Blog
From the Mechanic’s Wife
A Blog About Auto Repair in Simple Terms
Dear Reader,
Hello, my name is Bethany and I’m the wife of Andrew, owner and lead technician at Marinelli Auto Service. I’ve learned a lot about cars and auto mechanics from being married to a mechanic and, more recently, working with him at the shop.
Before meeting Andrew I would go into a repair shop I was intimidated, to say the least. I never knew if I was making the right decision or if I was being being treated fairly. I now know I made some mistakes during that time. Luckily, I no longer have to worry about the work being done on my car.
I hope my insight will help you be able to walk into an auto repair shop and feel confident in making decisions about the care of your vehicle.
-From the Mechanic’s wife
Working from Home with Kids
How can I be productive working from home when my kids are home? You’re probably also asking, since my kids are not in school, how do I keep them engaged in academic activities so that they don’t fall behind once schools open again?
The Mechanic’s Daughter
She answered the phone with a smile. Sitting in our old paint-faded Corolla with my little boy in the back seat, the increasing vibration was really stressing me. The calm voice at the other end reassured me that Andrew had plans to sort it out. It’s not often I get...
Stop Scheduling Oil Changes
Are you unintentionally becoming best friends with your mechanic because your vehicle is in the shop so much? You go in for an oil change 2-3 times a year and then in-between you end up going back for maintenance and repairs. It really adds up! While we’ve connected...
No Obstacle Unsurmountable
I (Bethany) told Andrew the other day that he’s like an icebreaker ship. He’s got a strong hull, a determined mindset, and plows through any obstacle that gets in his way with calculated precision. He paves the way for the rest of us to navigate the frozen waters. He’s been the foundation of our weathering stormy trials that have threatened us.
The Littlest Mechanic
“Awe, look at that little mechanic in the making!” is a comment that Andrew and I regularly hear from people when our son is in tow. In an effort to be polite, our response is often something like, “Well, we’ll see.” We realize people are just making “daddy’s little...
Best U.S. Summer Roadtrips
I love to travel. My photo albums and passports are evidence of this passion. I’ve seen a lot of amazing places across the world and across our country and have a desire for more. It’s not just about seeing the places, it’s about the people you are with, the people...
Big Business Development
On May 31st, all of the tenants in our building received notice, to no fault of our own, that we must move out by July 2nd. We had no warning that this was coming and we are doing everything we can to maintain our quality standards of communication, service, and...
Seeking Greater Impact, Not Greater Success
Most of us have been there. You are at a staff meeting or a party and the boss stands up and says something to the effect of, “We’re a family,” referring to you and the however many other employees (some whom you hardly know), in a way to say you are cared for as an...
Me & My Ride: Billy & Morgan Kuehlewind
Adventure loving couple, Billy and Morgan Kuehlewind, bring tons of fun into our shop. From Billy’s tactful sense of humor to Morgan’s contagious energy, we look forward to the Kuehlewind's visits. Billy works in audio visual and Morgan works at home with baby Liam as...
3 Keys to Staying Safe When You Break Down
It’s Thanksgiving Day, 2016, and I’m 6 months pregnant. Andrew and I had just bought a used pick-up truck for the shop and after doing some repairs, was excited to drive it to his brother’s wedding...three states away. I mentioned several times that I was six months...
Me & My Ride: Dawn Whitestone
If I could describe Dawn with one word, it would be “thoughtful.” She doesn’t waste time getting things done, but she definitely approaches everything she does with sincere thoughtfulness. It’s how she runs her business, Whitestone Professionals, LLC, and it’s how...
“Prince Charming,” Family Man, Opportunist
When “Prince Charming” comes up on the caller ID at Marinelli Auto Service, we know that Jonathan Fernandes is on the line. This doesn’t happen often, because as Office Manager, he’s usually the one answering the phone, but when it does, we can be rest assured we’ll...
5 Wise Uses for Your Tax Refund
The newest member of our team, Jonathan Fernandes, is pretty wise when it comes to making practical life decisions, like investing your hard-earned money. He's been a wonderful asset to our team as the Office Manager, and in this guest post, he shares some great ideas...
