A MECHANIC has urged drivers to be wary of spending their hard-earned cash on a “tune-up” – as it may be a scam.
Tune-ups are check-ups that only apply to older vehicles – but modern car owners may be dishonestly told they need to pay for one.
A Toyota Master mechanic has warned drivers of potential scams at the repair shop[/caption]
Speaking on the Car Care Nut YouTube channel, a Toyota Master mechanic said: “Tune-ups used to be a term referring to tuning up the car back in the olden days.
“But I say every olden days because there’s been a long time of cars actually not needing a tune-up. There’s no such thing folks.
“All you do by going to a shop, saying you need a tune-up, or a shop telling you need a tune-up, is you’re basically writing a blank cheque to the shop.”
According to the AutoZone website, tune-ups tend to cost between $40 and $150 but in some cases can cost $800 or more.
However, the mechanic added that some old-fashioned shops may genuinely refer to a necessary spark plug replacement as a tune-up.
He added that there are numerous other car scams for modern car owners to be wary of, saying: “Unfortunately, the automotive industry is an interesting one.
“There is a lot of really good shops and dealerships and folks that are really trying to do the absolute best for you, their customer – for your car, for your budget. Trying to do the right thing.
“But infused within them, there’s a lot of bad stuff, people trying to make a quick buck, they take your lack of knowledge I’m cars as an opportunity to just go to town and scam away.”
As well as tune-ups, other potential scams include “winterizing” your car, lifetime fluids, lifetime warranties on parts or systems, a mechanic proposing to “flush” your car, alignments, and air-conditioning recharge.
In a post on the Torque News website, restorer and car journalist Timothy Boyer praised the mechanic’s advice.
He said: “These are typically the most believable scams that car owners believe are true because they were true back in the day.”
Speaking on the industry more generally, he said: “It’s unfortunate that mechanics, possibly more than any profession―whether it be a physician, lawyer, or police officer―are wholesale categorized and characterized as being dishonest.”
“It’s also unfortunate that there is some truth to this, and that is why so many car owners are scammed by mechanics and garages.”
He went on to provide further clarification on the definition of a tune-up, saying: “This is something that used to apply to older vehicles that needed their plugs checked and gapped along with the distributor, condenser, and points while checking the engine’s timing and adjusting it by slightly advancing or retarding the distributor in a clockwise or counterclockwise position.
“Today, tune-ups are not a thing in modern cars. Following your car’s recommended maintenance and servicing is the only ‘tune-up’ your car needs.”
How to avoid being scammed at the repair shop
Motorautocar and the AARP have east-to-follow tips to avoid being scammed by a repair shop.
- Motorautocar suggests asking to see parts that have been replaced or to see old fluids after they were swapped. If the shop says that’s impossible or refuses, it could be a sign it wasn’t done.
- Ask for a walkaround of the repairs that were done. Most mechanics are happy to show you what was done in the shop. While being walked around, look for evidence of repairs like the area being cleaned off, shiny new parts, tool marks on the bolts, tools being out or nearby, etc.
- Before taking your car in, look at other customer reviews on Google, Yelp, or Facebook. Many customers only review a company if they have negative reviews, so keep an eye out.
- For costly repairs, consider getting multiple opinions. If two to three shops suggest identical repairs, it’s likely to be true.
- Test a new shop with minor issues you’re aware of to see if they add anything to the repair bill.
- If applicable, bring someone to the shop who knows about cars to have them double-check or read a repair bill.
- Get everything on paper. Not only is it important for your repair records, but it can help protect you if legal measures are necessary.
Source: Motorautocar, AARP
