I don't know what's worse, the incompetence or the indifferent attitude about giving you timely and proper service. Keep this place in your rear-view mirror.

It is so hard to find a decent shop and even our mechanic sometimes has to go back and do it again. He always gets it fixed though so we go back to him because they seem to be the best there is around here.

We have been going to this place for years. Changed names a while ago, but the same people stayed around. Didn’t see the usual manager this time, hope he was just on vacation. The new cars go to the dealership while they are under warranty for service, but it’s so much easier to go to this place. 10 minutes one way instead of 30 to the dealership.

I've owned my Honda Civic hybrid for about twelve years. I once took it to my local mechanic for an oil change. He somehow damaged or broke screws on the oil pan. i later took it to a place that specisalizes in quick oil changes for an oil change and they informed the broken items prevented them from changing the oil. Since that time, I've only had routine servicing done at the Honda dealer. A month ago, the oil light came on. i thought it would be a simple oil change, about $30. Honda found the brakes were bad, rotors were worn unuvenly. Cost me $905 to get it safe to drive. *Sigh*

Iris....Is it a Honda? They do have pretty good reputations. If you like the shop and money & times no object...heeeey.....it got done. Glad your back on the road.

It’s a Toyota Sienna. Usually working very well for it’s age. Knock on wood. And a lot less recalls than the Kia Soul and Sorento my daughters have.

Recalls are most often a reflection of quality or functional problems caused by components made by parts suppliers and not the car brand itself. I wouldn't use that as a measure of anything.

A perfect example, the large number of car models (from Asian to American to European brands) having recalls because of defective (and dangerous) air bags from the Japanese company Takata.

I normally change the brake lamps on my cars. Its not that hard, that is, if you first go the the auto parts store and get the right lamp before you attempt the change-out.

When I travel, I keep plastic box of assorted lamps and fuses in my car. That has come in handy in remote places, that is, if there is also the a proper set of screw drivers and nut runners in the car.

I too am in the diy lamp replacement camp. It really is easy to do, just open the trunk, pull the carpet back and locate the bulb. They usually have a bulb assembly that twists out of the tailight housing. Once you've identified and twisted out the correct bulb assembly, you just unscrew the old bulb, screw in the new and put everything back as it was. Takes maybe 15 minutes.

I know how to change a tire, check the oil and fill up fluids, that’s about it. Pretty sure I could figure out a bulb, but it was due for an oil change anyways. Wonder if the bulb went out because the switch was already iffy or if something went wrong the other way around. When I went to the shop the first time, just the one brake light was not working and after the new bulb went in all three of them just stayed on constantly. At least it works now. Very uncomfortable knowing the person behind you can’t see you braking.

I sometimes roll down my window at a red light, give a light "beep" on the horn, hold up my hand with fingers working like a talking mouth, and when the other driver rolls down the window, tell her/him that there are three brake lights in back, looking like all is in order. Usually get a "Thank you".

But if one (or two) lights are out, I usually try to give such a message, and if I know the light ahead is likely to be going for an interval, and I'm not beside but behind the other diver, have been known to run ahead and tell the driver. Seldom have held up the traffic behind me.

Safety on the road is important ... and being down to one brake light is one light short of a (potential) disaster.

ole joyfuelled

What a run around! I am sorry you are having to deal with this. I am totally at the mercy of the mechanic at our local Buick dealership and just hope he is always truthful and fair when I deal with him.

Joyfulguy, thank you for that! I wouldn’t have noticed the one being out if my brother in law wouldn’t have been behind me by coincidence last week. At least with a turning signal not working the display on the dashboard goes double time.

What a pain! Hope you don't have to deal with anything like that for a long, long time. Mechanics are like hair dressers. When you find a good one, don't ever let them go!