Hey New Jersey guys...I need a mechanic!
06-24-2002, 11:32 PM
#1
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Hey New Jersey guys...I need a mechanic!
Dave, Adrian, etc...
Who is your Porsche mechanic again? I need a new one. Someone who knows the 944, and ISNT too busy to find simple problems, like bad ball joints!
Help!
Andy
Who is your Porsche mechanic again? I need a new one. Someone who knows the 944, and ISNT too busy to find simple problems, like bad ball joints!
Help!
Andy
06-24-2002, 11:51 PM
#2
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You've heard my stories I think, but since yours are worse...Better Auto Care, they're in Kenilworth (I don't have their number handy, e-mail me if you want it). They aren't perfect, but they aren't all that bad either. Damian's guy is closer to you (in Millburn) and has a good reputation, If I were to switch I would consider him. I was also impressed with DeMan Motorsport in Nyack (of dyno day fame), it's a bit of a haul...but if he's good it might be worth it.
06-25-2002, 12:28 AM
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If you're ever in the southern part of the state, check out 'i. Service Imports' on Springdale road in Cherry Hill.. good people there. They are truly into the cars.. they're in the midst of restoring a baby blue 70s 911 targa.. 
neat stuff.
neat stuff.
06-25-2002, 09:33 AM
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Cherry Hill is WAY south...too south!
Damian's guy--yeah...the young guy with the 944. Wasn't he at that gas station near Damian? Gotta get his name/number from Damian.
I ordered the rebuilt control arms from Vertex...they should arrive Friday. If I can't find a decent mechanic, I will be forced to use the local garage (they didnt tighten one of my new brake calipers last time I went there)! Don't make me do it....!!
Damian's guy--yeah...the young guy with the 944. Wasn't he at that gas station near Damian? Gotta get his name/number from Damian.
I ordered the rebuilt control arms from Vertex...they should arrive Friday. If I can't find a decent mechanic, I will be forced to use the local garage (they didnt tighten one of my new brake calipers last time I went there)! Don't make me do it....!!
06-25-2002, 10:24 AM
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No offense to anyone but I had a very bad experience with I Service Imports. It is just my opinion but they were truly incompetent on all levels. I always see 944's and 911's outside so I thought it would be a good place. Boy was I wrong. Just my opinion but beware. The best place was North Maple Auto Service in Marlton, Rick Ferber was expensive, but you would be sure that your car was fixed correctly the first time. He was well worth the price, but unfortunately closed down. Good luck.
06-25-2002, 10:35 AM
#6
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I take my car to PowerTech in Rockaway, NJ.
Good service, plus they are involved with PCA quite a lot.
Suggestion: check the PCA website (under Track section, look at the Tech stuff). NNJR's website: <a href="http://vista.pca.org//nnj" target="_blank">http://vista.pca.org//nnj</a> IMO, most of the shops that are affiliated with PCA are a good bet.
Good service, plus they are involved with PCA quite a lot.
Suggestion: check the PCA website (under Track section, look at the Tech stuff). NNJR's website: <a href="http://vista.pca.org//nnj" target="_blank">http://vista.pca.org//nnj</a> IMO, most of the shops that are affiliated with PCA are a good bet.
06-25-2002, 10:37 AM
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I hear ya Doyle...problem is, BOTH of my mechanics came highly recommended (PCA, etc). And BOTH have missed what seem like simple (yet serious) problems!
I really think that both mechanics NEVER looked at my car, and had their 20-year-old flunkies do all the work. When I picked up the car, they would give me the thumbs up, and send me on my way.
My wife called it--"They're too busy building a race car to care about your problems!" She's right!
I really think that both mechanics NEVER looked at my car, and had their 20-year-old flunkies do all the work. When I picked up the car, they would give me the thumbs up, and send me on my way.
My wife called it--"They're too busy building a race car to care about your problems!" She's right!
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06-25-2002, 06:25 PM
#8
Andy, try Palumbo's Exxon in Millburn. Both the owner and the chief wrench race their cars in PCA Club Racing, and the chief wrench has a 951 racecar that he built from scratch from his daily driver. They did plenty of work on my previous 944 as well as the current 968. You could walk to the train station and bus stop as well if you commute to Manhattan.
