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Everyone has that friend or family member who likes to work on cars. He has a couple cars he has fixed up, and a couple more he is working on. For simplicity’s sake we shall call this person Uncle Bob. One day you find yourself with potentially expensive car problems, and Uncle Bob calls to save the day. When finances are tight this seems like a great option, but in many cases the risks heavily outweigh the benefits. This entry is here to inform you of some of the benefits you get by paying the extra cost of going to a professional auto repair facility.
Experience:
Uncle Bob
- Grew up fixing cars on Grandpa’s farm.
- Spends a weekend a month in the garage working on something.
- Can set the points on a ’64 Chevy in under half an hour.
- One time he put an engine your cousin’s Toyota.
- Checked out the Chilton manual for your car from the library
Repair Shop
- Experienced technicians have continued training on modern repair procedures.
- Spend every working day looking at, working on, and learning about cars.
- Technicians have performed thousands of various auto repairs learning the subtle nuances and problems of many different makes and models.
- Has access to huge amounts of automotive repair data. A good technician knows exactly what information is needed for each job, and where to get that information
Tools and Equipment
Uncle Bob
- Got a Craftsman 292 piece tool set for Christmas.
- Has a floor jack and jack stands in his garage.
- Bought an air compressor and air tools at Harbor Freight.
Repair Shop
- Each technician has tens of thousands of dollars of professional grade tools to get the job done without causing damage from doing the work improperly.
- Repair shops are additionally equipped with heavy equipment that can do everything from cutting metal to lifting cars above the technicians head.
- Experienced technicians are used to using powerful equipment, and are less likely to accidentally cause damage using their tools.
Parts
Uncle Bob
- Knows a guy at Autozone.
- Has a six year old tube of liquid gasket.
Repair Shop
- Has multiple accounts with various venders.
- Technicians know which brands of parts work best for each job.
- Technicians know exactly where to go for hard to find parts.
- Technicians know what parts to order ahead of time so there are no surprises half way through a job.
Warranty
Uncle Bob
- What do you mean by warranty?
Repair Shop
- Occasionally new automotive parts break, and some repairs don’t last as long as planned. Auto repair shops are prepared for this, and ready to remedy any problems that may arise after a repair.
Insurance
Uncle Bob
- No comment…
Repair Shop
- Repair shops are insured to cover any major damage that could happen to your vehicle while in the care, custody, or control of the repair shop.
- Some repair jobs can cause severely expensive damage if done improperly. Even experienced technicians can make these mistakes from time to time. Most shops carry insurance to cover these costs in the event that severe engine repairs are needed from a failed repair.
So you can see that the high cost of professional auto repair comes for a reason. When deciding who is working on your vehicle please make sure you understand the risks and benefits of seeking repair outside of a professional repair shop.
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