I wanted to watch the used car inspection. That sounded very interesting.

Im a certified diesel/heavy equipment mechanic, i tend to work on my own stuff building engines or whatever, but i would bet my next paycheck that this is the one of the best if not the best shop in the U.S. period. The man is thorough and straight to the point and actually cares about his customers and their budgets and he takes care of his mechanics with respectful criticism or instruction....everything is a learning experiemce with this guy and i love it!

Pics of problems and cost of fix is really showing love to your customers. Not many out there with that kind of integrity

Dave, as an emergency physician you rang a bell when you talked about a car owner (patient) coming in with their internet diagnosis. You must be careful not to be misled. We want to hear your complaints, not your diagnosis.

Always honnest with your customer Dave. It's a great quality. I appreciate so much. Thanks for whats you done.

This is the single best auto channel on KZfaq.

I liked that he told customers how to describe the problem without prejudicing the tech with a description of what the problem MAY be.

Wish their were more Auto centers like Dave's excellent service.

If only all repair shops were like this one.

Wait...A heat shield rattle on a Subaru?!?! Tell me it isn't so....LOL!!! EVERY Subaru our family's ever owned had heat shield rattles...Usually it's the exhaust though!! This time it was the brake rotor backing plate/shield. Easy peasy!! As for the oil leaks... Subaru rocker cover gaskets harden and leak like sieves after about 7-10 years. I think you said that was a 2011, so he probably needs those replaced. I did them on our 2010 3.6l H6 Outback. They were very hard and brittle. Next up for me is our 2012 Impreza and 2011 H4 Outback. They're both leaking something fierce. It's also essential to replace the timing belts and water pump on those. They're interference engines. Nice video Dave and Kyle!! I LOVE how you communicate with your customers. I wish more shops worked like you do!!

I've been enjoying when the each video shows the conclusion of the problem, and not just the problem. This video and the last one showed the end result which I think is great!

My dad could take anything apart and put it back together. I loved watching him . This brings back to some good times.

Hello Dave: I love your straightforward approach the way you run your business. When I had my 2 shops I always strived for honesty with integrity. Well Done sir. God Bless you, your family, & your crew. TMP from N.J.

Many shops would have tried taking this guy for pads, rotors, axle seal, and potentially a wheel bearing and backing plate. I never had time for extraneous work like that, just fix the complaint and offer my honest opinion on any other issues I see. This is how you gain loyal customers. I started out at a Monro Muffer and Brake shortly after they, Sears auto center, Midas and others were caught telling customers that their vehicle was a death trap and recommending every service they offer. There was quite a bit of industry reform happening. But the service managers still pushed for more recommendations, they would still hard sell loaded calipers on every disc brake job claiming the pads will never last with old calipers, every muffler job was quoted for car back, no matter what condition the pipes were in, you came to have a leaking exhaust fixed and you're being told you need a mid pipe and two tail pipes or it'll leak again really soon..... Every brake job was quoted with a fluid flush. Simple OLF jobs were always quoted with extras, they didn't want us replacing a 25 cent grease zirk, write it up as fitting won't take grease and highly recommend component replacement. These things weren't just recommended but hard sold, often the service manager would get the mechanics to back them up. The mechanics that liked doing this always ended up as future service managers, those who didn't had a rough time. Plus there was an incentive program where you got a commission on parts only if you met a threshold... I always felt that I could make more profit in quantity doing quality brake jobs rather than in parts volume jobs replacing calipers and hoses and flushing every single job. This was back when GM and most other calipers had a simple slide mechanism. And slide components were dirt cheap, no rust filled or oversized blind holes in a caliper bracket.

Dave’s the man. Humble and wants to help people

Customer complaints are CRAZY! I have been an Appliance Technician since the 90s, and the customer complaint is literally wrong over 50% of the time. It is amazing the things they say are wrong with the unit compared to what is actually wrong with the unit. So many complaints are not just ridiculous but actually impossible.

Wished all used dealerships were required to do a all points inspection and made Fix or tell the person about problems found during inspection ! Great job Dave to you and your team ! 👍👍

I get your point Dave, but two years ago I brought my 2017 Tacoma with 55k miles into the dealership for a new clutch. I told them it needed a new clutch. It was a 4 cyl 5 speed that I regularly used to haul way more than it was made for. Clutch got slipped a lot doing burnouts too but that's besides the point. The point is my cruise control would cut out on the freeway and the RPMs would skyrocket. It was pretty clear the clutch was slipping and the truck's computer was kicking off the cruise control. The dealership not wanting to make me spend $2k for no reason said the clutch was fine. That it had lots of life left. Which typically a 55k clutch should have, but I knew how hard I worked that tiny little Tacoma. Cut to a week later on the freeway I lost any "get up and go" that I had and a nice trail of smoke was coming out behind me. Brought it back to Toyota and they actually pulled the clutch apart that time and found that it was needing to be replaced. It was beyond obvious that the clutch was slipping the first time I brought it in, and they wasted a bunch of my time by not listening to the customer. I told Toyota from the start that I was going to beat the crap out of that Tacoma. I put over 2,000lbs of wet silver maple unsplit logs in that bad boy one day. Had her riding on the bump stops going 45 mph all the way home. Another time I used it to pull a 10,000lb loaded Dodge Ram out of a snow bank. Numerous times I abused that clutch and I told them that. I told them I wanted a new clutch and knew the cost and they didn't listen. They went purely off of the 55k miles and nothing else.

