Don't Be Fooled When It Comes To Auto Repairs
If your car suffers a breakdown, you need to get it running ASAP. It's tough to be without your car. You don't need to spend a lot of money on car repairs. You can attend to a lot of basic repairs yourself.
Do not take your car to the first mechanic you find. You need to do some research to find a reliable mechanic with fair prices. Ask your friends and family about the mechanics they have been to in the past and check the Internet to find reviews written by other customers.
Take advantage of free inspections, but don't just have them fix everything on the list. There will probably be one or two extra items added on that aren't strictly necessary. If you are light on cash, ask the technician which items are the most important to keep the car running safely. Get these done immediately, and save up for the rest of the work.
Beware mechanics who charge you for repairs which are unnecessary. A mechanic that is good will notify you of parts that show signs of deterioration and will soon need replacement, but they shouldn't replace it without having your approval. Do not take your care twice to a mechanic who performed some unnecessary repairs.
Make sure you are receiving OEM parts. These are original manufacturer parts. Generic parts may be cheaper, but the quality may not be the same as OEM parts. What saves you a bit of money in the short term, may end up costing you dearly in the long term.
Contact your local Better Business Bureau if you need more information on a mechanic or a garage. If some complaints have been filed against them, your Better Business Bureau will tell you. Ask your friends and family about the different mechanics they have dealt with in the past to get some recommendations.
Check your tire pressure regularly. Tires with a low pressure are a very dangerous liability. Check the pressure in your tires at least once a month or anytime you notice a tire seems to be losing air. Invest in new quality tires if you often have to adjust the pressure in your tires.
Look at flashing lights on your dashboard and learn what each one signifies. They were put there for your assistance, so use them for that. If you ignore them, the problem can get worse.
Once you've worked on the brakes, before you take them out to test them you should bleed them. Pump your brake fluid after finishing this article, it couldn't hurt. Test for any leaks to ensure you don't have fluid coming out. You can test drive the car safely on low-traffic roads. Start slowly so you can make sure your repairs went well.
Prior to allowing an auto repair shop to fix your car, get a written estimate of how much everything will cost. While the actual total may vary, this will give you some idea of what to expect. Ask questions about anything you don't understand. It is important to be knowledgeable when it comes to what is happening with your car.
Always inquire about the qualifications and experience of the technician who will be repairing your car. You want to know if they have experience working on your make and model of car. You also want to know if your mechanic has any special qualifications, like A.S.E. certification, that demonstrate their competence.
Pay close attention to your car while you are parked at a service station while traveling. There are many people that will do damage to your car then claim they can help you fix it for a fee. If you are traveling with someone, make sure that one of you stays in the car at all times.
Be consistent with which shop you go to. You are much less likely to get scammed if you know the mechanic you are working with and have a history with him or her. Get small work done there, and then if you ever need to have expensive repairs, you will feel better about it.
After you pay a mechanic and let them replace something on your vehicle, ask if you can get the old part back. If your mechanic cannot show you the parts, you have no way of knowing if the parts have actually been replaced. This should be a warning sign and you need to make sure he shows you.
Before allowing anyone to do work on your vehicle, have them checked out by the Better Business Bureau. If you find out that a lot of people have been complaining about the mechanic that you have in mind, that is definitely a sign that you should look somewhere else to get the work done.
As you can probably tell, you do not need to take your car in to an auto shop and pay a lot of money to get it fixed. It is often true that you can resolve your car issues at home, by yourself. Make the most of this information so that you are not off the road for long.