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A new survey by Consumer Reports shows that the poor economy has forced many Americans to skip needed servicing of their car or truck. And the long-term results of this neglect could be both costly and dangerous.
Forty percent of those responding said they had deliberately delayed repairs or maintenance on their primary vehicle in the past year. These drivers had put off work on the brakes, tires, exterior light bulbs or mechanical parts – even though they knew it was needed.
“This is of great concern because many of these items impact safety and reliability,” says Jeff Bartlett, deputy online automotive editor at ConsumerReports.org.
Cash-strapped consumers are also holding on to their cars longer. Vehicles require more costly maintenance as they get older.
“There is a real risk that if you put off a small maintenance or repair item today that it could snowball into a bigger and more costly problem down the road,” Bartlett warns. “You've got to keep in mind that breaking down along the side of the road is never convenient, it's often costly and may ultimately lead to missing a day or two at work."
The typical person responding to Consumer Reports in this random survey drives a 2003 vehicle (often bought used) which they’ve owned for five years. And they said they planned to keep it for another five years.
Their vehicle has already gone about 78,000 miles and is quickly approaching a major service interval. Bartlett worries that people who’ve delayed small repairs are more likely to skip this major maintenance which can cost $500 to $1,000 or more.
One of the most interesting findings of this survey is that people know the consequences of putting off needed repairs or maintenance. Overall, 44 percent said it reduces the reliability, safety and value of their vehicle. Almost two in 10 said they are hesitant to take long-distance trips because of those safety and reliability concerns. Eight percent said they are becoming “embarrassed” by their car.
Consumer Reports just launched a new car repair information service for its online subscribers. The Car Repair Estimator shows you what various repairs cost in your area. There’s also a free section on this page, the Car Repair Encyclopedia, that’s available to anyone.
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Not only that here in NJ they stopped inspecting for mechanicals. Now it is strictly emissions only. No front end checks, brakes, lights, wipers, horn, all not inspected. And in the interest of saving a buck.
I must be the exception to the rule. I've cut back everything else (food, trips, entertainment) EXCEPT my car! I often quip, "My car eats better than I do."
If I have no car, I have no job and few chances of getting another. People need to think before they cut.
ren
Down here in Georgia they only test emissions never have they done the mechannical thing . Having spent most of my life on Long Island , I agree with you it is foolish and stupid not to inspect those things. Most drivers never look at their tires , breaks , belts ect. You never know that inspection could save your life or someone Else's .
bob
Unfortunately, people don't "think." Cars are an expensive proposition, and it seems most folks cut back based on cost, rather than practical importance. They'll still keep their phone's data and texting plans, get $45 haircuts every two weeks, and make sure they have new clothes at the expense of timely car maintenance. Between mechanical issues and enough people neglecting to renew their insurance, it's becoming scary to be on the road for everyone else. Crazy.
Ren, in most of New Mexico there is no inspection for ANYTHING. Only those living around Albuquerque are there emission checks. Here there are 30-40 year old pickups (they don't rust) that barely run or stop with no functioning brake lights, cars that you need a gas mask to follow because of the fumes they spew.
The people who drive these pieces of garbage need to be embarrassed. Not only are they an eyesore and a source of pollution, they are a safety hazard for eveybody else on the road.
I would love to have routine emission and safety checks for cars beyond a certain age, but then many people will scream at the additional costs and will lose their only form of transportation. NM is not NJ: it is gigantic with limited public transportation.
Tell you guys what. Since you're doing so well with your cars, you should chip in, like Ron Paul says, and help out your neighbors. That's the way things are supposed to be. The community takes care of itself, right? Don't point your finger unless there's a $1000 bill on the end of it.
Here in New Mexico, these people driving these nasty old trucks are from rural, republican, New Mexico. That says a lot about personal responsibility right there. "Everyone should be personally responsible, except me."
Hypocrites.
When American workers get back some of their increased productivity that's been siphoned off by the 1%, they'll be able to afford to maintain their cars again.
GDP vs Income Growth in United States
Come over to Pennsylvania where mechanical checks are performed by independent garages whose best interest is to find every ticky-tack thing wrong with a car. I had to give up on three perfectly drivable vehicles because I couldn't afford the fixes (and it wasn't anything major, like tires, lights, glass, or brakes, but some obscure suspension part I only had their word it needed) In the meantime, I see virtual hulks driving around with bald tires, cracked windshields, and rusted-out door panels--and new inspection stickers on them! W-T-F? the whole inspection system is corrupt here, and the cops target expired stickers like vultures. Speed? Run stop signs, red lights? You hardly get noticed. Be glad you live in NJ (but at the same time, be careful).
10 Things Your Mechanic Won't Tell You
SmartMoney.com
1. “You might be in the wrong garage.”
