I have a 1995 Volvo 850 that needs some expensive repairs. I found an ad for a mobile mechanic on craigslist ($50 an hour). He claims he works for a Volvo dealership (8 years). I need to get my power steering rack and evaporator replaced.

How can I tell if this guy is qualified?
Do you think this mobile mechanic has the proper tools to do this job?
What types of risks am I looking at here?
Please give me some advice.

 

>How can I tell if this guy is qualified?
Unless you are a mechanic yourself, it is very difficult to tell; a reason whyI keep saying that a friend’s recommendation of a good mechanic is almost always useless (unless they are referring to Tech).

I’ve never heard of a mobile mechanic, is it a mechanic that comes to your place to service your car?

I hope the following would help:

- Is he ASE-certified Master Technician?
- Ask him approximately how much it takes to replace the evaporator on 850s. If he says less than 2 hours, forget it. It takes Tech approximately 3 hours (Tech, is this correct?) to do the job.
- Ask him if he knows some of the common problems to 850s. If he cannot mention ABS module, faulty fuel pump & really, MAF sensor, chronic oil leak, timing belt replacement intervals, transmission control problems orfront suspension upper spring seats (there are more but these are just a few examples), he probably does not know much about 850s.


JPN

 

I agree with JPN!!!
Yes about 3 hours unless I have to repair the dash then it is closer to 4.5 hours.

 

JPN and Techthanks for the response.

A mobile mechanic does drive to your house or you could drop it off at his place.
This mechanic is ASE certified.
He says that a dealer will charge 14 hours for the A/C evaporator job but it will take him around 10 hours ($500 labor + parts).
As for the power steering rack, I have herd that you need to flush the power steering fluid and do an alignment. Is this something that is absolutely necessary and if so will he have the tools needed in his home garage to do it?

 

10 hours for a labour is a bit too outrageous for a Volvo technician.

I doubt if he has a laser-alignment equipment at his place (a $10,000+ equipment). If you need to replace the steering rack, however, yes you do need to either flush/refill the PWS reservoir. The PWS fluid is the same as the transmission fluid; Dexron-III/Mercon.

I would probably take the car to a Volvo dealer. Sometimes the extra charge at the dealer is actually worth the money.

See what others have to say; we have great members who are extremely knowledgeable on the 850s.


JPN

 

The Book time is about 10 hours where ever you go.
He is wrong on 14 at the Dealer unless the Dealer is totally screwing you.

Yes you will need an alignment and I doubt he could do it.

 

Tech +1.

Even the smallest alignment mahcine is kind of big for the average garage.

Best bet, get the mobile mech to tdo the work and then take it to a proper shop for the alignment. In most cases if the steering is played with/worked onthetracking will always be off, by a bit, and unless you enjoy buying tires the alignment is justthe nextnatural step.

 

>unless you enjoy buying tires
This is a good one, made me laugh!


JPN