A neighbor offered to work on my car

debodun

debodun

SF VIP
Location
way upstate in New York, USA
I was talking to my next door neighbor about the CV axle boot on my 2002 Honda Civic. He said he could replace it for a third of the cost two of the other local garages quoted and he has a friend that would let him use his garage. I am not sure about letting someone work on my car whose mechanical skill I don't know. From previous experiences with so-called handymen I've had in to look at my plumbing, they usually make things worse that they were before.
 
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Geesh he has to use someone else's garage? Probably has to borrow the guys tools as well. What happens when he buggers up other parts trying to pull the axle? Or his friend runs out of beer?

I see one hundred million reasons to say NO to the guy. Don't even think about it.
 
Here's how to replace an axle boot.....

https://video.search.yahoo.com/sear...=469aed31b971a9ad84fe5315bee2267c&action=view

This is Not an easy fix...and if not done properly, it could lead to further troubles that would be Very expensive to repair. Thank your neighbor, then go to a reputable garage, or a Honda dealer, and get an estimate. Keep in mind that 95% of the repair costs will be labor...unless they find that the axle/drive also needs replacement, in which case the repair costs might be more than the value of a 20yr. old Honda.
 
My feeling confirmed. That's why I go to a Honda garage or one that specializes in foreign car repair. I think they know their own cars the best. But with the parts shortage, unknown how long it will take. I contact a Honda place months ago and asked them to let me know when they could get the part and have not heard back.

Now I am back to delivering meals and it's a 33 mile route at present. I don't want the wheel coming off when I'm somewhere out in the back roads. I don't have a mobile phone.
 
debodun said:
My feeling confirmed. That's why I go to a Honda garage or one that specializes in foreign car repair. I think they know their own cars the best. But with the parts shortage, unknown how long it will take. I contact a Honda place months ago and asked them to let me know when they could get the part and have not heard back.
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If you "contacted" a dealer...months ago....there is a good chance that the axle lube has been depleted/contaminated by now....and the axle drive and bearings have likely suffered damage....leaving you at high risk of a breakdown on the road....and/or repair costs of hundreds of dollars. Give the dealer another call...or better yet, go there. If they can't give you a repair appointment, start looking for another vehicle.
 
debodun said:
My feeling confirmed. That's why I go to a Honda garage or one that specializes in foreign car repair. I think they know their own cars the best. But with the parts shortage, unknown how long it will take. I contact a Honda place months ago and asked them to let me know when they could get the part and have not heard back.

Now I am back to delivering meals and it's a 33 mile route at present. I don't want the wheel coming off when I'm somewhere out in the back roads. I don't have a mobile phone.
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why don't you buy a mobile phone Deb ?... it doesn't have to be a fancy IPhone ..it can be the most basic of phones, and doesn't have to have a camera or anything other than the capability to make calls.. they're as easy to use as your house phone, ..you live alone, you go out driving alone, you need a little phone for emergencies...they cost pennies per month if you get a pay-as-you-go card and in most cases nothing at all to text...
 
I'd get the part from Ebay and have the neighbor replace it for you. The sooner the better. A month ago would have been good.
I did all the work on my Honda Civic, including many things that I'd not done before, and all came out wonderfully.
Since then I've changed all the fluids in my Toyota Prius. I'm not a car person, but I am quite frugal and like things done right.
P.S. I don't use a mobile phone either.
 
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To me it seems to be a matter of saving some money vs. your peace of mind. If money is the issue, then go to 3 different garages and get a written quote from them and then compare apples with apples. If my neighbour did the job, I would be worried whether he did a good job. If something goes wrong, you have no warranty and you are royally "screwed." It really pays to know and support a good garage and a good mechanic that does good work time and time again for a reasonable price. Don't go to some garage that tries to tell you that you have 1/2 dozen things wrong with your car. Trust is important in garage work. All good garages deserve and do get repeat business.
 
excellent advice on here. I would definitely not let a person do that. If he messes up, could be hard to recoup the loss.

Doing business with a neighbor is almost always a horrible idea.

That business interaction goes bad, and now you are living next to someone for 10 or 20 years, with tension in the air.

Not worth it.

And, as someone else mentioned, if he gets hurt, he could sue...

all in all, definitely not worth it.
 
JonSR77 said:
Doing business with a neighbor is almost always a horrible idea.
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QFT.

Deb, just because the garage said they’d call, they’ve likely forgotten all about you. Try them again or another garage.

If your car has become a danger to drive, have you looked into leasing for a year. The general opinion is that this is not the year to be trying to purchase a car.
 
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