We’ve all at some point experienced or watched someone we know experience being charged for unexpected and completely unnecessary extras when taking vehicles for repairs or servicing. The frustrating part is that even after all the added extra expenses the car sometimes comes back from the workshop in a worse condition than it went in, after spending a ridiculous amount of time at the workshop. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency shares 5 ways to help you avoid these unexpected and unnecessary extras that are taken from us during repairs or servicing.

Seek a Second Opinion

Or even a third and fourth opinion. When given a diagnosis for repairs as much as you can shop around on price and second opinions for the repairs. Spend some time surfing the net and seeing other mechanics to get information that can save you thousands of naira off your repair bill. Sometimes, with these mechanics the diagnosis for repair might be right, but the price for the repair would have been greatly exaggerated. So, do your research.

Try to Isolate the Problem before Going to the Mechanic

Try to determine beyond reasonable doubt what is NOT the problem with your car. To do this, you should have basic knowledge about your car and its mechanics. When you are able to narrow down what is definitely not wrong with your car and what are the likely things that can be wrong with it, it will be easier for you to shut down a mechanic trying to rip you off.

Also, if you can properly isolate the problem of your car before seeing a mechanic, it makes it easier for them to test the car and get the problem solved without wasting much time or having to go back and forth.

Know Your Car’s Routine Service Items

You car’s routine service items are usually listed in the car’s owner’s manual against each service interval. If you don’t have the hardcopy of the owner’s manual, you can get the soft copy online. You should check for surprise extra charges on your invoice after servicing and question it before attempting to pay for it. Your mechanic should be able to explain the extra charges or be ready to finance it.

Leave Strict Instructions to Be Notified of Extra Costs

Most mechanics will naturally not hesitate to notify you when there are extra costs, because they naturally would never use their personal funds to pay for your vehicle’s servicing or repairs. However, it is still advisable you instruct them to alert you about extra costs for repairs or servicing, just in case. When they notify you about these extra costs, understand the need for the extra cost and based on the advice of a good mechanic, determine if the repair can wait till the next service or whenever you can afford it.

Look For a Mechanic You Can Trust

It might be a long arduous search but once you finally find one, it can make everything a lot easier for you and eliminate the option of having to go from pillar to post seeking for second and third opinions. Look for this mechanic ahead of time and establish a working relationship with him by having him do your basic maintenance. Then, when major problems arise you will know where to go. You can use referrals for this – ask friends and family about their mechanics and favour the referrals of those that have been using a particular mechanic for a long period of time. You should know that you can have more than one mechanic you trust; it doesn’t have to be only one.

^^^No mind am o, buy which parts?
Some of them no dey ever gree say you buy better parts. Well, except you buy from 'reputable' autoshops.

One way to avoid getting cheated by most (Nigerian)mechanics:Don't buy a car...that's all

If in Lagos.... Allow the part seller get you a reliable mechanic.... Once you have been able to negotiate parts prices fairly.... They usually keep such Mech in check and often you don't pay for the parts until fitted and tested to your satisfaction....

Many Nigerians are not very particular about the workings of their vehicle, neither do they have the time to source the parts of their vehicles themselves. Hence, I do not think buying the auto parts of your vehicle by oneself would be a good sell for most people. It would be a great idea for a few people who are either auto enthusiasts or auto technicians.

I think people should seek out trustworthy mechanics and auto parts suppliers by themselves for the vehicles they possess.
These auto technicians and auto parts suppliers should be at least two in order for them to have a second opinion on the auto technicians' judgement on the diagnosis of the vehicle's fault on one hand.

On the other hand, it would enable the vehicle owner confirm the prices from auto parts suppliers of the auto given to him/her by the auto technician, in order to ascertain that there was no overcharge. The right condition (New/Toks), Model and if possible brand of the part (if new) should always be specified, as the prices may differ if any of these indices also differ.

If you really want to avoid it, then there are only two options :
1. Buy a brand new car and get ready to dispose it after three years
2. Don't buy a car at at all

Maintenance is usually more expensive when it comes to car



that's liability you know!


#positivevibes

To who it may concern

Ok

Try to know most of the parts prices

make I read all the comment incase I decides to buy my own car.

Big man big problem

The best way is for you to know how ur car functions because when u r discussing the problem with the mechanic he will know that u r not to take for a ride.

most times when they tells you that a part is faulty 1, they either wnt to collect the money 2, if u prove to be too stubborn they will allow u to buy a part that you don't need just just to waste ur money.


Even a new car cam develop fault...
and no matter how you do it


in Nigeria mechanic go chop your money

Okay

Good thing i fix my car myself.
In fact i feel bad letting other people fix my stuff, from electronics, generator, car etc.

Don't go to Baba Kabiru's workshop. *runs out*

Understand your car!

This link can help a great deal https://www.nairaland.com/3661728/on-board-diagnostics-obd-ii-questions

Get a Factory Service Manual, even if you will not fix your car, if you read it carefully and understand the technology, you will be able to tell clowns apart from geeks

You should not worship mechanics, you should be able to discuss intelligently with them. You should not just nod like a frog when they talk to you, powerless to ask questions, accepting their version of the story without questioning!

Only access to a Factory service manual and careful study of the same will do that.

And don't forget, technology is racing forward unstoppably.

If you are buying vehicles with modern technology, and your mechanics are not being updated on modern technology like their counterparts worldwide are, the least you can do yourself is buy your own copy of the Factory Service Manual for your modern ride and get them to use their old school experience and your new school instructions to fix your ride to your satisfaction.

How will you benefit from purchasing your own copy of a factory service manual? Here is what one Lexus owner had to say:

Yes, I have service manuals for all 3 of our vehicles, two of which are Lexus. My feeling is that you don’t have to be a mechanic to benefit considerably from the information. By knowing how the vehicle is constructed, the component names and of course the procedures to diagnose and repair various systems you’re in a better position to work with your service provider. And if you decide to do the work yourself you have the instructions to help you do the job the way the manufacturer specifies.

Generally automotive service manual content is addressed to service technicians who are proficient with the tools of the trade. And as you might expect you will probably need to come up to speed on some manufacturer-specific acronyms and jargon before you will get the most from them. Fortunately Toyota service manuals are organized similarly so that if you become familiar with one the learning curve is easier for the next.

A way to determine if manuals would be a good investment for you is to go to the Toyota technical information site: http://www.techinfo.toyota.com and buy 2-day standard access to service publications for $15.

Source: http://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-2nd-gen-2004-2009/571862-08-rx350-service-manuals.html

6. Trust your guts. If you have a funny feeling about it, then get someone else.

Just did an overhaul of my car & have the following for sale. Send me a PM if interested:

An 020-cut crank shaft for sale

A 12V 45Ah Car battery

An unlocked brainbox

younghartz:
Try to know most of the parts prices

Is it really possible to know most of the prices of the auto parts and accessories of your vehicle when you are not a dealer in auto parts?

Even an auto parts dealers wouldn't know all the prices of auto parts as he wouldn't stock all the parts in his shop.

But at least, you can now have a fair idea of the price of any auto part your mechanic would want to change by finding the average price various auto suppliers/dealers would give you on the www.autopartz.com platform.

This way, the risk of being overcharged or ripped off by any auto technician is now reduced.

Give them the impression they are going to buy the parts. Let them write it down and also their workmanship. Discreetly go and buy your parts yourself. You will be shocked at the price differences. He will be grumbling but nothing else.