Car Parts Plus

Getting To Know Your Local Mechanic

For most people I know, a trip to the mechanic is an inconvenience to suffer through and then forget as quickly as possible. If you were to ask someone you know to tell you the name of their auto technician, they’d likely give you a blank stare. The fact is, most drivers don’t want to know their mechanic; they just want their cars to run properly. Get in, get out, pay the tab. Well, I’m here to tell you that you should invest the time to learn your mechanic’s name and start building a professional relationship with him. In this article, I’ll explain the benefits of getting to know the guy who’s working on your vehicle.

Bigger Is Not Better

First, if you’ve been taking your car to a local garage, you probably realize something that a lot of drivers miss. Here it is: the quality of the work they do is just as good, if not better, than what you’d expect from a large chain of repair shops. Whether you’re having the brake pads replaced, a diagnostic performed on the engine, or having the fuel injection system cleaned, small garages usually do high-quality work.

Here’s another poorly-kept secret: those large shops have a lot of overhead. Support staff, larger facilities, and nationwide advertising require money. You’re paying for those things (or, at least, their customers are). So, when a small garage is embattled, trying to survive as a large chain comes into town, remember that your experience will usually be better with your local mechanic.

When you have a relationship with your auto technician, you’ll be able to bring your vehicle back to his repair shop if any of the work he performed fails. Keep in mind, even new parts can be faulty, so repair work that fails may not be his fault. The bottom line is that it needs to be fixed. If you’ve gotten to know him personally, he won’t need to see your warranty. He’ll remember the job and fix the problem.

By contrast, imagine this scenario: you take your vehicle to a nationwide repair garage to have the brakes fixed. You don’t know the mechanics. They do the job and send you on your way. Unfortunately, they install pads that fail a year later. After hearing a piercing squeal coming from your brakes, you take your car back and are greeted by a guy you’ve never seen before. He doesn’t know you and doesn’t care about your problem. He only wants to see your warranty for the original brake job. If you don’t have it, you’re out of luck (and a lot of money).

Get to know your local mechanic. Learn his name and build a relationship. When things go wrong with your vehicle (and they will), you’ll have someone that you can rely upon. The value of establishing that bond is hard to overemphasize.

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The Novice’s Guide To Choosing A Car Repair Garage

One of the biggest fears that drivers have is taking their vehicle to a repair facility only to get “taken” by greedy, unscrupulous mechanics. As I’ve mentioned in previous columns, the large majority of folks who are responsible for fixing your car when something goes wrong are honest and hard-working. If you’re having a problem under the hood, they want to help. That doesn’t mean there aren’t dishonest technicians. There are, and you need to be wary of them. But, it’s important to point out that most of them are trustworthy.

Today, I’m going to give you a blueprint for finding a car repair garage that you can trust. It’s easier than you might think.

Look For Membership

Every driver knows what AAA is; they’re one of the most respected automotive authorities. If a shop has a placard or sticker that says that the facility is a AAA member, that’s a good sign. In order for a shop to be a member, AAA representatives visit and basically “look under the hood” of the facility. A repair garage’s technicians must be trained to AAA’s standards. The equipment, including the computers, needs to be relatively new and well-managed.

There are a few associations like AAA that have similar qualifications. Your first line of defense against dishonest mechanics is to look for membership in these associations.

Talk To Customers

The employees who work at an auto repair shop will probably be open, upfront, and honest with you. But, if you’re visiting the garage for the first time, a third-party review will have more credibility. If you see a few customers waiting for their vehicles to be repaired, ask if they’ve been there before. If so, find out why they came back. Did they just come for an irresistible special on brake jobs? Or, do they consider the mechanics honest and knowledgeable? Ask and find out.

Are They Certified?

A lot of times, the mechanics in the shop will have special certifications. For example, they might have gone through extra training offered by Ford. Or, they may have received training for specific parts. Look around the facility. If the mechanics have specific certifications, they’ll likely post it on the wall. That’s another good sign that you’ll be dealing with professionals. If you don’t see anything posted, ask.

Making The Right Choice

Finding someone in whom you can trust when your vehicle is having problems is invaluable. Millions of drivers are understandably concerned about taking their car to a repair facility to have a minor problem fixed and being stuck with an enormous bill. Check whether a garage is a member of a professional automotive association, talk to customers, and ask about the mechanics’ certifications. Uncovering a great repair shop is simple if you follow those criteria.

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