What You Should Know Before You Hire An Auto Repair Shop. by JC Auto Repair

Transcription

1 What You Should Know Before You Hire An Auto Repair Shop by JC Auto Repair

2 Disclaimers / Legal Information All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the author/publisher, except in the case of brief quotations for the purpose of writing critical articles or reviews. Notice of Liability The author and publisher have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information herein. However, the information contained in this book is presented without warranty, either express or implied. Trademark Notice Rather than indicating every occurrence of a trademarked name as such, this book uses the names only in an editorial fashion and to the benefit of the trademark owner with no intention of infringement of the trademark. Copyright Information 2013 JC Auto Repair 2 What You Should Know Before You Hire an Auto Repair Shop

3 Table of Contents Introduction... Page 4 Signs You Need to Take Your Car to An Auto Repair Shop. Page 5 How to Avoid Excessive Auto Repair Costs. Page 7 How to Choose a Trustworthy Auto Mechanic. Page 9 How to Spot an Untrustworthy Auto Repair Shop. Page 11 What to Expect from an Auto Repair Shop. Page 12 Conclusion. Page 14 3 What You Should Know Before You Hire an Auto Repair Shop

4 Introduction It goes without saying that your automobile is an invaluable tool for your day to day living. Without it, how would you get to work, or school, or even the grocery store? Because you depend so much on your vehicle, it is important that you care for it properly with regular maintenance, and that you also take certain precautionary measures against damage. If you are responsible for caring for a car, then you should know when it s appropriate (and/or necessary) to take it in to the professionals for upkeep. You also need to know how to get the best care possible, as well as how to protect your pocketbook from excessive costs. If you are in the position of maintaining a vehicle, then this report is perfect for you. We have included a few tips as to what you should know before you hire an auto body repair shop. Please read this report carefully, we really want you to have the best experience no matter what auto body repair shop you take your care to. To your success, Avnher Escobedo 4 What You Should Know Before You Hire an Auto Repair Shop

5 Signs you need to take your car to an auto repair shop. Whether you realize it or not, your car is talking to you, and it will tell you when it needs attention from an auto repair specialist. If you learn to listen carefully to what your vehicle is saying, you can save yourself a lot of time, stress, and money when it comes to taking proper care of it. How do you know when it is the right time to pay a visit to the car doctor? Here are the signs you need to take your car to an auto repair shop: Regular maintenance. This one is easy. Simply check with your owner s manual to find out when you need to take your car in for specific maintenance measures. For example, every make and model comes with manufacturer s recommendations for oil changes, tune ups, timing belt replacements are more. When it s time for maintenance, take your car in. Problematic brakes. Your braking system has a number of different components any of which may need attention if you are experiencing one or more trouble signs. If you hear a tell-tale squeal coming from your brakes, or if they are mushy, hypersensitive, and/or vibrating, then you need to take your auto to the shop for brake work. Not running right. If you are having a hard time starting your car, if it stalls once you do start it, if it is losing power (especially on up-hill climbs), and/or if you notice it is less fuel efficient, then you should get 5 What You Should Know Before You Hire an Auto Repair Shop

6 it in to an auto repair shop to have it looked at. Many common problems, such as these mentioned, can be solved with a simple tune up, while others may be indicative of a more serious problem. Pulling. Improperly aligned wheels can lead to pulling either to the right or the left while you are driving. Even more, they can cause drastic pulling when you step on your brakes. Not only are these problems an annoyance, but they also present dangers when it comes to driving safely. Strange sounds. If you notice that your car is making unusual sounds while you are driving it, then you need to take it in to the shop. It is impossible to diagnose the cause of a sound without inspecting the vehicle, and some sounds are indicative of very serious problems that could lead to catastrophic driving dangers if they are not addressed in time. 6 What You Should Know Before You Hire an Auto Repair Shop

7 How to avoid excessive auto repair costs. No one likes to be told that they will have to spend money in an auto repair shop, and very few people are financially prepared for expensive surprise expenditures like auto repairs. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to ensure that you spend as little money as possible when it comes to caring for your car. Here are some tips for how to avoid excessive auto repairs: Research. If you know that something is wrong with your car, but you re not quite sure of what it is, it pays (literally) to do your research before taking your car into a repair shop. Search the Internet for the signs and symptoms you see and hear in your car, and ask those you know who are familiar with auto repair if they can advise you on what the problem might be. That way, when you are talking shop with the mechanic, you will have some idea of what you are talking about, which means it will be less likely that you will be taken advantage of. Shop around. Once you have a diagnosis for your vehicle s problem, you should call all of your local repair shops to ask what they might charge for the same repair. Keep in mind that some shops have high overhead and may charge you more (dealership shops, for example), while other shops (independently owned shops, for example) may be more willing and able to barter on cost. Adhere to the manufacturer s maintenance schedule. This is perhaps the most important thing you can do to avoid excessive auto 7 What You Should Know Before You Hire an Auto Repair Shop

