Just had a mechanic tell me it'd be a little over $1000 to replace my car's AC compressor. They wanted to charge me a bit over $500 in parts alone. The most expensive compressor kit for my car (from their parts supplier) is $300, and it should be about $250 in labor on top of that. I just called a Ford dealership to get a quote, and they wanted $700 total. When you're charging $300 more than the stealership you know you're trying to scam me.

Or you could have unbolted the compressor yourself, save some right there, recharged the system yourself or taken it to be filled if needed.

Aside from this forum, are you on any other for your car?

I am, but I'm limited in what I can do by a rather militant HOA. I can put my bike in my fenced in backyard and work on it, but we're not allowed to work on vehicles on their property. I may bring it to my buddy's garage and just circumvent the compressor entirely with a bypass pulley. However, on some days in the summer I do need my car, so it'd be nice to have a working ac system. I'm going to get a couple more quotes and see if someone will give me a price that makes it worth avoiding the PITA that comes with fixing it myself.

Yeah, I see other guys in the other boards I'm on stopped by HOA also. I think that's bullchit personally. Sucks it cost you so much in the end because you didn't have a place to do it at. I don't think I could ever live someplace like that. I work on my cars and other projects too much.

Definitely no fun, but the rent is cheap so that sort of makes up for not being able to do my own work. I actually had a guy from the HOA confront me in a golf cart when I was changing my oil one time, since my landlord did not inform me of the no working on vehicles policy.

Youre better than me. I would tell someone to phuck off or go across the street right in front of the property and do it just to screw with them.

My uncle lives in a community where all the houses look the same, with a HOA, and he can't park on the street, work on vehicles, AND has to use a certain shade of RED mulch around all his "gardens" and trees, and his shrubs can only be 3.5 feet high.

I would rather live in a box on the side of the road

Agreed, no way I would commit to that kinda crap but I know some people need uniformity in their life

I donno. They exist to maintain property value, as in crappy, unattractive houses with crappy yards detract from the value of other people's houses, but highly restrictive HOAs must deter a great number of people, which ends up lowering the property value anyways. I wouldn't be able to handle someone restricting my freedom of expression.

But yea, on the topic of the shady mechanics, F them. You've gotta stay sharp, or people will try to screw you over. Send them a box of dog shaZam!.

As cathartic as that would be, I think I'm just going to write negative reviews on google, yelp, and angie's list; additionally I will be able to tell people asking about them that they are not to be trusted.

"A well maintained national vehicle pool, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to carry out wrench work in the front yard, shall not be infringed." There ya go, HOA wowsers all dealt with, neat.

Quote from: noworries on December 30, 2012, 03:18:10 AM
"A well maintained national vehicle pool, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to carry out wrench work in the front yard, shall not be infringed." There ya go, HOA wowsers all dealt with, neat.

Yea, but I think with an HOA, you contractually sacrifice those rights

Along with your manhood, dignity and freedom to do anything you want different.

Sorry, I just get a bit warm when HOA crap comes up. I've seen it screw people up too many times because they can't work on their own stuff.

Little boxes on the hillside, Little boxes made of ticky tacky, Little boxes on the hillside, Little boxes all the same.

At least there is a red one and a blue one and a green one and a yellow one.  In several developments they are all the same.

All auto parts places- Auto Zone, NAPA, Advance, Car Quest, etc -will let you work on your vehicle in there parking lot.  Just go there, buy the part, unbolt it and put the new one in.

If you didn't sign a contract when you moved in then legally your landlord may be liable for any fines from the HOA for your actions.  Look into it, you might be able to do whatever you want to

and if it doesn't say anything about it in the lease, there is nothing the landlord can do. legally at least

except kick you out. 

Quote from: ThatOtherGuy on December 30, 2012, 12:16:33 PM
except kick you out.

Yea, but then you could sue them for breach of contract, not sure what damages you could argue for besides that months rent and security deposit...maybe get them to pay legal fees and first months rent and security deposit at new place...maybe make them pay for the difference in gas for the duration of the lease to your job.

Quote from: gsatterw on December 30, 2012, 12:23:33 PM

Quote from: ThatOtherGuy on December 30, 2012, 12:16:33 PM
except kick you out.

Yea, but then you could sue them for breach of contract, not sure what damages you could argue for besides that months rent and security deposit...maybe get them to pay legal fees and first months rent and security deposit at new place...maybe make them pay for the difference in gas for the duration of the lease to your job.

They can only break the contract (kick you out) if you are in breach. I am sure there could be extenuating circumstances - but - the onus is on Them to prove it. My understanding is, a contract is a contract and that's the end of it.

If they really want you out so bad, they can also pay all costs for you to move - cleaning, pest, professional removalists, etc.

But you will need to read all the fine print.

The thing with a HOA - I think in Aust we call it Body Corpporate - is that you go in knowing full well what the rules are. So you voluntarily chose to abide by those rules to begin with.

My my how we have drifted from shady mechanics. Next thing you know we'll be talking about oil 

Michael

SYNTHETIC CAUSE HIGH COST MAKES ME FEEL GOOD