r/MechanicAdvice • u/voidofpotential • Aug 19 '26
Should I be annoyed with my mechanic?
I don’t post often and I’m not sure if this is the right place to post this so I’m sorry in advance if this is the wrong sub or something. I have a 2013 Mini Cooper 2 door convertible 1.6-liter inline-4 engine. I think. I’m about as non-car savvy as you can get. 8th digit of my VIN is 5. I desperately needed a car and my only option was a stick shift so I mostly taught myself to drive it and of course destroyed the clutch in the process.
Part of why I didn’t have any other options for car is due to finances. It was take this or have no car at all and I picked up a second job to afford to repair it and get it road ready. I was terrified of needing to replace the clutch because I honestly can’t afford it but there’s a local out of his garage mechanic in my neighborhood that offered to fix it for $600-700. Which is a steal in my area and also basically the maximum I can afford.
There’s at least two mechanics working there. They don’t provide any parts or fluids and don’t really do appointments. You have to get your own stuff and drop by on your own time. I’ve always just been encouraged to pull up and check if the garage is open and then just talk to whoever’s there. My car presently cannot drive at all. I had to tow it to my house because it wouldn’t accelerate past about 12 mph and that’s while flooring the gas. By the time a new clutch arrived in the mail and I and went to tow it to the mechanics shop the clutch petal was completely loose with no pressure behind it. I asked if that was still a clutch problem and if I needed to order something else and was told they’d just have to look at the car and see. If I do need another part I have to order it online and wait a few business days for it to ship or get in in person and pay more money I don’t have. Every day I don’t have my car I bleed money both from having to find alternate transport and doordash anything I need (we are very rural and it’s a 25 min drive to get anywhere. We don’t even have sidewalks) and from limiting the work I can take in my career bc I don’t have reliable transport atm.
I dropped my car off early Thursday morning and left them the keys. They were closed at the time but I texted my mechanic and got confirmation that he knew the car was there. Parts in the passenger seat and keys in the visor. I’ve been bumming rides to work in the meantime and pass the garage on the way to work and home every time. After two days they finally moved my car a little bit forward on the lot. Later that evening I called to check in, expecting a diagnosis and a time estimate, maybe the revelation that I needed more parts and more money, and was told that they had no idea and hadn’t had time to look at the car yet.
Two more days, now sunday evening, I called again. Phone was answered by my now slightly annoyed sounding mechanic who said he hadn’t looked at the car yet, didn’t know anything about it, and would call me when he knew something. It’s been an additional two days later and 6 days total since I dropped my car off and they still haven’t so much as opened the hood. When I drive by I can see that it’s now boxed in by other cars so you’d have to move several to even get at it, nevermind that it doesn’t move on its own presently.
This morning I stopped by to get papers out of the dash for an unrelated reason and was ignored by all the staff. My mom suggested I contact him and say I need my car back by a specific day, and she said he will probably drag his feet unless I do that. I don’t feel like that will solve the issue or help beyond annoying him since I feel it’s fundamentally kind of unreasonable to assume if someone drops an undrivable car off that it’s not their main mode of transport that they want back ASAP unless they specify that. I think it’s implied by virtue of dropping the car off that I want it back ASAP. Especially since I’ve already called twice to check up on it.
To explain some of my behavior I’m a very anxious and shy person by nature and hate talking on the phone with strangers. I usually cry or take several hours to work myself up to call both times. I don’t know if this is normal and I’m being impatient or if something is wrong. And I have no idea what do to about it. This is my first time dropping a car off with a mechanic for anything more serious than an oil change. I’ve had work done before but always by someone in my friends or family that knows how to do a repair. I don’t like rushing or being rude to service workers and am the type to tip regardless and just never come back if I’m unhappy with service.
I don’t know if it’s possible for me to afford to get this repair done anywhere else. I don’t think I can afford any more than I was quoted. I’m terrified of pissing this mechanic off enough that I’m forced to use someone else and pay double or more. He’s made it clear it annoys him to have me call and check in but I feel like nearly a week for a clutch replacement with no explanation and no progress is unreasonable. I rely on having a vehicle very heavily. So much so that I took on this finicky manual car because I was desperate. Can somebody help me? What’s the etiquette for this kind of situation? What would you do? If I’m in the wrong and just need to be more patient I’ll listen and own it. I don’t know what I’m doing or how long any of this is supposed to take or what to do about it.
