Should this mechanic work on my aunts car for free?

[Nicholas1302]

My aunt took her car to a backyard mechanic a couple of days ago. It just kept dying, and driving very rough. After he worked on it, it runs great, but my aunt said as she was driving home, the check engine light started flashing. The light has always been on since she bought the car, but it hasn't flashed. Im guessing he did something to screw it up. She spent most of her savings on repairs, so she can't afford to do anything else. Should this mechanic work in it for free, seeing as the check engine light started flashing after he worked on it? My mom told my aunt that if its driving fine then don't worry about it, but I think she should worry about it. I'm just afraid to tell her because I dont want to freak her out, because she spent most of her money on repairs, and she absolutely has to have a car, because I dont want her to have to drive mine all the time, because im using it.

[Twalli]

He fixed her problem. That was his job. If she wants him to see why the check engine light is flashing, she's going to have to pay him to look at it. The fact that the light was always on but not flashing and now it is flashing is not necessarily a bad sign. Maybe it means the engine is near failure and it's telling you to get it fixed. She didn't ask him to look into that.

[DryGermanGuy]

What work/repairs are listed in the invoice? Check Engine light means diagnostic codes are retrievable via the OBD interface. That’s pretty much the first step a mechanic would do.

[dustybiker2]

Call the dealership and ask what flashing light means on her car. Ask how to reset the engine light on her model car. It might be a specific warning.

Mechanics are hit and miss. They are only as honest as the person is.

[trumpetplayerforlife]

See this is a tricky one she need to get it looked at flashing light means bad things will happen and I think he should at least diagnose it for free but fix it not necessarily

[docster]

If it's flashing, that means pull over, turn it off and have it towed. It should not be run like that.

To answer your question, no, I'd take it to a real shop.

[jeremy_09]

No, she should pay him if she wants the check engine light fixed.