I used to rely just on listening for engine problems. A veteran mechanic let me use his stethoscope and pinpointed an issue I'd have missed. Do you guys always use tools for noise diagnosis?
My cousin knows I'm a mechanic and now he shows up every Saturday with his old sedan. Last time it was a squeaky belt, this weekend it's a weird noise from the brakes. I don't mind helping family, but it eats into my only day off. I tried giving him a list of easy fixes to try himself, but he says he'll just mess it up. How do you guys deal with relatives expecting free labor all the time? I love the guy, but I need my weekends back. Any way to say no without causing a family fight?
Honestly, computers find faults fast, but I worry new mechanics never learn to listen to an engine. Tbh, back then, you used a screwdriver to hear valve taps and a light to set timing. Are we smarter now or just lazier?
Honestly, I used to jump straight under the hood. After hearing how it only happened on cold mornings, I learned to ask about weather conditions first. Ngl, it saves so much time now.
Had a Chevy Silverado with a dead pump, and the customer wanted to save cash. I used to only use genuine parts, but this cheap one has been running fine for two years now. When do you guys go with cheaper parts to help a customer out?
Working on a V8 rebuild with aluminum heads. Every time I torque the bolts, they feel like they stretch. My digital wrench is calibrated right. What am I doing wrong here?
I COUNTED on brake squeal to tell me when pads were bad. Last week, a car came in with a spongy pedal and ZERO sound. After pulling the wheels, I found the pads GONE and the rotors ruined. The driver had no idea anything was wrong. From now on, I look at every brake set during oil changes. This visual check is CRUCIAL for safety. Please, do not wait for noise to check your brakes. It could save you from a nasty surprise on the road.
My pegboard sags from all the tools. What do you guys use for heavy tool storage?