Forums > Areas > Jalisco's Lake Chapala Region

lyricandzion

Mar 28, 2011, 3:50 PM

Post #1 of 21 (5036 views)

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Auto Repair in Ajijic

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I am new to Ajijic and I would like to find a reliable and reasonable mechanic that speaks some English to service my old model truck. Thank you.

texican

Mar 29, 2011, 5:02 AM

Post #2 of 21 (4983 views)

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Re: [lyricandzion] Auto Repair in Ajijic

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I use Al Rivas in Riberas, He worked in the US at a GM dealership for 20 years, speaks perfect english and is very honest. His shop is next to the 7-11

johninajijic

Mar 29, 2011, 8:05 AM

Post #3 of 21 (4950 views)

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Re: [lyricandzion] Auto Repair in Ajijic

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Highly recommended with reasonable prices. Speaks good English. Myself and friends use him.

LLANTERA HERNANDEZ
Next to Tony’s Restaurant in San Antonio (Most reasonable Prices)
ROBERTO (Speaks English)
Tel: 766 0612

Mar 29, 2011, 1:25 PM

Post #4 of 21 (4904 views)

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Re: [lyricandzion] Auto Repair in Ajijic

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Have heard good things about both of the other two poster's recommendations. Let me toss a third into the mix. Francisco, Hidlago #70 , Riberas del Pilar. 376-765-5807. I have never used anyone else in the six years that I have been here. They even do free pick up and return delivery. Now you have three choices. BTW, I drive an 11 year old vehicle, and the guys at Francisco's take great care of me. I mean my car. Across the highway from Mom's T.

johninajijic

Mar 29, 2011, 11:02 PM

Post #5 of 21 (4870 views)

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Re: [T] Auto Repair in Ajijic

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T - Don't forget to mention that Francisco's although they are good, is without a doubt "the most expensive" at Lakeside. I used to do business with him until he deliberately put the wrong weight oil in my car after I had specified what I wanted.

He put in that "Cheap" CHEVRON oil that he buys by the case at Costco. Then he charged me $ 50 pesos a quart for it. NEVER returned. I had asked for PENNZOIL and Roberto always uses whatever weight that I want.

Gringal

Mar 30, 2011, 9:05 AM

Post #6 of 21 (4838 views)

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Re: [texican] Auto Repair in Ajijic

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Ditto re Al Rivas. An unusual character in some ways, but we always got along well and found him very honest. Good man.

Mar 30, 2011, 1:21 PM

Post #7 of 21 (4814 views)

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Re: [johninajijic] Auto Repair in Ajijic

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I would like you to support your comment that Francisco is the most expensive mechanic in lakeside. Have you visited every mechanic in lakeside and know this for a fact, or are you upset with him about the oil change error, and expressing your opinion as absolute, indisputable and unquestionable fact? T.

(This post was edited by T on Mar 30, 2011, 1:28 PM)

johninajijic

Mar 30, 2011, 3:09 PM

Post #8 of 21 (4791 views)

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Re: [T] Auto Repair in Ajijic

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T - I didn't say that because of his mess up with the oil change. I have done business with Roberto next to Super Lake who is the most reasonable. I have done business with Escalera Automotriz who screwed me on an oil change by charging $ 650. pesos and I'll never go back again. Escalera has good mechanics too. That's why I didn't recommend him.

I got screwed by Francisco and wouldn't go back unless another mechanic couldn't fix something, but I would go back. I did business with Francisco for about 7 years until the oil thingy. His guys ARE very good mechanics. No one should charge $ 450. pesos for an oil change, especially using cheapo Chevron oil bought by the case at Costco. My car has 99,000 miles on it, so I don't need problems now. I have always used good quality oil. This is Mexico for cryps sake! I can get an oil change and more at my Ford Dealer done by competent mechanics for $ 25. USD.

Roberto charges $ 350. pesos for an oil change and does good work. He is very prompt.

And I don't have to justify anything I say to you or anyone else on here, so go hide under a rock somewhere.

chinagringo

Mar 30, 2011, 4:15 PM

Post #9 of 21 (4783 views)

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Re: [johninajijic] Auto Repair in Ajijic

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Having grown up as an EXXON oil company brat and been through many a lab in refineries, I was exposed to comparison studies on various brands of petroleum based oil. Excluding the synthetics and some of the newer petroleum based concoctions with certain chemical additives - there is very little difference between the common assorted brands of oil. Anyone who believes that one is far superior to the others has simply bought into marketing hype or the recommendations of their expert mechanic who is simply reacting to a "spiff" in much the same manner as a doctor who may be motivated by payola from the drug industry. Everyone thinks that the gas companies make their money off of gasoline but looking closer at their bottom lines will reveal that the lubricant end of the business is a true money maker.
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

Mar 30, 2011, 4:33 PM

Post #10 of 21 (4776 views)

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Re: [johninajijic] Auto Repair in Ajijic

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The old John has returned, sadly. Yes when you say someone is the highest priced mechanic in lakeside and has ripped you off, you do need to support this by your facts, not your temper. T.

