Are The Any Honest Car Repair Shops?

[OldCoyote]

My wife came home after an oil change,   Her brakes were in need of immediate repair, so bad that they to dangerous to even home!!

She drove home anyway,  I put the young man that I employ to work on the car,  Guess what The brake are fine!!

We did change the driver front wheel bearing and constant velocity joint.

What they said was an out and out lie!!

[ken a.k.a OMK]

I've heard of this before. They particularly use it on women hoping to get the job without them checking it out with anyone.

[taz157]

I took my car recently to a neighborhood auto repair shop fully expecting to have a lot of things needing repair on my 11 year old. I wanted an oil change and state inspection. To pass inspection, my headlights need to be clean which I fully expected and was charged for after I agreed to the price. I also had a squeal due to a not tight belt so they fixed that. I was very happy to pay the $9.60 to fix it.

They did tell me about another repair needed but had declined. The repair wasn't a surprise as I was told about it on my last oil change/4 new tires. The repair was inline with what I was quoted before but my car still would pass inspection without it. I really need to pass inspection.

Ask around for recommendations from co-workers, neighbors, etc.

[andi9899]

I love my mechanic. He tells me what can wait and what needs to be done now. And his pricing is well below market. I would recommend him to anyone.

[ken a.k.a OMK]

I stopped doing my own repairs. I take it to the dealer. Every time they do an inspection and list tolerances like brakes. Then they'll say I might need brakes next time. 

[Wisconsin Beth]

Nov 20, 2016 11:10:16 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

I love my mechanic. He tells me what can wait and what needs to be done now. And his pricing is well below market. I would recommend him to anyone.

same here.

[busymom]

I have a great "neighborhood" mechanic shop. Unlike the dealership, these guys have never done me wrong, & a couple of times have done minor repairs dirt cheap or for free. Of course, I lived in the area for a few years before I found these guys.

[Deleted]

Nov 20, 2016 13:53:06 GMT -5 busymom said:

I have a great "neighborhood" mechanic shop. Unlike the dealership, these guys have never done me wrong, & a couple of times have done minor repairs dirt cheap or for free. Of course, I lived in the area for a few years before I found these guys.

A good mechanic will have a good sense of what the customer knows about their vehicle.  Fixing fast easy jobs for free is one way to hook a customer for big $$ on the major repairs.

[Deleted]

Just like any other business, there are good and bad shops.

Ask around, references are the best way to find an honest shop.

[gooddecisions]

I was swindled by dishonest mechanics a couple of times when I was younger. I always thought it would be a profitable business plan if a woman put together a chain of women-run shops around the country and branded themselves as shops women could trust.

[Deleted]

Nov 24, 2016 13:05:26 GMT -5 gooddecisions said:

I was swindled by dishonest mechanics a couple of times when I was younger. I always thought it would be a profitable business plan if a woman put together a chain of women-run shops around the country and branded themselves as shops women could trust.

That would last till they made that first big profit on a woman/man that knew nothing about cars.  Girl power/honesty takes a distant second to dollar power.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

I had this happen to me.  I had to take my car to the dealer for a recall notice, and asked for an oil change at the same time.

I was told my brakes were dangerously bad, and I was taking my life into my hands if I left without them doing something about it.  Only thing was, I had a good, independent mechanic who had gone my 30k PM 3 months earlier and he had not flagged my brakes as needing service.  I called him, he put my car up on the lift, took off my tire and showed me exactly how much brake pad I had left.  I got another 30k out of them, and only changed them out because I was going on a big trip and driving about 2500 miles.

Dumbasses.  I wonder if they try this shit with men?

[spartyparty]

Nov 26, 2016 23:08:36 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

I had this happen to me.  I had to take my car to the dealer for a recall notice, and asked for an oil change at the same time.

I was told my brakes were dangerously bad, and I was taking my life into my hands if I left without them doing something about it.  Only thing was, I had a good, independent mechanic who had gone my 30k PM 3 months earlier and he had not flagged my brakes as needing service.  I called him, he put my car up on the lift, took off my tire and showed me exactly how much brake pad I had left.  I got another 30k out of them, and only changed them out because I was going on a big trip and driving about 2500 miles.

Dumbasses.  I wonder if they try this shit with men?

Yep, I've had some shops try and pull shit like that on me.  I just grin, say no thanks, and never give them my business again.


