Mechanic Fixed Problem with Brakes, 3 Weeks Later & Problem Back - Advice?

Gerbud on 08/02/2019 - 00:09
Last edited 08/02/2019 - 00:09

Hi all,

Had an issue with the brakes on my car and I used a Mobile Mechanic as the car was unsafe to drive (wouldn't come to a complete stop when force applied to pedal).

I asked him to fix the braking issue, give the car a service and check for oil leaks (spots on my pavement).

He said he was confident it was the Vacuum Pump causing the issue for the brakes, that he could see a few leaks and could sort and that he would service the car too while he was at it. Happy days I thought.

He did the above work and I went for a drive. Brakes were working but engine wasn't running smooth. I called him and he came back and figured it was a faulty coil which he replaced. I paid for the part and he didn't charge for labour (took him a few mins but granted he organized part/came back out etc)

Anyway, roll on 3 weeks and the same problem with the brakes happened today. Quite scary as I rolled past a stop sign when trying to brake.

I messaged him and asked him to come take a look.

He said he was away till Tuesday and recommended I bring it in a shop to diagnose the issue. Also "sounds like the servo is causing the pump to fail". So I am thinking what was the point in replacing the pump then?

I feel a bit hard done by that after paying for the problem to be fixed, it is back and he doesn't seem to want to do anything about it.

Is it just the luck of the draw or do I have a leg to stand on with this?

Any advice?

Thanks in advance.

Automotive

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 08/02/2019 - 01:52
    -6

    Certainly not ideal but if you absolutely have to, I would certainly use hand brake, rather than no brake at all.

    I'm sure there are others here that have more knowledge on automotive things. You should contact department of fair trading in your state.

    Then for anything in future, dont use this guy. But IMO he should, and probably is obligated to under fair trading laws, sort out any problems he has contributed to.

    Just the mention of fair trading, might be enough to make him do the right thing. It does sound like you have been hard done by, he has misdiagnosed issues, and made you pay for things that weren't needed.
    Safety risk is very serious So I would expect fair trading etc to look upon this issue as much more serious, then say a noise in engine or something which doesn't impact on safety so much.

    To find a good, trustworthy, competent, and good value, mechanic, is not always easy. Best way IMO is ask around with your friends and family in the area, and find out who they recommend.
    I'm happy to travel 25 minutes to my mechanic, even though there is mechanic 100 metres up road, and another 100 metres is another. I found mine through reccomendation of friend who used to live in suburb 25 minutes away. It is a lower socioeconomic area, so all the mechanics there are about $75-$80 an hour. The ones near city I'm near (Wollongong) $110-$130 an hour.
    Plus big jobs, the one 25 minutes away does big jobs even cheaper. Did big job on my celica for $300, other places quoted $1000 or more for same job. He looked after me then, so I always go back now. Gavin Fenell Automotive (Dapto) if anyone is in Illawarra.

    Once you find a good, reliable, and well priced, mechanic, stick with them. I would have had it towed to my mechanic I know I can trust, rather than mobile mechanic.
    If you ask around, tow trucks will do tows very very cheap. They towed me 25 minutes away for like $60 cash.

    • Presence on 08/02/2019 - 06:50
      +7

      Stop threatening the mechanic. If you've ever done any work on a car you'd know that troubleshooting can be extremely complicated. OP sounds like he owns an older car and has probably neglected maintenance.

      • jellykingdom on 08/02/2019 - 08:10
        -5

        F**k off entirely with that BS. It may be complicated, but that's also why we pay a mechanic - to have the knowledge and skills to troubleshoot + fix the issue

        That being said, you don't want to start out by threatening. I'd say that if he wants to keep charging you, THEN you tell him you're not going to pay for work that should have been done correctly.

        • Presence on 08/02/2019 - 08:32
          +5

          You sound like you've never worked on a car. Trouble shooting is extremely hard even for the most experienced mechanics.

          • pegaxs on 08/02/2019 - 09:57
            +1

            @Presence:

            Trouble shooting is extremely hard even for the most experienced mechanics.

            Can confirm.

            Source: I'm a mechanic.

