Pro-Mechanic's Suck

[tscruggs]

Local retired Buick mechanic (now owns his own shop), and member of the church I pastor (bi-vocational), offered to help "dial it in" for this spring. I had surgery at Christmas and am just getting back into the swing of things. I called and he said, "The car was tuned in and running great until I took it out for a test drive. The engine just let go. "I think the main bearings went out." It is not my fault since the car has 70,000 miles. You need to come get it." I got the car but man does this suck! I will be tearing into the engine next month when I finally get clearance from my doctor to do anything - no driving, lifting, etc, etc. Meantime - I have been out of work for a few months - no cash. I loaned my truck to a church member who is disabled and needed a ride because his truck broke and I couldn't drive. He hit a deer and tore up the grill, headlight, blinker, and right front quarter panel. This mechanic assured me he was retired form Buick and knew and loved these cars and would take care of it while I was down. What CRAP! This is only the second time I let a "pro-mechanic" work on my baby and both times they did more damage than help. :frown:

 

[faster]

I know your venting and I understand your anguish but I would bet someone, ignored something, somewhere.

I have had a few engines detonate in the last 40 years but never because they just let go. There are always mitigating factors. Engines without inherent problems (other than race engines) don't just let go without warning signs. I've pounded many, many stock engines well into the 100K mile range without grenading them.

Poor driving.
Poor maintanence.
Poor assembly.
Ignoring detonation.
Ignoring telltale signs of problems in the engine or drivetrain.
Ignoring fluid loss (coolant-oil).

These are the most common reasons engines fail.

Hoe you can make peace with all this.

Mikey

 

[Pronto]

Change churches!

 

[ChavoLC2]

Pastor Scruggs

You are their Pastor? Did you go to him . If you feel like a brother has wronged you go and show him his fault just between the 2 of you. If he listens to you you will win him over. If he will not listen then take 1 or 2 members along, so that every matter maybe established by the testmony of 2 or 3 witnesses. If he refuses to listen, tell it to the church, and if refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a tax collector. You did give him possesion and permission to Dial your car(did you give him a Boost level not to go over with whatever octane/fuel was in the tank) it's a bummer that you were laid up during these tuning sessions. At least you could have been in the passenger seat and able to talk over and decide give input watch boost, fuel pressure, 02's,KR. Unfortunately most those retired Buick mechanics didn't have alot of experience tuning /dialing in a LC2 powered cars . Probably was a very good mechanic but not a high performance Buick Motorsports TUNER...

It's a shame the deer didn't have uninsured motorist insurance. :frown: Have you talked to your disabled sheep/ brother and tell him how you at least feel. As his shepard/pastor you saw his need and provided for him your act helped him out physically and financially. It was gracious of you to let him use your truck most won't do that for family. I believe you did the right thing in helping this brother. It's unfortunate a deer run out in front of him that same deer could of run out in front of you.

I admonish and encourage you with a passage from Dueteronomy chapter 15
.the Year of Forgiving Debt chapter.

If there is a poor man among your brothers, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. Rather be openhanded and freely lend to him whatever he needs. Be careful not to harbor evil thought..oh no "The seventh year, the year of canceling debts, is near," so that you do not show ill will toward your needy brother and give him nothing. Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart, then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hands to.

To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence and with great joy_ to the only God our Savoir be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord before all ages, now and forever-more! Amen..

IHN ...R.Chavez

 

[GNTIM]

A bunch of factors here, I turned wrenches and owned a shop during an almost 20 year span. Dude probably ran it hard during the"tuning". Wether it was his fault due to poor tuning/abuse or something was on the ragged edge, can be hard to determine. I can admit I have been on both sides of that fence. I was tuning a Chevelle one time and a rocker arm broke...stock stamped steel part with a high lift cam/not my fault. In the early 90's a guy comes into a Goodyear I used to work at with a lightly modded GN and I ran that car pretty hard. Got me hooked on these cars, but, be very careful who you take your car to. No disrespect to anybodys religious beliefs but god lovers are not always good people. Best of luck 2 you.

 

[Junior Samples]

do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. Rather be openhanded and freely lend to him whatever he needs.

