On the old Andy Griffith Show, the friendly auto mechanic Goober could pop a car’s hood, listen for a moment, make a tiny adjustment to the engine with a screwdriver — and poof, the car was fixed. If only we could find such reliable and efficient service nowadays.
Well, we can — with a little help.
Here’s how to find the best auto mechanics today…
PICK THE RIGHT KIND OF SHOP
There are several types of repair shops…
Dealerships usually have the best equipment and mechanics trained in the specific technology used for the cars they sell. A dealership is the obvious place for warranty repairs and for some service contracts. However, dealers also tend to have the highest prices.Mass merchandisers or chain stores tend to charge lower prices than dealerships, but the staff typically consists of entry-level employees and the quality of work often is below industry standards.Independent repair shops usually provide good service for a more reasonable price than dealerships. The shop owner often is on the premises, and each mechanic in the shop may specialize — some may work only on domestics, others on European vehicles.CHECK TRADE ASSOCIATIONS
To begin your search for an independent repair shop, check with the automotive trade associations that list preferred repair shops. Look for shops that are listed by at least two of the following organizations…
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) boasts that an average of 78% of customers are repeat customers. ASA shops adhere to a code of ethics that outlines professional business practices. 800-272-7467. www.asashop.org.Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) provides locations of shops that employ ASE-certified repair technicians. Note: Having ASE certification means only that the technician can pass a written test — it has no bearing on repair skill. 703-669-6600. www.ase.com.The Automatic Transmission Rebuilders Association (ATRA) comprises mainly independent transmission-repair facilities. Members apply an ATRA code of ethics to their automatic-transmission diagnostic and repair services. Member shops have at least one ATRA-certified technician. 866-464-2872. www.atra.com.I-CAR technicians are trained in industry-accepted, uniform collision repair procedures to produce quality paint and body repairs. Go to www.i-car.com, click on “Gold Class Professionals” and enter your zip code. 800-422-7872.The International Automotive Technicians’ Network (IATN) has more than 69,000 members worldwide who share and exchange technical knowledge. Look for shops where the owner is listed, in particular those that are named after the owner. 714-257-1335. www.iatn.net.The Motorist Assurance Program provides auto-repair industry standards and has developed a series of guidelines to help consumers decide what kind of repairs they need. The site also lists repair shops. 703-532-2027. www.motorist.org.NAPA AutoCare helps consumers find a shop that performs quality work at a fair price. 800-452-6272. www.napaautocare.com.TALK RADIO
Radio stations in many communities have call-in talk shows on auto topics. Often the host and the shops that advertise on these programs are consumer-oriented and honest because they don’t want a listener to call in and complain on the air about a bad experience.
WARNING SIGNS
There are clues to alert you to problems with a particular repair shop…
Ban on checks. If signs on the wall say, “No Checks, Cash Only” or “$35-a-Day Storage After 24 Hours,” consider taking your business elsewhere. The cash-only and storage-charge signs may suggest that the shop has been stung by unhappy customers who have put stop payments on their checks or abandoned their cars.Abandoned cars. If there are many cars with flat tires and expired tags, they were probably deserted because the repair shop couldn’t fix them or wanted to charge too much. An empty shop also is a bad sign, indicating little business.No cars like yours. If you see only one particular brand of foreign car or other kinds of cars that are not at all similar to yours, the shop may not have expertise in your type of vehicle.Dirty shop. Is the shop well-lit and properly ventilated… or is the air foul, with a decade of grease and grime on the floor and piles of junk? The condition of the shop is a good indication of what kind of job it does. On the other hand, if it seems more like an operating room than a garage, look out. The staff may not have anything to do but clean floors all day.
