How to avoid being ripped off by car mechanics
The car repair industry has long had the reputation of being fraught with unscrupulous people and practices. Given the complexity and expense of repairing and maintaining a car these days, it is imperative that you get an appropriately trained, ethical mechanic to repair and maintain your automobile. Gone are the days when a good backyard mechanic can diagnose and repair a car with “bubble gum and baling wire”. Today’s automobiles are complex machines with a plethora of high tech, computerized components that can be correctly serviced only by a qualified technician with modern tools and diagnostic computers.
Finding an honest, competent mechanic to diagnose and repair your car can be a mysterious and intimidating proposition. Keeping this in mind, the consumer would do well to read this article and pay heed to the tips and warning it contains. Automobile repairs can of cost thousands of dollars, so it is definitely worth the extra time it takes to do a little homework about your car, it’s problems, and the prospective service providers in your area.
Do your Homework
The very most important thing a person can do to avoid getting ripped off in car repairs, or any repairs for that matter, is to be informed. This means doing a little online legwork to find out more both about the nature of the repair and to the reputation and trustworthiness of a particular dealer or independent repair shop. There are a number of free resources available to you the consumer that will help prevent you from being taken advantage of when your car needs servicing; You can get a good idea of what is wrong 9 and just as importantly what isn’t wrong)before you hit the shop by using the CarMD tool ($99; www.carmd.com). Just plug the hand-held device into your car (every model after 1996 has a standard connection port under the dash) and it reads the car's computer codes. You can then plug it into your computer for a full report of what problem the codes indicate, the most likely fix, and what labor and parts for the repair cost in your area. The report also lists recalls for your vehicle and summaries of technical service bulletins (recall notices are also available at www.nhtsa.gov). Being armed with this information
By Eric Edwards
Finding an honest, competent mechanic to diagnose and repair your car can be a mysterious and intimidating proposition. Keeping this in mind, the consumer would do well to read this article and pay heed to the tips and warning it contains. Automobile repairs can of cost thousands of dollars, so it is definitely worth the extra time it takes to do a little homework about your car, it’s problems, and the prospective service providers in your area.
Do your Homework
The very most important thing a person can do to avoid getting ripped off in car repairs, or any repairs for that matter, is to be informed. This means doing a little online legwork to find out more both about the nature of the repair and to the reputation and trustworthiness of a particular dealer or independent repair shop. There are a number of free resources available to you the consumer that will help prevent you from being taken advantage of when your car needs servicing; You can get a good idea of what is wrong 9 and just as importantly what isn’t wrong)before you hit the shop by using the CarMD tool ($99; www.carmd.com). Just plug the hand-held device into your car (every model after 1996 has a standard connection port under the dash) and it reads the car's computer codes. You can then plug it into your computer for a full report of what problem the codes indicate, the most likely fix, and what labor and parts for the repair cost in your area. The report also lists recalls for your vehicle and summaries of technical service bulletins (recall notices are also available at www.nhtsa.gov). Being armed with this information
