How to Spot a Scam Mechanic

How to spot a scam mechanic and auto repair shop before they work on your car. How not to get scammed, DIY tips with Scotty Kilmer. There's good mechanics, bad mechanics, and scam mechanics, learn how to tell them apart. DIY car repair with Scotty Kilmer, an auto mechanic for the last 50 years.

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⬇️Things used in this video:
3. Common Sense

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⬇️Scotty’s Top DIY Tools:


⬇️Things used in this video:
3. Common Sense

🛠Check out my Garage to see what I use every day and highly recommend:

Consider subscribing and press the bell 🛎 icon to be notified of all new videos.

--Like me on Facebook:

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[bradjones]

I wish Scotty was my local mechanic 👌🏼

[liamott]

"There's book learning, and there's real learning."

-Scott Kilmer, 2018

[charlesdjones]

Scotty has helped save me a couple thousand dollars just fixing my own cars. With that, I honestly don't trust ANY mechanics to touch my car, all they do is cut corners and rip you off. Paid $55 at nationally known oil change place that took an hour to do what takes me 30 mins by myself. They broke my air filter housing, then put back only 3 of the 10 screws holding the wind cover under my Ford Focus. I took my Expedition to another well known automotive shop because of loose steering, he informed me that it was worn out struts and shocks, upper and lower control arms, tie rod ends and gave me a quote of $1300 to replace all that. He looked astonished when I informed him all of those parts were less than a year old because I installed them myself. As it turns out it was a $27 Pitman arm that took an hour to replace myself. It just goes to show you thousands of people get screwed over every day out there and there should be tougher laws to crack down on such crooks.

[ShenmueAtheist]

I made the mistake if taking my 2001 Maxima to Meineke years ago for an oil change. After 15 minutes the mechanic sat down next to me and essentially told me I needed about 3 grand in work done, but he'd do it for $2500 if i agreed to do it then and there that day. The car drove fine and i didnt have any issues with it soni was immediately suspicious. I told him no after he tried convincing me that I'd be lucky to make it home, and he went ahead and did the oil change. I took the car to a independent mechanic that a friend recommended and the guy confirmed that aside from some very minor stuff that would cost no more than $300 to fix, the car was in excellent shape. Needless to say I tell everyone to stay the hell away from Meineke now.

[cctvspystore]

I know I've found a good mechanic when i see him pop outta the trunk & ring a bell

[waylongreger]

I worked at a mechanic shop during the summer. The mechanic there never used a computer but immediately knew what was wrong with almost every car. That man was amazing.

[FalconsWhiteSox]

Mechanics that rip you off should be locked up like the crooks that they are.

[terrykadhim]

We need a credit bureau for Mechanics service quality & honesty!

[grizzle]

"lucky to find a guy like you around you" You are the last mechanic I would ever want. You spend half the day burning rubber and the other half sleeping in trunks. lololol
thumbs up as always.

[leedress]

just because you can pass a driving test doesn't mean you can drive a car. same goes in ALL walks of life.

[oveidasinclair]

First up front sign of a scam mechanic, they will have a salesman in the front office.

[Armmani]

You could not have said it better! Finding a good mechanic is as hard as finding a good dentist 100%

[LordCarpenter]

Even the quick oil change places try to scam. Took my daughter's car in for service (I was visiting from out of town, and she had no way to change at her apartment). Mechanic called us into the garage area, pointed to a drop of oil in the oil pan area, and stated we had an oil leak. Only problem was, I already knew she didn't have a leak, because I had checked her parking space at the apartment, and the oil drop he was pointed to was honey-colored... indicating he had placed it there himself. After speaking with the manager and threatening to call the local news, we got her oil changed for free. Although I should've called, anyway.

[wholeNwon]

My mechanic retired and all of his customers are sort of heart-broken. He had a heavy Italian accent so you had to listen carefully but he was brilliant. Dropped my car off for front brake pads and saw a 12 cyl. engine on a stand and asked what it was from. Ferrari America!! Another time I was driving by and saw him under a RR, so I stopped. He showed me what he was doing and why it was a very poor quality car. Then there was the time he was so busy he knew he wouldn't be able to get to my repair quickly so he showed me the defective part and told me how to install it (only one way and simple). I did it in 10 min. Brought him a xmas gift one year and he thanked me then showed me his office stacked floor to ceiling with other gifts and said that, in the future, he really rather I give the money to charity. He was very honest and never over-charged anyone that I know of. You were very lucky if he'd accept you as a customer. I saw him gently turn down several.

[TheNondiscriminatory]

A lot of cars out in the front with dust because it takes them a week to get to your car is a sign of a bad shop, period. He nailed that one. Good shops get cars in and out of there in all but a day or two, unless it's a serious job like an engine swap, then it's usually a Saturday gig. Still, no lots of cars. Avoid those places!

[WS-gwms]

I made the mistake of saying no rush. I was not in a rush, I was out of work at the time. Took 2 weeks for a 2 hour job.

[williamwade]

I didn't see a single calendar in your shop with a female model, you are clearly NOT a mechanic.

[MelloOwnsRyuuzaki]

"very good tools can be very small" -Scotty Kilmer

[kdeh]

I took my wife's vehicle in to a Stealership for a mandantory State Inspection a few years ago (the only time I ever take a vehicle to a shop). The service tech not knowing I'd been turning wrenches for 40 years, a young, wet behind the ears guy came and got me in the waiting room and informed me of a very bad leak in my rack and "Come out here, I'll show you, the rack and pinion is all wet because of a leak, " he said. As we walked he said he had time to do the replacement today for $985 if I wanted to go ahead and get it done. He then took me under the vehicle on the lift and a sure enough, and area of the rack and pinion was all he said, "you see, this is very I looked, sure enough it was wet, and I said, "Oh, the wetness coming from the AC Condensate line just above it???" To which he said, "Uh, uh, uh, yea, I guess it cooouuuld I laughed, and said, "Get our vehicle off this lift, and don't ever try to scam me again....do I make myself clear!!"