| There are many articles that talk about what your | | | | doesn't mean his fee was not earned or that you |
| mechanic doesn't want you to know. This write up is | | | | were overcharged. There truly is no substitute for |
| about what your mechanic DOES want you to know. | | | | experience. |
| Over the years there have been investigative reports | | | | Automotive technicians have huge investments in their |
| catching bad mechanics in the act of outright dishonest | | | | tools, just a quality tool box adequate to store his |
| practices and sometimes blatantly stealing. Just as in | | | | equipment typically runs several thousand dollars. If you |
| life there are more good people than bad, there are | | | | don't believe it just ask your mechanic the next time |
| also more good, hardworking mechanics than | | | | you visit his shop. Also as time goes on, there are |
| dishonest ones. Many of the technicians I know make | | | | more tools needed to work on the newer vehicles |
| more money than college graduates, although they | | | | with their evolving systems. Software updates for |
| seem to garner less respect. This is because of | | | | scan tools are updated every year or two to keep |
| perception, culture has trained our minds to think more | | | | them current. Specialty tools are developed that may |
| of a person if they are well dressed. I've experienced | | | | sometimes only be used for one specific job. In many |
| this myself, people look at me differently when I'm in | | | | cases, your mechanic will have ten times the |
| work clothes compared to when I'm in a suit. With this | | | | investment in his tools compared to the value of the |
| being said, your mechanic wants you to know the | | | | car he drives. |
| following. | | | | Diagnosing cars with intermittent problems is like |
| If he gets the job done fast, it doesn't mean that the | | | | chasing a ghost. If your car isn't acting up, a correct |
| repair fee wasn't earned. On the flip side, if the car | | | | diagnosis is difficult. The experience of your mechanic |
| takes longer to repair, a flat rate technician doesn't | | | | may enable him to make an educated guess, but keep |
| charge more. Experience necessary to become an | | | | in mind the more information you can provide the |
| auto technician is gained by on the job training, | | | | better. The last thing he wants is to have you back |
| becoming an apprentice, or from attending a tech | | | | with the same complaint. Be very descriptive, if the car |
| school. Technical schools can provide a good | | | | makes a particular noise it's important to know when it |
| foundation, but In the end there is no substitute for | | | | occurs, what sound it makes and the duration. Ask him |
| learning on the job. A good mechanic absorbs | | | | if he would like to go for a ride; if you can duplicate the |
| knowledge from his years of experience working on | | | | problem on a test drive, the chances are much better |
| cars and from the automotive technicians he has | | | | of a correct diagnosis in a timely manner. |
| worked with over the years. When it comes to car | | | | He also wants you to know that your loyalty does |
| repair, knowledge is money and just because your | | | | count for something. |
| mechanic can repair your car quickly in many cases, it | | | | |