DIY Saturday: When It’s Normal, When It’s Not (Part II)

This post is the second half of my last DIY post, which talked about the different conditions in a vehicle and determined whether they are normal or not. The first two conditions mentioned in my last post were the presence of metal shavings in the oil pan and the presence of a pool of fluid underneath the car. In this post, we’ll look at another condition and determine which is normal and which is not. Read on.

Normal: Some steering fluid leaking from the power steering cap.

There are instances when you will notice traces of power steering fluid around the cap, and this doesn’t actually mean that there is anything damaged in your car. There’s actually a vent in the cap, and that vent is designed to allow fluid to leak out when needed. That leak could happen because you might have overfilled the power steering, and that’s only but normal.

Not Normal: Too much steering fluid leak that doesn’t seem to go away.

If you notice, however, that the leak has gone more serious and is almost always there, that could mean there’s an underlying problem. You might have a damaged gasket in the cap. Look into the possibility of overheating as well. The PS fluid might be continuously expanding, and therefore leaking, because it’s already too hot.

If this is the case, then you need to find out the reason for the overheating. Otherwise, if you neglect this, that continuous overheating and fluid expanding and leaking could eventually lead to the loss of power steering fluid in the system. And when that happens, you’ll have a problem with steering your car and you may also cause damage to some steering components.

Therefore, if you notice a problem like this, don’t panic. But, don’t be complacent, as well. Take the necessary action to fix the problem.

Friday’s Advice: Dealing with a Warranty Dispute and Filing a Warranty Claim

Warranty issues are among the problems that many car owners have to deal with every now and then. This could include the failure of the other party to honor what is written in the warranty, tricky warranty clauses, as well as other rip-off-designed practices.

But, there are actually some things that you can do to ensure that you will not emerge the loser in a warranty negotiation. As a car owner and a customer, there are some precautions that you can take in order to avoid wasting your hard-earned money.

First and foremost, negotiate within. Meaning, talk to the people involved, the people within the shop–such as the manager. If there’s someone who can act on your complaint or on the issue, that would be the manager. Before you escalate the issue outside of the shop, try to work it out with the people involved.

However, if the issue is not resolved, then there are agencies or institutions in which you can file a complaint. If your case really has basis, then you’re more likely to get justice and to salvage your money.

Just remember that you must be fully familiar with all the conditions in the warranty. This way, you’ll know whether a dispute is worth your time and energy. Also, remember to keep all the pertinent documents that you might need during the negotiation, such as complete receipts. Be particular even with the smallest details such as time–details like this might make all the difference.

Of course, nothing beats prevention. Even before a problem occurs, be sure that you carefully study any warranty offer and familiarize yourself with all the details. With all these in mind, you are rest assured that whatever dispute you get into with an auto repair shop, you’ll emerge the one on top.

Putting a Shop to the Test

Not sure whether the auto repair shop that you’re eyeing is a good pick? Are you worried that the said shop might be similar to many others out there when it comes to their unscrupulous practices? Your feeling is but normal, due mainly to the great number of mechanics out there who are dishonest. So, it pays to be cautious when you’re dealing with a mechanic, especially one that you’re not sure of or one that you have not tried before.

Not many people may think of doing this, but you can actually test the shop that you’re considering to determine whether it’s a good choice or not. As I’ve mentioned in one of my previous posts, it’s not a good idea to entrust a major job to a shop you have not tried before. So, start with a small task.

I’ve heard of someone who marked the filter of his car and brought the car to a new shop for a filter servicing. After the job, the person received a bill which includes a charge for the new filter. However, upon checking of the filter, he was able to determine that it was the old one, because the mark that he made was still there.

Well, average drivers will not have any idea that their car’s filter was never replaced, since many also rely on the words of their mechanic alone. Can you imagine just how many customers the said shop might have deceived? If the person never did anything, he might have entrusted his car to the said shop, even when it comes to major repairs, and suffer more rip-offs and problems in the long run.

Therefore, it really pays to be always on guard when dealing with a shop, first time or not. By thinking ahead and being ready, you can avoid dilemmas and headaches.