            Some days it's a cake walk, others it's 4 hours of working it out, thinking you have it fixed, giving it to the customer and finding out the hard way that it isn't.

            A lot of what mechanics do it based on what customers tell us. 90% of customers are illiterate when it comes to vehicles and reporting symptoms correctly. The other times it's guess work from past experience or trial and error. It's like a flow chart. You fix one thing and the issue moves down the chain to the next break point, you fix that and that causes something else to give out. As a mechanic, I see it breaking at different points, as a customer, they just see it as the exact same problem.

          • jellykingdom on 08/02/2019 - 10:11
            -6

            @Presence: I'm not saying i'm a pro with cars. But i am a mechanical engineer, so I'm trained to do troubleshooting. We have fitters and electricians at my site, who are trained to do troubleshooting. We give people training in problem solving, and troubleshooting methodologies.

            I don't know why it's somehow acceptable that a mechanic is off the hook for not knowing how to troubleshoot properly and charge you a bomb for it

    • HighAndDry on 08/02/2019 - 09:24
      +1

      I would certainly use hand brake, rather than no brake at all.

      I'm sorry but the fact you suggested this at all basically proves your have zero knowledge to speak on this subject. There's no 'not ideal' in this: if the car's brakes don't work, OP shouldn't drive it. End of.

      As to the mechanic - this was a mobile mechanic who's working under limitations to begin with, and it's common for one issue to be due directly to one part but contributed to by another, such as alternator/battery issues, and it's usually far cheaper and more efficient to test for by dealing with one issue, than actually testing every possible part. (This happens in medicine too, which is why both pills and doctors will say things like - 'come back/speak to a doctor if symptoms persist').

  • inherentchoice on 08/02/2019 - 04:41
    +2

    he doesn't seem to want to do anything about it

    He said he is away. He is only human.

    I would do what he suggested and take it to a shop. If it's too dangerous to drive then look on Gumtree for a cheap local towie. Or can you just drive it as carefully as possible to the closest local garage? In an emergency you can use the handbrake and you can also shift to a low gear to slow down (even in an automatic car).

    Otherwise if it is not urgent and you can wait until Tuesday, then get him to come back.

    The mobile mechanic would have done his best, and as you said it was fixed for three weeks.

    It's not uncommon that an issue wasn't completely fixed the first time. I think it's just a fact of mechanical repairs that they need to try the most obvious solution first and if the symptom still occurs then the mechanic can investigate further. It's just a normal risk of car ownership and dealing with mechanics I think?

    After it's ultimately resolved you might have some options to go back to the mobile mechanic, but until you find out you can only speculate whether he did anything wrong. If you take it to a shop they can give you a second opinion and can probably suggest if the mobile mechanic did something wrong.

    • HighAndDry on 08/02/2019 - 10:02

      I think it's just a fact of mechanical repairs that they need to try the most obvious solution first and if the symptom still occurs then the mechanic can investigate further.

      Yup. Plus, considering the posts we get on here, if the mechanic did a complete inspection of the car to find out everything potentially wrong with the car, he'd have to charge thousands for time and people would be here complaining that a mechanic overcharged them to fix what was a minor issue in the end (replace pump). Can't win.

      • pegaxs on 08/02/2019 - 10:10
        +2

        No… I vote that we make all diagnostic work free and customers only pay for parts, not labour, unless they get on eBay and buy the part, and if it's the wrong part, blame the mechanic and make them supply the right part free of charge. And, if the car ever breaks down again, mechanics should pay us to fix our cars!

        /s

  • whooah1979 on 08/02/2019 - 04:46

    Is the vehicle old? Is yes, then perhaps think about changing it before you end up in an accident.

  • Lexan on 08/02/2019 - 05:40

    I thought there's a warranty for at least 3 months.

    • chumlee on 08/02/2019 - 08:23
      +1

      You're thinking of condoms

      chumlee on 08/02/2019 - 08:23 (Collapsed - Offtopic. Show)
  • seedyrom on 08/02/2019 - 06:21
    +3

    im not a mechanic, but having had so many bad encounters, it’s why I’ve got a vehicle hoist in my garage, and had one in my previous house too. I have exacting standards which weren’t being met … and situations like yours, where they misdiagnosed problems, and replaced parts unnecessarily. I now find it easier to do my own work, though I am talking about highly modified vehicles without a shred of warranty on them.

