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.
What we do: If you have an emergency situation that needs immediate attention we can give you the telephone number of a trusted towing company to bring it to our shop. You do not need to be present for us to take in the vehicle. Just give us a call prior to the vehicle arriving so we can accomodate you as soon as it arrives.
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, tire alignments, 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. Social media and advertising is important for any business and can offer different perspectives into what a shop is all about. A business should be as transparent as possible with it's customers.
What we do: We provide an interactive website for new and potential customers to explore our services and information. We also have a Facebook page that has albums of photos of our shop area as well as all of our technicians and service writers. We have public reviews on Google+, Merchant Circle, Yelp, and City Search written by our customers for a second opinion on our services. If you would like an estimate, we are more than happy to accomodate your request via phone, text, or e-mail services.
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. Be sure to ask about the manufacturer's warranty as well as there may be services covered by the dealer. 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. If your vehicle is left overnight, ask what the security procedures are if something should happen or what security measures the shop takes to protect your vehicle. Read the small print of the estimate carefully before you sign it to be sure of the liabilities and responsibilities the shop claims if something should happen to your car.
What we do: Our Master Technician and owner, Darryl Lowitz handles all quality control and release of vehicles as well as diagnostics on specialty jobs. He speaks to every customer about their vehicle, what's going on, and price budget. We strive to bridge the communication gap between customer and mechanic because your vehicle is a vital part of everyday living. We have a 12 month 12,000 mile warranty on our services and are available Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm. We offer Early Bird & Nite Owl after hours drop-off service that allows you to leave the vehicle overnight or early morning with the key locked away securely until opening. Our building has a 24 hour alarm system and our side gates have security panels, padlocks, and other burglary detardants.
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 stays 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.
What we do: For most check engine lights, we charge a small diagnostic fee to scan the computers and ask the customer to return if they light comes back on instead of us keeping the vehicle. This allows the customer to continue driving the vehicle and get on with their day. If the light comes on again, just bring it back and we'll take another look free of charge. Check engine lights are a complicated diagnostic, and any shop that is worth it's salt knows it's not always an overnight fix. Most repairs are completed within one business day to ensure that our customers are back on the road as soon as possible.
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. Most vehicles are equipped with a complex system of computers, much like the brain of the vehicle. If an automotive repair facility doesn't have the proper equipment to scan the computer (it's a pretty expensive piece of equipment) they can't diagnose the car properly and that could end up costing you a lot of time and money.
What we do: Darryl Lowitz is ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certified and Master Certified. We also have mechanics that have Bachelors of Science degrees in Automotive Technology from Fresno State University and technical training with Ford and Chevy diagnostics. We have a combined automotive experience over 50 years in this field and our knowledge expands every day with weekly seminars and training classes for new breeds of vehicle such as the hybrid or electric cars.
All of these tips are designed to give you peace of mind when choosing an automotive repair facility.
