Auto

Dealerships Hate This One Simple Trick to Save Money on Car Repairs

The Smart Way to Save on Car Repairs: Get Diagnosed at the Parts Store

Tired of shocking repair bills at the dealership or mechanic? There’s a trick that can save you money and give you more control over those fixes – get your car diagnosed at an auto parts store first!

Places like AutoZone, O’Reilly Auto Parts, and others often offer a surprising range of free diagnostic tests. These can include checking your battery, alternator, starter, and even reading those pesky “Check Engine” light codes. Why pay over $125 at the dealership for something you can often get done for absolutely nothing?

Free Tests Typically Offered:

Battery Testing: Checks battery voltage, state of charge, and cranking power.
Alternator Testing: Ensures the alternator is properly charging the battery.
Starter Testing: Verifies whether the starter is engaging and operating correctly.
Check Engine Light Scanning: Reads onboard diagnostic codes, which can pinpoint problems in various systems.

The beauty of this strategy is that you walk into the repair shop armed with knowledge. Instead of a mechanic vaguely saying “there’s something wrong with your electrical system”, you can confidently state that “my alternator is faulty” and ask for a repair quote. This helps you avoid unnecessary work and potential overcharging.

Sure, auto parts store employees aren’t always certified mechanics, but these tests are fairly straightforward. Their goal is to pinpoint the potential problem area, giving you a great starting point. And, of course, the hope is that you’ll buy the replacement part from them right there.

Before you schedule that expensive dealership appointment, check what free diagnostics are available at your local auto parts store. A little bit of research could save you a bundle on your next car repair!

Why Don’t Dealerships Advertise AutoZone’s Free Tests?

Ever wondered why your dealership charges a hefty fee for diagnostic tests, while AutoZone happily does many of them for free? There’s a few reasons this information isn’t widely advertised.

Firstly, it’s all about competition. Dealerships and auto parts stores like Pep Boys are direct rivals with AutoZone. Promoting a competitor’s freebies isn’t exactly smart business. Secondly, dealerships make good money from those diagnostic fees. Why would they highlight a way for you to save that cash?

Dealerships might also try to convince you that their diagnostic services are superior to those at AutoZone. They might highlight certified technicians, fancy equipment, or access to specialized tools that AutoZone doesn’t have.

Red G37 Infiniti stalled while the check engine lights blinking.

Sometimes, it might be as simple as the employees at the dealership not being fully aware of what AutoZone offers. And finally, dealerships prefer to be your one-stop shop – they want you to rely on them for both identifying the problem and fixing it. Sending you for free diagnostics elsewhere risks them losing out on the repair work.

It’s not that dealerships are being sneaky by keeping this quiet – businesses naturally focus on their own services. The key takeaway is to be a savvy consumer – do your research and compare options to get the best deal for your car!

How Do Other Auto Parts Stores Compare?

It’s important to note that AutoZone isn’t alone in offering freebies to help with car troubles. Competitors like O’Reilly Auto Parts, Advance Auto Parts, and others often provide similar services like battery testing, alternator checks, and code reading. It always pays to shop around and see who’s offering the diagnostics you need, completely free of charge.

My Real-Life Savings Story

Think this is all just theory? Let me share a personal experience. We had a family car that mysteriously refused to start, and that dreaded “Check Engine” light was glowing ominously. I was bracing for a wallet-crushing trip to the Infiniti dealership, knowing diagnostic fees alone could run into the hundreds, especially for something sounding as complicated as a “camshaft.”

Instead, I took a chance and headed to AutoZone. They plugged their diagnostic tool right into a port under my dashboard and pinpointed the problem within minutes. Turns out, it needed both a new battery and some kind of “camshaft” part. Not only did I buy the parts right there (saving even more with my Cash App card), but AutoZone even installed the new battery for free!

Armed with this knowledge, I went to my trusted mechanic for the camshaft fix. I avoided the huge dealership markup on diagnostics, had control over where I sourced the parts, and likely saved myself a small fortune.

The Secret to Cheaper Car Repairs That Nobody Tells You About

The lesson here is that a little effort and knowledge can go a long way in slashing car repair costs. Don’t automatically head to the dealership when trouble strikes.

Start with the Free Tests: See what your local auto parts store can diagnose for free.
Shop Around for Parts: Once you know the issue, compare prices between the store, online retailers, and even your mechanic for the best deal on the parts you need.
Consider Your DIY Skill: If you’re handy, some repairs are easy to tackle yourself with resources like YouTube tutorials. Otherwise, having the diagnosis done for free will still help you get a fair quote from a mechanic.

