Dealing with car mechanics/repair shops

**bjl584** · 05-24-2012, 07:08 AM

I am fortunate to have been able to learn to do most of my own automotive work, so I never deal with the chain repair shops except for an annual safety inspection and emissions (required by law here in PA.)

I buy all of my own parts like brakes and rotors and then just do the work myself in my garage.

I've saved a ton over the years by doing the work myself.

**MonkeyMama** · 05-24-2012, 07:17 AM

Do your research - find a good/honest/conservative mechanic. This will be easier to guage with an uncle to always get a second opinion.

We had an A+ mechanic where I grew up (non-friend/non-relative). When we moved, we went with a relative's old shop. They have been an A or an A-. If I needed a really major repair, I'd probably go back to the old shop for a second opinion. If the car was up for a drive!

There are good mechanics out there that can save you a fortune. You just have to find them. We've always kept our car repair/maintenance expenses very low with both these shops. They have helped us maintain some OLD cars over the years, very reasonably. Independent shops - I'd stay away from the chains.

**Bades** · 05-24-2012, 07:22 AM

Originally posted by bjl584 View Post

I am fortunate to have been able to learn to do most of my own automotive work, so I never deal with the chain repair shops except for an annual safety inspection and emissions (required by law here in PA.)

I buy all of my own parts like brakes and rotors and then just do the work myself in my garage.

I've saved a ton over the years by doing the work myself.

I'm actually fairly handy with tools and wouldnt mind being able to do some auto repairs myself -it's just the repercussions of doing something wrong with my brakes could have a less than desirable outcome :/

**97guns** · 05-24-2012, 07:22 AM

my brother takes his car to the dealer for oil changes, they give the car a full inspection. last time there they found a small leak in his water pump and quoted him $900. he had his mechanic neighbor do it on a side job for $200.

you can always find a mechanic that is eager and looking for work just let the professional guys diagnostic for you free of charge.

**cypher1** · 05-24-2012, 07:23 AM

I also work on my cars, having grown up with a friends auto shop as practically family. While I've seen both sides of small time auto shops, dealerships (aka stealerships) and customer sides, I will say it's critical to find a local mechanic/shop you trust. I agree with staying away from chains. If you're not sure about a quote, ALWAYS get a second opinion.

**Bades** · 05-24-2012, 07:23 AM

Originally posted by MonkeyMama View Post

Do your research - find a good/honest/conservative mechanic. This will be easier to guage with an uncle to always get a second opinion.

We had an A+ mechanic where I grew up (non-friend/non-relative). When we moved, we went with a relative's old shop. They have been an A or an A-. If I needed a really major repair, I'd probably go back to the old shop for a second opinion. If the car was up for a drive!

There are good mechanics out there that can save you a fortune. You just have to find them. We've always kept our car repair/maintenance expenses very low with both these shops. They have helped us maintain some OLD cars over the years, very reasonably. Independent shops - I'd stay away from the chains.

It seems the chains are probably only good for those $19.99 oil change with tire rotation.

**MonkeyMama** · 05-24-2012, 07:36 AM

It's funny you say that, because we do jiffy lube for oil changes. My dad was kind of appalled by this!! {He does his own oil changes, and just doesn't trust those places}. We were just telling him that we were actually pretty impressed with the service - think we swayed him a bit. Swayed him that we aren't getting ripped off...

But yeah, any time Jiffy Lube tells us we need work, we take it to our trusted mechanic. The JL up here has been pretty honest, but I still wouldn't trust anything they say as far as "more work." So, I should be a little more fair to some of the chains, I guess. No complaints about JL. Just decades of "never trust a chain" drilled into my head?

If you really want to throw money down a black hole, have the dealership maintain your car.

**bjl584** · 05-24-2012, 07:51 AM

Originally posted by Bades View Post

It seems the chains are probably only good for those $19.99 oil change with tire rotation.

