[las vegas drunk]

Originally Posted by Bps401

At the moment, i have no way of checking if timing belt broke. Im ignorant in car mechanics. My grandpa down in alabama who is says theres a good chance its the timing belt. I have no clue. All i know is the oil light flickered while i drove, i heard some rattling while i drove, and once i got off the interstate, it shut off and hasnt started since. I do know its not locked up though

If the timing belt broke, you would know instantly as the car would have stopped running immediately. Your symptoms are definitely not timing belt related.

[demoknite]

I usually go to purrfect auto on craig, only because I can put my bike in the back and bike back home. I think they do quality work, but they overcharge. I use them for the location convenience to me. Also, if you know whats wrong with your vehicle, you can buy the parts yourself and avoid that charge.

[Buzz123]

[consumer complaint] In general, I would not go to any chain. They can't make money on simple things like just an oil change. They gotta sell you all kinds of things you don't need. When I worked for the State, I interviewed people several times that had been service writers. Most of them were let go for not being willing to lie to customers and sell service they didn't need, and didn't get, but paid for anyway. And I'm not talking about small independent shops, I'm talking about all the car dealers, and franchised shops.

Wally's Honda can't do recall stuff so we have to take our Accord to a dealer. Even Wally warned us that they'd want to sell us a lot of extras we don't need, but we have no choice but to go to one and be prepared to say no to everything else they try to push on us.

[aggrofish]

You might consider a mobile mechanic, even someone knowledgeable like m3 whatever his name is that posts on here, to diagnose it first before towing it in for something unknown. I had a mobile guy once come down to my work when my last jeep blew a head gasket.mnot only that but it dropped a valve on both sides. Machine heads, replace vales ...parts labor everything was $1500. Ase certified guy and a good mechanic.

Even if you just pay for them to tell you what's wrong and get the parts yourself you'd probably pay for the diagnosis in parts savings alone. $400 seems high on the labor. That will get you 4 hours of work at most places. You can probably find the number of hours required through google.

[aitchem]

I went to Carl at Carl's Cool Cars on the recommendation of the folks on C-D and He will be the only shop I will use from now on.

[MadManofBethesda]

Originally Posted by aitchem

I went to Carl at Carl's Cool Cars on the recommendation of the folks on C-D and He will be the only shop I will use from now on.

Same here. Carl is the most honest mechanic I've ever run across in any city. I would be willing to leave him my car and a blank check and tell him to just fill in the amount when he's done.

[clutchcargo777]

Originally Posted by demoknite

I always plan on getting hosed when I go to get my truck repaired so I just have it in the budget. I know a little bit but dont have time to be under the hood on a saturday when Ive worked 14 hours all week. As long as I know whats wrong and show up with replacement parts thats all I can do to mitigate the costs.

I've never found a shop that lets you bring your own parts, the mechanics I know say it prevents headaches when a part fails and they can't warranty it.

[ElleTea]

Originally Posted by clutchcargo777

I've never found a shop that lets you bring your own parts, the mechanics I know say it prevents headaches when a part fails and they can't warranty it.

I was just about to ask if anyone knows of a place that does this. A small shop I have taken a previous car here lets you buy your own parts, they even tell you what to buy, at an auto parts store. They just charge for labor. The auto parts stores warranty many of their parts so it has worked out nicely for me. Saved me a TON of money on a new starter and a couple other repairs.

Also, I've had the experience of guys working at an auto parts store doing the work...my husband's car died at the store when we were there pricing alternators. The guy working said he could replace it for us...and he did right in the parking lot! We spent $100 on the alternator as opposed to $400+ on taking it to a shop. He wouldn't take any money so we bought him a case of beer as a thank you.

[swagger]

Originally Posted by aitchem

I went to Carl at Carl's Cool Cars on the recommendation of the folks on C-D and He will be the only shop I will use from now on.

I found him on Angie's List, and agree - he's our sole mechanic now. Nice guy, good work and great rates.

[demoknite]

Originally Posted by clutchcargo777

I've never found a shop that lets you bring your own parts, the mechanics I know say it prevents headaches when a part fails and they can't warranty it.

I have never had a problem. There is no quality difference in me buying an AC Delco part and the mechanic except that I already have it right there right then and got it for a price that I thought was fair, not the mark up mechanic price.