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Years ago we used to use the local “service station” for basic car repairs, such as tune-ups, lube jobs, tire rotations, oil changes, etc. There was usually a senior guy there who you trusted to take care of your car, and if he didn’t know how to take care of a problem, he would know someone reliable who could. But local service stations disappeared as the price of gasoline escalated and replaced by mini-marts that also happen to sell gasoline.

Today you basically have four choices for taking care of your car; do it yourself, dealerships, service centers, and independent mechanics. Sure, you can still repair your automobile yourself, if you have the time and inclination to do so, but cars have become more complicated over time, as well as over-engineered, making them much more difficult to work on than years ago. You can also take it to the dealership where it is typically “hit or miss” in terms of getting good workmanship. More troublesome to consumers though is when they go in for one thing to be fixed, and the dealership recommends five more things; I call this “harvesting” of the consumer by the dealership, others call it a “shakedown,” but it is an expensive proposition nonetheless.

Service centers are usually run by tire companies who also try to “harvest” the consumer by selling new tires at every opportunity. I also don’t find the mechanical workmanship to be very good at these places. I had a mechanic at one of these centers replace a worn belt on my engine. Unfortunately, he put on a new belt backwards which caused the water pump to spin backwards causing the car to overheat and make a strange squeaky noise. It took me a long time to figure out what was wrong. I took it to an independent mechanic who appeared to be reputable. He thought the transmission was breaking down and that I should replace it, at considerable cost. I took it to another who thought there was a problem with the engine seals. I finally took it to a mechanic who studied the problem and discovered that the belt was simply on backwards and rather inexpensive to correct.

To me, auto repair is about trust. If I trust the expertise of the company or individual working on my car, I will gladly pay them whatever they ask. But if the trust is broken by either a mechanical snafu or harvesting of the consumer, I’m going to pick up my marbles and go somewhere else, and blacklist those who have wronged me, as well as tell my friends about them.

I have seen a lot of mechanics come and go in my area. Those that are out to make a quick buck rightfully don’t last very long. But those who are honest and conscientious about their work are worth their weight in gold (such as the mechanic who figured our my belt problem). If you find such a mechanic, hold on to him and tell your friends about him. Without such support, these craftsmen of the auto world will eventually disappear.

When we go into service shops, we want to believe they will maintain our best interests like they did at the service stations of yesteryear. In reality, most are interested in only maintaining their own interests and consumers are crestfallen when we discover this, usually too late. Perhaps what is needed is an independent consumer rating system implemented over the Internet whereby we can grade the companies and people who service our cars. Without such a watchdog, we will inevitably go on spending good money for bad service.

By: Tim Bryce

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Osceola County Mechanic

When I started in the automotive field 40 years ago I did much of my own work and work for other people in the backyard. Where the time went I have no clue but cars were a lot simpler and easier to work on then. Spark plugs and wires, air and fuel filters, distributors and carburetors were all in the open and easy to get to. There were many ways to make adjustments to make your auto run smoother.

Today everything under the hood is computer related with thick wire harnesses and plug-in connectors going to various computer sensors. On many car models one must take off the upper plenum or mixing chamber just to get to the spark plugs. There are no more adjustments for a smoother idle since all this is computer regulated. Unless you have some automotive working knowledge this engine compartment is a no touch area.

Things you can do in the backyard would include changing the oil and filter, sparkplugs on most 4 cylinder cars, light bulbs, fuses, belts, and even brakes if you know how. If the engine has a rough idle a vacuum leak from a split hose is a common problem.

Things to stay away from would be computer related sensors. These sensors work with milli volts and probing them with a test light can cause extensive damage to electrical and computer systems. Stabbing a wire with a test light like years ago is no longer a method today. It just takes a slight amount of moisture and corrosion to stop a.5 voltage flow from a punctured wire.

For the most part I would suggest bringing your car to a qualified technician that you know and trust for most of your service work. Even for just an oil change. It would cost approximately $19 to do it yourself ($12 oil, $5 filter, $2 waste oil disposal) plus having to crawl under the car and getting all dirty. Many places have $19.50 oil change specials and a trained technician may see a pending problem you were unaware of.

