Considering how much sprawl there is in the world, it’s unsurprising that most people will find they need a car to get around. And because of that, it’s also true that there are a lot more people who own cars than people who know what to do when something goes wrong with them.
So, whether it’s because they’re intimidated or don’t know what to look for, some customers will take their ailing car to a garage without seeing what’s happening inside it for themselves. And when the mechanic starts their own professional examination, what they find is a surprise to everybody!
Even those who know nothing know this doesn’t look right
No_Introduction1051/reddit
Reddit user No_Introduction1051 mentioned a customer driving up to their garage but being unable to pull it in once they arrived. This was because it wouldn’t start, and once the employees took a look inside, it was immediately obvious why. Whatever happened to the crankshaft here, it was serious enough that it was a miracle the car ran for as long as it did.
However, it seems the customer didn’t see it that way and got into a screaming match with the shop’s service writer. Why? Because it was running when it got there. If they were implying that the employees had something to do with this, their explanation for how is undoubtedly “interesting.”
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They’re going to have flashbacks about this one
jdnraw/reddit
When Reddit user jdnraw saw this Toyota CH-R come in for a rear bumper replacement, they were horrified to learn that this was the least of the car’s problems. Although they had no idea who was responsible for these previous repairs, they could only describe them as “straight butchery.”
It’s easy to see what they mean with so many all-but-exposed parts barely staying in place here, but one aspect of this mess was particularly demoralizing for a professional to see. They said, “Who in the Lord’s name tack welds a fuel door on?”
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That really can’t be safe
the_dunc_/reddit
When the customer who owns this vehicle pulled in, they reportedly complained that their car feels like it’s going through an earthquake whenever they brake. And considering that these rotors were worn down to little pegs when the mechanic had a look, it didn’t take long to solve the mystery as to why that was.
As for what on Earth happened here, Reddit user the_dunc_’s theory is that the customer left the car sitting around for long enough that the rotors rusted. Once that happened, either they or someone they were unfortunate enough to trust used a grinder to wear away the surface rust. Needless to say, that decision had some consequences.
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Not every strange discovery is a horrifying one
tonythashoota/reddit
While there are all sorts of unexpected challenges and botched repairs that a mechanic will face in their day-to-day lives, some of a car’s little quirks are much more likely to make them laugh than cry. And this adorable little guy fits that bill perfectly.
A happy dog like this is always good for a smile after a rough day, but the little balloons are obviously a distinct touch. There’s no other way to describe this little ornament other than an “updog,” which was probably what the customer had in mind to begin with.
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How did things get like this?
Imgur
Although it’s unclear what this van was actually taken into the shop for, the mechanic could certainly be forgiven for struggling to stay on task once they got a look into the back. Most vans will attract some clutter from time to time, but this is seriously beyond the pale!
When a pile of garbage becomes so dense and disgusting that it actually seems to calcify together, it’s clear that the driver has a serious problem on their hands. How long did it take those grocery bags to break down into this wall of filth?
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There’s no way it should ever look like this
_switters_/reddit
When Reddit user _switters_ was working, a customer pulled in with a motorcycle and said the battery kept dying on them. They also noted a persistent rattling noise, and once the mechanic saw the state of this stator, that didn’t exactly come as a surprise. Something had been scraping against the metal inside so hard that they exposed the mass of copper underneath it.
As for how that happened, the mechanic noticed that the stator’s flywheel bolts backed out, and one of them did so to such an extreme that its head snapped off. That head is apparently the culprit for all this damage. As for how the rider ignored it for so long, _switters_ said, “You would be surprised with what some people put up with on bikes.”
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A nest that feels heartless to disturb
Imgur
Those who live in colder climates will sometimes find that the local fauna can go to some pretty extreme lengths to keep warm during a harsh winter. And when those little critters are small enough, chances are good that they’ll seek that warmth under the hood of a car.
That phenomenon is what led these adorable little squirrels to hibernate next to this engine block. And considering that they were apparently able to build a whole nest of leaves before they settled down, this car must have one inattentive driver.
