Flat Rate Auto Repairs Explained - Automotive Repair Costs

Auto repair costs at a shop are basically comprised of labor and parts. Labor is typically calculated based on a standard "flat rate" estimate. Flat rate labor guides estimate labor time down to the tenth of an hour. For my example, if a starter for a specific vehicle pays 1.2 hours to change, the labor cost will be determined by multiplying the time by the shops labor rate, lets say the shops labor rate is $90.00 per flat rate hour (1.2 x $90.00=$108.00). Keep in mind that labor times can vary greatly depending on the year, model and engine size. Also automotive repair shop labor rates vary at each shop and from city to city. Labor time does NOT take in to consideration the requirement for special tools, experience or lack of.

Flat Rate or Actual Time

If the actual time it takes to repair the vehicle is LESS or MORE than the estimated flat rate time, the customer still pays the flat rate amount. More experienced auto technicians and techs with time saving tools can most of the time beat the flat rate time (AKA book time). The technician, if paid by flat rate has an incentive to do the job fast and correctly. If he makes a mistake and has to do the job again (commonly called a comeback) he does it the second time for free! Also keep in mind that a flat rate technician does not get paid time and a half for over-time, or for standing around waiting for work or parts. It's necessary for the technician to be productive and make up for this lost time by learning from his experience and buying tools that make him more efficient. Tools with exception of larger shop equipment items are usually the responsibility of each mechanic to purchase individually.

Parts Cost

The cost of the parts to fix the vehicle will depend on the deal the repair shop gets when they purchase the parts at wholesale, if they are new or rebuilt and how much their profit margin is. The typical markup is 30 to 40%, although this may vary. Yes, some money may be saved by shopping around and buying the parts directly, but most shops won't install parts provided by the customer. Also as far as the warranty goes, if a part fails that the facility provides, the shop will be responsible during the warranty period. If a part fails that was provided by the customer to the shop, the customer would be responsible for paying the labor all over again and handling the warranty replacement.

I personally would prefer to have a knowledgeable technician work on my car and repair it faster than the book time as opposed to having a less experienced tech work on my car longer to achieve the same results.

Tips for a good auto repair shop experience.

Choose a shop that has a good reputation.
Ask to inspect the old parts, ask what has failed or worn.
Talk to the technician when possible to eliminate a break down in communication.
Ask for a discount, the worst they could say is there is they cannot provide one.
Have a written estimate on large repairs.
Test drive vehicle before paying if possible.
Choose a shop that specializes in the type of vehicle make.
Consider if you prefer a national warranty or not.

Find out more about DenLors Blog, it has automotive repair information for professionals, consumers and the weekend warrior. Along with good information and the right mechanics tools getting the job done has never been easier.

Do it Yourself Automotive Repair

Is your budget feeling the strain of auto repairs? Are you interested in learning how to fix your own vehicle to save some money? If this is something that interests you, then there are plenty of resources to check out. You never know, this may become a favorite hobby of yours once you get the hang of it.

Check out the Internet for credible websites that give you all the details of any repair you may need to make on your vehicle. The Internet is a great resource and best of all many of these sites are free! Some even have videos for the visual learners.

There are a couple of other reasons why the web is such a good resource. One is because of the huge amounts of sites out there, there is likely to be very detailed and accurate information on even the rarest of auto repairs. Another reason is that the web gives you access to varying mechanics' opinions as well as community forums to bounce ideas off of which can be extremely helpful.

Automotive repair is not always cut and dry. This means that you may need multiple sources of information in order to repair your vehicle properly. If this is the case, the library is the place for you. Many libraries have multiple shelves of how-to auto repair guides. This is a great way to learn about new techniques and be able to complete even the trickiest of auto repairs. With the help of these resources, you will be well on your way to successfully repairing your own vehicle!

Chevy Automotive Repair Guide

If your Chevy is in need of repairs and you do not have the funds to hire a mechanic it may be time to break out the tools and give automotive repairs a try. While many people assume that auto repairs are overly complicated and difficult, the reality is that with a little bit of practice and enough time, anyone can perform a number of automotive repairs on their own.

