I think the thread was more aimed at the poor engineering making basic repair tasks harder then they need to be. I am glad you can do this type of work so easily , I do not think most of us here are "Ding Dongs" for wanting to do our own work if possible. Perhaps if you would like to step into the shoes of others who do different jobs you may consider easy you might have your eyes opened. When was the last time you crawled inside an engine and attempted to remove fasteners that had been subjected to after burner temperatures (1800-2800 Deg F) to me it would be child's play to you I have good money that says you would not get 1 out in under an hour. Why different skill sets and knowledge . Oh and if you want to try it take a torch and heat a grade 8 mon/inc bolt to that temp call it for 300 or 600 hrs of run time. No standard gas or diesel engine exhaust bolts here that you can just torch or cut off they have to be drilled. The bolts and rivets used are made of an alloy of monel so find some and give it a try. Just something to think about from a Ding Dong who used to fix fighter air craft to undergo stress nothing you were working on would stand up to unless your on top fuel dragsters etc.
We balk at the prices not so much that your knowledge or skill is not valued it is when we are charged for "Book" time when it is known it can be done in 1/4 of the time on the book. For Example look up my old 1999 Chevy 5.7 4x4 1500 according to the book then it was a 6 hour job at 90 bucks an hour plus 300 bucks for the part fuel pump. I bought the part oem gm from a whole sale place for ... 245 bucks. Now I followed the book way and it did take me more then 6 hours. Then comes along my friend who says nope we never did it that way un do the tail lights , bed bolts slide bed back change and done less then a hour. I am sure I am not the only one who has ever found out the book time may not be correct. I will give you that it probably is in WORST case time IE Scotty from Star Trek but hey what is wrong with charging the time it takes kick the car out of your bay get another going.
Want to know what happens when you work air craft you get asked estimate time to fix to include any paint or sealant cure you give a time. Once you get the repair done and your sealant Is on a 4 hour cure do you think you are done for the day...cause you got your 8 hours on the BOOK . Nope you move right on to the next job and the next till your day is over.
My grandfather was a Buick mechanic for 32 years I know he busted *** and had a lot of headaches caused by engineers / owners hell he retired in 77 and still did on call work for the Dealer as he could fix stuff even the engineers had no clue on what was up.
So in closing I am not denigrating your trade it is a ***** and expensive to be in but do not think people are fools or ding dongs for not knowing the easy way to do repairs when they do not do them every day. Nor be upset about customers bitching about cost cause again I would be willing to bet when ever you have had to pay a tradesmen or business to do something you couldn't you too thought it cost more then it should.
Rants done
Cypher
No, much of this thread has been guys complaining about stuff they have never done, just heard about them. Again, opportunist outrage, omg! they put the starter where!? those stupid engineers. Whereas if they had done the job, the would say "that was easy! so much nicer then laying on my back or removing exhaust manifolds. That area of the engine is actually cooler then right behind the catalytic converters. Smart engineers." Everyone wants more power in a smaller, lighter, more efficient package. Sometimes that means the headlights are covered by the bumper.....which is easier to remove then the crusty trim rings and stripped screws on those old halogen sealed beams. Sorry if my ding dong comment offended. Ill try to be more PC the next time some idiot puts something other then atf inside their transmission.
And 6 hours for a fuel pump on a gmt400!? What shop? Are they hiring? Book time is 2.1. And I never pull beds, usually quicker to drop the tank. You talk about mechanics getting jobs done faster then book time, what if I got rid of all my time saving tools? Would you be willing to pay more if the job now took longer?
And as for your last comment, you will never hear me complain about paying for work from someone else. I'll usually tip them or bring them something to drink, etc. I understand the cost of doing business and can't stand it when people try to beat me up over price. I'll tell them to go do it themselves, then complain about how hard it is on the internet.