Dealerships:
- Simple Code Reading: $50 – $100+
- Comprehensive Diagnostic: $100 – $200+ (and potentially much higher for complex problems)
Independent Mechanics: Prices often slightly lower than dealerships, but still highly variable.
Chains (Pep Boys, etc.): May be the most affordable option, but services could be more limited depending on the specific location

Tips:

Always call and ask: The best way to get a sense of cost is to call a few shops in your area, describe the problem, and ask about their diagnostic fees.
Check for coupons: Some shops offer coupons or occasional promotions that reduce the diagnostic fee.
Consider the “Free” Option: Remember that many basic tests are offered for free at auto parts stores, serving as a starting point before paying for more in-depth diagnostics.

Stacking the Savings: Using Cash Apps and Credit Cards

Getting your car diagnosed for free is a great money-saving move, but why stop there? You can often squeeze even more savings out of your auto parts purchases by using apps like Cash App or the right credit cards.

Cash App saved me 10% at Autozone using "add offers"

Cash App frequently offers discounts or “Boosts” at various retailers, including auto parts stores. Before heading to AutoZone, check your Cash App to see if there’s a current offer. I was lucky enough to snag an extra 10% off recently just by paying with my Cash App card!

Many credit cards also offer rotating categories for cash back or bonus rewards points. Keep an eye out for quarters when your card is giving extra rewards at auto supply stores. Those points or cashback can add up quickly, making your repairs even cheaper.

Combining these strategies with the free diagnostics at an auto parts store is a recipe for serious savings on car maintenance!

Can You Get Cash for Your Old Car?

The Cash for Clunkers program is designed to take gas guzzling vehicles off the road and reward consumers for purchasing new fuel efficient vehicles. Consumers can trade in their older cars and trucks for new ones that meet specific requirements. The Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) began in late July and is scheduled to run until November 1st, or when funds are exhausted. Congress recently approved an additional $2 billion to fund the CARS program. It is estimated it will last into September.

There are several requirements to qualify for Cash for Clunkers. The trade in vehicle must be legally registered and insured for the year prior to the trade. It also must be less than 25 years old with a clear title. Vehicles with liens will not qualify and the title must be in the name of the person applying for the rebate. The trade in vehicle has to have a fuel economy of 18 MPG or less and be in drivable condition. A new vehicle priced under $45000 needs to be purchased or leased to receive the rebate. If leased, the contract has to be a minimum of five years. The rebate will not count towards the purchase of a used vehicle even if it has better fuel economy. The rebate voucher goes directly to the dealership if the qualifications are met and is applied to the purchase price of the new vehicle.

The rebate amount varies based on the improvement in fuel economy over the trade in car. If the new car is an improvement of 4 or more MPG, the rebate is worth $3500. It increases to $4500 if the improvement in fuel economy is 10 MPG or more. Truck and SUV rebates are based on category, MPG improvement, and what new vehicle is being purchased. The rebate amount will be either $3500 or $4500. Work trucks can qualify but the rebate is capped at 7.5% of the total funds for the program and special rules may apply.

The car dealerships will not be giving trade in allowances on vehicles; if the trade in is worth more than the rebate voucher, the program will not be of any benefit. Eligible cars will be scrapped and the scrap value will be an additional savings toward the purchase of the new car. If a car dealership or manufacturer has any special offers available they can be used in conjunction with the program. Dealerships cannot charge the consumer a fee for using Cash for Clunkers, though usual taxes and fees will still apply.

I know one guy who traded his truck in for a new Jeep and his truck was just meeting the minimum requirement. That was a good deal for him because he walked away with a 2009 Jeep for only $15,000.

Diesel vs. Electric vs. Hybrid Cars

If you are excited like I am about President Obama taking office you may begin to wonder what are different choices in gas-related technologies. You may not be concerned about your miles per gallon until prices start going back up but rest assured they will soon. We want to be free of foreign oils, breathe a cleaner air, save the environment, and save dollars at gas stations. There are several fuel options out there but not yet at even a tenth of our gas stations. Here are some options for better fuel economy :

What we have now is an Internal Combustion Engine Vehicle (ICE). This is the typical engine in most vehicles today, running on either gasoline or diesel. Our cars have a heat engine in which the burning of a fuel occurs in a confined space called a combustion chamber. The ignition of a fuel and air mixture creates gases of high temperature and pressure, which then turn an engine shaft which, coupled to a transmission, provides the motive power of the vehicle. This technology is very 1969, we should have had bio fuel or fuel-cell powered vehicles years ago.

