How do you tell if a car repair or maintenance was really performed?

Question

I am not talking about things that you can easily verify. I am talking about "flushing the radiator", "replacing parts that are not readily visible such as timing belt etc". Do you just trust the shop or is there a reliable way to verify the work?

Answer 1

If it's a radiator flush, wait till your car is cool (like in the AM) and check the radiator for bright green coolant. If it's another color, it may not have been done. It's not 100% accurate, but it about the best you'll be able to do for that.

Otherwise, ask the shop to retain all replaced parts for inspection. Check the shop's complaints with BBB, chamber of commerce or state licensing agency.

Answer 2

ask for the old timing-belt back and the related parts as well such as the tensioner pulley the gas spring and any idlers also the water pump should be replaced on some models at timing belt replacement intervals as the belt may go 100k i guarantee the pump wont finish the second 100k. the time to ask for the old parts is before the work is started , OK so maybe you dont know what you are looking at, you can learn. [purchase a shop manual for your car and compare the parts to the pictures] but remember low bucking a timing belt job gets you a belt and nothing else the labor to change out the other components is minuscule compared with having to go back in.

Answer 3

Ask people you know were to go. Asking for the old parts helps a little . Do a little research on what your are going to have done so you might know some terms and specific details. Take a picture of the area that is going to be worked on. First make a chalk mark on a few small places you know they will need to remove bolts.If the bolts still have the chalk marks after you get the car back , then you know they didnt remove them. Theres alot you can do before hand.

Answer 4

never trust a mechanic!!! even if the are the best ones out there,when having your car repaired always be there and watch what they are doing make sure they show you whats the problem and/or what the car needs when they finish tell them to show you what they did, ask and check for the new and old parts remember never let the car with the mechanic overnights!
also there are shops that do point inspections they will check everything and will tell you exactly if the car need anything new the cost for point inspections vary from $50 to maybe $300 bucs its worth then checking it yourself. good luck.

Answer 5

like everyone ells has seed ask to see all old part good shops you don't half to ask I always have the old parts in a box on the counter for the customer to look at when they pick up there car as for fluids like the radiator play stupid but interested ask where the drain petcock is for your radiator if it is dirty they did not do there job these are on the bottom of the radiator and are always dirty but when you open it your fingers clean it off

but most of all ask around a good shop will have a good rep always look for ASE certification for anything mechanical

Answer 6

Ask the shop mechanic to hang on to the old parts for inspection. Other than knowing the field, inspecting the old parts, looking in the radiator cap/reserve tank.

Answer 7

hook a wireless camera up under the hood somewhere, they are still pretty expensive though and possibly your mechanic might argue that it was a breech of his privacy, saw this done once on TV by a news crew or somebody, it was in Texas and they caught several mechanics this way, some fast oil change places too, jiffylube I think, jiffylube stations explained that they were under a lot of pressure/ time constraints and didn't have the time to do everything they were being paid to do! maybe you could put some dye in the radiator or test your antifreeze before and after using one of those prestone antifreeze testers sold at wallmart

Answer 8

Ask for the old parts

Answer 9

I ask for the parts back. and before they put new ones in I ask that they be marked