We appreciate the relationships we’ve built over the last several years with our customers. After all, you’re entrusting us to handle the safety and reliability of your vehicle while you are and your family are driving down the road, and we take pride in knowing that we are the trusted auto repair shop of many, many people.
There are times however, when consumers complain about the time and money it takes their auto mechanic to diagnose or find a problem, even after they have attempted to explain it over the phone. Then on the flip side, our auto mechanics can become frustrated because there is a lot of pressure from consumers to understand the problem via this explanation over the phone. Describing sounds, noises or description of parts is a good start but it still can be difficult to make a correct diagnosis.
As with any relationship, communication is key. Knowing the following tips can help save you time and money when it comes to identifying the problem and help to alleviate any frustration consumers and auto mechanics alike may face.
- First, details are invaluable. While part of our job is to diagnose the problem, we can save time and money by receiving as many details of the problem ahead of time. Simply saying “my car is dead” or “my car is making a weird noise” is too vague. Explain what happened, what speed you were driving when it happened, any unusual sounds of vibrations, the presence of any smoke or odors, or if there were any dashboard warning lights on before it died or broke down. This is the key to keeping your auto repairs as efficient as possible.
- Another thing you can do is to let your mechanic diagnose the problem. Don’t assume you’re bringing your vehicle in already knowing what is wrong. Our auto repair technicians are trained experts in this field and they can diagnose the problem for you. If you have made an incorrect diagnosis, it could take more time and money to re-identify and fix the actual issue. Likewise, pay attention to your dashboard indicator lights. Our clients too often ignore them, or they don’t know what they represent. Knowing what each indicator light means can help when you call to tell us about a problem. Making an immediate appointment can help to avoid a more complicated problem and expensive auto repair services down the road.
- Preventative maintenance and other simple checks can prevent major breakdowns. Checking belts and hoses and replacing them when they are worn can make life easier down the road. In fact, at least one belt is reported unsatisfactory in about 19% of vehicles inspected by auto mechanics annually. Finally, feel free to call us with any questions you may have.
We are here to help you and make sure your car is safe and you have everything you need. If you’re unsure whether or not your vehicle needs to be seen by one of our mechanics pick up the phone and let’s chat. Quality auto repair is just a phone call away! We hope to see you soon.
