DWG 01 SoCal auto repair
Tap the part.Book the fix.
Engine, transmission, AC, battery, suspension. Tap the system on the drawing or tell us what it's doing, and repair shops near you quote the job.
02 Fault finder
What's it doing?
People book a repair because something changed: a light, a noise, a feel. Pick the one you're noticing and we'll route you to the right kind of shop.
03 How a diagnosis works
From symptom
to signed estimate
You notice something
Tell the shop what you see, hear or feel, and when: cold starts, highway speed, braking, turning.
They plug in
All 1996 and newer gas cars and trucks have OBD II, which watches nearly every part that affects emissions. CARB
The code says where to look
A stored trouble code points the technician to a system or circuit. It's a starting point, not the whole answer.
Tests confirm the fix
Pinpoint tests find what actually failed. Then you get an estimate, and nothing starts until you say yes.
Some problems need parts taken apart before a shop can estimate. California's Bureau of Automotive Repair says there may be a teardown charge even if you don't go ahead, so ask first. BAR
04 The sheets
Pick the system
Not sure which? Start with a diagnosis. The shop finds the cause, then quotes the repair.
05 Revision history
Drawn, fixed,
revised
Blueprints, shop manuals and the check engine light all changed how cars get fixed. Every drawing keeps a revision block. Here's ours.
Blueprint chemistry
John Herschel publishes the cyanotype process, the white on blue behind every blueprint.
Plans go blue
Marion and Company of Paris starts selling the paper for copying plans and technical drawings.
The electric starter
The Cadillac Model Thirty gets an electric starter developed by Charles Kettering. Goodbye, hand crank.
Shifting goes automatic
Oldsmobile's Hydra-Matic arrives for the 1940 model year, the first mass-produced fully automatic transmission for cars.
The manual on the shelf
John Haynes founds J. H. Haynes & Co. Its owners workshop manuals are written from a complete strip-down and rebuild.
California sets the rules
The Bureau of Automotive Repair is established after the Automotive Repair Act of 1971, to protect consumers.
The check engine light
California requires on-board diagnostic systems, the check engine light, beginning with 1988 model-year cars.
OBD II
All 1996 and newer gas passenger cars and trucks must carry OBD II, the port every scan tool plugs into.
Repairer Now
Tap the part, tell us the car, and book a repair shop near you on Lokuli.
Sources: Wikipedia on cyanotype, the starter, Hydra-Matic and Haynes; BAR at 50; CARB history and OBD II fact sheet.
06 Your rights, signed off
The work order
is yours
California law sets what a repair shop has to put in writing and when it needs your OK. Here it is as a checklist, straight from the Bureau of Automotive Repair.
repair checklist
- An estimate before workThe shop gives you an estimate showing the expected cost. BAR ↗
- Nothing starts without your OKYou authorize the repairs before the shop can begin.
- Found more? They call youIf the shop finds more problems after starting, they must contact you, describe the work and cost, and get your permission. Guide ↗
- Ask about teardownSome estimates need parts taken apart, and there may be a charge for it even if you skip the repair.
- Old parts backAsk for the replaced parts before you authorize the repairs.
- A final invoice that lists it allEvery repair and part, with used, reconditioned or rebuilt parts noted, the parts and labor cost, and the shop's license number.
- A problem? BAR can helpBAR mediates complaints between drivers and shops. Outcomes can include a refund, a bill adjustment or repairs at no cost. File ↗
signature
Before you book
NHTSACheck your VIN for open recallsYour 17 character VIN is on the lower left of the windshield. A dealer fixes a recalled part for free.Recall lookup ↗ California Air Resources BoardEngine light blinking?A blinking light means a malfunction that could be damaging your catalytic converter. Many makers advise service as soon as possible.OBD II fact sheet ↗ Bureau of Automotive RepairLook a shop upBAR's Auto Shop Locator finds licensed repair dealers near you and shows each one's license number.Auto Shop Locator ↗ CA Department of Consumer AffairsCheck a shop's licenseBAR links here to check a license. Pick the Bureau of Automotive Repair in the list.License search ↗07 How it works
Three steps, no guessing
- Mark it upTap the system or pick what it's doing, then add your car and ZIP.
- Pick a shopCompare repair shops near you and request a time on Lokuli. Each shop quotes its own price.
- Sign the estimateThe shop gives you an estimate and gets your OK before work starts. That's California law.
08 Near you
Repair shops around town
09 Good to know
Repair questions
My check engine light is on. Can I keep driving?
The California Air Resources Board says most manufacturers advise service as soon as it's convenient. If the light is blinking, it can mean a problem that could be damaging your catalytic converter, and many manufacturers advise service as soon as possible. Your owner's manual says what your light means.
What's the difference between a diagnostic and a repair?
A diagnostic finds the cause: reading trouble codes and testing until the failed part is confirmed. The repair fixes it. Ask up front whether there's a charge for the diagnosis.
Do I pay for a teardown if I don't do the repair?
You might. The Bureau of Automotive Repair says some problems need parts taken apart for an accurate estimate, and there may be a charge for the teardown even if you don't go ahead. Ask before you authorize it.
Can I get my old parts back?
Yes. Ask for them before you authorize the repairs, and the shop has to return them.
What if the shop finds more problems?
They must contact you, describe the extra work and cost, and get your permission before going further.
How do I check a repair shop?
Use the Bureau of Automotive Repair's Auto Shop Locator or the Department of Consumer Affairs license search, both linked above.
Does a recall repair cost anything?
NHTSA says to contact your local dealership to fix a recalled part for free. Look up your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you book other work.
Can a mechanic come to me?
Book a mobile mechanic and describe the job. Whether it can be done where the car sits depends on the provider and the repair.
How much will my repair cost?
Each shop sets its own price based on your car and what it needs. Shops quote you through Lokuli, so you can compare before you book.
10 Run a repair shop?
Get these bookings
Repairer Now sends drivers to shops on Lokuli. Go live free with a bookable shop page, take requests online, and pay no commission on any plan.