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The Cranky Yankee takes on: 10 questions to ask a mechanic Make sure you ask these questions before saying YES to a mechanic.  YOUR KNOWLEDGABLE NEIGHBOR  Don Fluckinger, the Cranky Yankee, is a freelance writer based in Nashua, N.H. YOUR TURN Does the Cranky Yankee’s story sound familiar? Share your comments and suggestions with your neighbors. Auto experts & service pros Auto Auctions Auto Detailing Shops Auto Parts Auto Rental Auto Repair & Service Auto Towing & Wrecking Auto Transporting Car Stereo Gas Stations Motorcycles & Scooters RV Rental & Repair Trailer Hitches Trailers Fuel your passion for classic cars at AutoTraderClassics.com. By DON FLUCKINGER Dealers are expensive for car maintenance. So when your car, truck or van gets to a certain age, it's time to find a solid garage to do the work.Hiring the wrong someone to fix your car can be a money-wasting hassle - especially when you've just paid for a costly repair that didn't do the trick, your vehicle's sitting on the side of some highway far from home, and your enraged cell phone calls for help aren't getting returned because it's two in the morning. It's impossible to avoid such experiences completely, but asking these 10 questions up front can help you find a good--if not the least expensive--mechanic to work on your car: 1. Can you fix my car? It sounds weird, but some mechanics won't work on certain makes and models. Get this out of the way, first. 2. Can you give me recommendations? If a mechanic or garage can, follow up on them and ask their customers specifics like "why do you keep going to them instead of [name another popular shop in town]?" and "What repairs would you not take to this shop?" 3. Are you ASE Certified? The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) was established in 1972 to help consumers attempt to figure out who is competent under the hood, and who isn't. It's not fail-safe, but if someone can pass a test, they at least can read--and that's a start. 4. Are you AAA approved? This won't guarantee a mechanic's a straight shooter, but AAA is a good filter to start with, weeding out the rottenest of the bad apples. 5. What repairs won't you do? Not everyone can do transmission repairs, or heavy computer diagnostics. 6. What happens when you encounter a repair you can't do? Some mechanics outsource without telling you, others leave you high and dry and say "good luck." The correct answer is "I have a network of recommended partners that I can either engage on your behalf or I'll give you their names and phone numbers if you'd like." That way, if it's a transmission or something that would require a tow or shuttling parts around the area, it probably won't cost that much extra. 7. Is your work guaranteed? And are you happy with the way he or she stands behind the work? 8. How do estimates work? This is out of the mechanic's hands in some locales, but find out how repair costs typically deviate from estimates by asking the mechanic's existing customers (see question #2) and decide if you're satisfied with the answer. 9. Let's say I get an estimate for a repair from you and someone else, what happens? If the mechanic will negotiate or somehow work his or her estimate to get in line with a cheaper one, he might be worth a try. 10. Do you offer a frequent-flyer discount? Keep driving those bargains, and you're on your way to finding the best deal in town from the most competent mechanic. Related Articles |
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