Why Nobody Wants To Be A Mechanic Anymore - This Is What Killed The Independent Repair Shop

Today's cars have become overstuffed over complicated mechanical nightmares, making survival as an independent mechanic exceedingly difficult. But, when even the simplest parts fail for nonsensical reasons on an almost daily basis, difficult turns to impossible real fast.
Here's a look at a brand new fuel pump we recently installed in our 96 XJ that caused a frustrating and hard to diagnose issue...and the pump itself was fine!
#diy #cars #autorepair
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[@kimknowles3681]

Problem is, it's not just cars, it's everything.

[@markcavandish1295]

Yep! My refrigerator fan motor just crapped out after only 3 years. Luckily I could fix it, but not before having to buy a new fridge so that my food didn’t go bad.

[@asdf9890]

For real, I’m a computer tech, started 20 years ago when we still had fixable (soldering) components. Now everything is surface mount, minuscule parts. Not easy for someone not setup or educated on how…no one is, they just replace everything.

[@danmarjenka6361]

@@markcavandish1295 My sister had a problem with her new fridge. The tech had to hook up his laptop to program it. Really! It's just a box to keep food cold! Needless complication today.

[@jasonsmith5594]

Its like he said, it is a race to the bottom, how much junk can I create my product and be as cheap as possible and get away with it for profits to maxmize instead of building quality parts and buidling your name that when people buy your products, they just last and work... Raise to the bottom now, no one gives a crap as long as they can sell and maximize profits.

[@Gazdatronik]

I have said there will be a demand for pre 2020 made goods, back when we could concentrate on quality. You are correct. Everything has changed.

[@andrewallen9993]

There is absolutely no shortage of highly skilled mechanics. There is however a dire shortage of skilled mechanics willing to work for very low wages.

[@FuhckYuJTb]

There is an over abundance of incompetent overpaid lazy idiots who work in design, production, and manufacturing in today’s modern automotive industry.

[@jballew2239]

Low wages, and ever degrading working conditions.

[@FZERO20]

Yup

[@tomstulc9143]

Low wages for the technicians relative to the economy extremely high bills from the service provider company. The few people in America are able to pay now. Nobody's winning except for the big bag of corporations in Big Brother corruption government. Middle class in the family man is screwed

[@Mwlouisiana]

They can keep their flag pay. Opted out years ago. Can make a weeks pay in my side time just helping folks out for cheap. Independent tech only.

[@carnerageno]

As I've gotten older, I was less inclined to service my own car. After several shop screw ups and crazy high prices, I've gone back to fixing things myself -thank gawd for youtube.

[@B00merBob]

I'm 59 and just started doing things myself because of the crazy high prices shops charge. The mark up on parts is ridiculous! Thanks to KZbin and Rock Auto I can do a lot of the general maintenance myself.

[@julians9070]

It pays to be skilled in doing basic mechanics. The car industry is becoming a technological joke. We all pay the price when the car manufacturing industry in your own country is shuts down. And it can be such a headache to find spare parts and accessories.

[@troythompson2]

Yep I’ve had an issue on my car for months and have finally decided to buckle down to fix it myself. If it’s not the brakes, transmission, or computer, I got it

[@godfreyberry1599]

Cars these day's are designed to be throwaway unrepairable beyond a defined point and flooded with electronic rubbish - certainly intended to capture the owner in endless after sales expense and cut out the good and inexpensive independant mechanics particularly in the high end market. Car owners fall for this SCAM all the time. Cars are a means of comfortable, safe, reliable conveyance - that's it - the rest is all about EGO and STUPIDITY.

[@mattfanslow]

@@B00merBob I'm anxiously awaiting the seminar on what qualifies at "crazy" high prices and what ethical markups are on parts.

[@scottmaness4449]

One thing that killed the industry is the management. Management used to be ex techs that were promoted then trained in the business end. Now it is someone's son in law that believes that office with his name on it makes him an instant mechanical expert.

[@brianspangenberg9598]

That’s the way it use to be. I moved my way up from trainee to management. Nowadays they don’t care what you know, as long as you have a bachelor’s degree in business management. No idea how to turn a wrench.

[@scottmaness4449]

@@brianspangenberg9598 That's the irony of today's world as well. You used to need that bachelor's degree. I have an Associates degree and most of my bosses a high school diploma.

[@foxfordcatguy2283]

Been a mechanic 35 years, had plenty of managers who weren't mechanics: In the 1990's I had one that was a tire salesman & 1 that was a golf cart salesman.

[@randallsanchez3161]

Management shouldn't be working on parts in the first place. There are more issues that need to be addressed in a business than working on R&D or manufacturing.

[@ravenrock541]

I owned my own business from 96-2006 after working on cars for 15 years. My wife developed breast cancer during the 06-08 real estate crash. Money flow dropped and medical bills climbed. Now, I work on draw bridges as an electrical journeyman. Best thing that ever happened to me. The expense one has to invest in tools, the years of experience to get good, the constant battle with the manufacturers for info, the constant need to keep up with each years changes, the total lack of respect, and the very underpaid income is the reason no one is going into the field

[@michaelmurphy6869]

It can be the most thankless job.

[@groverbuilt2893]

I am a contractor on homes pretty much the same

[@maxwebster7572]

every person that showed up here this week had USED Amazon parts from Craigslist....for their BMW's.

[@frankmc5112]

@@maxwebster7572 Used Amazon on a BMW? I would think that would be better than the original German junk. "German Engineering!" Junkiest cars I've ever worked on.

[@maxwebster7572]

@@frankmc5112 Plastic valve covers with PCV.

[@garielgrenadius7564]

LABOR CHARGE BACKS are the way to fix this. I've repaired cars for 40+ years, and I would have the parts shop forward my labor bill to the parts manufacturer for the job. When a chargeback was refused, we told them that we would no longer use their brand. It works. It takes 30 or 60 days to get paid, but it works.

[@jimflick7564]

My mechanic just did this at NAPA for a ball joint that did not last long. No questions asked. I continue to use NAPA who stood behind their parts.

[@garielgrenadius7564]

@@jimflick7564 iT IS THE ONLY WAY TO HOLD THE PARTS COMPANY ACCOUNTABLE. lET IT HIT THEIR WALLETS, NOT OURS.

[@makb5354]

Brilliant idea, however, many big places, not directly front line mechanics, do no do that because the mentality is that if parts break it will make customer keep coming back and paying over and over or spend extra on extended warranties. Also, manufacture loves cars breaking down sooner and more often because it forces customers to buy more often, hence making them more money. The entire world economy is now based on consumerisms. When things go well everybody cheers about record sales and profits and the minute economy slows, the first complain that you hear is that consumers don't spend and instead keep money in savings ( who the heck would complain about people saving money, mind blowing). In normal world one would pat people on a backs for not spending too much but not in this freaking world now that they created. The entire model now is designed to make you feel bad if your car is older then 5 years, or your kitchen cabinets and bathrooms are outdated / older than 10 years, or your flooring or your clothing style and the list goes on. I applaud you for doing right thing and I hope your customers will reward you.

[@Kuzey457]

​@@makb5354 nail on the head. People are brainwashed to think newer is always better. Every store inside is ugly, cold, and uninviting as possible. Cars are the same, and stuffed with finnicky fancy gadgets and screens. My apartment floors are 'vinyl' (aka plastic). I like buying clothes vintage because they're more often than not made of real materials, not plastic (aka polyester). Microplastics in water. Everything is plastic. Causing cancer everywhere. Sucks.

[@jonahansen]

@@makb5354 You are, of course, right. But this problem has been growing for at least like a century. Planned obsolescence vs quality of product and pride in workmanship. All I can do personally is try to buy high quality merchandise that I appreciate because of its good design for minimizing failure and quality of workmanship. It costs more, but the bigger problem is it's now almost impossible to find such stuff with everyone trying to buy the cheapest items, not thinking that they're going to have to buy them three times in the long run.

[@mrdanforth3744]

We've been asking for this for 30 years or more. I remember how happy everyone was at the cheap parts coming in from Japan, Taiwan and China. Not so happy with the quality. But we kept buying the imported junk until all the domestic producers went broke and quality parts were not longer available at any price.

[@77.88.]

Both Japan and Taiwan make top of the line excellent quality and sell at a affordable price, yes I worked in Taiwan for a year in the Automotive Tools for a American company that knows quality!

[@masonreppeto882]

Denso components have almost always been of a higher quality than American parts. This has been the case for at least 40 years. However, you can blame chinese parts for being unreliable since they're made in china but in reality an American still designed those parts. Seems more like greed let everything fall apart. Both the customers and the corporations are at fault.

[@joeoliveira8558]

To summarize: Nowadays the quality of products are shit.

[@juerbert1]

​@Tar-mairon-re8oi, known as built-in obsolescence ?!

[@danceswithcritters]

Took him forever to say that.

[@billcrawford9219]

I'll tolerate a rambling story from a guy who knows his shit but also gives a shit. Keep it up !👍

[@stuckinmygarage6220]

Yup!

[@Alpha-ro8sc]

Words mean something. Words put together tell a story. Within the story, meaning is shared, allowing the listener to understand not only the story but the story teller as well. Uncle T does not Ramble. He shares his experience with us best described as a journey. His journey. Examples of Rambling: : to talk or write in an aimless, erratic, and often long-winded fashion. A going or moving from place to place without any determinate business or object; an excursion or stroll merely for recreation.

[@stuckinmygarage6220]

@@Alpha-ro8sc u got it!

[@keithleeuwen877]

Yes !

[@jonathankountz7097]

So true... this is the reason I stopped doing mechanic work at home for people, friends and just friends of friends... I am tired of working for nothing..