With today’s manufacturer’s long warranties many of your concerns may be free of charge. Why risk damaging a component and your warranty coverage.

So, the question was; is the backyard mechanic a dying breed? Well, in my opinion he is not dead yet but may need life support very soon.

Only work on your car if you are sure of what you’re doing. I’ve seen too many people trying to save money by doing their own repairs only to spend xxx times more dollars to repair their mistakes before the original problem can be properly diagnosed.

With today’s economy it is often necessary for people to do their own repairs. The best advice would be to get all the information on how to do the job correctly and to use proper tools to avoid damaging parts. Don’t skimp by using inferior parts as this may lead to having to do the repair a second time especially when brakes and steering is concerned. See below for some information that will make your job easier.

By: Guenter Hohmann

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Best Mechanics in Kissimmee

The first car was created and it was good. A few days later, it broke down. That was bad. This led, of course, to the creation of the first mechanic.

From the time German Engineer, Karl Benz, invented the first practical automobile to use an internal combustion engine, there has been a need for mechanics. A mechanic is defined as someone who provides repairs or maintenance to a machine. Benz’s made his first auto in 1885 and the history of the auto mechanic begins there for all practical purposes. Machines will break and they will do so even faster without care. Mechanics have always been with us and they have always repaired the engines we have used to help us with our work.

Automobiles were something totally different right from the start and the early mechanics were the same ones who had been repairing the horse drawn vehicles that they replaced. It did not take long for this to change. The automobile engine was something new and much more complex than the simple wagons and carriages. As automobiles quickly began to spread out, mechanics began to specialize in their repair and maintenance.

An example of how rapid this spread was can be seen in the fact that auto mechanics formed a union in Seattle, Washington in 1917. A year later, this union had 250 members, but in just two year’s time, 1920, membership had grown to 500. Although auto mechanic unions never really caught on in the same way they did in the trucking or construction trades, these figures show how quickly the field of auto mechanics was growing.

The history of auto mechanics has followed the history of the automobile since these early days in the area of increased technology also. As automobiles became more complex, the need for mechanics grew. In the 1940’s and 1950’s, whole generations of American boys grew up tinkering with automobiles. It was like a rite of passage for several generations. A young man learned to care for his vehicle and many fell in love with them. This kept producing more and more mechanics, while at the same time holding back the field somewhat as do it yourself maintenance and repair were so common.

In the modern area, the automobile has become increasingly difficult to repair without expensive equipment and technical knowledge. The computer and electronic driven elements of the vehicles have changed the nature of the automobile mechanic. This is reflected in the fact the term, Auto Technician, has largely replaced auto mechanic in most shops. Although this might seem to be just words, it does actually show how the field of auto mechanics has evolved from its early days where the majority of the work could be done with a wrench and most teenage boys could make a broken car run without much trouble.

By: Aazdak Alisimo

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Every now and again we get a few upset mechanics or shop owners complaining that it is not possible for RepairTrust to provide accurate car repair estimates. They go on to say that we don’t know what we’re talking about…that we’re idiots…and many other colorful words.

Following is one such discussion on car repair costs. It’s highlighted here to illustrate the resistance and defiance of the auto repair industry to anyone suggesting a fair car repair price – even an average – other than the repair facility itself.

This particular shop owner writes via email (edited for this article):

I would like you to inform me on “what” I should charge for a given repair without you knowing anything about my business, about my warranty, my benefits for employees, my services or overhead. Please explain with clarity how you can predetermine the cost of doing business from one location to another.

I would really be surprised if anyone replied to this request. Advise at a cost?? Come-on boys… lets come up with intelligent response here…

RepairTrust immediately responded:

Hello,

Thank you for contacting RepairTrust. We very much appreciate your thoughts.

Your question is a great one, and it has been raised before by other auto repair professionals in the industry.

Just so I’m clear, you’d like to know how we can price a job fairly
without ever seeing it or knowing a shop’s particular set-up (salary, overhead…etc.)

