Home  |  Forums  |  914 Info  |  Blogs
 
914World.com - The fastest growing online 914 community!
 
Porsche, and the Porsche crest are registered trademarks of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. This site is not affiliated with Porsche in any way.
Its only purpose is to provide an online forum for car enthusiasts. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
 

Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

2 Pages V  1 2 >  
 Reply to this topicStart new topic
> Shop etiquette
patssle
post Mar 14 2011, 12:57 PM
Post #1


Senior Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 981
Joined: 28-August 09
From: Houston, TX
Member No.: 10,741
Region Association: None
I'm going to take my 914 in this week to the shop to get the transmission rebuilt. I've never had anybody work on that car before, so it'll be a first.

The tranny is pretty gunky at the botton due to leaks and my attempts to plug the leaks. Is it appropriate to clean it before going in, or is it expected for old cars to be full of crud? Only thing I worry about is cleaning will open up the leaks and create a gusher - the shop is 60 miles away.

Might sound silly, but just curious what others do.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
montoya 73 2.0
post Mar 14 2011, 01:04 PM
Post #2


Lack of consideration to others, and Selfish!
***

Group: Members
Posts: 1,791
Joined: 27-October 04
From: Paso Robles, Ca.
Member No.: 3,016
Region Association: Central California
I would ask the shop what they prefer. Some shops will charge you for cleaning up.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
jimkelly
post Mar 14 2011, 01:05 PM
Post #3


Delaware USA
****

Group: Members
Posts: 4,969
Joined: 5-August 04
From: Delaware, USA
Member No.: 2,460
Region Association: MidAtlantic Region
must be pretty bad : )

to be considerate - call the shop and/or send them a few pics.

i can't imagine any shop asking you to clean it before bringing it in.

jim
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Sawfish
post Mar 14 2011, 01:08 PM
Post #4


Newbie
*

Group: Members
Posts: 43
Joined: 28-January 09
From: San Diego
Member No.: 9,990
Region Association: Southwest Region
QUOTE(patssle @ Mar 14 2011, 11:57 AM) *

I'm going to take my 914 in this week to the shop to get the transmission rebuilt. I've never had anybody work on that car before, so it'll be a first.

The tranny is pretty gunky at the botton due to leaks and my attempts to plug the leaks. Is it appropriate to clean it before going in, or is it expected for old cars to be full of crud? Only thing I worry about is cleaning will open up the leaks and create a gusher - the shop is 60 miles away.

Might sound silly, but just curious what others do.

In my opion it is in your best interest as well as being the right thing to do. Your mechanic may not complain about a dirty engine however in order for him to give you quality work it must be cleaned. If you clean it as much as you can first then your ulitmatley payng your mechanic for his experience and knowledge rather than paying him to do the dirty job. Just my two cents. the flip side is does the mess underneath streamline the mechanics abiltity to diagnose and isolate your specific issue.
Good luck
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
markb
post Mar 14 2011, 01:11 PM
Post #5


914less :(
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 5,449
Joined: 22-January 03
From: Nipomo, CA
Member No.: 180
Region Association: Central California
QUOTE(jimkelly @ Mar 14 2011, 12:05 PM) *


i can't imagine any shop asking you to clean it before bringing it in.

jim

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Spoke
post Mar 14 2011, 01:15 PM
Post #6


Jerry
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 6,978
Joined: 29-October 04
From: Allentown, PA
Member No.: 3,031
Region Association: None
I'd pull the trans out of the car in my garage then clean the case and take it in.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
JRust
post Mar 14 2011, 01:36 PM
Post #7


914 Guru
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 6,307
Joined: 10-January 03
From: Corvallis Oregon
Member No.: 129
Region Association: Pacific Northwest
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) . If they are only doing your transmission. Pull it clean it & take it in. IF you plan to have them do other work then take it in. While cleaning it up some would be nice it isn't critical. The points made above are sound. In the long run it will cost you less if it is cleaned before hand.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
rick 918-S
post Mar 14 2011, 01:37 PM
Post #8


Hey nice rack! -Celette
***************

Group: Members
Posts: 20,460
Joined: 30-December 02
From: Now in Superior WI
Member No.: 43
Region Association: Northstar Region
If it were me I would at least give it a quicky. $ 10.00 at the self serve car wash vs what... $90.00 hr.shop rate? I would have to charge you shop labor rates to clean the thing in order to fine the leak. I doubt your mechanic will care if you clean it first. Your not going to make it perfect at the self serve but getting the first layer off will help.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
orange914
post Mar 14 2011, 02:10 PM
Post #9


http://5starmediaworks.com/index.html
****

Group: Members
Posts: 3,371
Joined: 26-March 05
From: Ceres, California
Member No.: 3,818
Region Association: Northern California
40 years of baked on engine and trans oil doesn't clean off easily. unless you want to pay a fortune or be dissatisfied with a bad clean up (grim hides leaks), i'd do it first.

more often than not, i've found a dirty car (exterior) even encourages that level repair.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
patssle
post Mar 14 2011, 02:15 PM
Post #10


Senior Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 981
Joined: 28-August 09
From: Houston, TX
Member No.: 10,741
Region Association: None
Thanks guys!

