Posted by Sean Mc Gettigan on July 30, 2009, 9:10 am, in reply to "Re: Bad posting #"
Morning all, Firstly I agree with George the posting is diabolical in some cases,but this happens every few years almost in a cycle.
Moving on, I love the term 'common fault'. This is the single biggest trap for anyone doing diagnostics. What makes a problem a common fault? Who decides its a common fault? Why is it a commmon fault.
In my experiance it leads back to another problem which is 'I priced the part and the partsman said they sell loads of them' ie its a common fault.
Most of this is caused by incorrect diagnosis,the part being cheap so worth a try first or parts been sold because the part was fitted the last time I had this problem and it fixed it (even on a completely differant car/system!!) Eg's 1. Lambda sensors + CATs would both be classed as 'common faults' but very rarly are actually faulty ie fuel trim fault code = lambda sensor + CAT!! 2. Crank + CAM sensors on Nissan's, loads sold = common fault but again not the actual problem 3. Key aerials on renaults, loads sold = common fault but I have NEVER had a faulty unit.
So this takes us back to the problem of poor posting + poor technical ability. Yes we all know there are systems with weakness's, so if you get one in and suspect the weak spot then you test it and prove the point. If someone on a forum comes on looking for a 'common fault' then you know that if you post the weak area to be tested from previous experiance, the testing WILL NOT be done, a part will be thrown at it and see what happens! If it fixes it you're a hero, if not you're an ar***ole and dont know what you're talking about. Either way the poster still has no idea what they have done or how to apply the fault/repair to another car with a similar problem so basically no better than kwik fit throwing parts at cars.
I can hear the shouts already, but if you're too busy you need a silver bullet to 'save' you time. Save who time? Time is what we sell in diagnostics, if it takes time it costs money so why give it away? If you are standing in line at your supermarket to pay for your shopping how many times have you been told to just go ahead + have the shopping for free because we're too busy? Doesn't happen, you need to wait, end of. How does it help you're customer to fit a completely unnecessary part and then they have to return the next day again. It just gets us all a bad rep, highly unprofessional.
Scanners and fault codes DO NOT fix cars, good technicans + good training/testing does. Cars are becoming more complex daily, if you cannot understand even the basic's today what do you think the future hold's for you?? Get off your arse and do some training, show an interest in your own future. If your not prepared to do this then find someone in your area who is and stop moaning when you get billed to fix something you cannot!
Won't please eveyone I know but sometimes the truth hurts. Regards Sean