There are many choices as to where consumers can take their car when it’s in need of maintenance or repair. Those include going to the car dealer, a department or chain-store franchise, or an independent mechanic at a service station. Where you should go depends on what type of repair your car needs and its age and condition. But in most cases, mechanics in each type of repair shop may try to convince you that they’re the best ones for the job.
Work under factory warranty should go to the dealer, says Mark Eskeldson, founder of CarInfo.com, which provides consumer-protection advice to car buyers and owners. That’s where you’ll find some of the best-trained mechanics who are trained to fix problems that pop up with new car models, he says.
But because dealer overhead is high, expect to pay top dollar for repairs not covered under your warranty.
Before leaving your car at an independent automotive shop (or any repair facility) find out if the mechanic working on your car is ASE Certified ( or factory certified) on the component or system that needs fixing. Don't let some junior mechanic work on your car that is not certified or qualified on that particular repair area. He could do more harm than good.
Chain and department-store shops often advertise free services for routine services like oil changes or tune-ups, but beware if their mechanic insists that your car needs major repairs after he inspects it. Get a second opinion to confirm it isn’t a ploy to get you to spend more money, he says.
2. “My fancy certificates might not mean very much.”
The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certifies auto technicians (or mechanics) in eight specialties, including brakes, electrical systems, engines, and heating and air-conditioning, ect... Although auto mechanics must have two years of hands-on work experience and pass an extensive standardized exam to become certified, an ASE sticker in your repair shop’s window is no guarantee that the work will be done properly or that all of the technicians employed are all ASE certified, or if they are Certified in the repair are you need says Tony Molla, a spokesman for ASE.
Most repair shops hire both certified and uncertified mechanics. And only 33% of ASE mechanics are certified in all eight specialties and earn “Master Technician” status. Be sure to ask who is going to do the work on your car and what areas that person is certified in. Also check to see when the certification expires. ASE-certified mechanics are supposed to recertify every five years.
In addition, you may look for repair shops that are endorsed by AAA with work being guaranteed for a minimum of 12 months or 12,000 miles. These facilities must meet rigorous standards and guarantee their work for all customers, says Robert Sinclair, a spokesman for AAA New York. Also, AAA agrees to arbitrate disputes between its members and approved repair shops.
3. “I make unnecessary repairs.”
You drop off your car at a mechanic’s shop for routine maintenance or a repair only to find out that the mechanic made additional repairs that you didn’t request but that he deemed “necessary.”
Recommendations for unnecessary maintenance are a common complaint among consumers, says Sherry Mehl, the chief of the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) in California. (The bureau works to protect consumers within the automotive repair marketplace.) For instance, shops can suggest flushing a radiator or fluids, which can harm some cars, she says. (Car owners’ manuals specify if flushing will help.)
Consumer complaints about auto parts and repairs are on the rise, according to the Federal Trade Commission. For 2009, the FTC has 2,689 complaints, up from 2,438 in 2008 and 1,698 in 2007. It was dishonest practices that cost Santa Ana-based EZ Lube $5 million in a civil settlement for unfair business practices in December 2007. An investigation by the Orange County district attorney’s office “uncovered a pattern of unfair and deceptive business practices at several EZ Lube locations where consumers were being sold unneeded parts and services,” according to the DA’s statement. As part of the settlement, EZ Lube agreed to pay restitution to anyone with a legitimate claim over the past five years. (When reached for comment, a spokesperson for EZ Lube referred us to a company’s press release on the matter, which reads: “It is our goal to make sure all of our customers are protected by the highest safeguards in the industry when they bring their vehicle to one of our stores.”)
“Most unnecessary repairs are due to the fact that cars are so incredibly complex that often a shop ends up trying a few things in order to solve the problem,” says Jack Gillis, author of "The Car Book" and director of public affairs for the Consumer Federation of America, a consumer-advocacy organization. When a repair baffles a mediocre mechanic, he or she will probably keep replacing suspect parts until the problem is finally solved. Many of the parts replaced may have nothing to do with the problem, but you’ll probably end up paying for them anyway, he says.
4. “You might be charged for work that hasn’t been done.”
It happens on purpose. It happens by mistake. Either way, it happens. Let’s say you drop your car off at the garage to have the fluids, belts and filters replaced. But the garage is busy, the mechanic who works on your car is a new hire, and the station manager hasn’t left very clear instructions. As a result, the belts never get replaced, but you drive away thinking you’ve got brand-new ones. When Gillis worked at the Department of Transportation in the 1980s, he says it was one of the most common complaints, and that it remains so today.
