ktmlew

OK...this begs the question...any chance we could plumb a low pressure guage into the cooling system to check for flow? Maybe at the heater hoses? Would save alot of head scratching... /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/poke.gif

OK...I'm gonna argue this whole point... Next time you are at a restaurant, pick a person or two and ask them if they have been to a dealer lately for any type of "recall/warrenty" work, maybe bring up the latest Ford recall letter? If they have I'm willing to bet it will go something like this: "they tried to sell me a brake job and trans service while I was there"..."freaking crooks"! "I think some of those recalls are put out just to get you to bring your car in"..."freaking crooks". " I have my own mechanic that charges less than half what those rip-offs want to charge"..."freaking crooks". Etc, Etc...I've heard them all. And unfortunately they aren't as "wrong" as we would like to admit... I was taught NO UPSALES ON WARRENTY WORK!!! I believe a recall falls under the same guidelines...if a recall requires a vehicle to be racked then I can see how a tech could "find" it needs brakes, axle boots, fluid leaks, needs a diff service (rip-off IMO), etc. If it comes in for the installation of a FREAKING FUSE in the cruse control I have problems with pulling wheels... Guess that's why I can't turn 70+hrs a week though? /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/banghead.gif

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070803/us_nm/ford_recall_dc_1 Suppose this will be the last time they try to fix this problem?

My certification has "expired" according to Furd. If I lost-my-mind and decided to get back in the business what would be required to renew it? Been out of dealership since summer of 05.

What I don't understand is the governments "tampering laws"? Thought it was a huge fine for removing emmissions control devices? Or does that only apply if you are getting PAID to do it as in a shop? Seems to me the government needs to put some teeth in those laws and hang a few of these idiots. A couple of $50-100K fines would slow the rampant mods that exist. I know someone will scream about "big brother" controlling our lives but the "law" is the law last I heard. Why the double standard? Has anyone here ever witnessed a shop actually getting fined for removing/replacing a converter with a test pipe or plugging an EGR hose like we used to do on occasion?

Again, Jim I agree with your approach completely. After a certain period of time I realized all the pinpoint tetse were the same...test power, ground, pushed out/bent pins...replace XXX? As you mentioned, if it has a decent explanation of how/what is supposed to happen then all you need is a way to provide power and ground to determine if the XXX werks! I LOVE my PowerProbe II. The problem comes when you are the "go-to-guy" that gets 99% of the bastard jobs and your pay doesn't represent that. I work to eat, not because I WANT to work. Unfortunately, developed a very bad habit of likeing to EAT regularly...remember a situation where I was trying to figure -out why a 2003 Tarus with 108 miles on it, just sold previous morning, was towed in for a no-start/no-crank problem...tuned out to be a pin was crimped on without a wire being stripped. While I was reading and thinking, nearly every day, the guys on the other side of the shop were pumping out services and brake jobs...day after day. Same shit different day...fixing the bastards cars DO make you feel really good but wouldn't pay my insurance bill... A few of you have it REALLY good but it doesn't represent what is happening in the bulk of shops here in the states. Whaaaa! /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/hitthefan.gif

SA & Warranty clerk used to take really long lunches together. He said she nearly broke his back... /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/rockon.gif Whoops...wrong kind of "screwing with c-workers"?

There was a TSB for GM trucks for this related to bad RABS valve. Said to connect lines together to bypass valve and test for firm pedal. Bet it's the same valve...

Bingo. I went to work at a local indy shop a couple of months ago that serviced the counties ambulances. Fortuntately they were all F450 & 550's. First truck had a severe mis-fire and kicked two high-side open codes. I told the shop foreman we needed an IDM first and then would likely need several injectors as only two sounded normal on the buzz test. Replaced IDM which cleared high-side codes but of course truck didn't run any better...foreskin was all bent...finally let me replace the worst sounding injector. He felt the BG oil flush they used would "fix" the rest. I don't know how it worked out as I only lasted two weeks there...just couldn't deal with the constant push to upsell and lack of time to correctly diag the root concern. Had too many LOF guys so the shop was jammed full of oil changes/flushes and I was doing diag OUTSIDE. Only rack, big 4-post, that would lift "my" work was always full as it was easy to use... Point is that I believe that open injectors DO kill the IDM. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/thumbup.gif

Not sure how you can make a living now without working like that? Actually I realized I couldn't make a living ANYWAY so I quit...Ford can kiss my ass. I know someone's going to say "money is a dealer issue" but if FORD would PAY the dealers the times it should for repairs, the dealer could afford to pay the techs appropriately. Zhit runs downhill...I know most dealer principals are crooks. That's HOW they became owners. Some may disagree with the "most" here, but that has been my experience in 35 + years of being in the business. Honest men have no business "in business" as it WILL turn you into a crook. Much like politics... /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/poke.gif

Found some stuff: http://www.dieselmanor.com/dm_products/DM-DBBLT.asp http://www.dragspecialties.com/fatbook/3/62/3910201 Can you use the first one? Right thread & size? If not then most car speed shops should be able to point you in the direction of a shop that makes hoses for trucks/equipment. Aero-Quip makes ends too. For that matter what about a brake caliper hose?

