Top Notch Automotive

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Top Notch Automotive A small shop with big goals. We aren't just mechanics, we're enthusiasts! We specialize in German vehicles but welcome all.

10/02/2026

Fun fact Friday!

Have you ever wondered why car batteries often seem to die as soon as cold weather hits? There's a lot of chemistry to it, but in simplest terms it's because like everything else, even electrochemicals don't like to move in colder temperatures. Internal resistance is increased in cold temps, which essentially means the chemicals inside the battery have to work even harder just to provide power to the starter.

And this process often begins in the summer months. Extreme heat can cause an accelerated breakdown of a battery's internals, weakening its lifespan. Take a battery that's been beat up by years of hot summers, combine that with a cold snap, and bam; you turn the key and *click click click click click!*

Most batteries seem to have an average lifespan of about five years. If your battery is over three years old, we recommend getting it tested and replaced (if needed) BEFORE you're stuck in your driveway on a cold winter day, late for work while waiting for a jump. 🥶

09/23/2026

We occasionally have people ask us if they should purchase an aftermarket warranty for their car. The idea of it does sound appealing, these companies advertise "bumper to bumper" coverage to make it sound like no matter what happens, you wont get stuck with a crazy expensive repair bill. But we DO NOT recommend these warranties, and I have four warranty stories that explain why.

Customer #1: needed exhaust manifold gaskets and a wheel bearing. Claim was denied because they didn't have proof of oil changes every six months....for work that is entirely unrelated to internal engine components.

Customer #2: had a failed steering rack. Steering racks do not come with new outer tie rods; reusing old tie rods on a brand new rack is utterly nonsensical, but because they weren't technically bad, they weren't covered. The warranty company also refused to pay the full cost of the parts that were covered, which still left the customer with a $600 share on a $1500 bill.

Customer #3: had one broken, rear coil spring. Proper repair procedure dictates that coil springs should always be replaced in pairs, to keep the vehicle sitting level as they wear and sag over time. Warranty company denied the other spring because it wasn't broken yet.

Customer #4: had a blown head gasket from a leaking water pump. Warranty company went back and forth with us for over a week, wasted our time and our customer's time, made us remove the cylinder head so an adjuster could come out and inspect the gasket. Oftentimes when a head gasket fails, especially in such a minimal manner as this particular one did, there will be no visible signs of failure on the gasket itself. So yep! You guessed it; claim for the head gasket was denied. A customer who paid for this warranty for three years and had never once made a claim until this one, got stuck with a $3000 repair bill.

These companies are professional scam artists most of the time. They look for any reason to deny a claim, they waste your time, and they are a huge pain to deal with. When they do approve a claim, they will only cover the bare minimum; not what it costs to fix your vehicle the RIGHT way. Half the time they make up their own pricing for parts and labor and refuse to pay the shop's price. Sometimes they won't even cover the shop's cost on parts, which then forwards that cost onto you because most shops refuse (rightfully so) to make less money on a job simply because your warranty company sucks.

So if you're thinking about spending however much money per month on an aftermarket warranty, just stash that money into a savings account for car repairs instead. 👍

09/04/2026

It's Fun Fact Friday! (Literally never done this before but maybe it'll become a thing). The crazy rainstorm we had last night might have some people wondering what to do if your car gets caught in a flash flood!

An engine can only be submerged in water up to the point of air intake. If a vehicle's intake sucks up a large amount of water, it will cause the engine to 'hydro-lock'; this means where air (which can be compressed) would normally go, there is water (which CAN'T be compressed). This can cause severe damage to engine internals as they attempt to compress liquid instead of air.

So if you are ever caught in a flash flood, the best thing you can do is shut your car off so the engine doesn't suck in any water! Although many insurance companies will (most of the time) total a car that's been even a tiny bit flooded due to the fact that modern cars have so many electronics, if you're looking to encounter minimal damage, shut it down and DO NOT attempt to restart it until it can be checked over! 🌊

08/17/2026

‼️Big announcement‼️

We are bringing on a service writer!

Starting next Monday, we will have Dan, an experienced service writer, joining our team. This means that I, the owner, will be able to focus more on keeping overall shop operations running smoothly, and spend more time working on cars when needed. We've had to tell many customers over the last couple of months that we're booked over three weeks out, and we get it; that just won't work for some people. But going forward we should be able to increase our work flow, keep those wait times down, and get your car back on the road in no time!

08/11/2026

If you are having trouble getting ahold of us or waiting on a reply, we apologize but we are severely overloaded with work right now! We are already booking into September, so if you need an appointment sooner, unfortunately we cannot help you at this time. We are trying our darndest to get/stay caught up and get as many people back on the road as possible! 😵‍💫

07/31/2026

We live in a very corporate world, which inspires me to say the following;

If you have an issue with something we did to your car, please give us the opportunity to make it right. We are not some giant, soulless corporation designed to take your money and never see you again. We are three....THREE people, working our butts off to fix as many cars in a day as possible to keep everyone happy because there aren't enough shops left to handle the workload. It's a dying trade.

When you walk into the shop, you are probably greeted by myself, the owner. I am there working alongside my employees, trying to earn a living like every other blue-collar worker out there. I live two minutes up the road. I am a part of your community. And in a field where you have to help people make decisions about probably the most expensive thing they've ever bought aside from a house, it can be stressful and you certainly can't please everyone. But please know that I am trying.

This 'mechanics are all scam artists' stigma has GOT to go. All we ever do is try to help people, to fix their car in the best way possible, and to help them save a few bucks. I promise you, we are not getting rich off of this. Being a mechanic is not the greatest return on investment by a long shot. We spend tens of thousands of dollars of our own, PERSONAL money on tools and equipment to be able to fix your car. And in a perfect world, every car would be fixed 100% every time.

But we are far from living in a perfect world. So please, ask us questions, do your own research, because I have, and always will, do everything in my power to correct a situation and make things right. We are not out to get anyone. Cars are just a pain sometimes. They are FAR from straightforward. So give us (and other shops) some grace, please. ❤️

07/28/2026

⚠️ ATTENTION⚠️ PennDOT will be CLOSING Route 88 in front of the Beach House starting Monday, August 3rd until (estimated) Monday, August 17th for road construction!

This means if you are coming from South Park/Library, you will need to take a detour to reach the shop. 🚧

07/22/2026

A lot of people think that shops refusing to accept customer supplied parts is a scam. This guy does a pretty good job explaining the many reasons why we choose not to accept customer supplied parts.

You wouldn't bring a steak to a steakhouse and ask them to cook it for you.

You wouldn't expect to bring a case of b**r to a stadium for a hockey game.

Why would you expect to bring your own parts to a repair shop?

Just a heads up, we will be closed this Friday, July 3rd for the 4th of July weekend! Stay safe and have fun, y'all!
06/29/2026

Just a heads up, we will be closed this Friday, July 3rd for the 4th of July weekend! Stay safe and have fun, y'all!

When a cracked coolant fl**ge requires intake manifold removal for replacement on this diesel BMW, we upgrade the oil fi...
06/17/2026

When a cracked coolant fl**ge requires intake manifold removal for replacement on this diesel BMW, we upgrade the oil filter housing to aluminum and give 'er a good carbon cleaning! Replacing multiple common-failure components at the same time can save on labor costs and prevent another visit to the shop in the future! 🥰

Address

6231 Route 88
Finleyville, PA
15332

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

Telephone

+14124952564

Website

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