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Home Page > Automotive > Trucks > When Your Automotive Mechanic Does Flat Rate Billing for Auto Repair and Truck Repair in Tampa

When Your Automotive Mechanic Does Flat Rate Billing for Auto Repair and Truck Repair in Tampa

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When Your Automotive Mechanic Does Flat Rate Billing for Auto Repair and Truck Repair in Tampa

By: Business Local Listings

About the Author

Guy’s Automotive
3049 W.Hillsborough Ave.
Tampa, FL 33614
Phone: 813 353-1537
Fax: 813 353 1568
Email: guyskiver@msn.com
Website’s: WWW.AUTOREPAIRINTAMPA.COM, WWW.AUTOREPAIRTAMPA.NET

(ArticlesBase SC #1236581)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – When Your Automotive Mechanic Does Flat Rate Billing for Auto Repair and Truck Repair in Tampa

You cannot avoid auto repair or truck repair no matter how well you maintain your vehicle. You will still need to bring it to your automotive service center for auto inspection, engine repair or car transmission system repair some time. Perhaps you may need to have some of your car parts replaced with AC Delco car parts, or perhaps you will just need auto oil change. Whatever automotive service you will need, your mechanic will either use hourly billing or flat rate billing. Both are acceptable billing methods in Tampa. But what difference does it make?

Hourly billing is self-explanatory. Your automotive mechanic and automotive service center will bill you for the exact number of hours spent working on your vehicle. Flat rate billing, on the other hand, is based on how much time a flat rate book says a certain type of repair takes when done by the average professional mechanic. The flat rate book is an automotive industry standard that is used everywhere and not just in Tampa.

Flat rate billing becomes a problem when some clients believe that they are being scammed when they are billed for a three-hour repair that the mechanic finishes in just two hours. The clients think they should, therefore, be billed only for those two hours. They should take into consideration, though, that the three hour period specified in the flat rate book is the industry standard in doing such type of repair. This means that the average professional skilled mechanic will take three hours to do the job properly. If the particular mechanic was able to finish it in two hours, and the repair was done well, it just means that this mechanic is exceptionally skilled and perhaps has had long experience in such types of repair. The time and study he has invested in preparing himself professionally up to that point accounts for the speed with which he did the task. It is only fair that he be duly rewarded for it.

If clients fear being scammed, that could be possible with hourly billing, as well. Without the benefit of a flat rate book, clients will not have any idea on how much time it should really take to do a certain type of repair. For all you know, the automotive mechanic could spend four hours on a task that should take only an hour. Even if you do have a flat rate book at hand, the automotive mechanic who is being paid by the hour will not have any incentive to do the job faster even if he has the capability to do so. It will be to his best interest to extend the task to the maximum time possible.

With flat rate billing, therefore, both the client and the automotive mechanic are at an advantage. The mechanic can work at his real pace and if he finishes earlier than expected then the client can drive off much earlier, too. The mechanic can then take on other jobs and the client has lost less downtime.

There are times when the mechanic can even be at a disadvantage with the flat rate billing system. With very new car systems, sometimes the manufacturer’s estimate of how long a certain repair should take is quite tight considering the fact that mechanics have not had enough time yet to master its innovations. It would not be farfetched under such scenarios for mechanics to take even more time than specified in the book. This means they are on the losing end of the deal.

So if your automotive  mechanic in Tampa uses flat rate billing, do not blame him for it. You are not being shortchanged for as long as you are getting the highest quality of auto repair or truck repair.

Retrieved from “http://www.articlesbase.com/trucks-articles/when-your-automotive-mechanic-does-flat-rate-billing-for-auto-repair-and-truck-repair-in-tampa-1236581.html”

(ArticlesBase SC #1236581)

Business Local Listings -
About the Author:

Guy’s Automotive
3049 W.Hillsborough Ave.
Tampa, FL 33614
Phone: 813 353-1537
Fax: 813 353 1568
Email: guyskiver@msn.com
Website’s: WWW.AUTOREPAIRINTAMPA.COM, WWW.AUTOREPAIRTAMPA.NET

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Article Tags:
automotive, mechanic tampa, engine repair, auto repair, truck repair, auto oil change, car transmissions, auto inspection, ac delco, car parts

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Your automotive transmission is a vital part of your vehicle. You therefore have no choice but to have your automotive transmission system repaired when it breaks down. Automotive transmission repair can be very expensive, though, in Tampa and in any other area in the United States. You should, therefore, observe proper automotive transmission maintenance procedures in order to minimize the need for automotive transmission repair or at least postpone it as much as possible. When you do need automotive transmission repair, however, you have to make sure you bring your vehicle only to an auto service mechanic who is the best automotive transmission expert in Tampa. Your car repair mechanic should not just know about diagnostics, auto AC repair or automotive engine and brakes repair. Having the best maintenance and repair support will help you avoid tow truck towing services.

