Does anyone know of a website where auto repair shops are rated/commented on?

I’m new to my area and need a repair shop, and would like to not go into this blindly.

How long do auto repair shops usually gaurantee their work for?

I had some parts put on 7 months ago, and some failed. I am worried that if I take my car back their they wil ltell me that they are not going to fix it.

Any good southern california vintage mustang auto repair shops?

I currently take my car to my mechanic and it is constantly breaking down. I’m starting to question the quality of service.

Thanks.

What diagnostic software and equipment to independent auto repair shops use? ?

Like when they hook your car up (bmw, mercedes, audi ect..) and it runs a diagnostics and tells them what the exact problem is and what should be fixed and how.

BASICALLY I JUST NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE SOFTWARE AND EQUIPMENT IS CALLED AND WHERE TO FIND IT???
Has anyone heard of Autologic.us ? And is it anyone good?

What is a good website for info about good honest auto repair shops in your area?

then by zip code?

i dont always know who to trust, especially when i relocate somewhere else

How can I sell my 1999 Pontiac Montana Van quickly???

I got a job in Europe and must sell my van. I was planning to take it with me and invested $2000 in new shocks, tire and other repairs, just to find out the emission laws in my new country won’t let me import the van. Any ideas how to sell it quickly???

85 Audi gas mileage and Emission control System?

Dirt settles in the bottom of all gas tank that could plug your engine.causing an expensive repair if you let you gas get to low, keep at lease 1/4 tank at all times.

New emission control system parts are very expensive (almost $300.00) used all 3 major parts can be less than $40.00,less depending on what parts you need.,check wreaking yards ,pick your own parts and the INTERNET .

Question) Do you know any other way to find other types of used parts and installation instructions for them; for the Audi 1985 4000S (Q)? Finding an 85 Audi mechanic repair manual would be great, Also some Audi parts are interchangeable with other Audi models anyone know where I can find a web site or list of interchangeable parts.

How many miles is a drive cycle?

I failed emissions but have the repairs and need to clear the computer codes. If I disconnect the battery to clear the codes, how far do I have to drive before I make sure they are cleared so I don’t fail again? Or, what is considered a drive cycle?
The car is a 1991 Lexus ES250 2.5L V6, same as a 1989-1991 Camry V6.

If fail vehicle inspection (in TX or CA), what if can’t afford repairs?

Are there some kind of financial hardship waivers or something? Will I be unable to register and drive my vehicle if I can’t afford some expensive repair just to pass an emissions test or whatever?

i am trying to buy 99 toyota camry solara,car fax says sold at auction and emission inspection failed?

oxygen sensors were then repaired and then emissions inspection was passed. anything i need to get alarmed about?

WhErE caN I Get PinK TireS for my car?

Or pink wall tires.. I swear I saw pink wall tires at walmart last year but now everytime i go they don’t have them..
When I saw them I looked at the name on the tires and i could have swore it said michelin, so right now i looked and i couldnt find anything..
Can anyone help??

Which works better a cordless or corded air compressor for tires?

I have a corded air compressor to pump my my car tires. (It’s from Walmart and only costed about $20). The compressor does a good job putting in air but I wished it was rechargeable. Are rechargeable compressors better or do they tend to do a poorer job in putting air in the tire. I mostly just top off the psi of my tires. thx.

Is there a new CA law that you have to have 4 of the exact same tires on your car?

Does anyone know if this is true?
I am asking because I was told this at Walmart the other day. I went to have my husband’s studded snow tires put onto his 2wd car. I was told they could not put them on because of a new law that makes it illegal to have different tires on your car. They told me I could get a ticket for having the snow tires on the front.

What laws govern when a shop works on my car without authorization, causes damages & holds my car til fixed?

I took my car to WalMart for a tire rotation and possibly tires. They start work without my authorization and end up damaging my car. They turn the claim over to their insurance and then refuse to give my car to me because their insurance was not open on the weekend to consent.(my car). When arrangements are made to tow it to a facility i approved of WalMart or their insurance take it somewhere else for “repairing” the damages they caused. This place’s name has been refused to be given to me I suppose because the work was against my wishes in that I was trying to adhere to manufacturer spec shops.When i receive my car back it has scratches etc.and no one will tell me where it went under their supervision for repairs. I STILL HAVE NOT SIGNED A SINGLE DOCUMENT AND BESIDES THE $1500 THEY ALREADY SPENT ON REPAIRS THEY HAVE SENT ME ANOTHER $1000 CHECK?
What laws or suits can address this?

