are hands on trade skills and common decency disappearing?

[Bretto77]

Contrary to @Angry51's assumptions, I didn't finish work at 10am yesterday. Apparently he couldn't be bothered getting off his backside and finishing it for me so we can swap lifestyles either .

In the end it fitted like a finger in a particular nether region. Just had to get it all fastened down, container sealed, then off to Spain for this one.

Finished up late and knew that I was going to cop traffic. Yippee.

Had a simple wheel balance and alignment done recently (the same dudes did the last one).

Rings me "there's a problem, some muppet has cross threaded a couple of wheel nuts last time you had it done". So began a story about the cost of fixing it.

I cut him short with "Well one such muppet is or was part of your crew, because it hasn't been touched since you last worked on it".

"Oh... Ok I will fix it".

Got a flat tyre in poo poo traffic last night (oh bliss). It happened to be the wheel with which old mate had found a problem (he had created) and "fixed".

Changing the tyre meant finding two cross threaded and bound wheel nuts.  One stud just sheered off undoing nuts to change the tyre...

Only took 2.5 hours to get home on 5 out of 6 wheel studs. Big thanks to the oxygen thievery that occurs within the bounds of a tyre mob just near Centenary/ Sumners overpass.

I fixed it properly myself today.

It was however fantastic to finish up yesterday with the roaches being reminded of their rightful place

[Angry51]

I would have painted it red.

Yeah, been there with tyre fitters, and they try to blame every one else.

And I'm glad you had a good day and didn't need my help.

If I'd been helping you we would've been finished and in the

pub by 10.30, but you young fellas probably can't stand that sort

of pace.

[Bretto77]

15 minutes ago, Angry51 said:

would have painted it red.

Nah... Don't care how fast it gets there

[Bretto77]

As for the pub at 10:30... Well... Not sure what what you guys used to pass off as work

[Bob9863]

The world is full of piss poor tradesmen. The automotive industry can be the worse, had a Ute taken in for a 50,000km service before heading west and thought I'd still give it the once over before heading off. 

Not only weren't the fluids changed they weren't even topped up, brake fluid smelled a bit cooked and was just above the minimum. Air filter dirty, uni joints dry ect. 

I went over the list of what was supposed to have been done and wasn't which was most of it. I went down to the yard and got the manager out, showed him what I'd been charged for and and the condition everything. It seems the only things they did were the break pads and oil/filter change. 

Told him I was going away the next day so either do what I'd been charged for or refund the $800 I'd paid. 

A lot of people worked on that Ute that afternoon. 

Seen dodgy plumbers too, I moved a bunch of taps for a mate, the plumber wanted about $1500 to move them using crimp joins, and it was going under concrete. I saw the dodgy job he did moving one lot out to the edge of his concrete, he just crimped 6 lengths together on the 3 pipes that was going under the slab. 

For $320 worth of copper and a few, beers while I worked I moved them out with proper soldered joins. It took me a bit over an hour and I don't work fast these days, so I definitely don't think his dodgy shoddy workmanship was worth $1000 or more an hour. 

These days you can't trust a tradie, you have to watch em for BS workmanship. 

[Rebel]

Years ago I had an company car.

I was told it had to go to the dealers for service.

Left at the dealers & just happened to see them park it in the service lot.

I was waiting for a  lift when my phone rang. It was the dealer telling me I need new front brake pads & a water hose was damaged.

I could see my car stilled parked in the lot.

Don't worry I told them, I wiil have to get it approved by my Boss.

Picked up the car, never to return.

Cheers.

 

[Another Wazza]

There seems to be more than a fair bit of it going on across the board everywhere now, gone are the days where people actually take pride in their work, possessed by greed, always looking for an angle, and happy to rip people off, modern society's great....

[Angry51]

18 hours ago, Bretto77 said:

 

In the end it fitted like a finger in a particular nether region

 

 

You could've said " glove"

[Bretto77]

Not all gloves fit that well . Welding gloves don't... You can't just go stereotyping because of your own personal experience with your "driving gloves"

[Angry51]

I don't think I deserved that response, that's hurtful.

[Bretto77]

Oh dear... Here's me telling you not to stereotype and I have just assumed that you like golf

[Angry51]

I go fishing in the golf of carpentaria.

[Bretto77]

So I was right after all...

[Junky]

If anyone is looking for an honest mechanic on the south side, my wife and her dad run a small, but successful workshop in Capalaba. 

PM if you need details. 

Honest, reliable and affordable, however, they are extremely busy. 

 

Not advertising them, just giving afo'ers an avenue if they are getting the run around. 

 

 

 

Brian, delete this if it's breaking the rules. 

[ellicat]

43 minutes ago, Junky said:

Brian, delete this if it's breaking the rules. 

Not at all. Good to have recommendations.

[kmcrosby78]

2 hours ago, Junky said:

If anyone is looking for an honest mechanic on the south side, my wife and her dad run a small, but successful workshop in Capalaba. 

