doing them with a passion.
@@JustRolledIn omg please! The way customers explain the sound is down right amazing and hilarious! So far my favorite in this channel, was the: "Customer states car song like that one rock song", and the car somehow sounded like Hot for Teacher!
That can cost a lot of money to do. I know I went to school for it back in 2008. I work on cars for fun now but sometimes I can't/ won't do the work so I take it to the dealership if it's a major job.
Got really lucky when some local brothers bought a small fairly old 2 bay shop in town. The waiting room has broken tiles and some plastic lawn chairs. Most people would probably think its a bad shop because it's not nice and clean. But they know their shit and do a good job. I'll never take it to a big national chain as long as they are here.
Many years ago, the family station wagon was a regular in the service bays of a local gas station. They gave us an inadvertent discount by, at different times, leaving 2 screwdrivers, several shop rags, a small pair of pliers, a large pair of pliers, a Grip-Tite wrench, and a pair of vise grip pliers under the hood. They also once changed the air filter and forgot to bolt the lid back down, so when investigating the new rattle beneath the hood Dad found the entire air filter unit sitting at an angle off to one side of the engine. Years later, after religiously bringing it in to the dealer for regular rune-ups & all required repairs, my folks sold their 1st generation Ford Taurus to a family member who lived in another state (they charged him something like $10). When my relative took the car in for his state's required inspection, they discovered that every single piece of hardware under the hood was factory original, even though we'd been charged over the intervening few years for multiple belts, a new water pump, and two new alternators...
I was "gifted" a 2ft Snap-on ratchet wrench by my local Firestone shop for bringing in my '74 Valiant for brake service. Was left under the hood. Must have been an "early" Christmas gift! Thank you FIRESTONE...
Ah, the good 'ol days. Sadly, it's "unlikely" anything made today will last like that. "German ENGINEERING" has fine tuned the ability to design something which will wear to the point of failure (mileage) just outside warranty. Quality control in the USA? Forget it. I bought a Marlin 22 rifle, right out of the (unopened, undamaged) box it had a BENT BARREL. Let that sink in.
Holden dealerships in Australia were blatant FRAUDS. They didn't "repair" faults they should, and advised repair work that simply wasn't needed. (Classic example: in 2011, I was told I "urgently" needed a new water pump, and if I had it done STRAIGHT AWAY they "might" be able to save the coolant. $595. I declined. In 2023, +12 yrs and +140,000 kms, I took the car with a now whining water pump in to a non-dealer mechanic - $380 to replace it AND do a coolant flush!! I could have actually done it myself (youtube videos show how easy it is) for $130 (pump and coolant) and an hour or two of messing around). The question I'll never have answered is were Holdens going to needlessly replace a water pump and charge a massive markup, or were they just going to charge me $595 for nothing? I'll NEVER use a dealership again!!!)
That car horn at 8:27 just drove my cat bonkers. He sat up suddenly, looked around, and ran into the living room to see if we had visitors. I don't know why. Nobody who comes to visit uses their horn when they arrive.
My border collie knows that the Life 360 chime means someone has arrived at home. Got tired of the barking so we disabled that… and now he has learned the chime on our new Ring cameras means someone is in the yard. Border collies are SMART dogs lol.
@ronj9124, oh yes and Canada has some instances of those with the "CBC Marketplace" videos, you might want to look them up if you haven't seen them. Not only are they about cars but home repair services on garage doors, appliances etc. As for automotive they've exposed some of them where they tried to upsell services like "fluid flushes" etc., yet they never even performed the service but ran up a bill of like $200 or more when they just went in for a "$40 oil change." It's disgusting.
We had a local quick lube business, that changed hands multiple times, because of complaints. One day there was a fire, and the business next door bought the property and tore down the building.
My father (AGAINST my advice) had his old diesel ute serviced by a "mobile mechanic". After the service, he couldn't get it started. "Sorry, bad news, looks like you need a new alternator". $$$ for the new alternator. STILL wouldn't start. "I'm sorry, you'll have to try a diesel mechanic, NOTHING I've done would cause it not to start". I replaced the fuse he blew when f*cking around with the alternator (which didn't need replacing) and it runs fine.
@Zantides lol maybe... and some bolts have much longer threads then you think..... then you get the bolts or nut almost off, but it's like nahhh I'm good I'm not about to try and turn that thing by hand the last few rounds.... then ..... stuck....
….in the case of CNC machining, I ALWAYS grab the clamps and give them a yank before hitting the “GO” button. Far better to have the part move and you have to set the damned thing up again than to have it go flying…..
Yeeeeaaaahhhh I've definitely done that last one more than a few times in my 20 years of wrenching. 7:15 An incident identical to this happened in the bay directly next to me many years ago... when the truck fell it actually sent the screw jack airborne across the entire shop. Fortunately nobody was in its path and the only damage to the truck was a caved in gas tank.
If you have a good, honest mechanic, not only do you want to keep him/her, but tell your friends and relatives as well. Best way to thank a mechanic is to keep him/her busy!
We "used to" have a local mechanic in the rural hills where I live. He charged my father $6,000 to (supposedly) replace the injectors in his 4cyl diesel ute at 120,000 km's. It was running SO BAD afterwards he had to have it towed to a diesel mechanic to have the timing reset. Did I mention, we "used to" have a mechanic? I hope, when he's old, he gets the same honesty and service in a nursing home!
1:31 Years ago I experienced this EXACT issue when looking at a truck to buy. Truck had the 4WD emblem and OEM 4WD switch on the dash. Looked underneath and it had no transfer case (2WD). Truck also had the V8 emblem ...and was a V6 ... shady AF!
till someone sold a fake 4wd to anton churgh. then hed show up with suppressed shotgun and say " sir stay still please" yep i can see the news headline
Warned a guy to turn off the battery charger before connecting to the terminals. He stated he'd done this hundreds of times without any pro.......................top of battery blows straight up and hits the roof of the barn we were in...........lems. LMFAO as he wasn't hurt. :P
I had a similar thing happen to me as 6:29, but it was just one pin on each of the front brake callipers. We sued the dealership and they settled to replace all four corners of the car’s suspension, brakes and engine mounts, now we have what is basically a brand new 2008 Honda Jazz.
Makes me really glad I have a mechanic shop I trust. Probably a dozen of my family members (and twice as many of family friends, and who knows how many of their friends friends) means that if they ever tried to pull some shady nonsense on one of us, they'd lose half their business in this town!
Same thing here. In fact my wifes truck is in right now getting a new transmission. But it's a great comfort to know they do great work and only what is needed.
Agreed, aye. I remember driving up to the mechanics I go to with my neighbor to have them inspect a car I was buying from him, and as we were walking in the door they were telling another customer that while they absolutely could replace his transmission if he really wanted them to, it was absolutely unnecessary and they could fix it a lot more cheaply than that. Felt really good.
Well at least the one tech actually used the shop exhaust hoses. I worked at a shop where nobody did, then one day the new kid decided to spray 3 or 4 cans of ether into a 15l cummins trying to start it, then everyone in the shop started to wonder why we all have the urge to dance and talk about cartoons.