Before you can start working on your Chevy, you'll need to make sure that you know what the problem is and how to fix it. If you have access to a Chevy automotive repair manual for your year and model, you should be able to use it to diagnose problems and discover the best way to fix them. Armed with this information, you stand a much better chance at successfully repairing your vehicle.

You will need certain tools and equipment to repair your vehicle. Make sure that you are fully prepared when it comes to DIY. There are many basics that you can do to ensure that your vehicle is functioning properly. Consult your automotive repair manual consistently. Every 3000 to 4000 miles you will need to change your oil and filter. Make sure that your tires are inflated. Fuel efficiency is lost if your tire are under inflated. Be sure to keep your battery cables clean. Check to make sure that there is no corrosion. Be sure to check your fluids regularly.

As you are thinking about repairing your automobile yourself take out time to familiarize yourself with your car. Learn more about the parts and how they function to make your car run. Make sure that you have the required tools for the job. You'll also need to obtain the right parts for your vehicle from an auto parts store, online, or even from a junk yard. You will need the required tools and the right clothing before your begin your repair. You can purchase some overalls or put on some old clothing. This is in order to protect your good clothe from oil stains or other damage.

When you are repairing your Chevy you will need to be sure to take all safety precautions to ensure that there are no tragic accidents. While under the car, never allow the jack to be what's holding it up. Jacks have the capability to slip and fall over, which will allow the vehicle to fall. Use quality jack stands when repairing your vehicle. Be sure to disconnect the battery at the terminal. Be careful when near flammable liquids. When you are repairing your vehicle you need to think about safety first. Be sure that you have all the correct tools and have the knowledge of how to use them. Safety should come first when it comes to repairing your vehicle. You may be trying to save money by repairing your vehicle, but if there are any injuries more money is going to be coming from your pocket.

While there may be a temptation to go it alone, make sure you follow your Chevy automotive repair manual exactly so you will get the job right the first time. Manuals have diagrams and pictures that will guide you the entire way and were written by the engineers who have a complete understand of how your car works.

CDManuals.net sells electronic auto repair manuals including Chevy auto repair manuals for most older vehicles. Visit them at http://www.cdmanuals.net/ for great deals on your vehicle's auto repair manual.

The "Family" Business - The Godfather's Business or the Automotive Repair Shop?

When somebody mentions "the Family Business" I think of a well dressed, old and skinny Italian man with a scratchy voice and has a name like Tony or Sammy. My Grandfather, who I've mentioned in some of my other articles, definitely fits the bill. With just one glass of a good Chianti wine, you might find him in our garden patio, rocking back and forth, singing Italian love songs for hours. He was indeed a short, skinny guy, who talked in a voice very similar to the Godfather and at the age of 80 he still had a full head of gray hair. Give him a mandolin and it was almost like being in an old Italian movie.

Well let me get back to what "Family" means to me in a Family Business (beyond that old Italian theme). It doesn't matter whether it's an automotive service business, like Sandy and I operate, or a cleaning business, a landscaping business, or even a street sweeping business. You see, when Grandpa owned businesses in his younger days, it was his name, his word, and his values that he was offering. He wasn't fixing transmissions, brakes, or air conditioning like we do. Grandpa was painting murals on grocery store windows. But like us, he knew if he didn't deliver good quality work for his customers, his name would be ruined and he might have a hard time finding work - especially in a tight nit New England town. That's why I like working with businesses here in Austin that are family owned. Businesses that are family owned are much more likely to stand behind what they do because they're offering far more than a product, their offering the meaning of their word and their reputation.

In the automotive business, a family owned business is more than just an automotive repair facility. A family owner, and his hand picked team, can be "trusted" advisors of what you "don't" need to do as well as what you might want to do now to avoid bigger problems down the road. They'll get to know you and your car so they remember what was worked on last time and how the problems you may have experienced before fit with what's happening now (or not). It doesn't matter whether you're fixing transmissions, brakes, or air conditioning, or your fixing a dishwasher. Family owners tend to care and so many are so very trustworthy.