I have one in Capalaba also, must be an honest suburb .

[kmcrosby78]

That's really annoying (and crap) @Bretto77. I had a trye mob in Yeronga quite a few years ago put my spare wheel back on and break the locknut. Didn't tell me, wasn't til I got home I noticed half of it missing. Phoned them up and he said something like it sometimes happens when using a rattle gun to tighten them. Didn't seem to comprehend the fact that they broke it, they should sort it out ..... unfortunately at that stage of my life I didn't really speak up (I've changed now .... ) so copped it.

Have just taken possession of a novated lease Prado and am busily getting quite a few accessories added in a hurry before our trip to Cape York (leave 15 June). A bash plate company in Sumner Park managed to let/organise a courier to the deliver the bash plates to the car dealer (a week and a half after I took possession of the car ...) despite the fact I've booked in to have them installed in a week or so's time. 'Oh yeah the courier was pretty keen to just get them out of here .......'.  Umm dipsh!t, the courier only turned up because you asked him to come and collect them, perhaps make notes next to orders so you know who is coming to get them installed (and therefore they don't need to be delivered anywhere .........).

Grrrr!!!!!!!

Then there's the lease company and my fuel cards but I'll leave it at that ........ .

[Bob9863]

There is an opposite side to that coin. 

One of the mechanics at work was doing up a cheap 4X4 for our off road adventures. He had got it mechanically back to top condition, put in some LSD's and painted it, he had just finished putting on a bull bar and winch and it was time for new tires. 

He dropped it off on the way to to work and picked it up that arvo. 

He gave it bit of the old buhh and shine and then drove to work the next morning in the rain. When he got to the workshop he was furious, they had messed up his wheel alignment so bad he could barely keep it on the road, he called them up and abused the crap out of them. 

We were having a smoke and looking it over at smoko, and we had to admit it looked bloody good, one bloke said at least they got the tires looking damn shiny, he said I did that when I got home. 

I had a closer look and something hit me, so I asked him "the tread looks bloody shiny too, you didn't put tire sine on it too did you?" 

He answered yes and we pissed ourselves laughing, even made him call the tire place up and apologise, and explain that the problem was he was a ham fisted numpty, not them.

[Bretto77]

@kmcrosby78 you have been planning that trip for a while. It will all come off for you. I think you will find that things get better when you get out of South East Queensland and go north.

[Bretto77]

The world has gone crazy 

This dude turned up today to apparently collect a machine going to Melbourne.

Parks in the middle of the driveway and gets into the sleeper and goes to sleep...

Yard disfunctional....... Don't worry about anything or anybody else mate

[mangajack]

I have lost count of the number of times I have redone things done by "experts".

If you want something done right, do it yourself.

Car dealers services are awful for overcharging.....I was asked if I want my wipers changed for $90 at the service done two weeks ago. This dealer has done full service on this vehicle since new and a receive a full inspection report with each service. I said there is a rattle in the front end when on gravel and idling forward....they found the same to be lower control arm bushings and has been damaged for a long time....so why was this not picked up in all the previous inspections? The car has 45k on the clock. Anyway they fessed up missing it on previous inspections and fixed it under warranty. They also said to fix it under warranty would have to happen within the next month when warranty runs out....at least they offered that I suppose.

Another dealer did a service on another ute I own....ran like **** as i left....went around the block and drove back in the driveway....they did not A fit a new air cleaner filter or B even put the Air cleaner filter lid back on....and yet close the bonnet over a big hole and signed off on the work.

Same dealer advised against fitting an oil catch can to the engine as it will surely damage the EGR system and inevitably the turbo... Yet fitting one does not void their warranty according to Mitsubishi.... How do you read that?

Telwater goes to the expense of fitting marine grade switches to their boats and then use std copper wire and cheap connectors and none of it is enclosed away from salt air....

[ellicat]

4 minutes ago, mangajack said:

Same dealer advised against fitting an oil catch can to the engine as it will surely damage the EGR system and inevitably the turbo... Yet fitting one does not void their warranty according to Mitsubishi.... How do you read that?

I was going to fit a catch can to my new car. I was told it would void warranty. Apparently, if the filter material isn't changed every 10K they can cause damage. That and applying pressures in the system beyond safe. My mechanic also said not to fit a catch can until out of warranty as he has seen warranty claims denied. My car is a Mazda BT50 (Isuzu DMax in drag).

[Bretto77]

2 hours ago, ellicat said:

My car is a Mazda BT50 (Isuzu DMax in drag).

I thought they were in bed with the ford ranger???

D-max and Colorado used to be the same (it was a Holden badged Isuzu). 

[Angry51]

Yeah I think you're right Brett, Isuzu trucks was Bedford which was GMH.

[ellicat]

23 minutes ago, Bretto77 said:

I thought they were in bed with the ford ranger???

