When we are asked to inspect a car for known and unknown issues, we often uncover surprises and expensive repairs. We can be the hero or the bad guy depending on your point of view. If we diagnose a car that has a break down and diagnose an expensive repair, again we are good guy or bad. Why is this? The answer often depends on the relationship you have with the repair shop. Do you trust them? Have they been dependable and honest in the past? Are they just trying to generate work? These are questions that need answers. Plus, we in the repair business have a saying “We did not break the car; we only report what we find”.
Certainly there are unscrupulous shops that generate business with fake needs and repairs. We have all seen this in most industries and businesses. This is where a relationship with your shop comes into play. You would not be returning to them if they had cheated you. Notice I said cheat and not errors. All businesses make mistakes and what separates good from bad is how they respond to these mistakes we all make. Does the business attempt to make things right and fair?
We have often recommended to not repair a car either due to it being an unnecessary repair or due to the cost of repair being a waste of money. We do our best to advise you as to the best course of action. At times it is best to let the car die. Other times we can prepare a course of action for repairs needed now and later. As always, preventative maintenance is best. Look for what can be done to extend the life of your car and prevent expensive repairs.
Another item we come across is when the customer states the car is acting different after repairs. “It was not like this before” we often hear. Many times a repair can change the way other components of the car react to the repaired area. Many times the car may have come in not running and the full extent of what was wrong cannot be determined before obvious repairs are made. If a car has been jumped improperly or other electrical items replaced; many others problems can easily occur that will not show up immediately. There has to be honesty on both sides as to what was done prior and what the shop found. Again the relationship and history with the shop are important.
The theme as always is to build a trusting relationship with your repair shop much as you would with a medical doctor. There must be a line of communication between both parties. Don’t blame the shop that your car has broken. It happens, it is a mechanical device that wears out and things do break. Try to minimize the damage and trust the diagnosis and advice of the shop.