Jim I was just poking-the-bear. I pretty much agree with you on the whole flush situation. That's exactly how those guys turned 70+ hrs week after week. Rape & pillage and laugh about it if you brought it up. As for "gain time" if we got paid hourly like we should, it wouldn't be an issue...hourly plus incentive is the only other fair pay plan IMO. Sorry for the hyjack...

Jim Your stand against "gain time" presents a question? Why would a tech work flat-rape if they are going to be restricted on the amount of "gain time" they can make? I've worked with several techs in independant shops & dealerships that were regularly hitting 70+ hrs per week...I had difficulty breaking 45 and was working 54 at the Indy's...

Hate to admit I've forgotten what the "specialties" are to make Senior' Master?

Typed a long reply and the freaking site ate it... What is a "Master Tech" in Canada?

Just curious as to your age? Sure makes a difference on these labor intensive jobs... /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/poke.gif

Just to be clear guys I do miss the trade. My problem came when I had to spend one to 1.5hrs on the computer or phone every day, either with techline or doing prior approvals, fixing the computer network, etc. That was just lost time. The GM saw me on the computer one day while I was waiting for a call back from techline. I didn't know he was watching as I checked my email and some banking stuff. Think that was the reason for him removing the wireless router and saying no laptops. He didn't understand, or care, that FORD told us to get our repair info from the net...he also didn't see that I rarely took a full lunch break. He just wanted me to turn 70hrs a week like the golden boy that got fed gravy work... The one thing that comforts me is the shop is about bankrupt now. SM gone, GM gone, everybody else but three women in the office, GONE. They "flushed" all the business away.

I'll be 50 in Dec...Jim, our career paths are very similar as for being better techs than business men. I could turn 5 million into 1 million in no time flat and wouldn't need a race car to do it. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/crybaby2.gif Too damn nice...

Jim? My question is how many of "you" do you suppose are out there getting paid what they are worth? I was "you" back in summer of 03 till the new service manager killed my spirit. Old one got stupid and started sticking money in his pocket that wasn't his. New SM wasn't a "people person" as he put it. Didn't want to deal with customers, parts manager, techs, nobody...all he cared about was the 126 report. Cut, cut, cut. General manager had the same attitude. I bought a laptop so I could get a head start on the coming IDS. They immediately removed the wireless network, said they were "having virus problems", said NO LAPTOPS. SM offered me $500.00 for the laptop I just paid $1050.00 for. I left 3 weeks later. My earnings dropped 6K over 4 month period compared to previous year, mostly due to the 6.0L. When I asked for the other tech that was diesel certified to help with the POS 6.0L the SM went deaf. The other guy was the 70hr a week guy, multiple 30K's every week with 4-wheel brake jobs, so he didn't want to interrupt him with some REAL work. I got tired of working 9.5hr days, plus every other Saturday till 2, some days with a 15 minute or less lunch, Sat's NO LUNCH, plus spending 5-6 hours on the computer every night taking tests or trying to learn how to fix the POS 6.0L. There was a time when I was THE guy to go to. Never particularly fast but I could fix ANYTHING if given time to figure it out. Usually able to turn 46-55 hours a week depending on whether it was a Sat week. When that became a license to get screwed EVERY week I quit. Tried an independent a month ago that serviced the local EMS. Had all F450 7.3's...I couldn't do it. My will to work that hard is gone. TOO FREAKING MUCH STRESS! We don't get paid, here anyway, but about half what we are worth. Of course the Indy shops have you working on at least 10 cars a day. Mercedes? No problem...we can fix it. Well the guy at the counter says we can, so the fact the scanner doesn't have the appropriate software to communicate with it is irrelevant, right? I'm supposed to have a big red S on my chest, right? Freaking idiots running the places is the biggest problem we face.

Ok, thanks guys. It needs rotors. I figured it did by the ridge that was on them.

Anyone have this handy?

You need to clean that pig-sty up...WOW!

What is a "had" tool? /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/shrug.gif /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/popcorn.gif

So how was the cab removal? Details MAN!!! /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/hammer2.gif

I would have bet on the cluster... /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/poke.gif /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/hitthefan.gif