Posted on 03/08/2019 7:31:50 AM PST by nascarnation
I must have had bad mechanics at PepBoys when I went there.
1st mechanic put my steering column on very crooked after a wheel alignment. The 2nd mechanic put the timing belt on wrong. Made a heck of a noise. Never went back after that.
I emailed a mechanic named Scotty Kilmer from youtube and he responded that I should not go there except maybe for an oil change.
Scotty Kilmer - 200 million viewers at Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DsgBonIcO4
Holy cow.
We tend to do dealership maintenance on our vehicles, and it’s not cheap. But car repairs exceeded my general mechanical abilities a few quarter centuries back...and I got tired of trying to keep a trustworthy non-brand mechanic. Besides, I spend the extra $$$ on extended warranties, and that’s saved a good bit of money over the years plus there’s usually a rental supplied.
But, I had no idea a mechanic’s tools were that a big of an investment.
After having one of those shops strip the drain plug on my oil pan, I do all of our cars. My wife still brings her van into the dealer.
Last time it was in the dealer said the squealing steering was a bad steering pump. They want $870 to replace it.
I looked on line (Scotty Kilmer is a good one) and watched all sorts of videos. You have to watch a few to see who knows their stuff and who seems like an idiot.
Anyway - from my diagnosis and the numerous videos, it sounded like I just needed to replace two o-rings. $8 a pop for each o-ring off the net (what a rip, but the stores don’t carry them.) Took about 20 minutes to replace, but then I also drained and replaced power steering fluid, and installed a new fluid reservoir (it has a filter in it). So maybe 1.5 hours of messing around with it.
No squeals anymore. And the sad part is - I’m guessing that the dealer wouldn’t have even installed new o-rings! (Or - maybe they knew it was the o-rings, and replace those and charge me for a new pump.)
I did order another pump just in case - now I need to find that again so I can return it.
My used 2003 Honda Accord. Squealing noise when steering not long after buying the car. I found there was a recall due to the O-rings were too small which allowed air in creating bubbles. The dealer had to know but still did not fix before selling to unsuspecting customer. Me.
I too looked at websites and youtube videos. Easiest fix to replace. The cost was about .50 cents when I ordered online.
Carl Icahn (famous investor) bought Pep Boys in 2015.
I suspect he used the same budget cutting personnel shredding tactics there that he is famous for.
Sometimes you can get info from suppliers
I had to get a special windshield for my 67 Camaro.
I asked the company who should I get to install it?
The rep said I’m not allowed to recommend anybody.
Then I asked is there anybody I should avoid?
He answered “Safelite”
I will remember to ask that question: Who should I avoid : )
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