'I called... to tell him the great news, and he loses it': Service advisor tells customer about cheap fix for his car, he insists on an expensive new fuel pump

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Aug 27, 2023 5:00 PM EDT

Car owners have immense pride over their precious vehicles. People who are into cars get so invested in the details that make their automobile shine, from shiny rims to blackout windows. All of these extras don't come cheap, but for lots of people, their car is their favorite hobby, and they'll pour hundreds or thousands into making it look the best it can be. 

This person also took a lot of pride in his car, but it's less about love for his vehicle, and more about him thinking he can never be wrong about anything. U/Malibuninja shared this story of a guy who drove his Chevy Malibu to her auto shop. He was already frustrated with the OP before she could even finish asking him questions. Instead of answering questions about his car, this dude just keeps saying over and over that he already knows what's wrong. 

Check out the entire story, including commenters who shared similar amusing tales from their own lives. Then, this homeowner couple made sure to follow their neighbor's HOA demands — by painting their house a loud neon color. 

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  • 01
    Speedometer - 0 120 140 0 km/h 1/2 160 240 260
    via CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash
  • 02
    Font - Malibu towed into shop with "fuel tank failure" but due had run out of gas. Demanded that we replace a perfectly good pump anyway... M So this guy gets his Malibu towed in to the shop because it won't start. I attempt to get the info we need to diagnose the problem but he keeps insisting we don't need a diagnosis because it's the fuel pump. I explain that our techs need to verify the problem before we throw a fuel pump into a car that may not need one. He gets frustrated while I'm asking
    via u/Malibuninja
  • 03
    Font - He says over and over that it won't start because the fuel pump isn't working. It could not possibly be anything else because it's the fuel pump and to just take his word. I tell him we'll get the estimate together and get back to him.
    via u/Malibuninja
  • 04
    Font - Then I got out to the car and the first thing I see is the gas gauge, it is on empty. Maybe that's part of the issue? So I grab a gas can and dump a couple of gallons in and try it again. She fired right up and purred like a kitten. After some further tests the tech confirms the no start was due to running out of gas. Fuel pumps can't pump if there is no fuel.
    via u/Malibuninja
  • 05
    Font - I called the man to tell him the great news and he looses it. Screaming about how the car was not out of gas and demanding that he speak to my boss because I am clearly an idiot.
    via u/Malibuninja
  • 06
    Font - After a short time my boss hangs up the phone and says "we'll be replacing the fuel pump in the "malibooboo" so call the parts in and I'll pull the car around,"
    via u/Malibuninja
  • 07
    Font - So yeah we replaced a perfectly good fuel pump. We charged the man for the removal and install of it and the two gallons of gas. He smugly left saying " knew it was the fuel pump" to me while thanking my boss for his quick action.
    via u/Malibuninja
  • 08
    Font - We tried to save him hundreds of dollars but he was not having it so we gave him what he wanted... Poor guy just couldn't admit to running out of gas!
    via u/Malibuninja
  • 09
    Font - update: I did not expect this much of a reaction to my little story, both positive and negative. I have been reading through all the comments and attempting to reply. There are a couple of things that I wanted to clarify 1. I'm female. This story happened 3 years ago when I was in a service advisor position at a shop. I didn't do diagnosis usually but I'd save techs time by doing basic stuff like charging batteries and reading codes. . Initial vehicle intake records were part of my respon
    via u/Malibuninja
  • 10
    Font - 2. I am not claiming to be an expert or any such other thing. I was not looking for an argument or debate on whether or not a fuel pump failure occurred or if the empty gas tank was he only problem or a symptom of the fuel pump failure. 3. As a rule we never quoted the customer a price until we had verified the diagnosis. And we never just swapped one part for another without the diagnostic. I've seen so many cases where something small and inexpensive causes an issue and instead of inves
    via u/Malibuninja
  • 11
    Font - 4. Customers were always given an explanation of the diagnosis and the breakdown of what it will cost for us to repair (obviously) then given the option to approve the repairs or not. If the car was brought in because it won't start then the only repairs we quote are what is required to get the car to start. 5. We always tried to save customers money when we could. Part of my job was to inform them of all the options, the consequences of those choices and let the customer decide.
    via u/Malibuninja
  • 12
    Font - Let's stop debating every little piece of the story and just agree that no one has the right to treat others as less than human. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect. Life is an Echo... You get what you give and you reap what you sow.
    via u/Malibuninja
  • 13
    Font - Qlinkenstein My company builds agricultural equipment and you'd be surprised how many times we get a call from an end user: "THE SCREEN SAYS FUEL RAIL PRESSURE ERROR. THIS THING IS BRAND NEW. WHAT A PIECE OF S HOW COME I AM HAVING PROBLEMS ALREADY? IT ONLY HAS TWO HOURS ON IT."
    via u/Qlinkenstein
  • 14
    Font - I always ask "Did you check the fuel level and fill it before you ran it? Is it possible you ran it out of fuel? We only put about two to four hours worth of fuel in them for the initial test and it sounds like you are out." "NO WAY AM I OUT OF FUEL, IT'S JUST A PIECE OF S!" "Check it real quick, please." "YOU WERE RIGHT IT IS OUT OF FUEL" "Apology accepted."
    via u/Qlinkenstein
  • 15
    Font - MyMomSaysIAmCool I worked on a fuel injected Harley once. The customer's complaint was "Muddy in first and second gear." I test rode it, and sure enough, if you gave it full throttle in first or second, it would bog down. I'm embarrassed to say that it took me a long time to figure out that the bike was low on gas. I tested EVERYTHING, and wasted hours on it.
    via u/MyMomSaysIAmCool
  • 16
    Font - In low gears, the bike accelerated hard enough to make the fuel slosh away from the pump's inlet. In the upper gears, the bike couldn't accelerate hard enough to make the problem happen. Sent the bike back to the customer with a note that he needed to put gas in it.
    via u/MyMomSaysIAmCool
  • 17
    Font - Ford Master Tech Whenever I work on a diesel truck that has been filled with gas I get told "well my wife was the one that took it to the gas station"
    via u/FordMasterTech
  • 18
    Font - pixelrebel Customer is always right. Give 'em what they want and they will always love you. Give 'em what they need and they might leave forever.
    via u/pixelrebel
  • 19
    Font - morgan423 I wonder what would have happened if you had called him back to the shop before doing anything, brought him to the car, then poured the gas in and started it before he could protest? Would his brain have exploded? Would he have fallen, twitching, to the floor, whilst hallucinating that you were changing his fuel pump as he wanted? I wish we could know for sure.
    via u/morgan423
  • 20
    Font - superhancpetram Should have siphoned out most of the gas you put in just so he could run out again on the way home.
    via u/superhancpetram
  • 21
    Font - [deleted] I wouldn't even be mad. If someone wants to pay you for something they don't need, so be it. Wish I had you as a mechanic instead of these scam artists though. 13 Reply Share Malibuninja OP. I wasn't mad... Just entertained
    via u/deleted
  • 22
    Font - Espiritu51 Shouldn't have put gas in the car. Should have replaced the fuel pump and then when it STILL doesn't work, ask him if you want him to replace the air filter for $500. Try to find the true cost of his pride. 62 Reply Share Malibuninja OP. Although it would be fun to mess with him I think that is a b and it would totally come back on me if I just took advantage of the situation. Plus I wanted as little dealing with this dude is possible he was like trying to talk to a steam rolle
    via u/Espiritu51

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fuel malicious compliance car gas malicious-compliance-reddit cars Chevy expensive parts cheap workplace-stories work stories workplace
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