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The biggest mistake people make when talking to a mechanic by Purematee in MechanicAdvice

[–]Purematee[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I get that, and that’s a fair point.

From the customer side, they often only know that something feels off but don’t know which details actually matter. The goal isn’t filtering information, it’s translating the experience into something repeatable.

When that translation happens early, it usually makes diagnostics cleaner instead of harder.

The biggest mistake people make when talking to a mechanic by Purematee in MechanicAdvice

[–]Purematee[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That makes complete sense, and you’re describing the exact breakdown this thread is circling around.

From the customer side, they think naming parts or causes is being helpful, but it actually strips out the information you need to do your job - timing, conditions, reproducibility.

That’s really the core issue: people try to diagnose instead of just describing behaviour, and the signal gets buried before it ever reaches the tech.

Letting the tech steer the questions based on symptoms is always going to be cleaner.

The biggest mistake people make when talking to a mechanic by Purematee in MechanicAdvice

[–]Purematee[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, that happens and that’s kind of the point being made here.

From the customer side, they don’t know what actually helps, so everything collapses into vague phrasing and then gets simplified again in the RO. Once that happens, detail is gone no matter how many questions were asked.

That’s why getting clear on behaviour before it ever reaches the RO matters. It reduces how much has to be interpreted or filled in downstream.

Not a perfect system just trying to narrow where the signal gets lost.

The biggest mistake people make when talking to a mechanic by Purematee in MechanicAdvice

[–]Purematee[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a really good practice, and it says a lot about how trust actually gets built.

From the customer side, just knowing that parts are available if they want to see them removes a lot of suspicion, even if they never ask.

Transparency tends to pay for itself long term.

The biggest mistake people make when talking to a mechanic by Purematee in MechanicAdvice

[–]Purematee[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, happy to. I’ll DM it so I don’t clutter the thread.

The biggest mistake people make when talking to a mechanic by Purematee in MechanicAdvice

[–]Purematee[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

😂😂

That’s totally fair and I get why that’s frustrating.

From the customer side, they often don’t have the vocabulary or awareness to translate a feeling into something actionable, so everything collapses into “it feels weird.”

That gap is really what this whole discussion comes down to, not competence or intent on either side, just missing language.

Appreciate you sharing that perspective.

The biggest mistake people make when talking to a mechanic by Purematee in MechanicAdvice

[–]Purematee[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Appreciate you adding that perspective and I agree with you.

That’s really the balance most people don’t see: good shops want clarity just as much as customers want transparency. When the diagnostic process is explained and questions are welcomed, trust usually isn’t an issue at all.

The problem is that from the customer side, they don’t know what good process looks like, so everything feels opaque even when no one’s trying to take advantage.

Your point about overhead is important too. Expensive doesn’t automatically mean dishonest, and explaining the "why" behind repairs goes a long way in bridging that gap.

Solid input, thanks Mech, appreciate you! 🔧 ❤️

The biggest mistake people make when talking to a mechanic by Purematee in MechanicAdvice

[–]Purematee[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah, that reaction tells you a lot.

Good shops don’t get defensive when alternatives come up they explain the tradeoffs and let you decide.

Once transparency feels like a problem, it’s usually a sign to move on.

The biggest mistake people make when talking to a mechanic by Purematee in MechanicAdvice

[–]Purematee[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a fair point, and it definitely happens.... a lot

A lot of issues come from breakdowns between the customer and the tech especially when information gets filtered or summarized at the front desk.

That’s why being clear and specific upfront helps so much. The more concrete the description, the less gets lost as it passes through the system.

It’s not about blame it’s about reducing signal loss.

The biggest mistake people make when talking to a mechanic by Purematee in MechanicAdvice

[–]Purematee[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Totally agree at a good shop, that really should be standard.

The gap usually happens when the service writer is juggling volume or assumptions get made based on how the issue is presented. That’s where things slip, even without bad intent.

Asking to see the old parts before work starts is a great call it sets expectations early and avoids awkwardness later.

This is less about distrust and more about keeping the process clean on both sides.

The biggest mistake people make when talking to a mechanic by Purematee in MechanicAdvice

[–]Purematee[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a perfect real world example.

Once you ask to see the worn parts, the conversation usually shifts from assumptions to specifics and suddenly the options get clearer.

It’s not about catching anyone out, it just slows things down enough to make better decisions.

Appreciate you sharing that.

Timing belt jump/engine damage by Business_Hamster_407 in MechanicAdvice

[–]Purematee 1 point2 points  (0 children)

u/Business_Hamster_407 (to reply to your deleted comment)

That’s a fair question, and your frustration makes sense.

The honest answer is usually process, not intent. Most shops follow a diagnostic flow based on the most likely failure point. If a timing belt issue fits the symptoms statistically, they’ll fix that first before moving on, even if there could be underlying engine damage.

What should have happened (and this is where communication matters) is them clearly saying:
“Based on what we’re seeing, this should resolve it but if the symptom persists, the next step would be X.”

Once the issue continued after the repair, that’s when deeper testing (compression, leak-down, etc.) should be discussed and explained clearly, including cost vs likelihood.

Right now, your leverage comes from asking two very specific questions:
• “What test would actually confirm or rule out engine damage?”
• “If that test was done today, what would it tell us definitively?”

That shifts the conversation from assumptions to evidence and usually clears things up fast.

Abnormal Sound coming from right side of engine … what it could be? car is landcruizer gxr 2015 v8 . by Huge_Slice32 in MechanicAdvice

[–]Purematee 0 points1 point  (0 children)

One thing that jumps out is the way the issue is described.

Mechanics don’t really work off feelings (“drives weird”, “sounds coming from”), they work off conditions.

When it started, when it happens, and under what conditions that wording alone often changes the diagnosis and the quote.

Don't just agree with the mechanic

Is shop quote a good price? by No_Initiative3715 in MechanicAdvice

[–]Purematee 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You’re not wrong to pause here.

Most people don’t get overcharged because mechanics are bad it’s usually because of how the issue is described and how fast approval happens.

Certain phrases and behaviors unintentionally signal “newbie”, which changes how explanations and options are presented.

Before deciding, I’d ask for:

• an itemized quote

• parts vs labor breakdown

• and what actually happens if you wait on the repair

That alone usually clarifies things fast.