How to Find the best Local Mechanic for Auto Repair

From 3arf

Don't trust your mechanic. He/she is just going to rip you off and sell you something you don't need especially if you are a woman. I know the mantra well; I've heard it a million times- and mostly because I've caught the brunt of the accusations. Not personally, but collectively during my career as an automotive technician. Well, here is a completely honest and straightforward point of view from inside the industry.

There is certainly a healthy amount of truth that goes along with tale of the scamming mechanic. Though the vast majority of mechanics are honest, hardworking, and only telling you the hard, cold facts about your automobile, there is a not-so-quiet minority of thieves who have left a dark legacy for the rest of us.

Though I am no longer a part of the automotive repair industry, I feel obligated on behalf of my brethren who remain there to offer a glimpse into the world of a service professional before I offer a few consumer tips. Your mechanic has a mortgage, wife/husband, children, etc. Just like you. They are at their respective shops to make a living and to provide a service.

Most dealership-employed technicians work on a flat-rate scale which, simply put, means that they get paid by the job; not by the hour. The flat-rate time allotted to each job on a car is predetermined by a set of industry-wide standards. Sometimes these labor times are extremely generous to the technician, and sometimes they favor the consumer. In the case of warranty work, it is almost always a safe bet that your technician is actually getting shorted because the job will take much longer than the warranty time will pay them. This is yet another sad truth about the many ways in which Big Business sticks it to the little guy'. Especially for younger technicians, there is an unsteady ebb and flow to their weekly income. In short, it can be an uncertain and sometimes nerve-wracking occupation, or it can be extremely profitable. You never know from day to day, week to week.

This is not to undermine the constant struggle of mechanics at independently owned (non-dealership) repair shops. Though most of these mechanics are paid on an hourly basis (and oftentimes the owner of the shop IS one of these mechanics and earns no hourly wage; just whatever income the shop provides), there is always the possibility of falling upon slow times and being sent home for lack of work.

Here comes the promised insight which may or may not help you on your next visit to the repair shop. Mind, these are just some opinions and pointers from the other side of the glass, and merely offered in a modest attempt to help the unsuspecting consumer avoid potential risks.

FIRST AND FOREMOST: I don't care how many hundreds of thousands of miles you put on your old Buick without changing the oil, and it "ran great" until the day you finally parted with it; routine maintenance at a respectable repair shop is the biggest key to keeping your car healthy and avoiding costly repairs down the proverbial road. And I'm not saying just change your oil and life will be peachy. Regular changing of transmission and cooling system fluids, as well as (where applicable) transfer case and differential fluids is a must. If by chance you are mechanically inclined enough to perform these tasks on your own, I would still recommend regular visits to one of those reputable repair shops for basic maintenance. If not just to give yourself a break, also to subject your vehicle to the scrutiny of a trained professional who may catch something you missed, and remedy such a problem before it worsens or causes further issues which may run you into the thousands of dollars.

Next, I will elaborate on what I mean by a "reputable repair shop". I refuse to issue a blanket statement such as, "all dealerships are good", or "all independent shops are bad". It is simply not true. If you have a favorite shop already, and you have no reason to believe that the people there have ever led you astray, that is wonderful. However, if you are dissatisfied with your current repair shop, but you are nervous about going to a new one, there are a few indicators that can help with your choice.

Once you have the name of a shop which sounds reputable, give them a call. Keeping in mind that winter is usually a slow time of year, and summer quite the opposite, ask how long before they can get you in. If there is a wait of a few days or more, odds are in favor of that particular shop being a safe choice. Repair shops of ill repute and poor quality will not be backlogged with work, and will try to rush you in as soon as you can possibly bring your car there. While you are on the phone with a shop, and provided they haven't already scared you off with a slimy over-eagerness to dissect your automobile, ask what their labor rates are; if the rates seem rather high, but still within reason, I would recommend giving that shop a chance. A bad repair shop would not be able to charge such prices and stay in business.

Now that you have settled on a particular shop with which to entrust your vehicle (and your wallet), it's time for the scariest part: the day of your appointment. More so with an unfamiliar shop than one you've been going to for a while, this can be a harrowing experience; almost equal to that of awaiting your prognosis from a doctor. If, by unfortunate chance, you are told that there is a major problem with your car, a really good shop will offer to show you the problem first hand, and will explain the problem and possible consequences of the problem, without any prompting or questioning by you. This may not always be possible depending on the problem, but a trustworthy repair agent will readily do their best to describe, display, or otherwise convey the issue to the best of your understanding. A not-so-reputable shop will more than likely just tell you that you need such and such a part, and that's all there is to it. There is more gray area to this scenario than can be described, but just keep in mind that if it seems far-fetched, you can always get a second opinion before you commit to the repair. If the repair shop tells you that there is no way your car will make it another mile without the repair, more often than not the truth is to the contrary. Obviously, a certain amount of common sense is required in this scenario; such as a wheel that is about to fall off, or a tire with cloth or wire showing through the treads and could possibly pop at any second. Use your judgment.

As for scheduled maintenance on your vehicle, if you have any questions as to the intervals at which certain fluids should be replaced, consult your owner's manual. This information is readily available within the pages of that pesky book that lives in your glove compartment and often makes a habit of hiding your pen or your vehicle registration. Depending upon the type of shop you frequent (and this is a more common occurrence in dealerships), you might one day be told that such and such fluid needs to be "flushed". This process is almost invariably more costly than changing that fluid on a regular basis would have been in the first place. If and when you are told that you need such a flush, the reputable shop will show you what your fluid looks like, and what it looks like when it comes out of its original container. If the fluid in the container is red, and the corresponding fluid in your car is black, a flush is certainly in order. This is not, however, an emergency situation. There is also the (all too common) case of less reputable shops putting the wrong type of fluid in your vehicle. This is still rarely an emergency situation, and can usually be put off for a little while if money or time are of issue that particular day. If the repair agent is merely suggesting that you change a particular fluid, and you can't remember the last time it was done, now is the time to do it. You can't change fluids too often, but if you do not do it often enough, the consequences can be far more costly than you may think.

There are trustworthy mechanics out there, and their only intention is to provide a service while making a living. Hopefully these tips will help guide you to such mechanics, which will in turn help you get the most out of your vehicle.

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