06-25-2002, 10:00 PM
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Andy
It's a haul for you ( and me too!) but I use Jay's Wagon Werks in Englewood...Jay's father used to service my dad's 1st 356 in the 60's...Jay's a one man show so he is not very fast ( I kind of like this! ) but he's honest, thorough and resonable...
PS - he still does work on my dad's 356 ( different one now) and his 944 along with mine!
Good luck!
Joe
It's a haul for you ( and me too!) but I use Jay's Wagon Werks in Englewood...Jay's father used to service my dad's 1st 356 in the 60's...Jay's a one man show so he is not very fast ( I kind of like this! ) but he's honest, thorough and resonable...
PS - he still does work on my dad's 356 ( different one now) and his 944 along with mine!
Good luck!
Joe
06-25-2002, 10:49 PM
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You had a bad experience at i Service? That's pretty shocking to me.. every time I go there he gives me a long detailed explaination of everything and insists upon doing things 'by the book' (ie. no dodgy short cuts etc). . and really seems knowledgable. I'm interested in knowing what exactly went wrong when you were there.. I ask because I'm curious - if it's bad enough I'll stop bringing my car there!
06-26-2002, 01:32 PM
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I had a intermittent condition for months that would cause the car to run rich. There was no pattern to when it would happen and at first it would only happen every month or so.
By this time I had replaced the plugs, wires, cap, and rotor. Up to this point I did not know the car was running rich. I found out one night, when it lost power, I was able to keep it running. I saw a soft glow out of the corner of my eye, opened the door and saw flames shooting about 4 feet out of the exhaust. At least I knew it was running rich now. I replaced the temp switch that tells the computer the engine temp, thinking that if it was reporting a cooler temp, it could fool the computer to supplying more fuel.
Once it got to the point where it would occur every few days I took it in for service. They replaced plugs, wires, cap, rotor, after I told them that I just did this 2 months prior and that they could not cause the rich running problem I was having. They then replaced the distributor, again I said this would not cause a rich running condition. It could cause a weak spark, but not make it run rich. Then they replaced the fuel pump. Remote possibility but not likely. I suggested that I thought it may be the DME but I did not want to just replace it myself as it is expensive and not returnable. My suggestion was dismissed and they kept throwing parts at it. I worked in a auto shop at the time and was a fairly good mechanic. I knew the problem was electrical and a bit out of my reach so that is why I took it in. I was very easy going and let them keep the car as long as they needed. I did not nag them at all about it. I just respectfully disagreed with thier diagnosis.
So now after two weeks and 1200 dollars of repairs that I did not agree with they said thier mechanic drove the car home at night and had no problem. I picked it up that day, and within 5 miles it died on me. I had it towed back, and the next day they replaced the computer with a used one they had in the shop. It now ran fine without problems. I said fine and told them to take the other parts off the car that they replaced and were not necessary. They said that the only thing they could put back on was the fuel pump, I had to take the rest of it. We went back and forth a bit but I finally said OK, if you can only just give me back my fuel pump just do it. Well wouldn't you know in the middle of putting it back on, it conveniently fell apart, or so they say. So I had to keep the new one.
To make a long story long, I finally took my car after 3 weeks and numerous songs and dances, It ran fine. One week later it developed a slight stumble on idle. I found a faulty plug wire (one they had replaced and would not take back off). I took it back to them and only the sons were there. They agreed that the wire was faulty and replaced it without question. Three days later, another slight idle stumble started. Again, I diagnosed it and found a bad plug. I took it back up and they would not replace it. The owner said I could send it back to Bosch. I said that he just replaced it a week ago! He still said that it had to take it up with Bosch. I said, it was a three dollar part. He gave me such a hard time about it. It had nothing to do with the price, it was the pricipal that he would not stand behind the parts his shop installed, and that I just had spent 1400 dollars there a week ago for what I felt was a lot of unneccessary parts and a lot of misdiagnosis.
I told him to shove his spark plugs up his *** and walked out. I have never nor will I ever go back.
Again, this is only the experience of one person. I found this shop to be rude and incompetent. They refused to listen to my ideas and assumed that they knew much better than me what the problem was. I am not trying to steer anyone away from here, just trying to let people knwo the be careful where they take their cars.