It's not just mechanics. Engineers do it too. Last week we were testing in a vehicle and after every reprogramming of the engine we got 99.999 DTC's on the steering wheel phone sensor. We spent a good hour trying wildly with all the expensive testing hardware we had. And then we laughed. My colleague was sitting with his laptop screen pressing the button all the time 😂 Can I send the photo in? Update: Sent.
7:03 WOW that happened to me as well in my 04 Honda Accord.. my old grand pops always used to tell me to get a second or 3rd opinion from other shops and luckily I listened to him.
This is precisely the reason why I perform ALL services and repairs on my own cars. I had a real loser work on my Cutlass Supreme back in 1979. Instead of replacing all eight spark plug wires during a "Tune up" he decided to replace just one, as the other seven plug wires looked "ok". My mother who was driving the car at the time, barely made it home stating that the top speed she could coax out of the engine was 30 mph. I decided it was time to work on my own cars. Forty four years later I still do.
Interesting point but what can the rest of us do? I used to know something about car maintenance but now I'd be afraid to change the oil because everything is so different under the hood.
@@that_thing_I_do For just oil changes it's not that different. The two things to watch out for are that you might have to remove a bottom cover to get at the drain plug, and it might use a cartridge filter rather than the traditional spin-on oil filter. If you search on TH-cam you can find videos showing how to do oil changes on a wide variety of cars and trucks so you can decide if it's something you want to do.
1965 mustang, mechanic said he changed the spark plugs, oil and transmission fluid for my parents. he changed the oil and 5 of the 6 spark plugs, tranny fluid was from the 80's (not driven a lot though), 3 plugs were hand tight two were in there ok and the 6th one at the back that he didn't change was stuck in there good. had a nice layer of crust on the contacts. nobody in my family did cars at that point and only reason we know is i needed something tangible to do in uni.
4:10 Nah, he's not dead... well, not physically. He's just done with today. Reflecting on what happened. I once had an '84 Camaro that I got from my grandpa (which used to be my dad's... it's a long story). Well, I was having a problem with the front driver caliper locking up. Took it to three different shops and they all said the same thing, "you need a new caliper". I told one of my friends about it and he said "bring it to the shop where I live, they'll give you a better deal on the work". So I did (this was before I was heavily into doing my own brake work). I took the car in and told them what was going on. One of the techs behind the counter said "it's your brake hose". I told him what all the other shops said and he repeated himself. I said to just go ahead and do the work, regardless of what it was. I get a call an hour later and, sure enough, collapsed brake hose. It would allow the fluid in, but the rubber wouldn't let it release. Sometimes it pays to get a second opinion (or third or fourth).
Ran a shop in rural midwest with my father. We specialized in electrical diagnostics but often absorbed other mechanic-induced problems. Another shop that competed with me called me once to ask "Hey John how do you remove a pilot bearing?" You need a license to work on planes and operate on people, but none to work on cars.
I once took my Buick Encore to my local dealership for an oil change and tire rotation before a long trip... Left town, and noticed a pronounced vibration/shimmy that got worse as time passed. Stopped and found that they had not tightened the lug nuts on EITHER front wheel and the tires were close to coming off... I was pissed.
Well, better than them being over torqued leading to snapped studs the next tire change. I don't even trust tire shops anymore, I'll bring them in off the car.
This is why I've learned to get around the vehicle myself rather than rely on shops. Big stuff, at least I can check the results. And, yes, I've bodge the electrics on my van conversion. It has an auxiliary battery that I run all of the high tech stuff bypassing the wiring harness completely.
I always tell my apprentices if something big and/or heavy falls never try to catch it, get the f away. So when I see those videos of cars falling off of lifts and guys trying to catch them it makes me cringe. Also I always tell them when lifting a car on a lift always check that the pins are fully engaged and that it sits properly by giving it a good shake as soon as the wheels are off the ground.
Seeing that shop make the mistake of not tightening lug nuts and causing both rear wheels to fall off made me feel better about the time I didnt overtorque mine and the car started to shake, they shook loose to the point where a few were able to be spun by hand. Luckily, I caught it and torqued them properly before my wheel fell off.
I did that before. got within 1/2 mile of home when my car to serious shaking. In 2 seconds I knew what I did. Walked home, got a jack and walked back to tighten my lugs. I call it the Simple Simon Award
I had done this with my dads van.. I thought I had properly torqued them with the torque wrench.. But apparently what had happened. When I put the wheels on. I didn't get them tight enough so they were sat weird on the ground. When we were driving we were taking a lady 200miles from where we were. So we got to driving. Had just done the ball joint and thought that was coming lose, pulled off, hard shoulder, checked that and it was fine, then we found out I had done the fault of the lugnuts, just caught it, two lugnuts missing both side but managed to make it so we had four on each wheel so we could get it home and buy some more. XD
@@drshocking1229 had to redo the torque on my rims last week. The 3/4" wrench committed disassembly of itself well in use. Went to the 1/2". Will not buy another at Harbor Freight.
Ive learned not to ask your coworkers to help put wheels on customer vehicles. I put on one side and the coworker put on the other. When I went for a test drive I made it 2 blocks and his side rear fell off on a main road. Luckily only the rotor had to be change out but it was terrifying. I found out afterwards he only hand threaded them on expecting that I was going around to tighten his side after (thats on me). One wheel at a time guys and do it all yourself - or atleast check over anything anyone else "helps" you with.
Had it happen to me twice back when I was driving a semi. Shop failed to properly torque 2 drives and I seen them start to wobble while hauling 18 tons of trash.
8:42, yeah, I've done this before. The worst part is the bolt had just de-threaded enough to drop the assembly out a millimeter, so I couldn't thread the bolt back in. This is why rubber mallots exist. lol
7:48 - Awww, poor 4th-Gen Camry! 😢 Vintage red metallic with gold pinstripe and factory spoiler, just like mine. Two days ago, I was doing my routine fluid check under the hood of my Cherokee. It was about 2 AM, so I was using a flashlight, and was doing a very thorough inspection. First thing I noticed was my coil-to-cap wire was ever-so-slightly rubbing through on the A/C line, not nearly enough to be concerning, but I'm planning on doing a full tune-up very soon anyway (181k, it's due). Next thing I noticed was a nice pair of Snap-On diagonal cutters, sitting on the inner bodywork beneath the master cylinder. I've had the Jeep a little over a year and a half, driven ~30k miles, and in that time I've replaced both a water pump and power steering pump, poked around looking for the best wire routing for a future amp/sub combo and alarm/remote starter, and fully inspected my brake lines from master to each wheel, and not once did I ever see those diagonal cutters sitting there. Which reminds me, I should probably text my neighbor (previous owner) and see if he's been missing his diagonal cutters! 😆
Forgetting a tool. In Japan🇯🇵, this is sometimes called "hidden by a dwarf." When I was servicing my own k-car to get the Japanese two-year statutory vehicle inspection, I once left a TONE 8-10mm bend ring wrench on the brake nipple of the rear drum brake. After getting the inspection, I realized that the ring wrench was missing, so I had no choice but to buy a KTC 8-10mm straight ring wrench, which is more expensive than the one I lost. Two years later, when I started to service the k-car again for the statutory vehicle inspection, I found that the lost ring wrench was still clinging to the brake nipple of the rear drum brake.😱 My k-car continued to run in various places for two years, but the ring wrench was still held by the brake nipple without falling off.😢 He was thinly rusted all over, but I removed the rust with a wire brush and stored it next to KTC.😌 He and KTC are still working together as a good team.😊
Once I pressurized a brake bleeder while working at Delta JFK but didn't know 1 of the underlings didn't screw the fill cap back on all the way. Boom, brake fluid bomb bath. We had showers at the shop but I still had to line my truck seats with trash bags. Always, ALWAYS give any pressure vessel a quick check before throwing the beans to it. And watch over recent tech school grads like a hawk!
