Question:
I was reading an article at work on a site my shop is a member of. It was about a group of Automotive technicans wanting parts stores to restrict what is sold. They want just the basics sold, light bulbs, oil and ect. I was thinking about this when I was working on a car a few days later, with the calipers put on upside down with the bleeder on the bottom, and the customer compaling of no pedel after he did his own brake job.
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I'm thinking this is a good idea. I've seen quite a bit of vehicles come though the shop that customers have done thier own work on, and its scary to know they are on the same roads that I drive.
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My question is, do you think that automotive parts should be a restricted item to everyone without a valid Automotive licence/ Registered apprenticship licence (limitations on this one depending on experiance), and what are your reasons behind your opinion.
Answers:
I don't feel that that is really the solution, although there are some valid issues on both sides. I have worked on vehicles that have had the same issues that you report, even with the calipers put on the wrong side of the car, but there are some definite problems with too much regulation. It would be hard for me to understand regulating the sale of automotive parts when there are absolutely no regulations for technician certification. You know as well as I do that anyone can work on cars, and this is one of the most serious problems that our industry is faced with. As long as there is a large percentage of so-called professional technicians working on cars who have no business doing so, then I can't see how it would be helpful to regulate the sale of parts. For all I know, alot of the technicians may be as bad, or worse, than do-it-yourselfers. Also, like drugs or other contraband items, it would create, perhaps, the largest black market in the world, with even worse parts than are currently available in the cheapest discount parts stores. I think that the best solution is consumer education. If not about cars themselves, then about choosing a quality repair facility. I always try to recommend clients to service organizations, that while not a guarantee of quality service, will give them a better change of getting it. There are lots of resources available, especially on the internet for consumers to learn about choosing shops, but I think that one part of their education that is being ignored is the amount of money they should expect to pay for service by a truly qualified technician. The vast majority do not know that no licensing, testing, training or certification is required to work on cars, even at dealerships, but professionals dedicated to their craft spend countless hours and thousands of dollars for the entire length of their career to keep up with technological improvements and changes in the industry. They do not know that we have to buy our own tools and a great deal of our equipment, which costs around $15,000 to just start out! And that an experienced technician with ten years under their belt will have spent $50,000 to $70,000! They do not know how complex the systems that we work on are, and most importantly, that there is no "magic machine" that we hook cars up to that tells us everything that is wrong with them and what to replace to fix them. There are actually some regulated substances, R-12 comes readily to mind, that are regulated. Unfortunately, due to lack of consumer education, some people will then typically buy R-134 because they can, and then mix it into their system therefore destroying it. I see tons of questions and answers on this forum that can attest to this epidemic. No, I think that the better solution is to educate consumers more, and maybe start to regulate the technicians; and then I don't think that there will be as much of an issue with the parts.
This was a great question and I am very excited to see more of the answers. How can we get this information to even more people?
By the way, I have great respect for any profession or trade because I know that there is always a lot more to it than I can imagine with my small world view from the outside of theirs. I'm perfectly willing to pay good money to any true professional for their products or services.
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.as if.Why are we still using cars instead of hovercrafts?
No, I don't think vehicle part sales should be restricted to licensed mechanics. Not everyone who does their own repairs is clueless, just like not every licensed mechanic is perfect. Would you carpenter tools to be restricted to licensed carpenters because some idiot cuts down a tree and electricutes himself?There are already scary cars on the roads. Many states don't require inspections. In other states, if you slip the guy an extra $20, he'll pass it without even pulling a tire.
hell yeah job security bi*ches
this could be a good idea but it wont do much for keeping prices down
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This is just another way for the government to regulate something. You were born free, but you get to keep half of it.Do you always place larger tires in the back?
Absolutely and let's restrict food sales to licensed dietitians. I mean really, people under cook and get sick and over cook and ruin the food. It is awful.Come on, be serious. I would fight that moronic concept to the grave. Frankly I am sick of one organization or another trying to protect me from me. I am more than capable of taking care of myself thank you.
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honestly i have a radical view on this.. i think that you should have to take a written test when you buy a car.. if you fail it.. they install a lock on the hood of yoru car and locking lugnuts so you can pose no danger to yourself or those on the road near youI,myself have seen many different things.. many done with bailing wire and electrical tape that just should't be
That is terrifying! I think that there needs to be a national auto inspection annually!! There are quite a few DIYourselfers out there who do great work and quite frankly should not be deprived of continuing to do so. Brake work, transmission and other MAJOR rebuilds should totally be performed by a licensed mechanic.
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I reside in Florida, and to every luxury car I see, I see 2 or 3 other cars that really make me wonder if I want to have my semi-trailer next to them when we get up to speed on the highway.
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Commercial drivers are a totally different group and in MOST cases should be allowed to perform light preventative maintenance on their trucks... coolant, oil, lights, etc...
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Another good sub-question that could be posed from this is how does everyone dispose of their old coolant, oil, transmission fluid, batteries?? I know that most auto parts stores do accept these materials for disposal, yet how many people don't take advantage of that??
I would doubt that we could ever truly regulate who works on their own car or truck, and how they dispose of their auto waste, but an annual federal inspection might not be a bad idea... how about giving drivers a break on insurance for keeping their cars well tuned and holding their service records?? Just a few ideas.
i own a repair shop,and they wont do this because that's like taking away some of the rights we have,its not a good idea,what you seen was a rare thing,most people ,do a good job on some repairs and the rest of it they have common enough sense to take it to a good mechanic to have it done,that's just some people talking about what the would like to see being done ,in reality it will never happen,good luck.
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Sell the parts to the general public. If a job is a safety issue like brakes. Maybe require a free inspection from a licensed mechanic that would deal with the parts store after the customer has installed the part. Give the do-it-yourselfer tips so he can do it correctly next time. Do not take away his right to save $50 to $60 a hour labor charges. I am a do-it-yourself person. I use common sense, I know what jobs I can do on my own and the ones I need help with.More Questions & Answers ...
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