Can you trust your auto repair shop?

Years ago, Richard took his car into a dealership because of a problem with the engine. The dealership hooked the car up to its diagnostic equipment and the computer produced a number that, when cross-referenced in an accompanying diagnostic book, told them what the problem was. This number was not good. They told Richard that the number indicated an incurable problem with the engine. Richard paid to have the engine replaced with a used engine from a boneyard.

Several months later, Richard brought the car into a different auto repair shop because the engine just wasn’t quite running right. The repair shop hooked the car up to their diagnostic equipment and, low-and-behold, the computer kicked out the same number as before.

“YOU MEAN MY ENGINE IS SHOT?!!! Richard asked with an alarmed sense of deja vu.

The new auto repair technician looked at him funny as though he didn’t understand: “Why would you think that?”

Richard explained about replacing the engine when that number had come out of the diagnostic equipment at the dealership. The auto repair technician shook his head: “That’s not what that means.”

It turned out that the number referred to a problem that was relatively easily, and inexpensively, repaired. Richard was happy that he didn’t have to replace the engine again but he was hardly happy when he thought about what had happened at the dealership, of the money he had wasted.

Richard learned a lesson here; he learned not to simply assume he’s receiving the correct information from the auto repair technician. A second opinion is a good thing. Equally important is having a relationship with an auto repair technician you can trust – who has a proven track record of reliability. Richard has that relationship today bringing his car into Performance Unlimited for the last 10 years.

A reliable auto repair technician won’t mind if you want a second opinion. They know that, by watching your best interests, they don’t have to worry about their own. Honesty and reliability are rewarded in the auto repair industry. Shysters may get away with it for a little while but, eventually, the true nature of their approach to auto repair becomes apparent to everyone.

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