[@southvalleygunsmithing2524]

I’m a 56 year old mechanic who has worked in shops and who has owned my own shop and I couldn’t agree with you more.

[@stevej4922]

A friend is a master mechanic for a dealership. 30 yrs in the business. He tells me nowadays the shops don't want to pay anything, so they hire low-wage parts changers (he's the only one of two real mechanics there). He tells me stories about how the parts changers read a code then start replacing. Often that doesn't work and now the customer gets stuck waiting for parts (they don't stock many anymore) plus when they do finally fix the problem the factory won't pay for the unneeded parts if it is warranty work and the shop has to figure out how to charge the customer for the unneeded parts after their car was in the shop for weeks because they didn't troubleshoot before replacement.

[@zachvroman2582]

People think his videos are too long. "What we've got here is failure to communicate. Some men, you just can't reach." Lol! I always learn something from watching Uncle Tony's Garage! What I learned from this is you can't forget the basics. Nothing wrong with the fuel pump, but without a tight connection it couldn't make pressure...

[@jimmy_olds]

“a race to the bottom” yep, that’s us, swirling the bowl of what once was.

[@airmotivewelding8012]

Very well put. Cant forget the shit swirling with us! All that Chineze what was.

[@hotrodray6802]

Just wait until AI robots fix the "sealed for life" electric cars

[@francfurian8215]

Shit I don't even want to think of that​@@hotrodray6802

[@matthewronson5218]

@@hotrodray6802 Where "life" means the life of the warranty.

[@jasonsmith5594]

Yep, Race to the bottom, every company out there has taken on the MO

[@Dcalvert92]

I’m a CAT dealer field mechanic. Just this week I had a brand new factory EGR cooler fail on a freshly rebuilt C18 engine with less than a year of run time. Resulted in bent a connecting rod after the customer tried to start the machine while it was flooded with coolant. About a $50,000 job thankfully covered by warranty for the customer. Old CAT engines would run for thousands of hours, 10-20 years before they failed. Emissions regulations have ruined the reliability of diesel engines. Today I replaced a fuel level sending unit, warranty. Low quality parts are an issue across every industry.

[@noah8877]

Epa is evil and needs to go

[@Gbalz]

An undeleted Diesel engine is an unhappy Diesel engine !!

[@garyalford9394]

Being a retired heavy Equip. mechanic I will tell get out while you are still young and do something else !!

[@abradolflincler00]

Agreed I work for Detroit and putting a set of factory rebuilt injectors in a dd is roll of the dice, 1/10 comes back smoking due to a new injector failure, usually ruins the aftertreament due to all the fuel cracking the elements in em, complete scam junk

[@garybulwinkle82]

The electronic management with computers is out of hand! Instead of designing a robust, dependable mechanically regulated system, the college graduates automatically go to sensors and computer control crap that has very limited lifespan under extreme situations! It's ingrained in the schools! Narrow mindedness!!!

[@BrendanBrown1]

This isn't even planned obsolescence; this is planned breakage. At least planned obsolescence would ideally have a fuel pump assembly last 100k miles (which is still obviously not good), but this "planned breakage" just wants to deter the consumer from fixing their old car and eventually pissing them off so much that they buy a newer model way sooner than should be acceptable. This is why I bought a Toyota Corolla, but even Toyota is falling victim to sacrificing the honesty associated with their brand for short-term profits. In a disgusting way, the companies concerned with long-term growth and sustainability are companies like Amazon and Meta, but they're only doing it to corral consumers into being exclusively dependent on their services, which incentivizes much more nefarious practices.

[@bn880]

its just being too cheap, its not planned breakage it's a process that is too cheap and too many corners cut

[@clydesuckfinger8068]

I was an aircraft mechanic in the USAF from 1983- 2005. The early 80’s for us were tough, I remember 1 airplane going thru 7 (yes, SEVEN) flight control hydraulic boost packs before we got one that didn’t leak. Had another airplane that had cabin pressurization issues for weeks, replaced the cabin outflow valve (component that actually maintains a controlled leak to maintain cabin pressure at altitude) 4 times to get a good one. The repair facility would only repair what the failure tag called out, no overhaul. Once we found that out, we started marking failed, unknown reason.

[@davepaturno4290]

This is why the manufacturer needs to test assemblies before they are approved and shipped. If they refuse to do that, don't buy from them. The end user should not have to test subassemblies. When I sold my own air/oil separators, I vacuum-tested every one to ensure that there were no leaks. In fact, every product I make is pre-tested.

[@AB-wf8ek]

I was going to say, I'm not a mechanic or anything, but as a consumer I remember there's always been shoddy quality in components throughout the decades. I feel like part of the issue is that there are more manufacturers than ever, whereas the past there were only a few, so everyone kind of knew the deal. As a non-trades person, I have the mentality that everything is a crap shoot, whereas a trades person might have certain expectations over the years. As companies and manufacturing change, on top of all the larger technology shifts, trades people are having to reevaluate all their suppliers, which is a onerous proposition. Growing up, I remember GE was a gold standard, but now it's a shadow, and a generation of people were disheartened by it's downfall. On the otherhand, I remember a time when big box stores weren't the standard, and one time I went to a lumberyard to get supplies and felt totally lost. They ended up pushing inferior material while charging higher prices that felt like a layman's tax, so there was definitely a sense of gatekeeping when it came to the relationship between a tradesperson and supplier to keep the consumer out, which just accelerated the age of big box stores. By that point, at least I knew when I went to a Home Depot I was being treated the same as everyone else, even if it wasn't ideal. And I could always do my own research before going in because the inventory was online. The short of it is, the world is only getting more complicated, and I think having to reevaluate every single choice we make is causing everyone to burn out.

[@josephtitus5459]

And the manufacturers has the audicity to charge the air force and thusly tax payers an exorbitant amount for these poorly manufactured parts. Recently I watched a Congress hearing. A congressman held out a bag of bushings. Just a stamped out or molded part. Commercial airlines don’t pay much for these bushings. The military paid $90,000 for just for a plastic bag worth of bushings. A logistics guy in the military admitted in front of Congress they are being ripped off big time.

[@mikedsautowerks]

As a full time mechanic, the first step in diagnostics nowadays is seeing if any new parts have been installed and rechecking those first. If it’s a comeback the first thing is to retest what we just installed. And we use mostly OEM parts and it still happens…it’s incredibly frustrating

[@garyalford9394]

Yes alot of those 0EM parts have made in China when you un-box them !!!

[@michaeldunagan8268]

​@@garyalford9394 I was VERY disappointed to learn a few years ago that Cummins® sources the manufacturing of their parts to China.

[@Trakitor1]

No matter what brand too, VW, BMW, Audi,... all new parts are .... garbage now

[@jimsix9929]

yes replacement parts are having high failure rates I used NAPA for 40 years now it is junk and the warranties are no good, I lost thousands of dollars until I figured it out, Orielly is the place to go if you are a pro all the rest are just selling junk

[@jimsix9929]

and buying parts at a dealer is no good, anything could be in that AC delco or Motorcraft box not the same part that the car was made with just Chinese junk

[@adamdepretto9782]

Young ford dealer mechanic here, just today I had a 2024 f350 with 3,200 miles, (you read that right) that had an infotainment screen that intermittently goes blank, and the backup camera will freeze up. Had a stored code for lost communication with the infotainment module (ford calls it the APIM) I cannot express how embarrassing and frustrating it is to have to do electrical diag on a vehicle before its first oil change, granted it’s probably the APIM, I have to please warranty by covering all my bases prior. If the end isn’t near folks, i don’t know what’s to come, this is madness.

[@johnsmith7676]

An "infotainment screen" has absolutely NO place in a vehicle. Nor do 95% of the other completely unnecessary "amenities" that are stuffed into vehicles these days. For the love of all that is holy and good, people, UNPLUG from the goddamned matrix. Anyone who buys ANY of this "modern" trash-disguised-as-a-vehicle, deserves EVERTHING they get.

[@adamdepretto9782]

@@johnsmith7676 I 100% agree

[@jeffhill3681]

Bad part is that you can't operate the vehicle without the touchscreen. HVAC, radio, almost every thing inside the cabin is controlled by 'infotainment center ' And OEM quality isn't always better than the aftermarket, 'Just good enough to get it out the door ' is now the standard industry wide.

[@MarkPernia-vv1le]

Nothing but junk. After 25 years turning wrenches and finally out, sorry you have to work on this crap. I started when fuel injection was just being implemented. Many of the old timers were quitting because they did not want to deal with computers. And now this?

[@angielover100]

I’m a Former 18 year Ford senior master, quit in 2018. I went to ASSET school back in 2000 following 13 years in the US Navy, so I was invested in my career for the long haul. Living in the Midwest, we get below freezing temperatures up to 1/2 the year here. The door latch recalls (and multiple other recalls) finally made me decide to bail, especially after having to replace door latches multiple times on the same vehicle over a years or two time frame. What finally irritated me was seeing customers show up the third or fourth time, AFTER, replacing, modifying, greasing, etc their door latches…….with a ratchet strap strapped to both rear door panels holding a door shut. It was the one customer one cold morning, bitching that his left rear door wouldn’t close, and he had a child’s car seat in the back seat, and couldn’t take his child to daycare that morning because the door wouldn’t close. Besides the fact that I was removing door panels on some of those F150’s 2 and 3 times for yet another door latch recall never believing Ford corrected the issue. Anyway, I’m in the aerospace industry now for the past 5 years, and am happy with my decision to leave the automotive industry. The hardest part for me was knowing how much I had invested in schooling, tools, and of course time, but at least I still have a great set of tools in my home garage!