According to reliable auto service mechanics, many automotive transmission diagnostic checks and preventive maintenance procedures can be done by vehicle owners themselves day by day. There is no need to take the vehicle to the auto service shop in Tampa and spend extra for these.

A vehicle owner should regularly inspect the area beneath the vehicle for any puddles or wet spots that indicate the presence of a leak. A vehicle that leaks transmission fluid has a damaged transmission system. The vehicle’s transmission fluid should also be regularly checked with a clean dipstick. The transmission fluid should be allowed to drip from the dipstick to a clean sheet of white paper. The fluid should be a transparent red. If the fluid is dark colored or has dark flakes or metal filings, or if it smells burnt, this means the transmission fluid has oxidized. This should be your signal to immediately bring the vehicle to your Tampa mechanic.

The vehicle owner should always stay observant of how the vehicle performs while it is being driven. The automotive transmission should immediately engage without delay and the car should be ready to move forward when shifted from the park position to the drive position. There should be no jerks felt nor strange sounds heard from the vehicle. The same quick, smooth and quiet response should occur when the car is shifted from drive to neutral, and to reverse. The same should be true when accelerating or decelerating. The vehicle should never lag in responding to gear shifts. Observe the vehicle while still cold and when heated through. Sometimes, problems only show up when the engine has been heated. If the vehicle shudders, jerks or makes odd sounds at any time, take it for a diagnostic check up with your Tampa mechanic.

Make sure your vehicle does not overheat because overheating can damage the automotive transmission system. Overheating burns up and oxidizes the transmission fluid. This creates flakes and deposits that then clog the system. Overheating also warps the automotive transmission system’s metal parts and hardens its rubber seals and gaskets, often resulting in leaks and, ultimately, failure of the system. In Tampa, the intense heat of the sun can make overheating a normal occurrence, especially in stop and go driving in the midst of heavy traffic. If the vehicle is overloaded, this can add to the possibility of overheating.

Once you have observed all the recommended automotive transmission preventive maintenance procedures, you have already done everything you could to prevent the premature need for automotive transmission repair. When the time for unavoidable automotive transmission repair does come, your remaining responsibility is to leave it to the experts and bring your vehicle to your trusted auto service mechanic whose specialization is car automotive transmission repair in Tampa.

Not all auto service shops have the necessary expertise for automotive transmission repair because the automotive transmission system is complex, especially for newer models of automatic transmission vehicles. To ensure proper care for your vehicle, find yourself an auto service shop with a car repair mechanic who is an automotive transmission repair and maintenance expert in Tampa.

Usually, new vehicle owners have little more than driving skills. Regarding the automatic transmission system, they just know that “D” means drive, “R” means reverse and “P” means park. They may not even have had to check the transmission fluid themselves, nor do they know about the transmission dipstick. This task is often left to service technicians. One day, though, the car may start to leak transmission fluid. Or it may start making weird noises on the road and start behaving strangely, slipping and not responding to handling.

If your mechanic is not an expert in automotive transmission systems, he may know only about checking and changing the transmission fluid but nothing much beyond that. The proper diagnosis and repair of the problems of an automatic transmission system needs an experienced expert.

The simpler problems of the automatic transmission system, aside from the need to add or change transmission fluid, may be related to the controller, solenoid or valve body. If the problem goes beyond this, the entire automotive transmission system needs to be taken down for closer inspection and repair or rebuilding.

Automotive transmission repair or rebuilding is tedious and takes too much time. There are many different car models, each with variations in their transmission systems. The parts, tools and specifications may differ greatly. The mechanic needs to be familiar with the specific make of your car in order to be able to fix your transmission properly. Very few car repair shops and auto service shops can afford to have the expertise necessary for this.

