Cars are fun to drive and they usually put a smile on the faces of their owners. However, they breakdown sometimes which leads to disappointments, stressful visits to the mechanic workshop as well as a hole in your bank account or a financial knockout in extreme cases.

This could be an avenue for your inexperienced mechanics to exploit and leave you unsatisfied. A fact most drivers are yet to discover is they know more about their cars than an average mechanic.


These are some of the resources at our disposal which will enable us outsmart them:


1. Car Owner Manual:

This is a book or booklet that comes with all cars containing its essential information and instruction for use. Many of us neglect them till they become dusty with their vast content, which includes: Safety instructions, maintenance information, features, vehicle operational directions etc. It also tells us about the tyres, brakes, fluids, when to change the timing chain/belt and when to change the engine oil as well as the type of oil to use.

For example, a 2011 Ford Explorer started to act funny and the maintenance required light came on about a month after its first oil change in Nigeria. The mechanics serviced the vehicle again and did all they could to no avail; they were about to decouple the vehicle before we advised them to use the recommended engine oil in the manual. It was all like magic to them. The manual is a factual document from the manufacturer while some mechanics do guess work more than you could imagine. This document teaches us to be proactive in handling our cars. This will do a great deal in reducing our dependence on mechanics and ultimately reduce repair cost.


2. Inferior Parts:

Some mechanics are synonymous with inferior car parts and claim they are helping you to save cost. The cost you save today will be compounded for you at a future date. Brand new original parts are better; if you have to settle for less, make sure you buy a certified first grade tokunbo part.


3. Online community and forum:

People who have been on car forums will immediately understand and appreciate this point. There is nothing as wonderful as asking any question about your car and you get a quick response from experts like Gazzuzz, Siena and other car experts as well as other drivers who have had a similar issue. The issue with the car might just need a do it yourself fix. The knowledge you’ve gained from the forum will also enable you engage your mechanic more effectively. If varied opinions are given to you on the forum, you will have to eliminate from the least relevant.


4. Routine and Scheduled Maintenance:

Do not pass the buck when it comes to the maintenance of your vehicle. Keep track of your last oil, air filter, transmission fluid and timing belt change as well as tyre rotations. You have to do some of the maintenance yourself; the mechanic may not be able to keep track of your car's maintenance schedule because they work on several cars except you use a repair shop that has a proper system.


5. Trust:

Always trust the car user manual more that your mechanic and consider the knowledge you have gained from forums when in serious doubt of your mechanic’s opinion. This only makes sense because manufacturer wants the best for their cars in as much as they want you to patronize them for replacement parts. Furthermore, the experience of various forum commenters cannot be over-emphasized. Run away from any mechanic you cannot trust. However, avoid being on a constant run as this could do you more harm.


Your car will treat you right if you give it the treatment it deserves. Do not say Honda cars have transmission problems when you use Abro transmission oil.

Finally, be weary of mechanics without a car diagnostics scanner as they will rely solely on their instinct.

What effective strategies have you been using to counter your mechanic? Tell us in the comment section.

https://autojosh.com/best-car-mechanic/

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Nice info...




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You can never know more than your mechanic

Ok

This is very on point. I've learnt a lot about simple car fixes in recent past, thanks to YouTube. I bought a mini scanner, pull d codes & if d repair is beyond me, I explain to my mechanic on what to do. Saves us unnecessary troubleshooting/dismantling & we get d job done faster.

DIY is d way to go, especially if you have an engineering background.

How can I join the online forum? My ride is sienna

uzoclinton:
You can never know more than your mechanic

Speak for yourself. Some people know everything about their cars, just that they don't have the instruments needed to fix faults themselves.

Have you ever read a car owner's manual before? I assure you, if you do, you'll know more about that car than many mechanics do. But it's not easy for most car owners because those manuals usually run into thousands of pages.

kindy51:
How can I join the online forum? My ride is sienna

You are already on one.

www.nairaland.com/cartalk

Nice points

I want to ask d OP,are air filters meant to be cleaned or changed automatically during routine maintenance?

Lol

uzoclinton:
You can never know more than your mechanic

You can know your car more than the mechanic.

henry247:
I want to ask d OP,are air filters meant to be cleaned or changed automatically during routine maintenance?

