QuestionI recently has some recall work done to my 2001 suburban. When my wife picked up the car, a representative from the dealership service department told my wife that our break pads were less than 10% in the back, and 30% in the front. He said that they needed to be replaced along with the rotors because we let them go so bad. He asked her to schedule an appointment right then to have the work done. My wife decided to talk with me about it. Within 10-20 miles after hearing this news, the Break warning light, and the ABS warning light came on. We were very concerned and brought the suburban to our regular mechanic right away. The next day our mechanic told us that we did not need our breaks done, the fronts were at 45% and the backs were at 70%. My question is: Can a mechanic do something to make warning lights come on? Even after my mechanic checked our breaks, the lights will still light up when we are traveling down the road. Once they light up, they stay lit until we turn off the engine. Thanks for the information. I really do not want to think that the dealership was trying to take advantage of my wife, but it sure seems suspicious.
AnswerHey,
I could do decimate your ABS system in about 10 seconds if I was under the vehicle and wanted to. I wouldn't though!
Thats a tough call. I have seen some really crappy stuff done to peoples vehicles because of pissed off mechanics. In most cases a dealership runs a 'flat rate' repair procedure. The technicians give free inspections in the hope that you will ok work that will take them 1 hour to do and get paid for 3. Thats the way it works. I know its crappy but thats the system that larger facilities have to operate to make sure everyone gets a piece of the pie. It makes for some really unpleasant situations when a jerk thinks to himself "If I aint getting this gravy brake job I am gonna make sure the guy that does gets the shaft on the whole job"
I hate to think it happens too. But doctors leave tools in people, carpenters take personal items from peoples homes and dentists charge insurance companies for things they didnt do. The world is full of great people (IE a self employed mechanic that spends an hour a day answering questions for no personal gain to complete strangers who don't even know what his shops name and number are :) and it is also full of jerks. (take the Canadian Government for instance)
I had a transmission rebuild once that was overpriced from a local franchise. We pulled the tranny and couldnt find anything wrong with it. It was half apart already and a bunch of funny metal was in the pan (in retrospect I think it was from someones brake lathe) that I couldnt find out where it was coming from. I pulled the whole thing apart and put it back together with a new seal kit scratching my head. It came back 3 times with a worn out low reverse band. After loosing my shirt and putting a used one it to kick it out the door I took the time to examine the whole thing under a microscope to find out what I did wrong. IT turns out some asshole drilled a very small hole in the valvebody so the low reverse band would bleed off pressure and not fully apply. It was done intentionally. There wasnt a thing wrong with that transmission and the reason it went to this franchise is they were offering free trans services. They were putting metal in the pans and showing them to customers saying it needed a rebuild. When the client of mine said no it came ot me so the other shop maliciously damaged it so I would lose my shirt on it for getting a job that didnt need to be done in the first place. I almost lost it on that one.
What has probably happened is it was up to a flat rate tech to decide what 10 and 30 percent are. They are very psychological numbers. It was his 'opinion' not an exact measurement. In his opinion you needed your damn brakes done dude! And the ol motto goes "If I don't do them now, some other guy is gonna do them soon!"
I don't blame the techs, but the system. They have to put food ont he table and probably started working there trying to save the world only to find out that the baby needed a new pair of shoes and momma wants to go on a cruise! Life is expensive and someone has to help pay for it!
Whoever your normal mechanic is should get a pat on the back. He knew you were coming in thinking you needed brakes and could have just done them. Stick with that guy and tell him how much you appreciate his honesty. Those guys have your fiscal future in their hands. They can make and break Christmas when you have a thump or a squeal. Buy the guy a coffee some morning.
As for the ABS light you should have it scanned for codes. YOu will probably find out it needs a new ABS sensor and it may have been a coincidence or not. Only the vehicle knows and she aint tellin...
Best of Luck!
wayne