43 years ago, I had an old guy as my mentor in the machining trade. Every time I’d fuck up, I’d hang my head in shame and go see him. He’d tell me what an idiot I was and then tell me how to fix my error. Then he always used to say “It’s not whether or not you fall in the shit, but how you get yourself out of it”. Even after all these years, not a day goes by that I don’t say “….that old bastard was right!”. I’ve heard myself telling the young folks this and realize I AM NOW “THE OLD GUY”…😑
Seeing horror stories like bad shops makes me glad my mechanic is also a family friend. Used to be a co-worker at one time when we both drove school bus.
I feel bad for the mechanic mishaps but as for the shops who do terrible/deceiving work, the owners are hopefully filing lawsuits. Especially the one with the painted alternator. That shop should have their license revoked and closed down for obvious fraud.
I worked at a starter and alternator rebuilding place, for a few months, many years back. A John Deere alternator was just a GM alternator, but painted green, and charged the customer twice the price. Expensive paint, I guess.
This is why checking the certifications on the lobby wall and comparing it to the name of the mechanic on the work order is so important. If there are any discrepancies immediately stop the work and go to another shop.
Let a new shop do a simple job, or simply diagnosis. Like replacing exhaust or brakes. Or letting them find that one electrical connector you disconnected. If they cannot, or make scammy repair suggestions, go to the next and repeat until you find someone who can.
@@DeeDee-pw9pmI'd rather _not_ let any shop that isn't extremely trustworthy touch safety critical systems. I'd rather pay the $1800 than potentially have a brake failure.
Worked as a tech for 40 years, the last 27 at a municipality maintaining a police fleet, I thought I'd seen it all there, but watching your videos it takes me back to the days at the dealer and the silly things the public is capable of as well.
The last clip of the electric ratchet getting stuck totally happened to me some times even when I was fully aware it was gonna happen but went for it anyways because I was desperate 😂
This video was actually pretty damn hilarious compared to all the customer pettiness usually seen here. Especially 0:51. Also,”Dodged the RAM”?! 😂. Nice!
Been there and done a few of these things, especially early on in my career. We were all young once but luckily have not had a car fall off of a lift in 17 years
Awesome. I had my landrover roll away once. i had put the handbrake on then lifted a rear wheel off the ground but forgot it's not a handbrake BUT a transmission brake so the diff allowed the other wheel to turn..
Tried 3 different alternators on a silverado once because none of them were charging before realizing the hot wire from the battery to the alternator was broken in half. Totally had a brain fart that day 🤦🏼♂️
I did something similar on a 74 Caddy. After the third alternator, I then noticed that the ALT light on the dash wasn't lit. Put in a new bulb. Alternator charged just fine. Most alternators (at least in the old days) must have a load in the circuit that turns on the light. No light (at all)= no charging.
I was once stumped after fixing my moped. It wouldn't run. Had to grab the electrical schematic, only to find out the power switch on the steering wheel was set to OFF instead of ON.
I can't stress this enough. When u find a mechanic that is worth a damn. Stuck with them . Even if they are kinda pricey. Some mechanics should not be mechanics.
What's the worst thing you've done as a mechanic/technician in the work place?
If you'd like to see another video like this in the future let us know. We wanted to change it up for the rest of the year.
Submit your clips/photos at www.justrolledinyt.com
@@calfeasance I know all about zombie mode as well lol. Hope it never happens again haha
@@calfeasancebruh I've been in zombie mode for like 2 years straight I swear
Dropped a very very low car onto a filled and capped oil drain pan which blew the cap off and exploded oil across the floor or my garage.
Replaced a bunch of parts on a motorcycle that wouldn't run. It was out of fuel.
On the same motorcycle, I was installing an aftermarket clutch. While I had the clutch cover off, I suspect I dropped some metal shavings into the engine while doing some unrelated work. After the clutch replacement, I rode about 100 miles before the engine started knocking. Oil was glittered and the engine needed rebuilt. Still have the bike with a fresh engine in it now.
Had intermittent issues with an LS400 needing to bump the key a few times before it would crank. Once it would crank, it was strong so I figured the battery was fine and starter solenoid was going bad. Replaced the starter (it's under the intake manifold) and it still wouldn't crank. Turned out to be a loose battery cable.
I think that's the last of my tales. For now.
I did the classic blunder of leaving the exposed metal window wiper arm in the upwards position while walking in to get a new wiper. I came back out to a smashed windscreen.
This is a very long story. I was a trim tech at a Ford dealer, Cust brought in an 86 F150, complaint was it wouldn't start in Park, a common problem. Got it started, pulled halfway into my bay, put it in Park, and set the parking brake. Then, for some unknown reason, I turned the key on, and went and jumped the starter solenoid on the fender. The engine started. Then I saw the engine torque over toward the driver side. In that millisecond, I knew that it was in Reverse. Know what is funny about duo-servo drum brakes? They don't hold well in Reverse. The truck started to go backwards. I stupidly tried to hold it back by grabbing on the radiator support bar, which not only dragged me toward the end of my bay, but sliced my fingers open while doing it. Oh, did I mention that I had left the front wheels turned to the right? As I got to the end of my bay, I let go, and watched the truck back out in a curve, ramming right into a customer's new Expedition. L/F fender of the Expedition was crumpled, and the tailgate of the F150 was damaged. Told my boss, he didn't believe me. When all was said and done, I had bandaged fingers, a horribly bruised ego, I wasn't in trouble, and they didn't charge me for the repairs. I learned that I wasn't strong enough to hold back a truck with a 351 FI engine, and that I got pretty lucky after all. Actually, I learned quite a lot!
I'm seriously impressed with the ability to wire all the buttons to the horn.
Right? I mean, how do you do that _by accident?_
The problem is likely only one thing mis-wired that causes the horn to honk and not every button being wired wrong. Something like if you wired the power source in series with the horn, so every time any current is drawn the horn honks.
I can't even figure out how to do that on purpose
@@waggy401 Maybe wire the horn relay wire into BCM power?
@@movitoviscyrinxed446 I agree that a reasonable hypothesis but I still just can't figure out how you pull it off with so many unrelated functions. Notice also that it's always just a single short honk, even though some of those functions (like the headlight knob) pull current continuously.
