A mechanic or technician for your Honda car or van is never more than a stone’s throw away. Not given to the chance that you either lack a stone, or have really weak arms.

Finding a mechanic for any car can be simple, actually. The problem is, what you really want is a high quality, knowledgeable mechanic that will take good care of you and your prized possession.

Many people seem to have it drilled into their heads that, for some reason, if they own a Honda they can only go to a Honda dealership for repairs and regular service. I mostly blame the dealer himself for this because Honda has become just about as American as baseball.

Instead of defaulting to the dealer try looking at some of the independent shops. Some people are surprised to find that most all of the independent shops around town have at least one mechanic on hand that is a fan of Hondas and knows every little detail about them.

Some shops, however, tend to know very little about import vehicles.The other argument could be that; Hondas rarely break down, so no one CAN learn about them.If you can't tell by now, I'm the "Honda Guy" at my shop.

A good (but not the only) indication of a high quality, independent shop is a large blue and white sign somewhere in or near the customer waiting area that says ASE. This stands for 'Automotive Service Excellence', and is a group that is dedicated to finding the best of the best out there in the shops.

A shop with this sign proudly displayed will have one or more guys or gals in uniform with the same symbol as the sign sewn onto their shoulder.

ASE members can only become members if they possess the knowledge of 'real world' mechanics.

They have to understand every line of automaker (foreign or domestic) and be able to interpret any form of malfunction.

Only passing a series of incredibly difficult tests does anyone get to don the patch.

But, ASE members aren't the only ones who know about Hondas and their quirks.

Most mechanics know something; even if it's just how much oil it takes to do an oil change.

It seems, though, that every mechanic I've fellowshipped with has known about the timing belt disasters and axle joint problems. But, these are problems inherent with all cars, not just Honda.

If you really want to find the best mechanic for your Honda car, visit and ask.

Ask what their opinions of Hondas are. Do they like them? Would they own one? How many do they service already?

Anyone with a bad attitude toward Hondas or any other foreign car isn't going to be a good mechanic for you.

If he doesn't like the car why would he take the time to do things properly with it? But, anyone with enthusiasm in their eyes and voice would be a willing choice to give a shot to.

Remember, you’re never tied down to just one person. If he doesn’t make the cut or you find someone better, you can always change.