Mechanic Works On Customer's GMC Denali. Then He Realizes He Can Easily Lie And Make $11,000

'A lot of shops lie to the customer.'

Mechanic works on customer’s car

Photo by: YouTube

Stacy Fernandez

By: Stacy Fernandez

Apr 14, at 6:00am ET

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Finding a mechanic you actually trust is one of the hardest things to do as a car owner. Many people go in knowing little to nothing about cars, hand over their keys, and hope for the best, leaving the power in the mechanic’s hands.

So when you find someone who's straight with you, charges a fair price, and doesn't try to tack on services you don't need, you hold on to them and recommend them to others. Or at least that’s what this mechanic is banking on after voluntarily losing out on $11,000.

Finally, An Honest Mechanic

In a video with around 7,750 views, mechanic Rigo (@rigosmechanics), based in Yuma, Arizona, walks through what he's calling "Honesty Wednesday."

Rigo explains that a customer brought in a 2023 GMC Sierra Denali with a seized engine and only 22,000 miles on it. Rigo says he and his team diagnosed it and quoted the customer about $11,000 for a brand new diesel engine from the dealer, plus labor, fluids, and everything else. The customer approved it.

But before starting any work, Rigo paused. Based on the year and the mileage, something didn't add up. This truck should still be under warranty, he figured, so he called the dealer, had them run the VIN, and confirmed it was.

"I told him, 'Hey, your truck's still under warranty. Take it to the dealership so you can get a free engine instead of coming $11,000 out of pocket,'" he reports.

In the video, the truck was being towed to the dealership for repair at no cost to the customer, according to Rigo.

"I lost $11,000 out of my pocket this week," he says. "But I gained a customer for life. He saw who we are and what we believe in."

"I'm a firm believer in a higher power that [is] above us, and I believe that my finances are where they're at because of how honest we are and how well we take care of our customers," he adds.

Why Finding A Mechanic You Trust Matters

According to a Consumer Reports survey that collected data on nearly 12,000 repairs, independent shops like Rigo's consistently outperform dealerships and chains on the attributes customers care most about—including honesty.

When respondents were asked to describe their repair shop, independent facilities stood out specifically for trustworthiness, reasonable prices, and knowledgeable mechanics. Dealerships, by contrast, scored lowest for price satisfaction across nearly all brands, with almost every dealership service department getting the lowest possible rating on that measure.

That said, Consumer Reports notes that dealerships are the right call for warranty and recall repairs, since they have factory-trained technicians, proprietary diagnostic tools, and warranty work must go through the manufacturer anyway.

How To Find A Good Mechanic

According to a ConsumerAffairs survey of 1,000 drivers, 78% said they don't always trust their mechanics, and only 17% percent felt they were always charged fairly for car repairs. About 80% said they've felt overcharged at some point.

Here are some tips on finding a solid mechanic, according to the experts ConsumerAffairs spoke with:

Don't wait until you need a big repair. Find a shop before something goes wrong. Get an oil change or a routine service done first and see how they handle it.
Ask people you know. Friends, family, and people with similar vehicles are the most reliable source of referrals. Online reviews help, but can be manipulated. Look for a long history of consistent reviews, not a recent spike.
Make sure mechanics are ASE-certified. The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence certification is the industry standard. Check whether the shop offers a warranty on its work.
Don't announce that you know nothing about cars. Automotive expert Lauren Fix put it plainly: saying "I don't know anything about cars" is the worst thing you can say to a mechanic. Do a little research beforehand, or bring someone who has.
Get a second opinion on big repairs. Pricing differences between shops are normal, but wildly different estimates are a red flag. It also never hurts to know your number isn't an outlier.
Build a relationship over time. The more your mechanic knows your car and your history, the harder it is to be taken advantage of, and the more likely they are to go out of their way for you.

Commenters React

A top comment repeated Rigo’s quote about believing in a higher power and being in a healthy financial position by operating honestly.

"Like 99% percent of the ones around me would have not done the same," a person said.

What do you think?

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Comments

"Honesty first, but you should get paid at least $200 for your diagnostic time," another wrote.

Motor1 reached out to Rigo (@rigosmechanics) for comment via TikTok direct message and comment. We'll be sure to update this if they respond.

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