Would you let Walmart Mechanics work on your car?

As far as putting new tires on your car?

How much would front brakes and rotors cost for a 2006 ford focus?

I went to a shop for a completley unrelated issue. Once my car was fixed, my brakes started grinding. I was wondering what would be a fair price to get new front brakes and rotors?

Cost for brakes and rotors for a 2003 ford taurus?

My husband and I just purchased a new used 2003 ford taurus, but as it turns out the front brakes and rotors need to be replaced. I was quoted 340.00 including tax and everything is this reasonable or are they over charging me?

I have a 03 dodge stratus and need the front brakes and rotors replaced…any idea how much that will cost?

How much will it cost to put front brake pads and rotors on a 2005 aveo?

I have a 95 325i convertable 169km brake lights dont workand ,needs front rotor.Is it worth fixing?and Cost ?

Last week spents 900 to fix the alternor and fan belt.What does it cost to do front brakes for certif?and what is the car worth now.two years ago i got it for 10,000.What is it worth if i fix it?only been driven in summer.Mint condtion.But does this mean the first sign of things to go ?Looks rusty under car?is it worth keeping fixing or selling fixed or as is?

Head Gasket Replacement

Alright, so my car starting yesterday gave off this weird smell and the meter that tells you hot the engine shot from quarter mark to the half mark. As soon as I got on the highway the engine cooled back down until I got off the highway where it shot abck to the halfway mark. I left my car for about 5 hours. I went back to drive it and this time the meter stayed at the quarter mark but the same smell came. This smell both times only lasted for about 2 minutes. Now I drove my car about 3 miles to the car shop and back from the car shop. Both times no smell and no overheating. The guys at the car shop told me that they think my head gasket was blown and needed to be replaced which is a 900 dollar cost! They are going to do a test on it tomorrow to make sure. I just wanted to know if anyone had any input to what was going on and if they were just overexaggerating the problem. Thanks

1995 Subaru, replace head gasket or get aonther used car? Adivce needed!?

1995 Subauru Legacy wagon. 155,000 miles. I recently put in a new clutch, alternator, radiator. Now the head gasket is going. My mechanic said it’s not worth paying the few thousand dollars it would cost for a head gasket replacement, that the car is not worth it. I don’t have a few thousand dollars anyway. I would be forced to get another car for less than $1000 dollars.
Should I try to find a mechanic who will work with me on the repair cost, or is the car not worth it? It always ran good. I put so much $ into it already.
I guess my question is do I pay for a really expensive repair to a pretty old car that I’ve already put $ into, OR..look for another cheap car that will need who knows what work?

How much should it cost to replace a head gasket in a 1997 Subaru Legacy Outback?

My mechanic is not sure of the problem, but I have been doing some research and want to know the cost incase this is the repair needed. There is an intermittent misfire in cylinder #1. I don’t know the specific code, but it seems to be the same one every time I bring it in. He keeps saying he needs it to be misfiring at the very moment he checks it or he won’t know what’s wrong. I have taken it in over a dozen times and can’t afford to go any more days without a car just for them not to fix it time and time again.

If you have any thoughts or suggestions (other than giving me a replacement price), I would greatly appreciate it. I feel I bought a lemon and it is very frustrating!

Oh well…thanks again!
They reset the check engine light every time I go in. Maybe I need a new mechanic all together!

Wires and plugs have been replaced as far as I know. I know for sure all the plugs were replaced though.

I’ve a 1995 honda civic with 166000 miles on it. Should I replace the blown head gasket or replace the engine?

