Preventative Maintance
I have a mate who is a mechanic that told me this tale and i saw the aftermath , it wasnt pretty soooooo.

A client came in one day with a v6 saab wanting the cambelt changed . My mate gave him a estimate of around $1000 all up and mentioned "Thats doing the tensioner as well"

"But i dont want the tensioner done"

Its normal pratice to replace the tensioner at the same time as the cambelt on most cars. Usually it has to be removed anyway or is at least easily accessible. Tensioners are relativly cheap , around the $50 mark. Labour is neglible as its 3 bolts and about 2 min to replace.

My mate strongly recommended that the tensioner be replaced at the same time to be on the safe side . However his advice was declined (What would a mechanic with 20 plus years experience know anyway?). The client insisted on not paying for a new tensioner the old one was to be retained. His decision the customer is allways right.

The work was done and the client left happy. Fast forward about six months and the Saab arrives on the back of a tow truck.

Can you guess what happened?

Can you guess which component failed?

A loose cambelt resulted in a spectacular valve / piston interface. The Bill to rectify this damage was just a shade under $5000 in addition to the inconvenience.

A bit of false economy there I think. Not a bad result for the sake of $50
(welgar, Tue 28 Oct 2008, 8:34, 11 replies)

Although your mate may be legit, there are alot of dodgy mechanics out there. And the fact I'm NOT a "mechanic with 20 plus years experience" means I might well say no to replacing a part I've never heard of. To me, it would sound like hes trying pull one over on me (I've had it done to me before, £100 on something that I didn't need and didn't fix the original problem).
(engekomkommer, Tue 28 Oct 2008, 8:54, closed)

^^
The customer wasnt a stranger he had work done by my mate in the past , he just wanted to save a few dollars.
(welgar, Tue 28 Oct 2008, 8:58, closed)

engekomkommer
So you'd only replace parts on your car that you'd heard of before you went to the garage?

Good luck with that...
(Son of Sam-i-am We're all as mad as hatters here, Tue 28 Oct 2008, 9:10, closed)

^this
*sniggers*
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 28 Oct 2008, 9:20, closed)

in that case
you'd let him replace your flux capacitor?
(One_Winged_Angel Ich Dien, Tue 28 Oct 2008, 9:23, closed)

I always replace my own flux capacitor
It's in the DeLorean Haynes manual, p.176.

It's a six spanner rated job though, don't attempt it unless you're really sure you know what you're doing.
(Son of Sam-i-am We're all as mad as hatters here, Tue 28 Oct 2008, 9:24, closed)

I tried it
next week.
(Juan Quar is clinging to her front teeth on, Tue 28 Oct 2008, 9:32, closed)

I wish
that the "I like this" for replies would count for something. Have a click anyway for making me smile :)
(EuroSong I love horse meat: best of all the animals, Tue 28 Oct 2008, 10:46, closed)

That is just plain stupidity.
If I'm going to have my car worked on by someone else (admittedly doesn't happen very often) I tend to do as much research as I can on the internet first. That way I know what will need doing and a rough idea of how much it should cost.

If he'd bothered to do the slightest bit of research he'd know that the tensioner needed replacing. His fault, or the mechanic's?
(Half of Stephen Fry's right buttock pissed on your dog on, Tue 28 Oct 2008, 9:34, closed)

Well you're clearly more sensible then engekomkommer
I've decided the original post was in fact a story about him!

Even my sister would probably know you have to have the tensioner replaced at the same time, and she genuinely thought until a few months ago (when I was in a car with her) that the sun visor was only for doing your make up in.
(Son of Sam-i-am We're all as mad as hatters here, Tue 28 Oct 2008, 9:41, closed)

client confidiatly and all
but how do you think i first found out about b3ta.


nods head knowingly
(welgar, Tue 28 Oct 2008, 9:48, closed)