Repair Order #007

Shop Life #007: Rust Inspection

The work order sounded simple.

Check underbody for rust. Provide estimate.

“It’s mostly surface rust,” the customer said.

Wabbit glanced at the car, then at the small brown pile it had left beside the service counter.

“Which surface?”

“Underneath.”

Wabbit picked up his clipboard.

“We’ll take a look.”

Once he had checked the lift points and safely raised the car, Wabbit switched on his flashlight.

The beam passed through the floor and lit up the underside of a seat.

He lowered the light, looked at it, then tried again.

Same result.

From the waiting area, the customer called, “How’s it looking?”

“I can see the interior.”

“From underneath?”

“Pretty clearly.”

Wabbit moved along the rocker panel. Rust curled away from an old patch, revealing another patch behind it.

He leaned closer.

There was a third.

Someone had spent several years repairing the same six inches of car without ever introducing the repairs to each other.

He made a note on the clipboard.

Previous repairs present. Original metal unavailable for comment.

The customer appeared at the edge of the bay.

“My buddy fixed that a while back.”

Wabbit looked at the layers.

“Which time?”

“The rusty part.”

Wabbit glanced along the underside.

He would need something more specific.

A flake drifted down and landed on his clipboard.

He tilted it off.

Another took its place.

“Can you give me a solid estimate?” the customer asked.

Wabbit looked up at the floor pan.

Then down at the floor.

“I’m having trouble finding something solid to base it on.”

“But you can fix rust, right?”

“Yes.”

“So what’s the problem?”

Wabbit pointed his flashlight through the hole.

“Finding where the rust ends.”

The customer leaned sideways to follow the beam.

“That hole wasn’t there before.”

“Before what?”

“Before you put the light on it.”

Wabbit lowered the flashlight.

The hole remained.

He showed the customer the affected areas, explained the difference between surface corrosion and missing metal, and pointed out where the rust extended beyond the old repairs.

The customer listened, then looked toward the outside of the car.

“The paint still looks pretty good.”

Wabbit nodded and wrote one final note.

Paint may be load-bearing.

From the next bay, Mike called over.

“How’s the estimate coming?”

“Still checking.”

“Found a starting point?”

“Found several stopping points.”

Wabbit finished documenting the damage and lowered the car.

A few more flakes settled around the tires.

The customer looked at the pile.

“Was all that mine?”

“It came in with you.”

“Do I need to take it?”

Wabbit set the clipboard on the counter.

“We can dispose of it.”

The customer nodded, visibly relieved that at least one part of the job had a straightforward answer.

Wabbit completed the repair order.

COMPLAINT: Check underbody for rust.
DIAGNOSIS: Several areas no longer participating in being a car.
RECOMMENDATION: Assess what’s still attached.
STATUS: Paint may be load-bearing.

He reached for his coffee.

Mike walked past, glanced at the paperwork, and looked back at the car.

“Customer wanted a solid estimate?”

Wabbit took a sip.

“Vehicle couldn’t provide one.”

Just another day at Wabbits Garage.

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Service Record

Technician: Wabbit

Customer Complaint: “It’s mostly surface rust. Can you give me a solid estimate?”

Diagnosis: Several areas no longer participating in being a car.

Recommendation: Assess what’s still attached.

Status: Paint may be load-bearing.

Lessons Learned: Visible rust may reveal only part of the damage. Corrosion around structural areas, lift points, and suspension mounts needs careful inspection before the scope of repairs can be determined.

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Next Repair Order

Repair Order #008

Another day. Another repair order.