[@janetcohen9190]

"Who controls the foods can control a region; who controls the fuels/ energy can control a continent; who controls money can control the world." - Henry A. Kissinger

[@TheDa6781]

Imagine how bad it is going to get when the US stops controlling money

[@marioarguello6989]

@@TheDa6781 The US doesn't control the money, a certain "Chosen" bunch does.

[@artt3165]

I was a drivability tech for years. I had 2 rules at the start of the processs : 1. I don't care what the shop before me found or did. 2. "New" only means it's never been used NOT that it's "good."

[@lucassibindi358]

Money is tight and sustained headaches are not worth the trouble. Let me try your approach, learning is an ongoing process. Might just improve my business.

[@faulltw]

From a consumer point of view I appreciate your first rule because I get tire of hearing mechanics or more commonly contractors tell me how they guy before them did it all wrong. 100 different contractors think the other 99 are idiots.

[@bbigjohnson069]

@artt3165 Made in China means it comes already broken.

[@fukhue8226]

I bought a 1998 Ranger. The only new car I will ever buy. Not because I couldn't afford one. It only took one new Ford to educate me that they are all used cars as soon as you drive it off the lot and New doesn't equal RELIABLE!

[@artt3165]

@@faulltw , The reason I always had the approach of not caring what the last guy did was simply because whatever they did didn't fix the issue the customer had or the customer wouldn't be in MY shop. There's no point in saying the last guy screwed up because I'm the guy who's looking at the job. Whether the last guy was good at HIS job is no longer relevant. I'm either going to be able to fix the issue or not. I just don't care what the last guy did.

[@terrylarson7596]

The worst part of it is trying to communicate these type of issues to a customer who has zero understanding of what you are having to deal with. My sister blew a door lock fuse on her BMW328 and the BMW dealer wanted $400 to hook it up to an analyzer and change the fuse. The corner garage changed it for $15.

[@texasslingleadsomtingwong8751]

I'd be concerned with why it blew a fuse.

[@terrylarson7596]

@@texasslingleadsomtingwong8751 Yeah BMW couldn't tell her either, it would happen every 2 years or so. Anyway she got tail ended and wrote off because the body shop had to order parts from Germany and The rental car was costing the insurance company too much money. Blessing in disguise.

[@nickcoppard5335]

Just retired after fifty years (38 my own repair business) I have never owned a BMW, most customers dropped them too , they are a scam

[@77.88.]

That is the reason Mercedes and BMW were very popular back in the early 80's and today the Japanese have taken over the automotive business as they make a more dependable vehicle that costs a whole lot less to buy a good car and the maintenance is affordable???

[@njackson18]

@@texasslingleadsomtingwong8751 It blew because its a BMW

[@tofu_golem]

Some executive got big money for cutting the budget on engineering. Similar things are happening with computer parts. Intel has been encouraging motherboard manufacturers to get really aggressive with default overclock settings since their 8th Gen CPUs. With the 13th/14th Gen, the default motherboard settings were finally aggressive enough to cause physical damage to processors. Intel blamed the motherboard manufacturers, who blamed Intel. Motherboard manufacturers finally released new BIOS with "safe settings," WHICH ARE STILL NOT ENABLED BY DEFAULT. Some people are reporting that the "safe" settings still have instability.

[@themikekellett7012]

Back in the 60s every neighborhood had at least one mechanic who liked young people and served as an adolescent babysitter. Most of us learned the basics from these greasy saints along with the same work ethic and dedication to honesty you speak of. Now I'm 70 and without that local greasemonkey to hang out with....until now. Thanks Tony, you're providing a lot more than you know. See ya tomorrow.

[@robertgruen2088]

In the 1980s I hung out at Precision Cycle in Sarasota where the guys taught me how to work on my Jet Ski. Eventually got an engineering degree and still ride and work on (what are now) vintage Jet Skis.

[@BloodRaven1969]

In the late 70's my grandparents that watched me over the summer let me ride my bike the 1/4 mile to the local mechanic's shop for a soda. They knew I'd be safe, he'd let me keep my change in exchange for helping out, and I'd be back a few hours later. Those were good days that Tony reminds me of.

[@brentmiller3951]

I grew up.on the Oregon coast and my grandfather and father were pioneers at making sand buggies starting in the late 60's by the early 80's my childhood they would fix all the kids bicycles dirt bikes and stuff .You hit the nail on the head in my childhood

[@minnesotatomcat]

I still love fixing up old vehicles, I just brought home a 72 Monte Carlo on Sunday!

[@SweatyFatGuy]

I spent today working on a 2002 2500 4x4 rust bucket, I'm swapping out good metal in place of the rusty junk so I can use it to pull my dump trailer. Also doing some carbs, and tomorrow I will change the springs on my street/strip toy 68 LeMans. 2007 is the newest I will touch, but the majority of what I own is 1972 or older. They are fun to work on.

[@alanalonso6082]

​@SweatyFatGuy same here. Working on a 69 gto, a few chevys and mopars. All pre-1970

[@otisdriftwood8469]

I guess you missed the point.

[@the__black__box]

trash

[@fratzogmopars]

First generation Monte Carlos are the sharpest.

[@TheMonkdad]

“Who would have known that a brand new part”, now we will. Thank’s Tony. Another morsel of information tucked away until needed.

[@richard1835]

I will definitely be checking my fuel pump modules closely thanks to Uncle Tony.

[@petergrey7125]

Uncle Tony, don’t worry about the people that don’t have the patience for you to explain things the way that you like to do. You have a reason for doing it and for the majority of us that follow your videos, we enjoy the back stories and lead ups to what you’re trying to get across. Please, just keep being you . ❤

[@shanew.williams]

Absolutely

[@georgehubbs1747]

Here, here! I totally agree with you. You rock Tony!

[@TAVOAu]

Context makes a whole world of difference. Keep it up Tony.

[@frankstavalo5788]

I couldn’t agree more

[@jmanke6057]

Yes ❤ love our hobbies and Tony! Uncle Kathy as well!

[@rubbabubba6489]

I work for a globally recognized multi-billion dollar company. I've been there for 18 years and I've watched our quality go steadily downhill. Our units used to go 30 years regularly before any major service. Now not so much. I asked one of the big shots what the deal was and was told the world is so small now its delivery time and cost over quality. We have to promise units quicker and cheaper than India and China to compete. They're so cheap it's more cost effective to buy new every 10 years or so than worry about lasting. So if this applies to a product costing millions, I can't imagine how cheaply they make a fuel pump. Replacement economics has replaced quality. It's a sad state when we expect things not to last.

[@HAL-dm1eh]

China is literally killing us. If we don't take action soon we are done as a nation.

[@throttlebottle5906]

guess we'll have to go bac to carburetors and gravity feed them(lol). oh wait, they've trying to eliminate all that era engines and mechanical device for many years....

[@tedmoss]

Get a Tesla, no fuel so no fuel pumps.

[@notavailable9479]

true, thats their ideal economic model from their end. youre just a bystander as a customer. they figure youre buying cheaper, so you should get a set time frame of reliable, before it dies out. and the foreign made items have no allegience or recognise us. they will move on to other items to make by the time we notice. i do bet they will make themselves higher quality items though.

[@richardxstroker]

I was a tech for many years, and still work on my own vehicles for one very good reason. Any time I've taken my vehicle in to have it repaired, it was never done correctly. I can do my own work better than any technician I've ever allowed to work on my car. Auto repair really taught me that no task is outside of my own ability, with the right knowledge.

[@arthursoctomah9175]

..."it's not a defective pump...it's a defective process!" More like a defective society we've allowed to fester like a sore...

[@julians9070]

We don't have a leadership in power that is interested in preventing a society from becoming defective.

[@ej2863]

Skills lost, nowadays social media larp

[@myname604]

@@AgentGG1967 Start making the parts suppliers pay the cost of labor, shipping and returns everything.

[@tonylam9548]

Nothing is perfect, even aircraft parts. They can be forgeries. I am surprised he did not mention he try replacing the fuel pressure regulator. That is cheap and usually easy to get to. Auto parts do not have good quality control. Even when they are showing an ISO 9000 banner on the building. If Boeing /Airbus depends on ISO , you be scared to fly. Boeing did took some flak recently, but their quality is still far higher than auto, their machines have to function in a very unforgiving environment.

[@gezenews]

So infuriating to hear people say they "found their dream job" and their dream job is working for the government. Yeah guys, the government jobs are created when the printer never stops and the actual marketplace has been irreversible broken.

[@Ollie__Tabooger]

The five year old's hands are just not strong enough to fully crimp the clamps.

[@frankmc5112]

Pin this comment. Haha.

[@TheTheomax]

Sad but true

[@GoldenGrenadier]

I wish I had the hands of a 5 year old. I could undo all the electrical connectors without breaking my fingers and my dreamcast controllers would fit my grip again.

[@OllamhDrab]

Part of it is is the slow process of cheaping out about one thing at a time, tolerances and specs and tooling walking off a wee bit at a time, maybe gradually enough that they don't know their supplied screws don't fit the threads in the item they came with very good.

[@kevinwallis2194]

didnt even look like the clamps were even crimped.

[@vilefly]

Tony, we have a partial solution at our shop. We have a contract with our main part supplier that has them reimburse us for labor when we get a defective part. This is how we manage. When that deal goes away, we just might go away, but for now it is working. They used to challenge us on whether or not a part was defective, but they haven't defeated us on that subject for 27yrs, so they stopped arguing with us.

[@alexandergunaka666]

I thought everyone did.

[@vilefly]

@@alexandergunaka666 Hey, I hope everyone does....but just in case they stop offering it to new customers, I posted a reminder to defeat those lies of omission.

[@LygerTheCLaw]

if only the united states treated things that way with china.