8 repair costs. It is a documented fact that well-maintained vehicles require less repair work. Read your owner s manual and keep up with the maintenance schedule, as the manufacturer suggests. Nip it in the bud. As soon as you notice that you are having car troubles, address the problem immediately. An inexpensive repair can easily snowball into a very costly repair if you let it go without caring for it. For example, a simple brake job may cost you only $50; that same brake job, if left to get worse, could result in a rotor and drum replacement costing you several hundred dollars. 8 What You Should Know Before You Hire an Auto Repair Shop

9 How to choose a trustworthy auto mechanic. For many, the job of finding a reputable mechanic is a bit nerve wracking. After all, it is very difficult to know what kind of repairs you need and how much it should cost you when you know very little about cars. Fortunately, there are some simple ways you can go about doing the best possible job of finding the right repair person for your needs. Here are some tips for how to choose a trustworthy auto mechanic: Reputation. The best gauge of a mechanic s quality of service and customer care is its reputation. Ask friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers if they can recommend you to a reputable auto shop. Also, you should be able to find reviews for local mechanics online. Free diagnosis. Any reputable mechanic should offer you a free, no obligation diagnosis and repair cost estimate. Customer service. Before you decide to hand your car over to a repair shop, you should know that you can trust that a mechanic will be ready, willing, and able to discuss your auto repair with you when need be. You can easily measure an auto repair shop s customer service by calling in and asking to speak with someone about your vehicle. If you find that you can easily reach someone who is friendly enough to take ample time addressing your concerns and knowledgeable enough to provide you with useful feedback, then chances are you ve found a great mechanic. 9 What You Should Know Before You Hire an Auto Repair Shop

10 Pricing. All mechanics should charge relatively the same fee for the same parts and services. If you comparison shop (which you should!) and find that one mechanic is way out of the ballpark when it comes to pricing, then chances are that mechanic is not so trustworthy. 10 What You Should Know Before You Hire an Auto Repair Shop

11 How to spot an untrustworthy auto repair shop. Just as you need to know how to go about finding a good mechanic, you also need to be aware of the warning signs that a mechanic is trying to pull a fast one. To protect yourself from unnecessary costs and headaches down the line, follow those tips for how to spot an untrustworthy auto repair shop: Add-ons and up-sells. If you take your car in for a repair and the shop calls you shortly after with a number of additional repairs that were just discovered, then you it may be that someone is trying to rip you off. Do your research before agreeing to any add-ons before you allow a shop to do any work other than what you originally went in for. Replaced parts. If you take your car in for a part replacement, then you should be able to view the part that was taken out of your car and replaced. Any reputable shop will volunteer to return the part to you, so that you can see with your own eyes that it did, in fact, need to be changed out. Reputation. Again, this is where research comes in. You can save yourself a lot of time, money, and frustration by looking into an auto shop s reputation BEFORE you take your vehicle in for repairs. Ask around, and don t forget that the Internet is a valuable resource for customer reviews. 11 What You Should Know Before You Hire an Auto Repair Shop

12 What you can expect from your auto repair shop. So, now that you ve determined that it s time to take your car in, and you re satisfied that you ve found some reputable auto repair shops, you need to know what, exactly, an auto repair shop can do for you. Here is a guide to what you can expect from your auto repair shop: Basic auto repair services. There are a number of standard auto repairs that should be on the menu of every auto repair shop. These include wheel alignments and balances, brake jobs, tune ups, comfort system repairs (this includes your heating and cooling systems), engine performance maintenance, electrical system repairs, steering system repairs, exhaust/muffler repairs and replacements, and drive train repairs. If you need services that fall outside of these basic offerings, then you may need to find an auto repair shop that specializes in your particular needs. Free consultations and estimates. You shouldn t have to be an auto mechanic to know what needs to be done to your car and how much it should cost you. Once you ve done your research and found an auto repair shop that meets your needs, that auto repair shop should look at your vehicle, and offer you a repair estimate, at no cost to you. Advice for ongoing maintenance. When you take your car in for a repair or maintenance check, your auto repair shop of choice should 12 What You Should Know Before You Hire an Auto Repair Shop

13 also advise you on additional measures you can take to ensure your greatest chances of avoiding further repairs down the line. For example, an auto mechanic performing a brake job on your car should also inspect the rotors, drums, and calipers to report to you if or when they might need replacing. Dealing with insurance companies. If the repair or service you need is covered by your insurance, then your auto shop should connect with your insurance company to get the costs covered. Timeliness. When you are given an estimate for repairs needed and their costs, that estimate should also include a time frame for the completion of those repairs. If your repair shop does not comply with the time frame they outline for you, then it may be time to find a new shop. 13 What You Should Know Before You Hire an Auto Repair Shop

14 Conclusion As you can see, there is a lot for you to think about before you decide to take your car in to a repair shop. There are also a number of steps you can take to make sure you are choosing the right mechanic for you, and that you are not spending more than you need to on excessive or unnecessary repairs. By doing your homework now, you can save yourself a lot of precious time and money down the line. Of course, finding the right auto repair shop for you can be a little intimidating. If you want quality service from a name you can trust, then you should put your auto repairs into the hands of experienced professionals like us, JC Auto Repair. We can be reached by phone, at (510) /(510) , or Avnher@JCAutoRepair.com. 14 What You Should Know Before You Hire an Auto Repair Shop