Murphy’s Laws of Auto Repair
1. Never put all your tools away until you have actually started the car, and know everything is in working order.
2. Always take more than one fuse with you, even though you already know one will do the job.
3. If the customer says it will be “an easy fix” plan on packing a lunch, because this is going to take awhile.
4. If the repair is going smoothly, something is wrong. (Drop a tool on the ground, and let it roll under the work bench or something).
5. There ARE such things as a “Monday built car”, and a “Friday built car”.
6. If the customer is watching, you’re probably not.
7. If you have double checked your work and it seems to be right, check it again.
8. There are more phone calls when you take a lunch break.
9. Proper use of a tool only applies when properly using the tool.
10. You’re only as good as your last job.
11. Your last job wasn’t that good.
12. Mechanics Beer Rule. 9 mechanics and 10 cases of beer = too many mechanics, or not enough beer. Remove 3 mechanics, or add 5 cases (don’t worry, it’s not a math thing…just keep them happy).
13. The moving parts of an engine are closer than they appear.
14. Don’t always trust a hood prop.
15. Things can go wrong, even when you are not doing anything.
16. Things that go wrong, when you are not doing anything, are still your fault.
17. Gravity is your friend, but not the kind that you trust with your brand new Snap-On sockets.
18. Only upset customers call on a Monday morning at exactly opening time.
19. Not answering the phone at opening time makes customers angry.
20. Yes, I live at the shop 24/7. Of course, I’m there at all hours of the day or night.
21. Oil leaks on the shop floor can be traced in 2 different directions.
22. Only the tool you can’t find is the one you need right now.