Mistakes and accidents happen to the best of us. What's inexcusable is the rip-off mechanics like the guy who tried to sell a new trans because of a busted CV joint.
Yeah, I also felt like that when watching the spray painted alternator. What an absolute douche-bag move.
@@christianchristiansen99 I know! It's right on top too! How could anyone not be able to replace that!
A Midas, I was at, got an older Honda Accord towed in. It wouldn't move in any gear and we thought it was the transaxle. We pushed it in and once it was on the hoist, I saw the lower ball joint broke and ripped out the CV axle with it.
A friend was quoted $3k for a transaxle rebuild from a shop. Instead he took it to a backyard mechanic. It just needed the gear oil changed. The trans had a clutch type limited slip diff, and the diff wasn't releasing properly. When that happens, the oil has degraded and needs to be changed.
I bought a jeep from a lady a few years back, shop told her I needed a transmission. Only had 95k miles on it. I bought it as scrap. Decided when we got it home I should actually drive it just to see how bad the trans was... The rear wheel hub sensor was bad and would kick on traction control above 30 cause the trans to feel like it was "slipping" took me less than 15 mins to diagnose. Felt kinda bad for the lady. She had already went out and bought a brand new jeep over a 90 dollar wheel hub.
the every button is the horn trick would be hilarious as a prank
I was hoping he would also press the horn button to see what would happen.
I kind of want this in my own car. That was so funny
Italians would love it
@@KingCobbones why, TWO horns, obviously
@@KingCobbones That would start the car.
Downright criminal what some of these shops do to customers.
I think he meant actual deadly stuff, like not installing the caliper or not tightening lugnuts. Or hell, if the transmission explodes it could cause the car to lose control too.@@snarkybuttcrack
@@markellii3093 Yesnt
@@markellii3093 no... he definitely was talking about the scams, not the negligent whoops like forgetting to tighten lugnuts or caliper
And a lot go to the hospital because of it.
That is why you do all your own work to your vehicle. Do not believe the myth that owners can not service and repair their own vehicles.
That mechanic almost went to snap on heaven trying to catch that car.
Ya that was close. Never do that 😅
I couldn't believe he actually thought for a second, ya I got this, lmao
It's reflex -- there is no thought to it. A split second in, & you're like wtf am I doing lol.
Lost one of his 9 lives there.
Your reflexes can absolutely murder you. Your brainstem doesn't know you aren't Superman.
I was a mechanic for 15yrs until my accident. Thank you for showing the ridiculous stuff that happens in a shop that I know too well.
It must have livened up your work day!
We've all dodged a few bullets in the trade although it is well considered a very safe job based upon statistics.
I know many of us expect to bleed a little regularly. We probably report fewer scrapes and lacerations than some other work places. However, the risk of moving parts, heavy items sometimes overhead, stored energy in springs, bars, batteries etc, and pinch and crush risks as well as flammable fluids I'm surprised we do so well overall!
God Bless you and I hope you've found something else fulfilling and profitable for yourself.
Wow!
I really have a problem with shops/dealerships that don't do what they say they did and worse yet had no idea what they were actually doing and really messed stuff up!!
Same here! Some shops shouldn't be in business 😅
@@JustRolledIn I figure why pay someone else to screw it up when I can screw it up myself for free!
Do you not have something like the BOVAG?
It is a nearly century old (1930) cooperation of carsales and repair shops that certify and police the quality of the service their members.
I would guess 90-95% of garages in my country is a member and it it generally seen as a sign of quality and dependability.
They get rid of poorly performing members with a lot of customer complaints quickly but with a proper process of inspections and "secret shoppers".
I can't believe how much gross negligence and incompetence some of these show. I guess thinking of it, I've dealt with some pretty bad shops myself.
@@rogerwilco2 here in the states anyone can pretty much throw a sign up and say they are a mechanic/technician
The horn beeping with all those buttons and switches were hilarious 😂😅
I'm just in awe. I mean... How?
How did they not figure out that at the mechanic... the wife doesn't use any switches when driving?
I was LITERALLY rolling on the floor laughing!!🤣
That is such an epic fail bc it would actually be difficult to do that even on purpose 😮😅
Reading comprehension lesson:
"The horn beeping" is the subject of the sentence. "All those buttons and switches" is not. "The horn beeping WAS hilarious" is correct grammar, "the horn beeping WERE hilarious" is not.
2:56 Obviously some customers aren't smart when it comes to taking care of their cars, but it's stuff like this that makes me mistrust car repair places. Spray painting the existing part to make it look new and charging for a "new" unit...that's pronounced "fraud".
Always ask for the old parts. Maybe take a picture before you take it in.
The rattle can rebuild, soon gets discovered is my guess.
@@major__kong If it's a warranty repair don't bother asking for the old part(s), the manufacturers make us keep those in case they decide to do a random inspection or it happens to be a very unusual fault and have us send them in.
@@alexwalker2582In Michigan the customer is entitled to the return of all old parts, or inspection of any parts that have to be returned for warranty or core charge. You can ALWAYS look at the old parts.
Last time I took my truck into the dealership for an oil change they put 8 quarts of oil in it which it only takes 6...glad I checked it before I started the truck up-I do my own oil changes now.
Im a mechanic myself. (1 year out of aprenticeship) and i often think back at stuff i did, wich i would have done so much better now (organizing wires repairing wires etc, just cosmetical stuff and nothing drastic i think). I come to realize how much i am still learning everyday by watching your videos and other car stuff on youtube and just from learning from mistakes i am making
Always keep improving fellow mechanics
As vehicle systems keep changing, you need to change with them... After 20 years in the trade, i could no longer be bothered spending the time required to keep up for the absolute garbage pay... I'm off to the mines to drive dump trucks instead...
Starting out I knew I didn't know shit. A few years down the road with more experience & certifications I realized just how much shit I didn't know, shit I know that I don't know, shit I don't know that I don't know and shit I probably won't ever know. And that's a lot of shit.
Never stop learning and always be honest to yourself and others. It's ok to be wrong and ask for help. Everyone makes mistakes and when you do, fix it. We're mechanics, we fix broken shit, even the ones we broke.
I have been an "addict" of these YT car repair videos for over 10 years now! I couldn't put a dollar amount on the "training" I have received, it would easily have run into the thousands! THANK YOU YT!!
@@TheOzthewiz all the small things you take with you out of these videos make the difference
@@cammy9r in my country (austria) such trucks dont exist. i got a toolbox from my workshop so im fine. a house is really really expensive to build (500.000-1.000.000€) so its hard to get one but a flat should do it
Every button tied into the horn sounds like something Top Gear would do to each other on a road trip
Or on Roadkill.
25 years now without having a car fall off a rack. Happened to a coworker while I was 5 feet away. Don't be careless & take your time setting the lift.
yeah that guy was absolutely lazy
Or for the DIY folks, use JACK stands when on a jack. PLEASE!!!
The screw jack is a great safety practice, but not if you forget to remove it...
