Friday’s Advice: Finding Areas to Reduce Expenses on Car Repair (A Review)

Who wants to reduce their expenses on car repairs? For sure, everybody does. But, who’s making a way to get that reduction? Chances are, not all do. Or, not all are aware that they can.

I’ve already talked a lot about auto repairs, rip-offs, avoidance, and ways to save on repairs. In this post, I just want to sum up all that I’ve mentioned before to give concrete examples of ways to save on auto repairs.

1. Recall and TSB

These I have mentioned in my last few posts. By being aware of recalls issued on your car, you can save on repair costs. On the other hand, being aware of issued TSBs can save you on unnecessary expenses due to wrong diagnosis and incorrect repairs.

2. Replacement parts

By being resourceful, you can find ways to save on the part that you mount as a replacement. Although some shops will not allow you to buy your replacement on other sources, there are shops that allow this set up, and this is a great way to save on repair costs.

3. Labor

When it comes to labor cost, there is a so-called flat rate or a book rate, which means the shop bills according to the manufacturer-indicated amount of time for the specific repair, regardless how long the actual repair takes. Meanwhile, a straight hour rate is a rate based on the actual amount of time consumed to do the repair.

4. Work done

To reiterate, you can save a lot on auto repairs by being a DIYer. By familiarizing yourself with the automotive basics, you will not be totally dependent on auto repair shops when it comes to problems, so you won’t have to shell out cash every once in a while.

With all these means, it would be easy to save more on auto repairs.

A Look at Recalls, and How They Can Benefit You during Auto Repairs

Auto repairs are becoming more and more expensive at present. And when you add in the cost of replacement parts, it’s no wonder many car owners dread going to auto repair shops these days. You should know, however, that there are certain areas in auto repairs in which you could save. All you really have to do is to be resourceful.

One way to save on car repair is to check out for TSBs or recalls made on your car make and model—some of these might be related to the problem you’re having, the reason you’re bringing your car to an auto repair shop. And if this is the case, then you won’t have to spend on the repair.

The repair related to the recall is done for free. Notices of recalls are actually sent to car owners. But, in case you haven’t received any, it pays to still check.

Auto repair shops are tasked to check whether the problem you’re having in your car is related to a recall or TSB. It should be listed in the repair order as a recommended repair. However, not all mechanics may do this. Some will charge you for a repair even though it’s part of a recall.

Because of this, it’s a good idea to do the checking yourself. This way, you avoid chances of being charged by a shop on a repair that you could have availed for free. You can check online for notices of recalls and TSBs. You can visit the website of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for a list.

In the next posts, we’ll try to take a closer look at recalls and technical service bulletins and differentiate the two. We’ll also find some answers to possible problems that might arise in relation to this issue.

Some Small Things to Remember When Visiting an Auto Repair Shop

Since the beginning of this blog, we’ve been talking about auto repair rip-offs and unscrupulous practices by some automotive mechanics. Other than avoiding rip-offs, however, I figured it’s also a good idea to talk about improving our overall auto repair shop experience, not only in terms of the financial side of the matter but as well as the overall ordeal.

The overall shop experience of car owners is defined not only by the major and obvious things, but as well as by the small stuff during your shop visit. And to ensure that you’ll have a good auto repair shop experience, there are some things that you need to keep in mind. Three of these are as follow:

1. Set an appointment before you go to the shop. Similar to many other types of appointment, visiting a shop entails that you call first and check availability of mechanics during the schedule that you prefer. After all, there’s nothing more annoying than driving to the shop and wasting your fuel only to find out that no one in the shop is available to work on your car.

2. Shops can’t solve all your automotive dilemmas. Sure, most shops can handle general repairs and simple automotive and installation jobs, but there are jobs that require specialization and may need shops specializing in the said task. There are only a few shops that can handle everything, so it pays to shop around before bringing your car to a particular repair facility.

3. Don’t expect the worst. You may encounter shop mechanics who will make the real problem seem a little bit more serious, for the sake of urgency and upselling. But don’t give in to these. Investigate and inquire until you see the real scenario.

By keeping all these things in mind, you can expect comfort and peace of mind during your shop visits.

The Right to Complain

Sure, many mechanics are dishonest. Many shops are out to rip you off. And many car owners have been victims of these mechanics and shops. There’s just one question that you have to ask, though: what is being done about this? Well, there are institutions that help victims deal with problems with auto repair shops.

You have to understand, though, that everything should come from the end of the car owner. The mentioned institutions won’t be able to do anything if the car owners will not cooperate and take the lead. The first thing to do about this is to merely learn to complain and to fight for one’s rights. Complaining is actually the key.

