How to Find a Microcar Mechanic

Whether you have a vintage microcar or one of the newer ones like the Smart Fortwo, finding a mechanic can be a real challenge. Many automotive shops simply don't have the experience to properly work on microcars. Simple things like brake work can be done at local shops where all they have to do is match parts and replace them, but with more in-depth things like engine work you'll need to find a specialist.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Internet access
• Make and model of the engine in the microcar
• Plenty of spare cash

1. Find and join microcar forums on the Internet. These can be an excellent resource in finding a mechanic for your microcar, as well as locating needed parts.
2. Search the Internet for microcar mechanics in your local area. This will give you fewer results than you may find in the forums and you'll likely have to go to a mechanic specializing in the make of your engine, rather than microcars as a whole.
3. Look in the phone book for a mechanic shop that does custom work. These will be an asset in getting some of the more complicated work done on your microcar.
4. Locate parts suppliers on the Internet by using the make and model of your engine. Be prepared to shell out some cash as many of these parts dealers will be out of the US and international shipping can be pricey, on top of the cost of the part.
5. Join local microcar clubs or talk to members of these clubs. Not everyone who owns a microcar is also a mechanic so chances are good that they'll be able to point you in the right direction.

Tips & Warnings

• Fixing a microcar can be a time and money consuming task. Be prepared to spend a lot.
• Be patient. Restoring a microcar can take a long time. Much of the time will be spent looking for hard to find or discontinue parts.
• Help your mechanic out. Once you find a mechanic, get a detailed list of needed parts from him and try to locate some of them yourself. This will ease the burden on the mechanic and speed up the process as well.
• Use caution when first dealing with a new mechanic.