I miss full service gas stations..REALLY

SifuPhil said:
Uh, dealers ... the new robber barons.

But what can you do? That damned little light comes on, even the best backyard mechanics are stumped. Today's computer-controlled cars are a nightmare to work on.

So much for technology, eh?

I used to keep my cars running with a screwdriver and some duct tape. You can't get away with that today.
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That's for sure. With today's cars, if you don't have a factory shop manual, and a $1500 code reader, there is little chance of finding or fixing some of the "computerized" issues that can crop up. Even something simple like changing the spark plugs can be a real chore....with all the crap and plumbing that is on some of the engines...especially the lateral mounted V6's, My "favorite" is Traction Control/ABS error messages on these new cars. A dealer can easily charge 100's of dollars to "find/fix" those problems. In reality, most of the time, those errors are caused by a dirty Mass Air Flow sensor...located between the air filter, and the Throttle Body intake. This is such a common problem that you can buy a cleaning kit from Walmart, for under $10....But, the dealers aren't going to tell you that.
 

an old Chevy Vega..1974.

Oh Mahnnn, do you remember those things???!!! Every one I ever saw was blowing smoke or doing dickens knows what...the Edsel of our generation.
 
Don M. said:
That's for sure. With today's cars, if you don't have a factory shop manual, and a $1500 code reader, there is little chance of finding or fixing some of the "computerized" issues that can crop up. Even something simple like changing the spark plugs can be a real chore....with all the crap and plumbing that is on some of the engines...especially the lateral mounted V6's, My "favorite" is Traction Control/ABS error messages on these new cars. A dealer can easily charge 100's of dollars to "find/fix" those problems. In reality, most of the time, those errors are caused by a dirty Mass Air Flow sensor...located between the air filter, and the Throttle Body intake. This is such a common problem that you can buy a cleaning kit from Walmart, for under $10....But, the dealers aren't going to tell you that.
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Actually, I had a similar thing happen a couple years ago. My neighbor, an old shade tree mechanic, told me to take the computer readout (which I had gotten from my bud at the oil change place) up to a place he trusted, and VOILA! for a mere $40 and a new air filter, I got my "fuel too rich" problem taken care of and passed my emissions test.

I avoid dealers like the plague -- they WAY overcharge.
 

Don M. said:
That's for sure. With today's cars, if you don't have a factory shop manual, and a $1500 code reader, there is little chance of finding or fixing some of the "computerized" issues that can crop up. Even something simple like changing the spark plugs can be a real chore....with all the crap and plumbing that is on some of the engines...especially the lateral mounted V6's, My "favorite" is Traction Control/ABS error messages on these new cars. A dealer can easily charge 100's of dollars to "find/fix" those problems. In reality, most of the time, those errors are caused by a dirty Mass Air Flow sensor...located between the air filter, and the Throttle Body intake. This is such a common problem that you can buy a cleaning kit from Walmart, for under $10....But, the dealers aren't going to tell you that.
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Oh, man, I went crazy for a full week trying to diagnose and repair a Mass Air Flow sensor on my '88 Vette.

It wasn't until I called an old Vette guy and he set me straight on it that I was able to repair it.
 
AprilT said:
I first learned and started my driving in New Jersey, so imagine my surprise my first visit to Florida, me at the gas pump, sitting waiting and waiting and wondering what the heck was going on when not one person came out to assist me. I finally after observing a few other people getting out their car and putting gas in their own cars, I asked in a rather incredulously voice, why they were pumping their own gas and someone was nice enough to explain and show me how to do it. I wasn't that could at it for a while, there was a time or two, I would pull the pump out of the gasket and still have my finger on the part to let gas out, people didn't appreciate that at all especially the time I got gas on the car on the other side. :eek:

Prior to such incidences back in Jersey there was the time I didn't know about changing the oil and the whole anti-freeze thing until my car practically caught fire. Thank goodness it was still under warranty and the big fix cost me zilch. I truly lucked out in the situation. I was totally clueless when it came to car maintenance, likely because I just hated everything to do with cars and driving anyway, so, it was the last thing I cared to invest time in getting to know about though it would have benefited me to learn. This was definitely one area, I got taken advantage of many a time. I even fell for the, I will give you same car care and prices as I do for my mother and other family. :rolleyes: Boy was I a sucker.
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One of my jobs as a youngster, 16, I worked at the local gas station. Working the pumps was a one-man operation. I pumped the gas, washed the windshield and checked the oil and tires after asking, "Check the oil and tires?" On Saturdays, I washed cars. We charged $2.00 for a wash and vacuum, including doing the windows. I was tipped anywhere from a dime to a quarter. One guy laid a buck on me, but it was my Dad.
 
Wow Ken. and to think i Australia we dont even have 1c or 2c coins any more!

