Is it worth it to take your car to a mechanic?
For more sporadic repairs or maintenance you may have neglected, if you take your car to a mechanic and they quote you $1,500 on a vehicle that’s worth $4,000, you’re probably still better off getting the work done.
What to do when automobile repairs go wrong?
Most of us don’t know the mechanical details of our cars. We never know if the replacement part is of good quality and not brought online from some shop in China. No wonder that most mechanical problems in an old car start within a few days of servicing or repair. I feel helpless every time I am handed a fat bill for a simple repair.
How much does a car repair job cost?
A $699 car repair job can mushroom to almost $2,000 so fast it isn’t funny. Your mechanic will find so many things wrong with your vehicle that you’d think it’s beyond repair. This would be a great time to get a second opinion before authorizing repairs.
Can a dishonest mechanic do a car repair?
While most repair shops are honest, undercover car repair stings find dishonest auto mechanics and shops in most areas of the country. It’s very easy for an unethical mechanic to convince car owners that unnecessary repairs are needed because the average person doesn’t know much about their cars. People often have no idea they’ve been ripped off.
What should I expect from an auto mechanic?
When it comes to auto repairs, quick, cheap and good are usually mutually exclusive terms. Plan to leave a car in the shop for the better part of a day to obtain necessary service and be prepared to pay the going rate for parts and labor.
What to do if a mechanic gives you old parts?
Even if they give them back, you can always take them to another mechanic and ask if they really needed to be replaced. Plus, you can tell pretty quickly how trustworthy a shop is when a mechanic backtracks on the laundry list of repairs they “can’t let you drive away” without doing as soon as you pop the question.
Most of us don’t know the mechanical details of our cars. We never know if the replacement part is of good quality and not brought online from some shop in China. No wonder that most mechanical problems in an old car start within a few days of servicing or repair. I feel helpless every time I am handed a fat bill for a simple repair.
Is it OK to sit in waiting room with auto mechanic?
While it’s appropriate to spend time with your car and the mechanic to explain the problem, it’s distracting and can be dangerous. If you’ll be hanging around for a diagnosis or quick service, take a seat in the waiting room, grab a cup of coffee and let a professional do his or her job.