[@just-me-where-ever-ek8kp]

Again, you’re Spot-on! Early ‘70s I had to replace an Alternator on my ‘70 LS6 Corvette engine. Actually had the thing rebuild at a small local Business, dirt- cheap, no prob. Fast forward to 2023 this time my ‘07 C6 Alternator tripped a code, giving me the proverbial Middlefinger. Thought, no problem, go to NAPA , get a Reman, done? Not so fast, after driving only ten min, wham, Code pops up, WTF? Long story short, after another Reman ( NAPA was really good)same shit, difference, the Code came on immediately. Turns out the ECM did not recognize the “New” Alternator,in the end I had to spring for an” Org General Mayhem” part (you don’t want to know the price) Then it worked. Sorry for being suspicious , but this to me is engineered in to make Coin for the old General!

[@ForestTekkenVideos]

You informed me about so much! I don't ever watch car videos, but this is THE car video for anyone to watch nowadays. God bless you sir.

[@Kenjiro5775]

As a mechanical engineer, this is typical across every manufacturing sector. It's not that engineers suddenly got dumber. We are constrained by design criteria and budgets determined by management above engineering. We are left to do the best we can with what we are given for resources. Time is another constraint. We are generally given a shorter time to design-cycle assemblies and shortcuts inevitably happen. We are trained to optimize mechanical design according to any criteria given to us. The problem is that most upper level managers come from non-engineering departments like finance. In those cases, we are forced to optimize design based on cost alone. It's depressing for us too because we all want to design the best possible machinery, but we are constrained so much that quality is sacrificed.

[@shadowopsairman1583]

Okay I'm going to tell you this right now don't compromise the quality or safety of the parts

[@Kenjiro5775]

@@shadowopsairman1583 We all answer to engineering management who work for the corporate side of any company that does engineering design. That said, I can design a safe assembly, but if it's too expensive, management will simply demand a cost reduction re-do, re-assign the project, or kill the project. That is what I meant above.

[@hippie-io7225]

Engineering companies made the big mistake of thinking that MBA's were a good thing. Worse yet, give them power over engineers, insisting on parts and materials that can harm people. Upper managers are a sign of a badly organized and run company. (unless they are in the shop working along side of you)

[@Kenjiro5775]

@@hippie-io7225 Please read the Powell Memo from 1971.

[@TireSlayer55]

@@shadowopsairman1583Engineers can come up with a good design but if the manufacturer uses crap materials or takes shortcuts in the manufacture / assembly of the part, or has poor quality control, a bad part will be the result... like a fuel pump made with hose that isn't rated for fuel...

[@matthewallen978]

uncle tony, im a marine mechanic (boats, mostly fishing boats and ski boats), over the past few years I've had my hands of every make and style of engine, ford, GM, Mopar, mercury, yamaha, you name it, i've had my hands on everything from 70's ski boats with bare bones carb V8's to brand new Chris-Crafts with all the bells and whistles and all the electronics. the amount of work i have to do to diagnose a simple electrical issue on a brand new boat is INSANE and companies refuse to pay us enough for it, we need tools that cost thousands of dollars and we end up having to sign our lives away on financing so we can continue working, the industry needs a good THWACK

[@Schlipperschlopper]

Only restore vintage boats

[@madmanmechanic8847]

I do Marine repair also but mainly just do the older stuff . If its got an ECM I tell the customer I dont have a scanner or the soft ware take to an authorized dealer. You can pick and choose what you work on

[@user-pp2ze4yq3m]

@@madmanmechanic8847 -- That's the thing right? You don't have to be all things to every customer that stumbles through the door. Decide what *you* want to work on and specialize in that! If you're good enough and you really do know what you're doing and your prices are reasonable, you can make a living working on older stuff until the end of time. :)

[@Jonhobbs64]

I quit working on cars when I realized I had a separate box full of the latest "diagnostic" equipment that cost almost as much as my snap on tools....boxes included 😢

[@garyalford9394]

@@Jonhobbs64 And before long those scanners are obsolete !!!!!

[@user-vg7mu6yn5o]

I remember back in the 80's having to go back three times to the parts store for a new alternator. They kept failing out of the box and that was back in 1984.

[@Keypadwarrior1]

You talk because you have life ....I'm listening Tony! God Bless ya Sir

[@alitheretrokid]

My friend with a newer VW product asked me if I could change his oil, thinking it would be a cakewalk I agreed. There were 16 cheap screws holding the undertray on half of which were stripped, and the drain plug was made out of PLASTIC. Apparently you have to change the drain plug every oil change. I was actually in disbelief, how much extra would it cost to manufacture an undertray with a little access panel for the drain plug, and how much extra would it be to have a regular drain plug with a crush washer. Actually a joke of a car.

[@stephenboitoult8774]

The answer to your question is "Too much when multiplied by 1,000,000 cars" signed, the accounts dept! Back in the day, in the Austin factory in Longbridge England, they had suggestion boxes all over. If a worker came up with an idea that saved the company as much as a penny a car, that worker got a substantial cash payout from the company! The company and the suggestion boxes are long gone, but the answer to any question that starts "Why don't they.......?" is still, ALWAYS, COST!

[@dusty1498]

One time use Drain plug....... well thats very environmental of them SMH

[@alitheretrokid]

I've heard quite often on the internet from Auto engineers that say they would love to make them easier to service but the accounting department ends up having more of a say on designing a car than the engineering department.

[@deepbludude4697]

Never work on a VW newer then 2000, my ex has em I wont work on em.

[@garyalford9394]

Have a 2021 Rogue that way you must pull 13 plastic rivets to remove the bottom cover but the drain plug is metal.

[@kennethtaylor2444]

Them Good Ole Days. I used to love it also. I gave up my shop a few years ago with the promise to myself that I won't turn a wrench again unless it's for fun again.

[@frankmc5112]

Seems like it was bad then too. People don't remember having to replace aftermarket alternators all the time on 70's, 80's, and 90's? Have to keep another shitty Ford ignition module in the glove box for when the old one went bad. All the GM window regulators had to be drilled out to get the motors out. A lot of the aftermarket Moog and Mevotech suspension parts seemed to last longer than the factory stuff. Even some of the Doorman China crap. I guess I've had a counter experience. It seems a lot of the cars have been easier to work on. The new new stuff look like it will be hell.

[@jeffro221]

@@frankmc5112 You must not work on late model Fords then. Not that the others are much better, but (to me) Ford takes the award for crap designs.

[@frankmc5112]

@@jeffro221 Depends on what you mean by late model Ford, but no, you are wrong. This is a consistent theme across all German cars. If the metric were to talk to the number of mechanics that won't work on Ford versus a German car, you would lose.

[@randallyarborough7923]

I owned my own shop back in the late 70s and early 80s. Worked for several independent garages. Finally left it for another career in 84. It was getting like what you just described then...can't even imagine what it's like now

[@charleshamlin3122]

This vid causes me to have chills. 2021 I had a fuel pump in my '95 Roadmaster fail while I was visiting PA. Got it replaced at a local mom/pop shop is the small town. That pump failed in Hagerstown MD as I was trying to get back home to NC. Towed to GM dealer there. A week later I got a ride back there from NC and that fuel pump lasted all the way to Roanoke, VA! Once I got it back to NC the graybearded mechanic at the GM dealership (who handled all the customers' Roadmasters from the time they were new) said "Yep, they've been making these pumps with vacuum hose rather than fuel hose of a while". 🤬

[@Mike-Oldbastler]

Hello Tony. I am an older trained mechanic from Germany. I had exactly the same problem you describe here on my new Peugeot 205 convertible in 1986. The fuel pump fell out of the bracket on the top hose and the car stalled while driving. One of the car manufacturer's suppliers had made the hose too big and it also tore from time to time. It took us 1 hour to find this fault. We tried to measure the fuel pressure at the rail pipe, but there was no pressure left. There was a lot of speculation beforehand, including engine damage. A very experienced mechanic put us on the track of the fault, which I had actually already narrowed down, as a lack of fuel or misfiring feel different. Nobody really learns that anymore. It's all about making money and no longer asking why something isn't working. Soon it will be even worse and the knowledge will be lost until someone perhaps remembers it again. Good Video from you.

[@AlexejSvirid]

The problem is Devil runs the world. He is lier and murderer. This is the reason why liers and murderers feel good while righteous persons are persecuted. That's why we've got the Gospel about the God's kingdom. Jehovah would put everything in order. The dead will be resurected and we'll meet our beloved ones again! :-)

[@Hanstra]

@@AlexejSvirid Jehova ain't fixing a crappy fuel pump, bud.

[@clarkpalace]

@@AlexejSviridi wont insult u but i wont be buying your god idea either

[@peak-oil4751]

​@@AlexejSvirid Sounds like my crazy parents. They believed that too, and did nothing on earth, just waiting for the end. No God came, no Jesus, no saviour, just nobody. A real tragedy. A wasted life from the cradle to the coffin.

[@anthonyroberts7718]

My cousin worked for a dealership back in the early sixties. Made great money. Then the dealership found that he mechanics were the highest paid employees. From then on the dealership started figuring ways to pay mechanics less and put that money in their pockets. I worked for a VW dealership and mechanics were struggling to make money. I left, open my own shop and was able to charge less than the dealership and put money in my pocket. Best part was, I could work at my own pace and do a better job which equaled happy customer. At a dealership you’re working against a clock.

[@jeffro221]

Stealerships have been working for years to create new chcken-sh_t ways to rob their mechanics. Auto dealerships are probably the most hated businesses in America for their dishonest practices on both the sales floor and their service dept .

[@mikiandfriends1820]

Good on you. Corporate is the issue. Why did communism fail, perhaps too many uni educated people with no world experience and too high opinion of themselves?

[@codymoore1810]

Tony realized when he said “we’re far from the 1970’s” man I’m getting old😂

[@77.88.]

