Car Service Woes

[tw]

I have preformed most every oil change for well over 30 years. It also provides some important information. I know where those mechanics hands have been and I see problems before problems can happen.

For example, a Firestone dealer in Montgomeryville. I told him these are the original tires (at 107,000 and 9 years). He insisted that I need a wheel alignment. You tell me. Never had a wheel alignment in 9 years. Never had tires wear unevenly. I know there was nothing to go out of alignment (which means I don't own a GM product).

With new tires is a different position on the wheel. Dealer tells me this will happen with new tires. (IOW he called me a religious fool.) Fresh wrench marks on a bolt that can change the alignment. The realignment was exactly one full turn on that adjuster. I see things underneath the car every few months because I change my oil. If something has changed, well, I saw what it looked like previously.

PA has a screwy inspection that requires a mechanic to remove all wheels. I must go back, break those wheel lugs, and retorque them to proper settings. It has helped to identify honest shops. Honest mechanics don't torque those 65 foot pound bolts to something in excess of 100 foot pounds. Make a flat tire almost impossible to change. Just another little fact that helps identify honest mechanics. The devil - such as the Firestone dealer at Montgomery Mall - is exposed by such details.