How do you get macanics to diagnose a car properly?

Asked by shelley Jan 21, 2021 at 04:42 AM about the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze LT Sedan FWD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

Help! I have a chevy cruze, which by
the way has had all the same issues
everyone else has had, and getting it
fixed during covid has been a
nightmare. But after narrowing down
my issue, and disclosing ahead of
time. I was just told the same thing I
already knew, recommending a 1000
job with no guarantee it'll fix the
problem. What do I do? They want to
charge me to take it apart to
uncover the issue which is 5 hours
plus. I'm so frustrated he should
have said that from the start. Right?
I already have heard about macanics
attempting this, charging a fortune,
and still having issues. How do I
approach this situation more
effectively?

3 Answers

41,220

It all depends on what the problem is as you didn't specify. Can you be more specific? Some parts that need replacing are buried in the engine bay and take time to access due to removing other parts, so labor costs are high. Good mechanics will warranty their work and be upfront with you on costs. Most will charge a $100 diagnostic fee, as they can't always go by what the customer states is the issue. I'd recommend you look for an ASE certified shop with good reviews in your area.

Find a mechanic that you can trust and then trust them. Word of mouth is probably the best way to find one.

If you will tell us the actual issue maybe we can help. Some things can only be diagnosed by taking the engine apart.

Your Answer:

Cruze

Looking for a Used Cruze in your area?

CarGurus has 954 nationwide Cruze listings starting at $2,195.

Postal Code:

CarGurus Experts

  • #1
    SusanSchwarz
    Reputation
    1,760
  • #2
    Gene Arnett
    Reputation
    1,470
  • #2
    GuruLWF92
    Reputation
    1,470
View All

Find great deals from top-rated dealers

Search

Related Models For Sale

Used Chevrolet Malibu
50 Great Deals out of 1,156 listings starting at $1,495
Used Honda Civic
173 Great Deals out of 3,635 listings starting at $2,495
Used Toyota Camry
57 Great Deals out of 968 listings starting at $2,212
Used Toyota Corolla
118 Great Deals out of 1,968 listings starting at $2,795
Used Hyundai Elantra
145 Great Deals out of 3,455 listings starting at $2,000
Used Honda Accord
44 Great Deals out of 919 listings starting at $2,799
Used Ford Focus
27 Great Deals out of 497 listings starting at $2,950
Used Chevrolet Equinox
82 Great Deals out of 2,795 listings starting at $4,499
Used Chevrolet Impala
14 Great Deals out of 117 listings starting at $3,531
Used Nissan Sentra
56 Great Deals out of 1,769 listings starting at $2,495
Used Mazda MAZDA3
77 Great Deals out of 1,515 listings starting at $1,899
Used Chevrolet Sonic
9 Great Deals out of 187 listings starting at $2,495
Used Ford Escape
152 Great Deals out of 4,628 listings starting at $2,995
Used Hyundai Sonata
39 Great Deals out of 1,120 listings starting at $3,489
Used Ford Fusion
15 Great Deals out of 404 listings starting at $2,999

Content submitted by Users is not endorsed by CarGurus, does not express the opinions of CarGurus, and should not be considered reviewed, screened, or approved by CarGurus. Please refer to CarGurus Terms of Use. Content will be removed if CarGurus becomes aware that it violates our policies.