This question, again, while a good one, always surprises me.

I’ve been estimating car repairs on all makes and models both foreign and domestic for well over twenty years. I would suspect that as a repair shop owner you provide estimates to your clients on a daily basis as well. Most times this is done while the vehicle is in your possession. Other times, customers would like you to tell them what certain repairs are going to cost prior to coming in – correct…?

Letting customers know what repairs are going to cost ahead of time is just one of the many services that RepairTrust provides.

How we do it is simple:

The labor rate is the labor rate (we used the client’s shop labor rate).

The labor times are determined from fair and well-established industry pricing standards (discussed at length in our books).

Part prices are part prices (MSRP anyway, and less the matrix). This is also discussed at length in our materials.

Premium aftermarket parts are strikingly similar in cost across the nation. Miscellaneous charges, flat fees, shop supplies, hazardous waste, disposal charges…etc, follow a similar pattern as well.

We even go so far as to account for local taxes, labor rates, and unforeseen circumstances (rust, corrosion…all the stuff a tech runs into during a repair).

As a shop owner, when you provide an estimate, am I correct in assuming that you would add “barring any unforeseen circumstances” to any price you quoted?

A RepairTrust auto repair estimate is detailed, accurate, and fair for both the car repair customer and the repair facility. Our primary goal is FAIR.

As for charging to provide a fair, accurate, and unbiased auto repair estimate, we know the value of our service, as do our clients.

The fact is that 98% of all repair shops are charging excessive car repair prices, and the consumer has no resource in which to turn. This statistic is supported by every government consumer agency – including Alaska, major and independent news sources, as well as a variety of consumer advocate groups.

The problem of excessive car repair prices is not just national; it’s intercontinental. Australia recently found that auto repair shops were number 4 on their top 10 consumer complaint list.

I hope this answers at least some of your questions.

Thank you again for your comments, and please keep the professional lines of
communication open.

Sincerely,

-Ted Olson

Founder, RepairTrust.com


By: Theodore Olson

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Best Mechanic Kissimmee

As a car owner you need to ask auto mechanic question on issues affecting your car. This article
shows you the benefits of asking auto mechanic question and how to locate real good auto experts.


Why You Need An Expert

Information is very important, especially when it affects your vehicle’s performance. You need
to link with someone who has the right answer, you need to ask auto mechanic question.


The Internet Angle

The internet has made it possible for any vehicle owner who needs guidelines and advice to ask auto mechanic question and get the right answer. There are some quality auto expert sites that hosts licensed, certified and proven auto experts that are ready to answer any question you might have.


Right from the comfort of your room, and with a pc connected to the internet, you can link with an auto part expert of your choice and get your auto related problems solved.


There Are Benefits To Be Enjoyed

When you ask auto mechanic question, you stand to enjoy the following;


Answer to knotty issues, which could be singular or in multiples, any time of the day or night. Getting the best answer from the right person(s). Quick response to your question. This is good when you need the answer immediately. It is cheap compared to the other sources. Moreover you determine the price to pay and you only pay when you are satisfied with the answer provided. You get real specific answers from a live person, not a guess from the search engines. You can follow up the experts if you have more questions to ask.

You need to locate the right ask auto mechanic question website, so that you are not misguided.


Locate The Right Auto Expert


A good auto expert or auto expert site should have the following:

Years of experience in the field , at least 8 years. Enough and specific experts to handle specific issues. You should be able to see the answer before you pay. More than one person should answer and you pick the best. It must be cheap and reasonable.Ask auto mechanic question froms a real experts and get; all your auto problems solved.

By: Tope Ola

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Mechanics in Kissimmee

Let’s talk about when you should look for a mechanic, and when you should just use the service shop at the car dealer. In general, most cars that are still under warranty should be looked at by the dealer shop if there’s any mechanical problem with the car. One of the main reasons for this is that the warranty on the car is frequently void if anyone other than an authorized shop does any kind of repair on the car. This sometimes includes even maintenance that you may want to do yourself. So if you have a new car, or even a secondhand car that has an existing warranty, make sure that you read the warranty and find out what to can be done to maintain your car outside of the dealer’s service shop. Generally if you like to do some regularly scheduled maintenance yourself, the warranty will remain in effect if you use dealer approved parts for the maintenance. If you plan on doing this, make sure you keep receipts for everything so that you can prove that you actually did the work. Also, several car dealerships will also offer bonuses like free oil change for a year, or other benefits. In general, make sure that you are fully aware of what benefits the dealership offers, and also what maintenance can be done outside of their shop.

