FIND A MECHANIC YOU CAN TRUST.

Making the effort to find a mechanic that knows what he's doing and is honest is a little like panning for gold. It takes some time and work, but when you find that nugget it's definitely worth it.

Since most of the people I know aren't really interested in working on their own cars, how to find a mechanic is something I get asked about a lot. I hear a lot of horror stories about trips to lube shops and other service facilities and have experienced a few of them myself.

That's why it's so important to find a mechanic with high skills and ethics. A long-term relationship with such a mechanic can be a valuable thing to develop.

Whether it's something simple like oil and filter changes, or a more complicated problem such as diagnosing and troubleshooting drivability issues, a good honest mechanic can save you a lot of time, money and headaches over the years.

If your vehicle is covered under a manufacturer's warranty you may want to use the dealership for service and repair, but warranties do not specificly require regular service and repair to be done by the dealer. You should, however, have actual warranty work done by the dealership to be sure you receive the benefits outlined in the warranty.

So, what do you do when you decide it's time to find that one shop with the mechanic you can trust your vehicle with? Basically, just start shopping around. Try a few shops that are offering coupons or discounts for oil changes or some of the other less expensive maintenance services.

During your search to find a mechanic you can trust be sure to meet the owner and or manager of the shop. Ask about any training or certifications such as Automotive Service Excellence Certification (ASE) of the technicians working on the vehicles.

While you're in the shop look at the level of cleanliness. Check out the level of organization. Is everyone running around like a chicken with its head cut off or does each employee have a job to do and is communication between them efficient.

A large, fancy shop does not necessarily mean the mechanics are good and the operation is honest. You have to judge some of this with your gut. Get a feel for the place. When you find the right one you'll know it.

Also, every shop will occasionally miss something or not repair something correctly. The important thing is; these mistakes should be very rare at the shop you finally choose. When they do happen they should be promptly corrected and you should not be charged twice for a repair or service done incorrectly the first time.

As you continue your efforts to find a mechanic to do your car maintenance ask friends, relatives, business acquaintences etc. for references. When you finally find the right shop be sure you make an effort to work with them. Don't nitpick about service time or price.

An honest shop knows what prices they have to charge to keep their doors open and they won't try to overcharge. If they're doing the job correctly within a reasonable amount of time and not charging way above the norm for your area then let them know you're a happy customer.

As a previous shop owner I know for a fact, a shop will go the extra mile when it's needed the most, for customers that recognize the hard work and effort a good shop and mechanic puts out for them.

The true cost of owning a vehicle isn't just the original price you paid for it. A good relationship with your mechanic will help you deal with the car maintenance and service requirements of your vehicle in the most economically effective way.

Find a Mechanic You Can Talk To

An example of this is when a customer takes their car to the mechanic with a complaint and uses terminology that doesn't accurately describe what's really happening. The customer leaves the car and the mechanic test drives the car and can't duplicate the same problem the customer described.

The customer picks up the vehicle and brings it back several days later for the same problem. This time the mechanic rides with the customer as the customer again describes the problem using terminology that doesn't really describe what is actually happening. However, the mechanic is in the car with the customer and is able to ask questions and understand what the real problem is.

This kind of miscommunication occurs all the time and can cost a lot of time and money. Most shops charge a diagnostic fee. If the customer can't communicate the problem correctly and has to come back more than once it costs the customer more than it should. If the shop doesn't charge a fee for diagnosis it costs the shop for the mechanics time.

This brings up another point. If you don't know how to communicate a particular problem ask the mechanic to take a ride with you. By doing this you can be sure he understands exactly what you are talking about.

The best shops and mechanics will have a system for doing this as a regular part of the diagnostic process. When you find a mechanic that understand the importance of listening to your descriptions of problems and asks for clarification when not clear you've likely found a mechanic worth working with.

Taking a tour through your vehicle's owner's manual will familiarize you with the names of the gadgets and components of your car. Pay attention to how your car operates on a daily basis, note any changes such as new noises, vibrations, smells etc. and write them down.

Sometimes these noises, vibrations and smells are intermittent so it's easy to forget about them. If something is really wrong however, they'll come back again so it's best if you can keep a list of them.

Your mechanic will appreciate it, your car will appreciate it and so will your pocket book. The less time your mechanic has to spend figuring out what's wrong, the less it will cost to repair it.

Yes, finding a mechanic you can trust can be time consuming and a little frustrating. Once you've found him though, a lot of your car maintenance headaches will disappear.

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