Proof of the pudding

[unixronin]

The ultimate confirmation if any problem diagnosis is, "Does the repair of the diagnosed cause correct the original observed problem?"

On Tuesday, I ordered a replacement for one of the Mercedes' two ignition coils, along with a new ignition harness since one of the spark plug boots was damaged (the extension puller was broken off).  Both came from an online import parts store, eGermanParts.  They shipped me the parts second-day air for about half the list price of the same parts through a dealer (just under $60 for the coil, about $80 for the complete ignition harness).

The coil and harness arrived this afternoon.  It only took about ten minutes to put them in, after which I took the car for a test drive down into Merrimack, then up to Bedford -- not a long run, but with the suspect coil in place, it would have been coughing and stumbling by the time I passed Shaw's Supermarket about a quarter of the way into the trip.  It ran smooth as silk all the way to Bedford and back.

I reiterate:  "Vacuum leak, my ass."

Comments

[radarrider.livejournal.com]

Are you going to try to obtain a refund from the mechanic who diagnosed the non-existent vacuum leak in the first place?

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

I doubt it's worth trying. I only went there to get the trouble codes read out from the engine, which they'd probably have charged me $40 for anyway. I have my own ODB-II reader now, so I won't need that service any more, and I can't get the time back (and I'd lose a lot more time trying). I just won't go back there again for anything except gas.

[ithildae.livejournal.com]

You should let the owner of the garage know why.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

What I will do is stop in the next time I'm there for gas and just mention that unproven vacuum leaks had nothing to do with it, it was a bad coil.

[ithildae.livejournal.com]

That gives you personal satisfaction, but does not help the situation. I am assuming this is a small business, it really doesn't matter. There is a mechanic costing them customers (money) for just cause. That kind of thing can kill a business. If the situation were reversed, wouldn't you want to know?

What would you do if you had to work with a sys admin that claimed every hard problem was a permissions issue? I assume you would want him to either learn better, or get gone. This mechanic needs the same treatment. You can help provide that treatment.