How To Find An Auto Repair Garage You Can Trust

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How To Find An Auto Repair Garage You Can Trust

As cars, trucks, and SUVs continue to evolve, problems become more difficult to troubleshoot and repair. Worn brake pads can be easily replaced. So too, can a failing alternator, fuel pump, or catalytic converter. However, unless you have advanced tools and plenty of experience, other systems such as your engine, transmission, and air conditioner need the expertise of a trained mechanic. The challenge is finding a mechanic – and by extension, a repair shop – you can trust.

This article will provide a blueprint you can use to find a trustworthy, reliable repair garage when components begin to fail. Now’s the time to begin your search – before your vehicle breaks down. Below, you’ll learn the value of looking for specific affiliations as well as the importance of talking to a shop’s customers. We’ll also take a look at finding a specialist for certain types of repairs.

Noteworthy Memberships And Affiliations

Independent garages can become affiliated with one or more associations if they meet certain qualification standards. These organizations include the American Auto Association (AAA), NAPA Autocare, and Tech-Net. Each organization has their own set of standards which they require members to meet.

For example, AAA requires member facilities to have relatively advanced equipment on-site as well as technicians who have completed certain types of training. They also routinely survey recent customers of each member facility. Customers are asked whether the garage offered a warranty on their work, if the work was completed in a timely manner, and if the estimate was close to the final bill.

When you visit an auto garage, look for memberships in these type of associations. They suggest a high level of service and reliability.

Talk To The Customers

Few people who visit a garage for the first time take the opportunity to ask other customers about their experiences. Doing so can yield valuable insight about the shop. For instance, ask other car owners why they bring their vehicles to the garage. If others mentions that their cars are always fixed correctly the first time, that should give you a level of trust in the proficiency of the technicians.

You might also hear that the repair shop’s estimates are always accurate or that they always complete the work in the timeframe given. These responses too, should make you feel more comfortable entrusting your vehicle to the mechanics.

When You Need A Specialist

Some types of work should be performed by a specialist. For example, engine and transmission problems are best handled by technicians who fix those assemblies on a daily basis. A lot of independent facilities will be happy to work on complex problems, but their technicians may lack the skills needed to do the job correctly. You might have to pay a little more for a specialist’s expertise, but the investment is worthwhile. Not only can they resolve issues more efficiently, but the quality of their work will likely be higher.

Finding a trustworthy auto repair shop is simpler than it seems. The key is to look for professional affiliations, talk to customers, and start looking before your vehicle begins to have problems.

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How To Replace Your Car’s Valve Cover Gasket

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How To Replace Your Car’s Valve Cover Gasket

While you’re driving, the moving parts of your engine are opening, closing, and shaking in a well-orchestrated symphony of activity. In order for everything to work properly, oil is needed in order to provide lubrication. Given the frenetic activity of your engine’s parts, it’s no surprise that oil is liberally splashed about.

You should be checking your oil level periodically to ensure that your engine has enough to properly lubricate the parts. If you notice that the level is consistently lower than it should be, you may have a leak. One of the areas that can develop leaks is the valve cover gasket (VCG).

A valve cover is bolted to the top of your engine (the cylinder head, specifically). The cover prevents oil from splashing over every component under your hood during operation. The VCG sits between the cover and your engine, and creates a seal. In effect, it keeps oil from escaping.

Over time, the gasket can dry out and develop cracks. If that happens, it will slowly lose its ability to provide a seal, allowing oil to leak. Fortunately, replacing the VCG is a simple process.

Step By Step Instructions

Before taking the valve cover off the gasket, first try to tighten it down. Occasionally, the bolts can become loose after thousands of miles. You might discover the leak can be resolved simply by tightening the cover.

Assuming the leak is still a problem after tightening the bolts, remove the valve cover. Every vehicle is a little different; the cover in your car may be surrounded by PCV hoses and cables, which you’ll likely need to disconnect.

Next, loosen and remove the bolts holding the cover in place on the cylinder head. Take the cover off while being careful not to let anything fall into the engine.

Your cover may be fitted with a groove that holds the valve cover gasket in place. Remove the VCG and look for residue along the perimeter of the cover. If any exists, scrape it off. Otherwise, it may play havoc with the seal of the new VCG.

The last step is to install the replacement valve cover gasket and bolt the valve cover back onto your car’s engine. Tighten the bolts, reconnect any of the hoses and cables that you had previously detached, and start your engine. The VCG should maintain a tight seal.

Replenish The Oil Until The Leak Is Repaired

If you’re unable to replace the valve cover gasket immediately, make sure that you keep the oil level in your car replenished. Too often, drivers neglect to keep the level up when their engine is leaking oil. If your engine lacks sufficient oil during operation, it can overheat due to excess friction. That will often cause expensive damage (a shame given that the gasket costs less than $20).

An experienced mechanic will probably be able to replace a VCG in less than an hour. If you intend to do the job yourself, set aside a few hours to make certain the gasket is installed properly.

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How To Find A Repair Shop For A Transmission Overhaul

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How To Find A Repair Shop For A Transmission Overhaul

Your transmission is slipping and the mechanic has delivered the bad news: it needs to be overhauled. It’s an expensive job and prices vary wildly depending on the shop and the area in which you live. Sometimes, the prices at a single shop can practically double based on the amount of work involved for the technician. That’s why most shops will refuse to give you a firm quote until they have lifted your tranny, dismantled it, and have all of the pieces laid out in front of them.

The question is, how do you find a garage that will overhaul your transmission while maintaining a high level of quality in their workmanship? Millions of drivers can attest that the process of having your tranny overhauled is not as simple as having an alternator or water pump replaced. The work can take days and costs can rise dramatically. It’s not uncommon for the job to cost $1,800 or more.

In this article, I’ll provide a few helpful tips for finding a trustworthy repair shop that will perform the overhaul.

Use Your Local Auto Repair Garage

You’ll find that a lot of auto repair garages don’t work on transmissions. It’s labor-intensive and specialized. Even if the mechanics are capable of doing it, they’ll refuse the job. This is the reason many garages specialize in this area. Their entire business is focused on repairing and overhauling transmissions.

Use your local mechanic as a first resource. That is, ask him to serve as a go-between. Many auto technicians will maintain relationships with tranny shops and refer their best customers to them. If there’s a problem with the assembly after the repairs are performed, you can call your regular mechanic and he’ll communicate with the specialist for you. You may need to pay your local auto technician a small fee, but it’s worthwhile to avoid the headaches of working directly with the transmission shop.

Abandoned Vehicles?

If your mechanic is unable (or unwilling) to refer you to a trustworthy specialist, you’ll need to find one on your own. When visiting a tranny shop, check to see whether there are abandoned vehicles in their lot. That might suggest the garage’s quotes are far lower than the actual price of the repairs; owners may have decided to abandon their cars rather than pay the bill.

Also, check whether any of the vehicles that the specialists have worked on are similar to your own. Every car is a little different; knowing the mechanic has experience with your make and model will provide peace of mind.

When you go inside the shop to speak with the tranny technicians, ask them to quote a “worst case” price. Transmission repairs and overhauls have a way of escalating far above the original quote. A “worst case” price will help you prepare your expectations while discouraging the garage from trying to entice your business with a low-ball quote.

If your transmission is slipping or you’re having similar shifting troubles, finding a reputable specialist you can trust will be difficult. Your best path is to ask your local repair garage to serve as a liaison.

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