Do mechanics mess with your car?

Even the people who are being paid to fix your car can sometimes damage it accidentally. Some shady mechanics know that you know absolutely nothing about your car and prey on it. Some repairs are a bit complicated, but honest mechanics will try their best to walk you through it.

What do you do if your mechanic is scamming you?

If you suspect fraud and would like to file a complaint, call the state Bureau of Automotive Repair at (800) 952-5210. You may also check to see if a repair shop is registered with the state at www.autorepair.ca.gov.

How do I know if my mechanic is honest?

Honest mechanics will communicate clearly with you in words you can understand before, during and after the repair. Compare any scheduled repair with your owner’s manual. Honest mechanics will give you written estimates including parts, labor, and other supplies.

What to do if a mechanic is scamming you?

Do mechanics steal gas?

While gas station drive-offs and siphoning are far more common methods of stealing gas, reports of tank and line puncturing are starting to trickle into police departments and repair shops across the country. …

How do you tell if your gas has been siphoned?

It can be difficult to tell if your gas has been siphoned. The best way to tell is to keep track of your fuel level before you leave your car and make sure the level hasn’t changed when you return. If you do have a locking gas cap, there might be scratches or damage on it where thieves attempted to access your gas.

Can siphoning gas hurt your car?

Locking caps protect more than gasoline, they protect the car because siphoning can do some major damage. “The harm it does to a car with a hose going into the fuel tank, you can’t get the hose out. So once you push it in, now you have to have a mechanic come remove the hose,” said Matoza.

What can I do if a mechanic rips me off?

If you were ripped off by your mechanic, you may not be out of luck – depending on the circumstances, you may be able to file a lawsuit for conversion, fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of contract, breach of contract with a fraudulent act, or violation of the Unfair Trade Practices Act.

Why would I need to replace the engine in my car?

This is usually done either because of failure or to install a different engine, usually one that is bigger and better to make your car more powerful and or economical. Sometimes older engines may have a shortage of spare parts so that a modern replacement may be more easily and cheaply maintained.

Is it hard to get an engine swap right the first time?

Getting an engine swap right the first time is hard. Ironing out all the issues isn’t a one time thing. It takes a process of trial and error over many months. I’ve seen guys spend thousands trying to get their new engines to work perfectly, only to end up stranded on the side of the road for the fourth time since the engine was replaced.

Can a mechanic Bill for work they don’t do?

Billing for Work That Was Never Donetext:Joe said it’s not unusual for mechanics to bill for work they don’t even perform, such as saying they installed a new air filter without actually touching it. “Some [air filters] are difficult to change, and it’s real easy to charge for it and not put it in,” he said.

Can you put a different engine in a different car?

You can either swap another engine that’s designed to work in the car you have, or you can swap in one that’s totally different. As you might imagine, swapping in a completely new engine is way more difficult than putting in a manufacturer approved alternate engine.