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Good
help is hard to find. A good mechanic is
even harder. You want to find one that
is well trained, knows what they are doing, isn’t inexpensive and most
importantly, trustworthy. If you already
have a mechanic that fits all the above mention criteria then congratulations,
you’re one the lucky few.
For
the rest of us, finding a good mechanic can often be a crapshoot. Often times we find one through trial and
error or end up settling for one that isn’t as bad the rest. Is this what you really want you want to
settle for? Is it really safe? Not only are you possibly spending more money
than you should, you are putting your life and the lives of others at risk with
a car that isn’t up to standards.
Luckily,
there are magazines such as Car and
Driver and The Consumer Report to
help us. They have put together an
excellent list of things you should look for and avoid when searching for an
auto mechanic. From licensing to
background checks, you’ll have a lot of decisions to think about from this
list:
- Choose the
Right Shop – You basically have three basic choices when it comes to
taking your car in for repair. You
can go to the dealer, find a chain-store franchise like a Pep Boys, or try
a local, independent mechanic at a service station. Where you should go depends on what type
of repair you need and where you feel most comfortable. Just try to keep in mind all of them will
try to convince you that they are the best ones for the job.
- Dealers –
Any warranty work should go straight to the dealer. That's where you'll find some of the
best-trained vehicle specific mechanics for complicated jobs such as
electric, chassis, fuel injection and engine work. If your car isn't under warranty and
you're paying for repairs, you better think twice about having your
dealer do the repair. Dealers are
obscenely more expensive. They
overcharge on labor and a steep premium for factory direct parts.
- Chains -
Most routine repairs and services, such as brakes, tires, batteries,
mufflers and oil changes, don't demand highly trained mechanics. If you don't have a mechanic you normally
go to, think of these as commodities, and go shopping for a good price at
a convenient location. With tires
and mufflers, for instance, it's nearly impossible for dealers or
independents to compete with chains. Be sure, however, to go to a chain that
specializes in the repair you need. You probably don't want a brake-shop
mechanic fiddling with your transmission.
- Independents
– Having a mechanic you trust is worth their weight in gold. So if you find an independent mechanic
you're happy with, start there for routine stuff, oil changes, brakes,
etc. He charges a little more, but
the peace of mind is worth it. Just keep in mind, independent mechanics
may or may not know how to do some of the more complicated repairs that
need to be done on newer model cars. If you don't drive an American car,
check a specialty shop that focus on only one or two foreign makes. Mechanics at these outfits are often as
well or better trained than those at the dealer and they charge a lot
less.
- Get a Second
Opinion - Since most shops have a vested interest in making sure you
get as many repairs in their bays as possible, it's difficult to fully
trust even a the most trustworthy mechanic.
- Take Your
Mechanic to Task - To avoid problems with a new mechanic before the
work starts, you might consider checking to see if there have been any
complaints logged against the shop with the Better Business Bureau. Check also with your state's department
of consumer affairs, the motor vehicles department, the district
attorney's office or the attorney general. This is a hassle, I know, but you don’t
want to be paying for shoddy to the point of criminal work, it might be
worth the investment of time. If
you feel you've been wronged by the mechanic, you can certainly take
action.
- Check Your
Mechanic's Certification - The National Institute for Automotive
Service Excellence certifies mechanics in eight specialties. This includes brakes, electrical
systems, engines, and heating and air conditioning. Although auto mechanics must have two
years of experience and pass a standardized exam to become certified, an
ASE sticker is no guarantee that the work will be done well. Also, look for repair shops that are
endorsed by the American Automobile Association. These facilities must meet rigorous
standards and guarantee their work for AAA members.
- Beware
Unnecessary Repairs - The worst of these phantom repairs is the result
of outright fraud. Some scam-artist
mechanics have been known to plunk a seltzer tablet into a battery cell,
causing it to boil over. Others
have been known to squirt oil on your shock absorber to make you think the
seal is broken. Then there are the
simple, everyday affronts such as the gas station attendant who doesn't
push the dipstick all the way down when checking the oil, prompting you to
buy an extra quart. A good way to
avoid this problem is to ask to see any old parts or taping an itemized
list of all the repairs you want made to your steering wheel. That way the mechanic who works on it
will have some instructions from you.
For more information on automobile topics
and consumer reports such as this, check out Magsforless.com at www.magsforless.com. Magsforless.com sells a variety of magazine subscriptions on any subject you choose. With an extensive list of cheap magazine
titles to choose from and the cheapest prices available, they stand out from
the competition.
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