FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

GENERAL QUESTIONS

What does a tune-up cost?

With today’s automobiles, a tune-up doesn’t necessarily fix everything like 30 years ago. Today’s vehicles may only need certain parts such as plugs and wires. Sometimes vehicles also require coils or other parts. We always like to check out your car first to make sure you aren’t spending money you don’t have to!

What is your price for factory scheduled maintenance?

We believe in doing factory-scheduled maintenance a little different than most. We believe in checking over your car and seeing what it actually needs. A good example of this is an air filter. Air filters are commonly recommended in 30,60,90 thousand mile services. However, if yours looks brand new and was just done 3 months ago we see no reason to replace it. Our goal is to look at your vehicle in line with the manufacturers and our guidelines and make recommendations to make sure your car is in good shape for many more miles!

What does the solid check engine light mean?

It is a standard light on vehicles that tells you something is wrong. Inside the engines computer is a code which tells what the problem is. By connecting our computer to the engine computer, we can tell the source of the problem.

Tire Pressure Sensor

A tire pressure sensor is a feature mandated by Congress.

What should you know about us?

You should know that we are professionals in our industry and treat you like the member of our family that you are. We are not the cheapest shop in town (nor do we want to be) but, we do like to think that we provide the best value when it comes to the work that we do, the level of service that we provide, and the warranties that stand behind the work that we do. We have been here since 1975 because we have some of the best technicians in our area and a customer relations staff that is top-notch!

Are you actually family owned?

Yes we are a family-owned business and have been for over 50 years here in Catonsville! Our shop was started by Albert Steinbach and his son Ken in 1975. Over 50 years later Ken is still here. His son Scott joined the business in 2004.

Do you pay your technicians on “flat rate” or “commissions”?

No, we do not pay our technicians a commission or “flat rate” pay systems (where an employee is paid by the job). We find these pay methods incentivize bad business practices like adding work that’s not really needed. It’s unfair to all parties involved—the customer, the technician, and the business. We want to retain our employees and pay them fairly, while giving our customers peace of mind.

Can you quote me over the phone?

No shop can truly quote a price accurately over the phone because they haven’t seen the car and don’t know exactly what your vehicle needs yet. We don’t want to quote you a price only to have it go up once we actually see your car in the shop and know what repairs and parts your specific make and model needs.

Why should I choose you over another auto repair shop?

When deciding between shops you’ll find you can have repairs done better, faster, or cheaper—but no shop can do all three. We believe that we bring value by being better and faster, so you get your car back quickly and in a safe condition to drive. To do this we employ some of the most talented and longest-tenured technicians in the state of Maryland. We only use the best parts and our warranty is one of the longest in the state just in case something goes wrong. We have 2 shops and 43 bays to get your vehicle fixed as quickly as possible without cutting any corners.

What is your CCC Guarantee?

Everything we do follows our CCC Guarantee. That means every action we take must be:

• Good for the car. If a repair is not in the best interest of the vehicle, we don’t perform it.
• Good for the customer. If a repair doesn’t match your goals for the car, we don’t perform it.
• Good for the clinic. We want customers that trust us and return for all their services, so we aim to do things the right way.