Generally, a dealership service department is often regarded as more expensive than an independent mechanic. One way to test this out is to have some regular maintenance done at the dealer service department. For example, ask them to do an oil change, and remain in the area so that you can watch how they’re doing it and what’s been done. As you are waiting, watch the service department and pay attention to how the mechanics are treating the other cars that are presently being worked on. If other customers are waiting for their cars, ask them about their experiences with this service department. Ask the hourly shop for the service department, and also ask what certification training programs the service department has for its mechanics. Also, many times larger cities have a number of comments on the Internet about various mechanic shops in the area, and these include dealer service departments. Use Google to find these comments for your city.

For someone with an older car, finding a good dependable mechanic is oftentimes a long process. Check for certifications, such as ASE, and again, take your car in for minor service and watch how it’s done, if possible. One of the best ways to find a good general mechanic is by word-of-mouth, including Internet word-of-mouth on various shops in your area. For people with older classic cars, one good way is simply finding other cars of similar make and model in parking lots, and starting up a conversation with the owner of that car. For people with more current cars, asking questions of coworkers, of neighbors, or your local church will often give you some leads towards a good mechanic.

Reevaluate your choice periodically. Whenever anyone brings up a car repair on some work that you have had done, listen to their comments on the cost of the repair, and how quickly their mechanic shop carried it out. Also, follow up after a time to see how well the repair has been maintained. It make take a few trials at different shops to find a good, trustworthy mechanic, but it is worth the effort.

By: Brenda Williams

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Best Mechanics in Kissimmee

As you probably realize, cars have become very complicated over the years. This has resulted in specialization by mechanics.

In the past, a mechanic was usually just a mechanic. It was pretty much expected that he could work on just about any kind of machine. His tool kit carried in a small metal box was sufficient to fix just about any machine or motor that he encountered. Training was usually done on the job at the side of an older and more experienced mechanic. People rarely thought of different types of mechanics. It was a much simpler time.

Today, this has changed very dramatically. The age of technology is characterized by an almost explosive advancing complexity and variety in machines. Although all mechanics share many basic skills, it has become necessary to specialize in one area or another to be able to reach a degree of proficiency. Within the automobile repair realm, this specialization has been reflected in mechanics that are transmission mechanics, or engine repair mechanics, or electrical systems mechanics, or even body repair mechanics.

Although in the early days of aviation, the automobile mechanic and the airplane mechanic were interchangeable, today they represent two totally different types. Within the aviation field, there are even more individual specialties than can be found in automotive mechanical work. This specialization continues into several other branches. There are motorcycle mechanics and nautical engine mechanics. There are mechanics that specialize in keeping the modern machinery of industry maintained and repaired.

There is some glamour to the mechanical field as well. Mechanics that work with race cars and serve on pit crews do exciting, dangerous, and highly paid work. They are considered to be the pinnacle of their profession by many people. The mechanics who service the NASCAR circuits are considered to be at the very cutting edge of mechanical knowledge and skill.

Another distinction of mechanics is based on the idea of Certification and training. The ever changing and rapidly increasing demands on the mechanic have forced them to constantly train and keep abreast of the new technology. Certification programs have been designed to satisfy this need, but also the give the consumers more confidence about the skill and experience of the mechanics when they are in need of one. We have come a long way from the days of the “shade tree, jack of all trades” mechanic. The field of mechanics is exciting and challenging in a way that it never was in the past. The skill level between the average person and the mechanic has never been greater nor has the need for skilled mechanics ever been greater.