A good way to avoid the problem of work that was supposed to have been done but wasn’t: Ask to see the old parts. In some cases, mechanics can give you the parts they’ve removed from your car. (One exception is if the warranty requires they be sent back to the manufacturer.) “If you have a concern that a part was replaced when it shouldn’t have been, you should ask for it back,” says Mehl. (Rules vary by state; in California, for example, mechanics can give parts to customers.) California residents can contact BAR, and it’ll send a representative to examine the customer’s invoice and the part. “If it’s not faulty, we can take disciplinary action,” she says.
In addition, Gillis suggests taping to your steering wheel an itemized list of all the repairs you want made. That way the mechanic who works on it — in most cases not the person you talked to when you drove in — will have direct instructions from you.
5. “You should get a second opinion.”
Getting a second opinion is a must for major repairs, since it’s a competitive business and prices can be all over the map. You may have to pay a few dollars more for an extra estimate, but the hundreds you could potentially save by shopping carefully will more than make up for it.
When exactly is it time to seek out a second opinion? A general rule of thumb is that you should get more than one mechanic’s take on a repair if you expect to pay more than $200 for it, says Gillis. If your mechanic calls in the middle of a job with a laundry list of additional repairs, that’s also a good time to seek another opinion of the problem and an estimate for the cost of fixing it. Beware of the mechanic who tries to stop you by saying that he’s already taken apart the engine or the transmission. If you were able to drive the car into the shop, you should be able to drive it back out for a second opinion.
6. “Rebuilt parts can be as good as new — and less expensive.”
When it comes time to replace a part on your car, you can save money by buying it used. But often you must specify that you want a remanufactured part or the mechanic will likely install an expensive new one.
However, recycled parts aren’t right for every replacement. “Customers may save some money, but buying a recycled part isn’t so simple,” says Chuck Sulkala, executive director of the National Auto Body Council and owner of a Boston-based car body shop. “You need to make sure it provides exactly what you’re looking for and what you need.” For example, a customer who needs to replace a car’s fender and gets a salvaged one could find that its moldings or side lights are different, he says, even if the fender comes from the same car model that’s just two or three years older. Sulkala says: “You can use it, but what good is the molding going to do if it’s in the wrong location?”
7. “Your car is too high-tech for me."
Cars have become incredibly sophisticated over the past 10 years, but some mechanics haven’t caught up. Car dealers are required by most manufacturers to buy the expensive diagnostic equipment needed to pinpoint the source of computer problems. That means their technicians are more likely to be factory-trained in these complicated repairs.
Still, not all mechanics are properly trained in the computerized systems found in most cars today, says Gillis. That could be because independent car mechanics have to bear most of the costs when upgrading their technology. Independent car technicians must make the same investment in sophisticated diagnostic equipment if they expect to be able to diagnose and repair these complex cars, says Molla.
If you drive an expensive European car, consider checking out specialty shops that focus on one or two foreign makes. Mechanics at these outfits are often as well or better trained than those at the dealer and they usually charge less. Meanwhile, most Japanese and Korean models are serviceable by independent repair shops, says Molla.
8. “I may send your car somewhere else for repairs — which will cost you.”
Let’s say you’re taking your car in for several repairs at once — replacing the battery and headlamps, changing the oil, and repairing the fuel-injection system. Some independent shop may not have the facilities or expertise to do them all in-house, and if so, it may pay another shop to do all or part of the work. This kind of auto-repair outsourcing can add significantly to the final price tag on the job, since your mechanic will have to charge a premium for the work he subbed out.
“If I have to carry all of the equipment in order to fix everything on a vehicle, it would make no sense,” says Sulkala, especially if he doesn't do that type of work on a daily basis. For example, he’s not asked to upholster cars often, so when a customer requests that he says, “I’ll bring it someone I know and trust who has that expertise.” As a result, the customer might incur additional costs. But, he adds, the price charged is at a discounted wholesale rate and not at a retail door rate.
When you take your car in for repairs, ask if all the work will be done on-site before you agree to anything. If your mechanic tells you he needs to subcontract some of it, tell him not to do those repairs and take the car yourself to a shop that can handle the rest of the job.
9. “The less you know about your warranty, the happier I am.”
Confusion about your warranty is good for a repair shop. After all, it’s not in an independent mechanic’s best interest to tell you when a repair is under warranty because if he’s mum, he can charge you for it. Dealerships, meanwhile, make little money on warranty repairs, so they look to get as much non-warranty work as possible.
The way dealership warranties often work is that if you get the car repaired somewhere else and something goes wrong as a result of that repair, the cost of fixing the problem will no longer be covered by the warranty. So say you get an oil change at a quick-service franchise shop and the mechanic does something wrong that eventually damages your engine; the dealer doesn’t have to honor your warranty when your engine is finally repaired, says Gillis. But some dealers like to take it a step further by making it seem as if you have to bring your car to them for all repairs or risk losing your warranty protection.
