2. "Always ask for your old parts back. This way you'll know they've been changed, and you or a friend can tell if they're worn."
I always do that.
3. "Be careful with "road hazard" warranties on tires. The shops may give you a free tire here and there, but eventually they will soak you with unnecessary alignments or suspension replacements."
I usually get mine done at walmart and haven't had them tell me this.
4. "All brakes are not equal; ask for estimates on brake jobs. Many mechanics will use very cheap parts and mark them up. Good mechanics who understand cars will never skimp in this area."
Common sense, I think if I crashed because my brakes failed the mechanic that did them is on the hook.
5. "Remember to have your car test-driven. A good test-drive is just as important as a regular service -- it might mean the difference between simply needing brake pads and having a complete rotor replacement."
Who does this? Unless you have a good mechanic friend (that'll usually be the person that you take it to anyways and won't steer you wrong) most people won't know anyone that's qualified to do this.
6. "Good mechanics, like good customers, are hard to find -- communication is key. A good mechanic will explain repair phases and give you choices."
There's a lot of truthiness to this statement.
7. "Be wary of certified pre-owned cars. Usually in this business the only thing that's certified is that someone owned the car before you. Very little ever gets done on these types of cars."
Common sense again.
8. "Don't bring your car in on Friday afternoon, because the mechanics might rush the job to get out for the weekend."
Again more common sense.
9. "Beware of a mechanic who shows you a transmission pan with metal particles in it, and recommends a major job. The shavings are usually a sign of normal wear."
Not many mechanics would recommend major tranny work unless it was absolutely needed since most people will just walk away because they can't affort to have the work done.
10. "Before buying new tires, know what your state's tread specifications are. Then have the mechanic measure the old tread with a gauge."
It's like they want you to be stingy with tires. Tires and brakes are the most important safety features on your vehicle. Just because the state law says they're still safe doesn't make them safe.
11. "Watch out for ads promising $100 brake jobs. No mechanic can make money on that."
What kind of brake job? Replacing the pads is cheap, be more specific please.
12. "Transmission flushes are one of the biggest scams going. Manufacturers don't recommend them, and your car almost never needs one."
I don't know what they mean by 'flush'. If they mean replace the fluid then yes your car does need it and the manufacturer does recommend it at certain mileage intervals.
Some pretty decent advice here but some of it isn't that great either...
13. "The market is being flooded with cheap parts from China. Request a name-brand replacement and ask to see its box."