Rebuilding the transmission system of a car can cost more than ,000.00 in parts and labor costs. Will you risk this much money on non-expert services? Remember that without the experience and expertise necessary, the mechanic may have done the work by trial and error.

Many shops do not even dare to try to repair or rebuild the automotive transmission system. They simply replace the entire transmission with an outsourced remanufactured one. They actually make more money this way since they get a profit from the remanufactured transmission, get paid for labor and spend less time on the job.

Before this happens, take care of your transmission system with preventive maintenance. According to automotive experts, changing the transmission fluid and filter regularly can prevent most transmission problems. Always check the condition of your transmission fluid through its dipstick. If the transmission fluid has a burnt smell or has turned brown or too dark, this means it has oxidized. You may also allow the transmission fluid to drop on to a paper towel. If the droplet does not disperse after half a minute, it is also oxidized. Oxidized fluid needs to be changed completely immediately.

The level of your car’s transmission fluid should also be checked regularly. This is best done while the transmission fluid is heated. The engine should, therefore, be left idling while the transmission is set to park and the parking brake is engaged.

When adding transmission fluid, be careful not to overfill it. Stop exactly at the full mark. Overfilling can lead to aeration of the transmission fluid which, in turn, affects the operation of the transmission.

Also check under your car regularly for transmission fluid leaks.

Of course, you have to also make sure that your auto service shop’s car repair mechanic is an expert not only on automotive transmission repair and maintenance but also on diagnostic services, engines, brakes and auto AC repair since you may also need such expertise for your vehicle in Tampa.

It took me a while to find just the right automotive shop and mechanic in Tampa. I first had to go through a lot of grief with other auto repair shops. Many of them are unprofessional and unreliable, not quite fulfilling agreements entered into. Repairs are usually not finished on time. Some auto repair shops use substandard car parts, resulting in return jobs that cost me valuable time away from work and other productive endeavors. Even worse, I often found my vehicle stalling in the most inconvenient places even after an expensive auto repair job. That was very frustrating, indeed.

I almost gave up on hoping to find an auto repair shop and mechanic that I could truly rely on in Tampa. I refused to get stuck with shops that offered poor service, though. There had to be a better way. I vented my frustration to a co-worker and, fortunately, he referred me to Guy’s Automotive.

He said he never brought his car anywhere else, whether for a simple auto oil change or for serious engine repair because the technicians there were highly skilled and experienced. They could handle everything from manual to automatic car transmissions, local to foreign cars, economy to luxury cars and even truck repair. He, therefore, made sure that he regularly brought his car for auto inspection and maintenance at Guy’s Automotive. He had so much trust in this automotive shop that I was convinced to give it a try. At that point, I had nothing to lose.

Guy’s Automotive in Tampa

Right off, I found the location of this auto repair shop to be very convenient, being near the downtown area. I decided to ask them for an auto inspection even if I still wasn’t experiencing any actual problems with my car. I thought it would be a good way to size up the shop and its staff.

The technicians were very efficient and friendly, indeed. Not only did they give fast service, they also clearly explained to me in layman’s terms what needed to be given close attention to in maintaining my vehicle. Not being very technically savvy, I greatly appreciated hearing about important details regarding my car in language that I could fully comprehend. I have never experienced such thoroughness from any other mechanic in Tampa. It gave me confidence in handling my vehicle and established my confidence in the auto repair shop, as well.

It turned out that some car parts previously put in my car were, indeed, of inferior quality and, although they were still functioning, were already showing signs that they would soon be needing replacement. The technicians at Guy’s Automotive  taught me how to check on those parts on my own to detect the very first signs of trouble so as not to be caught off guard on the road. They assured me that when needed, they would replace those parts only with top quality AC Delco car parts. Apparently, this auto repair shop uses only AC Delco car parts which they have proven to have the best performance.

True enough, in a few weeks’ time I found the warning signs they had told me about and was able to bring my car to Guy’s Automotive before having to be inconvenienced in the middle of a drive. I was so glad that they had diagnosed my car accurately and had provided me with crucial information and advice. I felt like an empowered car owner actively participating in keeping my vehicle in its best condition. It saved me time, money, effort and a lot of stress. It may have even saved my life.