D-max and Colorado used to be the same (it was a Holden badged Isuzu). 

Not since the end of 2020.

[Bretto77]

So Mazda have shacked up with Isuzu??? The Colorado had an Isuzu engine and everything else till about 14 I think. Then they went to a 2.8 Duramax engine. 

What engine is in your bt 50? They used to run a 3.2 five cylinder thing...

[Bretto77]

Your right @ellicat. They are not partnered with Ford anymore. Isuzu it is.

[ellicat]

2 hours ago, Bretto77 said:

What engine is in your bt 50?

3L 4jj3 Isuzu.

[Junky]

@ellicat

@mangajack

 

Fit a catch can. 

Will not void warranty. 

Missus fits process West Terra tuff catch cans. 

Self servicing filter. 

Yes they're more expensive but the filter is easily cleaned with  degreaser, then water. Blow it out, let it dry, refit. Good to go. 

 

They're a flash looking alloy unit too. Fits hundreds of them, never had a problem. 

 

All of my work colleagues have fitted them to their new diesels. 

She'll look after yas too. 

If you want I'll pm you details. If you don't trust girls, her dad is there and he taught her everything. 

[ellicat]

Cheers Damo. I've decided to leave it for now. I'm going to suck it and see with the latest DPF tech. Mine is doing a 'burn' every several hundred km's, so may not need it.

[mangajack]

21 hours ago, ellicat said:

Cheers Damo. I've decided to leave it for now. I'm going to suck it and see with the latest DPF tech. Mine is doing a 'burn' every several hundred km's, so may not need it.

So the real question is why is the engine producing so much soot to need a regen every few hundred km???? 

If it is regenerating that often there is something seriously amiss.

[Angry51]

Manga, I think they call it " teck knowligy ".

That's why I had to buy a 4.2 before they stopped making them and went stupid with the  DI rubbish.

[ellicat]

1 hour ago, mangajack said:

So the real question is why is the engine producing so much soot to need a regen every few hundred km???? 

If it is regenerating that often there is something seriously amiss.

That is the new way to deal with owners doing lots of trips shorter than half an hour with some revs.

[Angry51]

Yeah, everybody should try pulling 3 trailers up Mary K jump-up and the big HP engine decides to do a burn off.

It's makes you wonder about engine ears.

[mangajack]

On average I get about 3500km between regens depending on if i am towing or not.

Mine only regens at freeway speeds so I do not notice it apart from the light coming on for 20 minutes roughly.

[Ed.]

A while ago my 3l Jeep diesel started to throw up a heap of error codes so after several trips to the dealer, they worked out that the EGR flap motor had seized due to all the oily gasses which gummed up the circulation flaps, they seized up and burnt out the motor as they were unable to move. End result it would have cost me $5700 to have the manifolds replaced except for the fact that I had a reasonable extended warranty which covered the cost.

Here is a pic of the intake tube which holds the MAP sensor, which is completely covered in crud which should give you an idea of the state of the intake manifolds on the engine. After I had the repair done, I fitted an oil catch can (PROVENT 200 IV) which I empty about every 3000Km and drain about 50-60ml of oil which otherwise would be redirected though the manifold to be burnt or deposited on the manifold intakes. Eventually the manifold fills  up, which prevents the engine breathing properly and then accelerates the problem.

[Angry51]

In all honesty, no one can call that progress.

Poorly designed, engines of yesteryear didn't bypass oil like that.

If it did it would be rebuilt, it'd be worn out.

[Angry51]

Ed, if you drain 50/60ml oil every 3000klm how often are your oil changes and do  you need to top up engine oil between services'.

[mangajack]

Even the best condition engine ever made has substantial blow by, it is essential that no moving parts touch metal to metal, there is always a film between the metals even the piston rings to the cylinder walls. The blow by atomises the oil that is released from the crank case  into the EGR and similar systems of today.....a very flawed way of reducing emissions in the end of the argument.

Diesels deliver more blow by than petrol engines because of both the higher compression ratio and the pressure supplied from the turbo chargers.

At 200ml or so for 12,000km travelled is minimal, the tolerance on the dipstick is over 500ml for nearly every engine.

[Ed.]

5 hours ago, Angry51 said:

Ed, if you drain 50/60ml oil every 3000klm how often are your oil changes and do  you need to top up engine oil between services'.

I do a service every 6-8k purely because the car services were required every 6 months or 10k km which ever came first as a condition under my extended warranty. So basically I have never had to top up due to the low milage I travel. I have done about 110k km over 6.5 years.

The oil that is collected by the catch can  would have been pushed through the engine and lost anyway, so if I do it 2 or 3  times between services it doesn't drop the oil level to any significant degree.

High performance (turbo) diesels actually add to the oil volume as unburnt diesel fuel is forced past the rings. So I have never been low in oil hence the reason for the oil changes as the diesel dilutes the oil in the motor.