I really need help with this. My car has always been working fine but recently it had problems when I started it. The engine would shake and when driving at low speeds, the engine would shake noticeably. I took it to a repair shop and the guy said I blew my head gasket. I could either replace it with a new head gasket, but that would still leave the rest of the engine as “old”. He recommended I replace the engine entirely, which I was shocked would cost $2500-$3000. I do plan on keeping this car for awhile as it’s very dependable. I need to know if I should pay, I assume the $500 for a head gasket replacement or to pony up the $2500 for a replacement engine. Any advice is greatly appreciated asap, thanks.
Hey,thnks for the responses. My Honda has never had any major problems before+ I love the car. It’s very reliable+ great gas mileage. The mechanic was really pushing me to get a new engine; his shop uses factory parts +seems to know wht they’re doing. I said i wanna shop around, he said of course I’d find a better deal elsewhere but that he’ll replace not just certain parts or whatnot, but all parts that need to be fixed. He mentioned a timing belt for $700, which seems very high, he then said he’s not just fixing the timing belt but everything else around the timing belt. He did say something like if I got a new engine, it’d be used with 60k miles on it. If I replace the headgasket, the rest of the engine will still have 166k miles on it, so is it better to just replace the engine with a rebuilt one so everything is new?I do intend on keeping the car for awhile. I want a good deal+ feel that 2500 is a lot, but wonder if it’s worth it for a fully functioning car that’ll last more years
I talked to the mechanic and it’ll be $2000 for a replacement engine with around 60k miles on it, but it comes with timing belt, tensioner, cam seal, crank seals, water pump, thermostat, gasket, oil pan gasket, power steering belt, altern belt, spark plugs, valve cover gasket, tube seals, intake gasket, exhaust gasket, oil filter, coolant, spoart plugs. If I just fixed the head and the head gasket, and got a new timing belt, thermostat, and water pump, it would cost $1200…..so for just $800 more I could get a “new” engine which seems like a great deal as opposed to just fixing the top half of the engine, still having the bottom half at 166k miles, correct? This place is well known and respected around here too.
I called another mechanic and he’s only charging $630 to replace the head, head gasket, timing belt, thermostat, water pump. I wonder if I should just do that and then do the “new” engine replacement when I reach 250k miles or so. Any ideas?
I called again and the $630 doesn’t include stuff like power steering belt, alternator belt, spark plugs….I don’t even know if they are needed but he said it wouldn’t be a large additional cost for everything. The new mechanic is would also do for $1500 a “used japanese engine” with under 100k miles on it with a 6 month 0r 6k warranty on parts and labor………….so in this new scenario I can pay around $900 more for a “new used engine” as opposed to just fixing the head gasket, timing belt, thermostat and water pump. I did drive around for 5 days after I blew the head gasket and the guy said I probably have messed up other parts of the engine or whatnot (he would have to check)…….so would this mean that a new engine is the definite choice?
I took my car to the mechanic my friend recommended and I felt really comfortable with him. The total is now at around $1700. He’ll replace the engine with a used engine with under 100k miles on it, timing belt, water pump, thrmstat, radiator hoses, all seals + gaskets,fan belt, all with 6k mi waranty. He mentioned other deals advertising used engines with 30k-60k miles on it are misleading, especially considering it’s a 95 civic,not a more recent car. I have no idea how cars work and I ended up doing the used engine because if I just fixed the head gasket, a few thousand miles down the road, I didn’t wanna find out I have to replace the actual head or block itself…..not sure how often that happens though. Thinking back, at 166k miles, I could have maybe just replaced the head gasket, but I guess I was worried there was other stuff wrong with the engine, considering I drove the car around for 5 days with the blown head gasket. I did end up seeing white smoke oozing when I took it in

causes of head gasket failure and repair cost?

Hi, recently my car started overheating and I found that the coolant was mixed with oil (I submitted a question about this earlier, but that is a bit different question). I took it to the garage and they told me the head gasket needs to be replaced and there could be other parts that need replacement after the full diagnosis. now I just have to believe what they say, because I can’t prove them wrong if they lie about some part damaged even if it isn’t (the garage is part of good garrage scheme, but not sure if that certificate is enough to trust them). it is a 2003 Ford Focus diesel car (5dr hatchback) and the mileage is 71300. the garage mechanic says the whole repair cost would be somewhere between £700 to £1200 depending on the damage (he says the head gasket alone could cost £700 to fix including labour). now here are my questions.

1. how much the head gasket would cost to fix (assuming £50 per hour for labour which is what the garage charges at the moment)
2. what other parts could go wrong when the coolant is mixed with oil and how much will it cost to replace them
3. what are the reason for the failure of head gasket, will it happen if I drive for long distance without taking breaks in between? or is it normal for this to fail in old cars?

