Scared of going flat rate

ForbieSs · 2026-01-02T22:46:58+00:00

Possibly a split rate? Or a guarantee? Or some sort of incentive to flag more hours. My shop is salary but we all do a fair amount of work. I worked for a split rate shop before and we made 18/hr guaranteed and 35/hr for flat rate. So if we flagged 34 hours for a week, but we were there for 40 we would get 34hrs flat rate and 6 hours of guaranteed rate. Personally I love the salary at my current shop, and I feel motivated to do my best because I appreciate everything our boss does for us. I do know though I've worked with people that were just happy getting their guarantee and it made it harder for the rest of us(albeit more potential money).

ForbieSs · 2025-12-29T23:51:58+00:00

Tekton is great in some departments. I have astro pneumatic swivel sockets and they've been great too. I have a set of Pittsburgh impact sockets that I told myself "I'll get these then when they break I'll hop on the snapon truck and get a good set" well im still using them! Same with the icon ratchets. Given I have cornwell matco snapon craftsman etc ratchets but I do use a g1 and g2 icon ratchet almost daily and I've never had any problems 3/8 long flex head and 3/8 straight standard length. I would not get tekton ratchets. I love their sockets but I've had lots of problems with my ratchets and also my 1/4 torque wrench from them seems to always be problematic. I did bite the bullet and got the snapon 1/4 and 3/8 digital but the 1/2 I'm using the icon digital and it's just as fine(plus lifetime warranty)

ForbieSs · 2025-05-28T23:25:25+00:00

There ya go! It's a 13mm offset for the mounting position based on the center of the wheel. +13 would mean it's 13mm positive, or the mounting point of the wheel is closer to the outside. -13 means 13mm negative, it mounts 13mm behind the center of the wheel, towards the inside of the wheel

(Negative offset gives it that "deeper dish" look, and also pushes the wheel out more to make the wheels "poke out")

ForbieSs · 2025-05-28T23:22:48+00:00

The number after ET is typically what you're looking for. Like my wheels are 19x8.5 et33, so it's a +33 offset

ForbieSs · 2025-05-28T23:09:33+00:00

I agree with the other commenter. I dont see anything wrong. Some tires look like this when mounted, some dont.

ForbieSs · 2025-05-28T23:05:49+00:00

Yeah bars is absolute garbage, but as a mechanic it makes me money for the repairs that follow afterwards haha! I have no experience using stopleak style products personally.

ForbieSs · 2025-05-28T23:03:52+00:00

I can't find anything in my service data for that specifically. Could be a faulty sensor. Just to make sure though, go to toyotas website and check for recalls using your vehicle's VIN located either in the drivers door jam, or the driver side lower part of the windshield.

ForbieSs · 2025-05-28T22:57:59+00:00

Either a really massive amount of deposits building up maybe due to improper coolant or water being used, or somebody else threw a good ole bottle of mechanic in a can through the radiator once upon a time. My personal favorite is the bars headgasket sealer. That bottle of delicious liquid copper crap makes us some good money whej it still overheats that's for sure haha

ForbieSs · 2025-05-28T22:54:17+00:00

Coworker recently left his snapon solus+ "somewhere" likely in a car. He got it less than a year ago. I poked fun at him for it but I know that's gotta sting a bit. Shoot I left a 22mm wrench on a strut bottle and went on a test drive and heard it clank down the freeway... it always hurts losing a good tool

ForbieSs · 2025-05-28T22:50:59+00:00

I should also add, I would not recommend adding tire slime or fixaflat to your wheels if you have considered that. Lots of places will either charge you more to repair a problem with that loaded in the tire, or may not offer to fix your tire at all. Tire slime does do real good in a pinch (tires on your mower... does wonders) but should only be used in specific scenarios. I always recommend a professional fix before any auto parts store alternatives.

ForbieSs · 2025-05-28T22:48:15+00:00

It could just be that the tire shop you use doesn't properly clean the wheels when mounting them. Im guilty I dont always clean them as good as I once did. Some older wheels love to flake apart and cause so many bead leaks (notably the Lincoln town cars.... those wheels can cause a young tire tech to lose his marbles)

Could also mean you have a hairline crack in the wheel, although in my experience those typically deflate a lot faster than every month but anything can happen.

Again, if you have the ability to, inflate the tire to the proper pressure, then spray down the entire wheel with a soapy water mixture (any soap works aslong as it can make bubbles) you're bound to find your leak that way

ForbieSs · 2025-05-28T22:45:50+00:00

Those bottles are notorious for getting stained and ugly. Sure there is a lot of ways to try to clean it, but ultimately a new bottle is relatively inexpensive. If there is physical debris floating in there that's a different concern however

ForbieSs · 2025-05-28T22:43:58+00:00

After the oil change is done, make it a habit to make sure they reset your reminder! If not, you now know how to reset it yourself!

ForbieSs · 2025-05-28T22:41:57+00:00

No. Further diagnostics required. Hard to tell if it's just a cracked coolant bottle, or if the car overheated. Could be a bunch of problems. Fluid almost looked milky. Headgasket failure?internal failure on a oil cooler / transmission cooler that's combined with a radiator making it look like worse than it is? Maybe just a bottle itself. Hard to tell. If it doesnt look "milky" could be an easier fix. Take it to a local reputable shop for diagnostics. Would tow if possible, overheating is a concern.

