He finally took it to a shop where the mechanic used a more sophisticated scanner that checks systems that can be proprietary, to each car maker, such as the brakes and security gear.

WSJ: Diagnostic Tools to Unleash Your Inner Mechanic

"I got some old oil from a mechanic's shop and went to this stagnant pond I knew and put in a quart and threw the material on it and it bonded immediately, " says Cox, 52.

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On the other hand, visiting a mechanic before the summer months does much to ensure long days at the lake rather than at the auto shop.

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