20+ Secrets Your Auto Mechanic Won’t Tell You
Updated: Mar. 03, 2021Before you spend more money on car repairs, get the inside scoop from real auto mechanics on which expensive, unnecessary procedures to avoid.
Watch out for scare tactics
Admonitions like “I wouldn’t drive this another kilometre” should be viewed with suspicion.
Ask, ask, ask
Ask for recommendations, years in business, warranties offered, licences, and the type of equipment used. Look for a clean garage. A floor cluttered with empty oil cans, worn tires, and dirty rags is a red flag.
Watch out for these other car repair scams.
Read before you sign
Never sign a blank authorization form. Always get a signed work order with a specific estimate for each job and warranties that apply.
Here are 13 car problems you should never ignore.
Tools of the trade
It’s nuts to take a car with engine problems to a shop without a good engine analyzer and scan tool. Any car mechanic who says “I don’t need fancy equipment” should be avoided.
Find out why you should use sea foam for your engine.
You get what you pay for
Synthetic motor oils may cost more, but you’ll get a lot more kilometres between changes.
Try this simple hack and you’ll never miss another oil change.
When you go for a second opinion…
…don’t tell the mechanic what the first diagnosis and price were.
Don’t miss our ultimate troubleshooting guide for when your car won’t start.
Costly gimmicks
Coolant flushes and power steering flushes are very common gimmicks at quick lubes. Check your owner’s manual; many cars have fluid that is designed to go 150,000 kilometres. And cleaning fuel injectors is a waste of time and money. There are additives on the market that do a great job.
Find out seven other ways you’re wasting money on your car.
Give me a brake
Always ask for OE (original equipment) brake pads or at least equivalent material. A $70 brake job will usually get you the worst friction material you can buy—it’s the difference between stopping short and causing a pileup on the way to work.
Here’s how to improve brake performance and extend wear.
Tire check
Ask about your new tire’s “build date.” If you’re getting an unusually good deal, you might be receiving three-year-old treads, which is especially risky for snow tires.
This is when to change to snow tires, according to experts.
Lifetime mufflers?
What would ever make you think a muffler will last a lifetime? Yes, they’ll give you free replacements, but they’ll hit you over the head for expensive pipe repairs.
Here are 15 things you’re doing to your car that mechanics wouldn’t.
Consult your dealer…
…before you have work done on a catalytic converter or emissions parts. Some of these items carry a very long warranty, and free replacement is often required by law.
This little-known trick will get you a better price on your trade-in.
Light on your dash
It’s not OK for your “check engine” light to stay on all the time. It’s probably not “a loose gas cap.”
Don’t be duped by double labour
If a car mechanic offers to change your timing belt and water pump, question how long the job will take. Some will charge you double labour even though the second task is essentially done once the belt is removed.
If you’re up to the challenge, here are 100 car repairs you can do on your own.
Always ask for your old parts back
This way you’ll know they’ve been changed, and you or a friend can tell if they’re worn.
Here’s the ultimate car maintenance schedule you should be following.
“Road hazard”
Be careful with “road hazard” warranties on tires. The shops may give you a free tire here and there, but eventually, they will soak you with unnecessary alignments or suspension replacements.
These easy maintenance and driving tips can actually make your tires last longer.
All brakes are not created equal
Ask for estimates on brake jobs. Many mechanics will use very cheap parts and mark them up. Good mechanics who understand cars will never skimp in this area.
Find out how often you should be changing your brake pads.
Test drive
Have your car test-driven. A good test-drive is just as important as a regular service—it might mean the difference between simply needing brake pads and having a complete rotor replacement.
Here are 13 common car dealership tricks you’ll wish you knew sooner.
Find expert mechanics
Good mechanics, like good customers, are hard to find—communication is key. A good car mechanic will explain repair phases and give you choices.
Taking the DIY route? Here’s how to fix some of the most common car problems.
Be wary of certified pre-owned cars
Usually in this business, the only thing that’s certified is that someone owned the car before you. Very little ever gets done on these types of cars.
Make sure you always do this before buying a used car.
When to go
Go early in the workweek. Don’t bring your car in on Friday afternoon, because the mechanics might rush the job to get out for the weekend.
Find out the best time to buy a new car.
Don’t make a rookie mistake
Beware of a car mechanic who shows you a transmission pan with metal particles in it and recommends a major job. The shavings are usually a sign of normal wear.
Don’t miss these wild (true!) stories of crazy things mechanics have found in cars.
Familiarize yourself with tire tread
Before buying new tires, know what your state’s tread specifications are. Then have the mechanic measure the old tread with a gauge.
This one-second tire test could save your life.
Too good to be true
Beware of false promises. Watch out for ads promising $125 brake jobs. No mechanic can make money on that.
Here’s what to look out for when checking your brakes.
Scam alert
Weed out scams. Transmission flushes are one of the biggest scams going. Manufacturers don’t recommend them, and your car almost never needs one.
Here are more car repairs you’ve probably wasted money on.
Brand name
The market is being flooded with cheap parts from China. Request a name-brand replacement and ask to see its box.
Find out why you should never use cheap auto parts.
Onomatopoeia is encouraged
If your car is making weird noises, it’s better to swallow your pride and try to make the noise (no matter how goofy you think you sound) than attempt to describe it. You may think your description of the sound makes perfect sense, but the mechanic hasn’t heard it before like you have. “I’d rather hear a funny noise come out of you than waste time trying to figure out what you mean by ‘buzzing, but it’s like squishy if that makes sense,’” says Ryan, a Winnipeg car mechanic. Chances are, it won’t make sense.
Find out what these strange car sounds could mean, according to a mechanic.
Things get overlooked
If the mechanic doing maintenance on your car is on a time constraint, they may not get to every little thing. Smaller tasks might get neglected or forgotten, such as “lubricating door hinges or latching mechanisms.” A Colorado car mechanic warns that, if tasks like these don’t get completed, “It doesn’t affect performance at that moment, but it can over time.” You might want to ask to confirm that even the smallest tasks have been seen to before you drive away.
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Mechanics get plenty banged up
While grievous injuries are uncommon, mechanics have seen their share of bumps and bruises. Hot oil spills are pretty common, and they’ve dropped heavy tools on their feet. And, yes, they’ve even been bumped by cars during test runs.
Check out 15 crazy things mechanics have seen on the job.
Dealerships vs. private shops
You may be inclined to support a small local shop rather than a massive dealer, but keep in mind that dealers often have access to resources that the small shops don’t. Charles, a car mechanic at a Volkswagen dealer, says, “There are a lot of resources we have access to that an independent place wouldn’t… A small shop isn’t going to spend $15,000 a year [for that data].” While local shops are great, just be aware that some model-specific information may not be available to them.
Next, find out 30+ car dealer secrets they don’t want you to know.
