Auto House of Clovis, Inc.: How To Choose the Right Mechanic

The automotive repair industry like any other is a competitive field filled with professionals and novices. But as a customer, how do you know where to begin or who to trust? Your vehicle is one of the largest investments you will make in your lifetime so finding a mechanic you trust is just half the battle. We have provided a guide on how to choose your repair facility:

1) Address the severity of the issue.?By this we mean, is the problem just an annoying sound or are your brakes literally on fire? If the problem isn't severe or immediately life threatening, take the time to really explore your facility options in town. However, if your engine overheated in 100 degree weather on a free way you need to make the closest choice available.

2)?Do your research.?The internet is a valuable tool for anyone looking for a service or product. Look up local automotive repair facilities and their online reviews. You should judge your shop by location, reputation, years in business, staff helpfulness, and qualifications and?specialties. Keep in mind that some services (transmission repairs, smog tests, etc.) are?specialty?shops not related to automotive repair facilities. Ask friends, family, and co-workers for their suggestions on an automotive repair facility as their opinions are more powerful than online reviews. Personal referrals offer an?unbiased approach to a company and someone's unfiltered?opinion.?

3) Know what to ask.?Your automotive mechanic should be upfront and personal with you since your vehicle is a personal matter. You should never?be intimidated to ask a mechanic what exactly was repaired on your vehicle. Always ask about what warranty the shop offers for their services and parts and how willing they are to?accommodate?you if the problem persists. Ask what the labor rate is and an estimate on what the services will be before they are performed so you know what to expect. Inquire about the estimated time to repair the vehicle, if it needs to be kept overnight, and what the shops hours are in case of an emergency.

4) Understand that not everything is a quick fix.?This is especially the case with check engine lights. When your check engine light comes on there are hundreds of codes that are transferred to the vehicle's computer system. In order to find the correct code, our systems reset the program and the car must be driven until the light stay off for a constant amount of time. This can be from 10 minutes to 10 days. Other issues like "it's a strange noise" are difficult to diagnose and take time to investigate and drive the car to duplicate the issue. Be very specific or offer to take the mechanic for a drive to duplicate the problem as driving styles differ.

5) Ask about qualifications.?Are the mechanics ASE or Master certified? Did they attend training classes or have degrees? Make sure that your mechanic is qualified to be addressing the issues of your vehicle.

All of these tips are designed to give you peace of mind when choosing an automotive repair facility.

Source: http://autohouseofclovis.blogspot.com/2012/10/how-to-choose-right-mechanic.html

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