Success Stories

Josh Braaten, a brilliant AI engineer who spends his days building cutting-edge technology and companies such as daisypet.ai, admits he’s just an “average Joe” when it comes to cars. So, when his 2014 Infiniti QX60 started acting up, he did what most of us would, he headed to the dealership.

The Service Manager didn’t sugarcoat it: “Well, Mr. Braaten, your rear subframe is rusting out, you’ll need to replace a few AC lines, and the front subframe will need to be replaced within a year. I’ve prepared a quote for you. Your car isn’t safe to drive, so let us know how you’d like to proceed.”

Josh stared at the number on the paper. “$9,100? That’s… quite a bit. Can I take some time to think about it?”

He left the dealership overwhelmed and confused. His truck was worth around $10,000—spending almost the same amount on repairs felt like a losing battle. Was his car really unsafe to drive? Why was it rusting out so quickly? What were his options?

That’s when he reached out to us at Raise a Hood.

While GUS, our proprietary AI, powers much of what we do, a simple visual inspection confirmed the dealership wasn’t wrong about the rusted rear subframe. But instead of rushing into expensive new parts, we connected Josh with a trusted partner shop—D&D Auto Works in St. Louis Park, MN. They sourced a perfectly good used subframe, replaced it, and inspected the rest of the car. Those “urgent” AC line repairs? Just a couple of O-rings. And the front subframe? Totally fine. 

The final bill? $3,100. A far cry from the original $9,100. Josh walked away with his car fixed, his wallet intact, and a lesson learned about getting a second opinion.

Not only did Josh get his car back safely, but now he has time to make his next move. “The market fluctuates a lot for the car I want next,” he said. “Having my Infiniti back gives me the flexibility to wait for the right deal—probably saving me another $2,000.”

By combining expertise, trusted partnerships, and a bit of ingenuity, we saved Josh $6,000—and gave him back control of his car and his budget.

Facing a repair bill that doesn’t make sense? Our Raise a Hood team is standing by to help.  

We saved a customer 70% for the exact same service.

The gamesmanship in the service sector can be truly appalling. When one party (the mechanic) knows far more than the other (the customer) about the true cost of a service, bad behaviors can follow.

We recently heard from a customer in the Seattle area. While we haven’t officially launched there yet, we decided to help him out in the Holiday spirit.

Dari, the proud owner of a 2017 BMW 540i Xdrive, noticed a growing coolant leak under his car. Thinking the vehicle was still under warranty due to low mileage, he soon learned that the warranty had expired. The dealership confirmed the car needed a water pump and a rear guibo disc, then hit him with a jaw-dropping repair estimate of $5,700. Frustrated and ready to sell the car, Dari reached out to us and connected with our Telemechanic, Jeremy.

So, what happened? Even though we don’t officially operate in Seattle, our commitment to the customer is unwavering, so we found Dari a highly rated import specialty shop nearby, The Import Doctors. After speaking with our certified mechanic, the shop quoted the job at $1,700. Dari was back on the road the next day.  Not only did he save thousands, but the shop also offered a superior warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles compared to the dealership’s 12 months/12,000 miles.

Dari was thrilled. He saved a $4k right before the holidays and gained peace of mind with a better warranty. His story is a perfect example of how Raise a Hood helps vehicle owners get the best value without sacrificing quality. At RaiseaHood.com, we continue to be a trusted ally, delivering transparency, savings, and reliable guidance in the often-murky world of automotive repairs.

Sometimes, all we need is a little guidance.

Melissa was telling her friend about the time she felt completely stuck with her 2016 Chrysler 200. She had already poured hundreds of dollars into it—new tires, shocks, struts, and even a professional alignment. But after all this work, the car was pulling to the right, and it was driving her crazy. "I was seriously worried there was something major I was missing," she said. "The thought of spending even more money was really stressing me out."

Out of desperation, Melissa decided to give Raise a Hood a try, not knowing what to expect. She was just hoping for some straightforward advice, something she felt had been missing from her previous experiences. "Within minutes, I was connected with a Telemechanic, and honestly, I felt the tension leave my body," she recalled.  Her Telemechanic explained that all the work she had done was covered by a nationwide warranty—12 months or 12,000 miles—meaning she could have the car checked again without spending a dime.

Core lesson: Ask questions and lean on experts when facing car troubles. Melissa found peace of mind with just a free 10-minute phone call

"I couldn’t believe it," she said. "It made me wonder—would another shop have told me that, or would they have turned it into another expensive repair?" That experience taught her that sometimes all you need is a little guidance. A free, 10-minute phone call with Raise a Hood had given her the peace of mind she needed. "It’s like having a mechanic in the family.

Diane had been dreading the day her 2016 Nissan Altima would need major repairs. When the check engine light came on and displayed the infamous “Judder” code (P17F0), signaling a potential CVT transmission failure, she wasn’t sure what to do next. She called RaiseaHood.com for guidance.

