Auto Repair Questions

[GhettoDogAllStars]

Routine maintenance:
Tires
Tire rotation
Alignment
Brake pads
Filters
Fluids (make sure they are not low)
Oil change

Flushes:
I worked at an auto shop for a couple years, and we would always peddle flushes. They are easy, and expensive. We'd get commission on them, so everybody was always trying to sell engine flushes and tranny flushes.

Also, it's one of those things that is hard to argue against. I mean, if your brake lights are not broken, it's hard to sell new brake lights to somebody. However, there isn't much argument against flushing -- you can make a case for it every time.

That said, I think they are a waste of money (unless your car has well over 100K miles and has never been flushed). Also, every Toyota that ever came in was a candidate for an engine flush. Toyotas just run dirty, and there is always gunk in the oil filter. However, that doesn't mean that they NEED to be flushed. In fact, they'll run forever despite the fact that they run dirty.

Belts/Hoses:
As for belts and hoses, I generally think that they don't need consideration until after 100K. Also, most, if not all, the belts and hoses are made of the same material. So, when one belt/hose goes the others are probably not too far behind. I don't replace belts and hoses until they break.

Brakes:
Brake rotors usually don't need replacing unless they have suffered damage. Rotors are usually damaged from waiting too long to replace your brake pads. Eventually the pads wear down, and start to damage the rotor. Brake pads usually need replacing every 40K - 60K miles, depending on the vehicle and driving habits. Also, rotors can usually be repaired by "turning" them. The rotors are basically polished to remove any damage on the surface. However, you can't just keep turning rotors. I think they can be turned at least few times, before you need to replace the rotor -- but I'm not sure. Just replace your pads every 40K - 50K miles, and you won't have to worry about the rotors.

Repair cost:
I have been lucky, and I haven't ever had a repair cost more than $200. However, we would regularly have repair bills well over $500 at the auto shop I worked at. We would always try to run the costs up. $1000 was about the average. It is incredibly easy to get a repair bill to $1000, and it is difficult to argue against the repairs when a mechanic is saying you need them.

You most likely need new brake pads, but you should be careful about the rotors. It is possible you don't need new ones, and can just have them turned. It is still possible that you don't even need to have them turned. You can get new pads installed for $100, so that isn't a big deal for a shop. They want to sell you new rotors to make the repair closer to $500, so it is worth their time. Be careful.

I am not a certified mechanic, but I did work at a shop for a couple years. I mostly did oil changes and flushes, but I learned a lot about other stuff. I have been witness to the tactics that mechanics use, and I learned that most of the time they are selling you more than you need. The average bill had more unnecessary stuff than otherwise.