I’d love to see your inspection process as I am still learning as much as I can. Just got my A4 certification!

Love it, Honesty and efficiency = customer loyalty! Thanks Dave

Manual transmission 😍 We sold my wife's car and while the XTRAIL EPower is delivered she is driving an old Manual BMW. I see a smile in her face everytime she steps on the clutch. Is so happy actually driving not being driven!

I don’t know how many techs I have seen who don’t know you can only go 30 mph to 35 mph maximum with the car in the air like that. It’s nice to see someone who actually knows this.

Hub surface and inside of rotor are full of rust and should be cleaned. That will allow the rotor to seat properly on the hub. Could be enough to cause it to rub the backing plate. Rust belt experience. Love your videos.

Up here in the Rust North East, those backing plates are mostly rusted holes way before the car gets that old. Lots of times, the fix on the lift is to reach in, pull, push a few times and pull the whole thing out.

Dave I've been preaching pre sale vehicle inspections for many years, love your videos the more customers are informed the better there choices are, I tell my customers to watch your videos.

Dave and his gang are really awesome, love his videos. A little over the top at times as for diagnosis and OCD at times. At what point do you spend all that time and money on an engine or car that is only worth couple thousand dollars. Who is going to put a $30,000 engine in a truck with 200,000 miles on it?

We want a shop & someone like you here in Iran. If you were here , you were no.1 shop in the country, We in Iran like honest & pro technician like you, even if you charge higher than others.❤🇮🇷

Dave, Your operation is the highest quality I've ever seen. In all aspects, having the right equipment, Quality over quantity. Great Video as usual!👍🏻🇺🇲

Eric o south main auto would tell you that ain't rust. Compared to the cars he works on that car look like it came out of the south. 😂

Used to be a mechanic and have done a lot of brake jobs. A 5 foot difference in stopping distance could mean the difference between hitting the car in front of you or not. I don't understand why people are so resistant to replacing or resurfacing the rotors when replacing the pads - the pads never bed properly unless you do that. And then there are all kinds of problems with aftermarket pads and cheap rotors. Best to go with factory parts that you know will work with the anti-lock and traction/stability control systems the manufacturer designed. Also clean the sliding surfaces with emery cloth, lubricate pins, inspect seals.

As a service writer myself I would avoid calling dust shields "backing plates", as well as wheel wells "wheel housings". Completely different terminology than most use and will quickly confuse a customer that doesn't have automotive experience.

I had a Civic one time that had a pebble wedged between the splash shield and the rotor that made a terrible noise occasionally. Lady was so happy it was a zero cost fix, minus labor, obviously

This guy has one of the only shops on earth that doesn't go "Oh, noise complaint. No code no problem."

That backing plate some models of subaru impreza had the same issue and Subaru improved on the replacement 1s . Well done guys.

Sawdust inside the valve cover. That’s an old one from back in the day used car shops would do to quite valve noise.

I must say, I’ve replaced brake pads w/o replacing the rotors as well many times. Just makes a lot of sense if the rotors are still good. Esp on my old 4x4 Toyota pickups where removing the front rotors is a much bigger ordeal, what with all the wheel bearing preload stuff.

Hey Dave regarding that subaru impreza back end plate I had that same sound after my own subaru came back from the mechanic he had changed the wheel bearings which was good but that zinc shaking sound came exactly from that shield. The reason for the sound was that the mechanic had some problems fitting back that shield in place and he used a hammer to hit it trying to I guess to fit it back into place and that led to the rattling sound

I wish I could call that amount "A lot of rust" around here ... unfortunately in my area that is very little. Hi from Iceland. 🙂

This makes me wanna drive the 400 miles just for a yearly inspection haha. You guys over at Dave's Auto Center are amazing, keep up the good work guys.

How do you feel about not removing the rust and sediment from the hub and back side of the rotor? And do say you out it back on exactly how it came off because I didn’t see anyone mark the rotor hole to stud orientation. Now there’s a possibility you’ve given the car a brake pulsation.

Got screwed over too many times. Wish you guys were closer so I could get new buys inspected from you guys.