Family owned automotive repair is much like a family doctor and his trusted nurse practitioner and small administrative staff. In a big hospital conglomerate where Dr's might be overworked and see you once or twice in an emergency room, they aren't going to care about you as much as Dr. Mulligan who will be with you for years as your family doctor and knows you and your family's names and watched your kids grow. In addition, although the hospital doctor might ask you a few questions about what happened to you in the past, he's really not going to put it together the same as Dr. Mulligan who was there treating your family's health issues with you.

I guess that kind of sums it up for how I feel about family businesses. Many small businesses are indeed family businesses, so when you hear somebody say they are a small business, you may very well be hearing somebody offering the luxury of a family business. More than likely, it will be a business from which you'll enjoy years of great service.

Frank Bellucci is the President of Performance Motors in Austin, Texas. In addition, he likes to think of himself as a rather funny person. His wife doesn't agree. But that's OK. Frank seems to have limitless funny experiences with cars, one of his great passions in life. You can catch Frank driving down 183 in Austin in his Land Rover. He loves his Rover more than wine. And he really likes wine (just not at the same time). Anyhow, look for articles that have good information with a bit of humor in the coming months! Visit Frank at http://www.perfmotors.com.

Automotive Repair Training Correspondence Course

Automotive repair training is one of the most practical courses you could ever take. Like good teachers, doctors and chefs, anywhere in the world you are, there will always be a need of people who good at repairing cars.

One of the most frustrating (and sometimes frightening ) thing for drivers is the times when their vehicles breakdown in busy traffic or on lonely country roads. And what is worse, is hiring auto mechanics who are no good and hence are unable to solve the problems.

It is no surprise that some so called auto technicians or auto mechanics have no previous training. They have learned how to "fix cars" by watching their dads work on their cars.

Whilst experience is a great teacher, it does help a mechanic to become more skillful if he had automotive repair training. Such training lays out the theory and practical aspects of repairing an engine.

One must remember that the car engines of today are a lot more complex that 20 years ago. There are sophisticated computer systems, braking systems and suspensions. An auto mechanic needs to keep abreast with rapidly changing auto technologies.

Automotive repair training gives aspiring mechanics up to date knowledge of the modern day engine and how to solve the problems such engines experience. This training can be done entirely via correspondence. The course materials are delivered right to the door of the student.

What is more, getting this training via correspondence is a time saver - it allows the student the opportunity to study in his spare time whilst getting vital on the job experience.

If a career in car engine repair intrigues you, seek quality online schools that offer car repair training online or via correspondence. Look for schools that have been around for a while and have a proven track record.

Next, find out which online school offers the top rated automotive repair training. Visit: http://www.DistanceLearningDegrees.org

Car Repairs - The Smart Approach to Automotive Repairs

"My car is making a clicking sound"

"A clicking sound? Bring it in and we'll have a look at it"

A bill for $276.87 later and they say they couldn't "replicate" the problem, although it should be taken care of, since this is normally where that sort of issue occurs.

You hand over your credit card, pay your bill and head down the road, only to have the noise reoccur 3 days later. There are few things as frustrating as having to deal with a problem that won't go away, and that continually costs you more money. You're not stuck, though. Most car issues, mechanical or otherwise can be resolved by a combination of diplomacy and perseverance.

Throughout the entire automobile ownership experience, it is important to keep all of your paperwork. Maintaining a file from the purchase to the repairs and any issues you have had, will not only save you from unnecessary headaches but it will also give you some extra incentives that buyers of used cars love to see. When it comes to repairs, keep all of the workorders, written estimates and diagnostic reports from your visits to the auto repair shop, making sure that the work performed and amount paid is clearly stated.

When you contact your local dealership or garage remember that diligence and thorough communication is key. Many car owners will be quick to state that they were ripped off by a salesperson or even more often a repair shop. Don't allow yourself to fall into this category, as it is not only frustrating for both parties but it will inevitably cost you more money then what you needed to spend. Before, you take aim at your local repair professional it is important to ask yourself if you properly explained the specific nature of the issue you were having, before they started advising you of what the problem "probably" is.