    But said that, I do sympathise with mechanics (especially mobile ones), and I think people need to lower their expectations a bit.

    They didn’t choose to become a vehicle mechanic, because NASA wasn’t offering them enough mental stimulation and challenge. There are some very smart mechanics and machinists, however, you pay for those guys. When you shop around for the lowest price, you often get the lowest talent. That is a concession YOU choose.
    A mechanic is only human, and finding a problem can be a bit of trial and error. They had a hunch, replaced a part, but the problem was further up the line. Not great, but now you are honing in on the problem.
    People don’t bitch and moan at the doctor when he tries a medication, and then needs to see you in a few weeks to assess and change the dosage/brand etc.
    This is no different, and unfortunately, the problem did seem to be resolved for a few weeks, so the guy was in his rights to think it was fixed when he was there on the day. In fact, what’s to say that he did fix them problem, but on an aging car, the next part broke later, as now it was taking on the stress of braking.

    Cars are just a system of parts. When warranty expires, it’s a lottery as to what will break next. Plastic and rubber get perished so quickly in the Australian heat. They become brittle, then snap. We may well laugh at people who “buy new”, and depreciate so much money … but they all say the same thing. “I just want to have a vehicle in warranty”. They’ve already dealt with this sort of crap, and choose to pay more, for peace of mind.

    I know how this will all play out. He will say the part he replaced needed replacing anyway, and that it might have caused the next part to break, as it was now under stress.

    Jumping straight to “consumer rights” will not go well for you, as he will be in the right. You’ve paid him for his professional diagnosis and he delivered it (as he is qualified to do as well as being a member of IAME).

    Have a calm chat about next steps, or go elsewhere. You aren’t married to the guy.

    • HighAndDry on 08/02/2019 - 10:14

      People don’t bitch and moan at the doctor when he tries a medication, and then needs to see you in a few weeks to assess and change the dosage/brand etc.

      Great analogy. And I also agree that this is a possibility:

      In fact, what’s to say that he did fix them problem, but on an aging car, the next part broke later, as now it was taking on the stress of braking.

      By all accounts, the mechanic fixed the immediate issue, and there were no indications of any further problems until 3 weeks later when the issue reappeared.

    • [Deactivated] on 08/02/2019 - 13:48

      People don’t bitch and moan at the doctor when he tries a medication, and then needs to see you in a few weeks to assess and change the dosage/brand etc.

      They do. They absolutely do. The more uneducated they are, the more they expect a magic cure.

      They want to walk in, give me two sentences worth of information and expect me to spit out a cure. Even if I conclusively find a related problem and demonstrably fix the problem, if they don't feel a million bucks, apparently I fixed the "wrong problem".

  • Baysew on 08/02/2019 - 08:20

    What make and model of the car? A BMW?

  • pegaxs on 08/02/2019 - 08:37
    +6

    Damn, I came here to see if I could help out. Ya'll some jaded mechanic haters in this thread.

    Anyway, what are the symptoms? Hard pedal, like it wont depress at all, or soft pedal, just goes straight to the floor?

    Does the car have ABS? Is it petrol or diesel? Is it turbo/supercharged? Automatic or manual?

    Or, you know, jump on the "fair trading/accc/lawyer" routes mentioned above, put the guy right off side and find another mechanic and start the process all over again.

    A genuine question though, why is it that people seem to want mechanics to perform all diagnostic work for free and must be 100% accurate with diagnosis on the first try?

    I would certainly use hand brake, rather than no brake at all.

    And please, for the love of God, do not do this. Park brakes are not designed to be used as replacement brakes. The only work on the rear wheels and are usually too small on their own to effectively slow a car down sufficiently. The other issues are that if you pull the park brake, it may either lock in position, making it unsafe or it may lock the back wheels, causing you to lose control. You can also stretch the cable inside, causing further wear or damage. And being the top line of the top post, this is really bad advice.

