Feb
7
2010
Q:When a mechanic tells me I need to replace a part, how can I be sure
they are not over charging me for the part? Can I purchase the part
myself and take it to the mechanic to install?
A: There are a few things you can do;
To make sure the part they want to replace needs fixing, you can request to be shown the bad part, and you can take pictures or even video it, most cell phones will record a few seconds. With this you could get a second opinion from me through our ‘Ask Tk’ form.
You can certainly buy your own part; I advise calling several different part stores before purchasing. Understand that different brands of parts come in different quality, with different prices and different warranties.
After you have the repairs done you can request the old parts as well.
