Let's talk about when you should look for a mechanic, and when you should just use the service shop at the car dealer. In general, most cars that are still under warranty should be looked at by the dealer shop if there's any mechanical problem with the car. One of the main reasons for this is that the warranty on the car is frequently void if anyone other than an authorized shop does any kind of repair on the car. This sometimes includes even maintenance that you may want to do yourself. So if you have a new car, or even a secondhand car that has an existing warranty, make sure that you read the warranty and find out what to can be done to maintain your car outside of the dealer's service shop. Generally if you like to do some regularly scheduled maintenance yourself, the warranty will remain in effect if you use dealer approved parts for the maintenance. If you plan on doing this, make sure you keep receipts for everything so that you can prove that you actually did the work. Also, several car dealerships will also offer bonuses like free oil change for a year, or other benefits. In general, make sure that you are fully aware of what benefits the dealership offers, and also what maintenance can be done outside of their shop.
Generally, a dealership service department is often regarded as more expensive than an independent mechanic. One way to test this out is to have some regular maintenance done at the dealer service department. For example, ask them to do an oil change, and remain in the area so that you can watch how they're doing it and what's been done. As you are waiting, watch the service department and pay attention to how the mechanics are treating the other cars that are presently being worked on. If other customers are waiting for their cars, ask them about their experiences with this service department. Ask the hourly shop for the service department, and also ask what certification training programs the service department has for its mechanics. Also, many times larger cities have a number of comments on the Internet about various mechanic shops in the area, and these include dealer service departments. Use Google to find these comments for your city.
For someone with an older car, finding a good dependable mechanic is oftentimes a long process. Check for certifications, such as ASE, and again, take your car in for minor service and watch how it's done, if possible. One of the best ways to find a good general mechanic is by word-of-mouth, including Internet word-of-mouth on various shops in your area. For people with older classic cars, one good way is simply finding other cars of similar make and model in parking lots, and starting up a conversation with the owner of that car. For people with more current cars, asking questions of coworkers, of neighbors, or your local church will often give you some leads towards a good mechanic.
Reevaluate your choice periodically. Whenever anyone brings up a car repair on some work that you have had done, listen to their comments on the cost of the repair, and how quickly their mechanic shop carried it out. Also, follow up after a time to see how well the repair has been maintained. It make take a few trials at different shops to find a good, trustworthy mechanic, but it is worth the effort.
When considering what auto mechanic to use, you very likely have a stereotyped image in your mind of a grizzled, cigar chewing old guy sitting behind a desk with a greasy rag swearing and cussing like a sailor. While this might not be completely too far from the truth, there are certainly exceptions to the rule.
Selecting a reputable mechanic has very little to do with their appearance and everything to do with the results that they can provide for you. In the case of many auto mechanics, simply being ASE certified leads individuals to believe that they are capable of repairing their vehicle. Chances are good that you have met some of these certified automobile mechanics that you would not trust to work on your lawn mower. Take the time to understand the true abilities of your auto mechanic and make sure that they are capable of doing what they say they can do.
As horror stories abound of mechanics who have forgotten to replace oil plugs and let people drive out of the bay without any transmission filter circulate like ghost stories around a campfire, is not as hard as you might think to ensure that your auto mechanic is truly up to snuff. With a little effort on your part and some detective work, you can ensure that they are as good as they claim to be. First and foremost, look around their shop and be sure that the place is somewhat clean and that you actually see all the tools that are necessary in place. While it might seem strange, without the proper tools, you cannot work on a vehicle and you cannot repair an automobile.
Beyond simple hand tools, there should be air compressors, air ratchets and all manner of specialized tools, large enough that you cannot miss them. Once you have ascertained that these types of heavy-duty power tools are in place, then it is logical to assume that they have invested a tremendous amount of money into their profession.
Once you have taken these basic steps, you'll have to bring your detective skills to bear and actually hunt down previous customers and get references out of them. As many individuals will continue returning to an auto mechanic again and again if they are doing good work, it is important to discuss with previous customers whether or not they are happy with their service. For those who are happy with the work that their auto mechanic has done in the past, then they will very likely rave about their reliability and the quality of their work. With this type of recommendation, you can be pretty sure that the mechanic in question is, indeed, doing good work.
After making all these efforts, it is still a good idea to spend some time with the auto mechanic, even if it means irritating him while he is at work, and have a brief discussion about what he believes is wrong with your vehicle and what steps he will take to remedy the problem. Chances are good that you know enough about your own vehicle to catch onto any mistakes that the mechanic might make while discussing it with you. Once you break into this conversation, do not let up until you are satisfied. If you have followed these steps, then you will very likely have a good understanding of the quality of work that you can expect from your auto mechanic.
Both Brenda Williams & Ron Haugen are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Ron Haugen has sinced written about articles on various topics from Cars, Gas Prices and Cars. If you are looking for honest advice, prioritized repairs, options on repairs, maximized fuel economy, and a good feeling with who you are doing business with go to