How To Take A Woman On A Date
I’m a woman (surprise!) and I love it when my husband takes me out on dates. We don’t get to go out much because we’ve always been tight on cash and we kind of enjoy just curling up on the couch with a movie. The longer we’ve been married, the harder it’s been to get...
Understanding the Inner-workings of The Mechanic
I’ve often heard that when a quiet person speaks, listen. With Andrew, this couldn’t be more true. I frequently wonder what is going on in that head of his. If you look in his eyes you know, the wheels are always turning, but with what? His level of focus is...
Me & My Ride: Don Kirkendall
On a chilly morning in early January, I popped in on Don Kirkendall at his office at Kirkendall Insurance to ask him about his car. I have a unique relationship with Don because, not only does his company provide our Garage and Liability Insurance, but he’s also a...
How Ignored Timing Belts Cause Internal Engine Damage
Andrew and I recently went to see a local orchestra and choir perform. It was our first night out together in many months and I was so excited to be enjoying music with him. In case you didn’t already know, Andrew is an accomplished musician with a degree...
A Day in the Life: The Family Business Mom
We are a family business, and not just in the sense that Andrew and I are a husband and wife running a business, but because we are a family who truly cares about you and your family. It doesn’t matter whether you are a single college student or married parents of...
A Letter to Floridians: Driving in the Cold
Dear Floridians, I’m a Michigander at heart. I admit that I had no desire to leave my home of more than 25 years, especially to live in Florida, but alas, here I am and here I’ve been for 8 years. I’ve married a Floridian and we own a business in Florida, so we’re not...
Synthetic or Conventional Oil?
When I got my first car, I knew nothing - I mean absolutely nothing - about cars. All I knew was that I needed to keep it full of gas and that I should get the oil changed according to the sticker in my windshield. I remember going to the oil change for the first...
Regular or Premium Gasoline?
A friend recently sent me a photo of the gas options offered at a fueling station and said, “Help! Which one do I use?” There were FIVE options at that particular pump. No wonder she was confused. I have since spent a lot of time researching different gas grades and I...
We’re Growing!
Running a business is hard. Customer Service is hard. Working in the auto industry as a mechanic is really hard. Accomplishing hard things is very rewarding, especially when customers voice their gratitude. When things are hard at Marinelli Auto Service, two things...
The True Cost of Vehicle Ownership
We’ve all experienced that moment when someone providing a necessary service for you tells you the price on the final bill and your heart plummets into your stomach. Your heart continues to beat heavily way down there while you are mentally reviewing your bank...
Business & Family Defeat Challenges
2017 has started as a very interesting year for our shop. Andrew and I welcomed our son, Arthur, into the world on February 8th. On February 12th I ended up in emergency surgery and then in and out of ICU for nearly 3 weeks with a severe infection. This meant that,...
The Meaning of “Family Business” Success
When we say we value our customers we mean it...and we try hard to show it without being overbearing. We truly care about each individual customer. Most people do not expect this from an auto repair shop and, it seems by people’s reactions, many people have not...
Getting Your Car Ready for the Road Trip to Grandma’s
Some of my fondest childhood memories involved piling in the car with my parents and siblings to drive down to Nana and Papa’s house. My sister, the youngest, usually sat between my brother and I. Maybe this was because she was smaller, or maybe because it reduced...
The Difference Between a Mechanic and a Craftsman
On every corner of every street in every city across the country, you will find an automotive mechanic. Each has his own reason for going into the industry. Each has his own reason for staying in the industry (not an easy thing to do!). Each has his own training and...
Me & My Ride: Alyssa Shriner
Alyssa is a recent college grad who did an impressive job navigating the used-car buying experience on a low budget. Here’s a little introduction to her and some things you can learn from her car-buying process.