Don't cry till you hit the mid 80's then we look back at the greatest country ever created in the KNOWN history of man for the greatest number of people1960-70 CALLED AMERICA then the early 80's say BYE,BYE ?

[@mindexpansion1111]

Love listening to this guy cause he reminds me of my good old car buddies

[@novajohn6538]

Man… this is spot on. I just replaced the genuine Mopar water pump that I installed last July on my wife’s 2019 grand Cherokee because it was leaking from the shaft already. Two things… 1. why would a 2019 with 70k miles already need a water pump, and 2. Why did I not even get a full year out of the most expense replacement (genuine Mopar). Parts are just garbage these days. Companies have slashed Engineering budgets and source the lowest price junk to enrich shareholders. The same applies to “hot rod” parts from brands you used to trust.

[@howardbartlett3026]

When I was a mechanic back in the 80's cars often didn't go 50,000 miles without needing water pumps, master cylinders, etc. Hell cars and trucks were considered hoopties at 70K and junk yard dogs at 100k

[@HAL-dm1eh]

@@howardbartlett3026 Yea I think the peak (at least for Ford, GM and Toyota) was the late 80s to early 2000s. They had the best balance of simple, advanced, safe, efficient, reliable and durable.

[@monikhushalpuri]

I've had good luck with melling parts...seem to be made of quality materials compared to OEM's...the new ford 2.7 ecoboosts have a wet belt to drive the oil pump if I remember correctly...melling was quick to address it and come out with a chain driven replacement kit

[@OCtheG]

@@monikhushalpuriThat’s great to know! I’ve been reluctant to recommend them in parts sales due to not knowing much about the brand and never hearing feedback, I’ll add them to my shortlist of quality recommendations.

[@JB-xg7io]

Yep, 90s Toyotas were the best

[@chadallen7914]

I've been a mechanic for the last 30 years and I wised you were blowing things out of proportion but the last 2 years have been hell. It seems like every car that leaves my shop is back in 2 days with the same problem because the new part I just install has already failed. It's extremely hard to make money in this industry right now and I don't see it getting better any time soon

[@johnwilliamson2393]

I changed my fuel filter last night and the new hoses after three years were dry rotted and spraying fuel when I touched them to remove the filter. I touched the hose and it sprayed the bottom of my truck!!!! Can't get good mpg that way.

[@mcm3a812]

I have found this so true especially with cheaper parts. I rarely purchase from Oreily and other super cheap suppliers. Any time I repair for myself or family I do my best to purchase OEM. It’s normally the best.

[@christopherlowery855]

​@@mcm3a812Depends on what you get from Orielly's. I'm in there a lot. Anything electronic, (alternator, starter) are remanufactured by default. I always have to insist on new. Their remaned QA is complete trash. I've had to do the same work twice or more, multiple times because of this. On an 07 F150 I own, I had to replace that alternator 3x because the crap they sold me broke. Then come to find out their warranty is at the manager's discretion. I made a fuss and the manager gave me a new alternator. Never had any problems with that one since. Their remanufacturer doesn't replace the internal voltage regulator unless it's broken. They don't ever consider the life of the VR. Typical (save-a-buck business practices). Their starters are a similar story. As for relays, fuses, shop towles, spraypaint, specialty tools, oil, filters, etc, they're a pretty convenient option. I must admit, I buy a lot of autoparts through Amazon. Certain parts like specific bolts, housings, vehicle-specific parts, wiring harnesses, etc, I'll just buy OEM. I don't expect Orielly's to carry a full assortment of lifter bucket lash adjustment shims. That's just my take Cheers.

[@jasonbrindamour903]

Water leak.

[@anthonygeiss3708]

That's why you charge double.

[@user-sn2lj1jp6q]

Last Sunday I put a fuel pump in my daughters 2001 Tahoe. Monday, she called. No start. I left my jobsite and headed to her location. I swapped relays around. No joy. I had her crank while I hammered on the tank. Vroom. Off to my house . I suspected the crimp connectors that came with the pump. I changed the crimp connectors for plastic wire nuts and it worked and away she went. Tuesday…again no start. Hammered on the tank. Vroom. Back to my place. I pulled the pump , returned it, went to NAPA and paid 2 1/2 times the price of the first one for an AC Delco pump…… $350 vs $144. It immediately started. I’ve heard no complaint. I’m holding my breath. Dave in Omaha

[@user-zx8qq1so7j]

Lot of times it is a bad ground some tanks have cables that go from tank to the frame to ground tank that corrode and fall off make sure you have a good ground..

[@IsaacWheelhouse]

I’ve showed your videos off and I have heard people I’ve shown say “when is he gonna get to the point” but I like it just find cuz I talk like you. I go off on “tangents” people think there tangents but in our head it relates to the topic.

[@RinkyRoo2021]

My uncle told me in the 90s you don't want to be a car mechanic he had been one in the 60s /70s . I listened to him and after a brief time at a hot rod shop found he was very right

[@CivicFiberglassDoor]

I find the 90s to be the easiest to work on. Especially with OEM parts.

[@dyer2cycle]

@@CivicFiberglassDoor Not anymore...they have aged to the point that the electricals and electronics have deteriorated on practically all of them, even low-mileage ones...despite their simpleness relative to modern stuff, the OBD 1 stuff seems more often than not to have gremlins you just can't resolve...and lack of knowledgeable mechanics on that era computer controls, and many shops will not work on them...the late 1990's OBD 2 stuff is even worse when it develops issues, and more complicated...fortunately, a few of the OBD 1 vehicles, especially trucks and SUV's, can be retro-fitted to 1970's-mid 1980's technology with some effort...the early OBD 2 stuff, not so much....

[@dennissecor8092]

Great job diagnosing that fuel pump issue. You're right. The parts we get now are poor quality, garbage, totally insane!!!😢

[@3644Darrell]

Growing up driving 1960's cars, luxury to me was having air conditioning, power windows, door looks& mirrors, and a stereo. Oh, I do like fuel injection. Dual points were a pain. That's all I want now. I don't want a computer on wheels with all the crazy features on them. I especially don't want a computer touch screen sitting in front of me.

[@thebigpicture2032]

Same. I’ve never owned a vehicle newer than my 2000 WS6 TA.

[@user-do5zk6jh1k]

I remember when my 2001 Mitsubishi's computer failed, and all it did was disable the odometer and cruise control. Everything else ran perfectly fine for years afterwards

[@goldbrick2563]

Same the computer interface is fcking annoying. I just want buttons and dials. Simple. There was no need for a touchscreen. If you want to use internet for gps or music, mount your phone. Fck off with all this useless, redundant tech

[@SoulDevoured]

The technology is cheaper than analog buttons. Prices go up but they're manufacturing as cheaply as ever. Greed for the CEOs.

[@goldbrick2563]

@@SoulDevoured nah, touch screens can't be cheaper than a push button and dial

[@mshiverdecker1]

I had this problem in the early 2000's with an early 80's Toyota truck. The carburetor needed to be rebuilt, so I thought it would be easier to turn mine in and get another factory-rebuilt one. Long story short it didn't work. I brought it back and exchanged it with another one... still didn't work. I finally broke down and bought a carburetor rebuild kit and did it myself. It finally worked.

[@chiil034]

I learned my lessons a few years ago. Took an old '95 Audi across the country and back... sorted everything out myself, and even replaced the fuel pump prior to the trip. I used those ear clamps on the fuel hose to the pump... not sure how, but the hose popped off and left me stranded in Nebraska on the way back. After a tow that Sunday to a mechanic shop, I stayed at a motel next to the shop. Went that evening and replaced the hose clamp with a fuel screw type. Car fired right up. I was excited, and I was reseating the fuel pump and accidentally pulled both wires and broke the ends. Doh! Stayed the night, and paid the mechanic to fix the wiring leads. I was off on my trip the next morning.

[@themaverickmechanic7240]

Before you even said what the problem was I knew it was loose clamps. Been there done that. Here’s a good one, did a tune up on my whole house generator. New plug, fuel filter, oil filter etc. ran great. Sat for a couple months and bad weather was coming so I figured I’d make sure it fires up. Nope, of course not. Weird seems like no fuel. Fuel in the tank. Pull the fuel line on the carb and open the shutoff. Sure enough no fuel. Weird there’s fuel in the clear plastic filter. Pulled the filter and the gas made the plastic soft and the clamp closed the filter shut. Fuel filter that dissolves in fuel, nice.

[@bufords]

more than likely the ethanol in the gas is what ate the filter. Buy name brand and be careful there are fake name brand filters out there. Fake name brand spark plugs too.

[@JB-xg7io]

Those pinch clamps seem to be the new thing. My coffee machine has them and one was excessively clamped and it caused a fracture in the fitting it was clamped to. What's wrong with using the springy clamps like have been used for decades? They are a perfect design. They probably save 5 cents per unit by using the shit clamp

[@themaverickmechanic7240]

@@JB-xg7io I doubt that it saves any money in the long term. The spring clamps can be made to spec while the crimp clamps open the door for install error.

[@fumanpoo4725]

Open the hood and see no ground...just endless plastic things and unreachable parts you need to be a rocket broscientist to fix.

[@markfoscone8986]

Well said , why do original parts last up to 15 years or more and most replacement parts FAIL after a year or two.?????

[@benztech2262]

I had replaced a fuel pump on the side for a friend in a 1998 GMC 150. The truck had almost 500k on it but I bought a quality Delphi pump, or so I thought. It completely quit in 2 days. I dropped the tank again in her driveway this time and got a generic pump to get her on the road. The generic pump was exactly the same as the more expensive Delphi. Both made in China, same pumps, same clamps, everything identical it just cost less for the generic store brand. It was about 5 years ago and I haven’t used any Delphi parts since. Yes the tank was clean. Amazingly clean!

