Why is so difficult to find a reputable car repair place?

SW Shooter


Sorry about your troubles. I only take my vehicles to the dealer and only for things that I can't do myself which only boils down to Alignments and reflashing the processor. It also helps that I was a Ford Tech a few years ago.

My wife has an 04 Expedition that is lifted. As for those struts those are super easy to change with basic tools. If you buy the shock and spring together which are only $200 each at the parts store. It is a little more involved if you only replace the shock, as you would have to disassemble the strut. This requires a little more than basic tools.


If you need an help or advice on the expedition let me know.
 
We have the equipment here to basically cut a car lengthwise and crossways....and then put it back into faster/better condition than it left the factory.Meaning,I do 99% of our wrenching.

Built a huge addition to a local garage 20 sumthin years ago.Put in bus and large truck alignment areas along with 1/2 dz more service bays.Long story short....the owner has been an invaluable resource when discussing auto/truck strategies(I'm a M/C'ist at heart).....whether we're discussing repair strategies or buying new.

So,you need to find someone to trust....sort of duh.But that's what it boils down to.A shot in the dark......go find your local 4X4 club.Find out from them who's into it(auto repair) for short term(ripoff's)....and who's the "right" guy to be talking to.When you find that guy,you need to cultivate the relationship.Very best of luck.
 
I used to do most of my own work, leaving the real tough stuff and anything that needed a lift to my brother, who had a foreign car repair shop for 30 years. But any FI newer than Jetronic is above my pay grade, and I don't like to crawl around under cars so much any more.

Luckily, I found a good guy in a small town about 40 miles from here. He doesn't charge enough, which means he's overworked. He has an alignment rack, and he tows at reasonable rates. He is open to barter, too. At least he was willing to take a couple of canoes off my hands in payment of a bill when he wanted to take his wife and two boys up to the Boundary Waters.

I live on the fringe of an urban area, which means I can take advantage of the city when I want to, but for stuff like this it is better to look in the more rural areas.
 
In my opinion auto repair and HVAC work tend to be some of the biggest rackets in town.

I'm very fortunate in that I have an auto repair place that I trust and have been doing business with for over 20 years. They are as honest as the day is long. It is family run and the mother sits in the front office. Two brothers run it and their dad ran it before them.

They have more work than they can handle... Wonder why? ;)
 
It's not always the mechanic....sometimes it's the customer.

I've been an auto-tech...a truck mechanic..and heavy equipment mechanic in the past...as a rule..a good tech will note any other repairs needed just to cover his rear and the dealership/service shop's rear...then you tell the customer.

Not saying there isn't a lot of fraud committed by auto-shops...there is also a bunch of customers who don't know a lug-nut from a hood hinge and but grudgingly put money into repairs.
 
One of the many things I did as a Prosecutor was have involvement in our Consumer Affairs Section. We had guys and gals call various handymen, roofers, painters, repairmen, etc., and make appointments to have them give an estimate for repairs to homes, appliances, etc. that had been previously inspected and found to be working perfectly.

So often, the "businessman" would try to tell the "homeowner" all the things that had to be done to fix whatever it was.

We call this fraud and they were arrested and prosecuted.

My favorite was when the guys/gals would have an older vehicle inspected and everything determined to be perfect. Then they would visit a muffler shop, transmission shop, mechanic, etc., with a "noise" they heard somewhere in the car. Once again, so many of these businesses would find terrible things wrong with the vehicle, sometimes claiming the vehicle was unsafe to drive. Same fate for them.

To the best of my knowledge, we never had a major auto dealership try any of these things. It was always the independent owner or franchisee.

Florida is different than your home town, probably, because everyone here is from somewhere else. So, we (us, our dads, our granddads, our buddies) didn't grow up around these people knowing them intimately as might be the case in smaller towns.

Most of the business owners came from somewhere "Up North" one day and started their shop. There are a few who have been here for years and have a good reputation, but the operative word, for me, is "few."

I have noted before that I use the Nissan dealership and have done so for more than 20 years. I know the Service reps and they treat me very well. I have seen how they treat other customers, too.

