I say that because the key to finding a good mechanic is also often by asking others. Word of mouth is a good way to find out who's HONEST and who does the best work just as it's a good way to weed out the shady mechanics.
It's also important to keep in mind that cars often DO have more than one problem brewing at a time. Most people treat their cars like disposable appliances - they wait until something breaks before paying any attention to anything instead of doing preventative maintenance to replace things with a known lifespan before that lifespan is exceeded. As a result, you might have more things wrong (or about to go wrong) than just the specific problem you brought the car in to fix. Just because something else might be wrong too (or fails shortly thereafter) doesn't necessarily mean the mechanic is CREATING problems. Some mechanics DO take advantage of customers, but the same could be said about some people in any other line of work too.
Fixing cars, like being a doctor, is not a precise science and so with the best will in the world the best way to attempt to fix a car does not always work.
Sadly few car owners understand this simple fact and like yourself come to the same conclusion as you do.
Sometimes the mechanics will make this worse as they do not appreciate the ignorance of their customer and so fail to explain fully and clearly enough.
Few car drivers seem to understand how their vehicles work. recently, to illustrate the point, I was standing at a workshop reception desk when on answering the phone the receptionist broke into roaring laughter and could not speak properly for some time. on calming down he explained to the customer on the phone that their friend who had told them to call had been joking with them as the only car ever fitted with a Flux Capacitor, the part they were saying needed changing, was the De Lorean in Back to the Future!
Not all mechanics are technicians, and not all technicians are mechanics. I would explain this further by saying, some are technicians, some are mechanics, and some are not. Those that are not will say they are one or the other or perhaps both, but, alas, they are neither, and definitely not both!
Try shopping for a Technician, who is also a Mechanic, these guys love their work, enjoy a challenge, and are most of all, honest!
If you want to find one, try: http://autorepair.iatn.net/
Then, before you actually need their services, go and chat with them, ask to see their credentials, and inspect their shop's operating room (service bay), tool boxes and electronic equipment.
Good Luck!
Chain service outlets and new car dealerships are the one's most to watch out for...because those have the least to lose by chicanery. Very few people do not expect dealerships to specialize in deception and bunco--so blame your self for not avoiding a scam; very too many people think that a service chain, Sears for example, is above the need to cheat. In both the problem is much the same: cheaters get away with it most of the time. So whom does public opinion favor? Of course: the cheats. Moreover, people cheated who know it will go out of the way to back up cheaters just to avoid admitting they were taken in by a cheater. If not for the willingness of people to be sheep, cheating would not be so prevalent.Said another way, the motto of auto mechanics are: Thank God for bankers; and car dealers;and traffic courts.
Not saying this is true about all mechanics but some places I go to it seems like they mess up something on your car so you will have to come back and get it fixed. Is this possible? I need a real honest mechanic cause I'm tired of these things happening.
