Retired 5+ years ago and spend half my time down here in Florida. Haven't been on the forum in a few years. When I am up home in Ohio the tire dealer that bought my business and  rents my building from me takes good care of all my vehicle service needs. My Mini needs a few things and I'd like to hook up with someone from this forum close to me down here.

Belt is squealing so probably needs a new belt, tensioner and idler pulley. Also need a new right side window motor.

Anybody close to Fort Myers Beach?

Mark Defer 330-603-5127

1.  Faulty parts.  We have more part quality issues than ever before, including (less frequently) OEM parts.

2.  Tech error.   A tech fails to properly tighten brake caliper frame bolts.  A belt is installed with one groove off the edge of a pulley.  Some techs rarely make these errors.  But mistakes will happen.

3.  Warning lights on or new symptoms noted "ever since you worked on it".   Always needs to be taken seriously - sometimes issues identified are fall into category 1 or 2.  Or further OBD monitors ran since repairs were made and other issues are coming out of the woodwork.  And sometimes people will try to pin every new issue on the shop that last worked on the car.

How do we deal with warranty cases?   

When tech error is involved, is the employer responsible to pay the tech's time to correct his own mistake?  Does it make a difference if there is a pattern of carelessness?  If the employer picks up the tab for everything, doesn't this reward the making of mistakes?

It seems reasonable that the tech should not take responsibility for part failures not caused by tech error, doesn't it?

And what about that follow up scan to see why the warning lights are on?  Should the tech handle this as a courtesy until determined what area the fault is in?  It may be, after all, that he left a vacuum line off the air cleaner box.  But it shouldn't take too long to know if the advisor needs to request more testing approval from the client...

And should any of these questions be influenced by whether the shop pays flat rate or hourly?

I know that's a lot of questions.  But I hope it starts a conversation, because it's an area we really need to develop an SOP and stick with it.

Gerald

How much would it take to get each of you to come to my house to work on my car? Honest answers, and you have to give an amount.

I don't have the chart in front of me right now, but I believe the instructions that came with them indicated the orange foam pad was for harder cutting, the blue and yellow foam pads would be for medium cutting/polishing, and the black and white foam pads are for fine polishing.  Do all foam polishing pads follow this same color / grade code regardless of the manufacturer?

Hopefully what I'm seeing here is just the clear coat failing and all it needs is a sanding, 2k clear applied, some high grit sanding, and buffing.  The directions I've found so far are to first sand with 600 all over and especially over where the edge of the clear is peeling up.  Clear coat, sand with 1500, then buff.  Sound about right?  If it's so far degraded that it actually needs some color work, it's ok I'd rather not deal with that part.  I just want to throw about $100 bucks at it and if it looks better then I'll be happy.

Any suggestions on how I should approach this?  Thanks.

Of course we all now know about the ridiculous race set out by our government to rid the world of carbon burning materials including our beloved fossil fuelled cars. In recent times we have had the world of electric and hybrid cars rammed down our throats. I know that I am a small garage owner and so have self-interests in this drive to disaster. Of course to rid the planet of petrol and diesel vehicles.

However people are realizing the foolishness and impossible targets set out by our politicians. Living without our cars will be an impossible disaster to most drivers in the UK. Millions of drivers will be forced off the road so that our politicians can brag about their achievements.

Well thank God that there are people out there looking for alternatives to the dreaded electric cars. I do understand the need for cleaner air to protect the planet from greenhouse gasses but scientists are working all the time to prevent this. Giving us cleaner cars from engine designs that use other materials along with the "status quo" of our regular petrol and diesel engine cars.

Electric and hydrogen cars already with us

Of course, electric battery operated cars are now with us thanks to people the likes of "Tesla". However these are far from perfect. Speaking from the UK, s prospective, we are a country of old "Victorian" architecture. We have very narrow streets and roads which will be unable to support the millions of electric charging points required.

At the moment the winner for me will be in the form of "hybrid" cars. These are now becoming very popular. With an engine supported by a standard battery and run on petrol. Combined with a lithium type battery. Hence the word "Hybrid".  Car manufacturers certainly like this type of idea for their customers and engineers have been studying and working on different ideas with mixed types of fuels. Including "Hydrogen fuel cells".

Thanks to a great article by journalist "Will Locket". Then we are looking at very strong and affordable competition to the EV revolution.

Australian Engineers come up with a great new revolution

I must confess that reading article has made my day. Researches in Australia have come up with a technology that can convert a diesel engine into a "carbon neutral" engine. The idea is to combine the burning of twin fuels, diesel and clean burning hydrogen. This is fantastic news and will include other diesel vehicle, including, and trucks farm vehicles.

So confident are the Australians that they are looking to convert certain types of diesel engines in the next couple of years. This is fantastic news for the public in the UK who love their small run around cars and the small garages that service and repair these vehicles.

The full technical merits can be read in this great article by Will Locket. I will certainly having a beer tonight to celebrate this great news and keep my fingers crossed that everything goes well for the Australian car designer and developers, without retributions from the EV and green lobby. This development may also make the UK government change its mind about banning the sale of  petrol and diesel cars by 2030. So allowing millions of families in the UK to keep their diesel cars which will be by then "carbon neutral" and fit for purpose.

