Tip: Charlatans, quacks and kicking your advisors in the Crotch!

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Backyard Mechanic - 30 Oct 2005 14:47 GMT

"Hi, I was wondering if anyone knew exactly where the brake light switch
is
on {my car} and is it hard to change on my own without buying
the mechanic a new house?"

..is a sure fire way to alienate those who might contribute to solving
your problem, as evidenced by the string of replies in the thread of a
recent post.

Of course the writer didnt realize there would be several pro technicians
on the newsgroup. He, no doubt, assumes anyone reading his request for
help would be a civilian, like himself.

Well, some of us are civilians.. who might even have started on here for
the same reasons that the writer makes that statement. I know I did.

But it wasnt long before I ran across the obvious... Some of these guys
on here are in the trade and they DO CARE about imparting their wisdom to
help folks out.

And guess, what! Those guys who are looking to rip you off probably
ARENT on here...{not if we can get to their ISP's, anyway ;) } so dont
try to make your point about rip-artists here.

So a big HATS-OFF to those who have done, and continue to, contribute to
our Shade-tree knowledge.

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Jim Warman - 30 Oct 2005 19:56 GMT

This might explain part of it.... http://flatratetech.com/pub8.htm

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tom - 30 Oct 2005 21:04 GMT

amen Jim. I think that sums it up quite well

> This might explain part of it.... http://flatratetech.com/pub8.htm

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johanb - 31 Oct 2005 02:58 GMT

That about sums it up

And what if the guy goes and pursuit another career ???

Who is gonna take his place........

Right, the guy from pepboys who told you you needed O2 sensors to fix that
lean code
Or the guy thats was waiting on the corner of home depot every morning.

Ofcourse iam not saying all pepboy techs are bad

So next time think before you gonna make a remark about not wanna pay the
mechanics mortgage.

JohanB

> This might explain part of it.... http://flatratetech.com/pub8.htm

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Spike - 31 Oct 2005 03:52 GMT

>That about sums it up
>
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
>Ofcourse iam not saying all pepboy techs are ba

of course not... how can they be bad if they don't even know what a
carb is but can read so they can still look up a part number in The
Big Book LOL : 0 ) (But it's not just there... I've had that
experience at a dealers parts window, Wally World, and any number of
places, and not all of them have anything to do with cars. When the
kid tells you that this mountain bike is better than that one because
the knobbys on the tires are bigger......

>So next time think before you gonna make a remark about not wanna pay the
>mechanics mortgage.
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>> This might explain part of it.... http://flatratetech.com/pub8.htm
>

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Spike
1965 Ford Mustang Fastback 2+2, Vintage Burgundy
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Vintage 40 16" rims w/225/50ZR16 KDWS BF Goodrich
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Scott - 31 Oct 2005 00:41 GMT

> Well, some of us are civilians.. who might even have started on here for
> the same reasons that the writer makes that statement. I know I did.
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> So a big HATS-OFF to those who have done, and continue to, contribute to
> our Shade-tree knowledge.

I would like to add my thanks for all the times these guys have so
unselfishly helped me with advice.

Scott

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Paul of Dayon - 31 Oct 2005 02:10 GMT

I know I am thankful for this group. Way to go, folks!

PoD

> "Hi, I was wondering if anyone knew exactly where the brake light switch
> is
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
> So a big HATS-OFF to those who have done, and continue to, contribute to
> our Shade-tree knowledge.

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Tom Adkins - 31 Oct 2005 03:39 GMT

A really good rant.

C'mon Backyard. I can spot a suc...a paying customer a mile away. I live to rip off
single mothers and old ladies, they are such easy targets. I've made it my lifes study
on how to rig someones car to break again in 3 days so I can take more of their money.
How do you think I pay for my boat, Mercedes and summer home in
Aruba..................Well, now I have to go put a radiator in my 22 year old car
then go fill the 'script for my Arthritis medicine

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Happy Traveler - 31 Oct 2005 04:25 GMT

Hats off to Backyard Mechanic, Jim Warman and the other guys in the trade
who contribute their time and wisdom for free to all of us!

That said, I simply never get to meet you, guys. You stay hidden in your
service bays, while on my (admittedly very rare) visits to the dealership's
service department, the only person I see is the 'service advisor'. These
people presumably get hired for their interpersonal skills, not for knowing
anything about cars, though I don't understand it. Frankly, they vary from
rude to obnoxious and none of them ever answered any technical question that
I asked.

The only competent, helpful mechanics that I ever met were either an
independent one-man operation, or employed by an independent. I admire John,
the A/C shop owner, who diagnosed the leak in my system, gave me a set of
O-rings and a jar of esther oil and refused payment. "You will come to me
for a recharge when you are done fixing it" he said (and then charged me
less than the going rate for the R12). Or the guy at the small transmission
shop who, in response to my complaint about delayed shifts, told me to check
the valve body bolts torque and the pressure regulator myself, and only if
that didn't help, come see him again (it turned out to be a loose filter
that fell into the pan...). If I ever need a transmission job, I'll know
where to go!

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