My 2002 f150 fell off the lift two times... Once at Firestone and the second time at my mechanics shop just after he made fun of Firestone doing it. Talk about concerning and hilarious at the same time. Truck got some bumps and bruises and a flat tire but hey. Stuff happens 😮
@@buyallmeans425 unfortunately some shops are too cheap to buy or maintain the correct adapters for the lifts as well as the lifts themselves... and then they send some kid making $15/hr to lift a brand new truck. im surprised it doesn't happen more.
Oh and also, on welding and brake clean: DONT WELD THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SPRAYED WITH BRAKE CLEAN. Welding arcs will heat brake clean to the point that it breaks down into phosgene gas. One little wiff and you'll have permanent debilitating brain damage
you mean worse than we already have?
Honestly i think tetrachloroethylene should be banned from brake cleaners for this exact reason.
You don't have to look far for a mechanic that nearly WW1'd themselves because of this stuff.
Crazy dangerous!
Just chlorinated, so if you're welding, just use non-chlorinated. Phosgene isn't something to mess with though.
just don’t weld with flammable shit or chemicals around
These guys wouldn't notice permanent debilitating brain damage
Well class, what did we learn?
Catching a car by hand is more work than leaning over and setting the lift correctly!
We learned that meritocracy is necessary.
We cannot have stupid people working a dangerous job that requires attentiveness.
@@DeeDee-pw9pm And it is not possible to FIX stupid!
disturbing lack of thought process with that one 😂
150 PSI. I was a 16 inch gunnersmate on the battleship Missouri. After we fired the 16 inch guns, they were blown out with 150 PSI. This was to blow any burning debris out of the muzzle so next round of powder did not ignite. If we heard air hissing from any pipe, we never ran our hand along to find the leak. We grabbed a wooden broom handle and ran that along the pipe. Better to saw the handle in two than saw some hand parts off.
This sounds like a very common usage of brooms and the like, cuz I swear I hear the same thing was used to find high-pressure steam leaks as well for the exact same reason. Better it than your hand
He “Dodged the Ram”. lol I see what you did there. 😜
I caught that too.
@fdavidmiller2, people need to RAM Dodge/Chrysler in class action suits for some of their poor designs/materials....
@@zenithperigee7442 you mean gm and ford.
I didn't catch that until I read your comment. lol!
That was VERY clever....
Guys, we found "that other shop". It wasn't the customer after all! 😀😀
I think most of us suspected that it was another shop that failed to repair the vehicle right the first time.
0:30 the shop: "oh, we decided to give you a complimentary oil change, too!"
Them springs be lethal
I remember years ago changing the shock on my car at home using the widow maker compressors (two not so sturdy prongs either end). Got halfway through tightening and had some slippage. At the same time I heard someone about to enter the garage and had to shout “STAY OUT”. 5 seconds later the compressor slipped completely one side and the spring gave it enough momentum where it wedged into the door frame about 15 feet away where my family member would’ve walked in
Next time round I made sure I secured them compressors properly before tightening 👍
@smilerbob, yea as the "non-mechanic", I never liked spring compressors. Had to use them once on my beater to get the factory springs off and put on lowering springs. Def not fun, they "slipped" a bit but being as careful as possible paid off & nothing bad happened. I like the fact that they offer "complete struts" tho so you can just replace them as a complete unit. For some people tho they may go the cheaper route of replacing the strut/shock whilst retaining the spring.
Fuck that compressor.. We were doing springs on a damn box truck and the ONLY damn compressor that would fit was the widow maker. It exploded into sparks and broke the compressor. The second set shot it across the shop. I hate doing them with a passion.
Yeah we made our own using some beefy threaded rod, those widow makers are terrifying
0:40 That's a perfect visual when my IBS is non-stop and all I can do is just sit there on the toilet and let it slowly fall out.
Can't wait for the " my car sounds like " episode ! Gonna be EPIC ! 🤣🤣
Soon! 😁
My favorite one is the haunted Crown Vic!
@@pxn748 that's not a car sounds like clip but definitely a good one from 2021!
@@JustRolledIn omg please! The way customers explain the sound is down right amazing and hilarious! So far my favorite in this channel, was the: "Customer states car song like that one rock song", and the car somehow sounded like Hot for Teacher!
Several good examples why I NEVER take my car to a shop and learned to be my own mechanic. Finding a GOOD mechanic is like winning the lottery.
Ours is nearing retirement, it'll be hard for our town once he goes.
That can cost a lot of money to do. I know I went to school for it back in 2008. I work on cars for fun now but sometimes I can't/ won't do the work so I take it to the dealership if it's a major job.
Got really lucky when some local brothers bought a small fairly old 2 bay shop in town. The waiting room has broken tiles and some plastic lawn chairs. Most people would probably think its a bad shop because it's not nice and clean. But they know their shit and do a good job. I'll never take it to a big national chain as long as they are here.
The question is: Are YOU a good mechanic?
I’ve often said, “I can make the car worse myself for free, I don’t need to pay someone to do that!”
Many years ago, the family station wagon was a regular in the service bays of a local gas station. They gave us an inadvertent discount by, at different times, leaving 2 screwdrivers, several shop rags, a small pair of pliers, a large pair of pliers, a Grip-Tite wrench, and a pair of vise grip pliers under the hood. They also once changed the air filter and forgot to bolt the lid back down, so when investigating the new rattle beneath the hood Dad found the entire air filter unit sitting at an angle off to one side of the engine. Years later, after religiously bringing it in to the dealer for regular rune-ups & all required repairs, my folks sold their 1st generation Ford Taurus to a family member who lived in another state (they charged him something like $10). When my relative took the car in for his state's required inspection, they discovered that every single piece of hardware under the hood was factory original, even though we'd been charged over the intervening few years for multiple belts, a new water pump, and two new alternators...
Land of the Brave.
Home of the Free.
I was "gifted" a 2ft Snap-on ratchet wrench by my local Firestone shop for bringing in my '74 Valiant for brake service. Was left under the hood. Must have been an "early" Christmas gift! Thank you FIRESTONE...
Ah, the good 'ol days.
Sadly, it's "unlikely" anything made today will last like that. "German ENGINEERING" has fine tuned the ability to design something which will wear to the point of failure (mileage) just outside warranty. Quality control in the USA? Forget it. I bought a Marlin 22 rifle, right out of the (unopened, undamaged) box it had a BENT BARREL. Let that sink in.
I am always awestruck at the neglect of basic vehicle maintainence and the shady work some of these shops pass of as proper repairs. Just wow.
Yeah, it shocked the hell out of me!
Holden dealerships in Australia were blatant FRAUDS. They didn't "repair" faults they should, and advised repair work that simply wasn't needed. (Classic example: in 2011, I was told I "urgently" needed a new water pump, and if I had it done STRAIGHT AWAY they "might" be able to save the coolant. $595. I declined. In 2023, +12 yrs and +140,000 kms, I took the car with a now whining water pump in to a non-dealer mechanic - $380 to replace it AND do a coolant flush!! I could have actually done it myself (youtube videos show how easy it is) for $130 (pump and coolant) and an hour or two of messing around). The question I'll never have answered is were Holdens going to needlessly replace a water pump and charge a massive markup, or were they just going to charge me $595 for nothing? I'll NEVER use a dealership again!!!)
they learned from politicians!