Examining Service Contracts

Warranty had been one of the topics for discussion during one of my latest posts. Another similar document, so to speak, is a service contract. This is actually more common when buying vehicles, and it’s similar to a warranty, except that it’s optional and it comes with a fee. Looking at it, it’s more like an extended warranty that you buy for your vehicle.

These contracts come in different types, according to the specific repairs that they cover. And thus, they are also priced differently. Similar to the selection of a warranty, it’s also important to pay attention to the small details involved in selecting a service contract. This is even more important because you always pay for this. So, you need to be sure that you’ll get the most out of what you pay for.

Some of the things that you need to consider here are similar to what you must check in a warranty. Ask yourself these questions: how much is the service contract? What repairs does it cover? Are there deductibles when I go in for a repair under the contract? What institutions or shops are allowed to do the repair when I need one?

Of course, you need to check the processes involved when you claim a repair under this, as well as possible requirements. You need to always anticipate a possible dispute in the future, and you have to be prepared for this as early as the time when you get the contract.

And, see to it that the company from which you buy the contract is good and to be trusted. You don’t want to deal with a company having any history or record of giving its previous clients a hard time during the repair or the filing of the claim, now do you?

Mechanic Rudeness and Inefficiency

Many of us have had our share of nightmares when dealing with auto repair shops and shop mechanics—from mechanics that will perform unneeded repairs just to charge a higher fee, to those that will tell you they’ve replaced a part even if they actually didn’t, and those that will perform a repair that you did not permit and then charge you for it later on. Other than these, however, there are also mechanics who are outright rude to their customers.

I have a buddy who once encountered a mechanic that performed a wrong job, and then threatened him when he complained about the job. Some mechanics use physical intimidation to get away from their deeds, and many poor customers give in to this tactic, suffering from unsatisfactory service and sometimes, even more damage and expenses than what was originally present.

Some mechanics are merely irresponsible, leaving their customers hanging when they leave an automotive job while it’s not yet done. And the result? Well, the poor customers are left without a car for several days. Others are merely inefficient, repairing a car, only to cause more damage and then make excuses, telling the customer that the new problem is totally unrelated to the first one.

Most unscrupulous mechanics choose their victims carefully. They get easily rude to people they think will not stand up to them. Others may simply be enjoying the feeling of being in control, especially if they encounter a customer who knows nothing about his vehicle and who solely relies on the mechanic’s words.

And sometimes, mechanics get away with these because customers don’t complain. As a good advice, customers should always be assertive and should know their rights. And when a problem happens, there are always institutions to which one can file a complaint against the erring shop or mechanic. 

Examining Extended Warranty in Relation to Auto Repairs

There’s been a lot of differing opinion when it comes to extended warranty—some people say it’s a waste of money, while others attest that it’s extremely helpful. If you belong to the latter group and you plan to get an extended warranty on repairs, you have a lot of options. In the same way, there are a lot of things that you need to consider.

First and foremost, you need to check the repair shop coverage of the warranty. Does the warranty allow you to bring your car to any shop and avail of the extended warranty for the repair? Or does it stipulate that you have to bring your car only to specific “accredited” shops?

Of course, you also need to know how the warranty will work. Will the shop or the dealer or the seller of the warranty pay the auto repair shop directly when you go in for repair under warranty? Or will you have to pay the shop and just ask for reimbursement later on? Generally, the first option is better because it causes less hassle.

Another point that you need to look into is transferability. If you sell your vehicle, will the extended warranty still be in effect with the new car owner? A car that will still be covered by an extended warranty will sell better than one that doesn’t.

When going for car repairs, you need to find a shop that will honor the extended warranty of your vehicle. You need to negotiate about the billing and you should have everything properly documented so that you’ll be ready just in case you encounter a dispute with the shop or the warranty seller later on.

In one of my next posts this week, we’ll look at warranty claims and some ways to deal with a warranty dispute.