How can I raise my MPG, or get better gas mileage, on my car?

I have a 2001 Pontiac Grand Am, V6 with Ram Air (if any of you know exactly what ‘Ram Air’ is or does, I’d like to know that too) and I have some money. I love my cars, and I’m not talking tips like “accelerate slower” I’m more interested on performance items I can BUY or work I can have done on the car to increase my gas mileage. I can’t spend like $10,000 on it, but I can get several small upgrades. I’m looking for tips along the lines of ‘use nitrogen in your tires’ or ‘buy a new computer chip for the car’ or any parts I can get in the engine?

How can I get better gas mileage in my truck?

I just recently got a 2006 GMC Canyon from my uncle because I got into a wreck. I fixed it up a little, but it’s currently only getting about ~14 miles per gallon. This is a Regular cab, small sized truck, and it SHOULD be getting 18 mpg in the city and 25 on the highway. I can’t seem to figure out what could be causing such a big decrease in mileage. I don’t run it hard at all. Can anyone help me out with some tips or any ideas? Thanks guys!

How to get better gas mileage out of a 99 Nissan Sentra GXE limited edition?

From what i have heard my nissan sentra is suppose to get around 33-36 MPG on the highway. Well my car usually only gets around 28 miles to the gallon right now, and i have been trying out the lucas fuel injector cleaner, its seems to work for about 2 days then its goes to bad gas mileage again. Also i think i have to take into consideration is that it also is near 220,000 to 230,000 miles on it. can anybody give me tips please.

is a 2006 kawasaki ninja 250r a good starter bike for me?

im almost 16.6ft 1 1/2in. 170lbs. first bike thats mine. want good mpg and fast enough to get out of trouble if i need too. got to last a year at least but probably more. and any tips for my first bike? were to park and such?

I have 2,800 to buy a used car HELP i don’t know what to look for?

I’m a new driver and I’m looking to buy a car that will last me through college….I’m a junior in high school right now. I only have $2,800. What do i look for in a car? How old, how many miles should it have on it? How many MPG is good? Any tips would be greatly appreciated. What types of cars should I stay away from? What are the best?

Anyone have any on-line info explaining canoe repair for the Rails?

My fiberglas canoe had ash wood rails which are pretty beat up. I was thinking of replacing them with pvc or metal. I would like some pointers to web sites which might describe the process for replacing or discuss the merits of switching from ash to plastic or metal. Or sites which actually sell kits would be fine as well – not looking to go broke here since I can build the parts myself.

What is the best Spin Caster Fishing Reel/Pole Setup on the market?

I NEED one that does not break down into 2 pieces the break down’s are weak in the joints where they connect and eventually break under stress. I usually catch fish from 1-20 lb’s in large amounts. In one day alone 76 catch n release fish just in a local pond… Grew up fishing and fish pretty well for an amateur I believe… I Fish in Fresh Water on pond’s and sometimes lakes in a boat trolling. Is there a pole that has a lifetime warranty even? If so, if it break‘s then is replaceable after breakage as a trade in for same type of pole? Best pole I have seen so far to put up with extreme test is Ugly stick unfortunately at the moment it is using a spin caster reel which i love. I run into problems though on the bell housing the plastic neck that is to the side of the brass string bearing guide seems to wear from the string cutting into it over time. Is there a fix for that or tips on it also. But the solid ugly stick pole is for bait caster reels that I am using… Should I Just find a pole repair kit and break that first loop off and put a larger one on? I think the smaller hole guide is contributing to line memory. I use a high quality line to avoid this already called Vanish. But up for any tips there also. Any fishing line recommendations? Fire line vs Spider wire vs Braided plastic line‘s what win’s? Thanks this is a big packed question but please give best answers. (Note: Any trade marked products i refer to here i only mention to remedy my issue. And do not wish to benifit from use of there names etc. And all rights reserved or whatever).
Zebco style seems to be majority here. I worked on a fish farm for 2 years with those style reels. Never hit me till now that they were the best after every one here’s almost unanimous answer It hit me that those style reel’s do in fact avoid line memory. Plus i do like that the string is enclosed that would help provide protection to the string from being damaged. And being enclosed avoid being cooked and brittle. As a General rule of thumb change your fishing line: Once a year. I love the way the push button works on those style too. Grown on Spin caster reels though, but i think i might change that today to the zebco. As for the Plastic neck wearing from line cutting into it. The best answer is using a compound called JB Weld. Like epoxy the 2 compounds added u can paste it onto the neck repairing the worn part so the line does not get pinched on the side of the line bearing guide part. Thank you for all your answers in my book if i could, id choose all answers here for your efforts

How to repair sunglasses?

