Choosing a Good Mechanic – No
Just because a mechanic has ASE certification doesn't mean they are capable of properly diagnosing and making the proper repair needed to fix your automobile correctly the first time. ASE was formed because members of United States congress received a large volume of complaint's about the quality of the automotive repair service. The congressional hearings concluded that the major cause of inaccurate auto repair was the mechanic's incompetence.
That might have been the case back in the late sixties but I disagree with the congressional hearings that was held four decades ago. First of all, there is more than just a logo or title a consumer should look for when choosing a mechanic or repair shop. A consumer should always ask family, friends and coworkers if they ever had any repair work done by that mechanic or repair shop that they intend to use.
If you have just moved or relocated to a new area, you as a consumer should always check first with the mechanic or repair shop what their policy is on their repair service, regardless if they are ASE certified or not. Always ask if they back their parts and labor up with a guarantee. Afraid of the direct approach? The county you reside in has a chamber of commerce that should have a list of reliable repair shop's
Another important factor to consider would be how many year's of experience the mechanic has repairing automobiles. Ten or more years of actual hands on experience is far better than someone that has a couple or even all certification's but has little or no actual hands on experience. ASE states mechanic's must prove two year's experience in automotive service work before they can get their certification in any area. What the average consumer doesn't know that two year's of high school training, trade school, and community college can be used to substitute one whole year of the hands on experience requirement.
Furthermore a lot of mechanic's that has been working in the auto repair industry for fifteen plus years either become shop Foreman, service manager, or go in business for themselves. These seasoned, well experienced, mechanic's leave the auto industry struggling to assure the consumer that all they need to worry about is to make sure that the mechanic or repair shop has ASE certification. No wonder why there is so much emphasis on being certified and not enough emphasis on hands on real world experience.
Finally, last of all ask yourself this simple question; If a mechanic can't figure out a problem on a automobile, either diagnosing the concern, or just can't get a part to go back together the way it came apart, does the mechanic go up to the wall and asks his certificates what to do? I believe the mechanic would go to his fellow coworker with the most valuable asset, decades of real life experience's that he has learned over the years, including the mistakes he has seen and made himself.