DIY Saturday: When It’s Normal, When It’s Not

No car is perfect—you have to accept that. Even brand new cars may have indications of imperfections. But, that doesn’t mean a certain abnormality in your vehicle always demands that you bring your ride to the mechanic. In many instances, there are “flaws” or “imperfections” or “abnormalities” in your vehicle that are actually normal and should not cause any alarm on your part. The occurrence of these doesn’t require you to bring your ride to the auto repair shop all at once. Take a look at the following:

Normal: The presence of some metal shavings in the oil pan

When you change oil and you see metal shavings in your oil pan, this is but normal, especially if you have just purchased your car and your engine is undergoing a process so-called as “breaking in.” You’re bound to see some metal shavings on the pan coming from the metal parts of your engine.

Not Normal: Too much metal shavings every time you change oil

If your engine is done with the break in process (usually during the first two oil changes), you’re not supposed to see a lot of metal shavings anymore. A little is okay, but too much is not—especially if you observe this EVERY TIME you do an oil change. This could mean intense wearing on engine parts. Remember to change your oil at the correct interval and inspect the parts that may be damaged.

Normal: A pool of fluid under your car

Well it’s normal, only if that’s water, which could be coming from your A/C system (the evaporator). Warm air passes through the evaporator coils, and this causes condensation on the coil surface, and water then drips from the said part. That’s perfectly normal, nothing to worry about.

Not Normal: A pool of oil, coolant, or gas under your car

While a pool of water is perfectly normal under your vehicle, a pool of other liquid substances is not. Oil leak could lead to engine overheating. Coolant leak could have the same effect. Gas leak, on the other hand, is extremely dangerous. You can check these because of their look and smell, and they require immediate attention.

Next Saturday, we’ll discuss more normal and abnormal conditions in your ride to help you determine when a problem already needs mechanic attention.

Friday’s Advice: Additional Tips When Doing an Auto Repair Shop Shopping

I’ve mentioned this several times—the first step to avoiding an auto repair rip off is to find a reliable and trusted auto repair shop. And in the first posts in this blog, we’ve discussed some ways to find a good shop, one that will not rip you off and one that you can trust when it comes to all your auto repairs.

In this post, we’ll talk about some more additional tips for you when shopping for an auto repair shop to help you find a good one. Here are a few:

1. ON SHOP REPUTATION: Other than getting references from family and friends, you can refer on the local consumer protection agency in your area for information on the repair shops that you are considering. The agency can provide you information whether the shop has a clean record or whether it has complaints from previous customers.

2. ON SHOP NEGOTIATION: If you are asking around for rates, it might be a better idea to contact shops by phone instead of doing an actual visit. Why? Well, if you are easily swayed by sales talk, you will be at a disadvantage once you visit shops because it’s harder to escape. When you call, on the other hand, it’s easy to just say no politely and then hang up on the phone when the shop personnel start persuading you.

3. ON SHOP COMPETENCE: If you are looking for a shop that can take care of your car not only for the specific repair that you need but for all other repairs that your vehicle may need in the future, it is a better idea to find a shop that specifically works on your vehicle make and model. This way, you have a better chance of avoiding troubles in connection with make- or model-specific problems.

With all the tips mentioned above, you’ll have no problem finding the right auto repair shop that can keep your vehicle in top shape.

Car Repair Warranties: The Devil is in the Details

In one of my posts a couple of months ago, I talked about the need to have any repair warranty that is discussed between you and the shop owner put in writing. This time, we’ll talk about the nitty gritty of a written car repair warranty, about how you must check and examine it to ensure that your car is fully covered and to ensure that what you’ve talked about is included in the written and official document.

Remember that there is no such thing as standard warranty on car repairs. Whatever warranty your car may get from a repair, you have to discuss that with the shop owner or mechanic. Once you have the hard copy on hand, pay attention to all the small details included as these may sometimes be the most important parts of the warranty.

Of course, check the part or repair covered by the warranty, as well as the timeframe or mileage frame that it covers. You’d want to be sure that the time or mileage is reasonable and that the warranty is not simply a rip-off. In some instances, there are certain processes that you have to go through when making a warranty claim, and you have to pay attention to these. Failure to follow a single and negligible detail in the process could be all it takes for your claim to be rejected. Similarly, you have to check the warranty and clarify with the shop owner as to which institutions are allowed to perform warranty work on your vehicle if you plan to file a warranty claim later on. This is another tricky part that you have to familiarize yourself with if you want to avoid any possible problem later on.

