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Any tips on how a woman that doesn’t know much can not be taken advantage of by repair shops? I recently had one shop charge me for diagnostics and then quote me over $1,000 for the repair (new fuel pump.) Luckily before they got too far into it, I got a hold of my husband (who’s an awesome mechanic, but 400 miles away right now.) He had me call the shop and tell them to stop. He looked up cost of the part (about $370) and book time for the repair (2 hours) Called around and found another shop that did the job for $600, of course this required a $57 tow across town.
Now I’m having the same problems again (intermittent crank/no start) I’m taking it back to the shop that installed the fuel pump (if it chooses to start tomorrow :dry: ) I will definitely be waiting until I can talk to the hubby before I have them do any work. But, I’d like to not have to deal with being screwed over just because I’m a woman. That and I’m not able to talk the talk unless my husband basically gives me a script.
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One thing you can do, that will help keep them honest, is to ask for the old part back. That way you know that they at least changed it and by asking them, you are making a signal to them that you are expecting honest service.
Don’t really have any advice other that to learn as much as you can about the vehicle you have so that you are able to show that you are knowledgeable about your vehicle. Research on the internet about what problems you have with the vehicle and what the possible causes for the problems are and what should be looked at. Always insist that the bad parts be returned to you (they may not be bad at all) so that if the problem is not fixed you still have good parts. Make them explain in detail what was done to fix the problem and why it was done. A good source of information is a Factory Service Manual.
It has a wealth of information in it and pictures to show you what the parts look like. Hope this helps a little with your situation.John
Thanks, sounds I definitely need to get my “bad” parts back!
If you take your car into have it repaired, have them work an estimate up of what it will cost. Call around to other shops and have them give you an estimate for the same work. See if one is significantly higher than the other. You can also research online to see what work all is involved in doing the needed repair. Try and find a repair shop nearby that has good customer ratings. From my experience, the bad shops get outed pretty quickly. You may have to look online to find positive ratings as people are less likely to post positive reviews then they are negative. Try angieslist.com and the better business bureau website for starters. Try and learn the basic part names of a vehicle. If you walk in a shop and can correctly name or describe certain parts of a car when telling them what the problem with the car is they probably will be less likely to try and rip you off unlike if you go in there and say that thingy right there next to the round thing.
Yeah, ‘that thingy’ probably tips them off I’m not exactly an expert. Thingy is my word of choice, but I’m learning to describe the thingy to my hubby and get the name most of the top.
Can the shop speak to your husband on the phone to explain
the repair and cost. This way they might be a little more honest.
Yeah, I’m waiting to see what the shop says and how much they want. Then I’m going to get in touch w the hubbs before I have them do anything. If he thinks they’re too high I’m going to have him deal w them. Or, if he thinks it can wait another week, I may just take my chances and hope it starts when we really need to go somewhere and try not to drive much. He’ll be home in a week, so hopefully it can either wait until he gets home or they gave me a bad fuel pump which they’d have to replace free since the part is under warranty
will do 🙂
Yep, he sure is and you’re right I’m on very good hands 🙂
Just a few tips from my experiences to help you. (I hope)
If you get the old parts back they might or might not be the your old parts. When you go to a shop look at the place for ‘piles’ of used parts. If there are used parts about the place be vary wary, even if the place offers used parts. Along with the old parts I use pictures of the area of repair before and after the job. It is hard to repair a car without disturbing the ‘accumulations’ of life. I have used pink or bright green (and clear 😉 ) nail polish on bolts to make sure that the something got moved. That’s how I knew they were not my parts. (thanks dad)
Learning the nomenclature of the industry is a sure way to get a bit more respect. Not just the proper names but the common names too. An after market repair manual (Haynes, Clymer’s, Chilton’s,etc) will help with this and to show you what is done to complete the repairs and compare the diagnosis. “We’ll we need to take off the bumpers to refill the headlight fluid…”, “No you don’t”, :ohmy: :blush:. I did this to some vinyl siding installers at my house one time when the smoke detector went off under my shorts and all the BS stopped. (I still wound up firing them.)
Show confidence in your ignorance. Make them explain their diagnosis and repairs to your satisfaction. Then if you say something that demonstrates some knowedge that gives them pause to think “they know more than their letting on.” Even if you let them know that you don’t know, they will know that you know you don’t know and will understand that you’re not going to blindly trust them.(thank you Ms Whitfield, 9th grade English) It will go a long way to keep them honest. This can be done with the afore mentioned manual or a quick phone call to somebody you trust. You have to make the choice as to how confrontational you need to be with the shop. I’m always pleasant on the initial visit, not so much when I have a problem.
Good mechanics understand you’re apprehensive about what they tell you. It’s a lot of money being spent. They will usually explain things with care. Dishonest mechanics are like spoiled, lying children. They are incensed that you’re questioning what they tell you. They immediately start ‘selling’ the lie.
Trust your instincts about the person you are dealing with. If you think he’s a slimeball make him prove he is not… Then still be wary. I try to always prepare for the worst, hope for the best.
As to your problem of intermittent starting, it sounds like it might be a fuel pump relay. I have seen them go bad and they displayed the same symptoms. It is a much cheaper part to throw at the problem and one you might be able to do yourself.
Hope this helps.
JimOne thing I have done for years is to keep a notebook for each of my vehicles on every repair that has been performed. Just keeping records will help you learn more about your vehicle. It is also useful to see what you have paid for parts over the years. :unsure:
Whenever I do my own work, I write up a little “invoice” and put it in the notebook too, along with what I paid for the parts. The amount that can be saved can add up, as your husband is well aware of.
I agree with what was said above, avoid using words like “thingy”.
I think those of us living in small towns have a great advantage when it comes to this – unfortunately for those living in cities. I always think that word-of-mouth is the best when it comes to recommending an auto mechanic (and many other professionals). But, as suggested above, I find the idea useful of telling the mechanic beforehand that you would like the old parts back to keep is a good strategy. This is when a little “lying” might be good. Tell them your husband is a fanatic about keeping old parts. If their price quote seems high, tell them that you did a little research online and their price seems a little high and ask them if there is any way they can come down a little. NEVER make the mechanic feel like you are accusing him of being dishonest or price gouging you, even if you think he is. Always play it off as an honest mistake in his estimate and give him an “out” to give you a lower price. If he comes down in price to around the price you have researched and found to be more fair, compliment him on “working with you” to give you a great deal. You will know the truth and he will too, but he will at least feel like he kept his pride and made money as well. Then, after your car is fixed, never go back to him again if you feel like he was trying to overcharge you.
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