What Earl works on

Eight services. One mechanic. Honest pricing.

I work on most domestic and Japanese cars built since 1990. Hondas, Toyotas, Fords, Chevys, GMCs, Nissans, Subarus, Hyundais, Kias. I don't work on diesels, transmissions, hybrid batteries, or body work — and I'll tell you who does.

Every job starts with a free diagnostic conversation. If you authorize the work, you'll get a written estimate before I touch a wrench. When the job is done, you'll see the old parts before they go in the bin. The labor rate is $85/hr. Parts are charged at supplier price plus a flat 15% markup. That's the whole pricing model — nothing hidden.

No. 01 — Oil & Maintenance

Oil, filter, fluids, multi-point inspection.

Standard oil change with new filter, brake/coolant/power-steering/transmission fluid top-offs, and a multi-point look-over while I have your car on the lift. I'll tell you what your car will need in the next six months so nothing surprises you.

I use the oil weight your owner's manual calls for. If your car takes synthetic, I'll tell you and let you choose. I don't push high-mileage oil on a 60,000-mile car.

$45 conventional · $85 full synthetic · most cars

No. 02 — Brakes

Pads, rotors when they need it, hardware kit, fluid check.

I measure your rotor thickness with a micrometer before I recommend replacing them — most rotors can be reused if they're within spec. A chain shop will quote you new rotors every time because they get paid more on the part. I'll tell you the truth.

I service one axle at a time when only one needs it. Half the brake jobs I see from chain quotes have 60% pad life left on the rear axle and the chain wanted to do all four corners.

$285–$425 front · $260–$390 rear · most cars

No. 03 — Tune-ups

Plugs, wires where applicable, air filter, cabin filter.

I'll pull a plug and look at it before I tell you your car needs a tune-up. Most modern cars run 100,000 miles on factory plugs. The chain shop will sell you a tune-up at every visit. I'll sell you one when your plugs actually need replacing.

If your car has separate ignition coils, I'll test them rather than replacing all four because one is weak. Diagnostic-first, parts-second.

$185–$385 most cars

No. 04 — Cooling System

Flush, thermostat, water pump, hoses.

Macon summers are hot and cooling systems take a beating. I'll flush your coolant, replace the thermostat if it's stuck, and replace the water pump if it's weeping. If a hose is cracked I'll show it to you before I cut it off.

If your car overheats on the way to the shop, I'll diagnose the cause before I quote anything. A blown head gasket is different from a $20 thermostat, and you deserve to know which one you have.

$145 flush only · $385–$640 thermostat or water pump

No. 05 — Belts & Hoses

Serpentine belt, timing belt where applicable, vacuum lines.

If your serpentine belt is squealing, I'll show you the glaze on it. If your car is on the timing-belt interval (most pre-2010 Hondas and Toyotas have one), I'll tell you what the recommended mileage is and let you decide.

Radiator hoses get soft and bulge before they fail. Vacuum lines crack at the connections. I look at all of these on every visit.

$65 serpentine · $385–$485 timing belt · most cars

No. 06 — Suspension

Struts, shocks, bushings, tie rods, ball joints, sway-bar links.

I'll put your car on the lift and show you the play in the worn part. A worn tie rod has visible play. A worn ball joint has visible play. A worn strut leaks oil. If I can't show you why it needs replacing, you shouldn't pay for it.

An alignment is required after suspension work — I do it in-house. The chain shop sends your car down the road to a shop they own a stake in. Same labor, different markup.

$185–$840 depending on the job

No. 07 — Electrical

Battery, alternator, starter, sensor diagnostics, basic wiring.

I run an OBD-II scanner with live data on every check-engine-light call. The scanner tells me what code is set; the live data tells me what the engine is actually doing while that code is set. That's how you find an intermittent fault — by watching the car run, not by replacing parts blind.

Battery and alternator testing is free. Starter and sensor work is by the book.

$35 diagnostic · parts at cost plus 15% · labor at $85/hr

No. 08 — Georgia State Inspection

Georgia emissions inspection — Bibb County annual.

Bibb County requires an annual emissions inspection on cars 25 model years old or less. I'm a licensed Georgia inspection station and I do the test on-site. Walk-ins welcome — usually under fifteen minutes.

If your car fails, I'll tell you why and what it would take to pass. Often it's a simple sensor or evap-purge fix.

$25 cash · walk-ins welcome

What Earl WON'T do (and who to call instead).

Diesels

Diesel injection systems take specialized tools I don't have. Powerstroke, Duramax, Cummins — I send you to Wade's Diesel Repair on Eisenhower Parkway. Wade's been doing diesels since 1989.

Transmission rebuilds

I'll diagnose your transmission and tell you what it needs. If it needs an internal rebuild, I send it to Bob's Transmission on Mercer University Drive. Bob's been doing transmissions for thirty years.

Body work and paint

If you've been in a wreck, I'll check whether your suspension's safe to drive. Body and paint I send to Macon Collision on Houston Road. They've done good work for my customers for years.

Hybrid traction batteries

Toyota Prius hybrid traction batteries take a high-voltage certification I don't carry. Hybrid Battery Service of Atlanta will come to Macon for that work.

Ready to get an honest quote on your car?

Bring it by, or call Sandra to set a time. Walk-ins welcome.

Call Earl — (478) 555-0142 Read about honest pricing →