Don’t fall for it. Taking routine work such as oil changes, tire rotations, and even your 10,000-mile checkups to the less-expensive chains won’t jeopardize your warranty in most cases. Nor will emergency repairs that would normally be covered under the warranty. Just be sure to keep all your receipts, says Gillis. That way, if the dealer tries to claim you have an engine problem because you failed to get an oil change, for example, you can prove otherwise.
10. “You have more power here than you think.”
If you feel you’ve been wronged by an auto mechanic, you can take action. File a complaint with your state’s Better Business Bureau and the attorney general’s office. This will help unsuspecting consumers who check on the reputations of potential car mechanics to avoid shoddy repairmen.
In some states, you have even more recourse; in California, BAR will attempt to resolve each complaint it receives. To check if your state has a similar agency, contact your state highway department. Finally, if your auto-repair garage is endorsed by the AAA, contact the organization. If your complaint is egregious enough, or joined by others, the outfit may lose the AAA’s seal of approval. “This is an exceedingly rare event,” says Sinclair. “Shops work hard to obtain and retain their AAA certification and would bend over backwards to correct any problems that may lead to a loss of AAA’s ‘seal of approval’.”
I don't know what the purpose of the above article was, much of it was misinformed at best.
First, ask your friends, family and anyone else where a good shop is located.
Second, if you find a good shop be a loyal customer, auto shops make their best money from repeat customers. And, those repeat customers get the best service. AAA is a good sign of quality. The top AAA shops have at least 75% ASE mechanics, many times all Master Technicians, look for the prominently displayed ASE certificates
Third, if you find a good shop don't expect to just walk in and get service, they have other customers if they are good and they will not be able to drop what they are doing just to service you. Kinda like a restaurant, where do you want to eat? The place that's dead or the place that's busy?
Fourth, dealerships are the only game in town for your factory warranty. But, dealership shops are many times only there because the factory requires them to be there. A lot of dealerships would drop their shops in a heartbeat if they could. Dealers are only in business to sell used cars, because that is where the money is, they can make more in one day on their used car lot than they can make in a month in the shop.
Fifth, independent shops can sometimes be where the best mechanics are, they have a wider knowledge base than many dealership mechanics who are one trick ponies. Notice your mechanic is not rich, if you pay one hundred dollars an hour to have your car repaired, the shop take 70% or more for overhead.
Lastly, articles like the above are just written for flash and fear or because someone has an axe to grind.
I have thirty years of experience in automotive repair, and have been a ASE Master Technician for twenty-five years. I worked with the philosophy that there is plenty enough Honest work out there that I didn't have to steal from any customer. Mechanics are people just like any other and are not prone to be particularly dishonest, most are honest, intelligent, hardworking and proud of their work, show them some respect and it will be returned.
ASE the biggest joke of all time.
At the dealer if we can get the car out to do a waiter we will. However we do have a saying all customers are waiters just the smart ones wait at home.
Why would they most make 60-70% of their money in the shop.
That has changed a lot a lot of the used cars are in very poor shape Most have a repair bill of about $1,000 in parts labor is another $500 just to get the to sell quality. and with the Internet is is much harder to sell cars with a profit.
Maybe 20 years ago not now most are just butchers in the independent world. I cant tell you how many cars I have to fix what the independent shop did just to diagnose the car.
I give my hat off for 30 years however to day experience means nothing it only maters what you do. I have only been in ti for 8 years I know that ASE's are not worth the paper they are printed on. I have 5 and stopped their because they mean nothing. Most of the 20-30 years of experience techs don't have a clue about new cars even thou all the information is their. Did you know that the last 3 dealers go by ALDATA time and the only time the go more is when you have factory warrant that pays more and services.
That is a very common philosophy. most techs have it. you have three types of techs
1. The thieves that lie to you. They are the least common out their.
2. Techs that are honest but have no clue. The most common they are called D and C level techs. They don't want to pay the price to learn.
3. The people that know what they are doing. have paid the price to know it and live to fix cars. they are A and B level techs. Some believe in charging more because they paid the price to learn it. Others believe in being fair.
Sure, give it another 22 years and reread this and see if you still believe what you wrote.
ASE is good for one thing I know for sure, if you need to find a job. And, you will need to find another job sooner or later. In thirty years only one shop I worked in is still open with the original owner, one. Every shop/dealership that closed let us go the day they closed without warning. And, if you think you are safe, you better get those useless papers soon.