I have ran into that same problem with a backing plate before. It would only slightly rub the rotor when turning. I guess wheel bearing had enough play to allow slight contact between the two parts. Bent it back out and good to go. Took a minute to figure it out though. It’s never a good feeling when your car starts making noises that it shouldn’t!

EGR systems Is actually making the air contaminated with black particles whoever thought this idea EGR system needs to be unreliable and quite expensive great video Dave😊

I "Pad Slap" my Vehicles every year or so Dave, and I never had a Problem.👍🏻

I want to drive all the way there just to have this shop work my car.

It is good to see folks with ethical values in business.

Here in Canada, new rotors look like that after 1 year 😅

Love watching your videos, the world needs more people like you!

Marine Surveyor here. The auto inspection sounds like a survey, would be curious to see how that is done. I use software to do a survey because there are many systems to check and you cannot risk missing anything (people could die). I am wondering if Daves uses special software for inspecting. The marine survey typically includes a report with condition and valuation. Surveys can be for pre-purchase and also insurance.

I self diagnosed my car thinking that my manual transmission was going out because of a nasty grinding sounds it would make while accelerating, turns out it was just my engine mounts that were gone to shit. Put new mounts solved the problem.

Can we get a small series of the used car inspections y’all go through maybe some people lookin at those cars will get an idea of what to look for when buying said cars 🙏🙏😎

Mr. Dave and his shop making the auto trade great again one vehicle at a time!

Rust! That’s not rust, that’s a clean one owner garage kept well maintained beauty in Minnesota

My front end driver side heat shield vibrates like crazy on cold days. I've learned to live with it.

I worked at a horrible car dealer when i was going to college and the owner and sales manager would go to auctions and bring back really bad cars. After giving the cars a 2 day scrubbing / hammering shit back into place and whole other cosmetic garbage sell it to some unsuspecting kid. Don’t worry spending good money to have used cars OKd.

I will describe a potential accident setup. See how the door is open and that ladder is close to the lift (2:51 point)? You could lower the car and have the bottom of the door hit the ladder. Many times the lift up/down switches are in a position so as when you are operating the lift part of the car is not visible. Hey, accidents happen.

Dave I feel like I need too tow or drive all my vehicles to you from Vegas to get serviced or repaired. You guys are awesome.

I got totalt f***ked by a company last year. We baught a Volvo with noise when youbhit the gas and it accelirated. We came to agreement IF they fix the problem we taket it. Im a dumb person i admit after this day and trusting skit dealers. I have a still running law case against that firm and beside that i have repaired my wife's new car after that for 3800 dollars aka 38000 swedish krownes whrn the car was for 48.000 swedish att sale...the noise they settles to fix wich they didnt was a lose front drive axle.... the certified workshop was like wtf.... love ur engangememt in your work 10/10 ❤

If customer states what has taught me anything, it's that the self lubricating chassis system is a FEATURE!

Dave, thanks for showing us behind the scenes assessment. What do you propose as an appropriate charge range for an inspection?

I had that same issue with a 2003 Chrysler Sebring. Most likely hit something in the road which caused the shield to warp.

Dust cover is bent and scraping on the rotor. Tire shop did this on my f-150. They took the coil over out and bent it by accident… pushed it back some and noise gone.

Retired service electrician. Commercial, industrial, Institutional field. Customers invariably would offer their assessment. Most were actually clueless unless the issue was obvious. So yeah,be polite,put that away and find the issue.

12:02 Hola señor Dave!!! What a great quality service always performing quality service hopefully 🙏 all mechanic shops have your ethics in providing quality service and making sure the customer is satisfied and safe with the service on the vehicle I have seen where a lady friend went for an oil change and she parked in our driveway and I noticed a oil drip on the concrete and she said I just had the oil changed so I went under and I found the drain bolt was probably just screwed on with the fingers causing it was leaking oil and the shop was a big brand name shop when Sears was in every mall…I told her if you blew up your engine nobody but you be responsible for the damage

I really enjoy these videos, but i really wanted to see the process of the used car inspection

Like the channel and content. But those rotors weren't pitted really bad. Those were almost like new. You should come to iowa, you'll see pitted rotors so bad they almost look like a Chinese checker board. Also i would think you should have been able to diagnose that rubbing shield without taking the whole brake assembly apart. Just my opinion.

Should be able to tell if it's a backer plate without removing anything. I owned a '13 Legacy and the backer plates disintegrated, did them with bearings and both were needed.

An other happy customer!

Honest and professional, what a beautiful thing. hard to find these days. so many shops take a vantage of people.

A good owner. This car owner saved himself a lot of grief getting the underside inspected and that boot replaced. Now he's ready for summer! It's really great to have an honest and reliable mechanic. I used to have a guy named Jerry who was a toyota specialist. I kept taking my fords and other makes to him, he'd complain for a few minutes until he said ok. Always did a great job for me. Most people either have to deal with shops or if they have the means, upgrade their car.

