oscarsear Posted March 4, 2012 Share Posted March 4, 2012 Everyone must be familiar with the ribald stand-up comedy of Mr. Ron White. One of his 'tales' involves getting new tires, from SEARS, where the SEARS tire 'specialist' apparently missed 'lug-nut' day at the SEARS Tire Academy. That slight techy oversight led to an accident wherein the new partially installed tire came off of its appointed vehicles axle while said vehicle was moving in traffic. Not to be dissuaded by such things I recently bought a Die Hard, dual service battery and had it installed by SEARS automotive. Y'know that sign that is now shown in every major commercial auto service garage boldly announcing - NO CUSTOMERS ALLOWED IN SERVICE AREA-? Fortunately for me, they ignored that sign and invited my years of experience to help with this involved chore. They were 2 very nice young men, neither of which had any busy being anywhere near a ratchet or wire or even a car. Y'know how sometimes you need to hold the head of a bolt in order to use another device to tighten the screw on that bolt? They did not know this. But I learnt them this. And other things, like they actually did have the parts they needed. 45 minutes later and it was over. Successful. No blood. No fires. To be clear I do not think these boys were stupid and without any hope for 'fixing'. Eventually they will learn. But SEARS automotive, on the other hand, looks like a lost cause. And getting old sucks. Not long ago I'd have done this all by myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boxx Posted March 4, 2012 Share Posted March 4, 2012 Good story... I have given up on most all auto projects. This is due to the fact that I cannot keep up with all of the "new" tools necessary to complete a task. Whatever happend to the standard use of flat head and phillips head screwdrivers. I give up.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel Posted March 4, 2012 Moderators Share Posted March 4, 2012 About all you can do today is change spark plugs, belts and air filter& oil, the rest you need a "special" computer for. My daughters Saturn suv looking thing had never had the transmission filter and fluid changed and it's getting up in miles. I thought I would do it for her since I do the oil already for her. She works at night and would be hard for her to bring it in anywhere considering most places take about half a day to change oil unless you go to a quick place which we have none here. I get out her book to see what it says because There is NO transmission dipstick [] I had looked before but couldn't find it. The book does not tell you how much or what kind of fluid, it says bring it to the dealer. Eventually they will have locks on the hood because you really have no business looking in there. I will keep my old 1989 Chevy 3/4 ton pu, 40,000 miles and a plain old 350ci engine that's uses cheap parts you can find anywhere. [Y] It's the older looking model, but I am also ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJkizak Posted March 4, 2012 Share Posted March 4, 2012 I was quite capable of fixing most everything in my vehicles but now I take them to my favorite young mechanic (he owns a gas station) who went through much schooling. I watched him work---gets the computer disc for the correct model, prepares for the job by setting all the tools he will need beforehand (it takes me 5 minutes to walk around the toolbox) and then does the job. Perfect every time. I was dazzeled by his speed and competance. Now I tell him do whatever you have to do and send me the bill. JJK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhoak Posted March 4, 2012 Share Posted March 4, 2012 In 05 I bought a used Acura Integra to use as a fairly economical yet fun “daily driver”. It needed new tires when I bought it but I used that fact to get a bit better price on it. Me being me I immediately began researching the “ins and outs” of the model. One of the things I read was about the hubcaps. Unlike many cars the hubcaps on an Integra are held on by the lug nuts rather than just knocked on. The suggestion was that if you’re buying tires remove the hubcaps before you take the car in. If you don’t the rocket surgeons at the tire place will try to pry them off and destroy them in the process. Good info! I removed all 4 hubcaps and proceeded off the local tire vendor for a new set of tires. It all went well and in under an hour I was back on the road. When I got home I set about putting the hubcaps back in to place. On the first wheel I sheared of one of the studs because the “rocket surgeon” at the tire place had over torqued the lugs with the impact wrench. All said and done out of 16 lugs 7 of them sheared off. Yea… I was LIVID! After gathering 16 new studs and 16 new lug nuts I want back to the tire place and showed my @$$. They paid me the cost of the new hardware AND refunded the tires but I was still out the time it took to replace all of the studs. Needless to say that store has never received another dollar in business from me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallette Posted March 4, 2012 Share Posted March 4, 2012 Well, I am sure somebody here has had a bad experience with them, but as a training professional I find every visit to Discount Tires a complete pleasure. They WREAK of precise training and procedures-based tasks. They are even using traffic spotters now to direct those coming out of bays. I've been using them for probably 15 years and they get better with every visit. Fast, honest, and competitive. Proof that professionalism pays big dividends. I don't even check for a sale somewhere else anymore. I may pay more (though the quoted price always seems fair) but it's great knowing they are going to stand behind their work and products. I ALWAYS get some degree of rebate for wear, and it's often significant. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mighty Favog Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 If I ever fall into "that" kind of money I'd love to build my new home garage big enough for the car's storage, 2 lifts (1 drive-on and 1 frame) and my own air-powered tire changer and dynamic balancer. .....'cause I trust just about NO ONE with my cars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhoak Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 If I ever fall into "that" kind of money I'd love to build my new home garage big enough for the car's storage, 2 lifts (1 drive-on and 1 frame) and my own air-powered tire changer and dynamic balancer. .....'cause I trust just about NO ONE with my cars. I would LOVE to have that kind of facilities here. I very much prefer to do ALL of my car work right here. I guess that's why I gravitate towards "older" cars. As I type this my old Acura Integra is in about a thousand pieces as I'm installing a new water pump and timing belt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJkizak Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 As tight as the Japanese twist bolts you will need a slug of air tools to get them loose if you are over 50. JJK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhoak Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 As tight as the Japanese twist bolts you will need a slug of air tools to get them loose if you are over 50 Tell me about it. I still haven't managed to break the crank pully bolt. It's the last one between me and the water pump. Impact wrench didn't phase it. GRRR... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groomlakearea51 Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 If you have a Ron White "experience", you can also do a Bill Engvall as you are getting ready to drive away.... Roll down the window and hand them a 3x5 card while saying, "Here's your sign..." [H] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 As tight as the Japanese twist bolts you will need a slug of air tools to get them loose if you are over 50 Tell me about it. I still haven't managed to break the crank pully bolt. It's the last one between me and the water pump. Impact wrench didn't phase it. GRRR... You can jamb a wrench against the frame and use the starter to loosen it. Just verify which way the pulley turns first so you don't have a wrench shaped projectile on your hands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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