30 Times Car Mechanics Took Pics Of What They Were Dealing With So Others Would Believe Them (New Pics)
Owning a car is both a blessing and a curse. When it’s in good condition, your ride can truly be a wonder to behold. Extremely convenient when you want to visit your loved ones, need to run some errands and, heck, it can also be extremely fun to drive.
Having said that, when you start hearing strange noises or get blinded by blinking warning lights, you know your car is begging for repair. And that’s where it gets amusing. Enter the Just Rolled Into The Shop subreddit, full of the most surprising and mysterious things auto mechanics encounter on the job.
If you think that empty soda cans in the back seat of your car are pretty bad, just take a look at some of the most bizarre pictures we have collected from this online group. And if you’re hungry for some more crazy things mechanics find under the hoods of cars, make sure to check out our previous posts right here, here and here.
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This Bit Holder My Daughter Bought Me
My Brother Is An Advisor At A Honda Dealer. Just Texted Me This…
If you believe that all car technicians do is change tires and tell you that your engine oil is nearly non-existent, think again. Mechanics stumble upon all sorts of crazy way more often than you’d think. As the moderators write in the about section, this group is dedicated “for those absolutely stupid things that you see people bring, roll, or toss into your place of business and the people that bring them in.”
Since 2012, the community has become a powerhouse with more than 1.5M confused mechanics and enthusiasts sharing what they stumble upon while fixing cars. From having to deal with trashy interiors to finding possums under the hoods, these car technicians encounter some pretty wild stuff on a daily basis.
Statista reports that in the third quarter of 2021, there were just under 284M vehicles operating on roads throughout the United States. Also, the vehicle fleet has gotten progressively older over the past decade, with an average age of over 12 years in 2021, as people now tend to hold on to their cars longer.
Terrified Kitten Rolled Into The Shop And Then Into My House
Towed With The E-Brake On
With so many cars on the roads, it’s no surprise that there’s a great need for talented mechanics. Another major reason why vehicle repair shops are often full—not everyone knows how to spot an issue or fix their ride. A study involving 2K American car owners revealed that many drivers, a quarter of them to be exact, know they take a risk driving their cars already in need of repair.
The respondents were asked about the state of their vehicles and what they know about car care basics. Results found that 68 percent knew there was at least one thing wrong with the car. However, more than a third did not know how to fix a flat tire and a half were not confident about changing oils. Some people weren’t even sure what kind of oil their vehicle needed.
Car Was In A Flood And Customer Asked If It Was Okay, The Dash Answered For Me
Found My Late Dad's Car Full Of Mold After An Year, Mum Wanted To Take It To A Garage Like That, I Thought About You People And Spend The Day Cleaning It
Well done. If it hurts to use because of all the memories, maybe you could sell and do something nice for your Mum.
“A quarter wouldn’t know how to jump-start a car should the situation arise. One in five think that using an air pressure gauge to check tire pressure is too much for them.”
Most importantly, 41 percent could not identify a car’s engine after being presented with an image. That only shows that people don’t really know much about automobile maintenance and probably won’t bring their car for repair in a timely manner. And let’s not forget that sometimes we get so busy with our fast-paced lives that booking an appointment with a car technician seems like a burden. And it can be quite expensive, too.
When All Else Fails
Sitting under the counter of every garage together with the list of untraceable expensive repairs like "Replacing counterclockwise rotating cog in secondary lower double clutch gearbox." and " Draining headlights from excess Xenon load."
Today My Car Just Rolled Into The Shop And We All Decided To Be Mature Adults About It
“Consumers that forget or ignore recommended maintenance ultimately pay higher repair costs,” John Nielsen, American Automobile Association’s (AAA) managing director of Automotive Engineering and Repair, said. “These repair facilities estimate drivers can save an average of one hundred dollars per visit simply by properly maintaining their vehicle.”
So if you want to be safe on the road and avoid being stuck with a huge bill, you should know how to look after your car. Especially when there are a few simple ways you can keep your ride in good condition.