![Challenges and Changes in a Mom and Pop Shop [We Like Mike]](https://www.marinelliautoservice.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/mom-pop-shop.jpg)
Challenges and Changes in a Mom and Pop Shop [We Like Mike]
May was an exciting but frightening month at Marinelli Auto Service… Business in the auto repair industry tends to ebb and flow in seasons… We had more work than we knew what to do with. We knew we needed to make a change because we wanted to provide the same level of service, or better, to what we’d been providing over the previous 17 months of the shop’s existence… We’d been wondering, “Can we afford to hire another mechanic?” We had someone in mind and he was ready when we were, we just had to make it work financially and logistically.
Me & My Ride: Fred & Mariana Johnson
Fred and Mariana weren’t just looking for a vehicle to get from point A to point B, they were looking for an opportunity to enjoy life with as many friends and family as possible.
Three Things New Drivers and Concerned Parents Should Know
Here’s a few lessons that can help new drivers, and their concerned parents, as they gain maturity in the drivers seat.
Driving 300,000 Miles Takes More Than An Oil Change: Part 3
Let me say it as plainly as possible: you WILL need to spend money to keep your vehicle going. Again, it’s not a matter of if you’ll need to spend money on repairs, it’s a matter of when. How can I be prepared for repairs?
Driving 300,000 Miles Takes More Than An Oil Change: Part 2
Remembering the Basics In part one of this series, I explained why you should consider driving your car for 300,000 miles and beyond. This article includes some practical tips on how to stay on top of the general maintenance of your vehicle. What Should I Consider...
Driving 300,000 Miles Takes More Than An Oil Change: Part 1
What's the Point? As a nineteen year old college student, my parents helped me buy my first car. My dad and I did a lot of research and he wanted his first-born daughter to be safe 4 ½ hours away from home. Being a Chrysler family, we finally settled on a brand new...
My Life As the Mechanic’s Wife
Let me begin by telling you that I’ve always held jobs where I was just one of many women...teaching, youth ministry, writing and communications. While I’ve never been opposed to working in a male dominant industry, it just never occurred to me (because of my...
Me & My Ride: Darryl & Shannon Skinn
For most people owning a vehicle means being able to get to work, to school, to visit family and friends. For Darryl and Shannon Skinn, owning a vehicle means being able to shower others with help and kindness. When Shannon first got her 2005 Acura RL in 2007, she was...
How To Reduce Stress With Your Next Vehicle Repair
Before I married a mechanic, I definitely didn’t know how to make the most of my appointment with an auto mechanic shop, making it a stressful experience. Now that my husband and I own a shop, I’d like to share with you some things I’ve learned that will save you some of the frustration I used to experience.
Me & My Ride: Adam Winter
Drums set a grooving beat as the lead guitar begins strumming. The keys chime in with a soulful melody, and anticipation builds as the bass drops a deep rhythm behind the treble hum of the electric guitar. Enter the lead vocals with a powerful opening lyric; then...
Do I Need Diagnostic Testing Or A Vehicle Inspection?
Your throat feels like you just swallowed a cactus and your head is a balloon that’s about to burst. Your chest is on fire and coughing just makes it worse. Welcome to the cold and flu season! Many of the patients in your doctor’s waiting room probably have similar...
Me & My Ride: Josh and Laura Nelson
When the Nelsons pull into the shop, a cheerful spirit arrives with them. They seem genuinely happy to be here, and we love their attitude about car maintenance and repair. Josh and Laura are both quite brilliant people. They met while attending UCF where they...
Getting Off the Street and Keeping Your Car on the Road
Carrie* wandered into the shop one chilly (for Florida) Friday afternoon. “Do you have any work for me?” she asked with a look of desperation in her eyes. She clutched a tote bag and a dirty blanket. Her hair was disheveled, clothes stained, but she had a beneath the...
Start the New Year Right for Your Car and Your Wallet
New Year’s Resolutions have gotten a bad rap over the years. Instead of an opportunity to better one’s life each year, this annual resolution has turned into a promise with little hope of completion for many. That’s why I’d like to encourage you to avoid them at all...
12 Christmas Gift Ideas for Drivers of All Ages
Christmas is right around the corner and, if you are like me, you are probably thinking about gift ideas for your family and friends. However, if you are like Andrew, you’ll probably wait until the week of. Whichever your shopping style, I thought I’d give you a head...