You are wrong about independents. The last shop I worked in I spent eight years wrenching there, on every make known to man, foreign and domestic, with the expectation of some of the exotics. Cars from the last hundred years crossed my lift. And, if we couldn't buy a part we made it. I also did all forms of repair including electric diagnosis, and fuel injection in case you are wondering, which was my specialty if I had one, I worked EFI day in and day out for weeks on end from Chevy to Mercedes.
Another thing, I spent years in dealerships and like anywhere some techs were good, some excellent and some were hacks. But, the last independent I worked for was the place that every dealer sent their basket cases to, every dealer.
If you really believe your dealer ship makes more money in the shop, than in sales, you're drinking the Kool-Aid. Every dealer I have seen is owned by a used car salesman, are you really believing what they tell you?
Just so you know I dropped the wrench four years ago, and the majority of mechanics wish they could do something else. Trust me son I've been there, you cannot pull the wool over my eyes, I've worked with hundreds of mechanics, I know the business. In another 20 years, you're most likely going to hate it as much as anyone else, go back to school as soon as you can, get out however you can, they don't call it Flat-rape for nothing.
I'll just keep it at five they are easily renewed they have tests ever three months.
It is also my specialty and so do we almost all forms of repair. I have found it interesting how just a 10 degree difference in the outside air Temp and the coolant temp can cause a 2-3 second longer start. I love to work on VW because most techs don't want to touch them and they give the most fun in diagnosing them.
The Lexus/Toyota dealer made millions in the shop that is why the put a mini golf coarse, manicure place in it , a refreshment bar also 14 tv's and the 4 20K massage chairs. The other VW dealer made 60% of its profit from the shop(they sold 10 cars a month for almost 9 years). The Lexus made as much as the Toyota side and we had 9 techs they had 20.
I plan to either move to teaching it or being a service writer. in about 10-15 years
That is why the average career of a tech is 10-15 years.
Auto 101, seems we have some common ground after all.
I went back to school four years ago and haven't looked back.
I wish you luck in your endeavors, and I hope you do move on. Look at the old guys around you, most can't hear, many have issues with memory, can barely stand up straight, and most don't have $h..
The toll on a mechanic is too high for too little.
Later, dude
That is why I get laughed at so much. I wear ear protection also eye protection I also work out to keep my self in shape and I have started to stretch more. I also have a financial plan right now we are saving 3-4K a month.
Agreed it is far to high. that is why I try to take steps to minimise the toll.
Same to you.
Happy NEW YEAR and sorry if you felt insulted by my post.
Hey Auto 101,
I was hoping you'd come back. I swear talking to you is like talking to myself at your age.
I want to relate my take on something you wrote.
I too had those exact plans at you age, and I pursued them, here is what I found.
First, I'll address the idea of being a service writer, I found out that a technician can be a service writer, but a service writer can't be a technician. Or put another way, your boss if he is smart and you are productive, and I have no reason to think you're not good at what you do. Is gonna keep you right where you are.
If your boss is smart he'll tell you, "Oh yeah, I'll make you a service writer or even an assistant service manager in a couple years." And he'll jerk your chain with that promise for as long as you want." And so will you next boss, and your next boss, until you give up that dream. See, what I found out the hard way is that a good tech is not coming off the line to work in management. As a boss I know I could train a monkey to be a service writer.
Next, your idea to be a teacher, hmm... probably not without more education. I'm not saying you need a Masters or even a BA in education. But, everyone of the techs I know that teach, and there are a couple, tell me they made more money turning a wrench. There's no money in teaching Auto Tech in a high school or a community college. Unless you have tenure there is no retirement either.
Finally, the first year I was back at school, I was sitting in my math class before it started. Right next to me was the sweetest little twenty year old girl you ever wanted to see, I'm sitting there waiting for class to start, and suddenly I realize the sweetie is singing! Singing! I start thinking where I'd be, and who'd be with me, if I was back at work, hmm... grumpy unshaven guys, that to a man hate their jobs, and life's. I'd be in a dark, smelly shop with snow dripping down my back, standing in an inch of water for the entire day.
Yeah, I know where I want to be tomorrow, sitting the back row of a class, with twenty-year old girls surrounding me, blanketed with the faint smell of perfume. Aw, home...
I hope you consider this as missive, from your future self, go to school now!
You know the other thing I learned at school, I love to write, and I'm effing good at it.
Note, don't take what I wrote personally, really, I just wrote this as boot to the pants of my past self.
I truly wish you luck, and happiness!
Major maintenance for $1000? My 75,000 maintenance cost me $1835, and that didn't include the $700 I had to put into new tires.
I drive an 11+ year old Subaru that I take exceptional care of because it has served me well. Like "journal journal" I need that car to get anywhere or do anything. PA has pretty stringent inspection criteria though there were just minor inspection issues - I did pay hundreds for belts and such for maintenance. My car owes me nothing, been paid off for 9 years and has cost about $2400 in repairs over those years.
