A couple of weeks ago my car wouldn’t start. AAA came out and got it up and running temporarily, but I had to take it somewhere to get it looked at. I used to take it to the dealer because they did a good job and always used genuine manufacturer parts, but that can quickly get expensive, especially when the engine probably just needed to be cleaned out. I’d heard good things about Sykesville Car Service, and it’s close to where I live, so I decided to try them out. I called them up during the day and, while they don’t have evening hours, the guy that answered the phone told me I could leave my car in the lot that night and leave the key in their secure drop box, and they’d take a look at it the next day. So I did. I was very impressed with the service I received. They called me before they inspected the car, called me when they found out what the problem was and gave me an estimate for parts and labor (which was almost exactly the final price) and then called me again when the work was done and my car was ready to go. I was able to pay over the phone and then pick my car up that evening, which was very convenient. The mechanic I spoke with was friendly, knowledgeable, and professional, and he didn’t try to up-sell me on anything. He found another (unrelated) problem, and advised me to keep an eye on it but not to pay to have it looked at until it got worse. When I picked my car up, it was in the same condition I’d left it, except that it ran much smoother than it did before. The service cost less than I thought it would, and it seemed reasonable for the work involved. Neither parts nor labor were prohibitively high, and they didn’t replace anything that wasn’t necessary. They give you a six month warranty on any labor, and a 12 month or 12,000 mile warranty on the parts they use. Unlike many auto repair places, the receipt you get is descriptive and shows exactly what work was done and what parts were replaced, and breaks down the fees so you can see what you are paying for. Sykesville Car Service is located at 801 Sandosky Road, Sykesville MD 21784 (right off of Route 32 past the Shell station). They don’t have a website but you can reach them by phone at (410) 795-7384. I would recommend them to anyone living in the Carroll County or western Howard County area. Category:Home › Autos • Will the trend toward economy-size car models lead Americans back to buying smaller-sized cars? — part 2 • You should never use after-market auto parts when maintaining or fixing your car • Should a new car be rust-proofed? • Will the trend toward economy-size car models lead Americans back to buying smaller-sized cars? — part 1 • Five safest cars in North America • How to ensure your teen drives safely after getting a license • Pros and cons of using an hydrogen generator for your car • DIY automotive maintenance: How to change the oil
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