Mechanic

[-neutrino.livejournal.com]

Does anyone know of a good mechanic (or, equally important, a bad one to avoid)? I have a strange sound with smoke problem, and don't want to get snowed. Any suggestions or reviews would be appreciated.
Thanks

Comments

[bikergeek.livejournal.com]

Describe the strange sound, and what color is the smoke, and under what conditions does this occur? Moving, stopped, braking, accelerating, idling? Is it worse at some times than at others?

tough to discribe in writing:

[-neutrino.livejournal.com]

I'll give it a go: the sound is kind of a rattle, with a steam/water-escaping-from-a-small-hole noise as an accompaniment.
The smoke only happened once, and I have not driven it since then, but it smelled like rubber. It was night at the time but it seemed light grey. The sound happens whenever the engine is running, and doesn't seem to be effected by much of anything else.
There you go - bring on the wild guesses! (Just kiding, maybe you know a lot about cars?)

Re: tough to discribe in writing:

[bikergeek.livejournal.com]

It's tough to describe noises verbally, in general.

The smoke might be a coincidence, and not related to the noise. Although a smell of burning rubber from under the hood might indicate a belt that's slipping.

I'm tempted to say "bad water pump bearing." Have you noticed a loss of coolant?

Is the rattle dependent on engine speed?

Re: tough to discribe in writing:

[-neutrino.livejournal.com]

The rattle seems pretty constant, the car can be idling or zipping along, and it seems to rattle at about the same rate.

Re: tough to discribe in writing:

[bikergeek.livejournal.com]

sorry it took me so long to respond.

That's a stumper. It's usually kind of hard to figure these things out from a written description, but I thought I'd do my best and give it a shot. Sorry.

Good luck getting it fixed.

[protogeek.livejournal.com]

Streetwise (over near the Lechmere Auto Wash on Somerville Ave) is excellent. I've been going to them for a few years and have always been treated fairly -- once they even ended up charging me less than quoted because the parts were cheaper than they'd expected.

Streetwise seconded

[jmorash.livejournal.com]

I just had some work done at Streetwise last week and was very happy with them. And they got a lot of good comments on Car Talk's Mechan-X Files:

http://www.cartalk.com/ct/mechx/shop.jsp?id=18748

Re: Streetwise seconded

[protogeek.livejournal.com]

That's actually where I think I found them in the first place, when it became too much of a hassle to go to the Car Talk guys themselves (Good News Auto in Central Sq).

Thanks much...

[-neutrino.livejournal.com]

Thank you for yor suggestions, I'll post here when it's fixed/less broken.

[rdcf.livejournal.com]

I highly recommend Teele Square Auto at 1284 Broadway. Good luck!

[phaedras.livejournal.com]

ABJ Auto is THE best for foreign cars. 91 Marshall Street, Somerville (617) 625-6632. Cheap and very capable.

Streetwise

[-neutrino.livejournal.com]

Hi all -
Thank you all a bunch for your recommendations/attempts to fix my car over the internet. I took it to streetwise, and they were very friendly and helpful. As soon as they heard the noise they knew exactly what was wrong with the car, they told me, quoted me a price, fixed the car the same day and charged me less than the quote. Totally great service - hopefully I won't have to go back but if anything ever goes wrong with my car again, that's where I'll go.
Also, they are walking distance from Porter, which made it very easy to get to and from the place and work.