Comments on: Day 10: Car Repair on a Budget http://momadvice.com/blog/2007/08/day-10-car-repair-on-a-budget Sat, 20 Mar 2010 16:50:28 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Ann @TheAssetEdge http://momadvice.com/blog/2007/08/day-10-car-repair-on-a-budget/comment-page-1#comment-14692 Ann @TheAssetEdge Sun, 19 Aug 2007 23:41:00 +0000 http://momadvice.com/blog2/?p=1307#comment-14692 The retailer Autozone is another great resource for thrifty car repair. Here are some of their free services:<br /><br />Diagnosis of your "check engine" light <br /><br />Troubleshooting guide, when something is wrong with the car <br /><br />Repair guides, that give you step-by-step instructions for repairs <br /><br />Loan-a-tool: with a deposit, you can borrow specialty tools <br /><br />Vehicle testing: they will test your starter, alternator and battery for free <br /><br />Battery charging - and it only takes an hour <br /><br />Recycle motor oil and other car fluids <br /><br />Find out more at http://www.autozone.com/ The retailer Autozone is another great resource for thrifty car repair. Here are some of their free services:

Diagnosis of your “check engine” light

Troubleshooting guide, when something is wrong with the car

Repair guides, that give you step-by-step instructions for repairs

Loan-a-tool: with a deposit, you can borrow specialty tools

Vehicle testing: they will test your starter, alternator and battery for free

Battery charging – and it only takes an hour

Recycle motor oil and other car fluids

Find out more at http://www.autozone.com/

]]> By: Anonymous http://momadvice.com/blog/2007/08/day-10-car-repair-on-a-budget/comment-page-1#comment-14693 Anonymous Mon, 13 Aug 2007 09:33:00 +0000 http://momadvice.com/blog2/?p=1307#comment-14693 Do check out the Chilton's books as my van needed a main computer and I was able to figure out where it was on the van, called a "salvage yard" got a used computer and put it in myself, savings- $800. The dealerships are ALWAYS higher on their prices as most are union and must pay their mechanics big bucks- or at least they say they do. Save money too by learning how to change your own oil, spark plugs, etc. Do check out the Chilton’s books as my van needed a main computer and I was able to figure out where it was on the van, called a “salvage yard” got a used computer and put it in myself, savings- $800. The dealerships are ALWAYS higher on their prices as most are union and must pay their mechanics big bucks- or at least they say they do. Save money too by learning how to change your own oil, spark plugs, etc.

]]> By: It's you know who! http://momadvice.com/blog/2007/08/day-10-car-repair-on-a-budget/comment-page-1#comment-14694 It's you know who! Sun, 12 Aug 2007 13:18:00 +0000 http://momadvice.com/blog2/?p=1307#comment-14694 Wow, a fire??! That's awful. I'm glad everything ended up working out ok in the end. Glad your husband was alone and no kids in the car. Whew. That's scary. Might I ask what make of car that was? I'd like to avoid it! lol :) Wow, a fire??! That’s awful. I’m glad everything ended up working out ok in the end. Glad your husband was alone and no kids in the car. Whew. That’s scary. Might I ask what make of car that was? I’d like to avoid it! lol :)

]]> By: Tammy http://momadvice.com/blog/2007/08/day-10-car-repair-on-a-budget/comment-page-1#comment-14695 Tammy Sat, 11 Aug 2007 12:12:00 +0000 http://momadvice.com/blog2/?p=1307#comment-14695 We have needed body work done on our car twice within the last year. Once, our neighbor backed into our car, and the second time when my husband lost control of the car on an icy stretch of road. <br /><br />The neighbor's damage was to the driver's door. The body shop my husband took our car to first told us that we needed to replace the door, and it would be over $1000 to do the work. (Our neighbor didn't end up having insurance!! But through a series of events, he did end up paying us for the damage repair.) My husband talked to a friend at work, and he mentioned that he had a friend who did body work out of a garage at his house. His quote was WAY more reasonable (and he didn't have to replace the door!).<br /><br />For the second accident, damage was done to the hood, front bumper and passenger door. We already knew a guy who did honest work for a good price, so we took our car to him. I don't remember the cost, but it was under $1000, which was very reasonable considering all the damage!<br /><br />I realize your post was about repair and not body work, but I recounted all the above because all car work can get out of hand when you go the traditional route of dealerships and chain mechanics/body shops. I so agree that the very best thing you can do is to ask around and find someone with a locally-owned business who is trustworthy! We have needed body work done on our car twice within the last year. Once, our neighbor backed into our car, and the second time when my husband lost control of the car on an icy stretch of road.

