Category: Uncategorized

Car Parts – Prices and the Internet

Is this a good price for this repair? This is a question I get asked a lot by friends and family out of town. Of course, getting an estimate from multiple shops is the quickest way to answer that question but also the trickiest. Keep in mind, when looking for estimates, always consider warranties and how reputable is the shop. A shop that does not offer a warranty can charge a lesser price. Also, how long has the shop been in business and will they be in business long enough to provide a warranty? A small hole-in-the-wall shop has low overhead, less skilled mechanics, and will offer a lower price but not a warranty because they are too small to cover the cost of redoing the work.

The other thing to consider is to make sure the estimate covers the same number of parts. For example, if you are replacing a timing belt; does shop A price the timing belt and labor only, then you call shop B and they price the timing belt, water pump, pulley, seals, drive belts, and labor. Shop B’s price will be significantly higher. So, make sure you are getting the same price for the same parts for the job.

Be careful when buying parts on the internet. Sometimes you can find a good price, but that is not always the best choice. If you are buying to put the parts on yourself, one problem with the internet is the warranty. Yes, they advertise a lifetime or multiple-year warranty, but how do you warranty the part? You will have to take the part off the vehicle for free. Then you must ship it back and then you will have to wait 1 to 2 weeks or more depending on the part place shipping. Now you have no transportation. Hopefully, you own a spare vehicle.

If you buy parts for a shop to install, then that is also risky. Most shops charge a higher labor rate if you bring your parts. So, depending on how long it takes to put the parts on, you may spend more money bringing your parts than if you just used the shops’ parts. So, get an estimate before you buy parts to see if it is worth the price. Also, the shop’s warranty is quicker to get your car back on the road. With the internet parts, you do not know the quality of the parts, and shop heads know which brand works best with which car. For example, Bosch spark plugs work great in BMWs and Mercedes but not Chevy or Fords. Give us a call at White’s Automotive if you have any questions – we’re here to help! Or you can submit your questions at https://www.wtvm.com/page/auto-expert/.

Business Break: November

How to find the right mechanic for you

One of the hardest things to do in the automobile repair industry is to find a good mechanic. A lot of people believe that dishonesty is a major factor in automobile repair. That may be a factor in some places, but it is not a major problem. In my experience, it is more of a case of training or lack of experience and people just make a mistake. For example, is the manager or owner a businessman with little knowledge of vehicles or do you have a well-trained mechanic running the shop and making sure the rest of the mechanics are doing their job correctly?

When you take your car to a repair shop, let them diagnose the problem. When they tell you what’s wrong, ask them why or to show you the problem. All systems on a vehicle are logical in the way they work. The person who is telling you what you need or the mechanic working on your vehicle should be able to explain what is broken and its function in the system. If they cannot explain it logically or it doesn’t make sense, then that is a red flag. Either he doesn’t know enough or he’s being dishonest. In either situation, I would not want them working on my vehicle. Now in some shops, the salesman may not have full knowledge of vehicle systems and the mechanic does. So don’t be discouraged if he must go get the answer from the mechanic. That just means he is being thorough and doesn’t want to get the information wrong.

The second thing is the price to repair your vehicle and how to know whether it’s a good price or not. One major factor is does the shop gives a warranty on the repair and is the shop reputable enough to stand behind their work. Also, how long has the shop been in business in your area and will they be around to honor the warranty given? If you go to a hole-in-the-wall place, you might get a cheaper price because they have low overhead, less experienced people, and no warranty.

Car repairs are the same for all shops. If you need a water pump, shops must do the same work as our shop and if you compare prices, make sure our price includes the same number of parts. For example, one shop buys my price belt, water pump, antifreeze, and thermostat, whereas the other prices a water pump and antifreeze. In bigger, long-lasting repair shops, prices will be roughly about the same. If there is a major difference, then something is wrong. If you have any questions, please call us at White’s Automotive – we’re here to help! And remember you can submit your car repair questions at https://www.wtvm.com/page/auto-expert/

Business Break: October

What Kind of Tires Should You Buy?

In the past, I talked about when it’s time to replace your tires. Now I want to talk about what kind of tires you can purchase to replace the bad ones. In this article, I’m not talking about the cheapest tires you can find. However, the cheapest tire is still better than used tires. I’m also not talking about the most expensive tire. They both serve a purpose, but we don’t need to walk around in the most expensive clothes just because of the name written on the clothes.

In this first image, there are three values molded into every passenger tire manufactured for the USA. The first is treadwear, this value is about how long the tire will last. The government requires the manufacturer to put the tire on a machine and wear it out. This number is the same for all manufacturers. So, if you have a Goodyear with a rating of 450 and a Mastercraft at 600 then Mastercraft will last longer. Traction and temperature are rated by letters: A being the best and C being the lowest.

The tire that is best for you depends on your driving. The average number of miles driven on a vehicle is about 12,000 miles a year. Most tires, as a rule of thumb, last about 5 years before dry rotting starts to develop. If you only go to church and the grocery store and drive about 2000 miles a year, you don’t need an expensive 60,000-mile warranty tire cause it will dry rot before you can use it all. On the other hand, if you are a soccer mom or a commuter and you drive 20,000 miles a year, you should consider an 80,000-mile tire. You will use it up before its dry rot sets in.

This image shows the DOT number that is put on all tires. The first number is manufacturer-specific. I’m only talking about the last 4 numbers. The first 2 numbers are the week that the tire was made in this example, it is the 7th week. The last 2 indicate the year it was made. So, this tire was made in the 7th week of 2023.

So, if you must buy a used tire, or wonder how old that new one is before you buy it, then this is how you can tell. So, hopefully, this information helps you out when deciding to purchase. Try to match the mileage warranty with how many miles you may drive in 5 years. The tire’s brand name is just a personal preference. Use the 3 values in the first image to compare tires because the unit of measurement is the same for all brands. Come see us at White’s Automotive Center if you have any questions and remember you can also submit these questions at https://www.wtvm.com/page/auto-expert/.