Signs Your Mechanic Should Not Be Trusted

Anyone that owns a car knows too well that a trip to the mechanic will be inevitable at some point. Most modern cars are designed to last for at least 100,000 miles. That doesn’t necessarily mean that they won’t develop mechanical problems before then. There are some maintenance tasks you can do on your own but the average car owner doesn’t know anything about what is under the hood, let alone the size of the tank. If you find a shoddy mechanic, it will be hard to know when they’re taking advantage of your lack of knowledge. There are some telltale signs that your mechanic can’t be trusted.

He Doesn’t Show Old Parts

The only way you can ascertain that a replacement was done is by seeing the old parts. You should not take their word for it, especially if you’ve just started working with the mechanic. If they can’t be trusted with something as easy as showing the old parts, you can imagine the lies they will be telling you when there is an issue with your vehicle.

Fixing Something That Wasn’t Originally Diagnosed

When you go to the shop, it is the duty of the mechanic to run a full diagnosis. This is to enable you to know what needs fixing. You should be wary of a mechanic that tells you they’ve fixed something that wasn’t originally intended. There is a high chance that it didn’t need fixing in the first place and the mechanic is just looking for a way to make some extra money.

You Don’t Get an Estimate

A good mechanic will ensure that you’re getting an estimate before the work begins. This is to allow you to make the decision if the repair is affordable. A mechanic that goes ahead and does the repair without providing an estimate will not have your best interest at heart. They want to ambush you with an unreasonable quote and it will be hard not to pay when they’ve already done the repairs.

Name Brand Everything

A shoddy mechanic will be name dropping brands at every opportunity. They want to convince you to buy expensive parts even when they’re not necessary. If you’re afraid of getting ripped off, make sure you’re doing research on the prices of parts. You might be surprised that the mechanic is mentioning a part that is supposed to address a completely different problem from what he or she claims.

Things Become Personal

In the event of an emergency, you should not let a mechanic intimidate you into using a particular service or garage. If you’re concerned about causing further damage to your car, you can have it towed to a different location for a second opinion. A good mechanic should not take it personally when you’re doubtful of the diagnosis and should encourage a different opinion from their own.

Top Offs and Flushes

You might have gone for a coilover spring replacement for your Subaru Forester but the mechanic insists on taking advantage of a limited time offer of flushing the coolant. Such a mechanic will not even be concerned about the state of your vehicle. You might end up spending more than you’d anticipated on unnecessary things. You should never let a mechanic use sale gimmick on you. Their work is to provide repair and maintenance services.

They Don’t Encourage Questions

A mechanic that uses the phrase “you wouldn’t understand,” will not encourage questions and will not be willing to provide explanations. Mechanics are known to prey on unsuspecting customers and there are those that will not probe further when a valid explanation is not provided. It is your right to know the problem with your vehicle. A good auto shop like Comfort Auto & Body Repair will make it their business to explain the problem in a language that you can understand.

It is Always the Biggest of Problems

When you’re dealing with an incompetent mechanic, you will always dread going to the auto shop because there is a big problem with the car every time you visit. A small rattle under the car will quickly lead to the conclusion that there are holes on the exhaust pipe.

“I Wouldn’t Drive That Car If I Were You”

This statement is said in order to scare you. It is a lot easier to upsell someone when they’re in desperate need of help. The mechanic is likely to overcharge for a bunch of things that are not even needed because of scaring you into submission.