888-WIZARD8
888-949-2738
Automotive
repair, especially clutch and transmission
repairs, make a major impact on your resources.
Vehicle owners want the best possible value.
The all-important first step is to choose
wisely which shop will do the work for you.
We
have a definite"insiders" perspective
that will help you make this important decision.
Use the following suggestions to guide you
through the selection process.
- Don't
Pay for Diagnosis
- Don't
be Manipulated
- Insist
on Original Manufacturer Parts
- Warranty?!
- Service
Don't
Pay for Diagnosis:
As the saying goes, "It's not rocket
science". Clutches and manual transmissions
can almost always be evaluated without major
effort. A professional should be able to tell
you what is causing your symptoms and quote
a firm price without having to charge you
for diagnosis. There certainly can be exceptions
to this rule. Some situations simply require
a more exhaustive examination. But, there
is no justification for routinely levying
a charge just to tell you what the job is
going to cost.
°
Avoid shops that require an up-front diagnostic
charge. It is wasted money.
Don't
be Manipulated:
There is no reason you should be denied a
price over the phone! For clutches, transmission,
CV axles, and differential repairs, etc.,
it is absolutely reasonable to expect to get
a firm telephone quote. These jobs seldom
need extensive diagnosis. There is little
reason to expect any partial repair will suffice.
And, the shop can always change their original
estimate if the situation is not as described
over the phone. If the shop will not even
give you a rough price range, hang up!
Many
shops will try to avoid giving prices over
the phone. They are manipulating you into
bringing your car to them with no information.
By the time you get into your car, drive to
their facility, sign a repair order, and arrange
transportation home or to work, they know
that you will almost certainly have them do
the repair. You are unlikely to go through
the effort required to take your vehicle to
a second shop.
°
Don't be manipulated. Get a quote over the
phone.
Insist
on Original Manufacturer Parts:
Clutches, in particular, should be replaced
using the same parts that the vehicle came
with from the factory. This is particularly
tricky in cars such as the Volkswagen Jetta.
If the Jetta was manufactured in Germany,
it should have a German Sachs clutch. If the
Jetta was manufactured in Brazil or the USA,
it should have a LuK. Don't accept aftermarket
clutches from non-OEM manufacturers (with
the one exception of Performance/Racing/Heavy
Duty clutches - see Performance)
Major
OEM manufacturers for Japanese cars include:
Daikin/Exedy
ASCO/Aisin
Atsugi/Unisia/Peraut
NSK
Major
OEM manufacturers for American cars include:
Luk
Valeo
Borg-Warner
Major
OEM manufacturers for European cars include:
Sachs
GMB
Borg-Warner
°
Insist on quality. Insist on OEM clutch parts.
Warranty?!:
This is value-add that the shop provides.
Clutch manufacturers issue very limited warranties
against defects only. And, they are usually
pretty tight about interpreting claims. The
shop you choose should augment the manufacturer's
warranty with assurances of their own.
Two-year,
parts and labor (free-replacement, not prorated)
warranties are available from the best shops.
These same top-of-the-line shops might also
offer a "Lifetime" parts warranty,
which simply means you will not ever have
to pay for clutch parts again (unless you
purposely abuse the clutch - don't expect
a shop to pay for your bad driving!).
°
Insist on a long-term, meaningful warranty
Locations:
Consider
...Clutch problems often occur quickly. A
clutch failure usually means that your vehicle
must be towed. Your clutch warranty is only
valuable if your vehicle can be affordably
towed to the original warranty provider!
Choose
a provider who offers multiple locations in
the area where you live and work.
°
Multiple locations add value to your clutch
investment
Service:
"It takes how many days to replace a
clutch?!!!" Most clutches can be replaced
in one day or a portion of a day. Overnight
stays are usually unnecessary. Avoid a shop
that wants to keep your vehicle for a prolonged
period. If the shop is overbooked, perhaps
two days is reasonable.
Many
shops do not have equipment in-house for resurfacing
flywheels. They rely upon outside vendors
for this machine work. The delay involved
in subletting a simple resurfacing can extend
your vehicle's stay into the following day.
Under
normal circumstances,
°
Expect one-day service
Clutch
Wizard satisfies all the above recommendations.
The
discriminating client will choose Clutch Wizard!
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