STOP getting Your Car Diagnosed at the Parts Store

Hey Good People,

I had a new customer in the shop this week. The customer came in the shop with his own “diagnostic” report from Auto Zone.

These free services offered by the parts store are helpful but most of the time are not accurate.

[AlexTheCarDoctor]

Before y’all start with the “You should’ve just told him what it was” Keep in mind that I am running a business! This is what I do to feed my wife and 5 kids. My time is money. I no longer short change myself or my family, by just “telling” people what’s wrong. Pay for the diagnostic…

[advancedleveldiagnostics]

Best line I heard on a podcast "you go to the customers car and it looks like Auto zone threw up under the hood". Thanks for the videos!

[daniels]

Yeah thats the general public for you. I bet they ran the code and the customer just assumed it was that part listed. I work at O'Reillys and I always warn people that the code points you in the general direction. I print out a sheet with probable causes and I hate that they assume that the first part on the list will automatically fix it. I have to carefully explain to them that I can't guarantee anything. Especially when I have had some people come back and say "Well you said it was this part that would fix it. " So many people think we're expert mechanics lol. I tell them to take it to an expert like you and get it properly diagnosed/tested before loading up the so called parts cannon. Being cheap ends up costing you more. Great video guy! Thumbs up from me.

[marvinborden]

I love this mechanic. He is so truthful about what he tell people they keep people honest and keep money in their pocket. Some people let a car run and it won’t run no more do not have a do not have a look after the car just like we are have to go to the doctor to get a check up.❤

[Brooklynraised]

Finding an honest mechanic is easier said than done

[Caliburfaith]

I work for "company that shall not be named" as well. I correct folks anytime they come in and say they need a free diagnostic. I simply tell them it's a code retrieval, it only pulls the codes the computer has stored, doesn't say what is exactly wrong with it.

Can't tell you how many times someone sees P0420 and goes "so an oxygen sensor right?" .... No fam... There's many reasons that can cause it and it's a very vague code. Get it properly checked out by someone who can dig in deeper to find what exactly is the issue before dropping 150 bucks on a part guess.

[MyAdventures]

Great Job.
I work at that the place you said and I ALWAYS tell customers to take their car to the shop for a true diagnostic. I alway work on cars on the side and have learned a lot to give good advice.
Keep putting out these great videos. Thanks.

[TheManic.-OH]

I wouldnt trust a damn thing that anyone from a parts store tells me

[bmwman]

As a current Autozoner and trade school student the best advice I can give to anyone looking at those codes that they give you at the store is that computer will not tell you everything you need to know. It will point you in the direction you need to be, however, it won't tell you what's wrong with the car and that's where everyone goes wrong. It'll tell you what it THINKS is wrong with the car. Sure, a diagnosis costs money, but assumptions will cost you even more in the long run. Sometimes your assumptions will fix what's wrong. I won't deny that. Most of the time though, you'll make your assumption, buy a part, then have to get it diagnosed and fixed when you could've just spent the money on getting a diagnosis and repair.

[jaimebaca]

Good advice car Dr! Paying a professional to do their job is always a good investment!

[tyronesmith]

People come into parts stores all the time asking us what's wrong with their car thinking we're mechanics for $12 an hour. We barely get trained on store duties. We only get paid to find and sell parts customers already know they need.

[jimsix]

Alex I love your channel, its about as real as it gets, been doing it for 43 years ( 10 at a cadillac dealer, 33 on my own), looks like this customer is willing to gamble on the lowest cost repair, I would have replaced the sensor for him, there is a chance it is bad or it has the rust jacking problem( the block will rust and push the sensor away), get the labor for that to pay some bills, then I would give him an estimate on the timing chain that he will find out soon that he needs, used car prices are at an all time high, this car will probably get fixed

[marvinborden]

I will always follow him the car doctor. He’s like a doctor.

[k_escobar]

Great video man! I had the same happen to me. Code read cam shaft sensor and I changed all 4 of them on my Lexus ES350 and engine light still wouldn’t go away…ended up being a leaking timing cover which requires pulling the engine out! Toyotas a great but their timing is questionable

[Mike__P]

Scotty Kilmer: "These cars are bullet proof, I've seen them go 3, 4 hundred thousand miles. They last for - ever!"

[RAWRMotorsports]

Timing chain shot .. correlation code tells all with that noise

[ricebike]

Yeah, make them sign a disclaimer that the sensor is probably still good. Of course after agreeing to pay for the labor to do the unnecessary work to change a good part

and then quote that appropriate course of action (timing chain set)

[cardo]

That sounds like a very reasonable diag fee. I had that code on my 9th Gen Accord with the I4 it was stalling at extended idle, however not making that timing chain sound. I changed the crankshaft position sensor and luckily it solved the problem.

[mne]

honestly my problem with diagnostics by mechanics is i’m always worried about them breaking something then telling me it was already rotting or getting old

[Ryanr]

Great video! I have a similar year with 170, 000 it has a slight shudder going from 2 to 3rd gear. Is it worth getting fixed or just run it until it goes. Thank you!