I always give my mechanic my opinion about what’s going on because a couple times my discount mechanics are flummoxed and then they finally fix the problem and it’s exactly what I told him it was the truth is I can’t afford $1000 rear brake jobs on a 2016 Honda Accord from my full service shop so I am forced to take it to the muffler man of the world and cross my fingers and it worked out so far lasted longer

Since we're talking medical analogies, the owner thought his car had explosive diarrhea but it turned out to be a bit of indigestion.

Ok..... gotta be critical on this one. You open up talking about thorough 2 hour inspection. 12 minute video.... 10 of which covers a very minor rattle repair. Never showed the signs/symptoms of the leaking axle you discussed. Never showed fluid levels. Never showed a sample of the oil as to is it regularly maintained. Good ole sniff test of the oil is a great tell. Color of the transmission fluid to show age. Coolant check for oil mixing. Never hooked up a code reader to see if codes were recently cleared and the miles haven't been put on to reset everything. Any possible online service reports for maintenance. Tread depth? Wipers? Lights and signals? Prybar on the control arms and ball joints? I mean come on..... this looked weak Dave. Or was this video supposed to be titled "Unknown rattle.... big problem or simple fix?"

So many shops will throw parts at an issue without proper diagnostic evidence.

Dave, it is fine to emphasize the complaint instead of some customer-diagnosed solution, but please remember that some customers will have significant knowledge and experience and that their diagnoses can save you time and them money. There have been several times in my life where the technician ignored what I told them and hours later came to the same conclusion, or suggested idiotic parts replacements which did not solve the problem, before coming to the same conclusion.

For as involved as you seem to be with your mechanics work, I’m guessing you pay them hourly? A lot of techs that get paid flat rate would not want to stop their inspections and repairs for a video I think. Good to see you so involved with your mechanics.

Love these full length episodes.

It’s no wonder Daves business has become so popular.

I own a repair shop and have my used auto dealers license. Yes I let potential buyers have their shop do a pre-purchase inspection. Yes, I tell everyone who does this…when you bring it back either tell me you want to buy it or hand me keys says thanks. I have ZERO interest in what another shop says.

Love this shop and your videos but growing up in Newfoundland Canada by the ocean that little bit of rust is nothing. Made me laugh

Good job Dave, good job!

Man in the northeast we would consider that rust free. And removing the rotor is usually a serious workout involving heat and a sledge hammer.

😂 Phone always says MUSIC when Dave bangs on cars

Man this is true white glove service. Most shops won't do this. If you find one that does you are lucky lol

Dave’s autos center is literally a clergy member “ sarcastic “ in he tells you the truf, mad respects, the honesty it what my small soul’s delights in

Not only do customers come in with their own diagnosis, we have service advisors at my shop who attempt to diagnose the car on the drive! They go as far as ordering parts.

My 2009 Forester had a rattle was the heat sheild $2.00 Clamp on it fixed it!Great video Dave!

I wonder why the tech took apart the caliper to get the rotor off. Huh must be a new tech. Should've left it as a complete unit.

Your professionalism is second to none in your shop.

The old screwdriver handle to the ear diagnostic... Just like my neighbor when growing up, John Bandimere Sr. used to do it...

You guys didn't clean the rust yet you told the customer that you did? and btw, Dave recommends changing rotors on every brake job? Is that what he said seriously?

I couldn't tell you how many times cars have come in with a shield rattle or a brake backing plate noise.customers love it when you tell them its a cheap fix.

I installed a Powerstop Z36 kit (rotors and pads) on a 2014 F150. When it was time for new pads on the front of my truck the rotors had 0 warping/pitting/shimmy etc, just did pads. Hands down Best Brakes I've installed. I wouldn't put on rotors without new pads, but I would do pads without rotors. Daves Auto Center, can you clarify your always do in pair statements?

big fan of the channel, curious, and I know off camera stuff happens, and maybe things change after conversations, but I heard another hour of shop time to look further. Such a quick look, and flex backing plate, wouldn't cleaning rust off rotor/hub mating surface easily be better and still well under that extra hour? Or at a minimum index it back to same spot it came off of. Of course he would be happy as heck it was not actually the tranny, but just commenting on whatever.. Love the content !!!

I once got a rock in between my rotor and backing plate. My wife could literally hear me from a mile away. 🤣🤣🤣

Its always nice to get a call that it's not going to cost More✓

I made an appointment for a used car inspection at onebof those chain shops, the bastards jumped in front of me and bought the car instead. 😂😂😂😂. If only life was this simple.

Excellent video Dave. Thank you.

Nice job, simple fix.

Yup, as a previous appliance tech, i really disliked when i heard 'yup, my washer needs a new pump' Only to find when i arrive onsite, its something completely different.