Jackasses
So, I've been working franticly lately to fix the Van of Fail to use for a camping trip to PEI this weekend. When we purchased the van in March it only needed a head gasket (which is why the owner was selling it; 3.8L Windstars eat head gaskets like candy). When disassembling the engine to get the head off we discovered the need for intake assembly gaskets as well which put a halt to progress. After sitting since March, I figured it would be a great vehicle to tow me and four friends to PEI. So I've been throwing time and money into this thing to get it fixed. Engine reassembled and the only other issue with it remedied (broken sway bar) the van was ready to go. Our friend down the road that is a licensed mechanic and does MVIs in his spare time has run out of stickers and is waiting on his current order; ETA next week. That's no good so I call around and manage to get an appointment at 0800 today at Coast Tire Crown Street.
Big mistake.
They took an hour to do the MVI (usually only takes 15-20 minutes) and go over the van with a fine-toothed comb. The must've figured a young male, going to an office job at 0800, dropping off a van with no MVI sticker, no registration stickers on the plates and a transit marker making it legal to drive the vehicle. Hey, we'll ream this guy over the coals and get a bunch of cash out of him. Little did they know that I've done or had a major hand in all of the work to this vehicle since we bought it so I know everything that is wrong/right with it. They failed the MVI and put a rejection sticker on it and gave me a quote for about $2000 worth of work to make it pass. And that's just a starting point.
Of all the things they listed wrong with it, only about three items legitimately need to be replaced. They told me that I needed new sway bar bushings. I just put a new one on it! Ball joints, a tie rod end and front struts. The whole front suspension on the van is new and tight! Rear flex hoses, wheel cylinders and brake shoes. The passenger side wheel cylinder and flex hose do need to be replaced as well as about 15 feet of brake line, but the shoes are hardly worn at all. We compared them with a new set I picked up on the way home and there's hardly any difference in thickness.
All in all I'd have to say my experience with a "legitimate" shop was absolutely horrible. Say what you will about so-called "shadetree" or "backyard" mechanics, they know what they're doing. If they're certified for MVIs they won't let vehicles on the road that aren't safe to be on there as its their license, their livelihood which is on the line.
Big mistake.
They took an hour to do the MVI (usually only takes 15-20 minutes) and go over the van with a fine-toothed comb. The must've figured a young male, going to an office job at 0800, dropping off a van with no MVI sticker, no registration stickers on the plates and a transit marker making it legal to drive the vehicle. Hey, we'll ream this guy over the coals and get a bunch of cash out of him. Little did they know that I've done or had a major hand in all of the work to this vehicle since we bought it so I know everything that is wrong/right with it. They failed the MVI and put a rejection sticker on it and gave me a quote for about $2000 worth of work to make it pass. And that's just a starting point.
Of all the things they listed wrong with it, only about three items legitimately need to be replaced. They told me that I needed new sway bar bushings. I just put a new one on it! Ball joints, a tie rod end and front struts. The whole front suspension on the van is new and tight! Rear flex hoses, wheel cylinders and brake shoes. The passenger side wheel cylinder and flex hose do need to be replaced as well as about 15 feet of brake line, but the shoes are hardly worn at all. We compared them with a new set I picked up on the way home and there's hardly any difference in thickness.
All in all I'd have to say my experience with a "legitimate" shop was absolutely horrible. Say what you will about so-called "shadetree" or "backyard" mechanics, they know what they're doing. If they're certified for MVIs they won't let vehicles on the road that aren't safe to be on there as its their license, their livelihood which is on the line.