General Mechanical Repair
For the noises, leaks, and odd problems that do not fit neatly into a category.
Not every car problem has a tidy name. A rattle from under the car, a squeak that only happens on right turns, a drip you cannot identify, or a smell that comes and goes all deserve a careful look. This page covers the wide range of mechanical work that does not fall under a specific service.
- Listening to and confirming the complaint
- Inspecting on the lift and road-testing as needed
- Exhaust
- CV axles
Common symptoms
- A rattle or buzz from underneath the car
- Clicking when turning sharply
- A humming or roaring noise that changes with speed
- Exhaust sounding louder than usual
- Fluid drips you cannot identify
Common examples include exhaust leaks and broken hangers, CV axles and boots, wheel bearings, serpentine belts and tensioners, radiator and heater hoses, engine and transmission mounts, and rusted brackets or heat shields. Winter salt is behind a lot of these, particularly exhaust and underbody parts.
Describe what you are noticing when you request an appointment, even if you are not sure what to call it. We will look, explain what we find in plain language, and quote the repair before starting.
Every appointment is confirmed with a $100 booking/diagnostic payment (not credited toward repairs). If the cause isn’t known yet, the visit is used to diagnose it; the repair is quoted for your approval.
Repair labor is $100 per hour for every kind of repair — engine, transmission, electrical, heating and air conditioning, suspension, brakes and everything else. No higher specialty rate and no minimum labor charge. Labor hours are estimated for your specific vehicle and repair and shown on your written estimate before any work starts; we don’t sell flat-rate job prices.
Example: CV axle boot
One common mechanical repair, shown as an example: a torn CV boot slinging grease, replaced.
Signs you may need this
- A rattle or buzz from underneath the car
- Clicking when turning sharply
- A humming or roaring noise that changes with speed
- Exhaust sounding louder than usual
- Fluid drips you cannot identify
- Squealing from the engine bay on startup
- Vibrations that come and go
What the service may involve
- Listening to and confirming the complaint
- Inspecting on the lift and road-testing as needed
- Exhaust, heat shield, and hanger repairs
- CV axles, wheel bearings, and mounts
- Belts, tensioners, pulleys, and hoses
- Quoting the repair and getting your approval first
Information to have ready
- Year, make, model, and mileage
- A description of the symptom: sound, smell, feel, or sight
- When it happens and for how long
- A short video or audio clip of a noise, if you can safely record one
Questions
Will I be charged a diagnostic fee?
Many issues, like a loose heat shield or a worn belt, are found on inspection and simply quoted. If the problem needs real troubleshooting, diagnostic services involve a $100 diagnostic fee, which is not credited toward the cost of subsequent repairs. We will tell you before starting.
What if I don’t know what is wrong?
That is fine. Describe what you notice in your own words. Details like when it happens and where it seems to come from are often more useful than a guess at the cause.
How do appointments work?
Book online. As a one-bay shop, the booking page only offers times when the mechanic and the bay are both free for your job, and the appointment is confirmed when the $100 booking/diagnostic payment is completed.
