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Can we talk about the mechanic who told me my engine was fine when it wasn't
Two weeks ago I brought my truck to a shop in Reno because of a knocking sound, and the guy listened for 10 seconds and said it was just a loose heat shield. I paid the $85 diagnostic fee and drove off, but the knock got worse by Friday so I recorded it on my phone and played it for a different mechanic, who said it was a rod bearing and quoted me $2,200. I keep replaying that first conversation, wondering if I should have pushed back or if he genuinely just missed it, so how do you handle it when a pro brushes off a noise you know is wrong?
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danielnelson3d ago
Did the guy actually blow you off on purpose though? @bennett.evan I get wanting stuff in writing but most shops wont put a real diagnosis on paper after 10 seconds of listening, they just hand you the bill and move on. Sounds like the dude was lazy or rushed, but calling it a scam feels like a stretch to me.
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bennett.evan3d ago
Read a thread on a truck forum a while back where a guy had the same thing happen, and a retired mechanic chimed in saying shops do this on purpose sometimes. The reasoning is that a quick listen pays the same $85 as a real look, so there is no push to dig deep when the lot is full. What stuck with me is the advice to ask them to write down what they checked and what they ruled out before you pay. That way if it turns out they blew you off, you have it in writing and can go after the fee. Rod bearing knocks are not that hard to spot once you get under it, so 10 seconds in the parking lot does not really count as a diagnosis. Next time, ask for the write up and do not leave until you get it.
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