As to cost, there is a good, independent mechanic just down the road from the Criminal Courts Complex and lots of folks there use this guy with no problem.

But, I have found that his prices are sometimes higher than my dealer's and he is not as quick in turning around vehicles. Plus, if you use him, you drop off your car and get someone to pick you up and take you back when the vehicle is repaired.

The Nissan dealer gives me a loaner or pays for a rental.

I have said before that I am agonizing over buying a new vehicle, in part because I can't find a Nissan I like. If the 2014 Nissans don't trip my trigger, then I will have to buy something else and try to find a place to get it serviced.

I like Toyotas, but I have not been impressed by the dealerships in my county. IME (my wife had a Toyota and I had a Highlander for a short time) the dealership I tried out wanted to sell me something extra every time we took a vehicle there. Not something I didn't "need," rather always something "recommended." At the Nissan place they show me what is recommended, then tell me what I really need.

I like that. I hope Nissan makes a few changes in the 2014 models and I can find one I like.

Bob
 
I found a good mechanic 30/40 years ago and have stuck with him. Some folks don't use him because he is expensive--then they complain that have to take their vehicle back a second time.
He is expensive but when it leaves it is fixed----- PS----he is most -- what's a good word --antisocial/He aint got no use for people--that I have ever met---but I like his work.
Blessings
 
I usually do my own wrenching. Heck, yesterday my 2000 Dodge Grand Caraturd suffered a partially-seized left rear drum brake and I immediately went to work on it at the expense of any leisure.

As I've aged, I want to wrench less. There are some things I cannot do (exhaust, transmission rebuilds) and some things I no longer want to do. For those I found a good, affordable mechanic.

I had only one requirement for my mechanic: he does what I tell him. I don't want him to look over my car and suggest another $2500 in repairs. I don't want him to lecture me on how my old cars need to have this or that preventative work done. I already know those things because I've been wrenching on my own cars (and some friends too) for 20 years, and I have an M.E. degree that helped me understand how a vehicle works. When I call him and say "I want a quote to have my steering rack replaced. The quote needs to include a two wheel alignment. If the ball joints and outer tie rods show slop then they can be replaced; otherwise, they stay in the car." then I want him to say "Here's the quote."

Thankfully I found such a guy. He's a very long drive from home but since I don't use him very often, it works out.

The OP asked why it is hard to find a reputable car repair shop. "Reputable" was not applicable when I was looking for a mechanic. Instead, I care about "good" and "affordable" and those are two very different things.

Good = understands that I'm a value-conscious customer who uses him only when I don't want to do the work myself; is good at diagnosis if required; does acceptable work with few or no defects when finished.

Affordable = lower price than most shops.

I think two things confound the auto repair customer:

(1) Mechanics, being people, are just like everybody else. Some of them are the very best mechanics; some of them are very, very bad; and the overwhelming majority are just average. Well, if the vast majority are just average, which one are you likely to get? Everybody likes to think "their" doctor is the best doctor around. They're probably just an average doctor, and your mechanic is probably just an average mechanic.

(2) The overwhelming majority of customers know virtually nothing about their cars. There is a percentage of service providers who know this and act unscrupulously, like suggesting a $2000 turbocharger replacement when they could easily see a separated intake tube.

In the mid 90's my roommate had a Honda CRX whose clutch was failing. He asked me if I would have it done while he was in Asia on business and I agreed to assist. I called several places to get quotes and settled on Pep Boys. When the car was done several days later, I returned to find a bill much higher than the quote. The reason? Cruise control R&R. Power steering R&R. Air conditioning comrpessor R&R. I wasn't being quick-witted that evening so I drove away but I only got a mile down the road before I returned to the shop to dispute the bill. I got the manager.

"What's the problem?"

"This bill says you removed and reinstalled the cruise control, air conditioning compressor, and power steering pump to replace the clutch and rear main seal."

"Yes, that's right."

"Well, never mind that those are on the front of the engine and you were working on the rear. I assure you it is quite impossible that you removed or reinstalled these."

"Why is that?"