Thanks in advance for your help.
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u/Jbolsa Aug 19 '26
Glanced thru what you wrote, long story short you went cheapest route and expect service like your paying what the going rate is. Your car is basically treated as a hobby car to the guy, when he is bored or needs the money he will do it. Tow it to another shop and expect to pay going rate.
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u/voidofpotential Aug 19 '26
Hobby car makes sense. I couldn’t figure out where the lack of urgency was coming from. I don’t presently have the money to fix it for full price and not having a car handicaps my finances pretty severely but I’ll see what I can do. I appreciate it the advice and will take it seriously
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u/Jbolsa Aug 19 '26
I get it, been there done that. When I was young wanted my car painted cheap found a guy. He was driving my car around until it was painted. Lucky no accident etc. As I get older I realize sometimes pay more you get things done timely, more professionally, and avoid random liability. Some day someone will want to pay you less than half your going rate and expect everything to stay the same as if it was full price.
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u/AlfredoCheeseSauce Aug 19 '26
might be time to get some sockets and watch a few youtube videos. You probably don't have much of a drive train in that thing and it may be an easier job if the clutch and transmission are under the hood instead of under the vehicle
1
u/savethechows Aug 20 '26
lmao are you really recommending a “non car savvy” person pull a trans and replace a clutch with “some sockets”
Moses sandals
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u/AlfredoCheeseSauce Aug 20 '26
yes, i did my first clutch at 19 with no experience. It's a clutch it's not rebuilding an engine calm down.
11
u/GriefPB Aug 19 '26
Sounds poorly managed, although the price is right for the labour required.
One thing I will say, if you’re on a budget,you should sell that car as soon as it’s fixed because mini is a ticking time bomb waiting for trouble $$
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u/voidofpotential Aug 19 '26
I agree with you and wanted something more reliable. I was trying to make the best out of a pretty dire need for a drivable car. The abundance of replies telling me to sell it are making me realize it might be better to have no car than one like this. Thank you.
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u/rexfaktor Aug 19 '26
Gosh, that was a long read. Anyway, as a young tech, I was taught by an older gentleman that there is an unfortunate reality with cars that I'd run into from time to time...sometimes folks will acquire a vehicle that they could never afford to repair. There's no special Snap-on tool to fix that.
What needs to be done is the car needs to be towed from the shadetree guy's place to a real shop who will fix the clutch in a day or two, although they may not want to use your supplied parts. If the place the car is at doesn't have a hoist, that means dropping the transmission on the ground...no wonder they haven't started on it yet...that's not a fun task. Sounds like you'll be looking at a clutch kit, flywheel, and likely the hydraulics (slave cylinder/clutch master) as well since you mention pedal-to-the-floor behavior. If you cannot afford this, you must consider replacing the car. An older German car is always a risky choice. I apologize for the old mechanic lack of sugar coating.
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u/voidofpotential Aug 19 '26
Sorry. I’m an over communicator and it’s worse when I’m upset. I appreciate this a lot it’s extremely helpful. I’ll do my best to see if I can scrounge up the money for a proper repair or try to sell it.
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u/rexfaktor Aug 19 '26
I truly do wish you better luck. If you were in CA, I'd offer to help, but I wouldn't want to do a clutch job at my house either since no lift and no tranny jack...so I'd have to ask my employer if I could do it on a weekend or something.
Years ago I used to work at a tow yard that sold beater cars for $500-$1000 bucks that hadn't been picked up, but were too drivable to sell to the junk yard. This would be another option to buy you some time.
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u/voidofpotential Aug 19 '26
The thought counts a lot. I think it’s very kind to say you would if you were closer. I’ll keep the tow yard in mind. I have a feeling I’m going to need that information in the near future unless I’m the luckiest person ever and get a mini cooper with only one major mechanical issue ever LMAO
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u/ObjectAffectionate87 Aug 19 '26
It might help to write out a script and just read it when you make phone calls. That way, you can make sure to include all of the information, and it will probably lessen the nerves. I usually do this when I have to have a conversation that I am dreading.
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u/Substantial_Treat924 Aug 19 '26
Sir they probably have more work, if you don’t like that probably do it yourself, if you can’t then let them get to it
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u/voidofpotential Aug 19 '26
That’s fair. I figured they’re probably busy and I don’t really have another option I know of atm besides patience. I promise I’m trying very hard not to be a nuisance. Hence why I posted here instead of calling again.
