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Dear Jim,

I just moved to Las Vegas from Toronto several weeks back, and I've been reading your column since I got here. My question isn't about my car, though, it's about mechanics. How do I find a good one? The last place I lived, I got totally taken advantage of by a guy who did a bunch of work I didn't need, and I don't want this to happen again, but I don't have any good tips yet on reliable shops here in the valley. Any suggestions?

-- Tim Gagnon

Welcome to Vegas, bro, and welcome to the vast ranks of those who have been shafted by a shifty mechanic at one time or another. Rip-off artists are an ugly, unfortunate reality, and, yes, I do have a few tips on avoiding the worst of them.

Here's something big to watch out for: the fly-by-nighters. Especially in a transient town like ours, a crooked mechanic can show up, make a quick and dishonest buck, then scuttle down the road before everyone catches on. Make sure any place you're considering has been around for a while and customers are satisfied. You might also inquire at the counters of a few auto parts stores -- the places where repair shops get their materials. Often the good, longtime clients who pay their bills on time are the ones who'll deliver the most reliable service.

Once you've found a shop that seems trustworthy, take your car in for something minor, such as an oil change. Are they friendly? Do they talk about your car in a language you can understand? If so, that's good. Do they try to sell you new shocks? Usually, that's bad. Shocks don't go bad very often, and yet there are guys in town who make their living off selling shocks.

Lastly, be wary of those quickie lube places for anything besides a quickie lube job. They might be a little cheaper, but you get what you pay for. Quality labor will typically run you about $70 an hour. Avoid the temptation to save a little cash now, brother, because you'll most likely pay it with interest in the end.

Tip of the Week

Need a new battery? Don't get suckered into buying one of those fancy performance models. Sure, they're great for Canadian blizzard conditions (as our friend Tim from Toronto knows), but in Vegas they'll just overload your alternator. Get a battery that's fresh, meets the manufacturer's "cold-cranking amps" rating and carries a generous replacement warranty.

Buffalo Jim, owner of Allstate Auto & Marine Repair in Las Vegas, writes a weekly column. Send your automotive questions to him at buffalojim@lasvegasniftynickel.com. If Jim picks your question to answer in Nuts & Bolts, you'll also be the proud recipient of a deck of official Buffalo Jim playing cards, presented in a classy, tin box bearing his hairy image.