Looking For Vehicle Repairs Services In Browns Plains?

If you are looking for vehicle repairs and servicing in the Browns Plains area, then you have come to the right place. Car mechanics services are essential to the safety of your family and at Steve Sorensen Mechanical we love what we do. Steve Sorensen has been an A grade mechanic for more than 30 years and has been in the area for over 20 years. He owes his success to being honest, to being an expert mechanic and to being there for his clients when they need him.

Car mechanic’s service

If you own a car then vehicle repairs and servicing is just a part of life that we all have to do at some time or another. The good thing about a car mechanic’s service is that it minimises the risk of needing costly repairs. If you make sure to have your car checked and maintained by a reliable and trustworthy mechanic on a regular basis, then you can avoid having to pay for repairs that could have easily been avoided.

Lots of people try and perform their own vehicle repairs and servicing and there is nothing wrong with that – if they know what they are doing. Problems arise when something has been missed that could have been picked up by an experienced mechanic and then they end up emptying their wallets paying for costly repairs, that didn’t need to happen.

Another problem is that we are all so busy in our daily lives and even though we are full of good intentions, we just don’t seem to have the time to get around to servicing the car ourselves. That’s why it is important to know there is an experienced and trustworthy mechanic in the area, that will do the job right and at a reasonable cost.

Vehicle repairs and servicing

At Steve Sorensen Mechanical we provide vehicle repairs and servicing for clients in the Browns Plains and surrounding areas. We strive to excel at everything we do and take great pride in our work. If your vehicle needs a car mechanic’s service, call us and we will fit you in at a time that is suitable for all of us.

Without our clients, we would have no business, so we go out of our way to make sure that we meet your needs. If your car needs repairs, then we will take a look and give you an estimate of the costs involved. We are very reasonably priced and we have clients that have been coming to us for years – because we give value for money, every time.

So if you are searching for vehicle repairs and servicing in the Browns Plains area, call Steve on 3809 2711 and let’s get your car back on the road.

Steve Sorensen Mechanical: Tips on choosing the best vehicle repairs and servicing centre

When it comes to vehicle repairs and servicing, you want to find a car mechanics service that is honest and reliable. That’s really the bottom line when it comes to finding a car mechanic service shop.

So what’s the best way to find a reliable mechanic and how do you really know that you have picked the right one? Many people avoid the warning signs that their car needs a service or that something might be wrong, because they are afraid of being ripped off by unscrupulous mechanics. No-one wants to be charged exorbitant prices and pay for things that don’t need fixing.

Items like brake and clutch repairs can be costly, so you want to be happy with the car mechanics service that you have selected. You want to be sure that if the mechanic says something needs to be fixed, that they are being honest with you and that they charge a fair price.

So here are 5 tips to help you find the right mechanic for you.

1. Ask family and friends: If people you know and trust recommend a mechanical shop to you, then that really helps in making your decision. Ask them what repairs they had done on their car and how much they were charged.

2. Compare prices: Make sure that you get 2 or 3 estimates for your work and compare the prices. Just because a car mechanics service is cheap doesn’t mean that they are competent. Cost should only be one element in your decision, you need to consider other factors as well.

3.   Location: Vehicle repairs and servicing can take anything from a few hours to a couple of days, so think about whether you can you walk from the car mechanics service centre to your work or home. Alternatively, can they drop you off at work or home in your car, and then drive it back to the mechanical shop?

4. Do they listen to you: Be wary of mechanics who appear to dismiss your questions or your concerns. The mechanic needs to explain clearly to you what needs to be done and to know that they need your authorisation to perform extra services. This gives you the opportunity to ask more questions and to take your car to another car mechanics service for a second opinion, if you believe the quotes are too high.

5. Go with your gut feelings: Once you have sorted out the first 4 points above, go with your gut feeling. If their shop is dirty, unkempt and looks disorganised, even if they are cheap, maybe you want to look elsewhere.

For brake and clutch repairs, log book servicing, minor or major servicing or any type of mechanical repairs, call Steve Sorensen Mechanical at Browns Plains on 07 3809 2711. 

Steve Sorensen Mechanical: How car service log book services keep your car in top shape

As Steve Sorensen’s car care centre in Browns Plains, we know the value of regular car maintenance. We see cars coming in all the time that need really expensive repairs, repairs that could have been avoided if the owner had maintained regular services at our Browns Plains auto shop.

Mechanical problems can be picked up really quickly with regular services, avoiding the costly repair bills that come when warning signs are ignored. It just makes sense to prevent a catastrophe, rather than try and cure one.

