Perspectives

These of course depend on perspective and situation.

Check Engine Lights- This is just a way for mechanics to do a whole lot of repair work that doesn't really need to be done.

Most of us are self-doers, we analyze and construct ways to fix our issues. Check engine lights aren't necessarily ways for mechanics to do a lot of repair that doesn't need to be done, although it does happen due to poor analysis or rip-off mechanic. I read my own lights and fix as appropriate. For example, faulty O2 sensor(s) will set off MILs (Malfunction Indicator Lamps) and it will *point to sensor readings, not necessarily that the sensor(s) are bad. They can go bad any time, but it's the mechanic or DIY mechanic that needs to understand that something is sending a signal, whether faulty or not, and to make a proper decision as to what course of action is best. For example, my vehicle started running weird, MIL went off, sensors kept reading RICH/LEAN at multiple banks, mileage was 101,XXX, so I had to replace 4 heated O2 sensors that cost nearly $100 a piece anywhere. I found them at a site for ~60 $ a piece online and problem went away after installation. Hence, check engine light worked out and assisted my own fix.

Another problem is when the MIL does NOT go off and there's something wrong. For example, my vehicle's Neutral Safety Switch went out. I found out that it is an enclosed switch attached to the transmission. It moves in a circle as you shift the transmission. A sensor sends a signal to the automotive computer informing it which gear that it is in. Well, my problem was after 20 minutes driving, I abruptly dropped into First gear, even on the freeway. No warning, no MIL, nothing. I figured that the part must be getting HOT after driving 20 minutes and finally quit working right. Mechanic hooked up an expensive device to read the auto's computer during shifting, did not charge me for it. He found it was reading that the computer THOUGHT I shifted into First while in Drive. It cost me one hour of labor and a delivered part, nothing more. No scam there cause I was communicating with the mechanic about every symptom the auto was having in detail.

Insurance on Cars that are paid for- If you have a clear title on your car, forget about reimbursement for losses. Unless the finance company holds the title, you will never get a dime.

What do you mean "reimbursements" for losses? A total loss?

I had been rear-ended and insurance paid for $3k+ in damages, vehicle rental was under my plan so I had a car, paid for chiropractic care for adjustments to spine, and they sent me extra money so I wouldn't sue. A reputable insurance company will work with you. Make sure you keep meticulous records of everything like vehicle information, people you spoke with, dates, times, copies of documents, and understanding of your insurance policy coverages.

Also, a key note about insurance company ratings: The higher the grade, the more money they have on hand. What that usually means it they can pay out, but they probably don't pay out as often and can hoard more money. Higher ratings means they have more money in the bank.

Towing companies- Essentially they are thieves. They have a contract to steal cars. You have to pay $200 in order to get your car back if they take it.

This is debatable, but they do charge a lot to get cars back. They work with law enforcement closely. It's essential to have good rapport with them to get autos back within expected dates/times. They typically tow for dumb reasons, I agree... like an apartment parking lot where someone parked incorrectly. That would piss me off. It's a good idea to have some kind of towing insurance coverage.

What experiences have you had, I'd like to know to avoid them in the future?

Cell Phone Service- They make you sign a contract for a year and two months into it the quality of your service deteriorates significantly. You are stuck paying premium prices for 10 more months even though nobody can hear you when you answer, your calls are dropped over and over and over, your calls are routed directly to voice mail instead of your phone ringing, you could get abducted, raped, killed and buried waiting for the phone to ring if you call somebody for help, I could go on and on.

Cell phone companies lock in contracts for expensive phones as a means to offset the initial cost by providing discounts on the phones by hundreds of dollars. A $600 phone sold for $100 over 2 years is ~$20 a month they recoup. You can easily purchase a cheap phone and sign up with any company without a contract. Plus, even if you're in a contract, you can always break it and re-negotiate a lesser fee to cancel. They are willing to work with you if you ask, usually.

Tires- They could be making tires that last for the life of a car, but they don't because they want you to buy new ones every so often.

I agree to a point, but yes the industry exists due to new tire sales. The active TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system) inside the tires can cost $600 per tire. Passive TPMS is much cheaper and can alert the driver of low pressure or flat. There's other tire issues that cost many $$$ like alignment, etc...

Oil- They could be making pollution free gasoline with Mon Satan corn, but they would rather tell all of us fools that they are running out of natural resources so they can jack up the price of Mother Earth's life blood and milk us for money.

This is a big one. Infrastructure. Think about all the gas stations that would have to close. There are the suppliers, refiners, current gas powered vehicles, it's difficult to make 'em all obsolete. They could have other power source vehicles that run and make no pollution, I agree, but the infrastructure doesn't want that just yet. Things have to get bad enough first for them to convert. Plus, the history of assassinations of inventors of cheap/free/clean powered vehicles, it boggles the mind. Most get shut up with money, a gag order essentially.

Energy- Electricity could be free, but they suppressed Nikola Tesla's inventions and destroyed him, to insure all of us fools would pay to listen to the radio and watch TV.

It would put an old model out of business too, they can't have that. All the power lines might become obsolete and no residual income from power providers. It would upset the hefty profits and million dollar homeowners that work in the power industry. A lot has been suppressed.

If all of the scams were eliminated, corporations could keep wages down, and their wage slaves wouldn't have to sleep in wrecked vans.

Corporations breed these types of problems by influencing the people, govt., and the world by any means necessary. Morality, ethics, those are just words. Bottom line means everything.