Exactly, so smack him up with an open hand..right upside his poor noodle because he needs it. Then proceed to calmly explain to him that Biz is Biz. you left it in his care and he blew it up so he can pay for the rebuild, thats only fair and I myself would feel very responsible if I blew up your baby and would feel obligated to pay the damages instead of passing the buck and telling you..well it must have had issues before i got it.

Good luck

 

[klrv6]

No disrespect to anybodys religious beliefs but god lovers are not always good people.

I have cleaned so much porn off of church members computers, it's not even funny. I saw one kid I knew steal two 15" cerwin-vega floor speakers from a church and put them in his car sub box. One of our pastors (female) started hooking up with one a the guys in our choir. They would be singing on Sunday morning and the whole time he was making these pelvic thrust movements while staring at her. Yes, they were both married to other people too.

Anyways, that situation sucks. He may have just been trying to help. Maybe you could get him to put in some free wrench time and help you yank the motor and go through it? It won't be cheap but, at least you would have some help. Not all mechanics are that good. I have seen them doing some very stupid things and get away with it.

 

[tscruggs]

Thank Y'all! I am treating both of them with the utmost kindness and respect, other than this forum. I have to vent somewhere. The mechanic will not help in any way. He maintains that it is in no way his fault and so he will not donate wrench time, work, he even made me pay for his tuning job before he would let me take the car off his property - labor and all. This is life - I used to be in the oil industry and have been in the religious realm for tweleve years - little difference - both places you deal with people. I have always believed that if someone's stuff broke while in my possession, no matter why, I would at least be somewhat responsible. ESPECIALLY - a mechanic doing mechanic work. Neither fellow feels that they are responsible in any way. I have the car at the house and am buying oarts as I can afford to rebuild. God is good and has always met my needs. He will this time too. Just needed an avenue to vent where I knew guys would understand. My GN is almost like one my kids - as a matter fo fact my kids love the car as much as I do. THANKS GUYS!!!!! God Bless!

 

[klrv6]

Man,

I would have at least chipped in time fixing the problem. This is why I NEVER take money for any of the work I do on cars. I'd much rather spend the day hanging out with friends and fixing their cars for them than to have them fork over cash that they had to work for. Many times, they provide a meal (I never ask for it) and we just have fun. The whole money thing can just cloud the waters. Best of luck man.

 

[John Larkin]

What kind of truck and what parts do you need for it? Is the damage cosmetic (parts + paint) or structural?

 

[bobc455]

I have always believed that if someone's stuff broke while in my possession, no matter why, I would at least be somewhat responsible.

Exactly. Even if the problem really was not my fault at all (which I'm a bit suspicious in this case), I'd still feel obligated to put some reasonable effort toward fixing it.

-BC

 

[Just a Six??]

Exactly. Even if the problem really was not my fault at all (which I'm a bit suspicious in this case), I'd still feel obligated to put some reasonable effort toward fixing it.

-BC

Not more than 2 weeks ago I was using a friends car so he could have the company truck. His alt went when I was driving. Not my fault but gave him $300 for alt & repairs & said sorry! He himself many years ago put a small dent in another work truck I had & the NEXT DAY it was fixed & painted.
People need to stand accountable when they hurt another persons belongings IMO. They should BOTH be ashamed of themselves!

 

[tscruggs]

John Larkin - It is a 2002 Ford F150 - damage is cosmetic - I will try to post pics later - right headlight/blinker/quarter panel and grill assembly - I have called some local junkyards, etc - appears to be about $700 in parts and my labor

EVERYONE - Thanks for the support! As a pastor I can't talk to too many people in my area when I get screwed. This church happens to be 1/2 mile from my 100+ acre ranch where we live. Go figure - if it seems too good to be true - it probably is.

THANKS for the uplift! I will keep you posted on the GN and hope to see y'all at a track one day!

 

[GNVYUS 1]

You've ran into some really bad luck, sorry to hear, good thing you are a Pastor as you are probably more rational about beating on retired folks and disabled people like I would be over this situation. :wink:

These cars don't let go while cruising around, enough said. And Pro Mechanic can mean many things, but a Pro in the forced induction area is another thing.

By the way, I went to Catholic grade school and it would have been killer to see my Pastor leave in a GN.

 

[Junior Samples]

all love aside, I still say file a claim, 1. he offered to help 2. he got paid for blowing it up and 3. well there is no 3

 

[tscruggs]

I try not to beat on the old people too much. It is funny as heck to teach the teens a lesson about their ricers and pick up trucks - "Why don't you put a 350 in that thinga nd it'll really fly". HA!HAHA! Neither of these families have come back to church so I am considering filing a claim against them.