By: Aazdak Alisimo

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Osceola County Mechanic

Most people agree that owning a home based business is the way to go. In fact, for many people, it is a dream of a lifetime to get out from the 9-to-5 grind and become your own boss. One way to do this is to become a backyard mechanic.

Of course being a backyard mechanic is quite different than operating a regular shop. In fact, you may find legislative challenges to overcome in order to start your business. But there are still ways to operate a accurate mechanic shop without the expense of a regular shop.

Aside from basic repairs and oil changes, you may also be able to do some autobody work on cars that have been accidents. For all of this you will need to have a good supply of inexpensive car parts. So where are you to find them? Here are some ways to find inexpensive car parts when you’re starting out as a backyard mechanic:

· Type “wholesale auto parts” into your search engine browser and find an innumerable amount of car part suppliers who can give you great prices on parts, free delivery over a certain amount, and sometimes even a warranty.

· Use eBay to find a great deal on parts, especially parts that are difficult to find elsewhere, on just about any car imaginable. EBay offers a good warranty on car parts purchased through them and the only drawback is that if you lose an auction you have to buy the part from somewhere else and that can be time-consuming.

· Form an auto-parts buying club with other local car enthusiasts to be able to buy in large quantities and get wholesale discounts.

· Contact your local scrap yard dealers and ask them if they’ll give you a discount if you buy a lot of scrap parts from them and take them off yourself, thereby eliminating their costs for labor and storage.

· If you live in a large city and can specialize in just a handful of vehicles, you can buy several scrap vehicles quite cheaply, store them, and use them for parts.

Many people moonlight as backyard mechanics, fixing the cars of family and friends. If local laws allow it, there is little to stop you from doing the same as a full-time job. And saving money with car parts would help you earn a profit quickly.

By: Jeff Lakie

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mechanic

This article is how to choose an automotive technician. We used to call them mechanics and some were named Grubber with arms so long that their hands dragged on the ground. These guys could fix things and many times without the right part being available. These old time mechanics were the guys you took into the outback.

Today the automotive technician wears a sharp shop uniform and does his work with a $100,000.00 worth of shop equipment. This guy’s service charges range where from $70 to $120 dollars per hour in the Tri-City area. If you are going to pay some one as much to fix your car as you did your doctor a few years ago then you should spend some time in selecting an automotive technician.

Some of the things that should be considered important in selecting a technician;

honestyIntegrityTrainingAbility to readCuriosityDesire to do a good job.Has an honest boss.Works for an honest business.Constantly up dates his training.Works on many makes and models. In choosing a technician it is recommended to choose an independent shop for a number of reasons. The most important is that the technician in an independent shop has to work on everything. This gives him greater insight and a much large pool of experience to draw upon.

You should check with people that have taken their cars to this shop. Most shops will recommend a few of their good customers that you can call. Ask these folks tough questions.

Interview the shop owner.

Ask the owner if he still works on cars. Ask him how he writes his estimates.Ask him how he figures the markup on parts.Ask him what his warrantee policy is?Ask if he has a written pricing policy and warrantee policy.Ask what his credit policy is.Ask if you can pick the technician to work on your car. Interview the technicians in the shop if possible:

Ask how they are paid?Ask if they are expected to bill more than 120 hours per month. (If they are find another shop).Ask if the shop pays for education and seminars. This all comes down to basic honesty. Flat rate is a method to write estimates but in should not be the end bill. If the flat rate program is good then the bill should be close to the estimate. The rub comes from the technician that works 40 hours per week and bills 80 hours per week. This means that the customer is overcharged by 50%. We are am not a great proponents of flat rate billing. Rattlesnake Mountain Enterprises spent a lot of time choosing a good flat rate program for doing estimates and bills. This program is the fairest that we could find both for the shop and the customer. I have yet to bill more than 25 hours of my own work in a week. Yes, I would be told that I was not efficient enough for a dealership or large independent shop. I have read some shop business plans that were based upon all technicians billing 120% of their time.

If you get positive answers to most of these questions, then give the shop a try. As you can see it pays to choose your auto repair facility before you have a serious problem.

By: Charles Evans

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Mechanics in Kissimmee