Mechanic Recommends $2,000 Repair. Then Woman Gets A Second Opinion: 'Ask AutoZone To Do This With Their Scanner'

A mechanic is calling out one of his peers for doing a poor job diagnosing a woman’s car troubles. He says the incident underscores the importance of getting diagnostics from a knowledgeable and trustworthy mechanic.

In a TikTok with over 13,600 views as of this writing, Jimmy Avila (@boss_shittg) claims a fellow mechanic's diagnostics were wrong and could've cost his customer a lot of money.

“This customer supposedly got diagnosed at another shop. This is why it’s important to only get customers that follow your process,” he begins.

The previous mechanic purportedly recommended replacing the master cylinder and the brake booster. Then the woman called Avila to see how much labor it would cost to replace those two parts, he says. He says he told her he’d need to do his own diagnosis to ensure the issue actually gets solved.

“I told her we can’t give her labor. We’ll have to diagnose the car, that's the way we work. Now why? Because if we change the part the customer is asking for and the problem is not fixed, then we just stand there, They look at me like I am the one that doesn’t know what I am doing,” he says.

After performing his own diagnostics, Avila says the results were much different from what AutoZone found.

“We found that the vacuum pump was broken. You can see here, a completely broken pump. This is a pump driven by the cam and you can see there are still pieces out there,” he explains.

To fix it, he’d need to remove the valve cover to get the broken pump parts out. This isn’t necessarily a minor repair, but it’s significantly less involved than replacing a master cylinder and brake booster. Plus it’s a totally different repair.

Avila says this incident proves how important proper diagnostics are.

For perspective, a new master cylinder costs roughly $600 to $700 on average, and a new brake booster costs $1,000 to $1,100 on average. This first diagnostics estimate was around $2,000, while a brake vacuum pump costs between $700 and $800 to replace. According to Avila, in this case, getting a second opinion saved the customer over $1,000.

Should You Get Diagnostics At AutoZone?

Like other auto parts stores, AutoZone offers free diagnostics. So anytime a check engine light or warning light comes on, AutoZone can be a starting point to find out what’s going on. An employee simply plugs in the scanner and reads the codes it returns. This service, called the “Free Fix Finder,” takes only about a minute.

This service can test for engine lights, emission readiness, tire pressure monitoring system, battery voltage, brake pad life, and oil levels and life. After performing diagnostics, AutoZone can assist with next steps.

However, car enthusiasts on Reddit have debated whether the AutoZone scanner is accurate.

“The code that AutoZone gave you is a guide to start diagnosing the misfire your car is having,” one wrote.

“Currently working at AutoZone, they’re fairly accurate in giving a general idea of what part needs to be replaced,” one shared.

While AutoZone can be a great starting spot to see where the issue potentially lies, it’s hard to know the extent of a necessary repair after a one-minute scan. A mechanic’s diagnosis is a more thorough examination that can potentially save you a lot of money. 

‘Doing Business The Right Way’

Viewers were impressed with Avila's transparency and commitment to his craft.

“Doing business the right way,” one person wrote.

“You are so awesome,” another commented. 

Many praised his honesty and said they wish he was their mechanic. 

“Wish I wasn’t so far away! I swear, you’re the only mechanic I’d trust,” one wrote. 

Motor1 has contacted Avila via Instagram and TikTok direct message. AutoZone has been contacted via email. This post will be updated if either replies.