This is where the difference lies. In actuality, there are a lot of auto repair rip offs happening today. But, not all of these rip-offs are known to us. Why? Because not all of these are reported. Because not all individuals complain. Because not all car owners resolve to fight for their rights even if they find out they’ve been ripped off. And as long as the situation remains like this, nothing will happen; the practice will continue.

So, as a car owner and as a customer, you must recognize your right to complain whenever you become unsatisfied with the service that you have received. I have already talked about the proper way to complain in one of my previous posts, and that can serve as your guide so that you’ll get desirable results. Remember that by complaining, you do not only get justice; you also bring to light circumstances like this and you help other victims get justice for themselves.

So speak up and assert your right. This is not only a benefit that you can enjoy but also a responsibility on your part.

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 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.

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.

Inspecting Your Vehicle after a Repair

One of my posts last week was about doing a test drive before and after an auto repair—before to make a more thorough diagnosis as needed, and after to check whether the problem has totally disappeared. In connection with this last point, there are many other things that you can do to completely check your vehicle after a car repair and ensure that all the needed repairs have been done and that no rip-off had occurred.

Of course, the first thing that you need to check is the component that was repaired. If you brought your car to the shop because of power windows that won’t go up or down, for instance, the windows are the first things to check after the repair. As I have mentioned in my last post, there are instances when a test drive is advised—if the repair done has to do with the suspension, steering, or brakes. Simple repairs will require no complicated inspection afterwards. However, if you brought your car to a shop because of damage caused by a collision, inspection after repair is critical. Why? Well, some components may appear fine at the outset even if they’re actually not, and the problem will only be observed after a while.

In instances like the one mentioned above, you may need to have a trusted mechanic accompany you to the repair shop to do the complete inspection of the repair done and guarantee that everything was done right. The shop should give you a repair order, or a list and breakdown of all the repairs completed in your car, together with all the parts replaced and the corresponding charges for each repair or replacement (more on repair order in one of my next posts). Refer on this list for the parts and systems that you need to check.

A Look at the Science of Upselling

Have you ever brought your car to a shop for a simple oil change, only to end up having all your filters and tires replaced? You might feel bad about the shop and about yourself after the incident, not able to explain how you were tricked into giving in to the mechanic’s suggestion when all you really wanted in the first place was a simple change of oil! Well, this happens all the time, and we’ve had some mention of this in the past.

That, friends, is what you call upselling. That is a selling technique that many establishments employ, not only auto repair shops. Even fast food chains employ that technique. Remember the time you gave in to the counter personnel’s suggestion to upgrade your fries and drinks? That’s upselling, and there’s nothing illegal about it.

As a car owner, however, you’d want to avoid incidents like this. Often, the extra services offered to you may not actually be necessary, so you’re just like wasting money. To avoid falling into this technique (or trickery, as you may want to call it), you must anticipate upselling when you bring your car to the shop. And, you must have the courage to say no when the mechanic starts his litany of extra service offers.

If you tend to give in easily, bring a list of services that you want performed on your car when you go to the shop, and show the list to your mechanic. Tell him that those services are the only (and you mean the ONLY) services that you want done. Once he insists anything, just refer on the list and remember—that’s all you need, and nothing more. Upselling will always be a part of any business enterprise, but you can deal with it effectively if you’re prepared.

Friday’s Advice: Avoid Auto Repair Shops, Avoid Possible Rip-Offs, and Save on Automotive Works with In-Store Services

Majority of the previous posts in this blogs has dealt with auto repair rip offs and ways to avoid them. You’ve read about different techniques that you can use to avoid rip off, and I’ve also posted about some practical tips and DIY processes that you can try to avoid auto repair shops, and possible rip-offs, altogether.

In this article, we’ll discuss one other means of saving on cost and avoiding possible rip-offs—by availing of in-store services. What are these services and where can you find them? Well, there are certain stores that offer free installation of parts as long as you buy the parts from them. This is a freebie offered by some stores for specific car components, while other stores offer this as part of a sale. Among the services that you can have for free are tire installation, the mounting of windshield wipers, and the installation of car battery. Some stores even do free testing of electrical parts.

If you are familiar with the systems in your car and you can do diagnosis on your own, then all you have to do is to get your needed replacement parts from auto parts stores and avail of their free installation service. There’s no more need to visit an auto repair shop to have a problem diagnosed and to have damaged parts replaced for a fee. Of course, you also avoid possible rip-offs by doing this.

All you have to do is to find a regular store that offers these services, one that you can run to every time you encounter problems in your drive and you need replacement components. You must also be on the lookout for sales and free part installation offers not only from stores but as well as from auto parts manufacturers or brands. They can do a whole lot to help you save.

