I don’t understand how anyone can do this. If you’ve spent thousands on an asset that (in the USA) one relies on, surely you’d at least get it serviced once a year. I wonder what her house is like.
That’s kind of me because as someone who knows computers well and knows how computer repair places are, I can assume mechanics are the same. I usually plan to do my own repairs but I hate cars, am lazy, and rarely drive mine so I usually go way too long before just taking it in far later than I should have
edit: my car is 700km past when it should have had an oil change and the muffler is loose and bouncing around right now for example :)
Muffler is probable a.$20 fix, if you do it yourself. They hang them from what amounts to two really thick rubber bands. There are two hooks on the muffler and two on the car. That should stop the bouncing. Just ask auto zone for “muffler mounting bands.”
Regarding “the mechanic always rips me off” - find a good one. When the muffler was loose because of a broken hanger the garage called me, told me and asked me if they should repair it by the book (switching out an 800 Euro part) or just weld the hanger - that would be “The OEM doesn’t allow it, so less OEM warranty, but it’s only Eur 10.”
They basically asked me to allow them to ignore idiotic OEM instructions. (Yes it was an “official” garage by the OEM)
RTFM is a way of life. I’m not a car person by any means. I’m about as good at mechanics as fish are at cycling. I just read the manual, and do what it says, if I can. If not, I take the device to someone who can. Most devices come with documents made by intelligent, educated and experienced people who just want to help make it work.
Much of the world does not have mandatory inspections. For example, where I live in kansas, and your car only needs inspected if you bought it from an out-of-state seller
Nope. If you bought it new off a dealer they would nag you for maintenance. But if you bought private and were oblivious to maintenance needs there would be nobody reminding.
Personally I don’t get it, because I always want to know how stuff works or care info, but she saw it as an appliance. You run it till you call a repair person
I don’t understand how anyone can do this. If you’ve spent thousands on an asset that (in the USA) one relies on, surely you’d at least get it serviced once a year. I wonder what her house is like.
A subculture of “the damn mechanic is always just trying to rip me off” will do that.
That’s kind of me because as someone who knows computers well and knows how computer repair places are, I can assume mechanics are the same. I usually plan to do my own repairs but I hate cars, am lazy, and rarely drive mine so I usually go way too long before just taking it in far later than I should have
edit: my car is 700km past when it should have had an oil change and the muffler is loose and bouncing around right now for example :)
Muffler is probable a.$20 fix, if you do it yourself. They hang them from what amounts to two really thick rubber bands. There are two hooks on the muffler and two on the car. That should stop the bouncing. Just ask auto zone for “muffler mounting bands.”
Regarding “the mechanic always rips me off” - find a good one. When the muffler was loose because of a broken hanger the garage called me, told me and asked me if they should repair it by the book (switching out an 800 Euro part) or just weld the hanger - that would be “The OEM doesn’t allow it, so less OEM warranty, but it’s only Eur 10.”
They basically asked me to allow them to ignore idiotic OEM instructions. (Yes it was an “official” garage by the OEM)
When I met my wife she complained the car was often smokey and lacked power up hill.
First think I checked was oil level.
It had none.
So I asked when she had the oil changed last, and she replied with something like “Oil change? What’s that?”
That car got donated to the wrecker for tax receipt program.
She’s not good with details, but also never had a dad or car guy influence in her life to explain what maintenance was all about.
RTFM is a way of life. I’m not a car person by any means. I’m about as good at mechanics as fish are at cycling. I just read the manual, and do what it says, if I can. If not, I take the device to someone who can. Most devices come with documents made by intelligent, educated and experienced people who just want to help make it work.
Many people just throw instructions away. Have you seen IKEA returns. Much of that is people not following the pictures
/c/dadforaminute@lemmy.world
Don’t you have mandatory inspections?
Much of the world does not have mandatory inspections. For example, where I live in kansas, and your car only needs inspected if you bought it from an out-of-state seller
Nope. If you bought it new off a dealer they would nag you for maintenance. But if you bought private and were oblivious to maintenance needs there would be nobody reminding.
Personally I don’t get it, because I always want to know how stuff works or care info, but she saw it as an appliance. You run it till you call a repair person