Friday’s Advice: What Happens if Car Problem Symptoms Return After a Repair?

In many of the previous articles that I posted in this blog, I have mentioned several types of car repair rip offs being practiced by some of the auto repair shops and auto repair mechanics out there. These rip offs take on many forms, but they have one thing in common—they make you spend more than you should, and you don’t get additional benefits at all.

One common form of rip off that you will encounter in your auto repair experiences comes in the form of a repair that does not actually solve the problem. This happens when auto repair mechanics do a trial and error in determining the problem of your car, and take a chance at solving the problem by replacing or fixing this or that component—without actually being 100% sure that the replacement or fix will work and solve the problem.

No mechanic is perfect, yes, and some of them are as clueless as you are when it comes to the problem of your vehicle. To avoid encountering a problem like this, it’s advised that you open the issue upfront with the mechanic even before the repair is performed. Ask what they would do in case such a situation arises. The most reasonable solution to this problem would be for the shop or mechanic to fix that problem again without charging you for the procedure, but not all shops will give that guarantee. In many instances, you will have to avail, and pay for, a second repair.

So, asking your mechanic upfront will bring you on equal grounds. Watch how your mechanic responds to the question, and remember that you should get a concrete answer. Don’t put up with as vague an answer as “depending on the situation” or “it’s a case to case basis.” You need the right to know exactly what to expect to ensure that you will avoid double spending.