I think they're meant to be replaced. The frequency will depend on your driving condition. I do clean mine though, like monthly, 'cos I drive in a relatively dusty environment, and replace when I can't get it as clean as I would have loved. But I think my manual says to replace every 6months.

My car manual has really turned me to be a mechanic. I do most of my electrical and mechanical work myself in my car. My car is just my friend because I understand better after reading the manual

My advice to you on how to read car manual is; first scan though the contents, you must see interested topic that will put questions in you mind.

True, i use all these accesses to know things about my cars. Very helpful and insightful. you will even get to know about some hidden features your car has

I think it is noteworthy to also mention that the possession of personal electronic diagnostic tools such as OBD-2, would also assist in knowing your car more than your mechanic. This is because it would enable you do a personal assessment of the fault thrown up from the diagnosis of the OBD-2 tool before seeing an auto technician.

Onboard Diagnostics II (OBD-II) is a standardized system that onboard computers in cars and trucks use for self-diagnostics and reporting.

Deilluminator:
You can know your car more than the mechanic.

Leave am! Nice response.
Most mechanics in this part of the world learnt by observation, tutelage under someone who did thesame. So, we are bound to meet many that instinctively take actions on our car.

1. I met a mech in Kano who categorically told me solving an electric problem is only by changing the engine.
2. One told me oxygen sensor is useless. Does have any function in my car
3. Another told me my gearbox is gone-over 200k part. I learnt from google n my car forum the actual cause of the problem
4. One "specialist" did all he could and couldnt prevail. I stood with him for 3 hrs. He turned to me and said 'oga dis one no bi problem. Na so oyibo make ur car come'. I later learnt how to solve the problem with 400 injector cleaner.
I have learnt to study my car like a book and be able to intelligently contribute when my mech is talking. So thay my mech sef knows not to play around my car cos I know stuff.
Gbam

ogogo24:
This is very on point. I've learnt a lot about simple car fixes in recent past, thanks to YouTube. I bought a mini scanner, pull d codes & if d repair is beyond me, I explain to my mechanic on what to do. Saves us unnecessary troubleshooting/dismantling & we get d job done faster.

DIY is d way to go, especially if you have an engineering background.

Nice. Please where do I get a mini scanner

hysteriabox:

Leave am! Nice response.
Most mechanics in this part of the world learnt by observation, tutelage under someone who did thesame. So, we are bound to meet many that instinctively take actions on our car.

1. I met a mech in Kano who categorically told me solving an electric problem is only by changing the engine.
2. One told me oxygen sensor is useless. Does have any function in my car
3. Another told me my gearbox is gone-over 200k part. I learnt from google n my car forum the actual cause of the problem
4. One "specialist" did all he could and couldnt prevail. I stood with him for 3 hrs. He turned to me and said 'oga dis one no bi problem. Na so oyibo make ur car come'. I later learnt how to solve the problem with 400 injector cleaner.
I have learnt to study my car like a book and be able to intelligently contribute when my mech is talking. So thay my mech sef knows not to play around my car cos I know stuff.
Gbam

Imagine that! most of the work mechanics in Nigeria is based on trial and error. If you are not lucky, you will spend your money on what you are not supposed to.

Makes lot of sense..

After servicing my car years back..
D maintenance required light was still there..

I asked around.. No one could help why it was still there..

Till I entered google to see how to reset it..

It was a 2001 Honda..

Nice info. Quite informative. Get to know some rudiments for yourself such as;
1-The oil recommended for your Engine & tranny
2: Purchasing the parts yourself
3: Regular maintenance as directed by manufacturer
Add yours

I don't have the manual of my car, how can I download one...... car is 2006 Honda City

EricDonn:
I don't have the manual of my car, how can I download one...... car is 2006 Honda City

Google "honda city 2006 manual pdf"

Click on the first result and thank me later

After all
U.can not.fix more than mech

BE811APP:
Makes lot of sense..

After servicing my car years back..
D maintenance required light was still there..

I asked around.. No one could help why it was still there..

Till I entered google to see how to reset it..

It was a 2001 Honda..

Pls I m having d same prob now..... hw do I go abt it?....my mechanic just told me it wl go...I just did d servicing two days ago....same Honda baby boy 2002 model....