That car horn at 8:27 just drove my cat bonkers. He sat up suddenly, looked around, and ran into the living room to see if we had visitors. I don't know why. Nobody who comes to visit uses their horn when they arrive.
…same with my dog 😂
My border collie knows that the Life 360 chime means someone has arrived at home. Got tired of the barking so we disabled that… and now he has learned the chime on our new Ring cameras means someone is in the yard. Border collies are SMART dogs lol.
The dude the wired it knew what he was doing. Every switch would activate the horn. Pure genius!!
That drove ME bonkers! How does that happen?
@@ezrashonor Common with herding breeds. They've got more brains than some people.
What I like about these videos is, for every crappy shop out there, there are good honest ones too.
Probably WAY more "honest" ones than crappy..
I think quick lube places have been busted by news crews several times for not doing the services that they charged customers.
@ronj9124, oh yes and Canada has some instances of those with the "CBC Marketplace" videos, you might want to look them up if you haven't seen them. Not only are they about cars but home repair services on garage doors, appliances etc. As for automotive they've exposed some of them where they tried to upsell services like "fluid flushes" etc., yet they never even performed the service but ran up a bill of like $200 or more when they just went in for a "$40 oil change." It's disgusting.
@@zenithperigee7442 Yes, I have seen a couple of Canadian ones.
We had a local quick lube business, that changed hands multiple times, because of complaints. One day there was a fire, and the business next door bought the property and tore down the building.
My father (AGAINST my advice) had his old diesel ute serviced by a "mobile mechanic". After the service, he couldn't get it started. "Sorry, bad news, looks like you need a new alternator". $$$ for the new alternator. STILL wouldn't start. "I'm sorry, you'll have to try a diesel mechanic, NOTHING I've done would cause it not to start". I replaced the fuse he blew when f*cking around with the alternator (which didn't need replacing) and it runs fine.
3:13 dodged the ram.... i see what you did there
Mad respect to all you mechanics out there. It’s a tough job, and you guys don’t get enough appreciation.
Getting ripped off by customers is more common than people think.
In the 35 years of being a Auto Tech. I've seen some really messed up things so called mechanics have done to customers vehicles
Merry Christmas Mr JRI and your family. Thanks for the laughs as horrifying as they are.
Thank you 😊. Merry Christmas to you and yours.
8:00 He thought he was going to catch the car. That's cute.
I was looking for this comment lmao
Well, he's black
Word to the wise. If the Car starts to fall off the rack. RUN!!
That last one has me rolling on the floor!
Happens all the time to me....
@@JohnnyAnderson1 If it happends all the time, does that mean you're that "Other shop" 😏
@Zantides lol maybe... and some bolts have much longer threads then you think..... then you get the bolts or nut almost off, but it's like nahhh I'm good I'm not about to try and turn that thing by hand the last few rounds.... then ..... stuck....
@@JohnnyAnderson1 even with the impact gun sometimes 😭. Then you gotta come back with the swivel socket lmao
The fake 4WD really was a pretty elaborate ruse!
Big lawsuits there!
@@Krzys_D It's possible the dealer bought it at auction and was victimized as well. The ruse is too much work for a dealer to bother with.
I would!@@Krzys_D
Post purchase inspector will be let go for sure. @@russellhltn1396
@@russellhltn1396to me that just sounds like the dealership tried to save a buck without doing a proper inspection.
7:55. That's why you ALWAYS pick up a racked car about a foot, then shake the hell out of it. Better it fall short than high.
Actually looking up the lift points for the model is a good, professional idea.
I do that, when putting mine on ramps, before getting underneath it.
….in the case of CNC machining, I ALWAYS grab the clamps and give them a yank before hitting the “GO” button. Far better to have the part move and you have to set the damned thing up again than to have it go flying…..
You never fail to disappoint. And that's why this channel is great! 😂
I definitely second that !
Yeeeeaaaahhhh I've definitely done that last one more than a few times in my 20 years of wrenching.
7:15 An incident identical to this happened in the bay directly next to me many years ago... when the truck fell it actually sent the screw jack airborne across the entire shop. Fortunately nobody was in its path and the only damage to the truck was a caved in gas tank.
I am so lucky to have guys that are honest nearby.
If you have a good, honest mechanic, not only do you want to keep him/her, but tell your friends and relatives as well. Best way to thank a mechanic is to keep him/her busy!
We "used to" have a local mechanic in the rural hills where I live.
He charged my father $6,000 to (supposedly) replace the injectors in his 4cyl diesel ute at 120,000 km's. It was running SO BAD afterwards he had to have it towed to a diesel mechanic to have the timing reset. Did I mention, we "used to" have a mechanic? I hope, when he's old, he gets the same honesty and service in a nursing home!
Lucky you! I hope it stays that way too!
1:31 Years ago I experienced this EXACT issue when looking at a truck to buy. Truck had the 4WD emblem and OEM 4WD switch on the dash. Looked underneath and it had no transfer case (2WD). Truck also had the V8 emblem ...and was a V6 ... shady AF!
It a money grab
till someone sold a fake 4wd to anton churgh. then hed show up with suppressed shotgun and say " sir stay still please" yep i can see the news headline
When buying that, they could have tested out the 4wd and just looked under the vehicle and looked for the transfer case
Warned a guy to turn off the battery charger before connecting to the terminals. He stated he'd done this hundreds of times without any pro.......................top of battery blows straight up and hits the roof of the barn we were in...........lems. LMFAO as he wasn't hurt. :P
I had a similar thing happen to me as 6:29, but it was just one pin on each of the front brake callipers. We sued the dealership and they settled to replace all four corners of the car’s suspension, brakes and engine mounts, now we have what is basically a brand new 2008 Honda Jazz.
Makes me really glad I have a mechanic shop I trust. Probably a dozen of my family members (and twice as many of family friends, and who knows how many of their friends friends) means that if they ever tried to pull some shady nonsense on one of us, they'd lose half their business in this town!
Same thing here. In fact my wifes truck is in right now getting a new transmission. But it's a great comfort to know they do great work and only what is needed.
Agreed, aye. I remember driving up to the mechanics I go to with my neighbor to have them inspect a car I was buying from him, and as we were walking in the door they were telling another customer that while they absolutely could replace his transmission if he really wanted them to, it was absolutely unnecessary and they could fix it a lot more cheaply than that. Felt really good.
Well at least the one tech actually used the shop exhaust hoses. I worked at a shop where nobody did, then one day the new kid decided to spray 3 or 4 cans of ether into a 15l cummins trying to start it, then everyone in the shop started to wonder why we all have the urge to dance and talk about cartoons.
😂 we used to have them at one dealership I worked at also. Nobody ever used them 😅
It's not just mechanics. Engineers do it too. Last week we were testing in a vehicle and after every reprogramming of the engine we got 99.999 DTC's on the steering wheel phone sensor. We spent a good hour trying wildly with all the expensive testing hardware we had. And then we laughed. My colleague was sitting with his laptop screen pressing the button all the time 😂 Can I send the photo in? Update: Sent.