So one of the things that we get hot under the collar about at Sorensen’s Browns Plains auto shop are car service log books. The log book is a schedule of minor and major services that the manufacturer has said are necessary to maintain your car in tip top shape. It also includes the intervals when these services should be performed.

Lots of people ignore these services and just top up the vehicle’s fluids now and again, kick the tyres and hope for the best. The problem is that ignoring the scheduled services, set out in your car service log book, is just a pathway to disaster. You will end up paying more for repairs down the road, more than the costs of all the missed services put together – and then some more again.

So at Steve Sorensen’s car care centre in Browns Plains, we encourage all of our customers to bring their cars in for regular servicing as a preventative measure against costly repairs, which can blow out your future budget.

Depending on your kilometres, your car service log book will state whether a minor or a major service is required. If you know your way around a car you can do these minor services yourself, however a certified mechanic needs to sign your logbook.

This is because your logbook is a valuable asset when it comes to selling your vehicle. It is proof that your car has been regularly serviced and is a record of all the repairs undertaken. An up-to-date log book helps you achieve top dollar when you sell your car. So a certified mechanic needs to sign your logbook for every service.

What if you don’t have a car service log book?

Sometimes when you buy a used car it doesn’t have a log book. So if this has happened to you, pop in to our Browns Plains auto shop and ask us how often your car needs to be serviced to keep it in good shape. We can come up with a schedule for you and if you keep records of these services and the receipts, this will be as good as a log book when you come to sell your car.

So pop into Steve Sorensen Mechanical, the car care centre in Browns Plains and let us help you keep your car in tip top shape.

Is it worth paying for an auto pre-purchase inspection?

Most people are aware of the benefits of a car mechanics service but tend to be unaware that the same sort of service can be very beneficial before you buy a car. By this we mean an auto pre-purchase inspection, which most people don’t think about or dismiss because they don’t want to pay for this type of car mechanics service.

There are of course arguments for and against an auto pre-purchase inspection, but if you are buying a car privately then the cost of this service can be extremely beneficial, especially if it prevents you buying a car that needs lots of repair work.

The RACQ and NRMA both offer this service, but any qualified and reputable mechanic can also perform a pre-purchase inspection. They will most probably take a few hours to go over the car and then give you an itemised accounting of any issues they have found on the vehicle.

Some of the issues they check include:

• Is the odometer working?
• Does the odometer agree with any service documents?
• Does the VIN number and the registration match?
• Is there any tampering around the compliance plates?
• Is there any sign of previous accident damage?
• Is there any rust?
• Has previous rust been fixed properly or just filled?
• Bouncy shock absorbers.
• Do all the tyres have a legal tread?
• Do all the lights and windscreen wipers work?
• Do all the gauges work?
• Is the A/C working properly?
• Are the seat belts intact, in good condition and working?
• Are there any radiator or hose problems?
• Are there any oil and transmission fluid leaks?
• Does the engine run smoothly with no problem noises or worrying exhaust smoke?
• Do all the doors lock and seal correctly?
• Are the seats in good order and fitted correctly?
• Any cracks in the windows or light fittings?
• Are there any computer fault codes?

 
Usually, a road test is also performed as part of this auto pre-purchase inspection because some problems only come to light when the engine is warm and has been running for a while.

If you don’t want to pay for an auto pre-purchase inspection, even though it can save you a lot of money in the long run, do make sure that you take someone with you who has a good mechanical knowledge. The last thing you want is to hand over your valuable money and register the car in your name, only to have to pay out thousands of dollars to have the car repaired a short time afterwards.

Tips to make sure your vehicle repairs and servicing goes off without a hitch

What do you do if you have problems with the vehicle repairs or servicing on your car? Well the best way to address these types of problems is to avoid them. So here are some real tips on how to make sure that everything runs smoothly with your vehicle repairs and servicing.

• Find a reputable repairer: Make sure that whoever you choose to service or repair your vehicle is qualified to do the job and has the right equipment.

• Make sure you get at least two different quotes: Make these written and itemised quotes, with quotes for the parts and for the labour. If you think the quotes are too high, question them to make sure that you understand exactly what the costs relate to – and get another quote to be sure.   

• Ask them to explain the problems clearly: There is nothing worse than being confused with jargon. Make sure the mechanic explains all the details clearly to you and you understand exactly what is wrong (and what you are paying for).

• Can you afford the repairs? If you agree to have the repairs done on your vehicle and you can’t afford to pay for them, the mechanic may not release your vehicle to you until you pay. Ask if you can arrange a payment plan with them (but they are not required to offer this service).

