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Jim Grant's Tech Tips
95
Buick LeSabre, Mechanic & Brake Problems
Q: I am a professional, single woman who has
a '95 Buick LeSabre and a couple problems to go with it. I brought it
to a brake shop for repairs on the front and rear brakes less than ten
months ago. I recently brought it back and told them something was not
right. They gave me an estimate of $300 to have the front brakes done
again and said "Whoever did the back brakes did a terrible job".
As a result of that statement I'm not going back there again! Also, I
have an annoying skip when accelerating (uphill especially) when changing
gears. I've had a tune-up, transmission service and I change the oil every
3000 miles. I know nothing about cars but I feel I do an all right job
in the maintenance department. Where can I get some honest, dependable
mechanic to look at the full picture of my car and explain to me what
exactly is wrong with it?
A: The
key to solving your problem is communication. This communication has to
be in two parts. First, always define your concerns on paper and then
review them verbally with the repair facility, then with the technician
that is working on your vehicle. If they (the repair facility) will not
allow you to talk to the technician that will be working on your vehicle
then leave, you're in the wrong shop. Second, demonstrate the problems
you are having during a test drive with the technician. It's also important
to stress that you want your problem diagnosed and, yes, expect to pay
for the diagnosis. Diagnosing the concerns provides two critical pieces
of information. 1. Confirmation of the complaint, 2. Identification of
the cause, which results in an explanation of the cause for the problem,
needed repairs and an estimated cost of the repairs. When you find a repair
facility that is ready to communicate at this level you've probably found
the people you need to repair your vehicle.
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