I enjoy reading the tips and suggestions on finding an honest or good mechanic. These can be found on various government and consumer websites. I think the same guy wrote all the suggestions for all 50 states.
You’ll be advised to check around by word of mouth (WOM), and make sure that you see ASE or AAA posted somewhere. Check out the facility—makes sure it’s clean. Check with the BBB. You’ll be acronymed and common sense suggested to death. None of it will really help.
When speaking to your mechanic or service representative, there are many things one should never say. Sad as this is, certain questions and requests can trigger multiple price-gouging tactics from your service center. Following is a list of ten statements in random order. The term “mechanic” may be exchanged for “technician,” “service representative,” “service advisor,” “owner,” “service manager,” or anyone that you deal with when having your vehicle serviced.
1) Do I need a tune-up?
For months, I had gone from one mechanic to another, seeking to understand why my car was making a scraping sound when I applied pressure to my brakes. The mechanics assured me that the problem was not the brakes. Yet, the problem grew worse.
The scraping sound was like a phantom. It was elusive at best. One moment it was so loud that other drivers would stare as my car moved past them. The next moment, there was no sound at all.
Many wonder whether or not there vehicle will make the trip. Provided you follow factory routine auto maintenance schedules, Pre Road Trip Car Maintenance is simple. Here are some Pre Road Trip Car Maintenance tips and suggestions.
Here’s what to do:
It’s unfortunate, but auto accidents occur every day all around the world. When they happen, most people aren’t prepared for the costly repairs that will ultimately follow. Whether you have recently been in an accident or if you know someone who has, selecting the right auto body repair shop will save you a lot of stress during this hectic time.
- First and foremost, take a glance around any auto body repair shop before you commit to hiring them for your repairs. Is it well lit and clean?
According the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it is estimated that automotive service consumers are scammed tens of billions of dollars every year. Repair shops—dealerships, local shops, and franchises—are repeatedly at the top of consumer complaint lists every year. Multiple undercover investigations have caught repair centers red-handed ripping people off. Government agencies across the nation warn against service center repair scams. Consumer advocate groups constantly provide tips and suggestions to avoid getting ripped-off. Service industry insiders continually step forward to expose service industry abuses. Study after study reveals that service centers are manipulating industry guidelines. There’s a real problem! Yet, there are still skeptics.
The above comments are sweeping strikes against an industry so vital to the community. Yet even these known facts don’t take into account the unknown. Ripping people off in the automotive service industry is so ingrained in the business design and culture it’s considered normal. In other words, before one even begins to uncover excessive charges, this self-regulating industry hasn’t just stacked the deck, it has built and entire house of cards.
Most know the most glaring auto repair pricing abuses: Service centers overcharging $100’s even $1000’s for repairs, or charging for service that was never done at all. To be sure, this still happens every day. However, there are many other techniques which involve flying just low enough to avoid detection. The savvy service centers increase the price so as not to set off any alarms. It’s become so common that it’s not just an accepted industry practice, but even service customers have accepted paying higher prices.
Knowing how ingrained price-gouging is within the automotive service industry, it’s shocking (although understandable) that even service customers have succumbed to excessive car repair prices. I frequently hear service customers’ state: “Yeah, I know I was ripped off, but my car’s fixed now.” Or, “I know they charge too much, but they’re convenient.”
A primary reason why it’s difficult to get a car fixed right the first time is the lack of qualifications of the technician who’s actually fixing your car. Local studies and decades of research reveals that 70% of automotive technicians are not qualified to work on most car systems. This includes technicians from dealerships, local shops, and franchises.
Over a decade ago, automotive manufacturers were predicting widespread shortages in “qualified” technicians. Now, given that 80% of the functions of the average car are controlled by electronics, qualified technicians are in even greater demand. This is evident by the numerous advertisements for master technicians which often include $5000 sign-on bonuses.
The phenomenon of price-gouging has a fascinating history. In the 1970’s most service customers had at least a rudimentary understanding of automobile repairs, and thus there wasn’t as much for a service center to hide behind.
In the 80’s, with the increase of advanced emission controls and enhanced electronics, confusion set in. The rapid pace of technology kept everyone—technicians and customers alike, bewildered and guessing.
A tune up is a simple task that almost anyone can do. This will make your vehicle more fuel efficient. This applies for any motorized vehicle. The filters are a good place to start. Depending how often you do a tune up will affect how much of an improvement that you will see. Most mechanics suggest a tune up by 60,000 miles.
The engine air filter can be your first tune up item. The air filter is located over a carburetor on older cars. The air filter is in the airbox on fuel injected motors. The fuel filter can be located anywhere between your engine and the fuel tank and should also be replaced. If the fuel filter is clogged it can make your engine run lean.
Reader Question: I have a new battery in my car, but something keeps draining the battery down and I have to keep jump starting my car. What else could be wrong with my car besides the battery?
If your new battery is going down “draining” and you have to continually jump start the battery to get the engine to start it is probably one of these problems:
With all of today’s traction control and stability control systems, and front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, and four-wheel drive vehicles, it can be a bit confusing when trying to decide the value and importance of snow tires. Following is an easy-to-read break down of 10 rules.
Rule 1: regardless of traction electronics a vehicle has, in the snow, it boils down to rubber-meets-the-road-traction
Well winter is here and we were warned. Back in October the TV weather teams told us that this winter would be the worst for many years. Some quoted the worst for 10 years and some did the usual and quoted the worst ever.
Already we have seen the gridlock in the UK and many motorists stranded overnight as they were caught out by snowstorms. The next day the TV weather teams are on the news saying we told you so, and for once I am on their side. So the message for this winter when driving is this, make sure you check the weather reports regularly, at least each night before you go to bed. If it states snow then be prepared the next morning to leave earlier or have plans to cancel.
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