How can I tell if the mechanic installed a new starter

If you have already paid, I am sorry but it may be too late do much. If that’s the case its lessons learned time. Below are a few things that may help in the future.

Before the repair

When taking a car in for a repair always ask for an estimate. They may not want to give it because they know something can and often does go askew during the repair, such as rusted or stripped bolts and other unforeseen problems. Make it clear that you want a “ball park” figure.

This does 2 things;

• It forces them to take the time to look at the problem/repair as opposed to throwing out a high number to cover themselves. A good estimate takes time and it’s mostly uncompensated. A good mechanic sees this as just part of it. The practice of overestimation in my opinion is based on laziness.
• It will somewhat inoculate you to sticker shock.

The estimate should be based on a scheduled hourly rate and a time estimate. Mechanics have access to “book” time rates which spell out specific amounts of time for a particular repair on a particular make and model.

Prior to leaving the car with a shop, ask that they return the old parts to you. Take a cell phone photo of the area or part to be replaced. This necessitates that you become familiar with your car and its general layout. For instance you will need to be able to identify the basic components that are to be replaced. If you can’t tell the starter from the alternator it can be blood in the water for a predatory “mechanic”. It’s easy to educate yourself with google etc. The object is to empower yourself with knowledge, not to go toe to toe with mechanic. You don’t need to know how an alternator works; you do need to know what it looks like, where it is on the car and generally what it does.

Some, dare I say many, mechanics are unfamiliar with Smarties. The idea that many Smart for Two repairs involve removing numerous body panels and lowering the engine for access to replace components is foreign to them. Similar operations on most other cars would be very expensive. The time it takes to do this on a smart is designed to be minimal. I can say that removing both rear fenders, the tailgate and the bumper requires only a few minutes. I have never lowered the engine on my car, but I suspect that’s also requires minimal time.

After the repair

If you are unsure if the repair was actually done, you can often check their work.

Learn to “read the dirt”. Compare the pictures you made to the same area/part afterwards to see if it’s different or obviously new. Compare the old parts they gave you to see if they were actually removed from your car. Speaking from experience, most rip-off artists are too lazy to cover their tracks. To do a repair it’s necessary to do some cleaning in the areas adjacent to the repair. The repair will disturb the dirt and grease around the repair and it’s often obvious if anyone has been in there. If it looks the same as before, they found a quick way to get the car back on the road and charged you for work they didn’t do.

Always pay with a credit card so you can contest the bill if you feel you have been unfairly charged.

If you have AAA you can also register a complaint. Good luck.

This is a picture of my 2011 Smart engine and a zoomed in picture of the starter (I think).

Is the starter inside the silver housing? When a starter is replaced, does the silver housing get replaced as well?

It doesn't look like there was much disturbance near the silver housing, maybe it was just the fuse that got replaced, not the starter?