I once spent half an hour debugging why my computer insisted a file was empty. Guess what? It was empty.
7:03 WOW that happened to me as well in my 04 Honda Accord.. my old grand pops always used to tell me to get a second or 3rd opinion from other shops and luckily I listened to him.
This is precisely the reason why I perform ALL services and repairs on my own cars. I had a real loser work on my Cutlass Supreme back in 1979. Instead of replacing all eight spark plug wires during a "Tune up" he decided to replace just one, as the other seven plug wires looked "ok". My mother who was driving the car at the time, barely made it home stating that the top speed she could coax out of the engine was 30 mph. I decided it was time to work on my own cars. Forty four years later I still do.
Interesting point but what can the rest of us do?
I used to know something about car maintenance but now I'd be afraid to change the oil because everything is so different under the hood.
@@that_thing_I_do For just oil changes it's not that different. The two things to watch out for are that you might have to remove a bottom cover to get at the drain plug, and it might use a cartridge filter rather than the traditional spin-on oil filter. If you search on TH-cam you can find videos showing how to do oil changes on a wide variety of cars and trucks so you can decide if it's something you want to do.
1965 mustang, mechanic said he changed the spark plugs, oil and transmission fluid for my parents. he changed the oil and 5 of the 6 spark plugs, tranny fluid was from the 80's (not driven a lot though), 3 plugs were hand tight two were in there ok and the 6th one at the back that he didn't change was stuck in there good. had a nice layer of crust on the contacts. nobody in my family did cars at that point and only reason we know is i needed something tangible to do in uni.
4:10 Nah, he's not dead... well, not physically. He's just done with today. Reflecting on what happened.
I once had an '84 Camaro that I got from my grandpa (which used to be my dad's... it's a long story). Well, I was having a problem with the front driver caliper locking up. Took it to three different shops and they all said the same thing, "you need a new caliper". I told one of my friends about it and he said "bring it to the shop where I live, they'll give you a better deal on the work". So I did (this was before I was heavily into doing my own brake work).
I took the car in and told them what was going on. One of the techs behind the counter said "it's your brake hose". I told him what all the other shops said and he repeated himself. I said to just go ahead and do the work, regardless of what it was. I get a call an hour later and, sure enough, collapsed brake hose. It would allow the fluid in, but the rubber wouldn't let it release.
Sometimes it pays to get a second opinion (or third or fourth).
Sounds like a tricky issue. Caliber would be my guess, which would not solve the issue.
Ran a shop in rural midwest with my father. We specialized in electrical diagnostics but often absorbed other mechanic-induced problems. Another shop that competed with me called me once to ask "Hey John how do you remove a pilot bearing?"
You need a license to work on planes and operate on people, but none to work on cars.
I once took my Buick Encore to my local dealership for an oil change and tire rotation before a long trip... Left town, and noticed a pronounced vibration/shimmy that got worse as time passed. Stopped and found that they had not tightened the lug nuts on EITHER front wheel and the tires were close to coming off... I was pissed.
Well, better than them being over torqued leading to snapped studs the next tire change. I don't even trust tire shops anymore, I'll bring them in off the car.
Tire shop workers are only allowed a 10 minute lunch because otherwise they'll forget their training
This is why I've learned to get around the vehicle myself rather than rely on shops. Big stuff, at least I can check the results.
And, yes, I've bodge the electrics on my van conversion. It has an auxiliary battery that I run all of the high tech stuff bypassing the wiring harness completely.
I always tell my apprentices if something big and/or heavy falls never try to catch it, get the f away.
So when I see those videos of cars falling off of lifts and guys trying to catch them it makes me cringe.
Also I always tell them when lifting a car on a lift always check that the pins are fully engaged and that it sits properly by giving it a good shake as soon as the wheels are off the ground.
Seeing that shop make the mistake of not tightening lug nuts and causing both rear wheels to fall off made me feel better about the time I didnt overtorque mine and the car started to shake, they shook loose to the point where a few were able to be spun by hand. Luckily, I caught it and torqued them properly before my wheel fell off.
I did that before. got within 1/2 mile of home when my car to serious shaking. In 2 seconds I knew what I did. Walked home, got a jack and walked back to tighten my lugs. I call it the Simple Simon Award
I had done this with my dads van.. I thought I had properly torqued them with the torque wrench.. But apparently what had happened. When I put the wheels on. I didn't get them tight enough so they were sat weird on the ground. When we were driving we were taking a lady 200miles from where we were. So we got to driving. Had just done the ball joint and thought that was coming lose, pulled off, hard shoulder, checked that and it was fine, then we found out I had done the fault of the lugnuts, just caught it, two lugnuts missing both side but managed to make it so we had four on each wheel so we could get it home and buy some more. XD
@@drshocking1229 had to redo the torque on my rims last week. The 3/4" wrench committed disassembly of itself well in use. Went to the 1/2". Will not buy another at Harbor Freight.
Ive learned not to ask your coworkers to help put wheels on customer vehicles. I put on one side and the coworker put on the other. When I went for a test drive I made it 2 blocks and his side rear fell off on a main road. Luckily only the rotor had to be change out but it was terrifying. I found out afterwards he only hand threaded them on expecting that I was going around to tighten his side after (thats on me).
One wheel at a time guys and do it all yourself - or atleast check over anything anyone else "helps" you with.
Had it happen to me twice back when I was driving a semi. Shop failed to properly torque 2 drives and I seen them start to wobble while hauling 18 tons of trash.
I like these long format videos better than the short ones. Gives me more time to laugh or simply be amazed what people do to their cars.
This has been my favorite Just Rolled In video. Some days in the shop are just not good days in the shop.
8:42, yeah, I've done this before. The worst part is the bolt had just de-threaded enough to drop the assembly out a millimeter, so I couldn't thread the bolt back in. This is why rubber mallots exist. lol
03:14 Wait, what? I had to play this section back a few times...
He, "...Dodged the Ram?" HAHA! Well done indeed, fine sir. 😁
"My rear wheels fell off right in front of me!" Nah bro... they fell of behind you.
That was the person driving behind them speaking. That's why the tires fell off in front of him.
Thank you for reminding me of why I work on my own vehicles.
That last one 🤣🤣 easy to to. Done it a couple of times. Luckily I could reverse the ratchet but still funny
5:13: Another smart technician deserves a raise. Well done, Sir!!
The guy just laying defeated in 12 gallons of oil.... That's a mood I seem to experience on a biweekly basis.
Working on heavy equipment, it happens to everyone at least once. 😂
7:48 - Awww, poor 4th-Gen Camry! 😢 Vintage red metallic with gold pinstripe and factory spoiler, just like mine.
Two days ago, I was doing my routine fluid check under the hood of my Cherokee. It was about 2 AM, so I was using a flashlight, and was doing a very thorough inspection. First thing I noticed was my coil-to-cap wire was ever-so-slightly rubbing through on the A/C line, not nearly enough to be concerning, but I'm planning on doing a full tune-up very soon anyway (181k, it's due). Next thing I noticed was a nice pair of Snap-On diagonal cutters, sitting on the inner bodywork beneath the master cylinder. I've had the Jeep a little over a year and a half, driven ~30k miles, and in that time I've replaced both a water pump and power steering pump, poked around looking for the best wire routing for a future amp/sub combo and alarm/remote starter, and fully inspected my brake lines from master to each wheel, and not once did I ever see those diagonal cutters sitting there.
