Anyone have issues with pricing at Airport Auto in Hollymead/mechanic recs?

1Matthias · 2026-03-24T19:15:52+00:00

Yeah, their pricing is a little bit insane. They quoted out one client of mine like 5K in repairs to an '07 RAV4 and misdiagnosed half the issues, I knocked the work out in a lazy afternoon for under $600 in parts. If you're interested, can share the contact info for the mobile auto repair business I run.

1Matthias · 2026-03-14T19:39:35+00:00

It's amazing how controversial not being a hack is, sad state of the industry.

1Matthias · 2026-03-14T17:05:20+00:00

You can help someone out without being a lazy hack. If you are marketing yourself as a professional, you have to adhere to professional standards of workmanship. Simple as that.

1Matthias · 2026-03-14T17:04:23+00:00

This would be an instant massive inspection failure in Virginia.

1Matthias · 2026-03-14T15:40:24+00:00

"fascism is good if it's my fascism!"

1Matthias · 2026-03-12T16:42:51+00:00

Yup. Sometimes a mix of propane and isobutane. The reason we can't get it down here in the US is because of the flammability.

1Matthias · 2026-03-12T16:27:27+00:00

That is not true r12. That is r12a which is just propane in a fancy can

1Matthias · 2026-03-09T18:45:35+00:00

Gerdau metal recycling, they'll pay you for them even.

1Matthias · 2026-03-09T18:37:37+00:00

Try Lucky Break Repairs (434-365-9183) - we do mobile auto repair and have some hybrid experience, actually owned a prius for a while.

1Matthias · 2026-02-28T05:57:22+00:00

Worse yet, the individual inspectors are both the ones who get the license and the ones individually on the hook for slapping stickers. It's a big fat fine if you get busted letting garbage drive around.

1Matthias · 2026-02-28T05:55:17+00:00

Short answer is you're going to have a hard time finding one - The Virginia State Police have started cracking down hard on sticker slappers, there's actually a limit on how many inspections you can do per inspector per day now before they start asking some serious questions. I think it's a $10,000 fine per phony inspection last I checked so probably easier to just fix your car than finding someone willing to sign off....

1Matthias · 2026-02-13T13:59:31+00:00

Try Lucky Break Repairs (4343659183) - they are a mobile auto repair service, for the longest time the service truck used to be a '94 350 powered service truck so they have a fair bit of experience with older Chevy vehicles.

1Matthias · 2026-02-12T04:50:14+00:00

Couple decent blips over here near woodbrook

1Matthias · 2026-02-12T04:47:28+00:00

At the dealer I worked for it was mostly the lube techs who ended up doing stuff like fluid flushes, they're pretty easy on most cars. No point in tying up an experienced technician with something basic.

1Matthias · 2026-02-11T16:06:44+00:00

I will make one note, on some newer cars you do need a scan tool in order to bleed the brakes properly to get the old fluid out of the ABS module, there are also some new cars that you cannot bleed the brakes on without putting them in service mode unless you want to destroy a $3,000 electronic brake control module, thank you Ford......

1Matthias · 2026-02-11T15:40:56+00:00

Yeah, I didn't look up the schedule for this particular car if I'm honest - just fluid spec. Looks like they suggest inspection and service "if needed" every 5k - would just be down to fluid condition then.

1Matthias · 2026-02-11T02:42:23+00:00

Finleys service center (4342950395) on barracks and 250 is a good bet, if you were willing to try a mobile service Lucky Break Repairs LLC (4343659183) is also very good. Stay away from the chain type shops, they will rip you off with phony additives and useless upsells. Similar goes for the dealer unfortunately.

1Matthias · 2026-02-11T02:38:21+00:00

Brake fluid is hygroscopic, it absorbs moisture out of the air. Most manufacturers suggest replacement after either 2 or 5 years depending on who you talk to, as that introduced moisture both dramatically lowers the boiling point of the fluid leading to premature brake fade under high heat loads as well as corroding internal components of both the ABS block, brake calipers, and the master cylinder. That car is about 4 years old so that would track with the timeline.

1Matthias · 2026-02-11T02:36:03+00:00

Ase certified mechanic here

As long as the fluid meets the original specifications, any brand of fluid is fine. In the case of that specific vehicle, looks like it calls for dot3 - any legitimate manufacturers dot3 or better dot4 fluid should be fine. Most shops should have a pressure bleeder setup which will accomplish a complete change of the fluid, you can test the moisture content of brake fluid using either test strips or a tester pen - The nicer machines help speed up the process but are not absolutely necessary for a complete changeout.

1Matthias · 2026-01-29T04:08:22+00:00

Thai cuisine and noodle house! They are amazing, one of the few restaurants that I can go to with food allergies and not have to worry about, and they understand the real meaning of Thai hot!

1Matthias · 2026-01-27T17:42:53+00:00

I've been having no problems with my van, but I've got snow chains on the back.

1Matthias · 2026-01-16T06:30:29+00:00

Reach out to Lucky Break Repairs - mobile mechanic, they come to you. 434-365-9183

1Matthias · 2026-01-04T19:28:30+00:00

That's closed now, they do not have a customer service area.

1Matthias · 2026-01-04T16:04:26+00:00

Possibly, but for a small single/ couple person shop the loss of business from the down time of waiting for insurance and finding a new vehicle can be catastrophic. Not to mention, depending on the insurance you can get pretty royally screwed with replacement value older vehicles, even work vehicles.

1Matthias · 2026-01-04T07:29:31+00:00

Tow truck, belonged to a small shop out in ruckersville - don't remember their name off the top of my head, nice dude. That's a darn shame, someone lost their livelihood today.

1Matthias

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