Explaining the automotive problems that you are having with your car does not require you to be mechanically inclined, it only requires that you be a keen observer and an effective communicator. In order to protect yourself and your pocket book explaining, to your repair facility of choice, how and when an issue occurs is vital. The first time you hear a noise, make a mental note of what you were doing when it occurred. Were you turning right or left, were you accelerating or braking, were you under load (towing or lots of cargo), was it at night while being chased by vampires? Alright, chances are the last one probably won't actually occur, although being that specific of the circumstances surrounding an occurrence will help the technician diagnose the problem correctly and also help you save money from unnecessary repairs.

Once you have noted a problem and the circumstances surrounding it, try and replicate it yourself. If you are not able to replicate it, keep a mental checklist of when it does occur. When you notice the issue occurring on a semi-regular basis, "almost every time I accelerate after turning left I hear a clicking sound", make an appointment with your local service department. Have the service writer (advisor) or technician go for a ride with you and have them try to duplicate the issue or noise. That way there will be no doubt about what the mechanic is trying to address.

When you get back to the repair shop be sure to tell the service advisor or technician to diagnose the problem fully and contact you before beginning any work. Ask what guarantees are available on the parts they will be installing to fix the specific problem and also the labour. A lifetime guarantee on a muffler is great, but when it is time to replace it, there often will still be a substantial charge for labour and hardware. Asking these questions will help you in preventing surprises down the road if the repair they perform doesn't do the trick. Before agreeing to any work being started, another step in the process is to check which recalls and technical service bulletins pertain to your vehicle. If they diagnose a problem that can be repaired by a recall or tsb make sure to advise them of that fact.

For those of us who have inevitably run into those reoccurring issues, where no matter how many times we try to fix a problem, it just never gets resolved, work through your service centres hierarchy. Whether there is an underlying problem which continually manifests itself through "that infamous check engine light", or that the shop just misdiagnosed the problem, start by first speaking with the original service advisor / technician. This is where the diplomacy comes into play. Losing your cool at this point of the transaction will undoubtedly result in you not having your car repaired at all. If you are respectful and make them want to help your automotive problems, everything will proceed with far less stress. Since many dealerships service department personnel get paid bonuses based on customer satisfaction surveys, much more attention should be paid to your problem at this point.

Many situations can require a second go around to narrow down the actual problem. If at this point however, your automotive problem is not resolved, speak to the service centre manager. Once you have reached this level of hierarchy in the dealership you very rarely need to go much further, but if they still can't alleviate your car's problem to your satisfaction, ask to speak to the general manager, they are the individual that oversees the entire operation of the dealership. Respectfully make them aware that that if there is not a satisfactory outcome with your car's problem, you will report it to the automobile manufacturer customer relations department and / or the Better Business Bureau.

If the dealership or service centre simply will not or, is not able to alleviate your car's problem, contact the automaker themselves, starting with your regional office. Inform them in detail of everything that has happened up to today. You may want to include copies of all the documents you have from the dealership. Don't be afraid to tell them what you'd like to see happen whether it be installing new parts or refunding your money? The automaker's main goal is to create and maintain a loyal customer base. They provide dealerships an extensive array of tools to help them maintain this customer base and if they have not done so you should not be the one to pay for it.

If you have a vehicle that is older and out of warranty remember that most manufacturers allow for "secret warranties" or "goodwill adjustments". Be sure to ask your dealership or the manufacturer if these are applicable. Also, many consumers choose to use independent repair shops once their warranty expires. Checking with triple A, CAA or the Better Business Bureau will help you choose a shop that is right for you.

While everyone has heard or told horror stories about cars that had spent weeks in the shop and cost thousands in unnecessary repairs, the truth is that most repair shop personnel are trying to make an honest living and want to do quality work. As frustrating as the situation may be, refrain from losing your cool and taking it out on the service staff - or you might end up with more problems in your car than you started with. Be respectful, patient, polite but persistent. Remember mother always said you will catch more flies with honey then with vinegar.

http://www.honda-cars-insider-advice.com

10 Easy Tips to Avoiding Major Automotive Repairs

Over the years the cost to repair a vehicle keeps going up. In this case, the best offense to spending less money on expensive automotive repairs, is a good defense. Preventative maintenance can help to eliminate major repairs that could have you shelling out thousands of dollars on something that may have been fixed at a much cheaper rate. Here are the top 10 services recommends to saving money and avoiding those nasty repairs that can cost thousands.

