Recently, Lexi and I switched cars because she needed a 4-wheel drive on snow in Flagstaff.  I had only been driving her car for a week when it completely conked out on me.  The first day, I had difficulty starting the engine, the next days, it took longer and harder to start, until it went kaput.

We don’t know much about automobiles.  We used to have a good and honest mechanic in town but ever since the owner got sick and hired new staff, my husband hasn’t been pleased with his service.  So, we were on the prowl again for a new mechanic.

During the new year’s party at my friend’s house, my husband tried to find a good mechanic through an acquaintance who claimed to know a top notch one.  His two other friends from the party also vouched for the mechanic.  My husband asked for his phone number.  I guess this mechanic has a full time job at an auto shop here in Payson and wants to supplement his income by after-work jobs.  Well, we didn’t see anything wrong with earning on the side, so we called him.

The next afternoon, he came over to our house.  He wasn’t able to tell what was wrong with the car without his tools, which he should have brought with him. Or possibly, he had them all along in his truck.

So, he came back again the following afternoon with his scope to have another look at it.  My husband left him alone this time because it was chilly in the garage, and he was getting cold.  I told him to keep an eye on the guy but he didn’t think it was necessary.  He trusted him.   About 10 minutes later, D (the mechanic) told us that the car needed a timing chain which could cost around $900 to $1,100.

D was so good at explaining what sort of symptoms a car manifests when it needs a timing chain. He acted so believable and trustworthy.

Hubby: (feeling so shocked) What if the problem is not the timing chain?

D: I eliminated all the possible problems, and I don’t know what else it could be.

Hubby: So, what do you recommend?

D: Tow the car to the shop where I work but don’t mention to the owner that I looked at the car already. Just say it won’t start.

Hubby: Okay

The next day, my husband looked for the phone number of D’s shop in the directory but for some  reason, the listing was not in 2010 phone book.  He then picked out another shop just to inquire how much a timing chain replacement would cost. The guy he spoke made several calls and said that it was highly unlikely that the problem of our car was the timing chain. He said that the Phoenix Auto Supply where they order parts don’t even carry that part for a Nissan because there hasn’t been a need for it.  He then talked my husband into bringing the car to his shop and promised to waive the diagnostic fee since we were first time costumer.

D who was looking at our car and who was supposed to come back the next afternoon to fix my husband’s Toyota’s heater,  knew nothing of the new arrangement made with the second mechanic.  My husband became leery about D after what the second shop had told him.

The next afternoon, D came and pounded on the front door. My husband informed him up front that he couldn’t find his shop’s phone number in the phone book so that lead him to call another shop and he revealed to him what they said about Nisson driving chains. D said he already ordered the part for the heater and asked to be reimbursed for it. We paid him $25.

D didn’t appear to care or so, I thought.  He said they were pretty jugged up anyway.  He left and promised to come back on Friday to fix the heater of the other car.

But D didn’t show up on Friday with the heater part as promised.  Not on Monday even, or Tuesday.  Not even a call.  What was wrong?  We started wondering.

To make the story short, in the interim while waiting for Friday to come, we ended up towing the car to a totally different shop recommended by my friend from work. Not to D’s or the other shop I mentioned above.  As it turned out, the problem was not the timing chain but cracked and loose spark plugs that needed to be replaced.  My husband felt a sigh of relief!  He had the new shop mechanic replaced the other two spark plugs, too, and put air in the tires – all for $120 including labor.

Look at how much we saved! It pays to shop around for mechanics, don’t you think?

Now, what about D? You be the judge.  He had a couple of days to look at the car, and being a good mechanic that he is per his friends, which we believe, he should have been able to detect the obvious problems right away.  And why didn’t come back to fix the heater on Friday? Any answers?

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