Wife's Van. Convinced Her To Drive 10 Miles Out And Back To Make Sure We Didn't Miss It
So Apparently The Insurance Company Doesn't Think This Is Totalled
First, don’t forget the regular oil changes. You should do it every 5K miles or four months, or take a look at the manufacturer’s recommendations for your vehicle. Another thing important for your safety is keeping the tires properly inflated and routinely checking their tread depth: “AAA found that 60 percent of Americans do not check tire pressures regularly. Tire pressures, including the spare tire, should be checked at least once a month.”
What Car Dose This Bring To Mind?
Customer Is Emailing/Calling To Find Out Why Their Windows And Doors Are Open…. While The Car Is In Service At A Mercedes Dealer
Customer States Ac Isn’t Blowing As Hard As It Does In Their Husband’s Car
Also, you should perform brake inspection at least once a year to notice if it’s starting to wear down and avoid costly replacements along the way. When it comes to batteries, they typically last between three and five years. Since many don’t check them before their car is failing to start, “AAA recommends drivers to have their vehicle’s battery tested when it reaches three years of age and on an annual basis thereafter.”
Well, On The Plus Side, Your Alignment Is Bang On!
Waited On This Trim Piece For Over A Week, Only To Find That They Snapped It Into 3 Separate Pieces To Fit It Into This Box...
Needless to say, you don’t have to become an expert to drive a car but taking care of your ride is always a good idea. And if you don’t want your four-wheeler to end up in the Just Rolled Into The Shop subreddit, make sure to do a thorough check before bringing it in.
Be A Mechanic They Said
You can simply refuse to work on a car that's a bio hazard. You don't know what's hiding under the trash.
Rolled In Because It Wouldn't Start. C/S Car Has Been Sitting Up For "A Little While," Has A Newspaper From The Cold War In The Trunk...
Came In For An Oil Change And Brake Inspection
Whenever we take our car in to be serviced, we take it to be fully valeted for about £40-50. We keep on top of keeping it clean the rest of the time.
Lady Came In For An Oil Change…. 47k Miles On The Car
This Jeep Just Ran Out Of Luck. A Penny Came Out Of The Transmission Drain Hole
C/S Smells Like Burning Rubber When Driving
Knives I Have Found Under The Back Seats Of Used Cars
I Present You This Jetta With Their Second Annual Oil Change At 340 Miles
Near 600k 17 Accord Hybrid Came In Today… That’s A New Record In Our Shop. Very Custom.. One Of A Kind
Custom grill and skid plates.....nice. The beginnings of a zombie prep.
A Chrysler Engineer Would Climb Over 72 Virgins To [Screw] A Tech
"Do Not Worry About The Airbag Recall, No One Is Allowed To Sit In The Passenger Seat Anyhow." This Is What The Customer Said. Here For Just A Coolant Leak
Dropping Off The Wife’s Vehicle For Winter Tires. Thanks To This Sub For Making Me A Better Customer
Just Rolled Out Of The Shop, And Paid 900 Of Their 1400 Dollar Bill In Ones. There's Another Row Of Stacks Beneath This One In That Bag. Not The Same Customer As Last Time Either
My Buddy's Brass Balls
And Then Immediately Rolled Right Out. Nope
Another Tech Lifted The Hood, Went 'Oh F**k No' And Drove The Car Back Out Of The Shop. I've Become The Shop Animal Wrangler
Love opossums. At least the handler didn't need to worry about rabies.
Dropping My Car Off For Service And Remembered My Days Of Being A Tech
Customer Bought Wheels And Tires Online, After Advising Multiple Times That The Tires Are Too Small For His Suv He Insisted For Us To Put Them On. Tiresize: 225/45/17
Dear Mini, F You. Sincerely, Every Mechanic
I changed the battery of my mom Ford Grand C-max (European car). I hated that ! On my old car it was just two screws and the battery was out. Here I had to remove the air intake, the filters, the fuse box and twist my wrist and it was aweful ! And it is olny a 1.0L engine taking only a small part of the engine bay. No reason to put it there !
The “New” Driveshaft We’ve Been Waiting For Almost A Month For Finally Showed Up And My Manager Is Piiiised
Qashqai, 3 Baby Seats And Didn't Want The Tyre Replacing Yet
Customer Said He’s Been Hearing A Strange Noise From Engine Last Few Days...