The neighbor’s damage was to the driver’s door. The body shop my husband took our car to first told us that we needed to replace the door, and it would be over $1000 to do the work. (Our neighbor didn’t end up having insurance!! But through a series of events, he did end up paying us for the damage repair.) My husband talked to a friend at work, and he mentioned that he had a friend who did body work out of a garage at his house. His quote was WAY more reasonable (and he didn’t have to replace the door!).

For the second accident, damage was done to the hood, front bumper and passenger door. We already knew a guy who did honest work for a good price, so we took our car to him. I don’t remember the cost, but it was under $1000, which was very reasonable considering all the damage!

I realize your post was about repair and not body work, but I recounted all the above because all car work can get out of hand when you go the traditional route of dealerships and chain mechanics/body shops. I so agree that the very best thing you can do is to ask around and find someone with a locally-owned business who is trustworthy!

]]> By: Amy http://momadvice.com/blog/2007/08/day-10-car-repair-on-a-budget/comment-page-1#comment-14696 Amy Sat, 11 Aug 2007 11:39:00 +0000 http://momadvice.com/blog2/?p=1307#comment-14696 They believed that it was due to a piece in the wiring of the starter that we put in. We provided the VIN number and such, but it didn't fit under the recall.<br /><br />Thanks for the help though! They believed that it was due to a piece in the wiring of the starter that we put in. We provided the VIN number and such, but it didn’t fit under the recall.

Thanks for the help though!

]]> By: Milehimama http://momadvice.com/blog/2007/08/day-10-car-repair-on-a-budget/comment-page-1#comment-14697 Milehimama Sat, 11 Aug 2007 11:16:00 +0000 http://momadvice.com/blog2/?p=1307#comment-14697 One of our best investments was to spend $20 and buy a Chiltons or Haynes manual for our cars. Even if you are unable to tackle a repair yourself, they have diagnostic guides that will give you a general idea of what the problem is, what the fix is, how common a problem it is, etc., and often has given me additional insight, info, and questions to ask the mechanic.<br /><br />Knowledge is power - especially when you are woman at a repair shop! One of our best investments was to spend $20 and buy a Chiltons or Haynes manual for our cars. Even if you are unable to tackle a repair yourself, they have diagnostic guides that will give you a general idea of what the problem is, what the fix is, how common a problem it is, etc., and often has given me additional insight, info, and questions to ask the mechanic.

Knowledge is power – especially when you are woman at a repair shop!

]]> By: justelise http://momadvice.com/blog/2007/08/day-10-car-repair-on-a-budget/comment-page-1#comment-14698 justelise Sat, 11 Aug 2007 11:04:00 +0000 http://momadvice.com/blog2/?p=1307#comment-14698 If the car had been recalled for catching on fire and the dealership had told me that even though mine caught on fire the damage was out of warranty, I would've started calling other dealerships. I would've also started calling the corporate offices and making complaints. <br /><br />If your car was recalled, do you find it odd that you didn't get a letter in the mail about it? I've always gotten written warning about the recalls my cars have been involved in. If the car had been recalled for catching on fire and the dealership had told me that even though mine caught on fire the damage was out of warranty, I would’ve started calling other dealerships. I would’ve also started calling the corporate offices and making complaints.

If your car was recalled, do you find it odd that you didn’t get a letter in the mail about it? I’ve always gotten written warning about the recalls my cars have been involved in.

]]> By: maybaby http://momadvice.com/blog/2007/08/day-10-car-repair-on-a-budget/comment-page-1#comment-14699 maybaby Sat, 11 Aug 2007 10:30:00 +0000 http://momadvice.com/blog2/?p=1307#comment-14699 This is a great tip and one that has worked beautifully for us. We have a great relationship with a local mechanic who is a wizard with import cars and we've cultivated a relationship with a group of mechanics who work on domestic cars.<br /><br />Both sets of mechanics are customers at my husband's wine shop and they are occasionally willing to barter services for goods (and yes, we do include barter on our tax returns). <br /><br />Since we hate car payments and we drive only cars we can buy with cash, we essentially are always keeping beaters going while we use what would have been the car payment money to pay off our debt (almost there!). If you drive older cars, finding a great mechanic is a must! This is a great tip and one that has worked beautifully for us. We have a great relationship with a local mechanic who is a wizard with import cars and we’ve cultivated a relationship with a group of mechanics who work on domestic cars.

Both sets of mechanics are customers at my husband’s wine shop and they are occasionally willing to barter services for goods (and yes, we do include barter on our tax returns).

Since we hate car payments and we drive only cars we can buy with cash, we essentially are always keeping beaters going while we use what would have been the car payment money to pay off our debt (almost there!). If you drive older cars, finding a great mechanic is a must!

]]>