How To Get Along With Your Car Mechanic
by admin on Apr.13, 2009, under Car Maintenance, Car Tips
How To Get Along With Your Car Mechanic
From the conversations I’ve had with drivers over the last several years, most people dread taking their cars to a mechanic. I haven’t noticed a marked difference between their anxiety for visiting their dealership’s auto technicians or taking their vehicle to the independent repair garage down the street. They hate going to both. The overriding thought seems to be that they’ll be gouged by padded repair bills and recommended services they don’t need.
I’ve mentioned before that most mechanics are honest, friendly, and professional. If they tell you that your timing belt has 7,000 miles of life in it before it breaks, trust them. The fact is, once you find an auto technician who consistently delivers high-quality work at a competitive price, trusting him can save you an enormous amount of time and money.
Below, I’ll provide a few tips for building a professional relationship with your mechanic while remaining vigilant about the work being done on your car.
Understand Your Auto Technician’s Perspective
It’s important to realize that repairing vehicles and replacing parts isn’t always a perfect science. Some types of work will be easy for your mechanic to predict while others will be based upon estimates. The prices of various car parts and materials are usually set in stone, but the time it takes to do a job correctly may vary wildly.
For example, a brake job should require less than one hour and the cost of the parts should already be known. Rarely do circumstances cause either factor to vary much. On the other hand, suppose your auto technician is rebuilding your vehicle’s transmission. While he may know the cost of a rebuilt transmission, the job of installing it may take several hours. The last thing he wants to do is estimate 3 hours and spend 6 hours doing the job.
There will also be times when your auto technician will discover that doing the main job properly requires doing an ancillary job first. It’s not always possible to tell until he can begin exploring under the hood. If you see an unexplained charge on your repair bill, ask for clarification. But, realize that most repair garages are honest about the work they do and want your business over the long term.
Making The Right Connection
Most people think of their car mechanics in the same manner they think of a cashier at a clothing store – find an item, give the cashier money, and leave. In truth, your auto technician provides enormous value. Whether performing routine oil changes or complicated repair jobs, try to make a connection with him. If he’s a high-quality mechanic, you’ll probably be visiting him repeatedly. Get to know him a bit. When the time comes to fix a blown head gasket or rebuild your car’s engine, you can be confident he’ll go the extra mile to take care of you.