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Frustrated, need some insight...
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Doombi
Novice
May 1, 2011, 1:08 PM
Post #1 of 9
(1508 views)
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Frustrated, need some insight...
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Last week during heavy rain my engine light began blinking and the engine was shaky and would barely accel when I pushed on the gas. I've had this problem before so I guessed it was a spark plug issue, i had just got the car two months before. 2003 mazda protege 5
I figured it could use a tuneup anyways so I decided to take it to the mechanic. He ran the computer test and the code had indicated an engine misfire, if I remember correctly. I know he said "misfire" for a fact. He said I should start with a tuneup, and I told him to go ahead with it.
When I came back to pick up the car he told me that he did the tuneup but I needed to get a new air intake hose because mine had small cracks in it. He gave me the keys and told me to drive it as little as possible. He told me that if I drove it too much he would have to redo all of the work he did on the spark plugs. When I got home I taped up the air hose with some electrical tape *and later with duct tape* and drove it as little as possible until the part would arrive at the dealer in two days. Once I put the tape on I noticed it was running much smoother and the light had stopped so I drove it around as needed. I also researched a lot online and found others that had done the same temporary fix for their air intake hose and that it was fine for a short term fix.
The part arrived, I took it back to the mechanic and he installed it without charge as he said he wouuld.
Today, two days later, in the rain on the way to work, the car began doing the exact same thing it was doing last week when I took it in. I'm assuming it's the same spark plug issue. I'm assuming that drove it too much with a bad air intake hose and somehow messed up the spark plugs.
I'm wondering what I should do. Should I take it back to the mechanic? Can I just get spark plugs and change them myself? I did some research and honestly I can't even find anything that says that a bad air intake hose can cause spark plug issues.
I'm really just confused and frustrated. I don't want to pay another 150 dollars when I just did last week for the same exact thing. Part of me feels that he should have noticed the cracked hose BEFORE he did all the other work and then given me the keys. Now I'm just taking it back to get the same thing done over... I'm considering getting a new mechanic. I like this guy, he's honest, but when I picked my car up this time I smelled alcohol on his breath and I can't help thinking that he should have told me about that hose before doing all of that work.
I'm not trying to determine who the guilty party is here. He told me what would happen if I drove it too much, and I guess that's exactly what happened...I'm just trying to get some advice as to what I should do so that I don't have to pay for all of that work again. I can't go back to the mechanic till tomorrow because it's sunday today so right now this is all I can think to do to stop me from throwing something through a window lol. I appreciate any advice
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 1, 2011, 2:06 PM
Post #2 of 9
(1498 views)
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Re: Frustrated, need some insight...
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Why does somebody have to be guilty of something?
Why are you assuming that is needs the exact same parts again?
The spark plugs are only one link in a chain that creates and carries the spark. It could very well have a weak or cracked coil or spark plug wires. The spark plugs are always the starting point but it could ultimately need other work.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Doombi
Novice
May 1, 2011, 2:35 PM
Post #3 of 9
(1495 views)
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Re: Frustrated, need some insight...
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I'm assuming that based on the fact that he told me it would probably happen if I drove it, and I drove it.
And I'm not trying to assess blame, I stated that. I only brought that up because people tend to point fingers in this kind of situation, and that is not my intention. All I want is advice from people who have experience with this kind of stuff so that I can make somewhat informed decisions, and so that I know what my options are.
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Doombi
Novice
May 1, 2011, 2:48 PM
Post #4 of 9
(1491 views)
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Re: Frustrated, need some insight...
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I know it might sound like I was pointing a finger at the mechanic.
In my mind though it all is what it is. I'm not assuming he made a mistake, but I have a suspicion that he did. Mistakes happen, even with mechanics, and that's fine. But if this guy should have noticed that my air hose was bad before he did 150 dollars worth of work, and he was drinking, that makes think I should change mechanics. Maybe he did everything exactly as anyone else would have. That's why I'm here bringing it up. I don't care if you wanna do shots of whiskey while your changing my oil as long it's done correctly, lol. I actually like this guy a lot, he does what he can to save me money, but good intentions don't always equal good practice, and I want both, not just one or the other.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 1, 2011, 3:32 PM
Post #5 of 9
(1486 views)
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Re: Frustrated, need some insight...
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If you don't trust him, then just go find another mechanic. Personally, i think you are over reacting.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Doombi
Novice
May 1, 2011, 4:03 PM
Post #6 of 9
(1480 views)
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Re: Frustrated, need some insight...
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I would probably feel the same way if I were you. Without my car I can't work though. I commute to another city for 16 hour shifts on weekends, and during the week I deliver pizza. If I don't have my car I can do neither.
I tend to get very frustrated when I have car problems if you can imagine. It's like not only do I have to pay for my car to get fixed, I lose money by not being able to work.
So my course of action is asking knowledgeable folks like you for insight so that I might not feel so helpless and in-the-dark. Cars might just be machines, but when people like me depend on them in order to not have to move in to our moms' basements, the subject becomes more than technical.
Even though I spaz out about it, it really does help to just gain some knowledge about what might be the problem with my car. One piece of info can spark a realization that leads to a simple solution. Thats what makes forums useful to me.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 1, 2011, 4:08 PM
Post #7 of 9
(1476 views)
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Re: Frustrated, need some insight...
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You're no different than everyone else. Everyone depends on their cars and no one wants to spend money they don't have to but it's still a mechanical machine and none of us were there to see what took place. I have already told you what the possible causes are so I don't know what you're looking for now.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Doombi
Novice
May 1, 2011, 4:21 PM
Post #8 of 9
(1472 views)
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Re: Frustrated, need some insight...
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I imagined that would be the likely response. Most people do depend on their cars. But most people can get a ride to work and still work. Or walk to work. I can't perform my job without my car even if I can have my room mate take me. It's a little different.
I think at this point all I'm doing is arguing because your choosing to keep replying. It distracts me from thinking about the two inch long centipedes that crawl along the walls of my mother's basement in which I will reside if I lost my my ability to perform my jobs. Do you know how hard it is to get laid when your mother is coughing up a lung smoking a joint in the next room? Exactly. They always want to go hang out with her instead of do me. Not my idea of a good time.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 1, 2011, 4:28 PM
Post #9 of 9
(1469 views)
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Re: Frustrated, need some insight...
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Enough already.........
You asked a question and you got an answer. I don't need your personal life story. I've got plenty of my own problems yet I'm here helping you.
I'm going to close this thread now as it is going nowhere.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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