I found out the problem with my back brakes not engaging when pulling my
Travel Trailer (9K)

THE ADJUSTING STAR WAS PUT ON BACKWARDS.

That's right, it was installed so that the star had to be pushed *up* (from
the brake slot) instead of down. Every time I stopped, I was *loosening* the
brakes!
Who did it??

Midas, who else..................Did I file a complaint? Not hardly. When I
called them, they said "No Way" and the Bureau said "we need lots of
complaints to act."

This is in Kalifornia, where else..........

Lesson learned?

Don't trust anyone that works on commission, especially a chain outfit. I've
been burned by them all at least once..

VV<--doing my own work from now on

Glad to hear it.

I never trusted any chain. I did work for a few of them part time.
Changed tires and batteries at sams club, changed fluids at jiffy
lube, and managed an alignment shop for almost 2 years. Currently, I
manage a fleet of 25 trucks, light trucks, and cars for a city. Since
taking this position 2.5 years ago, I feel I can do (almost) anything
automotive.

Most people cant, and have to rely on these chain stores, or their
local garage. What a gamble.

djdave


On Tue, 07 Nov 2006 21:46:49 GMT, "Victor V" <slackamn (AT) aaahawk (DOT) com>
wrote:

"David M" <NOSPAM (AT) nospam (DOT) com> wrote

Yes, and thanks, I wouldn't have thought of it. But, there's more..........

Not only were the stars put in backwards, the cable was installed in the
wrong place. IOW, there is no way the self-adjusting mechanism could have
worked. It took me ahwile to figure it all out, as I normally don't do this
kind of work. I will from now on, however.

Thanks to you and for the diagnostic help from everyone! Seems this would be
a could topic to save.......somewhere...........

VV

"djdave" <noname (AT) fake (DOT) com> wrote

What makes your guys working under you any better than those guys working
the
chains? You have 4.5 years "experience" from what I read, you've just
reached journeyman status.
What determines a good shop from a bad one is the management. Good
management wont put up with shoddy work. And unless that chain store is on
an interstate, it has to have repeat business to stay in business.
Sams club doesn't even begin to reach chain repair shop status, hell it
doesn't even reach
repair shop status, maybe to the level of oil on the soles a mechanic's work
boots. And Jiffy lube, the monkeys beating on the transmission in the old
AAMCO commercials back in the 60's where more mechs than those dip sticks.
But then you don't have to be a mechanic to change oil. Changing oil and
pumping gas is where many a good mechanic started, and many a bad one
stayed, or should have stayed.

I've seen independents that rival anything in the field, and even more
where the owner should be put in jail, or maybe sent down wolf creek pass in
a car one of his employees just did brakes on, or across death valley in one
just "tuned up". I've seen chain stores where the 'youngest" "mech" had 7
years with the location, about half had been there as long as the place had
been open, over 22 years, and for three weeks around Christmas you didn't
have to bring or buy lunch, customers brought in that much food with cards
of thanks, a place where three generations of drivers were bringing their
cars in for work. A little 8 bay joint that put a few 27 bay locations to
shame on volume of repairs done, and customer satisfaction surveys. It was
a great place to work, there was a family feeling about it.

Whitelightning

"Whitelightning" <white.lightning2 (AT) verizon (DOT) net> wrote



<snipped all good points>

So..............how do you tell??

umm.. too much coffee today?

Please dont sum up my 38 years in a conversation with 1 person.
My experiences with chain stores are not the same as yours. I only
listed the chains I worked for and my current work. I have been in the
same full time employ for 18 years.

On Wed, 08 Nov 2006 02:38:47 GMT, "Whitelightning"
<white.lightning2 (AT) verizon (DOT) net> wrote:

"Victor V" <slackamn (AT) aaahawk (DOT) com> wrote

Word of mouth from different people is always good. When a place has
multiple week waiting list to schedule a service date, and you have seen the
owner charge customer less than half what was quoted, because they fixed the
problem in less time than he quoted... When the shop shows time and again
that they can troubleshoot problems other shops can't fix...

These are good indicators.