Know of a good auto repair place in Belleville? (Edison: how much, house)

[SueMcCon]

I am new to town and my engine began smoking as I got home this evening. Does anyone know of a good, reliable mechanic in Belleville?
Thanks!
Sue

[ehs]

Originally Posted by SueMcCon

I am new to town and my engine began smoking as I got home this evening. Does anyone know of a good, reliable mechanic in Belleville?
Thanks!
Sue

You may have oil leaking, that is your car may be old and when there is oil leaking, and burned with gas, it will have smoking ... You want to check your oil to see if your oil still have above min, or it will start damaging your engine.

It is easy to check your oil level, open the hook, and pull out the tick to see. If not, you want to get a quart of 10W-40 from gas station, supermarket, or Pep Boys ...etc, or Walmart about $1.50...

In the mean time, you may call Tracy's husband Peter at 917 669-8209 (cell) to ask him. He used to work at Queens Toyota, Avenel Toyota and Dayton Toyota as senior mechenics now has his own auto garage at Monmouth Junction off Rt 1. He maintained my cars and my friend's cars as well since Toyota Dealer charged me $85 per hour labor and only paid him $17 an hour as Tracy told me, so we agree to meet in the middle.

You can give him a call and consult him on your auto situation. He normally can help over phone. His home garage has same level of equipment as Toyota Dealer and he will be willing service in weekends as well if needed. But, he will not charge you for phone consulting.

I often help people got stuck in Edison/Piscataway area, and help them to start up, when I could not help, I have Peter on the line to dianogstic. Almost can find the problem right away ...

In the case Peter can not help you, you may also ask him to refer good mechenics in your area for you. One winter my brother-in-law's van with rear window broken while kid shuffle snow, and Peter was not doing window, he referred Joe 908 208-7350 cell over to me. He said Toyota does not replace window either, when customer drove in the car with broken window, they outsourced to a Auto Window company that will send Joe over to Toyota dealer to do the actual work, so both Toyota and this Auto Glass company can mark up, so it ended up cost my brother-in-law only half of the cost, and Joe in fact drove his auto glass service truck to my brother-in-law's driveway to replace the rear window the next day. Then Joe even replace the window screens for him ...etc.

So, do not hesitate to call Peter. By the way, I used to have a Auto Service Yahoo Group with over 100 members whose car serviced by Peter, but Yahoo removed all my yahoo groups without reason, otherwise, I can invite you to join the group and you can get references from all the posted messages ...

[pbnj07]

I don't know if business referrals are allowed in this forum, but in my opinion, hands down it's 5 Star Auto on Union Ave (ask for Paul).

[ehs]

Originally Posted by pbnj07

I don't know if business referrals are allowed in this forum, but in my opinion, hands down it's 5 Star Auto on Union Ave (ask for Paul).

I guess it should be fine as long as not advertising one's business ... and it was requested by desperated member ... but you will know if your message is deleted by moderator ...

[SueMcCon]

Thanks Guys!! Now I have a place to start! I am still moving in and had a car full of boxes when this started. Not a great way to start the weekend and I'm so grateful for you helpful New Jersey folks!
I will let you know how I make out!...Sue

[DowntownJerseyCity]

The Enrite station on Washington Ave going towards Nutley. I drive one of those overpriced pieces of German garbage, and of course the car was acting up on me 2 weeks after the warranty expired.

I took it to the guy at the service station and it was a bad fuel filter. He charged me 200 for the repair and the stealership wanted 800.

The car was done in 2 days and he even dropped it off at my house for me.

[ehs]

Originally Posted by HobokenGuy

The Enrite station on Washington Ave going towards Nutley. I drive one of those overpriced pieces of German garbage, and of course the car was acting up on me 2 weeks after the warranty expired.

I took it to the guy at the service station and it was a bad fuel filter. He charged me 200 for the repair and the stealership wanted 800.

The car was done in 2 days and he even dropped it off at my house for me.

That's very interesting! I like the word "stealership" (click you a positive!)

Years ago my bother-in-law got his van serviced by Toyota Avenel, ended up close to $3,000!!! He could not take it and escalate all the way to general manager who told him. "you know, the labor is very expensive, it is $85 an hour."

Then my brother-in-law said, well, but I only left my van here for 4 hours, so that would be only $340 ...

Then the general manager all of a sudden sound very nice, saying "Oh! you know, you are VIP, so we got 5 technician to serve your car simultaneously, one front and one for each wheele and system...." So, need to times 5.

Then my brother-in-law said, that still not right, should be only $340x5 = $1,700 ??? So, eventually, the general manager say may be there was an error on computer, so reduce over $1,000 from the bill ...

When I told Tracy this story, she laughed out loud and said Peter told her Toyota Dealer assigned each technician TWO lifters, and NEVER heard more than one technician serving one car. Besides, they were instructed to lift up customer's car as soon as come in, even if still servicing the other car and not yet touch the new one.

So, that is to say, each hour Toyota Dealer makes $170 per hour. But then Tracy said Peter only get paid about $17 an hour...

[ehs]

Originally Posted by SueMcCon

Thanks Guys!! Now I have a place to start! I am still moving in and had a car full of boxes when this started. Not a great way to start the weekend and I'm so grateful for you helpful New Jersey folks!
I will let you know how I make out!...Sue

Yes, I am very interested in the repair detail as to what problem was, and how much they charge you ... (I clicked you a positive first ...)