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.
In reverse I am positive you have complained about paying a bill that was more then you thought it should be taxes, insurance, medical etc. It sounds like you treat trades folks well that is a good thing. Most in trades like yourself do try to do the best job that they can for the right price.
If you do not want to be questioned on price then your in the wrong business and honestly can't think of one that isn't questioned on price. Sadly bad mechs/ dealers have soiled the bed for the good ones. So more and more mechs and dealerships are put in the same category as used car sales people. You also should know that the hourly rate at a given shop is based on it's physical location . In the case of my fuel pump Mid Atlantic coast line and the year was 2006. if you wish to move look for the Chevy / GMC dealer in Lower Kent County Delaware you will find them they are still there and they are still considered to be shysters.
If you do not pull beds that is fine it is one way to do it that is all , in the wrong part of the country however , it would not be feasible for the salt corrosion on everything.
If you choose to get rid of your tools that make the job easier well that is on you it doesn't matter as I will end up paying book rate for a job whether you use the time saving tools or not it might mean I wait longer that is all. Oh and your boss is likely to ask you to seek employment else where if you can't complete the job in the allotted time.
I think the lightness of a vehicle is driven by the mandated fuel efficiency requirements from the feds. More power is a marketing thing and a old argument so I would not bother going into it here.
suffice to say there aren't any roads in the US with higher then say 90 mph limits so ... Not that I want a vehicle restricted to that but you can not use the more power argument with out the for what argument coming up :}
Some one here said it and I will agree before an engineer is allowed to design a car they should be forced to work on cars for two years then let them design one and go back and work on it for 2 years then they will have an appreciation for the mechanics / end users that have to fix them and design them better.
No need to be PC if some one pulls a bone head move "some idiot puts something other then atf inside their transmission." Yep I would call them a ding dong and a few other things lol same for the folks who put radiator fluid in the windshield was bottle. I do not care how much signage and warnings you put someone will still do it lol. That is the reason the instructions turn off engine and wait for the engine to cool before changing certain parts exists.
I will reiterate again it started out as just a complaint about how hard it is these days to do certain every day maintenance things on cars. It is almost giving credence to the old news story that all the big makers want to keep the shade trees from fixing their own cars .
In closing if someone Is being a ding dong fine if someone is expressing displeasure over design ease of use ,maintenance etc what is it to you . You should look at it as job security when they screw it up you get paid to fix it and have a laugh:} Have a good one .
Cypher
