ughhhhh mechanics!!!

[snoopy041824]

ok, just called the guy who is working on my 98 beetle and aked him for the codes he says to me what do you want them for? i said money is tight and i can't keep dropping money to you every time the engine lite comes on, i want to learn do some of this stuff for myself, he said well we can take one thing at a time and i said i just want a some codes so i can look them up and see what is going on, you tell me stuff and i do not know what that means so i would like to educate myself. he still would not give me the codes. all i know to date what i am now replacing is a vaccum hose that is bad. what next???? i know from now on i will be going to auto zone to diag. these problems and then try to fix them myself. that is just a bunch of horse****!!! i am so frustrated... does anyone have any advice on this??? any would be apprecited..

[GINA]

Go to a different mechanic, for starters.

[noR]

Yep. Never go back to that place. And either get Autozone to scan your codes, or get a scan-gauge, or get a vag-com.

And next time the light comes on, go buy some tools. You can pay someone $100 and call him next time it breaks; or you can buy $100 of tools and next time it breaks, you'll have tools.

[jazzcat]

Originally Posted by noR

Yep. Never go back to that place. And either get Autozone to scan your codes, or get a scan-gauge, or get a vag-com.

And next time the light comes on, go buy some tools. You can pay someone $100 and call him next time it breaks; or you can buy $100 of tools and next time it breaks, you'll have tools.

invest another $50 into a bently manual for your car too..that shows you how to take it apart and put it back together again..where in st charles are you taking the car? i can find you a better mechanic if you'd like

[ChristopherC]

The first (and probably hardest) step is to get the code scanned. Once you know the code there are several lists floating around on the web. IIRC there is a list on this site(?)

If you can't find the list then simply post your code here. There are many of us that would be more than happy to translate your code into english. You'll probably get advice on what the problem is.

[snoopy041824]

i take it to a mechanic in st. charles, mo to st. charles foreign car if you could find another one in st. charles, st. peters or so that would be great and not so expensive, his labor is $95.00 an hr.. and i think i will go to auto zone to get codes but does auto zone have the kind of computer system needed to get all the codes out of it?

[noR]

No, they usually won't clear the codes. But generally if you fix the problem, the codes go away.

They sell a couple tools that will clear the codes. Vag-Com is the most robust one, it requires a laptop and is pretty pricey. Well worth it though.

They also make some cheaper, easier to use scan-gauges for consumers.

If this is your only vw, and you don't have any friends w/vw's, then I'd just get something cheap & generic. Maybe something that can read other cars too.

[Lnzbug]

Autozone hooks up their OBD tool & tells you the code right there. They don't fix it, just tell you codes. And keep your car away from that shady mechanic. Lots of stuff you can do yourself. I know this, as I have done a few things myself

[jazzcat]

Originally Posted by snoopy041824

i take it to a mechanic in st. charles, mo to st. charles foreign car if you could find another one in st. charles, st. peters or so that would be great and not so expensive, his labor is $95.00 an hr.. and i think i will go to auto zone to get codes but does auto zone have the kind of computer system needed to get all the codes out of it?

i'll get you a couple options for mechanics and i have alot of friends out there too that would help you work on that thing

[lkchris]

Notice how the suggestions involve you investing?

Your money for tools?

Your money for manuals?

Your time to go to autozone?

Your time to learn how it all works?

You're asking your mechanic to give you the equivalent. EVERY mechanic's fixed rate is only paying him/her to fix the problem.

[LadybugEwa]

He paid the diagnostic fee for the codes to be pulled. So the mechanic won't give him info that he already paid for. If it was 'free scan if you let us do the fixing' that'd be another thing.

[wawalker]

I think you need to look at this from your mechanics perspective. He probably spent years and lots of money getting educated to be able to fix cars. Why should he give you the information for free that you need to no longer be his customer? You are asking him to essentially make you into his competitor when it comes to fixing your car. I get people in my biz who think that I should tell them how to do it so they can DIY and not have to pay me--I say fine, go to the university and take hydraulics, mechanical drawing, and then attend all the workshops and seminars I have...

In short, I think you probably have a good mechanic, who seems to be willing to "see" your car as your budget allows.

[jazzcat]

but not telling him the codes when he can save his $60-90 to go to autozone and find out what is wrong with his car is kinda messed up...I went the route of going to the university and I do everything on our cars that I am capable of doing but you have to learn somehow..The OP was looking for someone that would more or less help him learn on the car which isn't the easiest car to learn on at all..There are mechanics who will walk you through doing some basic stuff but your best bet would be to get a set of tools and the Bentley manual and start tearing into it yourself..Post up here any codes because anything you get someone here probably just fixed it and can assist

I have friends that can help you sling a wrench(they are cheap and good guys) and am asking around on local stl boards for shops that would help you out too..