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It honestly should’ve disintegrated by now
Anonymoushipopotomus/reddit
When a customer brought this obviously unsafe vehicle to Reddit user Anonymoushipopotomus’s workplace, they wanted a smoke test for a possible leak in their evaporator. And yes, they said this with a straight face like that was all that was wrong with their car.
Naturally, the mechanic was quick to bring up the corroded brakes and the tires that look like they were installed four presidential administrations ago. However, the customer refused to let them repair any of that, which makes it hard to understand why they were so worried about the evaporator.
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This didn’t turn out anywhere near as fancy as they hoped
boostedka89/reddit
Although some might look at this picture and criticize the way somebody installed the wrapping on the front bumper, that really doesn’t get to the root of the issue. Even if that wrapping was replaced with Flex tape, it wouldn’t get to the root of the issue.
When a custom bumper like this is installed, it’s supposed to fit together with the rest of the car. If a bird can make a nest in the gap between the hood and the bumper, that’s not exactly a sign of proper fitment.
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It’s always nice to see this happy fellow, just not here
Imgur
When someone saw this car sitting here with a dog’s head peeking out of the gas tank, they couldn’t resist taking a picture. It’s certainly not a sight that people see every day, and it would only leave everyone who comes across it with questions.
After all, how did this dog get in here? Does the car’s owner know about this? Is this even their dog? Whatever the answer is to these little mysteries, at least the dog seems happy enough about it.
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There’s a lot to unpack with this one
OutsidePrimary69420/reddit
The longer that someone looks at this photo, the more questions this bizarre truck inspires. Indeed, there are so many discoveries to be had here that it’s unlikely most people will even notice the horseshoe hanging where an air freshener should be.
Based on the fact that its windshield looks like the driver got into a road rage incident with Superman, that horseshoe probably isn’t all that lucky. Also, where did they get that Mercedes hood ornament, and why is it duct taped to the hood of this Ford?
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Protip: That’s supposed to go inside of the car
BillzPaiD/reddit
When Reddit user BillzPaiD met the customer who brought this Volkswagen in, she said that the radiator had fallen out of her car about a week after she got her tires replaced. Since it started making weird noises after this, she figured she might need her tires rotated.
Naturally, that’s unlikely to do much about the radiator scraping against the ground like this. And since there was some damage to the bumper near the dangling radiator, the tires probably weren’t the problem as much as what BillzPaiD described as the “collection of curbs” she hit.
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What happened to this thing?
goofee76/reddit
As Reddit user goofee76 told it, their customer came into the shop with this and simply said, “I was just driving along, and it quit.” Well, once the mechanic had a look at the motor, it was clear that it had some legitimate grievances.
Even assuming that those random loose parts weren’t dropped in the middle of it before the customer got here (and that’s a big assumption), it still looks like somebody attacked this thing with a blowtorch. No wonder it quit.
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It’s not a matter of if but when
Imgur
It’s immensely unclear as to why whoever owns this car thought strapping all of these bags and bins to the roof was a good idea. It’s not really worth it to save on the U-Haul if the stuff that’s being transported ends up all over the highway, worse yet, if it ends up smashing into somebody else’s car.
Although it’s a miracle that all of this stuff has been able to stay on the car for as long as it has, at least some of it is guaranteed to fall off when it gets moving again. It’s just a matter of how much will fall off at once when it does. It’s just not going to work, folks.
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It was like that when they bought it
Not_my_fault2626/reddit
When people look at this bent rim, it’s hard for them not to wonder what this truck had to hit to cause so much damage. And the really interesting question is how long it took anybody to notice it, considering how big this rig is.
So far, the most likely candidates seem to be the world’s mightiest curb or a fairly average pothole. It’s impossible to know without figuring out where this truck was driving, though. It seems like it would be hard for someone to make it look like that if they tried.
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Oh yeah, that’ll hold
Makhnos_Tachanka/reddit
When Reddit user Makhnos_Tachanka saw how badly damaged the bell housing around their customer’s gearbox was, they were understandably horrified. However, the customer’s concern for an even rustier one apparently didn’t extend to what should be the obviously critical situation here.
Why? Well, they seemed to figure that this jury-rigged contraption consisting of an aluminum baking tray and some baling wire would hold it together fine. That should be yet another nail in the coffin of the phrase, “The customer is always right.”