"Because this CRX doesn't have power steering, air conditioning, or cruise control. If you doubt this you may inspect the vehicle which sits presently in your parking lot."

You wanna see somebody get red in the face? LIKE A TOMATO. He immediately removed these charges from the bill.
 
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SW_shooter said:
I am so frustrated and tired of wading through the lies and BS to try to locate a reputable repair place for our vehicles.

We are going on a road trip at the end the week. I have an 03 Expedition with 155k miles. I know it needs new suspension and wanted to get it done last week. So we dropped off the vehicle and waited for the repair place, which was referred to us by friends, to call with an estimate. Weeeeeeell the guy called and after the initial shock of being told I needed $2500 worth of repairs :eek: I told the guy I had to check the money tree out back to see how much was ready to harvest! :rolleyes:

He said the vehicle required:
* new brakes (even though they were just replaced last spring and less than 12K miles driven) $500
* new shocks were going to be $1000
* re-built torque converter for the transmission $1000

(all I asked for was an estimate for shocks front/rear with the intention of having them do the work)

He tells me that the rear shocks are all stretched out because someone put a lift kit in and the shocks are too short to reach. They have to special order shocks that are over $600 just for parts. Now I am a sporty and cool guy but there is no way in ***** I ever put a lift kit in that vehicle and I am the ONLY owner!

He tells me the brake pads are over 70% gone and I need newer better ones. That's funny because the last place put the better ones on in 2012, 10K miles ago.

He then explains that his transmission guy noticed a shimmy and shudder when going between 45-50 mph when he drove it and they know that means the transmission is going out and they want to do a re-built torque converter. Funny, I haven't noticed any issues and I have been through a transmission failure before. (different vehicle)

So today I take it to a place I have used before but was unhappy with another issue (long story) and hadn't been back in a couple years. They do an inspection and the brake pads are over 70% good, the transmission fluid was a 1/2qt low but clear with no metal or **** in it, no shuddering, no shimmy! They looked at the shocks/struts and there are no leaks or problems visible but with the mileage they do recommend the new ones, which I already know and agree with. They did tell me I have the fancy (and expensive) adjustable or air shocks in the rear and those will cost more.

This is not the first time I have had a car repair place try to pull one over on me, why do they do it??? Why can't they just be honest and truthful? I hate liars and shysters so much it almost makes me go postal! :mad:
Click to expand...

Simple, it's called greed!! There are some out there who feel they need to rip off people because most people know nothing about their cars. The sad part is it gives the rest of us (worked as a mechanic for over 10 years till I got sick of the BS) a bad name. Just like going to the doctor, always get a 2nd and 3rd opinion and remember, there are honest guys out there, just got to be patient and you find them!!

My truck always goes back to the dealer I bought it from because they know I know whats going on and my brother in law is the service manager!!!
 
As a retired repair shop owner and technician, the industry has been sticking it to us for years. Withholding information in and attempt to hold a competative edge, poor quality aftermarket parts, paying high prices for incomplete service information, raising customer expectations with fancy service centers. Then there is the traditional pay structure, extra pay for extra services sold, no pay until you diagnois the problem, and that is even if you have to roadtest and disassemble while the guy next to you gets paid on an easy job. They there's the customer that brings in the vehicle without a clue as to what or when the problem takes place. Part suppliers reward us when we oversell. Managers get spifs or rewards for pushing overselling. Managers get rewards from management for pushing product. Technicians get oversold on tools from the tooltrucks that promise big dividends if they push the service involved. Parts stores get rewarded from the parent company if the push the product of the month.

It all adds up in the end to raising the price of repairs.
 
To sum it up in a couple words...there are very few repairmen or mechanics today. Instead you have parts replacers and technicians. The Technicians hook up the computers and the computer tells them whats wrong, the parts replacers then remove the faulty part and replace it with a new one, that could be faulty as well or by replacing the faulty part the electrical system now finds another weak link and the chain begins. Finding an honest mechanic today is not easy, they are out there, try contacting your local auto club...collector car club types usually know where the good mechanics are, as to most hot rod types. The kids have "tuners" a tuner knows how to program the computer in the new cars, he's basically a freelance Technician that can turn a wrench, a handy guy to know today.
 
