Every year, millions of cars are towed back to the mechanic for repairs. Most of these incidences can be avoided by taking your car in for routine maintenance. But there will always be cases when you need a tow due to breakdowns or accidents. Either way, it’s better to ask questions before allowing any mechanic to do repairs on your vehicle. Here are 7 questions that you should ask your mechanic before giving him the keys to your car:
How Long Have You Been In Business?
How long a mechanic has been in business is no indication of quality, but it is an indicator of experience. If the mechanic has been servicing your type of car for many years, then he or she probably knows how to diagnose and repair common problems that arise with your make and model. Mechanics who do not specialize in a certain make or model may not be as familiar with issues related to your vehicle. Newer mechanics also tend to only care about upselling rather than providing good value for services rendered. So ask about the length of time the mechanic has been open for business, but don’t let that number alone be the deciding factor.
How Long Will The Repair Take?
The time it takes to fix your car depends on the type of repair, the number of repairs required, and how busy the shop is. While some shops will be able to give you an accurate estimate for repairs, others may not know until they’ve opened up the hood. In case you already know what is wrong with your car, there are websites where you can ask car questions online, so you can use it to consult a reputable mechanic about the repair time. Knowing how much it will take to repair your car in advance will help you plan other things accordingly.
Are You A Certified Mechanic?
The work that your mechanic does on your car is extremely important. Don’t just take their word for it, ask if they are certified, mechanics. Let them know you want to see some type of certification from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) or another reputable organization under whom they have taken special training courses. Without this certification, you cannot be sure that your repairs will be done to manufacturer specifications and therefore it is best to avoid this mechanic.
Do You Have The Tools To Diagnose Car Computers?
The first thing a mechanic should do when he arrives on the scene is to hook up his OBD2 scanner to your car’s diagnostic port. It will tell them if there are any trouble codes stored in your engine. This is the easiest way for mechanics to check for problems without wasting time on unnecessary repairs. Make sure the mechanic has this tool before allowing them to do any additional work as it can save you both money and time.
What Is The Estimated Cost?
Make sure to get an estimated cost before your mechanic does any repairs. Ask yourself if the price sounds reasonable, and ask the mechanic what the parts are going for. If you don’t feel comfortable with his or her answers, look around for another mechanic who may be more helpful. After all, there are hundreds of mechanics in your area so you shouldn’t have any trouble getting someone else’s opinion on the amounts quoted.
How Often Should I Change My Oil?
Most mechanics will tell you that oil should be changed every 3-5k miles. But this is just a general rule of thumb and not an exact time to change your oil by. You can go beyond or before these intervals, but make sure that the mechanic knows what kind of driving you are doing (short trips, long trips). If you are a long-distance driver or if you are constantly driving in dusty or polluted conditions, then your oil may not last as long. Using the wrong grade of oil can also increase your risk for engine failure so make sure to consult your mechanic on that as well.
How Can I Prevent This Problem In The Future?
Repairs are necessary evils for motorists, but they need not happen often if you keep up with preventive maintenance. So make sure that your mechanic offers tips on how you can prevent a recurrence of the problem as part of your repair bill as preventive measures will help you save money down the road. If your mechanic neglects to offer any suggestions about dealing with this problem in the future, it may be best to go somewhere else because there is no guarantee it won’t happen again soon after being serviced by a different shop.
If there’s one thing that you remember from this article, it should be that as a customer it is completely within your rights to know exactly what is going on with your car at any given time during the repair process. This way, if for some reason you think something fishy is going on then don’t hesitate to go elsewhere. Your wallet and safety are both important so shop around until you find a trustworthy mechanic who will make sure their work will stand up to the test of time!
