I disagree with just rollong over and humbly accepting your mechanic knows it all -- like any other profession, there's a few bad ones out there that make it imperative that you get as informed as possible even if you can't turn a wrench. I'm thankful that my mechanic is outstanding -- a very experienced racer and wrench. But, he has enough sense to know he doesn't know everything about everything. He appreciates when I provide some insight from the Forum -- saves us both time and me some $$$$. At the same time, I stay WAY out of his way when he works on my car -- my presence would be help he could do without

 

Always wondered this same thing myself

 

Sorry for the long time in offering a response, haven't revisited the thread since last week. As it was explained to me by new tire manaufacturer's rep, when you install a plug, you don't always dismount the tire, so you don't know what it looks like on the inside. Sometimes cords/wires/belts, whathave you, are poked through quite a bit by whatever damamged the tire, and this can cause a bubble, or separation of threads/belts. This can lead to a blow out. One problem I saw a lot was people using plugs in sidewalls, which is very dangerous. The sidewall is what holds the tire up. Heat and pressure wear on the sidewalls, and a plug only makes the problem worse. Sure, there are times a plug is fine, but they can work themselves back out of a tire, and often do.
I keep a plug kit in my daily driver as well, but only for quick fixes until I can get the tire properly patched. BTW, fuzzy plugs showing on your tire tread really ghettos up you vette.

 

Untill they strip your drain plug,or they leave the old rubber gasket stuck to the filter adapator.

 

I bought the muffler bearing eliminator kit. It was a little more expensive but the install waas free.

 

You forgot them leaving the oil fill cap off or my personal favorite forgetting to put the oil in the car. Ask me how I know this!!

 

Oh,glad to here it was free for you.
Ex had a guy tell her the car's oil quality sensor was bad. Seems 83 Firebirds have a problem with those sensors going bad, he only wanted to charge her $30 to fix. She told him she would have to talk to me and she called me froma certain jiffy shop and I ask her to put me on the phone w/the manager. Well to make a long story short, we got a free oil change and all filters and I did not have him hauled into court.

 

Thanks for the "explain". Makes a LOT more sense to me now.
I would've NEVER considered plugging the sidewall of a tire!!! I have plugged the tread on a couple of occasions while out on road trips (had them fixed properly when I made the destination (or returned back home, depending on how long the trip would be). I knew plugging them wasn't considered a permanent fix........but never have thought to ask why. Now I know.



my father had an oil change place replace an engine in a truck for this very reason (the original had 249,000 on it with squeaky clean oil)!!!!!
The oil change shop soaked up 100% of the costs associated with it (including a rental car for the duration of repairs). Believe it or not.......and strange as it may sound.........this is the only place I will allow to change the oil in the vette. That happened almost 15 years ago. I understand that "poop happens".......and that was just a bad mistake made by an employee that wasn't paying attention (hey, it happens). They have me open and close the hood on the vette and have told me to stand by and watch as they did the work so that NOTHING was missed. I take 6 different vehicles to them on a regular basis (except the diesel van (costs to damned much to have a shop do that oil change)), and the vette is the one that gets the most respect while being worked on. They won't drive it in the bay or drive it out (perfectly fine by me). Matter of fact, they were the ones that alerted me that my brakes might be getting a bit thin. I just finished changing the pads an hour or so ago.


Sure not trying to hijack the thread...........just started typing and forgot to stop (no unusual for me though ).

 

Just had coffee with a friend,who told me yesterday he went to a Budget brake and muffler shop to have his brakes checked(free service).
They told him the brakes looked good,but he really( now wait for it)he really should (I still can't believe this). He really should have his brakes CLEANED yah cleaned.You know what can happen when your brakes get OH NO dirty.YUP for $180.00 he could drive out confident knowing his brakes were CLEAN!!!!!!! PLLLLLLEEEEAAASE