[@garyalford9394]

Too bad GM never made a access door panel in its trucks, they go through them like water !!

[@brianm.6271]

Same situation here. Had a coworker with a 1999 Silverado with a bad fuel pump. Kept ordering GM Genuine, Delphi, Bosch…spending $150-200 a pop. I kept telling him to just try the $35 pump off Rock Auto. Finally took my advice, and a year later, it still hasn’t let him down.

[@tonyisme4934]

Is the parts 20 years old at least the bearings are from 20 years ago..simply re pack fresh grease

[@Salman-sc8gr]

Same nightmare with Bosch fitted one in 6 months it seized up, the electroplating on its body turned to grey metal.

[@camiloreyes227]

New cars are garbage in comparison with 80 to 2000 cars

[@JodyBruchon]

This is why I bought a Mitsubishi Mirage. It may be the last new car that isn't decked out with absurd technology that maximizes the points of failure.

[@davechat-yu3du]

77 year old mechanic and never saw so many bad parts till now. lifters, pumps, hoses, even a simple condenser for points! I just had 4 defective condensers.

[@icesawman4275]

replaced a brake master cylinder last week. 15min job.~~ 3 hrs later still no brake pedal. finally pulled new master cyl. plunger was not always returning back to draw in fluid. sticking in bore. took apart and honed to get smooth return. could have returned for exchange. figured fixing what i had was a better option. worked fine after.~~ frustrating!

[@alexandergunaka666]

Sounds like someone forgot to get the fluid out or replace the booster before installing the part?

[@FZERO20]

A brand new one!?

[@laynearaya3404]

Same problem three clutch masters later....and still no pedal....garbage will not pressure up...3 days of work later!!parts are garbage!!

[@johnstuchlik5828]

Just had I similar problem on new brake master on 2010 Chevy Silverado.oem is discontinued from dealer.new orielly would return piston very slowly and pull vacuum at line port.part sat for week on vehicle and some how got ok.maybe brake fluid dissolve some very viscuos assembly grease.

[@briangilreath1206]

Need to make engineers install any part they design for new cars. Taking a transmission loose to put a starter in the bell housing comes to mind.

[@waterloo123100]

It’s not even the engineers fault anymore. Government regulations are killing the automotive industry

[@peteloomis8456]

How about those late 90s Cadillacs that had the starters under the intake manifold and the only way to change them when they went bad and they did because of the extra heat was to pull the intake manifold off to get at it lol what crap that is for the money that damn car cost new back then . We had one towed in at a shop I worked at that the starter fried and it wasn't fun to do it .

[@patrickcannell2258]

​@@waterloo123100pests. EPA pests are like children. Unreasonable. That is why Cummins and VW cheated.

[@speedy_pit_stop]

How about taking down the entire front of an Audi, plus the timing cover and then some, just to change the thermostat? Check out the Car Wizard, he just did one.

[@carlnordstrom7533]

@@waterloo123100 I don't think it's regulations. Regulations add to the controls engines have for fuel economy, but serviceability is 100% design to cost. You can design and supply a serviceable product, if the necessary investment is made. So why don't they? Us. We don't want to pay that much for a car, yet we want gee-gaw accessories and self driving so we can clap our hands and slap our knees driving at highway speeds, and then complain when we hit something while dozing off. It's us. If we DEMANDED fixable cars over all this other crap they are bolting in the passenger compartment, we'd get fixable cars.

[@BruceLaw-wg9us]

Spot on ! Shitty quality parts destroy a reputation. U can't make money with comeback warranties. The more talk is needed to explain. Many people are hard to follow because they dont. #U Rock!

[@saulrosa2532]

Thank you for showing us behind the scenes without making it out a you vs customer. I will share this video and I hope I can continue to support small business.

[@mph5896]

Early 2000's was some of the best stuff to work on. Obd2, and basic fuel injection systems, a couple computers. Really little to no Can Network. Now, its getting bananas. 20 computers, with 1 bad wire taking down everything.

[@MrTheHillfolk]

Recently learned there could be a couple different can bus systems that run at different speeds. Ay yi yi ,so glad I went off into generators in the early 2000s. We didn't get cats till 2012 😂

[@GhettoWagon]

When I was "Toyota" trained i guess? at school when working at a toyota dealer man o man, Canbus came out just as I moved. Crap

[@BastardX13]

OBD2 is the high water mark. Downhill from there.

[@GhettoWagon]

@@BastardX13 OBD1 was cooler. Had to use your head more. Only throws codes when items are completely failed

[@BastardX13]

@@GhettoWagon Chrysler LEAN BURN better still. When the resistor failed you could just plug in a paper clip. When the rest of it failed you just replace it with a carb and points ignition. The good old days!

[@zacharidumas4405]

I went to trade school when I was 17 in 2019. I love turning wrenches.. but this line of work just ain't doing it for me as a full time thing. Overcomplicated, underpaying and just too stressfull in dealerships. I make more money welding in a shipyard, and I get to fix my cars on my off days.🔧

[@anthonyp151]

Dealerships hand pick their one special guy to pamper and promote and abuse the rest. Dealerships are the scum of the industry.

[@glennsouthard9208]

Use your wrenchin skills as a side hustle for extra cash. A job and a hustle.

[@tellucas]

You could also try doing boat engines, those customers usually have deeper pockets and want it fixed right rather than cheap. Or even industrial plant mechanic where paying you is nothing compared to losing thousands in lost production for every hour the equipment is down.

[@garyalford9394]

Tools are also way too expensive and get obsolete before you know it !!!

[@leewilson9226]

This is a good explanation of how much a lot of cheap products can effect the economy as well in the long run. Steve, long time parts business owner said awhile back that he's trying to find parts for his old buddies so they can still fix their old cars and it's not getting easier. Another parts store said if the starter didn't work bring it back and he would give me another one after the first two didn't work but he didn't offer to crawl under the car and change it again.

[@danimalistic27ify]

Great video and I love the explanation at the beginning, you don't talk to much at all. I'm currently going through something similar with my truck and have now taken it back to my mechanic for the 5th time trying to find a mysterious problem with the brand new factory transmission they installed a few months back. I can tell they are very frustrated and so am I as I've now missed a ton of work due to the fact that this is my 1 and only work truck. This is a very reputable shop and they haven't tried to charge me at all since the initial installation, they simply want to fix the problem but it seems like we are chasing shadows trying to figure out the problem. One time it actually threw them a code so they changed the sensor that it said was bad, it worked well for about 2 days then started slipping again so once again it's back in the shop. At this point with all the extra labor involved in trying to fix this I'm sure they are losing money on the original install. I feel bad for them as I'm pretty sure it's not due to anything they did wrong, it's more likely something wrong with the factory transmission but trying to figure out exactly what is not going well, very similar to what your video is about. Definitely hard to make money when the industry is heading this direction, I'm not surprised by the skyrocketing prices of auto repair.

[@michaellehmann2803]

I have a shop, and I fight this stuff every day. Bad parts, wrong parts, parts listed as fitting a car but don’t, parts that are built in a way that they don’t function properly, sometimes parts that are built in a way to look like they are the proper design but you don’t discover the deception until you install them! Over time you start to learn what brands of what parts are reliable, then that brand gets bought out by someone else and they discontinue the proper part! It is definitely getting harder and more frustrating, and while I love working on cars, I don’t know how much longer it can go on. As for how I deal with it, I have significantly increased my markup on parts, and if someone brings their own parts, there is no warranty. You may be able to buy the part for much less online, but if you want me to install it and stand behind it, I need to get more for it because if and when something fails, that increased markup covers my wasted labor to do the job again. That has helped, but it has also alienated some customers who see it as overcharging them, so it is a balancing act, and as this problem becomes more widespread, that balancing act is getting harder and harder.

[@MrChevelle83]

pure facts!!

[@anthonyp151]

I stopped customers bringing in their own parts. It fixed that problem for a while. Then the owners changed, they allowed customers parts again and the problems not only returned, but increased.

[@dogsense3773]

I'm 68 and volunteer in a restoration shop for the last seven years, these bad car parts will sink the old car business one day!

[@MrChevelle83]

@@dogsense3773 yep I think so too, but hopefully someone will pick up and start making better stuff if the demand is still there to keep our old iron going.

[@garyalford9394]

Part of Bidens plan !!!

[@01Z06guy]

I installed what turned out to be a counterfeit Motorcraft fuel pickup foot in my F-350. Turned out to be made of a type of plastic that expended in diesel. It fell off the pickup tube and I ran out of fuel going down the road. Imagine making a part designed to live submerged in diesel out of a material that is incompatable with diesel.

[@321CatboxWA]

Soak 'em first ? How long did it take to fail?

[@mph5896]

That's terrible. Where did you buy the fake part from?

[@jasonrackawack9369]

I had an Autozone gasoline fuel pump do that to me about 10 years ago

[@ricksanchez7459]

Oem plastic fuel cap on workmaster tractors will swell til stuck if you fill the tank plumb full.

[@monikhushalpuri]

Where did you buy the part? When I had my 88 tbird turbocoupe I found that a lot motorcraft parts for the older ford products were basically just reboxed and restampted standard motor products

[@AnthonyGriz]

100% on point for almost everything in society these days. "Built to Last" is almost not even in the vocabulary of many companies, it's more like "Built to the absolute barest price point and hurry up and get it done yesterday".

[@opal177]

This is exactly it, brothers in profession. In the trade since ' 72. Best wishes from Germany.