I had a 2004 Monte Carlo...I got 60k miles out of the original rotors/pads, then the brakes were a freakin' headache after that, until I decided to change rotors/pads myself.  Best brake job it had since it was new! 

[wvugurl26]

I had a Monro shop try that on me one time. I bought the pads and stuff for my brother to do it. He took one tire off, looked at the pads, cussed, showed me how much was left and put the tire back on. 50k miles later he changed them. It sucked because at the time money was very tight and I could have used that money for something else.

[OldCoyote]

Honest repair shops? I will bet that there fewer honest repair shops than dishonest repair shops!

This goes right out to the people that repair other things also, Your heaters or air conditioners repairmen, plumbers and electricians.

Let's not forget the good old appliance repairman,  I know, I deal with them every day.

Here is a car story, I had a 1985 IROC Z Camaro, the trans had low gear and reverse only,     I went to the Chevy dealer, quoted $3600.

I went to a small trans shop, $2200.  contacted a private guy, $600.   Each one I explained the exact conditions.

Next I went to the library, Mitchell's manual, 9 of the 11 thing that would cause the trans to act like that related to the governor in the trans.

It even showed how to access the unit, popped open the cover, the governor dropped into my hand, it had a stripped nylon gear!

I fixed the trans for $5,  Anyone that works on only transmissions would have known what was wrong, 

Each one of these was trying to rip me for lots of money.

[tskeeter]

Dec 11, 2016 1:58:46 GMT -5 OldCoyote said:

Honest repair shops? I will bet that there fewer honest repair shops than dishonest repair shops!

This goes right out to the people that repair other things also, Your heaters or air conditioners repairmen, plumbers and electricians.

Let's not forget the good old appliance repairman,  I know, I deal with them every day.

Here is a car story, I had a 1985 IROC Z Camaro, the trans had low gear and reverse only,     I went to the Chevy dealer, quoted $3600.

I went to a small trans shop, $2200.  contacted a private guy, $600.   Each one I explained the exact conditions.

Next I went to the library, Mitchell's manual, 9 of the 11 thing that would cause the trans to act like that related to the governor in the trans.

It even showed how to access the unit, popped open the cover, the governor dropped into my hand, it had a stripped nylon gear!

I fixed the trans for $5,  Anyone that works on only transmissions would have known what was wrong, 

Each one of these was trying to rip me for lots of money.

It is unfortunate that auto repair is so riddled with rip off artists.  Almost as bad are the number of not very competent people in the auto repair industry.

contrary to many people's thinking, I think the dealer is usually the poorest auto repair choice.  Dealers are the most expensive alternative.  The service writer inserted between the customer and the mechanic compromises the information that the customer provides, increasing the risk of less than satisfactory repairs.  Dealer mechanics are often fairly low paid young folks, with limited experience.  They can read the diagnostic computer and replace parts.  But, based on repairs I have had dealers do, I question how well some of them understand automotive systems  and how they work. The most capable folks seem to leave the dealer to open their own shops.

[ZaireinHD]

wow that sounds like a string of bad dealership experiences. also seems like there are not many auto mechanic or dealership choices. The area where I am in NJ. throw a rock and there is another choice for not just a auto mechanic but another dealership. Your mention of kid, inexperienced auto mechanic reminds me of Sears auto in Union, NJ. the boys there. did rip off my x girlfriend with repairs. They did the work, charged a bucket load of money and the parts with the labor of what was done went bad something like under 2 months later. when we brought her car back to repair the repairs they did, with the receipt for warranty work. (1) warranty turned out to be something like 30 days to return (2) Sears wanted another full payment to redo their mistakes and (3) but also said as a return customer -they'll give a 10% discount!

WHAT! that was just really fucking stupid!

I {we} took her car to my mechanic, fixed Sears Auto botched job, and paid $100's less!

[justme]

The best defense against mechanics is knowing as much as you can about cars. My cars have only been to someone for tires and recalls. I've had people outright lie to me and those that cared enough to physically show me the issue when I scoffed and explain why it was bad.

I think knowing a bit beyond the basics of car care keeps you from being taken for a ride. Honestly knowing whether your brakes are good or not and your wife should be knowledgeable enough to ask to see the brake pads if they recommend replacing.

[ZaireinHD]

agreed!

I made sure my ex was above average knowledge with auto repairs. I also made sure she knew how to change a flat tire while on the road. now if she would change it or just call for help is another story!

LOL