The guy at the auto shop who called my check engine light a 'personality trait'

Back in 2019 I had this old Honda Civic that threw a code every other week. Took it to a shop on Elm Street in Portland and the mechanic just laughed, said 'that light is just your car's personality trait, don't sweat it.' He showed me how to check the gas cap first, saved me $200 in diagnostic fees. Has anyone else ran into a mechanic who actually taught you something instead of just trying to sell you parts?

2 comments

2 Comments

hugo8251mo agoMost Upvoted

Tbh, that "character" of an old building thing is spot on. I lived in a place built in the 1920s and every creak and groan in the floorboards was just the house "settling" according to my landlord. Except one time it was a pipe about to burst in the wall. It's the same with cars and houses - people use that term to brush off stuff that might actually be a problem later. But the real trick is knowing which noises and lights are just quirks and which ones mean you gotta drop cash. That mechanic who showed you the gas cap trick? That's gold. Most places would've just plugged in the scanner and handed you a $200 bill without even looking under the hood.

thomas2751mo ago

Kind of like how every weird noise in my house is just the "character" of a 90 year old building.

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