The biggest problem with most vehicles is the nut loose behind the wheel.
Quit looking at your phones while you drive!
I can see it already, next will be mandatory health care for your car from our wonderful morons in DC.....
It is on the planning books as Obozoautocare.
Great! Now some individual has to find an opportunity to put politics, and slanted, into auto care.
Obama is a great president. Other countries envy you.
ren - "obozoautocare" you do realize at best you sound like a 3rd grader
I think that the article was about how the bad economy is affecting auto maintenance. Obama claimed during his campaign that Bush had ruined the economy & he was going to fix it. I'm still waiting...... all I see are things getting worse.
Maybe that has something to do with nonstop time wasting and obstructionism from republicans.
If your choice is between fixing the car and putting food on the table for your family, you wait to fix the car. I'm glad I have a relatively new car (2 years old).
To quote a reliable old tome I used to use a lot, John Muir's "VW Idiot's Handbook";
"Be Kind to your Ass, for it Bears You."
The truck/SUV in the picture looks like a Ford.
I'd probably have more service/repairs done on my car if I didn't feel like the auto shop was trying to retire on my car alone!
I feel the same about home/appliance repairs as well.
Everyone is trying to make a living, but the high cost of repairs of almost anything these days is obscene!
Most people haven't had a raise in 30 years and a lot have bad credit due to job issues or housing market crash... even if they did some kind of financing options they would see a lot more people doing needed repairs..
Its pretty easy for someone to afford a '$45 haircut', for most families saving up $2000 from scratch just isn't realistic.
try a furnace repair man with a drug problem.
Our income is up 10K this year it would have been higher however I didn't work for three months so I could get the house packed and unpacked.
Good for you, meanwhile 4 other families income is down 10k... the overall AVERAGE is a negative loss of real purchasing power over the last 30 years for 90% of our population.
It is confirmed. When i lived in Kentucky they stopped testing emissions & people would simply go to exhaust shops & have their pollution control devices removed once they malfunctioned. Once I moved to the Pennsylvania I had to junk both of my vehicles because it was too costly to replace all the stuff needed to pass both safety & emissions inspections. So now I treat my vehicle just like the inspectors do & i replace any safety or emissions part soon as possible. So it does pay off for everybody. The states that have extremely strict inspections usually have alot less unsafe junk on the road. Alot of that stuff makes its way further south though.
I live in SE PA and see plenty of hazardous-looking cars with current inspection stickers on them! At the same time I took a decent vehicle to three different garages. The first two insisted the car needed over a thousand in repairs of odds-and-ends suspension parts while the third (a dealer and of course the most expensive) said the car was in great shape. I was just lucky I had the cash to try that at the time. Over time though I've had to give up on three cars (all checked-out fine before they were inspected!) because inspections are done by independent garages in this state and they have an agenda. They know if you live in an apartment you can't work on your car. They bend the rules for their friends (and "kin"--if you get my drift). The whole system is corrupt here because there's insufficient oversight by the state.
I live in the Pittsburgh area. I understand the commonwealth's desire to minimize unsafe cars on roads, but my beef is that consumers have to take their cars to a shop that has a vested interest in finding something wrong so they can make a few (or many) bucks to fix it.
It's very difficult to find a truly honest mechanic that will inspect your car and tell you what it REALLY needs to pass inspection. I'm lucky that I found one. Apparently many of my neighbors agree; his shop is often overbooked at the end of the month. Even taking your car to an honest mechanic can be stressful; you never know how much the car will cost to fix and it's a relief to hear that the total is the cost of the emissions and safety inspections only.
The PA State Police use a "secret shopper" process to bust suspect garages that "find" problems and inflate repair bills for safety inspections, and it has happened in my area, but I doubt that they have the resources to check more than a few garages every year.
I have been in the unenviable position of not being able to afford maintenance on my car or asking a brother-in-law to fix it for me because I could not have the work done at a shop. I understand the difficult choices that families have to make at times.
One of the reasons I chose my current place is because it's on a bus line. Public transit can be my second car when I need it.
You are correct - using private repair shops to inspect vehicles only leads to corruption and inequity. One type is the overzealous inspector trying to generate questionable repair business (hard to prove, many things are a judgement call.) The other is the overly generous inspector who passes out stickers for obvious junk (to a friend, or for a price?) They tried private inspections in Indiana, and finally gave up, abandoning the program.
If a state wants an honest program, they have to organize a system of state garages and inspectors (could be contracted - but must be a dedicated inspections-only facility.) They are supported by inspection fees. A fair fee would include a re-inspection after repair, at no additional charge.
I own 4 Toyota's. Say what you will. I keep the oil and filters changed, tires rotated and replace bulbs when needed.
