Eric Hamilton

Hi! I'm Eric Hamilton - Engineer & Mechanic, last 20 years content creator and founder of FixYourCar

Automobiles can be complicated.
Without a basic understanding, where do you even start..

With the amount of content and "How-To" videos from "Billy Bob's Hack " DIY channel, it is almost impossible to go into a repair or simple maintenance job on your car with the full confidence that you are going to make things better rather than worse. 

We all know the stigma that goes with repair shops and the money and time wasted just to find a shop you can trust.

The truth is... With proper technique, a little common sense and the basic fundamentals of how automobiles run and operate:

• It doesn't matter how different systems become with age and modern technology
• It doesn't matter what car make and model you have
• It doesn't matter how "seasoned" of a DIYer you are or how "mechanically inclined" you should be

 All Automobiles function based off a standard, fundamental set of principles.

                                         Let's lay out the facts..

Dealerships and independent repair shops labor prices are only going up...never down. Which leaves you with two options. 

1. The cheaper route.. Take your beloved vehicle to some mom and pop place that offers you cheaper prices over the phone for repairs... In extremely rare cases, the shop has a decent mechanic or two who knows what he or she is doing. But in most times, that is far from reality. They likely lack the technical backing of your year, make/model. They may have never worked on your model or have never heard of your issue or where to start on fixing it properly. They offer cheaper prices because they likely don't know what they are getting into. They may go as far as being smart enough to put OEM brand parts in your car but that is rare. One thing to keep in mind is this.... The less they can spend in parts the more they can charge in labor. FACT.. Shops  make more money on labor not parts. Cutting corners means a bigger payday...period.

Worth it? Possibly.. but That is the risk both your safety and your bank account has to take.

2. The expensive route... Take your car to a dealership. Here you are at the mercy of both inflation and like any shop, the honesty of the establishment.. The mechanics are likely better and more trained to give you the results you need to get your car back on the road but you are going to pay for it. Part prices are typically 100% marked up. FACT.. Outside of Labor costs and parts. You will likely see upwards of 50-100$ in shop supplies, EPA fees and additional taxes on both labor and parts. FACT.. In some cases, this entire process is worth it. Some repairs require very advanced skills, special tools and someone to devote the hours focusing on just your car. You need them to be 100%. Your LIFE depends on it.

                                       AT WHAT COST?

An all-in-on video treasure chest of all things car repair and maintenance that's broken down in a step-by-step easy to understand way to discover just how easy it can be to service your own car, on your own time, with your own hands.