My (and yours?) opinion on auto repair shops

[Dan_in_WA]

I don't really mean to come across negatively in regards to all the guys out there who make a living fixing other people's cars.

Cars are a hell of a lot more complex to troubleshoot and diagnose than the ones of the '60's and '70's. This is a no brainer.

And I'm not a professional, ASE certified mechanic. I am a state-licensed electrician, though.

My beef is with the HUGE costs of major repairs, and all the bad/incorrect advice, diagnosis, faulty or shoddy repairs, and just plain rip-offs that some places seem to specialize in!

I took my Chrysler for warranty work a number of years ago, and the dealership butchered it. Door switch panels left open, trim damaged, the list was long. So I bought the factory manuals and started doing it all myself. I've run across a few trustworthy shops in my time, and one damn fine dealership.

But overall, between my experience and talking to other people, plus doing a whole lot of work on mine and other's cars, it seems to me that there is a lot of incompetence, and outright fraud, in this field.

What does everyone else think? Professional mechanics' opinions (even flames - I have thick skin, and know some customers are assholes) are welcome too. If you want to defend yourself, fire away - I really am interested in the other side of the story too.

[TexasF355F1]

It's all in where you go. From what I've found, the places that seem to be in not the best part of town and look somewhat run down are the places that actually care about their customers. You also get a lot better work by going to mechanic and not the dealership(of course if its under warranty I'd take mine there too). My mechanic is a dime a dozen. He's honest and deals with everyone fairly. Sometimes not even charging you if he doesnt feel it to be necessary. My mechanic also told me that Chevrolets are the easiest and cheapest to work on.

[Dan_in_WA]

I'm helping my neighbor rebuild the engine in his 1994 Chrysler LHS, because the lube shop left the oil filter loose. Pumped all the oil out of the engine, no oil pressure, crank grabbed and spun bearings.

He had just gone to this shop after the last one left the oil fill cap off, and rattling under the hood.

I went into a Sears to have a battery load tested. The kid puts a multimeter across the terminals, says the battery's ok. I say, "No, a Load Test". I got a blank stare.

I pointed out the big black box against the wall, and showed him how to use it.

This seems to me to be all too common. If you've found a good mechanic, post his/her name! They deserve the recognition.

[-Josh-]

Post their name? Ok

Tim Swigart
Terry Costa
Bob Werts
Bob Cline
Jason Elliot
Mike Simms
D.J. Meyer
Will Means
Rick Wilson
Dick King
Bob Troy
Mike Warriner
Charlie Truax

shall i continue...not right now

Some of the best Techs i know work at the same dealership i do...And believe me, where i work, you wont get screwed, or shoddy work. But this is coming from a service managers son, so i'm kind of biased...lol

[TexasF355F1]

My mechanics name is Stoney and Doyle, they are both really sincere and honest guys.

[Dan_in_WA]

How about a shameless plug for these guys and where they work?

Maybe this belongs in another AF Forum: Recommended Shops.

I'm jaded because I have to fix a lot of prior repairs that weren't what they ought to have been. Sloppiness in service really cheeses me off!

So do these guys have shops? Give 'em a Shameless Plug!

[-Josh-]

Originally Posted by Dan_in_WA

How about a shameless plug for these guys and where they work?

Maybe this belongs in another AF Forum: Recommended Shops.

I'm jaded because I have to fix a lot of prior repairs that weren't what they ought to have been. Sloppiness in service really cheeses me off!

So do these guys have shops? Give 'em a Shameless Plug!

If you live anywhere around Central IL, then you could come to the shop and get your car worked on there.