 

[jpwalt1987]

Friends or not TAKE THEM TO COURT!!!! they are responsible. If you let it go then you are just letting them get over on you. They need to be held accountable. PERIOD!!! I used to work at a shop here in town. If we would have blown up anybodies stuff WE would have had to pay for it. No argument about it. I know what I would. You are being taken advantage of! dont let them.

 

[turbo39151]

I concur. The Court is the only place to go and vent about this. Of course you won't get specific performance but I personally wouldn't want that anyway. Just check with the reputable builders on this board and get "written" estimates. Generally speaking that's about $5k or so for a good rebuild.

Being a reasonable person, you would probably agree that with 70k on the clock the engine wasn't perfect so I would not expect the guy to have to eat all of the expense. But if you took this evidence to the court, I'm sure that even if the Court did not award the full amount, it would come to a reasonable conclusion that you are owed at least a good portion of what it will cost to rebuild the engine.

Also, find out if you can do an attachment before you sue so that you can ensure there are assets to liquidate if he refuses to pay.

I know you're a Pastor but that doesn't keep you from being a regular citizen with certain rights and obligations. It looks to many of us as though you have been wronged. You just don't do business like that. If you do nothing, you only reinforce this type of behavior. If you have given the man ample opportunity in "writing" to do the right thing, it's now time to let the Courts deal with him.

Good Luck

 

[Jerryl]

.......... If you feel like a brother has wronged you go and show him his fault just between the 2 of you. If he listens to you you will win him over. If he will not listen then take 1 or 2 members along, so that every matter maybe established by the testmony of 2 or 3 witnesses. If he refuses to listen, tell it to the church, and if refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a tax collector. ......
IHN ...R.Chavez

Good stuff.
I had to do that.

Thank Y'all! I am treating both of them with the utmost kindness and respect, other than this forum. I have to vent somewhere. The mechanic will not help in any way. He maintains that it is in no way his fault and so he will not donate wrench time, work, he even made me pay for his tuning job before he would let me take the car off his property - labor and all. This is life - I used to be in the oil industry and have been in the religious realm for tweleve years - little difference - both places you deal with people. I have always believed that if someone's stuff broke while in my possession, no matter why, I would at least be somewhat responsible. ESPECIALLY - a mechanic doing mechanic work. Neither fellow feels that they are responsible in any way. I have the car at the house and am buying oarts as I can afford to rebuild. God is good and has always met my needs. He will this time too. Just needed an avenue to vent where I knew guys would understand. My GN is almost like one my kids - as a matter fo fact my kids love the car as much as I do. THANKS GUYS!!!!! God Bless!

Here my deductive reasoning;
"IF" this person was in fact a true believer, they would have done the right thing and paid for ALL the damages they are responsible for.
Since they did not accept responsibility, and refuse to “do the right thing” after they were approached by a pastor nonetheless, we can safely conclude that they are "non-believers".
(With me so far? )
Now, since they are "non-believers", the scripture quoted above no longer applies as it refers to a "brother" and deserve the treatment of a "Tax Collector".
So, now there is no longer a need for talking, and I would take them to court right after I fast and pray for “The LORD to grant my lawyer and the Judge the Wisdom of Solomon”.
When the word "Lawyer" gets mentioned, usually, things happen, good or bad.

Being a believer does not mean being a “Door mat” or "Roll Over".
It means "forgive", but stand up for what is right.
So, forgive the infidels that they are, but, let Caesar decide.

Wait, this is not the religious section …………

 

[Jerryl]

............ If you do nothing, you only reinforce this type of behavior. If you have given the man ample opportunity in "writing" to do the right thing, it's now time to let the Courts deal with him.

Good advice.

Tscruggs, It is MHO that as a pastor, it is your obligation to do what you can to stop evil.
And "When Good people do nothing, Evil Prevails".

There will just be more acts of evil if you do not stop this behavior, and maybe some "non pastor type" will commit a murder when the shop tries this trick on them ... and the person will end up in jail ........ and their family and kids with many following generations will suffer …… and possibly go down the same murderous path.

I am sure you do NOT want that on his conscience .....