A car repair warranty is a beneficial perk to car owners, but you just have to be careful in examining the warranty to ensure that you’ll get the benefits.

Examining Diagnostic Fees

So you bring your vehicle to an auto repair shop to determine the cause of a particular problem that your car is experiencing. The mechanic takes a look at your car, hooks your vehicle to a computer for a scan, and then tells you the cause of the problem—giving you repair options and their corresponding amount. You think you’ll be able to fix the problem yourself, so you decline. Then the mechanic gives you the bill: a whopping $100 for the diagnosis! Should you or should you not pay?

Almost all auto repair shops today charge a diagnostic fee on top of the fee for the actual repair. And in reality, this is valid. You need to pay for the service (the expertise and training) of the mechanic who did the diagnosis. Mechanics compare this to paying for a doctor when you go in for a consultation. In some instances when you let the shop do the repair, it can just include the diagnostic fee on the entire fee for the repair done. In cases when the diagnostic done was just a simple one, the shop owner can also decide not to charge for the diagnosis—but that’s up to the shop owner.

In the end, it still pays to shoulder a diagnosis fee if only to be sure that the person handling your vehicle is someone who is an expert at what he does and someone who is capable of determining the real problem of your ride. If you want to avoid an exorbitant diagnostic amount, you can do your shopping in advance to find the usual diagnostic rate. You can also ask the shop in advance before the mechanic tinkers and does anything with your vehicle. This way, you won’t have to deal with surprises when you finally get the bill and you see a three-figure amount for a simple diagnosis.

Getting a Second Opinion on Repairs

One sure way to protect yourself from possible car repair rip-offs is to shop around for auto repair prices and for car shop mechanics. If you’re bringing your car to a shop for a repair and the mechanic gives you a quote, you can ask around from other shops until you find the cheapest price. The same goes true for vehicle diagnosis and repair. A second opinion is important.

I can never stress this enough. Sometimes, it’s the best door that you have towards finding that the mechanic that you have chosen was only trying to rip you off all along. So, don’t hesitate to get a second opinion from another mechanic when needed.

According to professionals, a second opinion is needed if you are spending more than $200 on car repair. That is a big amount, so you need to be sure that you’re spending it on something worthwhile, something useful. Another time to get a second opinion is when you bring your car to a shop for a particular repair, and the mechanic gives you a litany of other repairs that your car needs. That, and similar incidents that may indicate that you are being ripped off—all these warrant a second opinion from another professional.

Remember, though, that you also need to protect yourself from rip-off when dealing with the second mechanic from which you’re trying to get another opinion. Never ever tell the second mechanic about the diagnosis of the first mechanic and the price that the mechanic has given you. In fact, you don’t even need to tell him that you’re there to get a second opinion. You don’t want to be giving him ideas, do you?

A second opinion is a powerful tool when it comes to auto repairs. In fact, it’s one of the most common suggestions of automotive experts to those who bring their car to auto repair shops. By asking and shopping around, you get away from big chances of being ripped off. 

DIY Saturday: How to Do a Coolant Flush

The cooling system of your vehicle also deteriorates over time, especially the quality of the coolant used in its radiator and cooling assembly. It is because of this that periodic coolant flush and refill is important. Otherwise, when you continuously use the coolant even after its quality has already deteriorated, it won’t provide your vehicle with proper cooling and you may encounter engine overheating.

Luckily, you need not wait for something like this to happen. Doing a coolant flush is easy and you can accomplish this all by yourself. Here’s how:

1. Prepare everything that you will need: pan for the used coolant, new coolant, and radiator flush.
2. Remember not to do this work if your engine is still hot.
3. Position the coolant receptacle or pan below the radiator drain plug and then remove the plug to drain the coolant from the radiator.
4. Replace the plug and then open your radiator cap to fill your radiator with the radiator flush solution. Replace the cap and tighten it.
5. Start your vehicle and allow it to run until it reaches the right temp (refer on the gauge on your dash) – if there is an indicated number of minutes needed to run your engine as indicated in the radiator flush label, follow it.
6. Turn your vehicle off and let the engine cool before proceeding.
7. Drain the radiator flush (similar to what you did with the old coolant).
8. Refill the radiator, and the coolant reservoir, with new coolant mixed with water—follow the indications in the coolant when it comes to the right coolant-water mix ratio.

