Repairs Tips For Your Vehicle

Every car owner in India is usually hesitant to go to the authorized service center for repairs, unless the car is under warranty. That is because of the unique selling model in India. Cars are usually sold at very low profit, and the gains are made through the sale of spare parts. So once your car is inside an “authorized service center”, you can be rest assured that all parts deemed even remotely worse for wear, will be replaced without a second thought.

In such a situation it often pays well to get it repaired by a local mechanic. But there are pitfalls that are waiting the careless customer. Choosing a good local mechanic is far from easy – especially in India, where everyone seems to be a “king of the trade” and good talent comes mixed with mediocre repairmen. So how do you get your car repaired on the cheap without making the situation worse?

6 Ways to get your car repaired at low cost

• 1. Ask for help from neighbors. Chances are that the wheel has already been invented – so don’t reinvent it. Most often advice got first hand from other people helps you get an accurate judgement on the talents of a local mechanic. In any case its always better to learn from another’s mistake than your own!
• 2. Keep you options open after the first repair. Most of the time people get stuck with “that mechanic” – either because of the smooth talk, or because of laziness in finding in another mechanic. Whatever the reason – never stick with the same local mechanic for too many repairs. You will never know if he is doing a good job or just hoodwinking you with some good talking.
• 3. The best strategy for good repairs is cross checking. Once you get the repair done at a certain mechanic – leave some of the smaller repairs for later. Then go to another mechanic and while you get the smaller repairs, ask him about his opinion about the major work done. Chances are he will find many faults – that is because he wants the job and not necessarily that the job done was bad/incomplete. His opinion has to be dissected – ask him why he thinks it was done wrong. Grill him till he tells facts, rather than opinions.
• 4. Find a good parts supplier. Most of the spare parts in the market are spurious and second grade. However good spare parts re definitely available in the open market. However they come a t a price. Do not skimp on the part costs. Your saving is on the labor. If you deploy cheap parts – chances are that the requirement for a second set of repairs will come sooner than you thought.
• 5. Be with the mechanic when your car is being repaired. Most make the mistake of sitting “nearby” having coffee or tea. But the that is a sure fire way to botch the job. Be right there when the repairs are being done – even if you don’t know jack. The idea is that most mechanics are less likely to take “shortcuts” if they think they are being watched. A note of caution: don’t ask stupid questions, you are there for the psychological pressure not to show your ignorance.
• 6. Read forums etc online for tips and tricks. The best way to get your repaired is to go and tell the mechanic to replace “parts a,b and c”. To do that you should know before hand which parts are bad. This ability takes some time to develop and can be helped by asking some questions online or from other experienced motorists. Local mechanics do a good job if the customer is perceived to be well informed.

So there it is – six important ways to ensure a good repair with a low cost. Remember, there are no guarantees on local repairs. Unlike the “authorized service center”, you cannot go ask for a refund if the parts go bad!