We know that it's difficult to trust people, especially when it comes to business. We've been conditioned to be cautious, through our own experiences as well as the experiences of others. Dealing with mechanics adds another level of distrust, as a common misconception among the public is that no mechanic is to be believed. We take exception to that, as we strongly believe that a small segment of the mechanic industry has tainted the perception of all mechanics due to their unscrupulous practices. But we are also realistic, and understand that earning your trust takes time. There are, however, certain instances where you should defer to trusting your mechanic, and we want to outline those instances in detail for you.
1) Safety - If your mechanic has taken a close look at your vehicle, and pointed out something that may be a potential safety hazard, you should trust them. The reason is that being cautious and potentially making your car safer far outweighs the very remote risk of getting work done that you may not need. The chances that the mechanic you're dealing with is recommending work that is unnecessary under the guise of safety is not very high, although it is possible in some cases. So the following caveat should be noted: If the mechanic is using scare tactics to have you perform the work, saying things like the car is a "death trap," or that he "wouldn't get in it for a million dollars," then you might want to consider having another mechanic take a look at it. There's a difference between informing you of the seriousness of a particular issue and using fear as a selling tool, and your gut feeling may help inform you on what's really happening. But as far as safety is concerned, too many people die in preventable vehicle accidents to take any possibilities lightly.
2) Diagnosis - This is considered by many mechanics to be one of the biggest difficulties of the job. A customer comes in and has already determined what is wrong with their vehicle, either though their own knowledge, by going online, or through their "friend" or "cousin" who may or may not be a mechanic. Despite the mechanic's best efforts to offer a diagnosis of the problem to confirm things before starting the work, the customer is adamant about what the problem is. Or, the customer allows a diagnosis but disagrees with it, and orders different work to be performed. The mechanic is the one who has analyzed the car, ran the proper tests and determined what needs to be done, and if the shop is at all reputable, they will cover their work to make sure that the problem that you came in with has been addressed. Of course, there are exceptions, and if you feel uncomfortable with the mechanic's explanation, you should certainly look to get a second or third opinion. But in the overwhelming majority of cases, you should certainly trust your mechanic's diagnosis.
3) Logic - There are times when some recommended mechanical work follows a certain logic, according to the mechanic and their knowledge and experience. For example, some work is better performed simultaneously to other work. If you're going to replace your timing belt, it's advisable to replace your water pump at the same time, since the same parts need to be removed, and going back in to replace a water pump at a different time will add unnecessary labor costs. Mechanics typically have years of real-world experience which gives them great insight into all kinds of short cuts and labor saving techniques, so a competent and trained mechanic can give you some great tips when it comes to maintenance and repair. It's like following a survival guide into the wild, they will know what to look for, and how to make the best use of your time and resources. So trust your mechanic's logic, it will very likely be sound.
4) Cutting your losses - There will be times when a mechanic actually recommends what work you should NOT do, and when this happens, you should take them at their word. One example may be with a vehicle that's older, or in poor condition. When you bring it in for a repair, the mechanic may actually recommend that you don't put any more money into it since the value of the vehicle may be less than the cost of the repairs. If you have a 1997 Dodge Neon that needs the transmission replaced, you're probably better off applying the money that would have gone towards repairs to a new vehicle. Similarly, a mechanic may indicate that parts do not need to be replaced, even when someone else has told you that they do. If that's the case, you should certainly trust the mechanic and forego the repairs.
5) Not doing business - While this situation won't come up very often for the average consumer, you should trust the mechanic who doesn't want your business. This is mostly directed at the small segment of unscrupulous mechanics who couldn't care less about how well they treat you. If you ever hear a mechanic say that you should take your business elsewhere, then you should take them at their word. Of course, there is always the possibility that you're a difficult customer to deal with, but not knowing you or the mechanic makes it impossible to deduce what the reason for them saying that may be. The only thing that's for certain is if you, or the mechanic, believe that you shouldn't do business with each other, the absolute smartest thing to do is to not do business as you're only setting yourselves up for what will inevitably turn into an unpleasant experience for everyone involved.
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