Best advice learned on this forum

[Dinkydow]

what is the b est advice you have had by reading this forum?? I had to really think because there has been so many good posts, and everyone has been great with help. I guess though I would say, and I am not sure who gave it, I think Fred, but the advice was to tip your mechanic and service writer. I had never done that, hadn't even thought of it. After reading the advice, I had an appointment to get some maint done on my Q up in Thunderbay Ont. It is closer to me then Duluth and at the time the exchange rate was great, still is good, I had had some work done by them on my Subaru and Toyota prior to this visit. I tipped the svc mgr $20 canadian and asked him to do me right, his eyes bugged out and said will do. I then walked over to the mech and give him a $20 and said do me right. They changed the differential oil, put in syn, changed the brake fluid, installed the two hood struts, changed fuel filter, all for $120 Canadian turned out to be $81 US. Since then I had them put in new spark plugs, I purchased them from Joe, they did all labor for $60 US plus $20 a piece Canadian. I have had them do two new front struts, Parts from Joe, they installed. $68 US. Make a long story short that was valuable advice!!!! I know I have saved a ton because there are times, like when he did my plugs, he was on it for 2 hours and charged me for 1. Thanks a $alot$ for that tip!!! Wayne

[PalmerWMD]

Actually the credit for that goes to Q45tech.

He mentioned it first and I started doing it too, so I told members about it as well, but he started it

Fred...:angel

[Dinkydow]

Another great thing about it is, at this shop anyway, now he lets me hang out in the svc area while the mech works on my Q, also lets me buy all my parts from Joe. Kind of like having a friend work on your car. Wayne

[SmithSR]

:bowdown to Q45tech. His posts often include a formula to help explain the "how" and "why"......these formulas are priceless. I write them down or research them for proper context if/when I ever use them in an explanation of my own.

Also, he is quite adamant about explaining to the masses that a tire's max load capacity is key. People usually are more interested in high mileage or grip, or even best tire for the dollar...often forgetting to find a tire that meets or exceeds OEM load capacities.

I've noticed Q45tech comments frequently about maintaining OEM stopping capability: a function of both proper braking system AND OEM or better tires.

In summary, Q45tech helps remind us that maintaining OEM capability/characteristics in all areas is important/vital/crucial.

Tipping your man up front before work is done also helps:D

Thanks, Q45tech

[Jesda]

At $70/hr, thats just not going to happen (call it being a college student, call it getting laid off). If I could afford it, I'd tip my mechanic, take him out to lunch, and wax his car.

-Jesda

[maxnix]

The best advice I ever recieved from these forums was read the previous posts (especially Q45tech). It takes a long time, but there is a ton of information here. Everything is in the previous posts ... except why does pushing the door power lock switch down unlock the doors and vice versa? Seems counter-intuitive to me.

All in all, reading the posts is much more interesting than TV.

[elwesso]

The best advice I learned was not one thing, but a collection of things... Instead of worrying about what you can do to make it look better or go faster, you need to worry about getting it into pristine mechanical condition..... I mean who would have thought to remove the "silver spider of chiropratic death" and clean it out?? Not very many people are that devoted to go through that!!

Not to mention all the fluid changes that normally dont happen (PS and Brake fluid)..... My parents think I am crazy to want to change even the TSTAT, let alone all these other things..... They always say "we never had to do any of this stuff"....... And then I say "you never had a car for more than 50k miles, let alone having a car with 121k on it!!"

So overall, the best advice I have gotten is to maintain these cars BETTER than what the service schedule says!!

[MattB]

Not to mention all the fluid changes that normally dont happen (PS and Brake fluid)..... My parents think I am crazy to want to change even the TSTAT, let alone all these other things..... They always say "we never had to do any of this stuff"....... And then I say "you never had a car for more than 50k miles, let alone having a car with 121k on it!!"

So overall, the best advice I have gotten is to maintain these cars BETTER than what the service schedule says!!

Yeah, my parents wonder why I think about maintaining the motor mounts and stuff on my G20...they give me the same "we never do this on our Ford" line....

[Q45tech]

"At $70/hr, thats just not going to happen (call it being a college student, call it getting laid off). If I could afford it, I'd tip my mechanic, take him out to lunch, and wax his car. "

At a small shop a box of assorted doughnuts may work. Little cheap things to make your car stand out from the herd of crappy cars they see all day long.

Professional techs don't need a bribe to do good work, they set their own prorities and decide who gets a free 15 minutes and who gets a speedy job..........I personally don't want a just good enough repair.

You are missing the point the techs make $17-20-$25/hr........the rest goes to pay the benefits and overhead [service writer, manager, the accountant, the attorney, the IRS, rent, utilities, bad checks, skipping customers,....the DSL for Kazza porno downloads, etc.

[DAEDALUS]

Ah, the seedy underworld subculture of auto repair is thus revealed. I was wondering where all the time went betwen "book" and actual.

[Q45tech]

Actually this is usually reserved between quiting time [6PM] and 7PM when traffic dies down enough for the techs to make their 30 mile drives home.

Actually it lets me show customers this Forum [and the unmentionable FAlloy] and order parts easier.Finally able to get Home Cable Modem June 27 after 3 years wait, now you are all in trouble as I have been functioning from home with dial up! Now we can have some massive PDF links.

[elwesso]

YEY!!!!

mmmm, massive PDF :drooling:

[PalmerWMD]

Finally able to get Home Cable Modem June 27 after 3 years wait, now you are all in trouble as I have been functioning from home with dial up! Now we can have some massive PDF links.

Fred...:icesangel

[Article Manager]

Massive PDF links = Massive additions to Infiniti/Nissan articles section