If your car breaks down, you need to find a mechanic to work on it. How do you tell if you are talking to a qualified mechanic? Glad you asked.
It has always been a part of common culture to understand that if you go to a mechanic with a problem with your vehicle and tell him you have no idea what is wrong, you are doomed. Many people feel that the response is always going to be the same. "Your A-frame is broken, and it will cost you a million dollars to get it fixed, not counting labor." The feeling is that your only chance is to know what is wrong and ask for a specific repair. Ignorance or an inability to understand the workings of the modern automobile are thought to be dangerously expensive. Yet, you can help your case with some good questions to ask a mechanic.
Actually, the first good question is pretty basic. What is the problem? This is the one that creates fear in many people. This is an issue of trust between the customer and the mechanic. If this trust is there, the question is appropriate and should be asked first. If the trust is not there and you are worried about the response being what will net the mechanic the biggest profit and not the truth, then get a second or third opinion. We will get back to this point in a later question on cost. The point is that if you are absolutely sure of the problem, you will simply start by saying, "I need my whatsis replaced", and move on to the next question. If you have no idea what is wrong, you have to ask.
The next question should be fairly obvious. What are my options? There are usually options. Parts can be repaired or replaced. Replacement parts can be new or used. Sometimes problem areas can be bypassed. There are options in auto repair and you need to know what they are before you can make the right decision. Do not treat the mechanic like a guru and trust him without reservation. He knows all of your options, so ask him to share his information with you.
The next basic question is cost. Do not be shy about asking the cost. Most mechanics are prepared to give estimates. Many will not start work until an estimate is prepared and you have signed it to show your understanding and approval. Be a big supporter of this process. If you have a great deal of trust in your mechanic and have developed a good long term relationship with him, or he is dating your daughter, trust that estimate to be fair and the best deal available. Otherwise, consider getting a second opinion.
Although it usually is not necessary to ask this last one, it is a question that you should be satisfied with in your own mind. What is the training and certification of your mechanic? The reason this does not need to be asked is that most mechanics are proud of their training levels. They will let you know them in many obvious ways from certificates on the wall to logos sewn into their overalls. If the answer is that the mechanic has been fixing cars for 40 years, you have to make the decision if that rates higher than some formal classroom training in modern computer aided diagnostics. Remember, your teenage son could usually perform any car repair you needed 40 years ago. Today, it takes a bit more.
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