I completely forgot about this until I was rereading this thread.

Years back I took my Expedition to one of those quick oil change joints. Well she told me I'd have to leave because they were backed up. I guess she thought I left but I sat down on the side away from the register.

Now get this, After about 30 minutes the tech came out of the garage and placed one of those stickers on my windshield. One of those with the date and mileage that it should be brought in. NEVER MOVED THE VEHICLE!

I waited about 15 minutes then walked up to the desk to pay and she handed me my bill. You can imagine the shock on her face when I told her I'd been here all the time and saw NOTHING was done to my car. There were about 6 customers in there and they were pretty shocked too.

Another incident, I took my auto in to a major tire place to have the free rotation done. They took it back there, actually took the tires off but never balanced and rotated them. Just put them back on like they were. Watched the whole thing.

Buyer beware....
 
fdw said:
Another incident, I took my auto in to a major tire place to have the free rotation done. They took it back there, actually took the tires off but never balanced and rotated them. Just put them back on like they were. Watched the whole thing.

Buyer beware....
Click to expand...




This reminds me of nearly the same thing happening to me. Big name tire store went in for the rotate and balance. I sat near the window and watch only because there was no other place to sit. I watched him take the tires off, balance, and put the tires back on.

The manager moved my truck outside were I was waiting. I did a quick walk around and told him the tires hadn't been rotated. He told me that they did the rotate and balance. I told him they did the balance but not the rotate. He asked how I knew that. I pointed out the months worth of brake dust on the front wheels and told him if they were rotated those would be on the rear.


In the end he apologized and got the job done right away. So, I never go back for a rotate with out brake dust on the front wheels.
 
Lost Lake said:
Torque converters are changed without tranny rebuilds.... It's quite easy to do. Some are known to fail like the 48RE dodge. But shuddering would be an impartial lock-up and would probably throw a code. I'd suspect a u-joint first.

I've posted this before I think. My dad took his Dodge diesel to a local dealer because he had low power. They charged him $110 for diagnosis, and found his turbo was shot. A rebuilt was $1600+.

He called me asking for advice.

I asked if he had a squealing sound or oil dripping or burning. Nope.

I said there's probably nothing wrong with your turbo.

Before I could look at the truck he took it to another big repair shop and they looked at it. The intake hose was off the intake! He remembered taking it off to replace the battery on that side.

They put it back on and sent him on his way. No charge.

That's the shop I now take all my diesel issues to.

The dealer that gave the bogus repair quote to my dad? I called them up and reamed them a new one, they refunded the money and apologized.

I wish I could tell everyone about how they tried to scam my dad! :mad:

.
Click to expand...

You just did :D
 
MORSNO said:
Has everyone noticed that the "mechanics" at the dealerships are now called "technicians", they plug in a computer and read codes, then practice swaptronics at your expense. It's hard to find a good mechanic that can repair your vehicle anymore.
Click to expand...

you sir are very wrong. there is so much more than plugging in a computer to your car and replacing the part. there are some that do that though which are mechanics. on the other hand there are people that read the codes to get a starting point and use the computer to turn on and off components and watch data to verify operation, test circuits and components with multimeters and scopes. these people are technicians. there is so much more to it than people think. sometimes it gets very confusing. it only takes a few people to make a bad name for us. yes we try to sell you other things that your vehicle NEEDS because that is how I make my living. if i'm standing around, i'm not getting paid. would I sell you something you don't need...never. some people bring their vehicles in for service at my dealership wanting things done they don't need and we tell them it is not needed at this time. yea it's less work, but I would not want to pay for something I don't need so why should the customer. there are some places that fix your vehicle for what you bring it there for and ship it without finding that tie rod falling off, some that oversell and sometimes things you don't even need, and the ones that fix your **** and tell you what your vehicle actually needs no bs. remember, you get what you pay for.
 
We live in a small town with a population of 539. The local repair shop is owned and operated by a father/son team. They very much depend on repeat customers and word of mouth so they do good work at low prices.
 
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