“Pure Michigan”
The Crazy Part Is That They Both Worked…
Insurance Wanted An Estimate
One Of Our Rental Cars Just Returned
Someone Stole This Old Lady's Gasoline
This Is How My Coworker Disconnected Electrical During A Machine Rebuild...
28 Clips And 2 Screws To Do An Oil Change On A 2021 Nissan Sentra. F You Nissan
To be fair, this looks like a transmission oil change rather than engine oil, so long service interval...
Customer Called, Rip S**t Pissed, Complaining That We Installed The Wrong Motor In His Kia Because The Oil Filter Said Hyundai On It. Pic Is An Example Of Our Filters
Customer Came In Expecting To Pass Inspection With A Blocked License Plate And The Darkest Tint That I’ve Ever Seen On Windows And Windshield!
Not Even 8 O Clock In The Morning And We've Reached Peak Stupid
Category: Signal lights are defective, they keep going on and off every time I use them.
You Have To Take Off A Tire To Remove The Bulb On A Tesla…
Iq 1000 Driver Dropped His Trailer Right In Front Of The Shop To Swap Trucks, Blocking Three Bays, And Just Kinda Wandered Off. Genius
Just Rolled Out Of The Shop To Find They Didn’t Tighten The Lug Nuts All The Way. I Think I Almost Died Tbh
Some Mechanics Are Unbearably Stupid. Someone Labeled The "Egg Zaust" Clamps
Buddy Sent His GF In Because He “Thinks It Might Need Brakes”
The Customer Says That $900 For A New Turbo Is Way Too Much, So He Got One From A Buddy That Is "Still Good" Off An Old Car Of His
"Hey Man Do You Have An Extra Drain Plug?" "Nah, But I Got A Spark Plug..." We Had To Refuse Service On This Vehicle For Mysterious Reasons
Client States Vehicle Has Trouble Starting And There Is An Abnormal Noise When Trying To Start…
Friend In My Math Class Asks Me Yesterday If I Can Help Change His Oil Filter Bc It’s Been Stuck And Nobody Has Been Able To Get It Off. Turns Out It’s Been Stuck On There Since 1999 (‘90 Corolla)
2nd Time In 6 Months
Insurance Loves Spending A Penny To Save A Dollar. Won’t Total. We Have To Clean This Up And Install In A Jeep
Look What I Found
I Was The Only Toyota Tech In The Dealership This Week Due To A Tech Family Emergency, And Another On Vacation. 111 Hrs Booked In A 40 Hr Week. I'm Exhausted
New Ford Bronco Wildtrak Sasquatch Rolled Into The Showroom With Mismatched Seats...
Ever Just Have Straight Liquid Poo And Then Have That One Solid Piece Shoot Out?
Just Casually Rolled Into The Shop
Spent Three Hours Looking For This Today
Brand New Car. Came Off The Truck Yesterday, Sold Yesterday, Sales Person Was Going To Put Gas In
I See Your Rental And Raise Our Loaner. “Hit A Deer”
My Shop Has Had To Start Parking The Vehicles Like This To Protect The Trucks From Catalytic Converter Theft Over Night
Well, There's Your Noise. 2012 Ram 4.7, 130k
No Comment
Tested brand new transmission and then fitted (and used) without being refilled
High Schoolers Kustom V6 Race Car
Mercedes, Ladies And Gents
Base cost: a 2-bedroom house in a rural community. Market adjustment: upgrade to a 4-bedroom house in a rural community. Sounds reasonable.
We Got A Lot Of Rain This Weekend Which Made For A Lot Of Puddles
Customer States That There Car Has Been "Well Maintained"
This List Of Demands For Minor Body Repair
Needs Tooth Extracted From Vehicle.
Must Be Monday…
Rolling The Shop Out To This One
"My Maintenance Minder Came On So I Added More Oil"
Customer Said They Noticed The Speed Bump Too Late. Felt Like Handling A Grenade
Customer Came In Asking To Get This Badge Removed. They Didn't Realize The Rivets Until It Was Already Off. Who Rivets Badges Into The Car?