[snoopy041824]

that would be great if you can get me some names of some other mechanics, my funds are running low and i won't have the money to get this beetle going again.. i just brings tears to my eyes cuz i want to drive it so bad and "show it off" per say and i can't cuz it is always in the shop.. i bought it for my daughter but i am driving it until she turns 16. i just love that beetle bug!!! i want it working and i am getting frustrated...

[jazzcat]

and just throwing this out there too...looking back on going to the university..would have been better off going to a shop and working my way up instead of throwing all of the money that i threw down the drain(and will continue to pay on that for a long while ) especially since I decided to stay in the town with 4 tech schools and no interest hiring someone that is as trained as I am but with 0 experience

[D2Beetle]

Originally Posted by wawalker

I think you need to look at this from your mechanics perspective. He probably spent years and lots of money getting educated to be able to fix cars. Why should he give you the information for free that you need to no longer be his customer? You are asking him to essentially make you into his competitor when it comes to fixing your car. I get people in my biz who think that I should tell them how to do it so they can DIY and not have to pay me--I say fine, go to the university and take hydraulics, mechanical drawing, and then attend all the workshops and seminars I have...

In short, I think you probably have a good mechanic, who seems to be willing to "see" your car as your budget allows.

I disagree... there is no reason why the mechanic should not share the codes; the odds of any individual attempting a DIY at that point is remote. Although it would permit the individual to get a second opinion and verify their mechanics integrity so they do not get stuck with an unnecessary repair bill.

Failure to share and/or withhold information is cause for me not to be your customer.

[jazzcat]

Originally Posted by D2Beetle

I disagree... there is no reason why the mechanic should not share the codes; the odds of any individual attempting a DIY at that point is remote. Although it would permit the individual to get a second opinion and verify their mechanics integrity so they do not get stuck with an unnecessary repair bill.

i agree x100000

Originally Posted by D2beetle

Failure to share and/or withhold information is cause for me not to be your customer.

x1000000000000000000

[wawalker]

Re-reading the first post it sounds to me like the OP has a car with many issues and no available funds to fix them--only a vacuum line at this time. The mechanic owes him the reason/code why he needed to replace that vac line--if that is all he is going to pay for at this time. Information and expertise cost money and time folks. The same way "you get what you paid for", you won't often gets things you won't pay for. That mechanic has a biz to run, here we are enthusiasts helping one another out, and at Autozone they definately have a motive behind their free scan--they want to sell you the parts to fix your problem...

[jazzcat]

Originally Posted by wawalker

Re-reading the first post it sounds to me like the OP has a car with many issues and no available funds to fix them--only a vacuum line at this time. The mechanic owes him the reason/code why he needed to replace that vac line--if that is all he is going to pay for at this time. Information and expertise cost money and time folks. The same way "you get what you paid for", you won't often gets things you won't pay for. That mechanic has a biz to run, here we are enthusiasts helping one another out, and at Autozone they definately have a motive behind their free scan--they want to sell you the parts to fix your problem...

if i paid someone to scan my car and they told me that i had one code when in reality there were 3-4 issues going on that would be the last time i would go to that mechanic and he would be reported to as many places that i could. that is almost as bad as misdiagnosing a car and technically thats what it is

autozone is a great resource to get what code your car is throwing but they are incompetent as far as diagnosing your problems..i was told that since my car was throwing a wheel speed code that i needed a new transmission get the codes from them and run like hell

[D2Beetle]

Originally Posted by wawalker

Re-reading the first post it sounds to me like the OP has a car with many issues and no available funds to fix them--only a vacuum line at this time. The mechanic owes him the reason/code why he needed to replace that vac line--if that is all he is going to pay for at this time. Information and expertise cost money and time folks. The same way "you get what you paid for", you won't often gets things you won't pay for. That mechanic has a biz to run, here we are enthusiasts helping one another out, and at Autozone they definately have a motive behind their free scan--they want to sell you the parts to fix your problem...

The codes are rarely precise or exact as to what the under lying problem actually is. One thing that really frustrates me, is repetition, especially when it is automotive related. In order to make an informed decision, I have to know what you know, because...

"...time is money...", mine is worth equally as much as yours "...you get what you pay for...", only if I take your word for it.