What I dont understand is, we used to drive straight up to the choice of 2-3 pumps, and the one guy working there would come out immediately and "fill her up" checking under the bonnet as it filled. The he would collect the cash, take it inside and return with the change. Now there's a often a choice of up to 12 pumps, and a couple of workers who sit inside at the counter taking money ... and there always a queue waiting for an available pump!!! I think if there was full service these days, the wait could be hours!
 
Vee said:
Wow Ken. and to think i Australia we dont even have 1c or 2c coins any more!

What I dont understand is, we used to drive straight up to the choice of 2-3 pumps, and the one guy working there would come out immediately and "fill her up" checking under the bonnet as it filled. The he would collect the cash, take it inside and return with the change. Now there's a often a choice of up to 12 pumps, and a couple of workers who sit inside at the counter taking money ... and there always a queue waiting for an available pump!!! I think if there was full service these days, the wait could be hours!
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Down here in Texas we have Buc-ee's !!! The store features 120 fuel pumps, 83 toilets, 31 cash registers, 4 Icee machines, 80 fountain dispensers
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bucees gas pumps.jpg80-120 fueling positions...
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121714-ktrk-baytown-bucees-09.jpg60,000 square foot store...
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I actually found, one day googling, the Texaco station I worked at in CA while in the service. We had a list of things to check, or ask customer if they wanted them checked. Tire pressure, water, oil, wash front and back windows and check battery water level. Sometimes, the customer didn't want us doing anything to their vehicle. I imagine they had a bad experience somewhere, or did it themselves.
 

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Pappy said:
I actually found, one day googling, the Texaco station I worked at in CA while in the service. We had a list of things to check, or ask customer if they wanted them checked. Tire pressure, water, oil, wash front and back windows and check battery water level. Sometimes, the customer didn't want us doing anything to their vehicle. I imagine they had a bad experience somewhere, or did it themselves.
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I worked at good ol' Charley Deering's Flying A gas station down the hill from my house as a young teen.

flyingA-gas-stat.jpg

Charley and my Dad were goombahs, so I got the job of sweeping up, stocking shelves and once in a while pumping gas. Most of the time "the guys" would hang out in the garage playing cards and drinking beer. :D
 
LOL! My grandparent's house was right across the street from the station, and my Grandfather would bring over bottles of "Guinea Red" on a regular basis.

There was also a station cat. Not a station dog - a station cat. :rolleyes:
 
I'm probably spoiled because my son is a mechanic. My x owns a place that has mechanics & they use some kind of diagnostic machine because of all the digital stuff in cars these days. Maybe 'digital' is the wrong word. I dunno. I'm not very mechanically inclined at all. Recently I called an electrician and was talking to him telling him the 'thingamajig' wasn't working properly. He said " At least it isn't the doo dad. That could be serious." :p
 
I go to full service gas stations all of the time but they don't give the full service like they used. One attendant does clean my front and rear windshields though. :eek:
 
When I was young and living in Oregon gas stations provided employment for young men (and maybe now, young women) and it was pretty handy for them. I've only pumped gas a few times. I'd forgotten this but my youngest son reminded me a few months ago. Back in the early 80s I was pumping gas in my car and, who knows why, it ALL went on the ground and I didn't notice that for awhile. So after my son showed me what I was doing I stopped and decided it wasn't safe to start the car. I thought it might explode or something so we walked home. He was in grade school and thought he knew everything. He said I was lucky they didn't tow my car as I left it there till my husband got home a few hours later. We just lived a few blocks from the station. Now I realize my folly but I didn't back then.
 
I had a part time job doing the full service pumps at a Sinclair gas station, worked the night shift which was real fun once the bars let out. Most of my tips were beer, although every now & then an RV came through and I usually earned a few extra bucks from their appreciating me getting the bugs off their massive windshields.
 
I miss full service stations-I do NOT want to have a relationship with a machine- "Do you want a receipt?" "A 2 cent discount?" "A car wash?" "A pound of hot dogs?" (just joking about the last one but really....) I am happy that I can get gasoline whenever I want it, Sundays and holidays included. So I guess it's a trade off....


Wake me when gas is back to 30 cents a gallon.
 
My best memory of the full service station was the Coca Cola machine where u had to put in the penny first and then the nickel for the ice cold bottle of Coke. Back in the 50s that little bottle was plenty to drink but somewhere along the way it was decided that we needed 32oz super size drinks and we all gladly went along with it. We should have stuck with that little bottle of soda pop. If it ain't broke don't fix it lol
 
Kitty cats said:
My best memory of the full service station was the Coca Cola machine where u had to put in the penny first and then the nickel for the ice cold bottle of Coke. Back in the 50s that little bottle was plenty to drink but somewhere along the way it was decided that we needed 32oz super size drinks and we all gladly went along with it. We should have stuck with that little bottle of soda pop. If it ain't broke don't fix it lol
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well that's the truth! I can't even drink 32 ounces unless I spread it out over the entire day & it would be flat.
 
I go to a place called Lube Stop. They change oil and check and fill all your fluids and between oil changes they will top off anything you need for nothing. I really like them.
 

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