Return-Path: Received: from b.gp.cs.cmu.edu by K.GP.CS.CMU.EDU id aa24191; 6 Jul 89 18:34:16 EDT Date: Thu, 6 Jul 89 18:33:13 EDT From: David.Kosbie@B.GP.CS.CMU.EDU To: bovik@K.GP.CS.CMU.EDU Subject: Automobile Tune-Up Info This was a request for a place to get a good tune-up, even if it wasn't the absolute cheapest one around, so long as it (1) wasn't absurdly expensive; (2) was done by honest, competent mechanics. Personally, I vehemently disrecommend Mervis Nissan -- they routinely create problems where there weren't any, and do truly poor and unreasonably costly work. Here are the results: -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- RECOMMENDATIONS: GoodYear at Monroeville Mall Dale Hinds, I-79 North (near Butler), 368-8292, $22/hour Precision Tune-Up, East Liberty, 12-month/12,000-mile warranty *** This was also disrecommended. Rudy Molnar's Service Center, in Shadyside, corner of S. Graham and Baum Hess Exxon on Forbes and Craig Pawlak's Gulf (across the street from Mervis Motors). -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- DISRECOMMENDATIONS: Mervis Motors (in part., Mervis Nissan) Precision Tune-Up, East Liberty *** This was also recommended. Ron Gerenyi Mobil in Squirrel Hill (unitemized $50 bill in one case!) -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ACTUAL RESPONSES: I had my car tuned up (advice from previous owner) at Goodyear at the Monroeville Mall. Fast & accurate, customer oriented and my car runs very well again. Recommended! -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- I never thought I'd recommend that you drive an hour and a half to get your car tuned up, but I'm going to do exactly that. Several months ago, I bought a 1980 diesel Rabbit that ran extremely roughly. Before I had a chance to get the timing checked (my theorized cause of the problems), my boyfriend took it kayaking and it died at McConnell's Mill State Park in Portersville. Wary of dealers, I had it towed to a local garage that got *incredible* reviews from everyone in the area, including other garages. Having picked up my car a week ago, I add my voice to the praising chorus. Dale Hinds is a stellar mechanic that charges a mere $22/hour and far exceeds the minimum standards for excellence, competence and honesty. Everyone associated with that garage was very personable and went out of their ways to accomodate me, Dale was wonderful about answering all of my questions and explaining the work he did to me, and the car runs better than the much newer Honda Accord that I've been driving. All in all, I couldn't imagine giving this guy a higher recommendation, and our Honda is going up there next month for a tune-up. The number is 368-8292 and the garage is right off the Portersville exit from I-79 North (near Butler). Let me know if you need better directions or more info, and let me know how the work goes if you take your car out there. Good luck, Lauren P.S. After all was said and done, I got my Rabbit back with a replaced pulley key and new timing belt, four new glow plugs, a new emergency brake cable and a new headlight for $200 total. Honest. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- I had good experience with Precision Tune up in East Liberty. They give a 12 months/12,000 mile warranty and did not do any monkey business about honoring it. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Do NOT go to Precision Tune on Baum. They "fixed" my wife's car so that it stalls very often. I took it back once for the to correct the stalling and the guy broke out the plug that prevents you from changing the idle speed and turned up the idle (Gee, it stalls, lets turn up the idle speed...). Well that didn't help, and it DID confuse the computer that is supposed to control the idle speed. Since it was obvious they are incompetent we took the car to Cochran Pontiac to have them fix the damage. They still can't figure out whay Precision Tune did to screw it up! We are about ready to trade in the car because we have little hope of ever getting it to run well again. P.S. On modern cars, the "tune-up" itself is really trivial. You change the plugs and adjust the timing. If you don't have electronic ignition you have to set the points. However, there are a number of other things that most "tune-up" places also do. For one, your fuel filter really should be changed every 15,000 miles (according to most manufacturers). The PCV valve and filter are other things that need changing occasionally (although less often). Several places will also suggest that you let them clean your fuel injector (if you have one). Places can screw up any number of these things (although the PCV filter is pretty hard to mess up). Personally I suspect that they screwed up my fuel injector. Try to go in as an informed customer so that you will have a good idea of what is reasonable. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- I recommend Rudy Molnar's Service Center, in Shadyside at the corner of South Graham and Baum. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- I like Hess Exxon on Forbes and Craig for all kinds of cars. They seem honest and efficient, and have never broken anything while fixing it for me (Knock on wood). I am sure they will do Hondas. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- I've had good luck taking my Toyota to Pawlak's Gulf, which is right across the street from Mervis Motors. They've always been upfront with me: if they find something wrong, they will call you, tell you what they found, tell you what they feel they should do to fix it, and then let you decide. They're prices are reasonable, too. I would avoid Ron Gerenyi Mobil in Squirrel Hill. They're work is ok, but they tend to be a bit secretive about what they do to your car. I got a tuneup there once that was advertised at 40$, and ended up with a bill for 90$. The extra 50$ was for "miscellaneous parts", ie they didn't give me an itemized bill. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-