Steve’s Auto Center

Ok, so let’s revisit my aversion to auto-​related businesses. I have, over the years, been subjected to everything from condescension to outright lies when it comes to having repairs done on various cars. One dealer repair center– which was (ironically) run by a woman, continued to perform repair after unneeded repair, completely ignoring what I kept telling them was wrong with the car until finally the ex-​hubs purchased the part I said it needed, slapped it on their counter and said «put this on the d*mn car.» Just recently I was assured by the manager of Midas, while paying for my oil change, that my battery was surely going to conk out any second now and I’d be stranded somewhere, helpless. *eye roll* A bald-​faced lie. I had it checked. (another review, another time.)
So, when the engine light on my Honda came on, and stayed on, conveniently just before inspection time, I had it scanned at several local garages and was told it was the catalytic converter. Now, I saw the scans, and I know they showed that this was probably the problem. I was quoted anywhere from $ 700 to $ 1500 or more for the repair. In desperation, I called the place my brother, his fiancé and my mom have been taking their cars for the past few years: Steve’s Auto Center. It’s out in Monongahela, so a pretty good hike from home, but they’ve been very happy so I thought it might be worth a call.
When I explained the situation, Steve told me he’d check it, but he had *never* seen a catalytic converter that was actually bad; he said usually it was an oxygen sensor. But– bring it out and he’d take a look. Hopeful, I drove out to leave my car for him to work on the next day. It’s a home-​based business, so a little easy to miss without a gps, but there’s a drop box for keys and payment, so your car is locked and secure until he gets to it. He called me the next day and carefully explained how he had tested the converter AND both oxygen sensors, and determined that it was in fact one of the sensors that had gone bad. He replaced it, test drove it for a while to make sure the light didn’t come back on, and then put it through the PA emissions testing and it passed. Problem solved for a FRACTION of what I was afraid it was going to cost. Now, I don’t think the other mechanics were trying to rip me off. (THIS time.) But what impressed me was that UNLIKE the others, Steve didn’t immediately go for the obvious, expensive repair. He was willing to spend some time to thoroughly examine the problem and make the correct repair. If I had paid someone $ 1000 to replace the catalytic converter, that sensor would still be bad and I’d *still* have had to replace that as well!
So, despite my husband grousing about driving «all the way out there,» it was well worth the trip. I am a convert– a loyal, dedicated customer.