Auto Repair Rip Off: Why Your Budget Should Be Yours Alone

When it comes to spending on anything that needs negotiating with another person, one common advice that I’ve heard from some people I know is to be upfront with the other person about the budget or about the amount that you have for the said expense. This is to be able to work out an arrangement with the other person to help you have everything covered by your allotted budget. Supposedly, this advice is for your benefit.

When it comes to auto repairs, however, this is not advised and is not a good practice, especially if you haven’t done any research about the problem of your car prior to visiting the shop. Why?

Well, consider this: You go to the shop and tell your mechanic that your car is acting up. You describe the problem and the symptoms that you have observed. Then, you tell him that you have a $300 budget for a repair and that you hope it would be enough. Sounds like a wise idea? Oh no, no! That’s a big invitation for a rip off!

Should the mechanic do an inspection and diagnosis, only to find out that your car only has this simple problem that an alignment or a simple procedure can easily fix, and that the actual amount can only be more or less a hundred bucks… what do you think will happen? If you’re dealing with an unscrupulous mechanic, he can easily tell you that the problem will cost $300. You’d probably be thankful that your budget is enough, without you knowing that you’ve already been ripped off!

It’s better that you don’t say anything about money. Or, do your research about the possible problem first and the usual amount spent on that problem for repair or replacement. This way, you’ll have an idea about the average amount that’s just right.

A Look at Highway Rip Offs

Some people call them highway thieves, others call them highway bandits—and for good reason. These names pertain to road or highway mechanics, and they’re called such because there are some of them who take advantage of travelers that get stranded on the road because of a car problem or car defect.

Knowing that these car drivers have nowhere to turn to, some highway mechanics take advantage of the situation to rip customers off and to earn hundreds of dollars. What is otherwise a very simple and small repair is blown up to great proportions. Sometimes, there have even been reports of these mechanics doing the damage themselves. And, the poor driver has no choice but to pay the amount given by the mechanic if he doesn’t want to get stranded.

As a sort of precaution, there are things you can do to avoid being ripped off on the road. If you’re going on travel, you need to be sure beforehand that your vehicle is in good driving condition. Have your trusted local mechanic inspect it thoroughly to be able to address any problem that might crop up later on. Avoiding any car trouble is the first step to avoiding a rip off.

If you’re already on the road and your car breaks down, you can try to reach your local mechanic back home. He may know someone in the area with whom you can entrust your car. He may be affiliated with one of the shops nearby, and he can refer your vehicle. This is another means to avoid a rip off as a shop referred by your trusted mechanic is not likely to rip you off compare to one that you are not familiar with in any way.

With these pointers in mind, you can be at peace on your travels knowing that you’re not in for a huge headache.

Lost Valuables Inside Your Car During Repairs: What Can You Do?

Good shops and mechanics are everywhere, but there are also bad shops and mechanics existing today that you should be careful of. And while you may have heard about the dishonest practices of these mechanics when it comes to doing vehicle repairs, there are actually some dishonest practices that are not only confined within the repair arena. There are practices that reach the level of outright theft.

One of these is the stealing of the valuables inside your car. Imagine this: you bring your vehicle to a shop for a repair and you leave it there for a couple of days. Inside your car—at the rear seat, inside your glove box compartment, or inside your vehicle trunk—are some valuable stuff and belongings. You return to the shop after a couple of days, pay for the repair, and drive your car home… Only to find out later on that some of the belongings left in your car were lost.

What can you do? Well, you can always go back to the auto repair shop to check whether the mechanics simply kept your stuff while the repair was being done and forgot to return them afterwards. However, in case no one could say exactly where your belongings are, the fact is that there’s a little chance that you’ll have them back. Why? Most auto repair shops won’t take responsibility for them. In fact, most shops place a reminder somewhere in the area saying that they are not responsible for any lost valuable.

The best time to do something here is before the repair. Before you bring your car to the shop for a repair, be sure that you remove all valuables inside and leave them at home. This is one responsible thing to do in order to avoid problems and hassles afterwards.

Is Your Mechanic an Alien?

There are some of them out there, mechanics who live in their own world. They don’t know how to differentiate. When you visit the shop and bring in your car for a repair, they assume you’re one of them – that you’re also an alien. They explain the problem to you, with hand demonstrations and all that. And then they look at you with that confused alien look when you begin to scratch your head.

Do you know what I’m talking about? I’m talking about mechanics who have their own dictionary that they use even when talking to average mortals like their customers. They fill their explanations with jargons and technical terms that will make you stare at them blankly in confusion. These mechanics don’t have it in their head that they’re talking to someone who’s not inside the automotive arena. There are also some mechanics who use this “technique” to be able to intimidate their customer, making it easier to rip them off.