Have rarely needed brakes and NEVER had to have spark plugs, transmission fluid or my front end aligned.
I payed a bit more than the American cars, but it has more than made up for the difference in maintenance.
PLUS, I DON'T HAVE TO TRADE IN EVERY 5 YEARS.
Yella, you're making a big mistake. There's nothing magical about a Toyota. All cars need spark plugs changed at regular intervals. Yours may have iridium plugs that can run up to 100,000 miles but I bet your cars manual recommends something around 75,000 IF it has those plugs. By not doing routine maintenance you are spending more per month in excess fuel than the plugs cost. If you're not changing timing belts at the recommended miles you are asking for trouble. Again, Toyota's are not exempt from the laws of physics.
I do my own maintenance because I can, I work in the auto field. That said if I take the family out of town I always rent a new car. My old cars will most likely make the trip since they go 200,000 miles around town without breaking down but why take the risk and have stress on a vacation? Besides where I live it's a long, long way between towns.
Nope.....after 175,000 miles it still runs as good as the day I bought it, only cosmetically its not the same.
I also get the same gas mileage. My tech advises me on my vehicle. They will not try to have work done on my vehicles unless they actually need it. I know them well enough, because they will let people know their actual problems and will advise them.
They may not be anything "magical" about the Toyota's, but they are without a doubt the most trouble free automobiles I have ever owned since I have been driving, which has been 35 years and counting.
Yes, after many miles, a long trip is not a sure thing, but I do have AAA. And I have used them on a few occasions, with the Company cars with less than half the mileage. One is a Taurus, the other, an Impala.
I never had much respect for Toyota, until one towed my Chevy van up a snowy mountain driveway. Then I realized.
I'll think about this while driving my car with 2 gutted catalytic converters ;)
Mine's sitting in the yard with a busted water pump.
The best thing is to learn how to maintain and repair your vehicles yourself. You become more knowledgeable on how things work and will understand things more when you do talk to a mechanic regarding things you can't or won't repair yourself. You will know how the repair was done instead of just hoping that it was done correctly. And you will save a lot of money especially if you keep your vehicles for a long time. You might have to buy a couple of specialty tools to work on one particular model but if you keep the car a long time it pays off.
I rotate my own tires. When I do I carefully look the tires over for wear and damage. I also look at the brakes to make sure they are good and inspect the suspension for damage. If you have someplace rotate your tires they might check the tires and that's it for most of them.
But then I like working on cars. My Dad operated a service station (the old fashioned full service kind) so I learned a lot just from watching. Plus a service station was a great playground for my brother and I. The old type hydraulic lifts make great rides.
Hmm...embarrassing would have to be driving my '99 Saab with the exhaust system having rusted and fell off last week. So....christmas presents for my kids? Or new exhaust sytem for a car that may or may not last as long as the new exhaust system?
This article brings into light a very large issue facing modern society....The unsustainability of our infrastructure. Automobiles are at the very foundation of modern society...and it's becoming increasingly diffiult for people to keep up with the costs required simply to live and work. We have less free time and less money to get things done.
Perhaps if the greedy b*stards robbing our country (the 1%) weren't so selfish and instead spread the wealth onto their customers and workers then we could all be a bit better off leading less stressful lives with more free time and more money for everyone. As it stands our society and infrastructure is dying a slow and miserable death. Case in point...millions of baby-boomers are currently rotting inside nursing homes and being pumped full of experimental drugs strictly so the pharmaceutical industry can make a profit. Our "Golden Years" in this society will be spent as a vegetative drug addicted helpless pile of insanity. Money comes first after all right?
You're right. It's called neglect. Your exhaust didn't rot away and fall off over night. You chose to ignore it for quite a while. Dare I say, you knew for a couple of years after the noise was getting loud.
The rest of your post is way off topic. What do nursing homes have to do with people neglecting preventive maintenance on their vehicles?
Keeping up w/auto repair expenses is not as hard as people make it out to be .you look for sales on things such as oil in a 5qt jug cheap at walmart w/filter find a buddy to help w/that look around for places that sell used tires cheap and so on people are so lazy andeasily make excuses to do the little things that mean alot most people take there kids,parents grandparent and or wife is that not important enough.cmon people enough w/the ism's {excuses for not doing or putting blame on someone else} do away w/expensive clothes or haicuts new video games,there are a lot of things I want for myself or my wife but we can't do w/out the vehicle.I'm on disability now so the dollars I made are 40% less than what I made before we just have to make it work .NO EXCUSES
Quick! Time to do a stimulus package to cover maintenance repair costs for all Americans!
Taking care of ones auto isn't really that hard and there are many ways to save money on the basic supplies needed If a person can do some or most of the preventive maintenance themselves they can save a lot of cash but they must be able to do the maintenance properly or they could cause major problems.