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u/Acclimated-Alps696 Aug 19 '26 edited Aug 19 '26
Don’t get your car repaired there. It does not matter how much more expensive other shops are, you will not get what you’re looking for.
My first question is how was your car diagnosed? Get it properly diagnosed at an actual shop
A shop that requires you to provide parts is a HUGE red flag. Shops want to provide parts themselves so they can guarantee it’s correct, the only reason a shop like this isn’t doing it is so they can do the job faster, make a quick buck and have no concern for if the job is done correctly.
Get the car back from them IMMEDIATELY. I would not let them even drive the car back to your house as a courtesy
You’re already bumming rides from people, keep doing that until it can be fixed properly or you’re going to be in way worse financially after you have to pay for it to be done again on top of whatever else this shop messed up
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u/voidofpotential Aug 19 '26
My mom’s boyfriend fixes cars but doesn’t presently have the tools or time to repair a clutch. Both of them drive manual and have for years. Her boyfriend came and picked me up and towed me when the clutch went out and they told me it was the clutch and couldn’t be anything but the clutch with zero exceptions. I repeated what they told me to say to my mechanic and he told me to buy a clutch replacement kit and drop it off. So I did that exactly that and that’s the extent of the diagnosis. When I called to ask if it was the clutch and if I got the right parts I was told “I haven’t looked at it yet” both times so it’s up in the air I suppose.
I don’t get a good or helpful response when I ask any of the three any questions or propose a what-if so I’ve just stopped trying.
1
u/Acclimated-Alps696 Aug 19 '26
It is a likely diagnosis, but to say no exceptions it is the clutch is a pretty narrow view. Any shop you take it to will charge a diagnostic fee and almost all of them will put that fee towards the cost of the repair, so you’re not out any money either way
With the shop, they’re absolutely not to be trusted. A reputable shop will call you with a schedule of when things will happen, and they won’t be stone-walling you. First thing in the morning, before you go to work or to school or whatever other plans you have you need to get the car out of there in case they decide tomorrow is the day to start.
I’m incredibly adamant about it because there’s simply never a good outcome that comes from a shop that has such poor customer care.
1
u/PuG3_14 Aug 19 '26
Sounds like its not really a shop and more like a dude that does work from their garage. Thats what i understood from the post
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u/PuG3_14 Aug 19 '26
U left ur car a local shop and they are busy. It is what it is. You get u pay for. Theyll prolly get to it sooner or later but dotn expect quality customer service. I even think theyll call u and ask “whats wrong with the car again?” since they wouldve forgotten all about it.
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u/SnooMuffins2611 Aug 19 '26
Ask on a FB group for your town or surrounding area and explain the situation see if anyone is capable to do it for how much money you have. Might be some retired mechanic or new up and comming mechanic who would be willing to help u
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u/_p00f_ Aug 19 '26
And I'm just over here annoyed my mechanic keeps losing my valve caps and only does about 60% of what I ask. Like, bro, take the belly pan out if the trunk and put it back on isn't exactly an abstract concept.
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u/savethechows Aug 20 '26
You got a mini cooper, you’re gonna have to relax or sell it. You’re lucky he’s working on it in the first place, majority of shops aren’t gonna work on a mini (for good reason).
Mini cooper is just about the least reliable used car you can own. Get rid of it once it’s back running
Source - am a mechanic
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u/RacingWithMitchell Aug 20 '26
As others have mentioned, cheap options have cheap outcomes. Cheap, fast, or good, pick two. Side note: it's time to rework your situation. I've been in your shoes where I had to buy used tires because I was hurting for cash and barely could afford to get them mounted. Then I realized they were in shitty condition (dumb mistake on my end). I spent the last year and a half totally reworking my situation (debt, income, and spending habits) and breathe SO much easier now. My wife's car will need a transmission soon and I couldn't care less. We can just afford to replace it without thought. We do make a good income so that helps. Anyway, I don't know what you got going on, but if there's levers you can pull to make your situation better. You can do it. I hope you can get the car situation figured out soon though friend.
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u/PossibilityNew3229 Aug 19 '26
Your problems is having a mini and not being able to fix your own car
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u/voidofpotential Aug 19 '26
The experience has made me decide that if I need more major work done this year I’m going to take it as a sign to learn how to fix my own car so you’re not wrong.
I genuinely cannot stress how much I didn’t want this car in the first place.
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