These simple processes take only a few minutes to complete, but they go a long way in keeping your cooling system and engine in good shape and in preventing possible problems and expensive repairs.

What to Do if a Mechanic Lien is Placed on Your Car

So you have brought your car to a shop. And for some reasons, the repair price climbed higher and you ended with a huge debt that you are unable to pay. The next time you know it, the shop has already placed a mechanic lien on your car. What should you do now?

1. The most obvious thing to do is, of course, to pay the amount that you owe the auto repair shop. If you think there is some form of fraud or rip-off behind the very huge amount being asked from you, you can file a complaint afterwards. As I have mentioned in my last post, leaving your car in the property of the shop could have more expensive consequences—storage fee.

2. If you cannot pay the entire amount just yet, you can negotiate with the shop and ask for a feasible payment plan (i.e. installment) until you are able to pay off the entire amount. Most shops will agree on a settlement in order to avoid more complications. Some of them, however, may charge you for such things as the legal fees incurred in the processing of the lien.

3. Find a counsel who can help you do the best move to handle the situation. If you are not very familiar with how the system works, it would be to your best interest to have a specialist handle the situation. A lawyer can tell you the best thing to do, and he can even find a loophole in the lien placed on your car, which may result in the lifting of the lien.

A lien placed on your car could be a source of serious headache, but know that there are certain things that you can do to get out of the situation. Just follow the tips given here to make everything easier.

Mechanic Lien Part II: Storage Fee

As mentioned in the last article that I posted, a mechanic lien is mainly a shop’s tool in holding a customer’s vehicle in case the customer fails to render payment for a performed repair. But, while holding your vehicle until you give payment may be bad enough in itself, there’s actually something worse: storage fee.

There are shops that charge vehicle owners with a fee for the storage of a vehicle that is kept in the shop because of a lien. So, while you may be trying hard to earn the money to pay for the repair done to your car and finally drive your vehicle home, the amount that you need to pay is continuously accumulating because you are sort of renting the shop for keeping your car.

And, this is not good news. Some shops charge a very high storage fee—one hundred dollars per day. In fact, there are instances when the storage fee equals, or even exceeds, the actual amount that you will need to pay for the repair of your vehicle. This is the reason why it’s never a good idea to have a mechanic lien placed on your car. If you can avoid this at all, do so.

Or, you may want to just pay the shop upfront and take your car home with you, then just contest the repair amount charged to you afterwards. This way, no matter where the case takes you, you don’t have a storage fee to worry about. Other than this course of action, there are other steps that you can take to deal with a mechanic lien when one is placed in your car. The next article will discuss the options that you have and the different actions that you can take if you happen to be in this situation.

A Look at a Mechanic Lien

You’ve heard of a written estimate and an order repair, but are you familiar with a mechanic lien? This is often a part of the repair order, but not many car owners and drivers pay attention to this when they sign any document upon bringing their car to an auto repair shop.

But what is it, really? And what is its purpose? Well, a mechanic lien is a form of a legal document that gives mechanics and auto repair shops the guarantee that their customers will pay the due repair amount. The lien states that the mechanic or shop has the right to keep the car in case the customer fails to render the proper payment. This means the customer cannot bring the car home until the time he pays his debts to the shop. In other instances, he may be forced to sell the car just to pay the amount he owes to the shop or mechanic.

Filing of a mechanic lien is done in court, and this will entail money as the customer may also be asked to pay for the legal fees incurred in the process. Other than this additional payment, the customer may also have to pay for the car’s storage fee (to be discussed in the next article), so he’d have a lot more amount to think about at the end of it all.

Today, the term “mechanic lien” is also used in many other properties other than vehicles. It works the same, and its purpose is similar. If you happen to have brought your car to a shop and the shop places a mechanic lien on it after the repair because of certain reasons, there are some things that you can do to remove the lien—watch out for the next two articles for more discussion on this.