[@mikerobinson3672]

I installed two new Timpkin front wheel hub and bearing assemblies on my 01 Durango last Nov. both were installed properly and torqued to spec. They both started growling last week. Removed the hubs from the spindles and checked them out. Since the truck is 2WD all that holds the bearings in the hub was a snap ring. Removed the snap ring and pressed the bearings out. Removed the plastic dust seal and found that the grease that used was literally the consistently and color of Vaseline. They put the wrong grease in them. I went to my local bearing warehouse and had them measure the inner and outer diameter. They had a match in stock and the bearing was for an automotive wheel application. I didn’t trust the parts store anymore so I brought two sets of them for $58. I pressed them back in the hubs and put the truck back together, truck roles better than new.

[@retro440]

Over a period of a year or so, I installed six new wheel bearings on my 2010 T&C to get four good ones. That bad new ones lasted about 5,000 miles. Sad.

[@NarwahlGaming]

Oh, yeah. I remember the early to mid-00s putting wheel hubs in left and right (pun intended) because of ABS ring issues. I've been out of the garage since 2006 and haven't looked back.

[@MyNewUserName47]

my 2015 silverado recently hit 100k and its got a noisy hub on the front of it. going to get some dormans and pop a seal on the bearing & add some grease. i'll see about getting some new bearings for the old hubs for later.

[@user-kg2ly2lb8z]

I've had the same issue on my daughter's jag....I've done three or four rear bearings,all Timken,over the last three years. It's ridiculous.

[@kevwills858]

Timpken or Timken ? The latter used to be a good brand in the 80's ...

[@onetransmission7871]

60 years as a mechanic. Love what I do and hate my job. Someone made a comment about bearings. On new bearings I usually remove the shields, blow out the bearings with brake clean, and heavily repack with full synthetic marine ( boat trailer) grease. Same as regular grease but they add something sticky. Like chainsaw bar oil or motorcycle chain oil. No more bearing problems. You can't make money anymore.

[@markcole6475]

There’s a lot of money to be made in mechanical work…problem is much of it is wrapped around electronics which is a whole other ball game…most of the time mechanics don’t like electronics and electrical gurus don’t like mechanical work..

[@SeeingThingsSimply]

I’m not a car guys at all, but I dropped a like because I appreciate your honesty and work ethic.

[@Mike-Olds-1]

All I want for Christmas is to be sent back to 1970 and never come back.

[@joshhoman]

You wouldn't even have to go that far back. I would take any time before 2001, absolutely before 9-11.

[@countryjoe3551]

Make room in your time machine.......there's a ton of us who feels the same way.

[@Mike-Olds-1]

@@countryjoe3551 🤜🤛

[@modeljetjuggernaut4864]

...also as long if theres a 70s version of youtube.

[@rcnelson]

@@modeljetjuggernaut4864 There sort of was. I still have vhs tapes put out by Champion Auto parts covering all sorts of fix-it problems.

[@hansosl]

We live in a World where everything fun has become a pain

[@Pjayque]

What a shame

[@JohnS-il1dr]

That includes shopping, movies, radio and tv and education

[@harrywalker968]

2 wives later.......

[@tadghostal8769]

​@@harrywalker968 You speak of the old times. 6.6 men out of 1000 are that stupid per 2022 data.

[@julians9070]

​​@@JohnS-il1drYou got that correct. Where I live T.V that is free to air has too many channels, but nothing interesting to watch. Forget subscription television and even satellite TV. Mainstream media is boring, fake , and interested in ratings that will please the advertisers and the media network owners. Radio, it only worth listen if you have a favorite radio station, especially on the FM dial. Clearer sound is one good reason. Shopping is boring if you don't plan ahead, or you cannot find what you like or need. Education has proven to be one size fits all agenda. Want to !earn better than schooling? Learn what will be useful outside the education system.

[@wolleysegap9740]

No truer words have ever been spoken. 100% Right On. 👍

[@jayleeper1512]

I fix my own cars and do the same on my family’s cars. I do every job 2 or 3 times because of new part failure. You are right on.

[@MyLifeThai371]

Shortly after I graduated from college with my Associate's degree in Diesel Technology, I relized that being a mechanic was a dead end job. Everyone was always having to spend their hard earned money on newer tools to repair the newer vehicles as they come along and there are how many brands of vehicles out there. I instantly knew I needed to work for a company where everything is supplied by my employer.

[@raydemos1181]

i have 40 years of tools from going to yard sales, it cost me next to nothing to acquire then throughout the years, it is a fun hobby for me to use all of these wonderful tools, never thought about making a living fixing cars

[@bradhaines3142]

i love being a turbine mechanic where i only need a small basic set and everything else is company, paid travel perdiem and all that goodness

[@bradhaines3142]

@Tar-mairon-re8oi i wouldnt do it. its not worth the way they shaft you

[@MyLifeThai371]

@Tar-mairon-re8oi Having an Associate's Degree in Diesel Tech. is what opened the door for all my other jobs. It has also saved me so much money by knowing how to repair my own vehicles and equipment. They like to know at other jobs that you are mechanically inclined. NEVER work for an employer that requires you to supply your own tools.

[@bradhaines3142]

@Tar-mairon-re8oi it's nothing like air craft I've heard. depending on where you are its either 10 or 12hr days, 6 or 7 days a week. fixing power plants, sent there for as little as 3 days or as long as 6 months

[@allhailinternalcombustion]

I got tired of fixing people's cars only to have them come back with the customer complaining about things I didn't work on or touch. The tune up I did has nothing to do with your brakes grinding, and the brake job I did has nothing to do with your car not running a few days later or the massive oil leak under your car. That and people trying to o beat me down on prices, even though my prices were way less than the dealer or private shops.

[@3644Darrell]

I am a plumber and I get that. I might do something like fix a toilet and then they have a faucet dripping a few weeks later and think I caused it. I have come to the conclusion that people just don't have any common sense anymore.

[@American-Motors-Corporation]

​@@3644Darrelland I can say that a fair amount of them are well over the age of 60.

[@JackFrost-xb9yz]

Luckily I can do many repairs on my own . And KZbin channels help with that. But being retired, I don't have to drive my vehicle into the ground and it will outlive me without any major problems.

[@allhailinternalcombustion]

@@JackFrost-xb9yz We do all our own repairs. I've always been big on being self sufficient and not having to give my money to anyone for something I can do myself. The only thing we get done by shops are machine work, tire mounting (we're looking into getting a tire machine) and inspections.....but most of our vehicles are historic, so that's going to stop soon as well.

[@profsteel8217]

@@3644Darrellyour not alone. I own a successful machine shop and despite CNC Machines costing 100-250k and compensation/benefits for machinists jumping steadily (as they should) customers refuse to pay more than they did 10 years ago or more. When we make parts to precise tolerances of .0001" and have them plated it's a 50/50 shot the plater will junk them as the customers demand "jewelry". You can only cut so many corners until the cutting bleeds you dry, employees demand more and more, expenses jump yearly while customers demand cost reductions and the stress makes it not worth the trouble anymore. By customers I'm talking global multi-faceted billions of $$ co's. They will just scour for the lowest price and dangle the carrot to another unwitting shop and leave you for dead after you have invested heavily into making their products. Think I'll become a ward of the state and call it.

[@fnamelname1814]

Thank you so much for informing us on the state of the industry. We customers need independent craftsmen to do the work. This is a real problem. Shoddy parts ruin so much. So what do we do now? Treat vehicles like disposable items? Become hermits? Become slaves to public transportation? Frustrating. Infuriating.

[@Travis141123]

We had a rash of riding mowers come back, the MFG's started using EPA approved barrier fuel line. Mower engines use a vacuum style pump, barrier line is designed for pressure systems. The inner liner of the line would separate and choke off fuel flow.

[@guccibeansupreme5043]

It’s not only aftermarket parts. I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve installed brand new faulty OE parts at the Land Rover dealer I work for.

[@williamparker2922]

I actually was duel enrolled last two years of high school, taking Auto Tech at the local tech school. Graduated from both, in 2004, and went to work for a Cadillac dealership. I didn't even work there for a year before I said this is such bull. Considering I went to school for two years for this trade, I just was expecting more. I left the auto repair industry and started working in boat manufacturing. Within six months in that industry I was making twice as much as I was at a dealership. I still work in the boat manufacturing industry nearly twenty years later. Couldn't be happier.

[@warrenlewis3977]

What do you actually do??

[@peterloichtl4512]

You are describing exactly my 1993 ford truck symptoms i replaced the rear gas tank fuel pump 2years ago, it ran good for one year then all of a sudden started to miss and stumble when i drove up hill or wanted to go faster, but it starts and idles fine drives ok at very slow speed. I have replaced the filter, and fuel pressure regulator, the truck drives perfect when i am on the front tank as soon as i switch to the rear tank it acts ok for a minute or 2 then i loose power and backfires . I was looking for help on u tube and by luck i saw your excellent video you describe my symtoms pefect. Thank you very much for making it. I have fixed my own cars since a young man and am ex army ah1g (cobra) helicopter mechanic vietnam vet. Like you for the last 20 years or so have noticed the terrible quality of carparts i say i get sold a bad part one out of 3 that i buy , its terrible now and carpart companies do not care i get gumchewing and shrugged shoulders . The salespeople are mostly untrained dipsticks totally uncaring when the screw up, in the last 10 years i have replaced the my waterpump 3 times the first 2 lasted a couple of years, my radiator 2 times the first one leaked after a few month, replaced the fuel tank selector sw 4 times, my altenator 2 times, now as i mentioned above my fuel pump, oh and i am on my 2 cond idle control valve, and my second computer, Any more i get pissed just driving by a autoparts store and going inside one i first prepare for war..

[@iainmaclean4872]

yup, im not even a professional mechanic and just fixing my own cars i have gotten assemblies with missing parts, unthreaded bolts, nuts that dont tighten on all the way, or holes that dont line up. quality parts are just a thing of the past it seems.