I have several pairs of sunglasses and the arms are broken on one pair the lenses are scratched on another and the frame is broken on another.I thought it would be a simple operation to replace the broken arms of one pair of glasses with the arms from a pair with a broken lens. I have detached the arms bought a glasses repair kit with longer screws yet the hole that the screw goes through to hold the arm on to the frame seems to be spring loaded .It does not matter what I do I cannot get the holes to line up so I can get he new screw through it and do them up.I can’t even put the arm back on that I took off for the same reason. Does anyone know of any tricks that allow you too keep the spring-loaded bit out so the holes all line up and the screw can be screwed in .I have tried trapping pieces of wire in the gap but none of them seem to want to stay in place .The glasses were a present from my wife so I would like to fix them rather than get a new pair which would of course be easier. Thanks for any help

Car Shaking and Loud Exhaust?

I have a 1993 Chevy Lumina with about 136,000 miles. Recently, my car started shaking whenever I was stopped and the car was still in drive. It doesn’t shake as much when I put it into neutral or park. It also doesn’t shake at all when I go above 5 MPH. It feels like the vibrations are coming from directly underneath my seat and not the engine itself (although I can’t be 100% sure). The exhaust also has become noticeably louder when the problem occurred. It almost sounds like I need a new muffler.

I live in a cold climate and it is winter. I have neglected to put dry gas in my car until yesterday. I also replaced gaskets on my engine 3 months ago due to my engine leaking oil, although it still continues to leak. During the process a vacuum line broke but I repaired it with a kit.

I also recently had my muffler and exhaust pipe replaced. I also replaced the spark plugs in my car about a year ago. Thanks.

How do you fix your rear window defroster when the tab to the window breaks off?

the tab or wire going to the window broke off and the defroster stopped working. I dont know if you are to glue it back, or weld it or sodder it back to the window. I bought a kit from the store but it only repairs the lines in the defroster. Please help me.

What can you do to your car to increase gas mileage?

What kinds of things can you do? Obviously, change the oil regularly, make sure the tire pressure is correct, and keep the car light. What are some other easy and inexpensive things you can do to increase your cars gas mileage?

I heard that changing the air filter and adding fuel injector cleaner is good…that true?
That’s funny, I actually did replace the Oxygen sensor about a month ago after the check engine light came on and I couldn’t figure out why. They replaced it and it went off.

Does a motorcycle exhaust increase gas mileage?

I Have a 96 Kawasaki 800B,and what to change the stock pipes with better ones.If I change to drag pipes will I increase my gas mileage?
Is there anything I can do to increase the gas mileage? Besides change sparks and other maintenance stuff that is needed done. Would like it to sound like a bad A**. Any suggestions?

Is there any product out there that can increase gas mileage?

Is there any product that can increase gas mileage or anything else we can do to get better miles per gallon?

Do wider spark plugs gaps increase gas mileage?

Does increasing spark plug gap above factory specs increase gas mileage? If so, what amount beyond factory on average gets the best improvement in mileage?

what restrictions can i take off of my car to increase gas/mileage and horsepower?

while talking to a friend, he mentioned that the government puts restrictions on the car that can decrease the gas/mileage and horsepower. i know there are things that you can add to increase horsepower, but what can you take off to help gas/mileage?

220.00 was this a good price?

I got 2 new tires and an oil change and the total bill was $220.00..I got them at firestone auto care. Was this a good price? The tires each were $77.99..It was for a 2004 ford taurus

question about my tire?

i plan on going to buy a new tire tomorrow because i have a flat. I was thinking about having them plug it up but the last time i was there they told me i need a new one and that they could blow out at anytime so im just gunna get a new one. for a firestone FR380 its 94 dollars and free mounting does that seem like a good price? at the firestone store i could get it for 56 but i think they charge like 25 bucks to mount. i wanna get it from the other place cuz thats where i always get my oil changes and i have a credit card for that ( 3 months no interest) thanks.
size – 205/70R15

Mercedes 2003 -s430 4matic Service?

