A certified ASE Mechanic installed a timing belt in my engine (which as I discovered is an "interferance" or "Freewheeling" type) (Nissan maxima V6). Before he changed the belt the engine was quiet, smooth running and powerful. Now the engine is weak, shakes the entire car, and makes a loud wining sound. I've discovered that he most likely put the timing belt on incorrectly, then started the motor which damaged the valves. I taken it back to him 4 times, and he acts like he's trying to fix it....but the car still runs like hell. I took it to another mechanic who tested the compression in the cylinders.....which varied from cylinder to cylinder 60-120. What a nightmare.

The problem with the ASE Certified Mechanics is it costs more to have a head gasket replaced than to have an Endodontist do a root canal and that guy is a PHD! Why? Because ASE guys have huge tool bills from snapon!. Long ago I dumped repair shops and do my own repairs. I will never get ripped off by another idiot like the one that charged me $1800.00 to do a simple head gasket, then get irritated when I come back about vacuum leaks they created, but could not figure out. I finally had to spend two weekends hunting down missing vac. line connectors, reinstalling EGR brackets back in their correct locations. The idiot that did the work on my truck had that patch on his shirt and his certificate on the wall above his tool box! Over 30 years I had more bad experiences than good with ASE certified shops. So, several years ago I took matters into my own hands and developed a sound skill set that allows me to out perform at least 50% of the "Pro's". Now I will identify the problem. FLAT RATE! On the larger jobs, you're more likely than not to wind up with a half assed job and a bill that demands more than the quality delivered. It's all about making the most money in the shortest time. In closing, all I can say is thank God he gifted me enough to take care of my issues and that I no longer need to worry that the clown leaning over my fender is gonna screw me when it's time to pay the bill!