If you encounter a mechanic like this, don’t give in to the intimidation or the confusion—ask questions and clarifications about things you do not understand. Insist that your mechanic explains any problem or procedure on your level, not on his level. Ask that the explanations be done in layman’s terms. Any reasonable mechanic should understand this.

Of course, as I have mentioned repeatedly in the past, it would help if you do some readings and familiarize yourself with some terms and some conditions about your car so that you don’t go totally clueless while your mechanic is explaining. But while this is a responsibility that you should handle, remember that your mechanic also has the responsibility to make it absolutely clear to you what the problem of your car is and how it can be resolved.

Friday’s Advice: Asking the Three Questions You Dread

If you’ve ever had a car repair rip-off experience in the past, chances are you almost always think you’ll be ripped off every time you bring your car to the mechanic for repair. But, a one-time rip-off experience doesn’t actually need to stand as a representation of all mechanics and shops out there—your previous experience doesn’t really have to happen again.

And, you have control over that. There are certain things that you can do to be able to avoid a future rip-off, and one of these things would be being upfront with your mechanic when it comes to issues that you want clarified. Yes, there are issues that are a little awkward and a little uncomfortable to discuss with your mechanic, but these issues are better left out in the open from the start so that they won’t cause trouble later on.

It’s good advice that you already ask certain questions and clarify some things with your mechanic the first time even before you have to bring your car in for the actual repair. One, ask about the shop’s use of “used parts.” Ask whether it installs used parts in vehicles and how it charges customers for used parts mounted. Once this is clear, the shop will have no need to hide you the fact that a used part is mounted in your car should it fail to find a new part as replacement sometime soon. Two, ask about warranty before any job is started. Ask what kind of warranty it provides to its repairs, and if there are warranties from manufacturers for all parts mounted in your car (in case the shop is the one that provides the replacement). Have the warranty in writing to back you up in case you need to file a claim later on. And three, ask about supply charge. Ask what the shop includes in the supply charge and how much it usually costs.

In all of these questions, it’s easy to gauge whether a shop can be trusted or not, not only according to its answer but as well as to the way it delivers that answer. The shop should be direct and should not appear as if it is hiding something. Once all the issues are clear, you’ll be at peace during the car repairs.

Most Common Victims of Rip Offs

Auto repair rip-offs can happen to anyone, but there are people who are more prone to rip-off than others. If you are included in these categories or if you get into the situation mentioned here, you must be doubly careful when dropping your car off to a shop for an auto repair.

Check below for the most common kinds of people who fall into a rip-off:

1. Those who don’t know anything about their car. People who are not familiar with their vehicle are easy to see—in the way they act and in the things they tell their mechanic. These people are very easy to deceive because they’re clueless. Sometimes, they also get intimidated, so they have the tendency to simply say “yes” to everything the mechanic says.

2. Those going on a trip. I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again. Don’t tell your mechanic when you’re going on a trip because he may just get ideas knowing that you’re concerned about your car’s condition, your safety, and your convenience—and you’ll more likely to agree when the mechanic sells you stuff related to these.

3. Those who are only visiting the area. Again, don’t let your mechanic in on the fact that you’re not from the area and are only visiting. Translation: This is your first and last time in the shop. So, even if the shop rips you off, there’s little chance that you’ll go after it.

4. Those who are not involved in the repair process. This includes people who are careless about their car, those who do not really care that much about how the process goes as long as it’s done. If the mechanic suspects this, he could use this to rip you off.

5. Women. Need I say more? Many mechanics think that women are easier to rip off. So if you’re a woman, always be on the lookout.

Friday’s Advice: Questions Not to Ask Your Mechanic

In my post last Friday, the discussion was about the things that you shouldn’t say to your mechanic if you want to avoid a rip-off. It’s important to watch out what you tell your mechanic, especially if you don’t have full trust on him just yet—what you say could be all that your mechanic has been waiting for to rip you off.

Other than what you tell your mechanic, it’s also important to think about the questions that you ask him. Your questions could be dead giveaways that could make you vulnerable to a rip-off or fraud. Here, let’s look at a couple types of questions that you shouldn’t ask your mechanic.

1. Very general questions. I’ve mentioned this in my last Friday’s post. Questions like “what does my car need?” could be the opening lines that your mechanic has been waiting all along, opportunities that will allow him to suggest parts more than what your car really needs. Instead of asking your mechanic this question, you can first do a research yourself and then narrow down the problem so that you’ll have an idea about the parts that your car may need—no need to completely rely on your mechanic.