I recently got mercedes s430 year 2003 at 63k miles on it. 4 tires haven’t been changed. Now it looks like the time has come to change them as the car slipped while driving in rain along a curve. Having said that, i also need to get the oil change and wiper blade change, the transmission (gear box) oil change. Since this is the first time i own and am expereincing the mercedes service, i want some advice and guidance upon as if i need to take the the car to Mercedes dealer service centre or and a General serivce center like ( Firestone, Pepboys, Meineke etc or any other brand names out there) . I have been haunted by people that mercdes showroom service will be extremely expensive and tires cost will be double price. Please can anyone suggest what needs to be done in my case. Any suggestions from individuals who have found a difference in between these service centres are welcome.. Thankyou for reading and guidance that you will be providing…

Can Auto dealer charge like this?

I just came home from my 2007 Mazda regular service and got shocked to see the details on my bill.
The dealer charged me $127.00 for replacing Cabin Filter. The break down of this is $29.73 for parts and $98.00 for labor. I felt very bad about it. Can he charge like that? How much time it takes to replace a filter and what hourly charges he can bill me? Is there no limit on this?
He charged me $9.16 for brake fluid and $98.00 for service. He charged me $35.54 for oil change.
The total bill is $276.71 out of which , Labor is $206.00 and parts is $64.43.

If one can change cabin filter in 15 minutes and charge me $98.00 for that, he is charging me $392.00 per hour. Is Obama getting this rate?

What should I do?
I have bought extended warranty on this car and Can i get my service at another provider such as Firestone or Pep boys without lose my right of extended warranty? I believe this dealer is charging me very high price.
No, I did not blame Obama. I am just expressing my surprise that i got charged at a price I can even dare to compare president’s salary.

Look for an opinion on value and buyin this truck?

http://www.kelolandautomall.com/show.asp…

incase the link doesnt work it is a 97′ Dodge 3500 12V Cummins, 5 spd, 4×4, 182000, Dually, pwr windows-mirrors-drivers seat, leather seats, 5th wheel, extended cab, long box

from the pics paint looks good

asking price is 8995 i called and right off the bat he said he could do 8, i cam going to look at it in a week or so, and wondering what questions i should ask, he said he hasnt had to do anything but change oil and stuff since he has had it, the kbb is 9100 retail, 7500 private, he has came down alot from his orginal and i dont wana look like an @$$ offering him 7 or 75 which i can afford without having to go to the bank of mom and dad for a loan

also looking for your opinion on the value of my truck

96′ Dodge 1500, 360 V8, auto, 4×4, extended cab, short box, 140000, pwr windows-mirrors-driver seat,full bumper-bumper running boards, couple scratches repaired with scratch fix, no rust, lund hood scoops with black stripe under neath them, remote locks and start, firestone ride-rite rear suspension bags, rebuilt trans 10000 ago, new front ujoint and axle shaft on drivers side

the kbb is 6500 retail, 5500 private, 3000 trade
the 12v is the only thing i have mixed feeling my dad and a friend both have 24v and they are great but for performance all you can do is buy $500 super chips vs the 12v all u need is a screw driver

How much does an oil pan cost for a 1995 Mercedes C220?

I have a 1995 Mercedes C220 and the oil pan has a hole in it.My local auto stores don’t carry them.I also need to know how difficult is it to change the oil pan myself?How much do they cost also?

How much does it cost for a oil change on a mercedes s 550 .?

How much does it cost for a tune-up and oil change for a 2001 Mercedes ML 350?

does it really cost a lot more to maintain a Mercedes over another car?

I have always driven Japanese economy cars but now am looking at Mercedes and Lexus’. I am decided between the c-class and IS series.
However, everyone is warning me that the Mercedes will cost a ton more to maintain every year. Is this true? Can you give me an example of how much more an oil change for a mercedes would be?

Thanks.

how much does it cost upkeep a porsche boxster?

I will be purchasing a Porsche boxer but need to know more specs about the car. I know they are the easier to maintain compared to cars like Mercedes and other luxury cars. For example the oil change is about every 2 years max. I want to purchase a 97 so i need to know how much it will cost to upkeep. (any other year will work 98, 99 etc…)