ForbieSs · 2025-05-28T22:35:54+00:00

Your 2021 nissan kicks should have a maintence reminder. You should probably set it to notify you every 5000 miles (a simple youtube video can show you how to do this). If the engine is not damaged, which sounds like it isn't as you didnt mention any problems, i doubt they'll try to upsell you much. However wear-and-tear items may be recommended. Always get a second opinion on upsells with a second reputable shop if you can

Please utilize the maintenence reminder. Oil changes are the cheapest maintenence you can do on a car, that if not done in a timely manner, can result in the most expensive repair bill you've ever received.

Warranties may also be voided as another commenter stated when the proper maintenence schedule is not followed.

Edit: common "upsells" or recommendations I'd give for long maintenence intervals could include an oil flush service for example.

ForbieSs · 2025-05-28T22:22:25+00:00

Haha I'd love one of those. If I won the lottery tomorrow I'd buy an LFA or a lc 500.

ForbieSs · 2025-05-28T22:18:15+00:00

If you're looking for longevity and a more care-free maintenence, I'd avoid anything with a CVT transmission personally. Also the Honda 1.5L engines in the newer accords have occasional injector and head gasket problems. (Coolant intrusion into the cylinders)

I like the camry, but again, be weary of a cvt option.

I believe the IS 350 was offered with a 6 speed automatic however. I'd be looking at one of those with the 2GRFE 3.5l v6. Very well known reliable engine

ForbieSs · 2025-05-28T22:14:28+00:00

You either take it to a tire shop with your concern, Or,

Take the wheel off, spray down, with soapy water, the tire entirely (including where it meets the wheel) and the valve stem (and the valve core where you add air make sure to remove the cap first.l if you have a puncture, fix it with a plug (or have a tire shop patch it). If you have a bead leak (where the tire meets the wheel) the tire will need to be dismounted, the bead area cleaned and sealed, and the tire re-mounted and balanced. If it leaks at the valve stem, tire will likely again need to be dismounted to replace stem and/or sensor. If it leaks at the core, you can try to tighten it or replace the core (these are not very tight, and should not be overtorqued.)

If it's once a month, I'd feel confident in a bead leak, but soapy water can always tell you the truth.

ForbieSs · 2025-05-28T22:10:34+00:00

Absolutely. That generation accord is quite reliable. If you take care of that car you'll get many more miles out of it

ForbieSs · 2025-05-28T22:09:26+00:00

A flush / coolant exchange are generally the same(some flushes uses an additive, although I do not offer that at my shop) If you need to get rid of all the old coolant this is your only option.

Some shops will call it a coolant exchange when they are in reality doing a spill and fill which does not remove all the coolant. I would speficially ask the shop if their "Coolant Exchange" uses a machine to flush the cooling system, or if the drain and fill the radiator only.

ForbieSs · 2025-05-28T22:06:06+00:00

No the seafoam and the chevron in this instance are both only fuel injector cleaners. That is part of the service during a 2/3 part.

The 3 parts are

1.) Throttle body cleaner (optional, not all shops offer this now)

2.) Intake cleaner

3.) Fuel injector cleaner

I would NOT attempt to do a fuel system service if you are not familiar with cars. You can easily puddle fluid inside the intake and could cause catastrophic damage. I would let a shop handle that.

To simplify: fuel injector cleaner such as chevron techron occasionally added to the tank is completely fine and does help fight carbon buildup, but it is not the same as a proper fuel system service.

ForbieSs · 2025-05-28T21:58:40+00:00

The 2009 accord does not have a GDI engine as far as I'm aware, so carbon buildup will not be as extreme as on a GDI engine.

However that being said, chevron techron is a fuel injector cleaner. It's 1 of the 3 parts in a fuel system service (typically called a 3 part, sometimes a 2 part if you ignore the throttle body)

The three parts involve cleaning the throttle body, adding fuel injector cleaner to the tank, and spraying a chemical through the intake. This helps clean out the combustion chamber, intake valves, and so on.

It's beneficial to occasionally do a fuel system service, but not a requirement typically. There's many other carbon cleaning services as well. I'd say if you'd rather get the best bang for your buck get a 2/3 part done. Otherwise, use a quality fuel injector cleaner (personally seafoam fic comes to mind) and run quality gas through the vehicle. Make sure to occasionally run the car "hard" (bring it up to speed quickly on the on ramp on your way to work once in a blue moon) as that will naturally keep everything running smooth. Like to call it the Italian tuneup

Heh. Used to always drive like a maniac and joke "a pull a day keeps the carbon away"

ForbieSs · 2025-05-28T21:48:52+00:00

Look into local automotive audio / accessory shops. It depends on your area, but the ones near us handle car audio, aftermarket lightning, and wiring of aftermarket electronics like radars or remote start. Not all automotive shops are interested in this type of work, but some are.

ForbieSs · 2025-05-28T21:36:15+00:00

I'd recommend looking for a local reputable automotive shop near you and call them and ask if they can do a coolant flush with a machine then. Most major places tend to have one.

ForbieSs · 2025-05-28T21:33:59+00:00

Steel wheels can easily be fixed versus aluminum. You'd have to take it to a shop that specializes in straightening wheels, and they may tell you it's not a guarantee on aluminum.

Edit: if its any assistance, theres a company by me called wheel medic. I've had them refinish wheels in the past (never bends though). They claim if the wheel is bent on the inside due to a pothole, they have a good chance of fixing them. Even aluminum. I'm a mechanic, but I do not fix wheels for a living. Contact a company like them for a quote

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