Written Estimate and Repair Order

When you bring your vehicle to a shop for a repair, there are certain procedures that you have to follow and observe, and some of these are so important and you should not neglect, or they may cost you a lot. One that you should pay attention to is a written estimate and a repair order.

I’ve mentioned these in some of my posts before, but what are they really? And how important are they when it comes to auto repairs? Well, written estimates and repair orders are sometimes used interchangeably, but they actually have some shade of difference.

A written estimate is one that you ask from a shop mechanic before he makes any attempt at doing your car a repair. After a car inspection and diagnosis, the mechanic will tell you what the problem is and how much it would probably cost. But, don’t take your mechanic’s word for it—ask for a written repair estimate. Although a written estimate is not fixed and will not indicate the final amount that you will have to pay, the final price should not be too far off from this estimate. Should the amount go much higher than this and you feel like there’s a rip-off that happened, you can use that estimate to contest.

Meanwhile, a repair order is like the official receipt that states everything—from the work that was done to your car, to the parts that were replaced, as well as the cost of the repair. Everything should be tallied down. In many instances, the repair order will also contain your car’s odometer reading before and after the repair.

It is important that these documents be signed by both parties, as these could be useful should you have problems with the shop or mechanic after the repair. 

DIY Saturday: Some Auto Maintenance Mistakes Not to Commit

Auto maintenance is one of those things that you do everyday, as you drive your car or store it in your garage. It doesn’t necessarily require a mechanic. You can accomplish the job as long as you have some mechanical inclination and discipline. In doing your DIY maintenance, however, there are some mistakes that you have to avoid to ensure success.

Below are some of these:

1. Of course, the biggest mistake that you can commit is not following the proper maintenance schedule. Oil change, for instance, has to be done at the correct interval. Postponing this until sometime later can lead to problems as the oil may have already lost its lubricating properties and already cause problems among the parts that it lubricates.
2. Too frequent maintenance interval. This is the opposite of the first mistake, and I have already touched on this in some of my previous posts. Although frequent oil change or coolant flush will do no harm to your car, it can do harm on your pocket.
3. The use of wrong solutions for cleaning your car and car parts. Some drivers believe that detergents are fine to use when cleaning a vehicle, but not really. When you use them in your car’s body panels, they can strip off the protective coating of the panels such as your car wax. In the long run, this can cause more problems than solutions.
4. Not paying attention to small things. What are these things? An example is your car’s tire pressure. Not many drivers know that an improperly inflated tire affects a lot of things in your drive: your handling and braking, for instance. Additionally, it also causes premature tire wear and can even be dangerous. So, it’s very important not to neglect these things.

These are but some of the mistakes that you can commit in maintaining your vehicle. Take note of these and try to avoid these to keep your car in good shape for long.

Friday’s Advice: Do You Want a Coolant Flush With Your Oil Change?

It’s time for your oil change again, and you bring your car to your local auto parts repair shop for the job. Then the mechanic says, you also need a coolant flush. A coolant flush?!

One of the misconceptions that many drivers have is the need to flush the coolant every time you have an oil change. Given the fact that the coolant does a lot in your vehicle—it dissipates engine heat and prevents the onset of corrosion in your engine and in other parts where the said substance circulates. And while the coolant does all these, it has to keep its anti-freezing and anti-boiling properties. No wonder it wears out over time, and failure to notice this can cause a considerable amount of damage to your car engine.

However, this doesn’t necessarily warrant a coolant flush as frequent as your oil change. In reality, when you look at your car owner’s manual, most will indicate and suggest a 60,000-mile coolant flush interval.

What you actually have to look into when it comes to the coolant in your car is a possible leak. Here, there’s no interval when it comes to doing inspection. You have to be vigilant, do an inspection as often as you can, especially if you get any indication that you’re running low on coolant, and more especially if this happens frequently, even right after you do a refill.

When it comes to coolant, as well as the flush and refill of other liquid substances in your car, the best reference still remains to be your car owner’s manual. You’ll even find some tips in your manual that can help you get the most from your coolant. Now that you know this, it would be easy to say no to your mechanic when he offers a coolant flush together with your needed oil change.