Is using a pressure washer ok or does that force water into the tranny, especially with it being a leaky tranny? *goes to search*
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
orange914
post Mar 14 2011, 02:23 PM
Post #11


http://5starmediaworks.com/index.html
****

Group: Members
Posts: 3,371
Joined: 26-March 05
From: Ceres, California
Member No.: 3,818
Region Association: Northern California
QUOTE(patssle @ Mar 14 2011, 12:15 PM) *

Thanks guys!

Is using a pressure washer ok or does that force water into the tranny, especially with it being a leaky tranny? *goes to search*

if your taking it in right away, i wouldn't worry about a carefully blasted case. i used to always soak really grungy areas with wd40 an hour or two before steam cleaning, you'd be surprised how well that soaks in and loosens the touch stuff. just get it off before it dries.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Cairo94507
post Mar 14 2011, 02:30 PM
Post #12


Michael
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 9,759
Joined: 1-November 08
From: Auburn, CA
Member No.: 9,712
Region Association: Northern California
Personally, I think it is the right thing to do to make it easier for the mechanic to see what he has got and make it a cleaner job for you.
If he pulls the transaxle, I would ask if he has the ability to clean it up nice, all the areas you may not be able to get while it is in the car, before it goes back into the car. Then see if you can come in and clean the area of the car above the transaxle yourself while it is out of the car.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
SLITS
post Mar 14 2011, 02:34 PM
Post #13


"This Utah shit is HARSH!"
**********

Group: Benefactors
Posts: 13,602
Joined: 22-February 04
From: SoCal Mountains ...
Member No.: 1,696
Region Association: None
If pressure washing, wrap vent with tape to avoid getting water inside tranny.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
GeorgeRud
post Mar 14 2011, 03:05 PM
Post #14


Advanced Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 3,725
Joined: 27-July 05
From: Chicagoland
Member No.: 4,482
Region Association: Upper MidWest
I can't think of any mechanic that wouldn't appreciate you cleaning the junk off the trans.

There really aren't all that many places that trannies leak from, and I assume he will be addressing them all wwhen he's working on the trans.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
McMark
post Mar 14 2011, 03:35 PM
Post #15


914 Freak!
***************

Group: Retired Admin
Posts: 20,179
Joined: 13-March 03
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Member No.: 419
Region Association: None
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) Cleaning is expensive. I don't expect people to clean up, but it sure is nice when I get to work on a clean engine/trans.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
zymurgist
post Mar 14 2011, 03:40 PM
Post #16


"Ace" Mechanic
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 7,411
Joined: 9-June 05
From: Hagerstown, MD
Member No.: 4,238
Region Association: None
I had a well respected musclecar guy go over the T-10 in my Corvette. I cleaned the tranny before I handed it over to him. Of course it was out of the car at the time.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Root_Werks
post Mar 14 2011, 03:50 PM
Post #17


Village Idiot
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 8,321
Joined: 25-May 04
From: About 5NM from Canada
Member No.: 2,105
Region Association: Pacific Northwest
In my experience, the nicer condition something is before you do the hand-off, the better the other party will care for it.

Took my POS squareback in to get it aligned months back. Cleaned it, spottless, nothing anywhere. Looked great. Got it back that way. The shop guy had put a seat cover and floor mat cover in it. Made sure to leave them in the car so I'd see them.

Toss a mechanic a greasy heap of parts or crusty tranny, they'll think you don't care THAT much about it. So what's the big beef if it comes back to you not 100% clean or if it get's kicked around the shop floor for a while? Or sits outside until they have room and time to work on it?
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
monkeyboy
post Mar 14 2011, 04:48 PM
Post #18


Senior Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 808
Joined: 8-June 08
From: Los Angeles, Ca
Member No.: 9,147
Region Association: None
Since you don't want that crud inside your trans, someone has to clean it.

I know my old ATV engine builder would tell you up front that if you brought it in dirty, you would be charged for a cleaning. He needed clean parts.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Dr Evil
post Mar 14 2011, 07:11 PM
Post #19


Send me your transmission!
***************

Group: Members
Posts: 22,999
Joined: 21-November 03
From: Loveland, OH 45140
Member No.: 1,372
Region Association: MidAtlantic Region
Knock off the chunks. Most people do that before they send their transmissions to me. If you are paying a shop to pull and rebuild your transmission then you must have $$ so dont worry about a dirty box (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Shops charge a huge amount for the build.
User is online!Profile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
ripper911
post Mar 14 2011, 07:16 PM
Post #20


corde pulsum tangite
****

Group: Members
Posts: 2,920
Joined: 25-April 10
From: Powder Springs, GA
Member No.: 11,654
Region Association: South East States
I once got a complaint from the shop that "you couldn't even tell there was an engine in there".

I do drive my car everyday, no matter the weather.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
« Next Oldest · 914World Garage · Next Newest »
 

2 Pages V  1 2 >
Reply to this topicStart new topic
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:

 

Display Mode: Standard · Switch to: Linear+ · Switch to: Outline

Track this topic · Email this topic · Print this topic · Subscribe to this forum

- Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 17th May 2024 - 02:17 PM
Invision Power Board v9.1.4 © 2024  IPS, Inc.
All rights reserved 914World.com © since 2002
914World.com is the fastest growing online 914 community!
We have it all, classifieds, events, forums, vendors, parts, autocross, racing, technical articles, events calendar, newsletter, restoration, gallery, archives, history and more for your Porsche 914 ...