    • abb on 08/02/2019 - 09:19

      Park brakes are not designed to be used as replacement brakes. The only work on the rear wheels and are usually too small on their own to effectively slow a car down sufficiently. The other issues are that if you pull the park brake, it may either lock in position, making it unsafe or it may lock the back wheels, causing you to lose control. You can also stretch the cable inside, causing further wear or damage.

      These are all fair points, but being run over by a B-double will 100% make you dead. If you gotta stop, you take what tools you have available. Of course you should never drive a car at all if the brakes don't work, but Murphy's law says you'll probably find out the brakes have failed at the worst moment.

      • HighAndDry on 08/02/2019 - 09:29
        +2

        You're right that in an emergency it's better than nothing, but I think the issue is the first commenter framed using the handbrake as merely "not ideal", but still some kind of viable alternative. Whereas since OP knows the brakes are shot and not currently driving the car, they should just not drive the car at all.

      • pegaxs on 08/02/2019 - 09:41
        +1

        The park brake is a brake of absolute last resort. It is not designed to get the vehicle from home to the mechanic or will do for a few days till you get get it booked in. The vehicle, if it has no brakes, is unroadworthy. Using the park brake as a de-facto brake will not wash if you are involved in an accident and your car is investigated and found to have non-working brakes.

        Not to mention that the park brake doesn't activate the brake lights, so you also run the risk of getting smashed in the back end.

        If you are about to be run over by a B-double and your only option is to use the park brake, then sure, that is your "last resort". You have to use it. But to offer advice that OP should just use the park brake until such time as the normal brakes are fixed is both dangerous and irresponsible.

        And, if you are driving and find yourself subject to "Murphy's Law", then sure, this is exactly what the park brake can be used for.

    • inherentchoice on 08/02/2019 - 09:38

      put the guy right off side and find another mechanic and start the process all over again

      But the mobile mechanic suggested to take it to a shop.

      • pegaxs on 08/02/2019 - 09:47
        +4

        His shop? Another shop? A specialist shop? A workshop will have a lot more in the way of testing and equipment to diagnose more complex faults than a guy in a van in someone's driveway.

        The mobile guy has done the right thing. Looked at it, had a go at what he thought may have been the issue and the issue returned. It is time to go from the in-home doctors visit and go to the hospital.

        • inherentchoice on 08/02/2019 - 09:49

          "A shop" according to OP.

          Agree with you there seems to be some mechanic haters in this thread, but not everyone.

  • HighAndDry on 08/02/2019 - 09:58
    +1

    Also "sounds like the servo is causing the pump to fail". So I am thinking what was the point in replacing the pump then?

    Because the pump had failed, and until it failed again there were no indications there was any kind of underlying issue causing it to fail other than just normal wear and tear.

    Diagnosing mechanical issues is already an inexact science. A mobile mechanic has a lot more limitations (can't put the car up on a lift to begin with) - and as you said, he did fix the immediate issue because the brakes worked for 3 weeks afterwards.

  • Gerbud on 08/02/2019 - 11:54
    +4

    Thanks to everyone for the constructive input and advice.

    Has definitely helped me see it from the mechanic's point of view too which is good.

    I guess these things happen and as many have said, it is not an exact science when fixing car issues.

    I will get the car booked into a garage and go from there.

    Cheers!

    • [Deactivated] on 08/02/2019 - 13:51

      I guess these things happen…

      They sure do.

      it is not an exact science when fixing car issues.

      It actually is but our knowledge both collectively and as an individual is insufficient. The car cannot give you variables like lie about symptoms or have a higher pain threshold. It is simply cause and effect.

  • dcep on 08/02/2019 - 13:18

    i can understand your frustrations but there isn't any recourse

    next thing you know, the mechanic changed the servo and charge you $700 and the same problem comes back, then he'll suggest some other parts to change and charge you more, while Ozb will suggest you to drive a Kia with 7yr warranty

    you'll find the same with doctor later down the road but that costs your life

  • whooah1979 on 08/02/2019 - 20:31

    Next time pay with a credit card. Make sure you get a tax invoice and a warranty on the repairs.

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