Trying to find someone to repair your vehicle or preform maintenance on your vehicle can be tricky. Don’t get off track when you first start and begin by learning whatever you can from the article that you’re about to read. You’ll be shocked by all that you learn.

Referrals will lead you to a great mechanic. You can ask anyone you trust, from your hairdresser to your family. This gives you the opportunity to find out about costs and the overall quality you can expect. Your friends are much more likely to be honest with you about how they felt about a particular shop.

If you are having work done on your car, make sure you get a written estimate beforehand. The estimate should include what is being repaired, the parts that will be needed and the anticipated cost for labor. It should also say that they will call for your approval before doing any additional work which exceeds the amount or time specified.

If your vehicle seems to be leaking fluids, start by replacing the gaskets and seals. The most common area for leaks is where different parts join together. You may not need an expensive repair if the leak stems from one of these easily replaceable areas. If the leak continues after replacement, you may have a more extensive leak.

Don’t ignore small annoying sounds or problems. These tiny annoyances, such as noisy brakes, are usually cheap to fix. If ignored, however, they can usually lead to much more extensive problems and expensive repairs. Replacing worn brake pads now is much cheaper than having to replace the pads, rotors, brake lines, and calipers later.

Watch for warning signs with a mechanic. There are a few signs to look for when you speak with them about your car. If they try talking really fast about the necessary repairs, can’t look you in the eye when talking to you, or try to brush you off, you should find another mechanic. They may be hiding something or they may only care about the money.

If you are short on cash and need some auto repairs, you should think about going to the car repair department of a vocational school near you. You will be giving students a learning experience as their teacher looks on to be sure the job is right.

Do not believe a mechanic who tells you it is necessary to get your engine flushed to maintain your car. This service is very costly. It is not a necessary service unless you have been hard on your engine. If you do not get oil changes on a regular basis, you should have this service.

Bleed your brakes after you’ve worked on them and before you take your car out on the road. Once you have bled the brakes, pump up the fluid of your brakes. Check for leaks to make sure the fluid doesn’t run out. You can then test drive your vehicle on an empty road. Start slowly to make sure that the repair is done well before you start to drive faster.

Always get your timing belt repaired at the proper time, according to your tune-up schedule. A timing belt going out can cause major engine damage, leading to much bigger repairs. Those repairs can run into the thousands of dollars, so don’t ignore that timing belt – you may be sorry if you do!

If your key “sticks” when you put it in the ignition, you will most likely need a new ignition switch as soon as possible. Having your key stick usually indicates that the switch is failing. If that switch is not fixed in a timely fashion, you could get stranded somewhere.

If you are considering a do-it-yourself auto repair, make very sure that you know what you are getting in to. Get a qualified quote for having a professional do the work for you, then determine what it will take in parts and tools for you to do it yourself. It could very well be that you will not save that much and will be risking things such as safety and reliability of your vehicle.

Never feel like you have to go to your dealer for any sort of auto repairs or maintenance. In fact, the dealer could be rather pricey compared an unaffiliated (yet still quality) local auto repair shop. Do your homework about where you are considering going, and then make the best call for yourself.

Always ask for a detailed bill for the repairs done to your vehicle. Go over the bill with a mechanic and ask questions if you do not understand the kind of work that was done on the car. Ask how much time was spent on each item and make sure this adds up to what you were billed for labor.

Top mechanics advise that you look for a mechanic who displays an honest demeanor. They say that, in addition to good BBB ratings and proper licensing and certification, a good mechanic is simply “up-front”. Mechanics who avoid eye contact, don’t give straight answers and disregard your concerns should be avoided.

To get the best performance from your car, be sure that your mechanic installs original equipment manufacturer parts (OEM). Even though these are more costly than generic parts, the resulting good performance is worth the cost. Additionally, factory approved parts add up to less wear and tear on your vehicle in the long run.

If you have noticed that your steering wheel has been shaking, there are probably simple reasons why this is occurring. Either your steering fluid is dirty, or one of your wheels is not aligned properly. Resolving this problem on your own is actually very simple. First, you just need to remove your steering wheel. Then, change the fluid, and tighten up the linkage. Once you do this, the shaking in your steering wheel should stop.

Implement the tips you’ve just learned the next time you need to fix your car. Lack of information can leave you overwhelmed, or worse, broke. Knowing your options will allow you to make the deal that works for you.