Mar 30, 2011, 4:40 PM

Post #11 of 21 (4774 views)

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Re: [johninajijic] Auto Repair in Ajijic

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When asked to prove accusations that you have made against Francisco, you tell me that you have nothing to prove to me nor anyone else on this webboard and that I should go and hide under a rock. This is just the kind of talk that got you banned for life on Chapala.com. Keep up the good work. T

Mar 30, 2011, 4:48 PM

Post #12 of 21 (4773 views)

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Re: [T] Auto Repair in Ajijic

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You make statements that you have no way of supporting and then attack the questioner. T.

Gringal

Mar 30, 2011, 5:22 PM

Post #13 of 21 (4770 views)

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Re: [T] Auto Repair in Ajijic

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Being banned on a webboard seems to be a pretty common occurrence, T.

Pot calling the kettle black?

Why don't you just declare peace and move on to something much more interesting to the group in general?

Reefhound

Mar 30, 2011, 7:51 PM

Post #14 of 21 (4752 views)

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Re: [chinagringo] Auto Repair in Ajijic

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While I would agree that there is little "quality" difference between brands for equivalent type oils, he said they used the wrong weight oil and that is important. Different engines are designed for different weights and using a different weight than recommended by the manufacturer can lead to problems and/or void a warranty. It's an old mechanic's trick to put in 20 weight to stop a car with worn piston rings from burning oil and smoking. But that thick stuff is hard on a system on startup.

chinagringo

Mar 31, 2011, 8:15 AM

Post #15 of 21 (4716 views)

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Re: [Reefhound] Auto Repair in Ajijic

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He put in that "Cheap" CHEVRON oil that he buys by the case at Costco

Penzoil vs Chevron is what I was responding to and not the oil weight issue.
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

DavidHF

Mar 31, 2011, 9:18 AM

Post #16 of 21 (4699 views)

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Re: [Reefhound] Auto Repair in Ajijic

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Look in the owner's manual for any modern car and you'll see that except for very cold or very hot climates they can use just about anything. BTW, 20W is not a heavy oil.

Reefhound

Mar 31, 2011, 10:31 AM

Post #17 of 21 (4691 views)

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Re: [DavidHF] Auto Repair in Ajijic

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Most modern cars recommend 5W or less. My Honda CRV says nothing about it being ok to use higher weight oils. What does your manual say?

20W is about as heavy as it gets for car engine oil. I doubt any manufacturer recommends it for normal street use.

For sustained high temperature, high load operation, an even heavier oil may be used in some situations. Some racing engines use 20W-50, but this would only be recommended for an engine with increased bearing clearances. Increasing the viscosity of the oil also increases drag and friction, which can sap horsepower from the crankshaft. That's why 20W-50 racing oil would not be the best choice for everyday driving or cold weather operation for most vehicles. The latest trend in racing is to run tighter bearing clearances and use thinner oils such as 0W-20, 0W-30, 5W-20 or 5W-30 to reduce friction and drag.

http://www.aa1car.com/...ry/oil_viscosity.htm

johninajijic

Mar 31, 2011, 12:54 PM

Post #18 of 21 (4667 views)

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Re: [Gringal] Auto Repair in Ajijic

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Gringal - Thanks for your post. Right on. T can't think far enough ahead to make one post, instead he makes 3 new ones. He must be trying to rack up his number of posts. About being banned from chapala.com, who cares!!! It was for a very mild criticism of a restaurant. The Mod over there is a d*ck and shouldn't be moderating. He doesn't know what he's doing. They banned all the good people who have had years living here who could answer questions accurately like myself. Now they have a bunch of dummies posting stupid questions.

chinagringo - I think I have to agree with you on your oil post. Not only did Francisco not put in the oil I "specified" (by handing them a computer generated word document) which was either 5 W - 20 or 10 W - 30, but he put in 20 W -40. My car calls for 5 W - 20, even though it's a 1998.

Reefhound - Your post is correct and there must be a reason Ford engineers wanted 5 W - 20 for the car, probably due to engine clearances.

(This post was edited by johninajijic on Mar 31, 2011, 12:58 PM)

Mar 31, 2011, 1:59 PM

Post #19 of 21 (4654 views)

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Re: [johninajijic] Auto Repair in Ajijic

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John, I have no personal issues with you at all. I do not know who you are. I respect all of the help with your lists that you have supplied to us. Your restaurant reviews are amazing. All of your lists are still on TOB, even though you can no longer post there. What I do have an issue with is you setting yourself up as god-like and shoot down EVERYONE who asks you a question or disagrees with you. For example, you said Francisco was the most expensive mechanic in lakeside. I asked you for some supportive information on what you said and you told me to go hide under a rock. Not appreciated. You should be able to respond to questions and those that disagree with you with more aplomb than that. I will always wish you the best. In the overall scheme of things, this at best a burp, at worst, a fart. I have no axe to grind with you. T

johninajijic

Apr 1, 2011, 11:52 AM

Post #20 of 21 (4603 views)

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Re: [T] Auto Repair in Ajijic

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And I have no axe to grind with you either. Best to you.

John

Apr 1, 2011, 3:00 PM

Post #21 of 21 (4580 views)

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Re: [johninajijic] Auto Repair in Ajijic

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Thanks, John. T