Will using you void my factory warranty?
No. Federal law, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, means a manufacturer can't void your warranty just because an independent shop did the maintenance. We log everything with parts numbers and dates so you've got the paper trail if it's ever questioned. Bring us the schedule and we'll follow it exactly.
Why do you charge for a diagnostic when the parts store does it free?
Because they're doing a different thing. A parts store reads the code off your computer, which tells you the circuit that's unhappy, not what's wrong. A P0420 might be a bad catalytic converter or an $80 oxygen sensor, and the code can't tell you which. The hour we spend tracing it is the difference between fixing your car and selling you a part.
Can I bring my own parts?
Yes, with one condition: we can't warranty the part, only our labor. If the part fails in six months you'll pay us to do the job again. For most people that works out worse than just letting us supply it, but it's your call and we won't give you a hard time about it.
How long will you have my car?
Brakes and routine service are usually same-day if you're in before 10am. Diagnostics depend on what we find. Anything needing a part we don't stock adds a day, sometimes two if it's a dealer-only item. We'll tell you the honest estimate when we call with the inspection, not a hopeful one.
I got a quote elsewhere. Will you look at it?
Happily, and we won't automatically tell you it's wrong. Sometimes another shop's quote is fair and we'll say so. If we think something on it isn't needed we'll show you the part on your car and let you decide. Second opinions are free here.
Do you work on European cars?
BMW, Volkswagen, Audi and Volvo, yes. Mercedes and Porsche we'll do routine service on but we'll send you to a specialist for anything deep. We'd rather turn away work than learn on your car. Anything electric, we do tires, brakes and suspension only.
