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Owning a car is a wonderful thing. Having the freedom to drive anywhere you want to go is an incredible feeling. Unfortunately, owning a car also comes with car problems. This can be extremely costly if you do not know much about the process. Read this article to educate yourself on auto repair so that you can make smart decisions.



When you are going to get your car repaired at a shop, ask the technician what type of parts they plan to use to get the job done. Many places use refurbished parts, but they would be willing to use new parts if you wanted to pay the extra money.











Keep your car's owner manual handy. Knowing vital car information can really help when something unexpected occurs. If you know your car's controls, you may even avoid a trip to a mechanic. If you do need a mechanic, you should have the make, model, and trim level available so that they can figure out things like your transmission configuration, size, etc. much quicker.



The Automotive Service Excellence logo is a sign that you have found a good mechanic. Mechanics have to successfully pass an exam and maintain an excellent record to receive this logo. Not all good mechanics get this certification but you should still try finding a mechanic who is ASE certified.



If any parts of your car need to be replaced, make sure you ask for the (OEM) Original Equipment Manufacturer parts instead of generic parts. Keeping the exact specifications required by the manufacturer is essential in having optimum performance. Although generic parts are cheaper, spending a little more on OEM parts will make a big impact on your car's longevity.



Before you pay for repairs, take the car out for a spin to make sure things are working as they should. Lots of people skip this practice and they might end up not solving the issue they initially came in for.




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Take action if you believe a garage or dealership ripped you off. Notify one of the manager and give them a chance to issue a refund. If you are still not satisfied, contact your local Better Business Bureau to file a complaint. Your city or state consumer affair office is also a good resource.



If you have never done any auto repair on your own, you should stick with small jobs and do lots of homework to learn how to do larger jobs. Be certain not to start taking your car apart if you aren't sure how to put it back together. Before starting any car repair job, be sure you have all the necessary parts and tools in place and that you know exactly what you need to do to complete the job from start to finish.



Always research the reputation of any auto repair shop you are considering using to have your car serviced. If you are a AAA member, you can find a list of approved shops on their website. You can also download an app for your smartphone like Repairpal to view ratings for different repair shops.



Only go to a repairman that is certified. The NIAE seal of approval is a good sign. This means that the mechanic is knowledgeable and reliable.



Not many people invest the time in reading their car's owner manual. It's important that you understand the specifics of your model. You can learn a lot about preventative maintenance and small repairs in your manual.



If you do not have a lot of money, but need auto repairs, you can visit a vocational school in your area to have the automotive department do repairs. You'll pay much less for having students do work on your vehicle under a licensed mechanic's supervision.



After paying a mechanic to replace an old part on your vehicle with a new one, ask him to give you back the one that he removed. If he cannot provide this, he may not have done anything with your car. This should be a warning sign and you need to make sure he shows you.



Take some time to learn about your vehicle and how it works. This can prevent your from falling victim to auto repair fraud when you need to bring it to be fixed. It could also lead to you being able to fix simple problems on your own, saving you a great deal of money.



To help linked webpage ensure your car is always in the best physical condition, make sure you do not overload your keychain with unnecessary ornaments. If you overload your keychain, you might put too much weight on the ignition and damage your ignition switch. So, be sure to lighten that keychain soon to add more life to your car!



Hopefully this article has helped you gain http://www.hickoryrecord.com/news/maiden-high-automotive-club-builds-r-a-t-rod/article_6674d2b4-ac13-11e6-bf17-8f8b6ae1c514.html on how to handle auto repairs in the future. It's important that you make the right decisions so that you can enjoy your car. No one wants to constantly worry about what to do when something goes wrong with their vehicle.