I do my own oil changes too. I run full synthetic and premium oil filters. That would be well north of $100 at a shop. I can do it myself for around $40.

**bjl584** · 05-24-2012, 07:53 AM

Originally posted by MonkeyMama View Post

If you really want to throw money down a black hole, have the dealership maintain your car.

+1

Most dealerships earn more money doing repairs and service than they do selling cars.

**seen** · 05-24-2012, 08:12 AM

Originally posted by Bades View Post

Also, does anyone buy direct from Autozone and then have mechanics use the parts you bought to save more money?

Yes. I do all of my own work on cars as well, but on the rare occasion that I need the assistance of a shop because I don't have the right tools (tires and alignment for example), I will buy the parts first. My advice to you is to call the shop ahead of time and make SURE they will allow it. Some places will charge a premium, other places will not guarantee a 'fix' depending on what you want changed because they claim (understandably I might add) that the part you have could be defective, and some places just won't do it at all.

I buy from Advance Auto Parts all the time because they have the best digital coupon deals for online purchases. $15 off $40, $40 off $100, etc. You can save a ton of money in parts that way. For tires I always go to TireRack. They not only have the best deals, but IMO have the best professional and customer reviews with no sales tactics BS.

Originally posted by Bades View Post

I'm actually fairly handy with tools and wouldnt mind being able to do some auto repairs myself -it's just the repercussions of doing something wrong with my brakes could have a less than desirable outcome :/

Buy a Chilton/Haynes book for your specific vehicle model/year. If you're mechanically inclined and like that type of work, it will be the best $20 you ever spent. I've heard great things about the Chilton series, but the Haynes series I can tell you from experience that it requires some rudimentary mechanical knowledge (but hey that's what the internet's for).

**JoeP** · 05-24-2012, 09:40 AM

Word of mouth. You might also find a mechanic who can do the work on the side for a lot less if you don't mind leaving your car at his house for a couple days.

I had a terrible experience with a local garage, who quoted me $600 for new brakes. Turned out the brakes were perfectly fine (checked with 3 real mechanics). Before this, they replaced a clutch in another car. It was only after we sold the car to a friend that he revealed the original clutch was still in...they must have just made an adjustment.

**LivingAlmostLarge** · 05-24-2012, 07:13 PM

Mostly a good mechanic, but then if you break down away from home and it costs $150 to tow to your mechanic on a $400 repair (muffler fell off) you take it to whatever is closest.

**sandrark** · 05-25-2012, 06:08 AM

My DH used to do a lot of our car maintenance and repair, but he's too busy these days. We haven't had any repairs in years; it's been more of a maintenance schedule that seems to have bought us good luck with the cars instead.

We won't use Jiffy Lube for oil changes - had too many friends and relatives who went, and had the oil pan plug stripped with an electric wrench, or the wrong oil put in to trust them.

So yeah, we normally use the dealers, and provide our own materials. It's been a reasonable compromise.

However, my mom was looking for a decent mechanic in her town, and I found her two really solid ones by going to Click and Clack's mechanic site - listeners post up their experience, and it's a great resource:

Mechanics Files | Car Talk

Sandi

**snafu** · 05-26-2012, 04:46 PM

Ask friends, colleagues and relatives for a referral to a good mechanic. You need to set up this relationship before you need it. Women have a horrid time at dealerships, they often write comments or make statements targeted to our fear factor. We got coupons for free oil changes with our CRV but realized it's a marketing ploy to get you to the dealership for high cost services. A few years ago 60 Minutes [TV] did an experiment with well known car services bringing in a car whose battery cable needed tightening. They got crazy diagnostics for incredible sums. The worst was Sears.

In my experience, chains always seem to find something wrong but they never seem able to verify a journeyman, not an apprentice will work on my vehicle. Their hourly rate, is higher than my physician or even a surgeons hourly rate! [they haven't caught up with Vet fees yet!]

Dealing with car mechanics/repair shops