Which reminds me, I should probably text my neighbor (previous owner) and see if he's been missing his diagonal cutters! 😆
Forgetting a tool.
In Japan🇯🇵, this is sometimes called "hidden by a dwarf."
When I was servicing my own k-car to get the Japanese two-year statutory vehicle inspection, I once left a TONE 8-10mm bend ring wrench on the brake nipple of the rear drum brake. After getting the inspection, I realized that the ring wrench was missing, so I had no choice but to buy a KTC 8-10mm straight ring wrench, which is more expensive than the one I lost.
Two years later, when I started to service the k-car again for the statutory vehicle inspection, I found that the lost ring wrench was still clinging to the brake nipple of the rear drum brake.😱
My k-car continued to run in various places for two years, but the ring wrench was still held by the brake nipple without falling off.😢
He was thinly rusted all over, but I removed the rust with a wire brush and stored it next to KTC.😌
He and KTC are still working together as a good team.😊
"He dodged the ram", brilliant 😂😂😂
Once I pressurized a brake bleeder while working at Delta JFK but didn't know 1 of the underlings didn't screw the fill cap back on all the way. Boom, brake fluid bomb bath. We had showers at the shop but I still had to line my truck seats with trash bags. Always, ALWAYS give any pressure vessel a quick check before throwing the beans to it. And watch over recent tech school grads like a hawk!
Spray painted alternator? I mean, everyone needs fired at that shop.
Or owner jailed ? It may well be sanctioned act
That glow plug lodged in the wall was absolutely hilarious! 😂😂😂
8:16 is not the mechanics fault. I've seen the cartoons, that car is just very tired.
Failures at work are normal, even on the worst days we still need happy moments to dispel fatigue. Wishing everyone success in their careers.
43 years ago, I had an old guy as my mentor in the machining trade. Every time I’d fuck up, I’d hang my head in shame and go see him. He’d tell me what an idiot I was and then tell me how to fix my error. Then he always used to say “It’s not whether or not you fall in the shit, but how you get yourself out of it”.
Even after all these years, not a day goes by that I don’t say “….that old bastard was right!”.
I’ve heard myself telling the young folks this and realize I AM NOW “THE OLD GUY”…😑
Seeing horror stories like bad shops makes me glad my mechanic is also a family friend. Used to be a co-worker at one time when we both drove school bus.
Ah, the _real_ "another shop."
That Transit van battery holder design is criminal. You just know that fire is inevitable.
8:08 No way that's me! It's not my truck but it was shocking to see a raptor instantly squat right before my eyes
Thanks for sharing the clip with us!
@@JustRolledInanytime! Working in the auto industry exposes me to many... well... interesting things
I am amazed at the trickery of painting a part to pass it off as new. And all the other tricks.
I feel bad for the mechanic mishaps but as for the shops who do terrible/deceiving work, the owners are hopefully filing lawsuits. Especially the one with the painted alternator. That shop should have their license revoked and closed down for obvious fraud.
Definitely. There should be jail time involved for those A holes.
I worked at a starter and alternator rebuilding place, for a few months, many years back. A John Deere alternator was just a GM alternator, but painted green, and charged the customer twice the price. Expensive paint, I guess.
I would definitely like to have a little "discussion" with the owner! lol
At 62, it brings back memories.
Thanks guys. Always fun !!!!
This is why checking the certifications on the lobby wall and comparing it to the name of the mechanic on the work order is so important. If there are any discrepancies immediately stop the work and go to another shop.
And these days you can check reviews.
@@VintageCars999 Online reviews are trash. I've known this since 2000 bruh. You should too.
Let a new shop do a simple job, or simply diagnosis.
Like replacing exhaust or brakes.
Or letting them find that one electrical connector you disconnected.
If they cannot, or make scammy repair suggestions, go to the next and repeat until you find someone who can.
@@DeeDee-pw9pmI'd rather _not_ let any shop that isn't extremely trustworthy touch safety critical systems. I'd rather pay the $1800 than potentially have a brake failure.
One of your better collections, as the explanations seem to go a little deeper. Thanks for several good laughs.
This is why, when you find a good shop, you stick the fuck with it.
Worked as a tech for 40 years, the last 27 at a municipality maintaining a police fleet, I thought I'd seen it all there, but watching your videos it takes me back to the days at the dealer and the silly things the public is capable of as well.
The first clip.... yes I'll take the closest newest replacement for my 2012 Single cab, shortbed 4x4 Hemi Express. Thank you.
Makes you really appreciate a good honest shop with technicians who know what they're doing.
6:40 I would sue the shop.
The last clip of the electric ratchet getting stuck totally happened to me some times even when I was fully aware it was gonna happen but went for it anyways because I was desperate 😂
The guy who tried to catch the car as it fell instead of getting out of there asap probably already had head damage before the hood hit him, lol.
That's just reflex, acting before the brain has figured out what to do.
This video was actually pretty damn hilarious compared to all the customer pettiness usually seen here.
Especially 0:51. Also,”Dodged the RAM”?! 😂. Nice!
Been there and done a few of these things, especially early on in my career. We were all young once but luckily have not had a car fall off of a lift in 17 years
Watching these fails restores faith in myself and now I know my small fails are nothing in comparison lol
At 7:51 that lazy Mechanic would be looking for another job if he was in my shop.
Dodged the ram - well played 🫡
Awesome. I had my landrover roll away once. i had put the handbrake on then lifted a rear wheel off the ground but forgot it's not a handbrake BUT a transmission brake so the diff allowed the other wheel to turn..
I don’t know how to work on cars but I do love this channel
Tried 3 different alternators on a silverado once because none of them were charging before realizing the hot wire from the battery to the alternator was broken in half. Totally had a brain fart that day 🤦🏼♂️
I did something similar on a 74 Caddy. After the third alternator, I then noticed that the ALT light on the dash wasn't lit. Put in a new bulb. Alternator charged just fine. Most alternators (at least in the old days) must have a load in the circuit that turns on the light. No light (at all)= no charging.
I was once stumped after fixing my moped.
It wouldn't run.
Had to grab the electrical schematic, only to find out the power switch on the steering wheel was set to OFF instead of ON.
That 2nd clip is why I’ll never do my own suspension work
One thing I have picked up on in these videos, mechanics love to be caked in used oil 🤣
Are they "petrosexuals"?
0:35 this is why I tell people that they can’t even trust dealerships to perform repairs correctly. They can be just as bad any other shop
I can't stress this enough. When u find a mechanic that is worth a damn. Stuck with them . Even if they are kinda pricey. Some mechanics should not be mechanics.
Every buttons the horn lol
6:00, me without glasses:
A few of those are honest "oops" moments... with no harm done. Those I like the best.