nope.

I am starting to realize that I know as much about my car as a lot of
mechanics.  This is not intended to offend the professional mechanics
who hang out here, but it undoubtedly will offend a few.  This is why I
do all of my own work myself - I don't even like taking my car in for an
alignment.

For those very few jobs that I can't do myself, I'm very, VERY selective
about who I take my car to.  If you're not mechanically inclined, and/or
don't have time to do your own work, ask someone who *does* work on
their own car who they'd take their car to for repair.  There's a BIG
difference in the quality of work between a good shop and a bad shop.

nate

--
replace "fly" with "com" to reply.
http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel

It all depends.....

For example, if I were the technician, and YOU were the customer,  it would
be near-100 percent depreciation when I got through with the 12-pound
"swing wrench."

Well there are good mechanics and bad mechanics. Myself, I've heard too
many horror stories about cheap quick shops like
Midas/Meineke/Wal-Mart/Sears to ever take a vehicle there. I've also
been to a couple of "real" shops where either I got screwed or
witnessed someone else getting screwed. But you know what, there are
good shops out there too, the trick is finding them.

I prefer to do what auto repair work I can on my cars. At least then,
when something gets borked -- and it does happen from time to time -- I
have only myself to blame. Maybe I have more screw-ups doing it myself,
maybe I would encounter more screw-overs if I had someone else do the
work. But it's less stressful my way.

Cheaper too. :-P

-------
I was having a x-mission repair job

==============================
I don't have any complaints anymore, I just do my own mechanical work.
The online groups have been very helpful, have acquired the necessary
special tools and skills so I can now complete all necessary repairs
and maintenance in my own garage.
Some prior experience had been:
Honest well meaning independent Mercedes mechanic couldn't identify the
source of vibration after general servicing. Went over everything, even
changed a fuel injector with no improvement. Ran a little rough all the
way home. Tried checking the engine oil level. Seems his assistant
filled it after it was already filled. Don't remember how many quarts
anymore but it was way, way over the full mark by several inches.
---
Full size Cadillac. Tire store insisted I needed to have the ball
joints changed, so I agreed. Many months later, exiting the driveway at
a shopping center, the right front corner of the car came crashing
down. Towed back to the tire shop. Seems they neglected to install the
cotter pin for the castellated nut at the ball joint. Later discovered
that particular mechanic had a fondness for cocaine.
---
Teen age son neglected a pristine an air cooled VW bug I wasn't
driving, by running with cracked axle boots until the transaxle ran
dry. He took it to a chain repair shop and they had it disassembled on
the bench for a "diagnostic charge" of something like $350 - the cost
of a fully functioning used transaxle at the time -- by the time I was
notified. He authorized them to rebuild the unit.
When done, it only had three forward speeds. When I pointed this out to
the technician, he replied "You must have the three speed." As it
happens, he should have known, only four speed transmissions were
available for that car.
The clutch adjustment was also off and I asked them to correct it. The
clutch adjustment on that vehicle is a wing nut you twist with your
fingers. He managed to turn the nut the wrong way, so I just left,
knowing I could adjust it at home.
---
Toyota pick up truck with a persistent back firing problem when the key
was switched off. ( a common source of this problem could be faulty
ignition timing - but I had already checked the timing)
Truck came back with a stripped distributor hold down bolt. It was
installed, but just wouldn't hold any tension. When removed, the
aluminum threads from the head, were hanging on the bolt, yet - even
though they were the last to touch it, the dealership denied all
responsibility.
---
I could go on -- muffler shop left hanger bracket rattling and I
readjusted it at home, dealership removed only one drain plug from the
transaxle leaving apx. 1/2 pint of old gear oil undrained until I
insisted they remove the second drain plug (they charged me for the
extra oil, since it had already been filled once).
---
I have found good mechanics, too. There was the fellow that rebuilt an
engine for me and the entire shop was spotlessly clean. It was a joy to
watch him, moving with the knowledge of experience.
There was the mechanic who told me I didn't need a new air pump for the
smog, was only a rattling, loose exhaust heat shield.
But there have been plenty of the other kind, the dealer mechanic when
I mentioned uneven brake pad wear prior to replacing a failed caliper,
replied "they all do that." Probably so, if the old sliding pins were
stuck to the extent I discovered when installing the new calipers
myself. (I had been willing to pay $250 over what I felt was reasonable
just to avoid the inconvenience, but their price was higher).
There was the GM dealership mechanic who isolated and repaired the
single faulty diode in a rebuilt alternator previously installed. That
was impressive.
----
In replacing the automatic transmission pan gasket on a Toyota Camry to
rectify oil seepage, discovered two (2) stripped bolts, left by a prior
mechanic, hanging in place but would not hold tension. I was very
fortunate to be able to simply substitute longer through bolts for
those particular locations in the case.
On that same vehicle, when changing the timing belt, discovered where a
prior mechanic had chipped the back of the crankshaft pulley in two
places, apparently from prying, rather than using the proper puller, as
I did.
---
On balance, I prefer to do my own work. I take my time. I'm not on the
clock and it is almost a relaxing endeavour to see how things fit
together, and clean each mating surface and inspect and clean the
threads of every bolt as I go.
Gaskets and seals are relatively inexpensive, and the current vehicle
doesn't leak a drop, and hopefully, with the frequency with which the
fluids are changed (brake, transmission, differential, power steering,
engine oil), can continue running well for a long, long time.

Depends on whether you chose to send your car to the least expensive
guy in town.  It could be a total loss.

I have to ask...WHY did you pick these idiots???

How do you know it wasn't broken previously.

I don't know, are you the only one complaining?   Who else would
complain?

I am fortunate to have a Dodge dealer that, for 20+ years now, has done
excellent work on all of my Chrysler vehicles.  Yes they're a bit
pricey.  However, I can't remember a single time having any of the
issues you mentioned (scrapes, dents, oil spots, over-filling fluids,
etc.) or even having to return because something wasn't repaired
correctly.

I dunno aarcuda, wouldn't it be more correct to state that the car won't
lose further value if a repair is made?

Almost all cars tend to depreciate from driving off the lot. Although,
I fully agree that a repair will not harm a car's value [except for
perhaps a collision repair], I don't see it appreciating [as a rule],
either.  Classic, or rare, or limited production editions cars are a
different story altogether, but a basic Chevy Malibu or Ford Taurus?

I can think of a few instances where upgrading from the original
equipment may provide a positive bump to value, perhaps an upgraded
stereo system, or perhaps a better suspension or larger engine, etc.
But in general, wouldn't you agree that a standard fix-the-damn thing
basic repair just keeps the value instead of adding to it?

Say I replace a bad starter, or tune the engine up. I don't see that as
appreciating the vehicle, just see it as helping to maintain it's
current value.

Vehicle is a 1999 Mercury Sable.  3.0l V6 12v
Mileage 58000
The vehicle has been well maintained, including transmission
fluid/filter changes at every 20 thou miles.

There is what appears to be a regular slip in the transmission during
highway driving.  Once about every few minutes.

Any thoughts on what might be the cause?  Bad clutch pack?

Thanks.