Pretty scarey, all right. But a few thoughts...
One, I suppose that the employees at those places aren't really
mechanics, and are probably getting paid half of what a union mechanic
would (this is a guess on my part).
Two, that second outfit actually sounded like one of those scams, where
the guy pulls the coil lead and tells the customer "your car won't start,
we have to replace the circumferential fribulator".
So I wouldn't discount ALL American mechanics, although your sample was
not too flattering...
That said, the one time I tried an chain oil changer (I got a free
certificate), they gave me the same story about the oil filter (which is
a joke -- it's the same part as used in 20 million Chrysler V8s), then
failed to tighten it and gushed oil all over the engine compartment and
their bay when they started it.
Phooey on them. If they're "afraid" to touch your "fragile" MG, you're
doubtless better off.
Diane S. had this to say:
>I have to relate this story, it' something my therapist has told me to do.
>
>I was out and about, and I noticed a quick change oil change place and
>decided that after I get my nails done to have the oil and filter changed in
>Emma, who has been through a lot lately. Emma is a 77 mgb.
>
>So I stopped in one, an acne faced young guy came right out and said "we
>don't have the filter for this car".
>
>I happened to know that he did, but I forgot the cross reference number,
>however being both a scot and english, I just looked at him and said "I have
>one in the trunk".
>
>then he said, "well, let me see if one of the guys wants to do it, these are
>very breakable you know".
>
>my hand automatically moved the shifter into reverse, and I told him to
>forget it I go somewhere else. I am not good with quick retorts, like "yes
>it would take some intelligence to find the drain plug", or whatever, maybe
>that is a positive point to my character.
>
>this was a nation-wide chain by the way.
>
>so 2 blocks down was an other one, a 'grease monkey'. this time I was
>greeted by a woman who took down my info and I waited inside.
>
>they seemed to be going real slow, a big cadillac was stuck in the 3rd bay.
>they were changing the transmission oil and charging the AC. the guy doing
>it had some problem, then it wouldn't start. This made me real cautious.
>
>I started thinking about how they could mess up Emma. and I got up and
>walked over to the woman, who had by now moved emma inexpertley a few times,
>and eventually got the hand of the manual shift.
>
>I told her to tell the guys not to do anything with the transmission. that
>is is english, it has an overdrive and it takes engine oil and not to touch
>it.
>
>I was told that all transmissions take transmission fluid. And the usual
>male inference that "I'm the mechanic, your just a woman", I looked at him
>in the eye and told him that it was an english LH overdrive transmission and
>it takes engine oil, and he might look it up. They agreed not to touch it.
>
>by now Emma was giving me those looks that you get when you leave your cat
>at the vet and your almost out the door.
>
>after another 25 minutes, the car in bay 1 wouldn't start. A woman happened
>to own it and the mechanic came out and said, "did you know you had a
>problem with your engine ? it won't start." I listened to this dialog, then
>got up and told them that I'd come back another time and drove off.
>
>I have no idea how many cars english or otherwise have died at places like
>this. Their clientele seemed to have those personality-less japanese cars
>and lots of chrylser products.
>
>I don't know if it's better in the UK or Oz, but it pretty sobering overall.
>
>thanks, Diane.
>
>
--
Max Heim
'66 MGB GHN3L76149
If you're near Mountain View, CA,
it's the red one with the silver bootlid.
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