If a person can't do any of the work themselves then they should try to plan ahead and get at least 3 estimates for the needed repair before they need it done. Also try to ask friends or family if they know of a good place that does this kind of work, In some areas there are trade schools that will do minor to major auto repair for the price of the parts alone but there's usually a waiting list.
I would know one of the costlier repairs would be the replacement of the timing belt in the motor which if not done when it should be can cause some serious damage to the engine, the owners manual tells when this should be done, usually its based on the mileage of the auto.
Keeping the air cleaner filter clean will get a person better mpg's as will keeping the cars tires aired up to the correct tire pressure. Engine oil & oil filter can be done quite cheaply by just watching for specials around your area, If you have an automatic transmission then that oil & filter does also need to be replaced but no where near as often as the engine oil unless you use the car in severe driving conditions regularly, Usually that transmission service will run around $100.00 depending on the type of vehicle.
Belts and hoses and the engines coolant are a big one also but again there not that expensive and if you can find someone that can replace them for a fair price then you can save yourself from a costly breakdown later.
I myself try to stay away from the big name auto dealership service dept once the cars factory warranty is gone because there labor rates are usually a lot higher than the local repair shops. Always ask the repair shop for a written estimate before any work is done! (ALWAYS!) Also have them save your old parts as this way you know there replacing what needs to be and not lying about a repair or a needed part.
I run a small towing service and I see the results of poor car care all the time.
One last bit of advice I can give is this, if you can try to find out who does towing in your area (where you drive the most, to and from work etc) find out what there rates are and check them out online before you need them and compare companies of course. If you know who to call if you ever need them you'll have the info in your cell phone and save a ton of cash because you won't get stuck with some shyster towing outfit at your most inopportune time.
Read the owners manual on required repairs and keep good records to. There are even good web-sites and books out there that tell you what needs to be done and when. (service intervals)
Oh, To all the people who text and drive, Keep it up and I will be seeing you soon.. (Sarcastic ~) DON'T Text and drive!
I hope these little tips help someone, good luck~
Though I don't really need it... I thought I would check out the car repair estimator... it's is just excellent!! Well wait... I wouldn't know because I would have to become a member. Thanks for the useless link. I have enough site credentials... I am not going to create an account at a site I will probably never visit again just to try something.
My brother is an auto mechanic and he has not even noticed that there was a recession, amazingly some people made it through 06-11 unscathed. He's one of them. His reasoning is, people aren't buying as many new cars as before, or are having theirs maintained because car payments, pardon me, blow.
He had me over for dinner more times than I can count, so thank goodness for auto mechanics. A recession proof career.
And he could say that it would take hours to find a job also.
My hubby grew up putting together motors, tearing them apart, converted an automatic to a standard on an old pick-up, worked on Tractor-Trailers with his dad, and also on large farm vehicles. He is pretty good at knowing the ins and outs on most vehicles. The problem he has is the newer ones--the last 10-15 years or younger have fuel injection and computer chips and tons of sensors--that is what throws him off. We have a manual for ours and bought one for his sister's car and also refer to the net as well. He can do most of the work himself, and living right up the street from two part stores, he can take the core in to save money on the initial parts tally. The biggest thing we have is the nickel and dime car---car parts add up along with the tools you need. Some parts stores will rent the tools, which is very helpful, but you gotta have the $ up front. How anybody can afford a new car or newer car with monthly payments that could equal rent or a mortgage payment is beyond us. Just buying a used car is expensive enough! Lastly, having to get an emission's test is extremely stressful. We only have one car, it is about 15 years old now...nickle and dime type on top of it. You never know what the emission's test is gonna throw at you. Doing a tune-up helps, but rarely makes a difference. You can still be slammed with a list of "repairs" that cost well over $500 before you can pass emissions. For a family scraping to get by, you just don't have $500 laying around. And, they want proof of repairs at a referred to mechanic shop--you can't just do it yourself. I understand the purpose behind the emission's testing, but if they are hell bent on getting older cars off the road--either make newer cars more affordable, increase public transportation-including 24 hour availability so those who work 2nd or 3rd shift have options too...or quit making it impossible to pass. We spent nearly $2k on our car to pass the emissions, did get tires too--on needed repairs and general maintenance that needed to be done. Glad we did--but it took a big bite out any savings we could have saved for an emergency.
That is the easy stuff.
Try to be a truckdriver through Reagan's deregulation. Kiss the ground you walk on those suckers are heavy.Cash strapping business is dangerous.
starting to feel nickeled and dimed?
"Bad economy means Americans eat less lobster and drink less champagne............" The obviousness of the headline is staggering.