Battery-electric Vehicle – Battery-Electric Vehicles (BEV) are powered by electric motors that run exclusively on batteries that are charged by an external source such as the electric power grid. BEV’s are electric vehicles whose energy storage is in the chemical energy of batteries. BEVs are the most common form of what are defined as a zero emission vehicles, because they produce no emissions while being driven. BEV’s will improve miles per gallon by up to 79% over an ICE vehicle running on gasoline and, depending on the size of the battery, will have a range of 50 – 150 miles per charge. The downside to this option is that you most likely need a garage to really benefit from it or you will have cords running outside your home. The vehicle may only be used for commuting or runs to the store and you need to plug it in every time you go home.

Fuel Cell-powered Vehicle – A fuel cell is an electrochemical energy conversion device similar to a battery, but differing in that it is designed for continuous replenishment of the reactants consumed. It produces electricity from an external supply of fuel and air/oxygen. Typical reactants used in a Fuel Cell-Powered Vehicle are hydrogen and the oxygen contained in air. Fuel cell Vehicles also produce zero emissions while being driven. Fuel Cell-Powered Vehicles will improve miles per gallon by up to 71% over a automobile running on gasoline. This seems to produce the best results for fuel economy unless you go electric 100%. I hope automakers look more into this fuel option.

Turbo Gasoline Direct Injection Engine Vehicle – A Turbo Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) vehicle utilizes a new technology that usually couples a turbo charger with specially designed & located fuel injectors. The resulting boost in horsepower and efficiency means that a smaller traditional gasoline engine can achieve similar performance of a larger traditional gasoline engine but using much less fuel. These Turbo Gas Injection vehicles will IMPROVE miles per gallon by up to 15% over a car running on gasoline and will have a better range per tank of fuel.

Flex-fuel Vehicle – A Flex-Fuel Vehicle (FFV) has a single fuel tank, fuel system, and engine. The vehicle is designed to run on unleaded gasoline and an alcohol fuel (usually ethanol or E85 – 85% ethanol produced from corn or other soluble product and 15% gasoline) in any mixture. Also, a gallon of ethanol contains considerably less energy than a gallon of gasoline, meaning a vehicle running on E85 will experience approximately a 25% reduction in MPG & driving range compared to gasoline alone. This was one of the ethanol mistakes made by politicians a few years back to make the farmers think they were going to get all this free money thrown their way. Not only have people had complaints that their cars do not run as good but they have experienced engine problems and we found out there are better uses of corn than as a fuel.

Hybrid-electric Vehicle – Hybrid vehicles use multiple propulsion systems to provide motive power. The most common approach, the Hybrid-Electric Vehicle (HEV), uses gasoline to power an internal-combustion engine (ICE), and electric batteries to power electric motors. The electric battery is recharged by either capturing kinetic energy via regenerative braking or using the gasoline engine to generate electricity by spinning a generator to recharge the battery. Unlike Battery-electric only vehicles, these are designed not to require power from the electric power grid; that is, no plug in is required or even available. Hybrid-electric vehicles will improve miles per gallon by up to 43% over a vehicle running on gasoline.

Plug-in Hybrid / Electrical Grid-Connected Vehicle – Like the HEV described above, this vehicle uses both electricity from a battery pack and gasoline as the energy sources, but the plug in has a larger battery pack. This larger battery is charged using a standard household outlet (110V, 15-amp). Depending on the size of the battery, charging will take from 3-10 hours. Compared to an hybrid/electric, the larger battery in a plug-in hybrid allows you to drive more using only the electric motor – up to 15-20 miles, and at higher speeds (around 50mph). The vehicle will run as a normal hybrid if it has not been plugged in, but the benefit of driving for a certain distance on electricity only will not be received. Plug-In Hybrids will improve miles per gallon by up to 70% over an ICE vehicle running on gasoline. Looking over all these ways to save fuel, lessen our dependency on foreign barrels of oil, and live longer this is the absolute best way to do it for now.

Direct-injection Diesel Vehicle – Direct-Injection Diesel (DID) vehicles have the engine’s fuel injection nozzle placed inside the combustion chamber. Direct injection diesel engines are generally more efficient, quieter, and cleaner than common indirect injection diesel engines. DIDs typically run on low sulfur fuel, typically called Clean Diesel. These cleaner diesel autos will improve miles per gallon by up to 25% over a vehicle running on gasoline and will have a range of 515 miles per tank of fuel.

Should the government on the state and local and federal level help us out on these? Why not raise the gas taxes a penny or two to help lessen the fuel demand and increase a fund for these technologies! We need them now and Yes we can!