There's a lot of the worn-out comment "they're only
parts changers today" showing up here that I had
to speak up.
First off, please recognize that there are not only
significant mechanical differences between our beloved
Imperials and a new computer controlled car; the economic and
business environment mechanics, shops and dealers find themselves
in is completely different from the climate of the
50's, 60's and 70's. It makes absolutely no sense to
learn how to perform certain repairs if there's a 99%
chance no one would ever show up needing such a repair
or would ever PAY you to do it. Just as it does not
make sense to train all mechanics how to repair a cracked
battery case (or rebuild a battery, for that matter), other
common repairs of the past are also no longer needed.
It was also more acceptable in the past to regularly bring
your vehicle in to a *professional* for scheduled service.
Not so today. The "gas goes in here; key goes in there"
mentality demands minimal service. And then there's "service".
Today, people are not willing to pay for it. What
maintenance is left goes to the quick-lube shops. Regular
repair shops and dealers get much less of this work
which used to be gravy. As one poster said - they'll pay
for a $200 repair on their $500 TV but complain about a $200
repair on their $25,000 car. And then there's attitude. Today's
customers assume all shops are out to cheat and run up a
high repair bill. Try performing a repair on a car that is more
than a couple years old and you'll see how easily parts break
when they are removed, even when they aren't involved in the
original complaint. The mechanics don't design the cars.
Secondly, the skill set needed today is *different*. If you
don't believe me, go speak with an instructor at your
local community college/trade school mechanic program. Before,
it was easier to gauge aptitude: the potential student
came in having worked on cars at home or at least showed
an interest in how mechanical things worked, etc. Today, that
is NOT enough, especially if you want to be very successful
in the trade. If you don't believe me, take a look at the
wiring diagrams for a late model car. If you think an OBD II
scan tool has turned the job into one a monkey can perform,
I suggest you talk to a mechanic who regularly repairs
drivability and emission control problems to find out how
"easy" diagnosis can be on these systems. (For that matter,
on late model cars also include transmission, ABS, HVAC and
many other systems that are under computer control in the list.)
Lastly, if you are upset because your local mechanic refuses to
work on your Imperial - THANK him. ;) He is trying to save you
money by not attempting a repair/diagnosis with which he is not
familiar. He might be gruff, but hey, it's not easy to say
'I don't know'. Plus, he's probably had many, many more
people complain about what he charges so, he's skeptical that
someone *would* be willing to pay for the time needed to come
up to speed on something.
A skilled mechanic has always been a good find. Skill and
experience are what count in the trade, whether for late
model repair OR classic car repair.
-gh
No, I'm not a mechanic
Back to the Home of the Forward Look Network