Need Trusty Honda mechanic in Sacramento

Cross posted to alt.autos.honda

I love our dealership, I really do.. they're good at what they do.
They are however damn expensive.

We rolled the old '97 Accord Wagon LX (117,000 mi.) in there Monday
'cuz the dang SRS light has been on for a few months and it's been
heating up on hot days when the air is on. Thank God I was sitting
down when they called with this
120k service $329.95
Fuel Service $ 89.95
Exhaust Manifold $393.69 leaking- rec. replace
due to too much rust and new
gasket will not seal)
Reseal Power Steering Pump $169.00
T/Stat sensors (??) $234.21
Head Work $911.11 (found blown head gasket
leaking between 3&4 cylinder)
SRS Unit $716.22 (failing code 08-5)
Distributor O-ring $ 96.00
2 rims (replacing bent ones) $156.25
Total $3092.00


Holy Crow! I immediately started thinking "new car". Then I get to
researching and talking to salespeople and I just get sick of the
whole thing.

So I thought I would ask here if anyone knows of a good Honda Wrench
in Sacramento.

Thanks

Cow
P.S. I am definitely open to any repair suggestions or similar
experiences you may have had...we really don't want to buy a car at
this time

 

You can try http://cartalk.cars.com/About/Garage/mechan-x/find.htmlt's .
It's a search engine at Car Talk's site, where people write in what
mechanics in their area they've had luck with. You go in with your zip code
and how many miles max. the shop can be from this zip code, and it lists
shops.

I threw a random Sacramento zip code in and several shops came up.
Unfortunately, at most only half-a-dozen or people or so comment on each
shop. Still, it might be useful.

I don't know what SRS is. Otherwise, the head work the dealer said your car
needs is what would scare me most, assuming they are being honest. (And I
have no reason to think any shop would lie about a blown head gasket.) OTOH,
a second opinion couldn't hurt, especially since you're torn about buying
another car. I'd just keep in mind that if you make these couple thousand
dollars of repairs (worst case), you'll probably get at least another 117k
miles out of your car.

I personally would do whatever repairs a second, non-dealer shop recommended
and keep the car. But I also have the philosophy that cars were made to be
driven into the ground (or at least until you get sick of the rust).

Just about everything else seems pretty minor. You can probably get a better
price at an independent shop. That distributor O-ring job stinks of dealer
inflation. And fuel service? I personally am very iffy about doing this, but
this opinion is based only on a 1991 Civic having 144k miles on it and
running wonderfully, with all maintenance done by yours truly. And no fuel
service ever; knock on wood.

 

Do not go to Quality Tune-Up or many like them.( I live near the Sac
area) In Fact do not go to any tune-up place that bears the
professional look. The appearance is deceiving.

Go to the outskirt of town where the mechanics on duty are sons of
farm tractor operators. They know mechanical well and are very
honest. Once and many time they do works costing hundreds for free.
Make sure they look/dress/equipped competently and located near veggie
farms. These are opinions.

A paper clip inserted in the right spot will cost you $100 if you
don’t know how. I’m referring to fault codes retrieve by a
jumper pin (paper clip.).

Those prices are about the same as many of my non-mechanic friends.
I’ve been thru exact problems you have and cost me only $60 not
$3092 or $2500 my buddies. Being a mechanic yourself pays off
dividends. Knowledge means choices, leverage, etc. You pay a price for
not having practical skill. Not fair world.

Remember, there are Hondas capable of zero major repairs other than
maintenance – mine Accd 260K no paid repairs. Next time, get a
Civic.

I've seen chain reaction problem due to overheating, which blows the
head gasket, warps the aluminum head/manifolds, blows sensors etc. The
best tatic is prevention. The Driver should keep constant watch on
temp.