Ignorant Mechanics

[mooby]

I just got my '97 SHO back on Sunday, and the check engine light is on. So, I stop by a local gas station to ask how much they charge to run the scanner. Then it goes something like this:

Mechanic: What kind of car do you have?
Me: It's a Ford Taurus SHO with the 3.4L V8
Mechanic: No, it has the 3L DOHC V6
Me: No, it's a 1997, comes with a V8 32 valve
Mechanic: Trust me, I've been doing this for a long time, it has a 3L V6
Me: Do you want to take a look?
Mechanic: Where's your car?

I point over at the car, and he walks over. I open the door for him and he pops the hood, takes a look at the engine, seeing "V8 32 Valve" right in front of him and rudely asks me to leave.
I have to say, it was kind of funny seeing this guy act like he knew it all, just to be proven wrong by me, a 17 year old kid. Has anyone else ever had an experience with ignorant mechanics like this?

 

[NWGRN94MTX]

Yes.

When he got rude with you, you should have asked, " How long have you been doing this?" then just- and leave. You don't want him to touch your SHO anyway.

Auto Zone will pull codes for free.

 

[naval-avi8or]

Has anyone else ever had an experience with ignorant mechanics like this?

Yes I had the same thing happen when I had a 3.2L V-6 in my 94 SHO trying to convince the SHOP/Parts store that I didn't have a 3.0L and they would just argue, so I would just leave/hang up.

I bet I'll really have fun trying to explain that my 94 has 3.4L V-8.

 

[SHOZ123]

Ford dealers take one look and my car and refuse to work on it....

 

[nik97]

I remember trying to find a replacement wheel for my car. I called up this place I found and told them what I needed.

guy "Well, Iv'e only got one for the right side"
me "I'm pretty sure it doesen't matter which side"
guy "It matters because the wheels are directional"
me "I need a wheel for 97, They are not directional"
guy "IV'E BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LONG TIME, I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!!"
me *click*

 

[monkeyspunk77]

I got that "Deer in the Headlights" look form the Dealer parts counter guy the other day.

I don't want to allarm anyone, but I think that smart people may be the minority.

 

[stephen newberg]

Ford dealers take one look and my car and refuse to work on it....

Exactly.

I don't want to allarm anyone, but I think that smart people may be the minority.

And that would be true too. Sad, but still true.

pax, smn

 

[KILLA]

BAM!! fist to the face! lol. Just reading these little stories is ******* me off. I would have been such a dick to those guys! ahhh!

 

[Motoman991]

some people are just *********

 

[Glue Maker]

No one even knows what engine is in my Focus! "Wow, what engine is in that?! Zetec?" No Zetec is crap, Duratec.

Many people know Taurus came with a V8 here, they just dont know which one. Or they'll insist it has a 3.0 Yamaha V6.

 

[dosmoney]

I got that "Deer in the Headlights" look form the Dealer parts counter guy the other day.

I don't want to allarm anyone, but I think that smart people may be the minority.

yes, it is quite ALARMING.

 

[laxmax327]

dont really have any experience with mechanics as i dont trust them so dont usually find myself talking to them. but the autozone guys on the other hand... well lets just say most of the guys there ask what broke now when i walk in. theyre actually all really nice guys. it was funny like the first 20 times i went in asking for parts. they were all slow and grouchy until i told them it was a sho then you could see their eyes just light up. ive found that most of the older folks really respect these cars. they immediatly start asking all sorts of questions about it and stuff. its kinda sad how excited some of these dudes get. half the guys there say it pulls like a ***** ape, never heard that one before them...

 

[thetom]

On telephone earlier this year at tax refund time thinking maybe this local Ford dealership know how to spell SHO. Conversation ended somewhere around this time:

Ford guy: That engine does NOT have a timing belt.
Me: I really, really think it does.
Ford guy: Why do you think it has a timing belt?
Me: Uhh, I have it in my hand?

Ya'll know the rest of the story.

 

[lancSHO]

Actually, the Zetec engine made the ZX2's pretty quick, just not the foci.

The dealer I go to doesn't mind working on my SHO, they just give the keys to the master tech first.

 

[HootUSMC]

My mechanic: It's a big engine, it's a v8
Me: Ummm no it's not it's a 3.2 v6
My mechanic:Oh I know, it's a big engine
Me:Someone is coming to tow it tomorrow

Wife:can anyone jump my car?
stop & shop clerk: sure let's go do it (nodding to a 16 or 17 y/o bagger)
after popping the hood
stop and shop bagger: wow look at the engine!!!

See sometimes it's worth it.......lol

 

[shogansta]

mooby when that guy told you to leave rudely you should have told him to go F*ck him self and storm out of there with your V8SHOOOOO

 

[baySHO_510]

At the parts counter I normally keep an eye on the monitor as they click through it... I have to keep telling them to go back because they keep clicking on the wrong Taurus parts...

 

[moobypets]

yeah same here when i order part i have to double check myself i have the correct code lol im doing his job plu si have to pay for the part not fair ??

 

[Rubix]

Before anyone even says it... who cares how old the thread is. At least he searched, or was just looking through his own old threads.

 

[moobypets]

yeah well i was reading and this seemed like a fun subject

so horray for a revival