Telemechanic Jack carefully listened as Diane described the symptoms and shared the check engine light diagnostic trouble code. Drawing on his expertise, Jack diagnosed a likely internal transmission failure and provided an estimated cost of $4,500 for parts and labor. Setting her expectations, Jack didn’t stop there—he referred her to Bridwell Automotive in Scottsdale for a professional assessment.

As expected, Bridwell’s team confirmed that the transmission needed replacement. However, given the specific nature of the damage, they discovered that her car was still covered under the factory powertrain warranty. In an uncommon and honest move, Bridwell advised Diane to take her Altima to the Nissan dealership for a free replacement under warranty, turning down the repair themselves.

Diane was overjoyed—what could have been a $4,500 expense ended up costing her nothing.

Core Lesson: Leveraging Raise a Hood’s expertise and working with trustworthy shops like Bridwell Automotive can save you thousands. Thanks to Jack’s guidance and Bridwell’s integrity, Diane avoided an unnecessary financial hit and got her transmission replaced at no cost under warranty.

At Raise a Hood, our Telemechanic Jeremy received an urgent call from a customer Nick; his 2014 Suburban was suffering from a well-known issue with GM's Active Fuel Management (AFM) system, which deactivates certain cylinders to improve fuel efficiency. While beneficial for gas mileage, the system is notorious for causing premature wear on lifters and camshafts. Nick's engine now needed a costly camshaft and lifter replacement, and the dealership had quoted him an eye-watering $5000 for the repair.

Overwhelmed and unable to afford the dealership’s steep repair costs, Nick turned to Raise a Hood. Our Telemechanic got to work and guided Nick step-by-step through the entire repair process. From sourcing the right parts for around $800 to the key DIY steps such as aligning the timing marks. After a weekend of work, Nick completed the repair himself, saving over $4000 in costs. What had once seemed like an insurmountable expense turned into a DIY success story, all thanks to Raise a Hood's guidance. While DIY repair isn’t for everyone, for those who are mechanically inclined and have access to the right tools, it’s a viable and cost-saving option. For others, Raise a Hood is committed to helping customers find alternative solutions, including connecting them with vetted, trustworthy shops or arranging for a mobile mechanic to come to their home.Core lesson: With Raise a Hood, a quick phone call can make the difference between a financial headache and a manageable solution. Our expert Telemechanic advice not only helped Nick cut expenses but also boosted his confidence to tackle future repairs. It's a testament to how complex issues can be turned into straightforward solutions with the right support.

Sophia had always relied on her trusty 2013 Ford Edge for everything from road trips to daily errands. So, when her battery stopped charging, she took it to a local auto shop. The mechanic diagnosed a failing alternator and recommended replacing the harmonic balancer. 

Trusting their expertise, Sophia agreed to both repairs. After paying $2800 for the repairs, her SUV started stalling on the way home. Sophia returned to the shop, but the mechanics assured her nothing was wrong and wanted to charge even more for further diagnostics. 

Frustrated by repeated trips and no resolution, she turned to RaiseaHood.com for help. Using the Telemechanic service, Sophia found the real issue: the original shop had failed to properly time the engine’s crankshaft and camshafts before replacing the harmonic balancer, causing the engine to fall out of time. The Telemechanic connected her with a reputable local shop that fixed the timing issue promptly. Thanks to RaiseaHood.com, Sophia's SUV was back to running smoothly, and she felt confident knowing she had a reliable source for automotive advice.

Core lesson: Expertise matters; Sophia could have saved over $2000 and several trips by starting with RaiseaHood.com and getting it fixed right the first time.

John always took meticulous care of his 2020 Ford Ranger, proud of its pristine condition for his weekend adventures. Unfortunately, after a routine oil change at a local shop, he began noticing a persistent oil drip in his garage. Believing it to be just residual oil, he didn’t think much of it until it continued for weeks.

Determined to find the cause, John investigated one Saturday and was dismayed to discover that the engine oil filler cap was missing. Worried about potential engine damage, he rushed to the nearest Ford dealership. There, he learned his truck was only two quarts low on oil and thankfully had no internal damage. However, the cost to clean up the oil, change it, and replace the cap was a whopping $850.

It was then John remembered Raise a Hood and our free second opinions offered through Telemechanics. He reached out for advice. We reassured him that the likelihood of damage was minimal, but since the work had been done, there wasn't much we could do about the service charge. Had he contacted us first, he could have topped off the oil, replaced the cap himself, and used over-the-counter engine degreaser to clean up the mess—all for around $50.

Core lesson: Always get expert guidance before heading to the shop. John could have saved over $800 and avoided the shop entirely, and the unnecessary stress, by making Raise a Hood his first call.