We just got back from picking up DDs car from the local mechanic, and I'm once again appreciating how valuable it is to have a mechanic that you know and can trust. We've used this guy for 25 years and we've always been happy.
Here's the story: DD lives in the city. She was here for Easter dinner and stayed for a couple of days afterward. She drives an old beater car that has been in our family for 15 years. It's perfect for her needs -- she normally uses public transportation or Uber, but for shopping runs or to come home to the suburbs it's nice to have a set of wheels.
On Monday, DH reminded her she probably needed an oil change and told us to just take it to Pep Boys, since Bill (our mechanic) would be booked up with inspections. So we dropped it off at PB for an oil change. An hour later, PB calls DD with "we've got some startling news, and some bad news". According to Pep Boys, there is a major oil leak at the top of the pan. Also, two error codes-- one for the O2 sensor and another for a cylinder misfire; we cannot fix the O2 sensor without fixing the misfire. Oh, and the shocks and struts are in really bad shape. And have you noticed that it is sluggish to start? There was some other stuff, too, but bottom line, to get the car even able to run would be ~$700, and all the work they know it needs would be $2800, and if we want them to check the battery they would do that for $29.99.
No thanks. We go pick it up and drop it at Bill's. He finally got a chance to look at it today: No major oil leak (maybe just a little one at the top of the pan). If it was low on oil, it's probably burning oil -- not unheard of for a 15-year old vehicle with >115,000 miles on it. The only error code is the O2 sensor, which is totally smashed. They cannot figure out how it got smashed, since it is hidden away in a protected spot. Shocks and struts will still pass inspection when it's due this autumn. The battery is getting low. Total bill to replace O2 sensor and do the oil change: $280.
Effing Pep Boys! If my DD had been on her own, she probably would've believed she needed to spend 10x that to make her car safe. In fact, when I texted that her car was fixed for $280, her reply was "What kind of voodoo did Bill do to get from a death trap needing $2800 worth of work, to "you're set to go" for $280?"
DH is at Costco buying her a new battery. effing Pep Boys.