2. Dumb questions. These questions are what you would really consider as dead giveaways about your lack of knowledge regarding your car. As a vehicle owner, it is your responsibility to know when certain procedures and services are already needed—that’s what your car manual is for. If you have to ask such questions to your mechanic, it will be like “hey, I don’t know anything about my car and I’m at your mercy.” Your mechanic will know that he can suggest anything and you’ll believe him.

Knowing all these, you must be careful about what you ask your mechanic. Do your job and familiarize with your car so that you’ll know how to deal with your mechanic when you come in for repair.

Asking for Warranty and Putting it in Writing

Our previous discussions here have revolved around auto repair secrets and how some auto repair shops resort to fraud when dealing with customers, employing several techniques that rip off people who bring their car in for repair. But, added to these, we have also discussed means by which we can avoid being a victim to these scams and how we can avoid being ripped off.

In this post, we’ll take a look at the importance of asking a warranty during a repair. Yes, you don’t only ask a warranty when you get your car from the dealer. During a car repair, you should also pay attention to the warranty provided by the shop that conducted the service or repair. A warranty will serve here as an assurance that the service performed is efficient, and that your car will remain in top shape for a specific amount of time.

There are two kinds of warranty that you can ask from a shop: warranty on labor and warranty on parts (in case the part is from the shop). Asking for a warranty will deter any mechanic from performing inefficient or loose work on your car, because they’ll still be the one to do it should it fail before the warranty is up—and you’re not going to pay them.

When asking for a warranty, however, remember that you don’t simply ask for the word or the assurance of the mechanic. Have the warranty placed in writing as your proof someday should you find the need to go back to the shop early on due to a problem with the service performed or due to the premature failure of the part installed.

This is especially important in cases when a shop tells you that it has installed a brand new part when in fact it didn’t. A written warranty is your shield against a rip-off.

Dealing with a Shop for the First Time

The first step to avoid an auto repair rip off is to find a mechanic and shop that you can trust. Ask friends and acquaintances for recommendations. Check forums and get feedbacks from other car owners. But, remember as well that while this is the ideal, there might be times when you may find yourself needing to take chances with a shop or mechanic that you have never tried before. What if you’re new to a place and you don’t know a mechanic in the area? Who do you trust? How do you deal with a new shop or mechanic?

Well, it is advised that you never bring your car to a new and untrusted shop for any major repair. If you’re new in an area and you have to try out a particular auto repair shop, start with small automotive tasks and repairs. This is the time to check out the new shop, look into its surroundings, have a feel of its staff and mechanics, and see how they treat their customers. It’s the best time to have an overall assessment of the shop.  By starting out with a small automotive task, you don’t take such a huge risk. Even if the shop proves out to be inefficient and bungles the repair, or if it proves out to be one that observes fraudulent acts and rips off their customers, you won’t have such a big problem. The smaller the repair you had, the less your headache in case problems occur. Once you have already tried the shop and saw that it can be trusted, only then should you go for it on major automotive works.

When dealing with an auto repair shop for the first time, you have to look into all the aspects of their service. From the main job to their customer service to their rates, check all of these out. Should you find the shop good and honest, then you have discovered one great partner in auto repair and maintenance.

DIY Saturday: How to Replace Your Oil Pan

The oil pan in your vehicle serves as the storage container of the oil used to lubricate the engine as it works. It is the main oil reservoir, so it’s carefully placed underneath your ride to secure the oil inside it. There are instances, though, when the pan gets damaged and leaks. And during these instances, it’s but normal for drivers to panic and come running to their trusted mechanic for a replacement. After all, an unattended pan that’s damaged could cause more serious damage on the engine.

But, before you think of going to an auto repair shop, you might want to know that you can actually replace the pan on your own—the process is easy if you have the right tools. Check these out:

You will need:

* The new oil pan and gasket

* Wrenches for removing the oil pan plug and the oil pan bolts

Procedure:

1. Gain access to the oil pan and drain all the oil in the said container by removing the oil pan plug.
2. Once all the oil has drained, it’s time to remove the pan. Remove all the bolts that connect the pan to the engine using the wrench.
3. Clean the engine surface and remove any remaining gasket before preparing the new pan and gasket for installation.
4. Carefully line up the gasket with the oil pan.
5. Line up the pan (with gasket) with the engine, and replace the bolts in their proper location.
6. Fill with oil and inspect for leaks.

The process is easy and does not take a lot of time to finish. And with the basic tools needed, it’s one task that you will have no problem doing in your garage. All you need to spend on would be a high-quality replacement pan and gasket.