Sorry it's such a long story.
doyle <img src="graemlins/soapbox.gif" border="0" alt="[soapbox]" />
By this time I had replaced the plugs, wires, cap, and rotor. Up to this point I did not know the car was running rich. I found out one night, when it lost power, I was able to keep it running. I saw a soft glow out of the corner of my eye, opened the door and saw flames shooting about 4 feet out of the exhaust. At least I knew it was running rich now. I replaced the temp switch that tells the computer the engine temp, thinking that if it was reporting a cooler temp, it could fool the computer to supplying more fuel.
Once it got to the point where it would occur every few days I took it in for service. They replaced plugs, wires, cap, rotor, after I told them that I just did this 2 months prior and that they could not cause the rich running problem I was having. They then replaced the distributor, again I said this would not cause a rich running condition. It could cause a weak spark, but not make it run rich. Then they replaced the fuel pump. Remote possibility but not likely. I suggested that I thought it may be the DME but I did not want to just replace it myself as it is expensive and not returnable. My suggestion was dismissed and they kept throwing parts at it. I worked in a auto shop at the time and was a fairly good mechanic. I knew the problem was electrical and a bit out of my reach so that is why I took it in. I was very easy going and let them keep the car as long as they needed. I did not nag them at all about it. I just respectfully disagreed with thier diagnosis.
So now after two weeks and 1200 dollars of repairs that I did not agree with they said thier mechanic drove the car home at night and had no problem. I picked it up that day, and within 5 miles it died on me. I had it towed back, and the next day they replaced the computer with a used one they had in the shop. It now ran fine without problems. I said fine and told them to take the other parts off the car that they replaced and were not necessary. They said that the only thing they could put back on was the fuel pump, I had to take the rest of it. We went back and forth a bit but I finally said OK, if you can only just give me back my fuel pump just do it. Well wouldn't you know in the middle of putting it back on, it conveniently fell apart, or so they say. So I had to keep the new one.
To make a long story long, I finally took my car after 3 weeks and numerous songs and dances, It ran fine. One week later it developed a slight stumble on idle. I found a faulty plug wire (one they had replaced and would not take back off). I took it back to them and only the sons were there. They agreed that the wire was faulty and replaced it without question. Three days later, another slight idle stumble started. Again, I diagnosed it and found a bad plug. I took it back up and they would not replace it. The owner said I could send it back to Bosch. I said that he just replaced it a week ago! He still said that it had to take it up with Bosch. I said, it was a three dollar part. He gave me such a hard time about it. It had nothing to do with the price, it was the pricipal that he would not stand behind the parts his shop installed, and that I just had spent 1400 dollars there a week ago for what I felt was a lot of unneccessary parts and a lot of misdiagnosis.
I told him to shove his spark plugs up his *** and walked out. I have never nor will I ever go back.
Again, this is only the experience of one person. I found this shop to be rude and incompetent. They refused to listen to my ideas and assumed that they knew much better than me what the problem was. I am not trying to steer anyone away from here, just trying to let people knwo the be careful where they take their cars.
Sorry it's such a long story.
doyle <img src="graemlins/soapbox.gif" border="0" alt="[soapbox]" />
06-26-2002, 03:19 PM
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Doyle--That sounds worse than the service I got! Nothing like a "let's try this and see what happens" kinda diagnosis! You coulda done it better yourself.
Damian--I called Chris, and he's getting back to me...I like the walk-to-train ability--I take the train to Hoboken every morning. Is Chris fair in his pricing?
Joe--Sounds like your guy is great--but too far away! Do you leave your car and take a bus home? Or does someone go with you in another car?
Damian--I called Chris, and he's getting back to me...I like the walk-to-train ability--I take the train to Hoboken every morning. Is Chris fair in his pricing?
Joe--Sounds like your guy is great--but too far away! Do you leave your car and take a bus home? Or does someone go with you in another car?
06-26-2002, 05:08 PM
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Hindsight is always 20/20. I suspected the DME before I took my car there, but I didn't want to spend 400 bucks doing it myself, and then not have that be the problem. It would have been cheaper now that I look back. I thought I would leave it to the "experts". Boy was that an expensive mistake.
Schlag, I no longer have this car so I don't go anywhere now. I heard good things about 2 brothers in Medford. I never took my car there, so I don't know personally, just what I heard.
Schlag, I no longer have this car so I don't go anywhere now. I heard good things about 2 brothers in Medford. I never took my car there, so I don't know personally, just what I heard.