[@Dragooneyez]

It's not only that, but it's the part stores too. They act like the part failing is on you, not the manufacturer. I actually had 2 alternators crap out on me (one actually had the cooling fins explode in the housing) in less than a year and I was told by the part store that I had to fix the issue with the car, because obviously it had to be the car, not faulty parts. Can't find anything that's made well anymore, make it as cheap as possible so they keep coming back! Meanwhile, us mechanics are dealing with those angry customers beating down the doors.

[@hickeyskustomresto]

The parts store ppl are in the exact position that you're in. I base that off of what you just said. The parts suck and it makes everything else suck.

[@monikhushalpuri]

I had this same issue but I found its best to just find dedicated alternator/start motor rebuilding shops...the one I use I've gotten 2 alternators rebuilt from them for high mileage cars and have put well over 100k miles on them each after replacing...find a good rebuilder and ditch the crap autoparts stores

[@hotrodray6802]

I've collected genuine Motorcraft parts from junk yards for pennies. I'd rather have assembly line parts that were running when the car crashed, than to buy chinesium.

[@garyalford9394]

Sometimes you are better off with used parts !!!

[@GrimJerr]

I got ripped off by a Firestone service center on my 1st car when I was 16, I resolved to learn how to work on my own car and have been doing so since the 1980's. The automotive industry has been attempting and succeeding in making it more difficult and impossible without Very expensive diagnostic tools. Why I still own a 24 year old truck and still do all my own repairs. This new batch of Mechanics in my experience are now handicapped by technology and have lost all that old school knowledge and know how, and depend fully on the diagnostic tools. I won't buy anything that is above OBD2 because without expensive computer tools you can't repair them.

[@GalacticNovaOverlord]

Consider making a place where you can share knowledge

[@dmo848]

Same here. But this time it's a charcoal canister I tracked down to being bad. I tried everything. Smoke tests. Parts😂

[@johnkatakowsi9907]

Your singing to the chore😀 I had name brand wheel bearing go bad after two years and the cheaper ones i replace within the same month are still going strong five years later!!!

[@stevenmarney9064]

it is everything. plumbing fittings, everything!!!

[@nickjones1505]

I’m currently a dealer technician and the OEM parts aren’t much better. Half our new cars come off the transport truck broken.

[@georgedennison3338]

You told my life story, Tony. I've got about 10 yrs on you. I started out building models & by age ten, had half dozen non-plastic detail tricks, plus a model car wrecking yard as a source of parts for custom builds of real cars from Hot Rod, Car Craft, Pop Hot Rodding, etc. Started on real cars at 12 in my Italian uncle & Godfather's shop. I ended my mechanic career in the late '80's because of a low back problem, but have continued maintaining my own cars & restoring a few. The fuel pump is an example as well as a metaphor of the problems w/ auto engineering & design. The era of downfall started w/ the end of rebuild kits sold by dealerships & GM's effing side mount battery. That battery got me kicked out of my 1st class at GM school. A lifelong dream, I finally got an opportunity to take some classes. At the 1st one, the instructor asked if we had any questions about the class or GM, in general. I asked what if the ef were they thinking when they designed & sold the POS side mount battery. He didn't take it well, & I was already disallusioned w/ the auto 'geniuses' in Detroit, so I didn't respond well. It ended w/ him recommended his class wouldn't be the best place for me. Oh, well... I took others. Re: the fuel pump I wouldn't overlook the Oedicker clamps used at the factory. I bought a bunch of them & a crimper because I was tired of cutting myself on Ideal style clamps & hate every other type there is. I have not had a successful application using Oedickers; they just don't hold higher pressure. My personal bugaboo giving me fits is Mopar's 'better idea' of putting their fuse/relay box under the hood, computerizing it AND pairing it w/ the specific model & options of the car. Can only use a used replacement from identical vehicle, & they're 2K new, plus $800 for a dealership to program. Only paid $2400 for a low mileage van in great shape; sits for 8-9 months while I dealing w/ cancer treatment & now the van is worth < $0.00.

[@Modeltnick]

After five aftermarket fuel pumps of various brands, I ended up buying the OEM pump from the dealer to solve the problem at 4x the cost of the aftermarket parts. It solved the problem.

[@Ridingforsanity]

This is second video I’ve heard of a feed hose on a aftermarket fuel pump causing this issue on an older Jeep. South Main Street went through a similar situation of diagnosis. The owner of the car had been dealing with this problem for over a year and brought it him to fix from out of state. I agree with you that suffering as a professional trying to do your best job with subpar parts is next to impossible. Glad I work for an OEM at the moment.

[@qphase49]

Quit the trade in 1980. One of the last things I did as a "job" was going through Fords Variable venturi carburetor training - LOL. Grew up restoring cars from the teens, twenties, thirties and forties. It took a while to start enjoying cars as a hobby again after i left the trade. At 75 years old i can't even hold tools any more so, i spend my time taking pictures of other folks handiwork these days. I had my "15 minutes in the sun." I enjoy the fact that You are very thorough in Your delivery Tony. Keep on keepin on brother.

[@hippie-io7225]

Sorry about that tool holding thing. I'm struggling at 76 to finish my last auto project. Youngsters : Enjoy your time in the sun!

[@peteloomis8456]

I remember those wretched carburetors not wanting to start on cold mornings poor performance crappy fuel mileage lol . I knew someone that had a station wagon with the 302 and that carburetor & it sat for than it got driven and was constantly in the shop for repairs because of that POS carburetor 😂.

[@vinced2514]

'80s carb cars/trucks were the WORST. EPA trying to force manufacturers to produce carburetor vehicles to meet emission and fuel economy levels of fuel injection. My only carb vehicles are '79 & older!

[@chrishensley6745]

Oh man.......THE Variable Venturi carb.

[@sartorst3376]

VV carbs haha I remember the first load of cars our dealer got they couldn't get them started to get them off the haulers since I'm the carb guy they sent me out to get them started 😮 what the he'll is that. ?

[@JuanDeLaGarza-gq3lp]

Being a mechanic and multiple shop owner for nearly forty years I have come to the conclusion that using OE parts is the only way to go, extremely low failure rate and a happier customer in the long run. Nobody wants to do the same repair for free and the customer doesn’t want to have to come back for the same issue because of a failed part.

[@MetalTeamster]

Totally agree. OEM parts on anything that is further than 15 min to get to….

[@MetalTeamster]

I only use OEM parts on anything I own or that is 15 min or further to get to…..

[@johnstuchlik5828]

If it's still available.oem can be hard to get for even 15 year old vehicle.or in warehouse five days wait.

[@bill3716]

Uncle Tony, I've owned a 96 Continental for the past eight years. A year ago I had a fuel pressure issue and went thru the same replace the same fuel pump deal. Finally, I changed mechanics who put a better one in. But they realized that wasn't the solution. They checked the fuel pump driver module and noticed the circuitry was corroded. I got the old part. They got another one that solved the problem. The owner of the second shop always returned my calls to update and explain the progress and didn't return the car until it was fixed! UT, I had shops turn down working on my car bc it was too old! It only has 101k miles on it and is a pleasure to drive. I just subscribed to your channel to learn from a pro who takes the time to explain things and isn't in a rush to go on the next job or the next video. (Get em in get em out type mechanic which is what the first shop was.)

[@puncht37]

25 years for me. Besides the extreme complexity of these machines now, the disrespect of all mechanics is off the chart. The pay structure shows this. Dealers? How bout warranty pay? Hard to get out of that these days as the warranties get longer to attract new buyers. Tools? don`t get me started.

[@stephenboitoult8774]

50 years on the spanners and I retired in 2020. Like you, for probably the first 30 years or so everything was great. I always said that did what I loved doing and I got paid for it! What more could anyone want from life? But I got disillusioned a whole lot earlier than you did, when the era of ECUs came in. When the computer made all the tuning decisions, the joy went out of it for me. In the 70s and 80s a car would come in running like a bag of nails and you could give it a touch here and a tweak there and send it out running better than ever. and look at it and say "I did that!" Then suddenly they come in running OK (or not at all) and go out running OK and there's nothing I can do to make them any better. Sure, learning about EFi (yes I did too) was interesting and brought a few new challenges. But the Joy had gone! I kept going because it was what I knew how to do and I had a loyal customer base. But the day I turned 66 (UK retirement age that year) I was OUT. I gave the shop back to landlord and took my tools and stuff home. And I told ALL my customers that unless their car was at least 30 years old, (there were a good few) I was no longer interested! And it worked! Seems like i'm busier than ever, less overhead and i've got the Joy back! I don't know if you could do the same in 'Murca where the world and their wife has at least SOME knowledge of old cars, but it's great here in the UK where plenty of people own classics but aren't familiar with how they work. They also tend to have more money, be more aware of your skills, more aware that sh*t happens and less likely to want the car back yesterday so they can go to work in it today! But I agree with you on one vital point, the current parts quality situation is a complete scandal. But I don't see an easy end, everybody wanted cheap parts then moaned when they got cheap crap! In the meantime quality suppliers were priced out of the market. Karma is a bitch!

[@jeffro221]

Awesome you ended up in a good niche! Today, how old must one be to retire and get a government old age pension benefit? I knew you were in the UK when you said spanner.

[@riodward]

THANK YOU, TONY! I have gotten so tired of having to decide whether I should just put the part in or take it apart to check its integrity first. I thought it was just me being “too picky”. I used to replace anything other than a screw clamp with an old style spring steel wire clamp, but now they aren’t consistent. How can you screw up a spring steel round wire hose clamp?!? They found a way…sigh. You are a marvelous teacher. Love your first engine job series, home engine rebuild series, and all the 225 slant stuff. Keep it up. Thanks for letting me rant.