By Laura Quarantiello © 2004 Tiare Publications Group

Automobiles see more time in the shop than any other single item we own. Once a crooked mechanic gets his paws into the guts of your engine, he is liable to mess with it until it appears that you need additional work. He may charge you for work that was never done, or perform work that doesn't need to be done. I like to stick around and keep an eye on the mechanic. He might not take kindly to me peering over his shoulder, but at least I know he's not yanking wires and hoses out of place. Some folks test their mechanic by pulling a wire off one of the spark plugs, driving to the garage and asking the mechanic to take a look at their sluggishly running vehicle. If he replaces the disconnected wire and doesn't recommend major work, he can be assumed to be honest. Pick one reliable repair shop and stay with it. Mechanics tend to take better care of their repeat customers.

Dishonest mechanics have been known to jack up a car's front end to demonstrate the horrendous wobble of the wheels. They'll say you need a ball joint replacement, but in reality this type of movement is normal. Don't fall for metal filings in the transmission fluid, either. A certain amount is normal; you don't need a new transmission, you need an oil change. Speaking of oil, a dishonest repairman isn't averse to spraying a little bit of oil under your car or around gaskets to demonstrate "leaks" that don't really exist. Quick hands can cut fan belts, drain oil and place battery testers on the wrong terminals, all in an effort to take your money. Keep your eyes open, stay around and watch the car doctor diagnose your problem. Always obtain an estimate and don't be afraid to get a second opinion before you commit to having any work done. I once had a mechanic tell me that an important support bar needed replacing. Immediately. "Don't drive this car very far, the bar could break!" It sounded so dire that I winced every time I went over a bump. A second opinion at another shop revealed that the bar was in good shape. Needless to say, I don't patronize that dishonest mechanic anymore.

Gas Stations

You can easily get cheated at the gas pump. Watch for these service station dodges guaranteed to rip you off:

As an attendant checks your oil, he wipes part of the dipstick off or never inserts it completely, giving you a false indication of low oil.

An attendant tops up your oil with a half-empty can left over from the last customer, but charges you for the full can.

You ask for a certain grade of oil but the cans have been reloaded with lower weight oil. You're charged for the better, more expensive product.

Customers who stay in their cars while attendants add oil are asking for trouble: attendants can carry two cans to the car, use only one, and then throw both away. You pay for two cans. When you leave the attendant retrieves the full can from the garbage bin.

Always make sure the gas pump indicator is at zero before pumping, or having gas pumped for you. Attendants have been known to leave a dollar or two from the last sale on the pump, then pump your fill-up on top of that You'll end up paying pay for more than was added to your tank. This is a difficult trick to pull with the electronic pumps in use today, but it pays to be aware.

Laura Quarantiello hates criminals and the crimes they commit. Her book "On Guard" can help you minimize the risk you family faces from criminal elements. Get more information at: www.tiare.com/onguard.htm

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