What auto care shop should you never trust with you car?

Question

I was always told not to let Jiffy Lube give oil changes, and the one time I didn't listen, something bad happened. I was also told don't allow Firestone with under the hood stuff...but are any of these true

Answer 1

my dad was a mechanic like me,and he always told me to always do my own work that way i didn't have to worry if it was done right or not,i have one place that i let do all my front end alinement's,and that's all i ever have to send one out for,the rest i do my self,but he always told my two sisters that when they got married to pick one good mechanic,and stay with them,he said you,ll get better service that way,i suppose he was right in a way,i don't think a lot of places take enough time to do things right now,there always in a big hurry,id rather pay extra as have some one hurry through something,at least that's the way i look at it,good luck though,and keep in mind ,find a good mechanic and stay with them its better in the long run this way.

Answer 2

Don't go to Jiffy Lube or Firestone. That is true. Don't go to a corporate-owned store, except for tire shops. But even corporately owned tire shops have a lot of workers who are not trained properly and don't give a damn.

In general, you and your car are better off at an independent mechanic than at a franchised shop. But I'm sure there are some good franchise owners and technicians out there. Shop around until you can find a shop and a mechanic you can trust. Don't just shop on price.

I don't trust others with oil changes. They can strip the drain plug, use the wrong viscosity of oil, and/or overfill the oil. Read reviews of repair shops here:
http://www.cartalk.com/content/mechx/find.html

Answer 3

I've heard many complains from people going to jiffy lube. Yeah you get what you pay for and most times the new oil is never put into the engine, and the cost of a new engine outweights the cost of going to a trusted mechanic, or doing the oil change yourself. As far as Firestone, remember the tire blowouts, now imagine one of those morons working on your car engine. Ain't touching my vehicles. I also never get gas at full serve stations (an attendant pumps you fuel) I don't trust them either touching my credit cards and such. Thanks I'll do my own fuel ups. I go to Q-Lube where I live, its privately owned and the guy that owns the shop is not only great doing oil changes, he's also a great mechanic and can spot problems on my truck before they turn into a huge problem so I can get them fixed right away. My mechanic lives up the road from me, so its not like he can screw up cause I know where he lives LOL.

Answer 4

Yeah I have a sayng for Jiffy Lube it's Jiffy Lube where a dipstick changes your oil. Don't go there. Sears is ok, I prefer privately owned shops compared to franchises they usually hire better techs. And it's a techs job to look over your car and tell you what's wrong with it if they didn't people would be mad because they weren't told that something was wearing out and not come back to the shop. It's also a liability issue if a tech lets an unsafe vehicle leave a shop and that person goes out and kills someone because of that unsafe issue the tech can go to jail for involuntary manslaughter.

Answer 5

I can only answer that question the other way around, that is, "What car shop can you most trust with your car in these modern times?" The answer if your in a strange town and don't know where to go is to go to the dealer that sells new cars from the same manufacturer as your car. But ultimately there's a person with their hand on the wrench, and a lot is up to them. Even I don't make myself happy sometimes with my own mechanical work and there's a lot of great mechanics and technicians out there if only your lucky enough to stumble upon them.

Answer 6

Yeah, I know someone who works at Firestone, and if he can work there, they must let anyone get in.. most shops should be used based on their reputation, because that was says if they are good or not.

Answer 7

Yes, they will always try to up-sale you with additional and unnecessary services such as engine flush because "you have gunk in you engine", all your brake need new shoes (this is on a car that's only 2 years old with no brake problem), and "how dangerous it it to continue driving at current condition", etc. Do your homework and just tell them exactly what you went in for and nothing more.

Answer 8

I will add Tires Plus. Always trying to sell you more than needed. I once took our Lumina minivan to them for an alignment after I personally replaced both outer tie rod ends. You guessed it they wanted to replace the outer tie rod ends. Told me they were worn beyond adjustment.

Answer 9

I would never trust any shop owned by anyone who starts with "I own a shop". But I would trust Autozone...