My First Time Seeing A Cat Cage. Just Happy I'm Not Doing Exhaust Work Today
2020 Subaru Outback That Hasn’t Stopped Rolling Since It Was Purchased
At first I thought, 200k miles isn't that unusual, until I noticed the car was a 2020 car. Impressive!
Just Completed My First Engine Swap How'd I Do
Customer Overfilled His Oil By 15 Qts. 5.0l Ford F350 Takes 7.75 Qts, And I Drained 23. Oil Was So Overfilled It's Dripping From The Exhaust
Meth Proofed Catalytic Converter!
Dude Claims We Planted An Attack Rat In His Truck. Leaves A 1 Star Review Years After The Fact. Can't Make This S**t Up.
It was the mouse lady, her mice don't get on with the ones in her Mazda you see
Semi Truck Just Rolled In, Driver Said He Drove 700 Miles And Only Had 3rd, 6th, 7th, And 9th Gear. He Thinks It's The Transmission
Some of these need explanations for those of us that aren't mechanically savvy.
Welcome To The Future Boys. New Mercedes Eqs
This is all caused by idiots sueing car companies because they never imagined that a radiator fan on full speed could actually chop off fingers or that hot cooling liquid could cause 3th degree burns.
I Definitely Can't See This Causing An Issue A Few Years Down The Line
The Amount Of Fasteners You Have To Remove To Change The Oil On A 2021 Nissan Sentra
Note most are plastic clips damaged and replaced too..... So eco much green
Rolling Into A Shop Near You: Any Car That Gets This Used Mystery Coolant From The Junk Yard!
Nothing Like Hot Coolant In The Face At The End Of The Day
Customer States He Punched The Screen And It Broke
Cost Of An M6 Motor Replacement Under Warranty
Anti Communism Just Rolled In
I'm outraged by the behavior of the CCP!! .....ooo! Look what's on sale at Walmart!
My Sister Went In For An Oil Change Before Taking Off On A Roadtrip Tomorrow...
Customer Wants To Keep His 04 Pt Cruiser. Authorized Up To $7,000 For A Complete Motor Rebuild, Clutch, Turbo, And Timing Belt
Rolled In With An Ar-15
The New Bronco Everyone, Clearly An Engineering Marvel!
Cs "Mystery Rumbling Noise For The Last Hour Then The Wheel Came Off". Customer Is Me, Never Letting Someone Else Do Up My Wheel Bolts Again
An hour??? Ok learned this lesson the hard way too. If your car starts making a weird noise pull over like now. Figure out why. if you can't. Have it towed. Destroyed a car by driving it to the dealership when it started to make a weird rumble. Transmission seized on the way into the car park....
Just Rolled Into The Shop, Without Looking…
"Made In The U.S.A."
C/S "But I Just Replaced The Battery"
Rental Company Brought This Vehicle In Complaining Of Warning Lights On The Dash. I'm About 95% Sure We're Going To Total It
C/S They Are “Very Unhappy” With The Date Code Of The Battery We Just Sold Them…
That's... Pretty Darn Specific
Sold Base 4x4 Tacoma With Over 100% Markup... This Is Getting Insane
This is an incomplete form; I'm not sure what these numbers mean, but since there is a field for Excess Mileage Charge I assume it is a rental agreement form. Doesn't renting cost more than buying?
Man I Hate Ford
Would have enjoyed this article had I been a mechanic. Can I have a few words explaining WTF am I looking at?
Most of them have explanations. Just ask on the ones you don't know. :)
Load More Replies...My car's has empty bottles in, it's because I don't throw the out the window. I often do long drives 7~8 hours and have water coke and sweets in the car. On my normal ndrive to work there's no plastic bottle recycling bins so they tend to stay on the passenger side floor till I get fed up and drive to one and throw them for recycling.
Load More Replies...Would have enjoyed this article had I been a mechanic. Can I have a few words explaining WTF am I looking at?
Most of them have explanations. Just ask on the ones you don't know. :)
Load More Replies...My car's has empty bottles in, it's because I don't throw the out the window. I often do long drives 7~8 hours and have water coke and sweets in the car. On my normal ndrive to work there's no plastic bottle recycling bins so they tend to stay on the passenger side floor till I get fed up and drive to one and throw them for recycling.
Load More Replies...