Auto Mechanic phasing out old MB repairs - Page 4 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Left Coast · #46 03-20-2014, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zulfiqar

This is getting to be the norm, as joosepi said - younger techs lack the methodogical flow pattern to detect a problem - they simply want to read a screen and replace what its saying.

e.g. it takes a little learning experience to drip time a mercedes diesel, for them timing usually means aligning a chain or belt.

Yes, it is a shame that the industry is not training new techs to competently service obsolete equipment.

rashpulikkal · #47 03-20-2014, 12:58 PM

are you online right now?

rashpulikkal · #48 03-20-2014, 12:59 PM

I have an issue with E320 1994 coupe as high idle problem after restart the car.

Zulfiqar · #49 03-20-2014, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Left Coast

Yes, it is a shame that the industry is not training new techs to competently service obsolete equipment.

Its not that the industry should train techs on every piece of machinery invented by man.

The techs should at least be qualified to quickly pick up such procedures.

pawoSD · #50 03-20-2014, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zulfiqar

Its not that the industry should train techs on every piece of machinery invented by man.

The techs should at least be qualified to quickly pick up such procedures.

The problem is that "picking up" can be time consuming, aka more billable hours on the job to repair the car, and the customer already doesn't want to pay for the repair, so they're extra extra not going to want to pay for on the fly training time either....

Left Coast · #51 03-20-2014, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zulfiqar

Its not that the industry should train techs on every piece of machinery invented by man.

The techs should at least be qualified to quickly pick up such procedures.

There is no way to acquire talent or natural curiosity via education. The reality is that there is not much incentive for young techs to learn how to keep old cars running, so only a few who are disposed to working on them will occupy that niche. As the number of cars (and/or owners of old cars who are inclined to pay market rates) dwindles, so goes the market. There are still specialist shops out there, and probably a few younger people coming up in those shops, but it is just not feasible for most facilities (especially the dealerships) to maintain the tools and skills to service an ever-shrinking market segment.

HuskyMan · #52 03-20-2014, 04:42 PM

Awhile back I was out and about and pulled the 560SEL up to a stop light. On my right sat a woman in a W210. I carefully sized up her car; I noted the massive amounts of metal missing due to the "right sizing" and "down sizing" of her car. I also noted her plastic ware bumpers versus the steel bumpers on a 300D. The 560 DWARFED her car in size. When the light changed to green, I pressed on the go pedal........her medium lab ate the exhaust from my BIG GERMAN SHEPHERD.

Njdub · #53 03-20-2014, 08:12 PM

I feel i could positively contribute to this discussion. I am a tech at a vw dealership and I can say that the mechanics dont get to choose what we work on. Its whatever rolls through the door. Oldest car ive worked on so car is an 89 but we get beetles and buses
rolling through on a decent basis. They go to the guys who are the most familiar with them. And yeah when the 91 jetta rolls in you get the moans but we all write it up just like an 11 jetta gets written up.

In regards to not knowing how to work on them (again this is in relation to vws but its the same thing with mercedes) Most any tech working in my shop either has worked there long enough to have worked on them when they were new enough or have owned older vws themselves. Most of the older stuff is much simplier and any of us could diagnose it.

I feel bad that you guys are in places where people are refusing to work on your vehicles. I would never refuse working on a car because its "too old"

97 SL320 · #54 03-20-2014, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillGrissom

The tranny is question was a 1965 Chrysler 727, the same basic design from 1960 to ~1990 and almost identical internally as the Torqueflite in my 96 FWD minivan. I don't think any competent transmission shop would be unable to bench-build a common transmission. I question shops that hold people's cars hostage, sitting for weeks while they pick their nose and makeup charges. Since then, I rebuilt 2 transmission myself, which proved fairly easy and the kits were <$100 each. Otherwise, there are retired guys who advertise on craigslist and rebuild trannys in their garage for $500. I would trust them before some of these big-name shops. I don't whine, I just walk and do it myself.

I world not expect them to turn away a TF should be an easy rebuild as it was used well past the 90's . However, in general shops don't like to rebuild loose transmissions as they have no control of the install. ( As in customer reusing burnt trans fluid that they had partially changed and added trans fix in a can in a futile attempt to get the old one going or not flushing / changing the trans cooler. Not enough fluid added for the initial drive, not adding fluid at start up then burning the front pump and bushing. )

While a minor rebuild kit for a 3 speed TF is $ 100, don't expect that to be the case for a modern 4 or 5 speed auto. Also, don't expect a real rebuild on a modern 4 or 5 speed trans to be $ 500, they are likely opening it up and replacing a part or two and little else.

If you feel that shops just sit around and "make up" charges, feel free to open our own shop. ( I bet you wont. )

97 SL320 · #55 03-20-2014, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HuskyMan

Awhile back I was out and about and pulled the 560SEL up to a stop light. On my right sat a woman in a W210. I carefully sized up her car; I noted the massive amounts of metal missing due to the "right sizing" and "down sizing" of her car. I also noted her plastic ware bumpers versus the steel bumpers on a 300D. The 560 DWARFED her car in size. When the light changed to green, I pressed on the go pedal........her medium lab ate the exhaust from my BIG GERMAN SHEPHERD.

You still don't get it. You are comparing your SEL to a smaller E class and calling it down sizing. Compare like for like ,your SEL to a S class. Remember, that there is metal behind plastic bumpers.

Diesel911 · #56 03-20-2014, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 97 SL320

Bench building auto transmissions one at a time is rapidly becoming a thing of the past. From 60's to 90's a trans was more or less interchangable across models. Now trans are becoming specific to model years, option codes or even build date making it more difficult to have a trans on the shelf ready to go.

A large trans shop can book the car, call a central location have a pre rebuilt trans shipped overnight, R and R the trans turning the car around in one day Vs 3 days or a week. It is difficult to have a customer leave the car for a day let alone a week.

There is also the complexity of "Is the post rebuild problem on the trans side or car side? Dyno testing rebuilt trans reduces in the field expensive diagnostic time.

As for your last comment, are you saying that Aamco intentionally increases their operating costs to keep consumer prices high? If so, that makes no sense. Are you ready to open your own trans shop at reduced prices?

There is another story to this if have an Auto Repair Shop.
If I am a Mechanic and I remove and install a Transmission rebuilt by another Company I am not responsible for the Warranty on the Transmission unless it can be proven that I installed the Transmission Wrong.

That means if there is a Warranty on the Transmission I get paid again to remove and install the Replacement Transmission.

Transmissions rebuilt on an Assembly Line or dedicated Transmission Rebuild shop makes the repair more economical and if the place is big enough they may have a way to test the rebuilt Transmission. I think the testing issue is an advantage.