Oil Change- This is a no brainer. Your engine is a highly sophisticated piece of equipment. Changing the oil every 3,000 miles will keep your engine operating properly. Importantly, some vehicles require synthetic oil, like the 2000-2009 Volkswagen's and Audi's. Even if you have used non-synthetic oil, these manufacturers have required synthetic due to engine claims. The bottom line is, the average cost for an oil change is $29.95 (a little more for synthetic oil). However, if you don't change your oil and your engine blows, it could cost about $5,000 to repair.
Transmission Flush- The transmission is the second most expensive unit to replace. Changing the transmission oil every 30,000 miles will keep it operating properly. The average cost to replace your transmission fluid is $100.00. On the other hand, it could cost $1,500-$4,000 depending on the transmission.
Coolant Flush- The coolant flush keeps your engine running cool and removes scale and debris from the coolant system. The freeze point and PH level becomes inadequate over time so this service can help restore them. The cost for a flush is $79.95, however you could spend approximately $500.00 to replace a radiator.
Fuel Injection Service- Every gallon of gas you use includes 10,000 gallons of air. Carbon is a byproduct of you engine running and needs to be cleaned out periodically. This will help restore the gas mileage, which you slowly loose over time. This service also helps prevent you from having to replace the injectors which is very expensive. The average preventative maintenance cost is $70.00. If you don't do your preventative maintenance it could cost $500.00
Fuel Filter Service- Changing the fuel filter can help your fuel pump work easier and prevent it from overworking itself and possibly going out. The fuel filter also becomes clogged with dirt and debris from the fuel that we use so it needs to be changed periodically. Your fuel filter service cost about $40.00. If you neglect your filters it may cost $200.00-$500.00.
Differential Service- Another one of the oils in your vehicle. If you have a 4 x 4, an all wheel drive vehicle or rear wheel drive vehicle, you should change your axle oils to keep the drive-train working properly. The oil in these systems is similar to the oil in your engine, but doesn't need to be changed as often. Preventative maintenance for a differential is $40.00. The alternative may cost $300.00.
Air Filter Service- Changing you air filter will allow your engine to use clean air for combustion, which will keep your gas mileage where it should be. Changing an air filter every 15,000 miles will make your engine a happy camper! For $15.00 you can replace your air filter, resulting in better gas mileage a huge potential for savings.
Cabin Air Filter Service- If your vehicle is equipped with one of these filters, changing it will keep the air that you and your kids breathe clean. There are also systems out there that will clean out the air ducts which can house some pretty nasty bacteria! For $30.00 you (and your family) can breath clean air.
Power Steering Service- The power steering unit uses a oil similar to your engine as well and should be changed every 30,000 miles. This will keep the power steering unit from experiencing any whining noises, etc. Preventative maintenance for your power steering is around $80.00. The alternative can cost $300.00.
Fuel Treatment- Along with periodically cleaning out the fuel injectors with a full system flush, you should use a pour in fuel treatment every 3,000 miles to keep the carbon from building up. A fuel treatment can cost $10.00, but you can save on improved gas mileage.

By keeping the fluids and filters in your vehicle clean, you can expect better performance out of your vehicle. The cost to maintain your vehicle varies, but the result is the same -you can save a lot of money and time by avoiding those major repairs.

My name is Nick Vuko Jr. I'm the general manager of Quick Nicks & Snappy Lube. We are a family owned and operated automotive shop offering customers fast and friendly, express oil change in Lincoln Nebraska. We also offer auto repair and preventative automotive maintenance, as well as, a variety of other services for cars, trucks, vans and suvs. Quick Nicks is committed to providing fast, quality service to help maintain your vehicle for years to come.