Mechanic warns 'X sign' means drivers have been 'ripped off' at garage
A mechanic has explained a little-known 'X' sign which proves a mechanic has "ripped you off". Scotty Kilmer, a mechanic who regularly goes viral on YouTube, has warned motorists over mechanics taking advantage of them at the garage.
Scotty warned: "Today I'm going to show you how you can avoid common mechanic rip-off scams. How do you know if they even changed the parts they say they did? Well, before you have them do the work, take a picture of the car and all the parts they're talking about.
"And if you really don't trust them, get some paint or, even better still, a little metal scraper and put an 'X' somewhere on the part. If you get your car back and it still has that little 'X' etched on it, you know they ripped you off."
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In reply, a motorist said: "I am an old woman and when the mechanic told me that I needed a new rack and pinion for $1200 dollars. I had over $1000 of work done at this place so I became suspicious. I went to a dealership and had the car checked. Rack and pinion in excellent condition."
"Back in 97 I took my 87 fiero to have its alternator replaced. I took a yellow grease pen and put a x on its housing. Got charged $400 bucks, popped the rear hatch and the same part was still there. Bought the service manager out and he freaked out. Lol.." a second said.
Another said: "It never fails that every mechanic I've gone to for even just inspections, have to find a $1,000 to $2,000 problem and will keep my car for a month or more. Others I have told them what was already done to try and find the problem, and they repeat the same procedure...charge me for it, and never fix the problem.
"Now I am afraid to go to a mechanic because I am disabled and living way below poverty level. If they pull the same stunt and want to charge me more than I can afford...I am looking at having to give up my car...which means being trapped in my home."
"I stand right there while they do the work. They’ve never complained about it. That’s how I know they did the job," another typed.