Original article by "Will Locket"

But, to my query and I truly and sincerely appreciate everyone’s opinion, professional experience and reasons in their answers.  I am wanting/needing to replace my current truck.  I made a mistake buying it, but I did.  I have a 2021 Toyota Tacoma Limited that I absolutely hate and is the biggest POS I have ever owned and that includes the Suburban that puked a motor a month after I bought it used.  I would really prefer a mid-sized truck but given my domestic situation I also want to replace my small but very nice camper trailer with something a little bit bigger, so my girlfriend and I have more room and comfort.  Anything decent weighs in the 7000 + CGVW range topping out around 9000 for what we would likely want.  So that puts the mid-sized out of the picture since most are limited to 7000 or slightly over.  Fuel economy is also very important, but I know that a full-sized truck will not be great.  I was spoiled with my 2018 Colorado Centennial Edition which would regularly return 22+ on trips on the expressway and 24+ on rural highways.  But the transmission was one of those 8 speed beasts that did more shuddering that shifting so it was replaced by this POS Tacoma on the strong recommendation of a friend who had owned 3 Tacomas over the years and currently had a 2020.  To make matters worse, besides the dismal fuel economy, it won’t break 19 mpg on the expressway, it shudders too.

Okay, this is getting long but you have the background and needs for a new truck.  I would prefer a new as opposed to used for some reason.  What trucks would you recommend or recommend staying away from?  Decreasing the pool of possible candidates is the very strong desire to have a moonroof.  An integrated brake control system would be nice but not necessary since I have a very nice Tekonsha unit now.  I am not a fan of Chrysler products but I am also looking for something to buy and keep for an extremely long period of time.  Thank you to all who read and respond, I a truly grateful.

As I scroll through my Facebook feed, reading through various forums and private group comments, I constantly hear about the Technician shortage and have been over the past few years.

Does that raise any concern that we’re still talking about this after several years?  

As I read through the comments in hopes to find solutions, regrettably the majority of the comments are not solutions to the problem.  So, my hope is to find a solution and identify what action I can personally take to help strengthen our future and do my part.  I don’t want to spend anymore time talking about what we already know (tech shortage), and watch our industry reduce to rubble in the years ahead.  Not on my watch… and I know a lot of you are with me!  Days turn into weeks, weeks turn into months and months turn into years.  Let’s not wait!

As I visit shops around the country, which is my favorite thing to do, I notice a common pattern in the workflow.  Nearly 70% of the shops that I have visited in the past year have empty bays.  For example, a shop in the Bay Area I visited recently had 8 bays, but 4 were empty.  They had 2 Technicians, who both told me they’re extremely busy and this has become the “norm” until they hire more Technicians.  

Of course, the owners have “tried everything”, but what does that mean?  Have they really tried “everything”, or are they looking for a band-aid to fix the short-term problem and not thinking about a long-term solution and preparing for the future?  

Shops are busy right now and business is booming for most.  So even though they have the Tech shortage issue on their minds, it’s less of a priority right now because they’re busy!  It reminds me of what one of my favorite industry coaches (and friend) told me one time about “Panic Marketing”. Business slows down, then we expect our marketing company to step up some SEO or Ads and get cars in today, when in reality you have to plan out your marketing 6-months or a year in advance.  

So what do we do when we have empty bays and a Tech shortage?  Many will simply place an Ad on Indeed, cross their fingers and hope for immediate applicants! That quick-fix strategy will never work.  But what will?  

There are shops out there with effective strategies that actually work well.  Look at what they’re doing and get some ideas.  Joe Marconi has some awesome tips on hiring great people.  Having worked directly with Joe, I’ve seen the success firsthand.

But for me personally, I’m more interested in the long-term and getting the “younger generation” interested in our trade.  I think this will help shape our future.  But how do we do this?  Someone once told me, if every shop ran an Apprenticeship program, this would help solve the problem.  

Is that the silver bullet?  If not, what is?  

I was explaining to Cynthia about her repairs and was giving her a few options.  She was upset that she had just spent about $1000 on a long delayed cooling problem in March.   Then, she's back for engine problems due to exceeding her 100K maintenance.   This invoice was about $2000.   She was frustrated with her car and said that she was going to take it to the dealer to trade it in.    The recommended repair was going to fix this problem for sure.   I was trying to provide confidence for her to make the best decision. 

While we were wrapping up, our friend David stepped up and said that Jesus was calling on him to pay for her repair bill!   She was astounded and started crying.  At first she did not believe him and I too questioned whether this was prudent.  I gave him an opportunity to back off, but he insisted.   He took no credit for his deed and proclaimed that Jesus loves her and need for her to be helped.     Shortly thereafter, Ericka and Cynthia were hugging and crying in the parking lot.

I was more touched by his original action, praying for Ericka.    I'm happy for the 2nd action, but now, I'm worried about his ability to really afford his own action.  I would hate for this to hurt him. I really think that he will be feeling the pinch of his very kind gesture.  

Sadly, after his service was complete, his own car would not start as it needed a new battery, which we did not stock.   So, we got him started and pointed him in the direction of a parts store with the battery in stock.

EDIT:  Wait, he was also here a few weeks back, when another customer offered to pay for a half of one of my employees prosthetic leg, that was due for refit.    And I remember seeing him before this even.