So how do your posts assist the average reader in avoiding those shops, and finding the ones that are proactive in training, and reinvesting in their techs? How do your posts assist the average reader in understanding that the $100 code puller is not a substitute for, nor in any way representative of the investment that the best shops and techs have to make in order to keep up with the technology that is designed into their cars? Of one point I am sure, no-one can accurately describe what it takes to be a good shop today, unless they are actively trying to be the best that they can be, and have the first hand perspective that doing so creates. The answer to solving the most technical issues faced by vehicle owners today is in fact to find top independents who make being the best technician that he or she can be a lifetime commitment that cannot be measured by who writes a techs paycheck. People with that much drive won't work at a dealership because the focus inside the dealerships service department is totally about profit, and not about understanding and repairing the car. Occasionally an individual will show up in the dealer network that shines above the circus atmosphere inside it. But they rarely last there anymore. The dealerships focus is selling cars, not fixing them. You will see things like "Flush brake fluid, power steering fluid, coolant systems, injection cleaning, intake cleaning, engine flushes, etc. and they are all performed by the least experienced technicians all in the scheme to "flush the wallets" of the customer. Shops, and yes, shops like mine are the alternative to all of the nonsense. We don't live by shoving unneeded filters and flushing this and that. We just fix the cars, straight in at the symptom reported, and straight back out. I'm not alone in my approach, there are quite a number of shops just like mine. But how does the average customer realize the difference if all they see are the twisted perceptions that I attempt to correct even here in this forum? Note to everyone. If you walk into a business and see a menu card with lists of what they flush and the associated prices, you are not in a top shop! If you walk into a shop and the only scan tool they have is a single aftermarket tool at any level, Your not in a top shop. If you ask price first, and they can quickly throw an answer to you, without looking at the car first, your not in a top shop. If you ask them to show you what continuing education classes the tech that is about to work on your car has attended in the last year, two years, five years and the answer is less than six a year, then again your not in a top shop. If the shop supports R2R, in the mistaken belief it will solve the problems caused by a habit of not investing in the business, which means it's tools, equipment and most of all it's people. Well, then your definitely not in a top shop. If none of that genuinely matters to you, until the day finally comes when all of the chips are down and the regular place hasn't made the investment to keep up with the technology, some will say you can always go back to the dealership, which of course could be miles, and miles away since they are closing in record numbers or you can try and then seek out a top shop. Maybe you'll even be lucky and find one and if you do, you need to reward their investment with all of your business or else don't expect to have them available for the next time. JMHO

My shower door fell off! It is a corner shower where the door swings out from the two side panels. It has a metal frame. The door was held in place by a top and bottom small L-shaped piece that is screwed into a a long hinge (like a piano hinge?). The top L-piece is gone (looks like the screw was stripped) and I can't seem to find a replacement. Neither the local hardware store or Home Depot carries such a piece. A local glass place that sells and installs shower doors indicated that I would have a difficult time finding such a piece. I really don't want to have to replace the whole glass shower at this time! Any suggestions on where to find my missing piece (and yes I looked all over the bathroom for it!). I've searched some internet sites, but can't seem to find the right thing. Thanks!

Reburking, is an art, to get it to look decent and not get glue everywhere. You need an awl and you can use carpet latex, or a hot melt glue gun with an extended pencil tip. You need to get the adhesive down into the backing and then poke the latex nub on the yarn back into the primary backing. It is tedious and daunting.

I just went through some of the same thought process. I estimated fixing my 2002 Bosch Axxis WFL 2060 at around $400. I found a new Bosch Vision 500 for $895 with $400 in rebates so I went with that instead. It still has an on-board heater and a high spin speed and I really did like my Axxis while it was working. I decided if overall quality of all machines seems to be down, I'd rather pay as little as possible and not have a stomach ache when I have to toss it in 7 years rather than pay $1000+ for a Miele and still have it break in the same time span. Now I'm jaded, but I think this time I won't be disappointed since I expect the worst.