15 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets of Auto Mechanics

The United States alone, roughly 750,000 auto mechanics spend long hours diagnosing and repairing, and preventing motor vehicle problems. However, because of stereotypical portrayals in media and a jargon-filled vocabulary of car parts, drivers often feel as if their lack of knowledge could allow technicians to make use of them. However, that's not true according to mechanics. Technicians are available to assist. To get a better idea of what their role is, mental_floss spoke with a variety of mechanics from mobile mechanic Raleigh North Carolina both repair shops that are independent and dealerships. This is a brief look at what happens after your car leaves.

1. THEY WISH YOU'D STOP WIPING BOOGERS ON YOUR SEAT.

The car is often the living room of a mobile home, decorated with decorative accessories music, as well as dried snot. Charles, a mechanic who works at a Volkswagen dealership, and who runs The Honest mechanic blog, says he's seen his share of nose gold when working on cars. "People seem to like picking their nose and wiping it on the seat," the mechanic says. In order to do the job properly technicians would like you to bring your car in without any bodily fluids or garbage inside. "Sometimes there's an assortment of dirty clothes on the spare or fast food wrappers lying around the floor that we require customers to get rid of. Most cars are clean, however, people are not."

2. THERE'S A SPECIAL BOOK THAT TELLS THEM WHAT TO CHARGE--EVEN IF IT'S TOO MUCH.

Do you ever feel like you've overpaid for repairs mobile mechanic Philadelphia PA It's possible, but not the sole fault of the shop. The majority of mechanics working with a flat fee (as in contrast to a per-hour rate) uses an trade manual for the industry that estimates the time the typical repair would take. If you've paid, for instance $200 for a 2-hour job that a skilled mechanic can complete in just 30 minutes, you're still billed according to the manual, and you're not entitled to a reimbursement.

The auto tool business could be a part of the problem. "The way it becomes unfair is when a mechanic buys a new specialty tool that may cost $300 but that pays for itself quickly," says Ryan an ex-mechanic in Colorado. "It means they can do the job in less time, but the customer still pays for full time."

3. THEY CAN FIND MICE AND SQUIRRELS STUCK IN YOUR AXLES.

Depending on which part of the country you reside in, a car's warm underbelly could be attractive to rodents as well as other animals. Charles knows of acorns socked into hoods, and has pulled a squirrel out of the grill's entrance. "The biggest thing we see [in North Carolina] is chewed wires from mice," he declares. "They'll build a den in an airbox. I've also had to clean deer guts off." Should you be planning to store your car for an extended duration, Charles advises that some type repellent spray for rodents could aid.

4. THEY MIGHT RUN  latest jobs notifications  IN YOUR CAR.

Although few mechanics actually use their vehicles to enjoy joy trips, the fact that they're not paid for the time needed to test drive a car means your new, spotless Honda might develop a surprise streak of ketchup on the driver's seat. "Basically, every vehicle needs to be driven to make sure the problem is resolved," Ryan says. "If  govt jobs apply  headed out to lunch and you need to confirm that, it makes sense to drive it down the road."

5. THEY MIGHT RESCUE YOU IN A ROADSIDE EMERGENCY.

Though their individual morality is different, many mechanics believe they are it is their duty to stop whenever they spot a stranded driver. "I do a lot of highway driving in the winter and the rule of thumb is if you see someone stranded on the highway, you stop and check on them," says Ryan M., a mechanic from Winnipeg. "I've also pulled lots of vehicles out of ditches and off curbs."

6. DEALERSHIPS HAVE ACCESS TO RESOURCES THAT PRIVATELY-OWNED SHOPS DON'T.

If you've ever wondered if you should bring your non-warranty vehicle in for repairs at a local, less expensive owned repair shop rather than the dealer's label, here's a tip to consider: Many of those smaller outfits can't afford the kinds of details provided by car manufacturers in order to in diagnosing and treating any issue. " latest jobs notifications  to go deep into the Volkswagen brand," Charles says. "There are lots of sources we can access that an independent company would not. We can access the car's engineers if we require it. The name is an all-alliance. A small shop isn't going to invest $15,000 per year [for that data] to specialize in one kind of vehicle. If it's beyond their area of knowledge, it's more sense to visit an dealer."

7. YOU'RE TECHNICALLY NOT ALLOWED IN THE GARAGE. EVER.

You've probably heard about asking a mechanic to demonstrate the defective component to ensure they're not just making up work to do. That involves a trip beyond the prohibited door that reads "Do Not Enter." But , according to Ryan that you're not required to return there regardless of the reason. "Insurance companies don't want customers in the garage, ever," Ryan says. "It's not that dangerous, but it's not supposed to happen."

8. THEY SOMETIMES MAKE THEIR OWN TOOLS.

When mechanics begin with their own tools, some even investing in tens of thousands in equipment--there'll always come a time when they'll have to come up with a new idea. "A tool might be missing, or not put back in the right place," mobile mechanic Long Island NY Charles says. "Or an organization may not have the product you need. I have a whole drawer filled with sockets and wrenches. Making a custom tool can be exciting."

9. THEY USE A COOKIE SHEET TO STAY ORGANIZED.

While mobile phones have been handy to help keep the track of when a piece requires reassembling Some mechanics prefer to stay organized by laying out pieces in a specific order. "If I'm working on a vehicle I've never seen before, and it's a complicated job or a job spread out over multiple days like a transmission rebuild or something like that, I'll take a cookie sheet and magnets and lay things out spatially to stay organized," Ryan M. says. "You can also mark parts with a Sharpie."

10. THEY DON'T ALWAYS PERFORM EVERY LITTLE TASK.

Cars brought in for maintenance are required to undergo a litany of small adjustments, however, that laundry list of items can be neglected dependent on how busy for time your technician is. "Stuff like lubricating door hinges or latching mechanisms gets missed all the time," Ryan states. "It doesn't affect performance at that moment, but it can over time."