• Make sure they know you want to authorise any work not included in the quote: This avoids lots of unpleasantness when work has been performed on your vehicle that was outside of the original quote

• Ask for an itemised final bill: Make sure that all the work has been completed and that you understand the costs of the labour and parts.

• Keep these bills: This helps if you have any further issues that you believe should already have been fixed and also helps when you want to sell your car. A car with a history of services and evidence of repairs undertaken by a reputable mechanic should sell much better than a car with no service history.

If you have a problem with the charges on your bill for the vehicle repairs and servicing or believe that the repairs were not carried out properly, the best course of action is to discuss these issues with the mechanic. Most repairers want to keep their customers happy and value repeat customers – so they will do their best to sort out any problems you may have.

If you can’t come to a reasonable solution then you can ask to see their complaint handing procedures, which must comply with Australian Standards. As a final resort you can make a formal complaint about the vehicle repairs and servicing to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT).

Why should I have my car serviced?

Lots of people just fill up their car with fuel and kick the tyres every now and again. They forget that regular vehicle repairs and maintenance is a necessary part of owning a car.

At Steve Sorenson Mechanical – a Logan auto repair shop, we know that regular maintenance is a lot better than costly repairs down the road. Sometimes even the smallest of problems can create havoc if left too long unattended.

It doesn’t matter where you live in South-East Queensland, there are always more cars on the road – especially it seems in Logan. Auto repairs are the one item on our list that we can all do without, but sometimes they are unavoidable. The one thing you can do to reduce these costs is to have your vehicle regularly serviced, so any potential problems can be picked up early.

And if you are still not convinced - here are 3 good reasons to have your car regularly serviced:

1.    Safety: As a road user, you cannot ignore the safety of yourself, your loved ones and of everyone else on the road (including pedestrians and cyclists). It doesn’t take much time to check your tyres and brakes – at the very least. Imagine driving in heavy rain and your brakes don’t work and your tyres are bald - both of these could save your life one day.

2.    Performance: If you keep your car well maintained, it not only runs better but your fuel economy is much better. Old oil gets gluggy and prevents your engine from running smoothly. This increases fuel consumption and costs you money. So make sure you change your oil and filters regularly.

3.    Cost: Ignoring vehicle repairs and maintenance can turn simple problems that could have been fixed easily into very costly repairs. Well maintained cars also last much longer, saving you money on replacing the vehicle sooner than you ever thought possible.  

It doesn’t matter where you live in South-East Queensland, there are always more cars on the road – especially in Logan. Auto repairs can be a very costly expense that can be offset by regular maintenance and repairs of your vehicle.

So drop by and see us at Steve Sorenson Mechanical in Logan. Car services are our speciality - call us on 07 38092711 to book your car in for a service or fill in our enquiry form.

Logan auto service – Do I need a dealer to service my car?

You might have noticed that there are a number of car dealerships and mechanical auto shops in Logan. Auto services are a necessary part of car ownership – it helps keep your car roadworthy and safe.

Quite often though, at Steve Sorenson Mechanical (we are a Browns Plains car service auto shop), a customer asks us whether we can service their car for them - or do they have to return to the dealership.

WHAT THE LAW SAYS ABOUT YOUR WARRANTY
In essence you don’t have to return to the dealership for your car services – any qualified mechanic can service your car.
The law that governs this choice is the Competition and Consumer Act 2010, which in layman’s terms states that a car manufacturer cannot void your warranty if you choose to go to an independent mechanic.

So the choice of where you have your car serviced is up to you. There are a few points that you should consider though, when deciding who to go to.

MAKING THE DECISION

One thing to consider is the use of original equipment (OE) parts. Whilst many non-genuine parts can be cheaper to buy (not all OE parts are more expensive), if your car is still in the new car warranty period and a part fails – then you could have a problem on your hands.

The problem is in deciding who is liable for the part failing and any subsequent damage to the car – the car or the parts manufacturer? If you use genuine parts however, then it is more difficult for the car manufacturer to reject your claim against them.

This is also good practice, even if your car is out of the new service warranty period – as any failures due to genuine parts need to be addressed by the car manufacturer.

At Steve Sorenson Mechanical, we are proud of our reputation in Logan. Auto services are one of core business practices and we take great care ensuring your vehicle is serviced well and correctly.

We are located in the Logan area – right in the heart of Browns Plains. Car services help to keep your car safe and roadworthy – call us on 07 38092711 to book your car in for a service or fill in our enquiry form.