What to look for in a mechanic

Don’t necessarily high-tail it back to the dealership to get your repairs done. Many people are tempted to do this, thinking that they’ll get the best or most thorough service that way. That may or may not be true depending on the surrounding competition, but for sure the parts and labor prices are going to come at a premium by going to the source.

On the other hand, sometimes you are able to get a car to borrow from the dealership while yours is worked on, or at least shuttle service so you’re not stuck there without a ride. And of course, there is the benefit that you know they are trained and certified to work on your particular make and model. At the least, weigh out the pros and cons - as well as the price tags - between dealer and local shop, to make an informed decision.

Don’t forget to look into retail providers (such as Sears, or Sam’s Club) as well as gas stations for servicing, as they may provide competitive pricing or standardized levels of service, especially if you’re in unfamiliar territory.

If you’re looking for local help, get online. Read reviews of local patrons to see who has had what kind of experience, where. Even if you are interested in having aftermarket wheels installed.

Make sure your mechanic, wherever they are, is ASE certified. The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence is the body responsible for maintaining a professional certification for mechanics across the board, and only those who can demonstrate competence in skill and professionalism can pass.

Adventures in Locating an Automotive Part

My husband and I recently had an issue with the low-pressure line to the power steering pump on our car. We unfortunately discovered this while retuning my niece to her mother's after a sleep over. The thirteen-year-old nervously asked us if the car was going to blow up as smoke bellowed out from underneath the car's hood.

My hubby took a look and found that the line to the pump was spewing liquid in a near arterial spray.

We rushed to a nearby automotive store and filled it with the power steering fluid to aid it in functioning (so the steering wheel wouldn't lock up), but it only poured out more.

Doh!

We called around to every automotive shop we could before being told that the part in particular was a dealership only item.

We discovered this little inconvenient fact on a weekend, when the auto dealership itself was closed

To make a long story short, my husband managed to jimmy-rig the thing so it was drivable, and 2 weeks after said incident we finally obtained the part we needed so it could be changed out.

We truly love our car and it has been very good to us, but if we had known that it would be that hard to locate automotive replacement parts for it, maybe we would have re-considered the purchase.