Life Transitions and Paying Bills in a New Business
Change is abounding at Marinelli Auto Service. I’m leaving my job to help at the shop more, which has caused Andrew and I to reconfigure how we’re going to pay our bills. When I was little, I remember waking up on a Saturday morning to see my dad sitting in the...
Guide to Buying a Used Car or Truck
Buying a car, aside from choosing the right college and buying a house, is one of the most expensive purchasing decisions we make, and yet so many of us are in the dark as to what to look for. It is an investment we usually want to hold onto for many years. How do I...
Does Your Car Pass the Mom Test?
“See this? It does not pass the Mom Test,” Andrew told me one afternoon pointing at some rusty doo-hickey as he crouched beneath a vehicle. “The ‘Mom Test’?” He explained and it made sense to me...and made me wonder if the Mom Test isn’t what’s missing in the...
Understanding Your Bill: Part 3 – The Deal on Parts
You’re driving home after a long day of work. You are tired and looking forward to changing into some more comfortable clothes for a relaxing evening in front of the TV with the family. The light turns green and you begin to accelerate when your car makes a stuttering...
Understanding Your Bill: Part 2 – Why Your Mechanic Probably Isn’t Rich
Meet Joseph, a veteran auto technician (aka auto mechanic), highly experienced after 20 years in the industry. Surely, Joseph is rolling in the dough. Right? After all, he’s highly knowledgeable. His experience includes engines, transmissions, cooling systems,...
Understanding Your Bill: Part 1 – Why Am I Paying for Time?
You leave your mechanic shop with your car running well again, but there’s a bit of anxiety embedded in the invoice you’ve thrown onto the passenger seat. You head home to look up your bank account balance and calculate how many days until your next paycheck. “Do I...
Should I “Price-Shop” to Find an Auto Repair Shop?
Is moving from shop to shop as you look for the cheapest price or a great bargain the best decision for your car? We don’t recommend it and here are a few crucial reasons why.
Six Qualities to Look for in an Auto Mechanic Shop
For several years after college I moved a lot. I’d pack as many of my belongings as possible into my yellow Dodge Neon, Clunky, to settle into my new home in a new state and a new city. Michigan. Ohio. Florida...and when my oil needed changing or something more, I...
Should I Repair or Replace My Vehicle?
As vehicles age (or face expensive repairs), many people weigh repair costs against the vehicle’s worth. If the repair cost exceeds the vehicle’s worth, they will often sell or trade in the vehicle. By "worth" here, we're referring to resale value. I recommend a...
How Marrying A Mechanic Changed My Life
As a little girl I imagined marrying a business man, much like my father. As a college student I was sure I’d marry a man doing full-time Christian ministry or a missionary. Instead, I married a mechanic. Even more to my surprise, my husband’s profession has become a...
Dollars & Sense: Why Do Labor & Parts Cost So Much?
Your stomach drops (and maybe your jaw does, too). You begin mentally calculating how much money you have in your bank account, the date of your next paycheck, and then you wonder if you’ll have to dip into your savings to pay for this auto-repair bill. Suddenly, you...
Dollars & Sense: Are Free (or Cheap) Diagnostics a Myth?
You go to the doctor and tell her about all your symptoms and yet she’s stumped. She runs some tests and they all come back negative. You are sure your symptoms aren’t a figment of your imagination! Finally, someone is able to diagnose the problem and find a cure...or...
Dollars & Sense: Do You Really Want a $19.95 Oil Change?
As you cruise through town, the signs jump out at you: 20 Minute Oil Change $19.95! You glance at the tag on your windshield and realize you’ve passed the 3,000 mile mark since your last oil change. You make a note to self to get your car in later in the week while...
Dollars & Sense: Three Keys to Smart Auto Care
We’ve all been there. The light on your dashboard comes on and you get a slight sinking feeling in your stomach. You’re busy, money’s tight, and maybe you’re just not a car person so dealing with the problem makes you a little apprehensive. If you have a regular...