Thread: Never EVER am I going to a dealer again!!!

Originally Posted by Bohica

Good to hear. Are you going on the restricted area? The launch pads are a sight to see. On the northern edge of Lake Gardiner.

Restricted access at the moment..

Originally Posted by Markf

Well it appears that they've finally fixed it.

Within the hour we're off towards Alice so we'll see how it goes.

Hey markf, hope the rest of the trip pans out really well.

So was the actual fix simply the replacement of seals in the end, or was it head problem also?

Originally Posted by rangieman

Is a mechanic a mechanic
Honestly any intelligent mechanic could do that job and if they are unfamiliar to the car and job there is what we all revert to is google these days
I have worked all manner of things and if im not sure on something good ol google helps .
Yes it is a old car car compared to the space crafts of today but a motor is a motor it is only the sequence of work and managment technology that has changed

I completely agree with you. An internal combustion engine is still an internal combustion engine; a diff is a diff a gearbox still a gearbox. Most "automotive" apprentices do not get taught any practical and applicable knowledge about such things any more (including over the last ten years at least). That is because the costs of this practical training have been deemed to be too excessive by the bureaucrats and registered training organisation affiliates who (with absolutely no knowledge of the industry at all) are responsible for getting people certified at minimal and unrealistic costs.
So this generation of "mechanics" are taught how to plug in a computer and read a code book. "Repair" then becomes a bolt on bolt off approach - to the detriment of the consumer.
This bureaucratic approach in administering practical and applicable training competency is not only isolated to mechanical trades either. And the Government claims we have a skills shortage!
Additionally; Ask yourself why any mechanical trades-person would stay in an industry that does nothing to reward experience? A tradie with 20 years experience and an enormous wealth of knowledge gets paid the same as a first year mechanic with an at best questionable competency. It seems that no business these days will recognize and reward experience, even though that will be far more profitable for the long term. Hence "experienced" mechanics get out of Dealerships as soon as they can and you are left with an inexperienced work force based on margins, statistics and short term profit -not results or Customer Service.
My advice would be to find a good self employed mechanic or specialist trades outlet who know their stuff. They are out there, you just need to work a bit to find them. Avoid Dealerships - once you have driven the vehicle out of the showroom their "concerns" cease. It may cost a little more in time initially but it will provide much better value for your buck - not to mention peace of mind - overall.

Originally Posted by Tombie

Was easy to be well rounded when there was like 4 types of Carby, 2 brands of fuel pump. And points were points.

Now there’s 500+ ECUs
Multiple brands of injection
Endless configurations and control systems

If you can be an all-rounder in that environment you’re doing very well (and you have about $750,000 in diagnostic equipment and tools!)

And most of is on just one car...

Originally Posted by aljam

I completely agree with you. An internal combustion engine is still an internal combustion engine; a diff is a diff a gearbox still a gearbox. Most "automotive" apprentices do not get taught any practical and applicable knowledge about such things any more (including over the last ten years at least). That is because the costs of this practical training have been deemed to be too excessive by the bureaucrats and registered training organisation affiliates who (with absolutely no knowledge of the industry at all) are responsible for getting people certified at minimal and unrealistic costs.
So this generation of "mechanics" are taught how to plug in a computer and read a code book. "Repair" then becomes a bolt on bolt off approach - to the detriment of the consumer.
This bureaucratic approach in administering practical and applicable training competency is not only isolated to mechanical trades either. And the Government claims we have a skills shortage!
Additionally; Ask yourself why any mechanical trades-person would stay in an industry that does nothing to reward experience? A tradie with 20 years experience and an enormous wealth of knowledge gets paid the same as a first year mechanic with an at best questionable competency. It seems that no business these days will recognize and reward experience, even though that will be far more profitable for the long term. Hence "experienced" mechanics get out of Dealerships as soon as they can and you are left with an inexperienced work force based on margins, statistics and short term profit -not results or Customer Service.
My advice would be to find a good self employed mechanic or specialist trades outlet who know their stuff. They are out there, you just need to work a bit to find them. Avoid Dealerships - once you have driven the vehicle out of the showroom their "concerns" cease. It may cost a little more in time initially but it will provide much better value for your buck - not to mention peace of mind - overall.

Trade training funding has also been cut by a large amount.

Originally Posted by Tombie

The ones just outside Pimba?

The Linfox Crawl of Shame hills

Nah. That ones 3rd at lots of revs. We passed a quad tanker Road train going up there. Wasn't hard it was probably only going at walking pace.
The one just before Burra is what got us...