It's common practice for a repair shop to provide a detailed estimate of needed repairs before work begins on your car or truck. If you're getting work done without one, you could be making a big mistake. Estimates aren't just for a consumer's protection, they protect the shop from misunderstandings, arguments and even law suits. Getting the details on paper ensures everybody knows what to expect when work commences, and when it's time to pay up. A proper estimate will detail both parts and labor charges in a way you can read and make sense of. Keep in mind, however, that an estimate isn't the final word on your car repair. Often a mechanic will discover other problems as work progresses, or will find that a different part was actually at fault. There's no way around this until somebody invents an automotive crystal ball, so getting upset at your mechanic over additional charges is usually out of line. The bottom line, don't say yes unless it's in writing, no matter what side of the repair counter you stand on.

When times get tough, Americans get tougher. That may sound like a propaganda slogan, but in many cases it rings true. People in this country take their cars and trucks very seriously. Even those you would hardly label "gearheads" will step up to the plate if they think their driving status is at stake, and lately they've been doing just that. It's easy for me to tell you, but check out the results of a recent study by Honeywell. They found that more than half of the car owners in the US are getting greasy more often! Here are the results:

• 51% of American vehicle owners are rolling up their sleeves and handling more car care on their own.

• 89% of these newfound DIYers report that they didn't really perform these tasks before -- they hired a professional.
• 51% admit to doing the bare minimum for their vehicles; and 21% have avoided service altogether.
• 14% report addressing more high ticket repairs that could extend their vehicle's life.

That's some serious fixin'! If you can't yet count yourself amongst the 51% that are getting busy, now's the time to step up. Make it happen, and save some serious money in process.

_{Honeywell is the parent company of Autolite, FRAM, Prestone and Bendix -- all makers of auto repair and maintenance parts and products.}

This letter was a good reminder that your car is always communicating with you in its own way.

Hi Matthew, I think I need to have the frame of my car straightened. My tires are going bald on one side and it's gotten to the point that I think I should pay to have the frame repaired rather than keep buying tires. Any advice is appreciated! -- Janice

Janice, a bent or twisted frame can cause your tires to wear unevenly, but there are far more common causes than that. If your car was in a serious accident, you might check the frame, but most likely the problem is in your suspension. Even a pothole can cause part of your suspension to bend or knock itself out of adjustment, making your car a tire-eating machine. Have your alignment checked first, then you can go from there to get to the source of your premature tire wear.

Patrick Sullivan writes to remind us how important it can be to carry a fire extinguisher. Even the smallest emergency model is enough to put out most common automotive fires. Patrick has used his extinguisher on more than one occasion, hear his stories:

A tow truck on a hot summer day in Chicago backfired at a red light while towing a disabled vehicle. A small fire began under the hood in the carburetor and the driver was using everything nearby to put it out. I had a small extinguisher and gave it to him and it immediately put out the fire and saved his truck. Another time an old car at a stop sign, same problem. I volunteered my small fire extinguisher and 'poof' his old car was still alive.
For only a few dollars, a small extinguisher in the glove box could save a lot of money.

See? I speak truths!

We aren't all driving new cars, so I feel it's ok to mention some older school repair tricks from time to time. Ever hear of the soapy string trick for installing a windshield? It's pretty fun, and it works pretty well, too. Check out the soapy string trick and let me know what you think!

Enterprising shop owners are always looking for ways to attract and keep new customers. These efforts usually amount to coupons or free gourmet coffee in the waiting room. From time to time, however, we find shop owners who have gone the extra mile, tapping the inner folds of their minds to come up with a truly novel idea. Elle Auto Care in Calgary has done their part to revolutionize the people part of auto service. Their waiting room is its own experience, with manicure and mini-spa services, WiFi, leather furniture, an indoor children's zone and reportedly one of the nicest bathrooms ever to grace an auto shop. And yes, they have gourmet coffee. I can't tell you whether it'll fly, but if a shop is this focused on the people side of things, chances are they will stand behind their work, too.

_{Read more about Elle Auto Care in the Montreal Gazette}.

This just in. Five more members of
Congress declared their support of the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act (HR 2057). Reps. Michael E. Capuano (D-MA), Christopher P. Carney (D-PA), Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY), Michael K. Conaway (R-TX) and Brad Miller (D-NC) are the most recent co-sponsors of Right to Repair, which has gained steady support since its introduction. The bill now has 45 sponsors.

For those of you who aren't familiar, Right to Repair legislation has been gaining momentum on a Federal and state levels for some time now. If passed, the Right to Repair Act would give independent repair shops access to important repair information as soon as it's available to dealerships, and we know what that would mean!

Read more here.

This happens to repair shops more often than any of us would like to imagine. It's hard enough being a small, independent shop, but insurance adjusters often find a way to make it even worse. Some (but not all, of course!) adjusters take kickbacks in the form of cash or gift cards in trade for sending business in one shop's direction. We don't do insurance work, but my friends who do have spoken of this "pay to play" game often. It's a horrible practice that takes the emphasis away from important things like quality of work. If this type of scenario is in play, the most honest shop in the area is the one that loses. In the end, the real loser is you, the customer. Bummer. For an example, check out the story of good samaritan Ralph Galluzzi from Bison Plate Glass in Buffalo, New York. He was fed up and blew the whistle to the state. If you ever need glass in Buffalo, I think you should reward Ralph Galluzzi for risking his business and get Bison Plate Glass to repair your vehicle, even if the insurance adjuster tries to send you someplace else.

If you haven't started your seasonal maintenance procedures for the winter, it's time to get crackin'! There's lots to do to keep your car or truck in top shape, especially if you live in a cold climate. Think of all the money you save by keeping your car out of the repair shop. It can be overwhelming, but before you decide to hand your credit card to the guy in the coveralls take a look at my 5-week Winter Maintenance E-Course. Like everything on About.com, it's free. Just sign up and every week you'll receive a lesson with step-by-step instructions including photos. Each week you'll tackle a different maintenance procedure or safety check. By the time you're eating turkey your car or truck will be looking and feeling good.

These days a shop's customer base isn't limited to male heads of households. It's important for a repair shop to work with car owners of all types. Generally, an always-honest-and-upfront day to day business practice is enough, but one shop in Phoenix, Arizona decided to woo its female customers through a redesigned bathroom. According to MotorAge, the response to Community Tire and Auto Repair's bathroom remodel has been impressive. I can't tell you how it will affect business, but take a look and I think you'll agree it's the nicest bathroom you've ever seen in a repair shop!